ers) might not be turned out of the course by the
pressure of the other runners. Rather than permit this, let the Church
lift up their drooping hands and sustain their palsied knees, that they
may be healed of their lameness.

2. As to enemies and persecutors, it is the duty of the Church to follow
after peace with all men, as much as in her lies. Christians may
sacrifice almost anything for peace, but not their own priestly
consecration, without which no man shall see the Lord Jesus at His
appearing. He will be seen only by those who eagerly expect Him unto
salvation.[351]

3. The consecration of the Church is maintained by watchfulness[352]
against every tendency to alienation from the grace of God, to
bitterness against God and the brethren, to sensuality and profane
worldliness. All must watch over themselves and over all the brethren.
The danger, too, increases if it is neglected. It begins in withdrawing
from[353] the Church assemblies, where the influences of grace are
manifested. It grows into the poisonous plant of a bitter spirit, which,
"like a root that beareth gall and wormwood," spreads through "a family
or tribe,"[354] and turns away their heart from the Lord to go and serve
the gods of the nations. "The many are defiled." The Church as a whole
becomes infected. But bitterness of spirit is not the only fruit of
selfishness. On the same tree sensuality grows, which God will punish
when the Church cannot detect its presence.[355]

From the stem of selfishness, which will not brook the restraints of
Church communion, springs, last and most dangerous of all, the profane,
worldly spirit, which denies and mocks the very idea of consecration. It
is the spirit of Esau, who bartered the right of the first-born to the
promise of the covenant for one mess of pottage. The author calls
attention to the incident, as it displays Esau's contempt of the promise
made to Abraham and his own father Isaac. His thoughts never rose above
the earth. "What profit shall this birthright do to me?"[356] We must
distinguish between the birthright and the blessing. The former carried
with it the great promise given to Abraham with an oath on Moriah: "In
thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed."[357] Possession
of it did not depend on Isaac's fond blessing. It belonged to Esau by
right of birth till he sold it to Jacob. But Isaac's blessing, which he
intended for Esau because he loved him, meant more especially lordshi