Hebrews 2:16

Christian Sympathy.

I. We are all of one nature, because we are sons of Adam; we are all of one nature, because we are brethren of Christ. The thought of Him, "the beginning of the creation of God," "the first-born of every creature," binds us together by a sympathy with one another, as much greater than that of mere nature as Christ is greater than Adam. All those common feelings which we have by birth are far more intimately common to us now that we have obtained the second birth One thing needful, one narrow way, one business on earth, one and the same enemy, the same dangers, the same temptations, the same afflictions, the same course of life, the same death, the same resurrection, the same judgment. All these things being the same, and the new nature being the same, and from the same, no wonder that Christians can sympathise with each other, even as by the power of Christ sympathising in and with each of them.

II. Nay, and further, they sympathise together in those respects, too, in which Christ has not, could not have gone before them I mean in their common sins. We have the same gifts to sin against, and therefore the same powers, the same responsibilities, the same fears, the same struggles, the same guilt, the same repentance, and such as none can have but we. The Christian is one and the same, wherever found; as in Christ, who is perfect, so in himself, who is training towards perfection; as in that righteousness which is imparted to him in fulness, so in the righteousness which is imparted to him only in its measure, and not yet in fulness. We are much more like each other, even in our sins, than we fancy. Perhaps the reason why the standard of holiness is so low, why our attainments are so poor, our view of truth so dim, our belief so unreal, our general notions so artificial and external, is this, that we dare not trust each other with the secret of our hearts. If it be awful to tell to another in our own way what we are, what will be the awfulness of that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed? Now, though there be shame, there is comfort and soothing relief; though there be awe, it is greater on the side of him who hears than of him who makes avowal.

J. H. Newman, Parochial and Plain Sermons,vol. v., p. 116.

References: Hebrews 2:16. J. Vaughan, Fifty Sermons,8th series, p. 163; Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. ii., No. 90; Homilist,1st series, vol. vi., p. 264; Preacher's Monthly,vol. x., p. 151.Hebrews 2:16. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. i., p. 455.

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