Lastly, That wherein we are to labour for tliis conformity may be reduced unto two heads.
[1.] An opposition unto all sin, in the root, principle, and most secret springs of it, or original cleavings unto our nature. He " did no sin, neither was there any guile found in his mouth." He " was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners." He was the "Lamb of God, without spot or blemish;" like unto us, yet without sin. Not the least tincture of sin did ever make an approach unto his holy natm-e. He was absolutely free from every drop of that fomes which hath invaded us in our depraved condition. "Where- fore, to be freed from all sin, is the first general part of an endeavour for conformity mito Christ. And although we cannot perfectly attain hereunto in this life, as we have " not already attained, nor are already perfect," yet he who groaneth not in himself after it — who doth not loathe every thing that is of the remainder of sin in him and himself for it — who doth not labour after its absolute and universal extirpation — hath no sincere design of conformity unto Christ, nor can so have. He who endeavours to be like him, must
CONFORMITY TO CHRIST. 175
" purify himself, even as he is pure." Thoughts of the purity of Christ, in his absolute freedom from the least tincture of sin, wUl not suffer a believer to be negligent, at any time, for the endeavoming the utter ruin of that which makes him unlike unto him. And it is a blessed advantage unto faith, in the work of mortification of sin, that we have such a pattern continually before us.
[2.] The due impi^ovement of, and continual grovjth, in every grace, is the other general part of this duty. In the exercise of his own all-fulness of grace, both in moral duties of obedience and the especial duties of his office, did the glory of Christ on the earth con- sist. Wherefore, to abound in the exercise of every grace — to grow in the root and thrive in the fruit of them— is to be conformed unto the image of the Son of God.
Secondly, The following the example of Christ in all duties towards God and men, in his whole conversation on the earth, is the second part of the mstance now given concerning the use of the person of Christ in religion. The field is large which here lies before us, and filled with mxmberless blessed instances. I cannot here enter into it ; and the mistakes that have been in a pretence unto it, require that it should be handled distinctly and at large by itself; which, if God will, may be done in due time. One or two general instances wherein he was most eminently our example, shall close this discourse.
1. His meekness, lowliness of mind, condescension unto all sorts of persons — his love and kindness unto mankind — his readiness to do good unto all, with patience and forbearance — are continually set before us in his example. I place them all under one head, as pro- ceeding all from the same spring of divine goodness, and having effects of the same nature. With respect unto them, it is required that " the same mind be in us that was in Christ Jesus," Phil. ii. 5 ; and that we " walk in love, as he also loved us," Eph. v. 2.
In these things was he the great representative of the divine good- ness unto us. In the acting of these graces on all occasions did he declare and manifest the nature of God, from whom he came. And this was one end of his exhibition in the flesh. Sin had filled the world with a representation of the devil and his nature, in mutual hatred, strife, variance, envy, wrath, pride, fierceness, and rage, against one another ; all which are of the old murderer. The instances of a cured, of a contrary frame, were obscure and weak in the best of the saints of old. But in our Lord Jesus the hght of the glory of God herein first shone upon the world. In the exercise of these graces, which he most abounded in, because the sins, weaknesses and infir- mities of men gave continual occasion thereunto, did he represent the divine nature as love — as infinitely good, benign, merciful, and patient — as delighting in the exercise of these its holy properties.
17G THE PEESON OF CHEIST.
In tliem was the Lord Christ our example in an especial manner. And they do in vain pretend to be his disciples, to be followers of him, who endeavour not to order the whole course of their lives in conformity unto him in these things.
One Christian who is meek, humble, kind, patient, and useful unto all ; that condescends to the ignorance, weaknesses and infirmities of others; that passeth by provocations, injuries, contempt, with patience and with silence, unless where the glory and truth of God call for a just vindication ; that pitieth all sorts of men in their failings and mis- carriages, who is free from jealousies and evil surmises; that loveth what is good in all men, and a,ll men even wherein they are not good, nor do good, — doth more express the virtues and excellencies of Christ than thousands can do with the most magnificent works of piety or charity, where this frame is wanting in them. For men to pretend to follow the example of Christ, and in the meantime to be proud, wrathful, envious, bitterly zealous, calling for fire from heaven to destroy men, or fetching it themselves from hell, is to cry, " Hail unto him," and to crucify him afresh unto their power.