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zeal for it, no care for his name ; but rest in the discharge of the duty itself?
(S.) That a man may walk with another, it is required that he have a living principle in him, to enable him thereunto. Dead men cannot walk ; or if they do, acted by any thing but their own vital principle and essential form, they are a terror to their companions, — not a com- fort in their communion. For a dead carcase, or a trunk, to be moved up and down, is not walking. Hence this is everywhere laid clown as the principle of our obedience, — that we "who were dead are quick- ened;" that " the law of the Spirit of life makes us free from the law of sin and death," Rom. viii. 2. That we may walk with God, a principle of a new life is required ; that we may have power for it, and be pressed to it from that which is within us. Had not a man rather walk alone, than have a dead carcase, taken out of a grave, and acted by an external force and power, to accompany him?
This, I say, is a third consideration. The matter of our walking with God consists, as shall be showed, in our obedience, — in our per- formance of duties required. In this, we are all more or less engaged ; yea, so far, that perhaps it is hard to discover who walks fastest, and with most appearance of strength and vigour. But, alas ! how many dead souls have we walking amongst us !
[1.] Are there none who are utter strangers to a new spiritual life — a life from above, hid with Christ in God, a life of God — that mock almost at these things ; at least, that can give no account of any such life in them ; — that think it strange it should be required of them that they should give any account of this life, or of being begotten again by the Spirit; yea, that make it a most ridiculous thing ? "What, then, is it they will yet plead for themselves ? Why do they not walk with God ? Is not their conversation good and blameless ? Who can charge them with any thing ? Do they not perform the duties re- quired of them ?" But, friend, would it be acceptable to thee to have a dead man taken out of his grave, and carried along with thee in thy way ? All thy services, thy company, is no other to God ; he smells nothing but a noisome steam from thy presence with him : thy hearing, praying, duties, meditations, — they are on this account all an abomination to him. Tell me not of thy conversation. If it be from a pure conscience (that is, a conscience purified in the blood of Christ), and faith unfeigned, which is the life, or a fruit of it, whereof we are speaking, — it is glorious and commendable; if from other principles, the Lord abhors it.
[2.] Are there none who are acted, in their obedience and duties, not from inward principles, and spiritualized faculties, but merely from outward considerations, and external impressions ? The apostle tells us how believers " grow," and " go on to perfection," Eph.
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iv. 16; Col. i. 19. Christ is the head; from him, by the Spirit, into every joint and sinew is derived an influence of life, that the body may thereby and therewith go on towards perfection. How is it with sundry others ? They are set upon their feet by custom or con- viction: one joint is supplied by repute, another by fear and shame, a third by self-righteousness, a fourth by the lash of conscience ; and so they are driven on by a mere external impress. And these are the principles of the obedience of many. By such things as these are they acted in their walking with God. Do you suppose you shall be accepted, or that peace will be your latter end ? I fear many that hear me this day may be in this condition. Pardon me if I am jealous with a godly jealousy. What means else that hatred of the power of godliness, that darkness in the mystery of the gospel, that cursed formality, that enmity to the Spirit of God, — that hatred of reformation, that is found amongst us ?
Use. If there be so many things required to walking with God, to fit men for it ; and many who do strive to walk with him are yet lost from a defect of them, in the midst of their obedience and perform- ance of duties, — what will become of them, where shall they appear, who never once attempted to walk with him, — who are wrought upon by no considerations to make it their business so to do ? I speak not only of those amongst us, young and old, whose pride, folly, idleness, debauchery, profaneness, hatred of the ways of God, testify to their faces, to all the world, to the shame and danger of the places wherein they live, that they are servants to sin, and walk contrary to God, — who also will walk contrary unto them, until they are no more. I speak not, I say, of such as these, who are judged of all; nor yet only of those who are kept to outward observances merely on the account of the discipline of the place, and the hopes which they have laid up in it for their outward good, with such other carnal aims ; — -but of some also who ought to be leaders of others, and examples to that flock that is amongst us. What endeavours to walk with God are found upon them, or seen in their ways ? Vanity, pride in themselves, families, and relations, yea, scoffing at religion and the ways of God, are the examples some give. I wish worldliness, selfishness, hardness, and straitness of bowels, with open vanity, do not eat up all humble walking with God, as to the power of it, in others.