From these and other abominations arose an impe- rious necessity for the godly to separate themselves from the ungodly, and to maintain by an open and more visible profession the honour of God in the world. This they did : and in so doing they have taught us,
1. To separate ourselves from the ungodly — [There is a certain degree of intercourse which must subsist
between us and the world. But it is by no means desirable to extend it beyond that which the duties of our calling abso- lutely require. Our Lord repeatedly declares that his faithful followers " are not of the world, even as He was not of the world*:" The Apostles also with one voice guard us against cultivating the friendship of the world ; b and teach us to come out from among them c, and to live as a distinct " peculiar people'1," " shining among them as lights in a dark place e." We should go to them, indeed, when duty calls, as the phy- sician enters the infected chambers of the sick : but we should never forget, that " evil communications corrupt good man- nersf;" and that an undue familiarity with them is far more likely to weaken the spirituality of our own minds, than to generate a holy disposition in theirs. In us should be verified the prophecy of Balaam, " Israel shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations8."]
2. To make an open profession of our attachment to Christ —
[The godly, in the antediluvian world, called themselves Children of God, as distinct from those who were only children of men : and it was foretold that a similar distinction should obtain among the followers of Christ11. If in one instance Peter failed in acknowledging his Lord, on other occasions he witnessed a good confession, and manfully withstood the threatenings of his enemies1. It may be thought perhaps, that, because Christianity is the established religion of the land, there is no occasion for such boldness now : but the sons of Cain and of Ishmael are yet amongst us k : there are in every place those who deride all vital godliness : and it recpiires almost as much fortitude to withstand their sneers and con- tempt, as it does to brave more cruel persecutions. There is the same necessity for t/s to " take up our cross and follow Christ," as there was for the primitive Christians : and the
a John xvii. 1G. b James iv. 1. c 2 Cor. vi. 14 — 18.
(l 1 Pet. ii. 9. e Phil. ii. 15. ' 1 Cor. xv. 33.
e Numb, xxiii. 9. h Isai. xliv. 5. * Aets iv. 8, 10, 19, 20.
k Jude 11. Gal. iv. 23, 29.