145.]
[It seems that the order of Nazarites was intended to pre- figure Christ, who, though not observant of the laws relating to that order, was from eternity consecrated to the service of his God, not only by the designation of his Father, but by his own voluntary engagement, and completed the course of his obe- dience till he could say, " It is finished."
But we have no doubt respecting the design of God to ex- hibit to us in the Nazarites a pattern for our imitation. The appointment itself has ceased with the law : " the believing Gentiles" are expressly told that they " are not required to observe any such thing1." But, though the form has ceased, the substance remains. We are called to consecrate ourselves unreservedly to God. This is our duty, and our privilege. " We are not our own ; we are bought with a price ;" and therefore bought, " that we may glorify God with our bodies and our spirits, which are his." Every one amongst us should
subscribe with his hand, and say, " I am the Lord's k"
We need not literally abstain from wine ; but we should shew a holy superiority to all the pleasures of sense. We may enjoy them, because " God has given us all things richly to enjoy:" but we should not seek our happiness in them, or be at all enslaved by them ; or value them any further, than we can enjoy God in them, and glorify him by them. The same in- difference should we manifest also in relation to the cares of this life. We may mourn indeed, but never indulge that " sorrow of the world, which worketh death." Having God for our portion, the loss of all earthly things should be com- paratively but little felt We are not called to that
singularity of dress which marked the Nazarites to public view : but surely we are called not to be conformed to every idle fashion, or to be running into all the absurdities which cha- racterize the votaries of this world. A Christian should despise such vanities, and " be no more of this world, than Christ him- self was of the world" From pollution of every kind
we should stand at the remotest distance : we should " have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness," but " be purged from dead works to serve the living God." What caution, what holy fear should we maintain ! What dread of dishonouring our Lord, and walking unworthy of our holy pro- fession ! Surely we should " abstain even from the appearance of
evil," and labour to " be pure as God himself is pure"
If at any time, through weakness or inadvertence, we contract pollution, we must not think to proceed as if we had done nothing amiss : no ; sin, of whatever kind, must be repented of: for, if it be continued in, it will infallibly destroy us1. We must, like the Nazarite, instantly apply ourselves to the atoning
1 Acts xxi. 25. k Isai. xliv. 5. Rom. xiv. 7, 8 . * Ezek. xviii. 24.