that is, Christ himself, is righteous*^." The object of the Chris- tian's desires, yea, and of his endeavours too, is universal hoh- ness : he would in all things, as far as possible, " be conformed to Christ," " having the same mind as was in him," and " walking in all things as he walked." He would not willingly retain a right hand or a right eye that caused him to offend : his one labour and ambition is, to " stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." It is in this way that he " puts on the Lord Jesus Christ ;" and it is in this way that " Christ becomes all in all*!"]
2. A corresponding conduct in their lives —
[The particular things enumerated by the Psalmist are for the most part overlooked, as though they were of minor import- ance : but, in truth, they enter deeply into the Christian cha- racter, and will serve as most decisive tests of the existence and measure of our integrity. In true Christians, then, the following marks are found :-^
They abstain J'rom uncharitable censures. — Amongst false pro- fessors, even as amongst the ungodly world, there is a lamentable want of tenderness to the characters of others : they will receive, and circulate, a false report, without ever considering how great an injury they do to him who is thus calumniated. They will suffer their minds to be prejudiced against a brother without any just occasion ; and will even feel more alienation from him on account of some quality which they disapprove, than attachment to him for many qualities which render him worthy of their esteem. But the true Israelite will not deal out such measure to his neighbours : he will rather put a favourable construction on the things which admit of doubt, and cast a veil over the faults which are too plain to be denied. He will in this matter con- form himself to the golden rule, of 'Doing to others as he would have them do to him.*
They observe equity in estimating the characters of men. — They v/iU not be lenient towards offences in the rich, which they condemn with severity in the poor ; nor will they suffer their regards to be influenced by the pride of life or the prejudice of party. Magistrates indeed they will reverence as bearing an authority vet-ted in them by God hitnself ; but it is the office that they will reverence ; just as Paul reverenced the high priest, not- withstanding the injustice with which he executed his high office : hut the contemners of God will, as such, be pitied and contemned by every true Christian; and tliose who fear God will 07i thai account be loved and honoured by him, whatever station they may fill, or to whatever party they may belong. He will from
his
^ 1 John ii.4, 6. & iii.6— 10.
* See Rom. xiii. 14. & Col. iii. II.; which passages refer, the one to the graces of Christ, and the other to the image of Christ in the soul.
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336.] CHARACTER OF SirCH AS SHALL BE SAVED. 25
his inmost soul unite in the Apostle's benediction, " Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity."
They adhere strictly to all their engagements. — No Believer will think lightly of his word, and still less his oath. If he have promised any thing, he will on no account go back, even though the performance of the promise should involve him in considerable difficulty. In all pecuniary or commercial transactions, his word will be his bond : no subterfuges will be resorted to, no equivo- cations, no falsehoods invented, to invalidate his engagement : if he have " sworn to his own hurt," he will submit to the con- sequences, and discharge his conscience with fidelity. With re- spect to engagements of a yet more sacred nature, he will exercise the utmost scrupulosity, and not because of any change in liis own mind think himself at liberty to repudiate a betrothed ob- ject. If a great moral or religious change have taken place in the one party so as to change the character of that person, and to render him in fact a different person from the one that was betrothed, then tJie oilier party may justify a renunciation of the alliance, (a -;ian may justly rescind his engagements with a woman who shill depart from the paths of honour and vir- tue ;) but it is iii the party who remamsl..the same, and not in the party that is changed, that this right resides. Where there are no circumstances of this kind to absolve the Christian, " his yea must be yea, and his nay, nay."