Nor is the true Christian less dehghted with the
moral
moral precepts, not one of which would he desire to have relaxed or moderated in the smallest degree. Instead of wishing them to be lowered to the stan- dard of his attainments, or regarding them as grievous on account of their purity, he loves them for their purity% and would esteem it his highest privilege to be conformed to them. He is well persuaded, that they are all *' holy, and just, and good :" and he loves them as perfective of his nature^ and conducive to his happiness.
He loves them, I say, as perfective of his nature. For what is holiness, but a conformity to the Divine image, as sin is to the image of the devil ? It was by transgression that man lost that resemblance to the Deity which was stamped upon him at his first crea- tion ; and it is by the new-creating influence of the Spirit quickening him to a course of holy obedience, that this resemblance is gradually restored. Conscious of this, he pants after holiness, desiring to ** be changed into his Redeemer's image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord."
Nor does he love them less as conducive to his hap^ piness : for sin and misery are inseparable, as holiness also and true happiness are. What is the language of every precept in the Decalogue? It is this: *Be holy, and be happy.' Of this he is convinced ; and he finds, by daily experience, that *' in keeping God's commandments there is great reward," and that ** Wisdom's ways are indeed ways of pleasantness and peace."
At the same time, " he hates every false way ;" every deviation from the perfect rule of righteousness is painful to him: he *' hates it;" and hates himself on account of it. As a touch, which would scarcely be felt in any other part of the body, will occasion the severest anguish to the eye, so those thoughts or feelings which would be altogether unnoticed by other men, inflict a wound on his conscience, and cause him to go mournfully before the Lord of Hosts. Ask him on such an occasion, What it is that has
caused
*Ps. cxix. 140.
428 PSALMS, cxix. 128. [426.
caused him thus to mourn and weep? Is it that his God has required so much ? No : but that he himself has attained so Httle. He wants to " be sanctified wholly to the Lord, in body, soul, and spirit;" and, could he accomplish the desire of his heart, he would " stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." This is the object of his highest ambition ; and, when he finds, that, notwithstanding all his efforts, he still falls short of it, he groans inwardly, and says with the Apostle, " O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of sin and death ?"
Behold, then, the Christian's character as here delineated. To a superficial observer he may not appear to differ much from others ; but to those who have had opportunities of discovering the real desires of his soul, he is a perfect contrast with the whole ungodly world. The very best of nominal Chris- tians are content with low attainments, and plead for indulgences in those things which are agreeable to their corrupt nature. The more sublime and spiritual precepts they soften down to the standard of their own practice; and rather applaud themselves for their excellencies, than lothe themselves for their defects. The true Christian, on the contrary, will admit of no standard but that of absolute perfection : and, whereinsoever he falls short of it, as he does in his very best services, he lothes and " abhors him- self in dust and ashes ;" nor has he any hope of ac- ceptance with God, but in the view of that atonement which was once offered for him on the cross, and of that blood which the Lord Jesus Christ once shed on Calvary to cleanse him from his sins. We mean not to say, that these defects are subversive of all the Christian's peace; for, if that were the case, who could possess any peace at all ? The Christian, not- withstanding his imperfections, has *' comfort in the testimony of a good conscience," and in an assurance, that his God will " not be extreme to mark what is done amiss;" but he does not on this account allow himself m any sin whatever. The use he makes of his own corruptions is, to cleave the more stedfastly to