Do you farther look to him as your King, desiring
him to bring, not your actions only, but " your every thought,
into captivity " to his sacred will ? This is the test
whereby you are to try the state of your souls before God ; for according to your experience of these things will be your sentence in the day of judgment ]
2. What measure have ye of resemblance to him ?
[God has ordained that all his people should "be con- formed to the image of his Son u," in sufferings, in holiness, and in glory. Like him, they must " drink of the brook in the way, and afterwards lift up the head." " The Captain of our Salvation was made perfect through sufferings ;" and "all the sons who shall be brought to glory " must be made perfect in the same way x : " through much tribulation they must enter into the kingdom of heaven." The " mortifying of our mem- bers upon earth," with " the cutting off a right hand, and plucking out a right eye," are strong and significant expres- sions, shewing clearly, that a life of godliness requires much painful labour and self-denial. Besides, there is much perse- cution also to be endured from an ungodly world; for " all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Nor are the conflicts that are to be sustained with all the powers of darkness of small consideration in the Christian's warfare. Let me ask then, Are ye following Christ in this way ? Are ye " crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts ? " Are ye " following him boldly without the camp, bearing his reproach ?" Are ye " fighting manfully the good fight of faith," and "wrest- ling, not only with flesh and blood, but with all the princi- palities and powers of hell? " Be assured that " the kingdom of heaven cannot be taken without violence : the violent must take it by force." The work and offices of Christ will be of no avail in our behalf, if we do not " take up our cross daily and follow him." Awake then, all of you, to the duties that are assigned you ; and be content to suffer with him, that ye may be also glorified together."]
u Rom. viii. 29. x Heb. ii. 10.