word, however the conduct of men may differ as to the imme- diate line which they pursue, they all, in their natural state, affect pleasure, or riches, or honour, and feel abundantly more satisfaction in the things of time and sense, than they do in the service of their God. Now every man is concerned to lind out what his besetting sin is : for if we must all without exception become " new creatures in Christ Jesus," if " old things must pass away, and all things must become new," then is it neces- sary that we all should experience this change, and have an evidence of it in our own souls.
Earnestly would we press this thought upon the minds of those who have been externally blameless in their conduct: for it is common for persons of this description to be satisfied with a change in their sentiments, when they have never experienced any change in their hearts and lives. We all have, though certainly in different degrees, a need of that exhortation, " Wash you, make you clean ; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes'' It is possible that very little change can be needed by us that is visible to man; but there is no natural man under heaven, who does not need to be greatly changed in the sight of God : and to him it is that we must approve ourselves, if ever we would be accepted in his sight.]
2. A performance of neglected duties —
[True piety will not consist with any allowed sin, whether of commission or of omission. But if we look back to our unregenerate state, how many duties are there, both to God and man, that we have neglected ! By nature we are satisfied with doing acts of kindness when they come in our way : but to live for God, and our fellow-creatures, we know not : we do jiot search out occasions for the exercise of our benevolence, nor do we redeem our time in order to effect the greatest good within our reach. But, if we would please and honour God, we must imitate him who " went about doing good:" our time, our talents, our influence must all be put forth for the relief of the needy, the comfort of the afflicted, the succouring of the oppressed, and for the spiritual, as well as temporal, benefit of all. We must also cultivate every kind of grace : not only putting off what is evil, but putting on what is good. In par- ticular, " as the elect of God, we should put on bowels of mer- cies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another and forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us^." These are the things which God prefers to all the sacrifices that can be offered '^; and without these, all that we can possess is in his estimation lighter than vanity itself^."]
« Col. iii. 8, 12—14. f Ps. 1. 8—14. Mic. vi. 7, 8.
g 1 Cor. xiii. 1 — 3.