546 ISAIAH, XL G, 9. [87(j.
And, wherever it is received, its tendency is the same. It is the rod of God's strength, which brings down every adverse power, and accompHshes for man the salvation of his soul''. It renews all after the same image'; brings all into the same family'^; unites all in the same interests'; and forms all into one mystical body™: how then can it fail of producing harmony and love ? This knowledge shall at a future period be universally diffused" : and these effects shall as universally result from it°.]
Let US LEARN from this subject,
1. The nature of true conversion —
[Conversion does not consist in embracing any tenets, however scriptural, or important. The knowledge of Christ is indeed, as has been before observed, the means of converting us ; but conversion itself consists in a thorough change in all our tempers, dispositions, and conduct, and in a renewal of our souls after the divine image p. The lion must become a lamb: we must " become as little children, if ever we would enter into the kingdom of heaven i."]
2. The excellency of the Gospel —
[In vain is the moral fitness of things insisted on ; yea, in vain are the demands of the law and the terrors of hell dis- played, for the conversion of men: nothing but the knowledge of Christ crucified can ever operate on the soul of man, so as to produce in it a radical and universal changed But, where Christ is known aright, there the whole man will assume a new character : and in proportion as his glory is seen by us, we shall be assimilated to his image ^. Let not the Gospel then be despised as fanatical, or be defamed as licentious ; but let it be revered and embraced with our whole hearts.]
3. The blessedness of those who know the Lord —
[It is to be lamented that the knowledge of Christ does not produce in these days the full effects that were visible in the Apostles. But the fault is in lis, and not in the Gospel. Nevertheless there are many, who, even in this age of vice and infidelity, are monuments of the power and grace of Christ ; and who, from having been as despiteful towards each other as Jews and Gentiles, are living in the sweetest communion with each other, and with their God. Happy they, whose views are thus rectified, whose passions are thus subdued, and
h Ps. ex. 2. 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. Rom. i. 16. i Col. iii. 10.
•^ Eph. ii. 19. 2 Cor. vi. 18. J Eph. iv. 4, 5.
ni 1 Cor. xii. 20, 21, 25, 27. " Hab. ii. 14.
° Isai. ii. 4. and Tit. ii. 11, 12. p 2Cor. v. 17. Eph.iv,22— 24.
q Matt, xviii. 3. r Rom. viii. 3. ^ 2 Cor. iii. 18.