the vanity of all his boasted wisdom, and they pity the blind- ness of his deluded mind. See how strongly all this is as- serted by the apostle Paul : " He that is spiritual (however destitute he may be of human learning) judgeth all things: yet he himself is judged of no man: (he estimates rightly the state of others, whilst they can form no just estimate of his:) for who (what carnal man) hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct fmn P But we (we who are taught of God) have the mind of Christ;" and consequently can form a correct judgment both of our own state and theirs*. Thus, whilst all others are " perishing for lack of knowledge "," they have " that unction of the Holy One whereby they know all things %" and are become truly wise, being made " wise unto salvation through faith in Christ ^'."]
Such being their high character, they are con- cerned to know, and to consider well, II. The conduct that befits them —
Doubtless their deportment should be such as is suited to the distinguished rank which they bear amongst their fellows : and their superiority to others should be marked,
1 . In their works —
[Their whole " conversation should be such as becometh the Gospel of Christ ^" A tree must be known by its fruits ; and their faith be judged of by their works \ The whole tenor of these must be good : and, though they are not to be done with a view to man's applause, they must be such as to evince to all around them the excellence of the principles which they profess : " they must make their light so to shine before men, that all who behold their good works may glorify their Father that is in heaven ^" They must " shew Out of a good conversation their ivorks.''
But in relation to these (their works) the godly will find no difficulty, if they attend to that which is principally adverted to in our text, namely, to walk worthy of their profession.]
1. In their spirit —
[The Christian is renewed, not in knowledge or in the outward conduct only, but *' in the spirit of his viind"." He is poured into a new mould, the mould of the Gospel''. He is assimilated to the Lord Jesus Christ himself, especially in the meekness and gentleness of his spirit under the heaviest trials, and the bitterest provocations. Of him we are told,
that
' 1 Cor. ii. 15, lO. " Hos. iv. 6. " 1 John ii. 20, 2/.
1 2 Tim. iii. 1 o. ' Phil. i. 2/. • Jam. i. 18.
" Matt. v. 16. * £ph. iv,23. ^ Rum. vi, 17. the Greek.