1 John i. 8, 9. If ue say that we have no sin, we deceive our- selves, avd the truth is not in us: if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
THESE words are rendered familiar to our ears by being read almost continually as introductory to the Service of our Church. On this account they may appear perhaps the less interesting; though in reality they are, from that very circumstance, com- mended t(j us as deserving a more than ordinary at- tention. The truths indeed which are contained in tlicm are extremely plain and simple: but they are of
infinite
infinite importance to every Child of man, inasmuch as they declare the pitiable condition of a self-vindicating Moralist, and the happy condition of a self -condemning Penitent. We shall consider the substance of them under these two heads — Let us consider,
I. The pitiable condition of a self-vindicating mora- list- Persons of a high moral character are too often classed with the Pharisees of old, whose leading fea- ture was hypocrisy. But,
Moral characters are proper objects of our love —
[No one can doubt but that morality is highly estima^ ble, even though it do not flow from those divine principles! which give it its chief value in the sight of God. So at least St. Paul thought, when before the whole Jewish council ha said, " Men and Brethren, I have lived in all good con- science before God until this day^" In this assertion he spoke of his life previous to his conversion. In another place, speaking of the same period, he informs us, that he was, " as touching the righteousness of the law, blameless ;" and, that he had justly considered this as " gain to him\" And such may morality well be considered, wherever it exists : it is a gain to the person himself, in that he is kept from many aC'* tual offences : it is a gain to all his neighbours, who cannot but feel a beneficial influence from such a life : and it is a be- nefit to the whole world, as far as the light of such an exam- ple can extend. True it is, that, when St. Paul fully under- stood the Gospel, he counted all his morality " but loss for Christ." Yet this does not at all derogate from the intrinsic excellence of morality : and to speak of morality in the con- temptuous and degrading terms which many religious per- sons, and not a few incautious Ministers too, use in reference to it, is extremely erroneous and blame-worthy, inasmuch as it tends to lessen men's regard for moral virtue, and to render the Gospel itself odious as hostile to good works. I would that every Disciple of Christ would consider the example of his Divine Master in reference to this very point; and not consider it only, but follow it. When the rich youth came to him, and was directed by him to keep the different com- mandments of the Decalogue, he answered, " Master, all these have I observed from my youth." Now I would ask. What is the treatment which that young man would have ex- perienced from the great mass of religious Professors? I
greatly
' Acts xxiii. 1. '' Phil. iii. 6, 7.
2\2 1 JOiix, I. 8, 9. [1177.
greatly fear tiiat the general feeling towards him would have been that of contempt, rather than of love. But how did our lilessod Lord and Saviour regard him ? We are told, '• Then Jt sus, beliolding him, lored him "." And this is the spirit wo should manifest towards all who are observant of the Di>ine laws, though they may not possess that faith in Christ M-hich would stamp a new character upon the whole of their conduct. In proportion as any man excels in the different branches of moral virtue, he ought to be held as an object of respect, esteem, and love.]