withstanding we know the evil of such things, we do not both practise them ourselves, and choose for our friends and com- panions those who are guilty of those very practices ? Who, I would ask, are the favourites with the world? the godly, and they who are conformed to the Saviour's image ? No : but the ungodly, who by their conduct and example sanction all the corruptions of the human heart r.]
How inexcusable then must we be !
[Verily, " the men of Nineveh will rise up in judgment against us ;" yea, the Gentiles also, throughout the universe, will condemn us, because of the extent to which we have imi- tated their evils, and abused our infinitely superior advantages. " The Gospel which we enjoy, if it prevail not with us to put away our sins, and to walk as Christ walked," will only prove to us "a savour of death" to our more aggravated and heavier condemnation8. " If Christ had not come and spoken unto us, we had not had sin : but now we have no cloak for our sin1."]
See then,
1. How thankful we should be for the Gospel of
Christ !
[Doubtless one reason why the world was left without a Saviour for four thousand years, was, that the world might see how little they could do to restore themselves to the favour and image of God. At no period were the powers of the human intellect carried to a greater extent, than at the time of our Saviour's advent : but what did philosophy effect ? what did it effect even amongst those who most exalted it? Nothing to any good purpose. The poets and philosophers themselves were as much addicted to sin as the vulgar, whom they looked down upon with contempt : and, if it were not for the light of the Gospel, we should be as much immersed in sensuality as they. Let this be borne in mind, that, whether born in a Christian or a heathen land, we are all by nature equally cor- rupt and helpless ; and all need a Saviour, the one as much as the other. To us a Saviour is revealed, and precisely such an one as we stand in need of. O let us then bless our God for the revelation of his grace : let us be thankful that we see what many prophets and kings desired to see, but desired it in vain : and let Christ, who is the sum and substance of the Gospel, be truly "precious" to all our souls.]
2. What effect our superior advantages should
produce upon us —
[We should aspire after the highest possible attainments, in love and gratitude, in purity and holiness. We should aim
r ver. 32. s 2 Cor. ii. 1(5. < John xv. 22.