If you would not fall and perish by your indwelling corruptions, you must " crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts2," and must " perfect holiness in the fear of God a."]
Address —
1. Those who are satisfied with their attainments — [What ! Have you, then, attained the perfection that was
in Christ? Are you so "clothed with humility," and all other graces, that the world may see in you the very image of Christ ? Are you such " lights in a dark world," that all who behold you may " know how they are to walk and to please God ?" Never be satisfied with any thing short of this : but press forward to your dying hour, that you may, through the mighty working of the power of God upon your souls, " stand perfect and complete in all the will of GodV]
2. Those who are striving after a more perfect conformity to their Lord and Saviour —
[It is well that you are endeavouring to " walk even as Christ walked c." But attempt it not in your own strength. You must be " strengthened with all might in your inward man, by the Spirit of the living God." To your latest hour, as well as in the commencement of the Divine life, " your suf- ficiency must be of God " alone. But " He is able to make all grace abound towards you, that you, having always all- sufficiency in all things, may abound unto every good work." And " faithful is He that hath called you, who also will do it." " Now, to Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen".]
z Gal. v. 24. a 2 Cor. vii. 1.
b Col. iv. 12. c 1 John ii. 6.