soul by the Spirit of God: as St. Paul has said, " God hatli given him the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of his Son'." Nay, "he is himself one spirit with Christ V' and " has in him the very mind that was in Christ^." He has, " according to the measure of the gift of Christ," the very " law of God himself written in his heart™ ;" so that he may be " seen and known of all men to be an epistle of Christ, written, not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God"." True, indeed, he always needs fresh instruction from above ; and will, even to his dying hour, have occasion for that prayer, " What I know not, teach thou me." At first he is only " a babe, and unskilful in the word of righteousness : and it is not till after his spiritual senses have been long exercised to discern both good and evil°," that he attains the fuller " mind of Christ." But, even as " a babe, he has opened to his view things which are hid from the wise and prudent P;" and an inward monitor, saying, " This is the way, walk thou in ifi." Hence, therefore, whatever superiority a natural man may have over him in relation to the things of time and sense, he is himself superior to the natural man in reference to the things of the Spirit ; nor can the natural man either add any thing unto him, or correct him.]
What then shall I say ? I will say to every one that is taught of the Spirit, 1. Regard not the ridicule of an ignorant and un- godly world —
[They will ridicule you ; and they will despise you ; and they will represent all your pursuits as folly : but " they know not what they say; nor do they understand whereof they affirm." Nay, they themselves have a secret consciousness, that, at least in the main you are right. This do then : Ask them if they are right : ask them on what their own conduct is founded, whether on the commands of God, or on the dictates of the world. Ask them which is the more likely to issue well at last, a life of worldly conformity, or a life devoted to God. I mean not by this to encourage any thing that is really enthusiastic or absurd. You must doubtless " walk in wisdom towards them that are without," and "give no occasion to any one to speak reproachfully :" but you must nevertheless main- tain a holy and consistent conduct ; and, " if reproached or persecuted for righteousness' sake, you must rejoice %" and bless God, who has counted you worthy of such an honour'.]
i Eph. i. 17, 18. ^ 1 Cor. vi. 17. ' Phil. ii. 5.
'^ Jer. xxxi. 33. " 2 Cor. iii. 3. ° Heb. v. 13, 14.
P Matt. xi. 25. i Isai. xxx. 21. with Matt. xii. 31, 35.
r Matt. V. 11, 12. » Acts V. 41. with 1 Cor. iv. 3.