combine the two, and are simultaneously directed by the light within and the light without, we may reasonably hope that we are in the right way, and " walking in the Spirit," as God requires.]
From the passage thus explained, I would take occa- sion to commend to your constant aim,
1. Consistency —
[This is the primary point suggested in our text: our practice must accord with our profession: if, as we profess, we " live in the Spirit," we must take care to " walk in the Spirit." We must " walk worthy of our high calling ;" or rather, I should say, we must " walk worthy of the Lord himself." We must attend equally to both tables of the law ; and never make a respect for the one a plea for neglecting and violating the other. Our conduct must be uniform, at all times, in all places, under all circumstances. What we are in the public assembly, and in the society of God's people, that we must be in the world, the family, the closet. All our tempers and dispositions must resemble those of Christ; so that every one who sees us may bear testimony to us, that we " have both the Spirit of Christ," and " the mind of Christ." Dear brethren, it is in this way only that we can honour God, or approve ourselves his children indeed.]
2. Advancement —
[We must be making a continual progress in the divine life ; and never think ourselves so advanced, but that we need to be going forward in our Christian course. Our " path must be like that of the sun, which shines more and more unto the perfect day." Even St. Paul thought not that he had yet " attained, or was already perfect:" but this one thing he did, " forgetting the things that were behind, and reaching forth unto those that were before, he pressed forward toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." And we also, if we would be perfect, must " be thus minded1."]
3. Rest —
[To this it is our privilege to look forward ; even as Israel did, when journeying in the wilderness. In truth, this life, with all its labours and conflicts, would be a very miserable life, if we had no prospect of a better. But " there is a rest that remaineth for the people of God :" and with that in view, we may well exert ourselves with all our might. That will richly recompense all our labours. What will not men do,
» Phil. iii. 13—15.