which God would approve : they have no disposition but towards the vanities of this polluted world ; nor, when they transgress what even their own consciences would dictate, do they feel that compunction of heart that would become them. The unenlightened amongst ourselves do not indeed resemble the Gentiles in some respects : they are free from open idolatry, and more limited perhaps in their sensual indul- gences: but in an alienation from the life of God, and an addictedness to earthly vanities, they differ very little from the heathen world. But true Christians are of a very different mind : as the Apostle says, " Ye have not so learned Christ." No, indeed : the true Christian has not so learned Christ : he cannot " run to the same excess of riot" that ungodly men do ; nor will he be conformed, in any of these vanities, to the world around him. He " comes out from the world, and is separate; and would not willingly touch the unclean thing;" much less revel in all manner of uncleanness : and this very separation from the world is that which chiefly incenses the world against him. He comes out from " the broad road which leadeth to destruction, and walks rather in that narrow path which leadeth unto life."]
2. Positively, what it is —
[The Christian, who has really heard Christ, and been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus, will adhere to the truth as it is in Jesus : he will labour that the full end of Jesus's incarnation and life and death should be realized in him. He will see how the truth was exemplified in Jesus; and will endeavour " so to walk, even as he walked." Not that he will be satisfied with any change in his outward conduct : he will seek to become a new creature ; to put off the whole body of sin, with which he is encompassed ; and to put on the whole body of righteousness, whereby he may approve himself to God. The life of God, from which the unenlightened is alienated, is that which he will cultivate to the utmost of his power; and in maintaining it, he will labour with all earnestness, forgetting what is behind, and reaching forth unto that which is before, if by any means he may attain so rich a prize.]
Address —
1. Those who desire to understand the Gospel —
[Remember what it is you have to learn : the Apostle calls it " learning Christ." This gives us the complete idea of ail that a Christian needs to know. The Gospel is an exhibition of Jesus Christ : all that he is in himself, and all that he is to us, is there revealed : all the mysterious purposes of his grace ; all the offices that he sustains in the work of
a a2