[As the prodigal was not merely pardoned, but clothed in robes suitable to his new condition, so are the children of God to be adorned with virtues suited to the relation which they bear to their heavenly Father. We must be " renewed," not in our outward actions only, but, " in the spirit of our minds :" the great spring of action within us must be changed, and " the new man" must reign in us now, as " the old man" did in our unregenerate state. Do we ask, How shall this great work be effected ? We answer, Encourage its motions, and exert its powers. The new principle of life in us is as water, which seeks continually to extinguish the corrupt principle within us : and if, upon any temptation occurring, we watched carefully the motions of that principle, we should frequently, perhaps invariably, find it directing us to what is right. But it is " a still small voice" that cannot be heard without much attention, and it may be very soon silenced by the clamours of passion or interest : it is the voice of God within us ; and, if duly regarded, would never suffer us to err in any great degree. It has also powers, which, like the mem- bers of the body, may be strengthened by exertion. Put forth its powers in the exercise of faith and love, and it will be found to grow as well as any other habit. Having indeed the tide of corrupt nature against it, its progress will not be so rapid, nor will it admit of any intermission of our labours : but the more we do for God, the more shall we be disposed, and enabled, to do for him. We must however remember not to address ourselves to this duty in our own strength : of our- selves we can do nothing ; but if we rely on the promised grace of Christ, we shall be strengthened by his Spirit, and be " changed into his image from glory to glory."]
We may improve this subject,
1. For conviction —
[If this progressive change be the necessary evidence of our being true Christians, alas ! how few true Christians are there to be found ! Yet nothing less than this will suffice. If we be really "in Christ, we are new creatures; old things are passed away, and, behold, all things are become newh." It is not an external reformation merely that we must expe- rience, but a new creation. Let all reflect on this. Let all inquire what evidence they have of such a change having passed upon their souls. The voice of Christ to all of us is this; "Ye must be born again; except a man be born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven1."]
2. For consolation —
h 2 Cor. v. 17. ' John iii. 3, 7.