2. Beware of that false humility which would lead you to intrench upon the sufficiency of Christ —
[It was a false humility that led those in the apostolic age to seek other mediators or protectors besides Christ, and other means of obtaining his blessings than by faith alone. But whilst they assumed this " voluntary humility," they in reality were " vainly puffed up with a fleshly mind h." So it is with those in the present day, who look for something to recom- mend them to Christ, whilst they should be receiving all out of his fulness as a free unmerited gift. Their principle is precisely that of which the Apostle complained in the Colos- sian Church. They think it would be presumption in them to go directly to Christ, and to expect to be admitted by him with such a load of guilt and corruption as they feel : and therefore they hope to make themselves better before they go, that so they may find a readier acceptance with him. But this is to dishonour Christ, and to take from him both the sove- reignty, and the riches, of his grace. We must never forget the terms on which alone we are to obtain the blessings of his sal- vation : we are to buy them, it is true ; but we are to " buy them all without money and without price " ]
h ver. 18. VOL. XVIII. P
3. Live simply by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ —
[It is " through faith in the Divine power " that all our completeness in Christ, or conformity to Christ, is to be ob- tained; and to exercise that faith, we are encouraged by the recollection of what that power has effected " in raising Christ from the dead1." Take a view then of the Lord Jesus after his crucifixion : see him dead, and buried, and guarded by a host of enemies who were determined in a few hours to prove him an impostor. Is he beyond the reach of Divine power? No ; at the appointed moment he rises, and ascends to heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, far above all the prin- cipalities and powers of earth and hell. Are you then in a more desperate state than he ? or is not the power of God alike able to effect this change for you? Yea, is it not as much pledged for you as it was for him ? Fear not then, " nor stagger at the promises of God through unbelief;" but as Abraham before you was, " be strong in faith, giving glory to God."]
1 The text.