with all care and diligence to "hold fast the Head?" Whether we consider the interests of the Church collectively, or the welfare of every individual believer, there does appear a neces- sity to watch against any interruption of our union with Christ, and to seek from him incessant supplies of grace and strength: for " through him we can do all things e ;" but " without him we can do nothing f."]
Behold from hence,
1. How wonderfully simple is the Gospel of Christ!
[If we enter into the deep mysteries of religion in an abstract way, the wisest and most acute are soon out of their depth : but if we take them as represented by Scripture images, the weakest and most ignorant Christian has as clear a conception of them as the most learned in the universe. The connexion between the head and the body, and the depen- dence of the members on the head, may be more scientifically described by a learned man ; but they are not a whit more justly apprehended by him, than by the poorest of mankind. Yet does this image contain the whole of vital Christianity ; which consists in this one thing, " a life of faith on the Son of God, as having loved us, and given himself for us." Beloved brethren, take with you this image: conceive of the Lord Jesus Christ as your head, from whom all vital influence pro- ceeds. Look to him for a communication of that influence to your soul. Bear in mind, that, except as aided by power from him, you can do no more than your members could if separated from your head. Remember, that as every member of your body is alike under the influence of your head, so must every disposition of your soul be under the controul and influ- ence of Christ : and, as there is no schism in the body, no member affecting independence, or living regardless of the head, so let there be no want of attention to any individual grace ; but go to Him for a supply of all, that all may be strengthened, and that you may grow up in all things into Christ, your living head. Let your wisdom, your righteous- ness, your sanctification, your complete redemption, be all viewed as in him, and all be derived continually from him, ac- cording to the measure of the gift which he sees fit to impart.]
2. The danger of departing from it in the least
degree —
[The persons who proposed the worshipping of angels did not mean to renounce Christ ; and had they been told that their conceit was in reality a separation of themselves from him, they would have denied that any such consequences could
e Phil. iv. 13. f John xv. 5.