" What shall we say then ; Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound ? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin (as we all profess to be) live any longer therein ? Know ye not, that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death ? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death ; that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in neiuness of life k."
The point then is proved. Consistency requires that you should seek primarily and with your whole hearts the things above.
If yet you entertain a doubt of this, I ask you, what judg- ment you yourselves pass on a carnal, sensual, worldly-minded professor of religion? Do you not condemn him as incon- sistent? Then in so doing you pass judgment on yourselves.]
2. Your expectations — [The words, " Where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God," are not added casually and without design : they give exceeding great weight and emphasis to all that precedes. These words express the expectations of the Christian, as the former do his professions. " Christ is at the right hand of God," the seat of honour and of power. But he is not there as a mere individual for his own happiness only. He is there prosecuting still the work which he began on earth, and in which we are as much interested as we are in what he did and suffered here below. We look to him to afford us all needful aid by the constant supplies of his Spirit and grace1." We look to him to obtain for us the acceptance of our poor imperfect services"1. We look to him to come again and take us in due season to a full participation of all the glory which he himself possesses". But in which of these shall we succeed, if we do not live to him? If we were to tell you, that a worldly and carnal life was the way to obtain these blessings, would you not cry out against us as " blind leaders of the blind?" Then behold what your expectations are, and how powerfully they proclaim and enforce your duties. If " your faith and hope depend altogether upon the exaltation of Christ to the right hand of God0," your duty must of necessity be to look to him continually, that you may receive out of his fulness all that your necessities require,]
And now see,
1 . How few real Christians there are upon earth —
k Rom. vi. 1 — 11. ' John xvi. 7— 11. 2 Cor. xii. 8, 9.
ra 1 Pet. ii. 5. " John xvi. 23. and xvii. 24. and Rev. iii.21.
0 1 Pet. i. 21.