perform its proper office ; and love, presiding, will keep every Christian grace in full activity. This, therefore, we must " put on, over all, and above all" the other graces that have been mentioned ; that so nothing may be wanting to the proper discharge of all our duties.]
That I may the better commend to you this state of mind, I will endeavour to point out,
II. The vast importance of it —
Notice particularly what the Apostle urges in my text : " Put on, as the elect of God, holy and beloved" these several graces. God calls for it : man expects it : consistency requires it.
1. God calls for it —
[You are his elect. But to what has he called you? Not to salvation only, but " unto holinesse." Hear particu- larly how St. Paul states this matter : " God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love*." And again : " He has predestinated us to be conformed to the image of his Song." Now if, instead of cultivating these graces, we retain " the old man" in all his power and efficiency, we defeat the very object which God, supposing him to have elected us, has had in view. And will God endure that ? Our blessed Lord said, " Have not I chosen you twelve ; and one of you is a devil h ? " Know, then, if we continue devils, as Judas did, we shall, with him, " go to our own place*," and not to the habitation of the just. We can never be " beloved" of our God, if we be not " holy."]
2. Man expects it —
[If we profess to be " the elect of God," man will very reasonably demand a proof of it. We may tell him of our faith: but he will reply, ' Shew me your tvorks. As for your faith, God alone can judge of that : but I must judge of the tree by its fruits : and, if you profess to be distinguished above your fellows by the special favour of your God, I have a right to ask, " What do ye more than others* ? " Have you " put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and put on the new man, which, after God, is created in right- eousness and true holiness1 ?" Let me see what your tempers are in your family, and towards all around you, and especially
e 1 Thess. iv. 7. f Eph. i. 4. S Rom. viii. 29.
11 John vi. 70. ! Acts i. 25. k Matt. v. 47.
1 Eph. iv. 22—21.