He informs us how religion will influence us in reference to,
1. The world at large —
[The terms here made use of draw the line with great accuracy. It is not required of us to renounce the world entirely : we are social beings, and have many social duties to perform : and, if we were to abandon society altogether, we should withhold from mankind many benefits which they have a right to expect from us. When God calls us " the salt of the earth," it is necessarily implied that we are to come in contact with that mass, which, by our influence, is to be kept from corruption. But from " the corruptions that are in the world'1" we are to " keep ourselves unspotted." Its pleasures, riches, and honours we are to despise e, even as our Lord Jesus Christ himself didf. Nor are we to be conformed to its sentiments and habitsg : even its friendship we are neither to court nor desire h. If we would approve ourselves Christians indeed, we must " feel such an influence from the cross of Christ, as to be crucified unto the world, and to have the world altogether crucified unto us1." Thus, though in the world, we shall clearly shew that we are not of the world.]
2. That part of it which is destitute and afflicted —
[Love is the life and soul of religion : and, as it will extend to all in general, so will it manifest itself particularly towards those who are bowed down with affliction. The " visiting" of the afflicted is an office which the true Christian will delight to execute ; yet not in a slight and transient manner : he will so interest himself in all their concerns, as to relieve and comfort them to the utmost of his power k. His conduct towards them will resemble that of Job1. It is the way in which he expresses his obligations to Godm; and in which he shews his love to his Lord and Saviour". He considers love and charity as a commandment stamped with peculiar authority by Christ himself0; and, in obedience to it, he desires to " weep with them that weep, as well as to rejoice with them that rejoice p." This is " pure and undefiled religion." Other things may pass for religion before men, but this is religion " before God :" it is that which he will acknow- ledge as agreeable to his will, and will recompense with tokens of his approbation.]
d 2 Pet. i. 4. e 1 John ii. 15, 1G. f John xvii. 14—16.
e Rom. xii. 2. h Jam. iv. 4. » Gal. vi. 14.
k This is implied in the word eiruTKe-nreadai. 1 Job xxix. 12, 13. and xxx. 25. and xxxi. 10 — 20. m Isai. lviii. 0, 7. n Matt. xxv. 45.
0 John xiii. .34. p Rom. xii. 15.