are exposed. As believers, we have been brought out of" a world which lieth in wickedness :" but still Ave are encompassed with temptations, and bear about with us a corrupt nature which is ever liable to be ensnared by them. In persons most advanced in the divine life " the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, as well as the Spirit against the flesh ; so that they cannot do all that they would ;" and may be easily seduced to do things, which, according to their better judg- ment, they would not.
The Apostle has been addressing the whole Chris- tian Church according to their age and stature in the divine life, under the names of Little Children, Young Men, and Fathers; and now, to the one as well as to the other of these classes, he gives the injunction in our text. Let all classes therefore amongst you also receive the word as addressed personally to your- selves, whilst we consider,
I. The injunction here given —
There are few subjects, if any, in the whole course of our ministrations, that require a more careful and temperate discussion than that before us. The solemnity with which it is introduced, and the extra- ordinary emphasis with which it is impressed on our minds, evince beyond a doubt the great importance of it : whilst, as if it were of no importance whatever, or there were no danger of erring in relation to it,
enticed you ; and will you love the world now that those " sins are forgiven you ? "
" Young Men;" The world is Satan's ground : withdraw from it, and you vanquish him ; but go back to it, and he will " overcome vou."
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" Fathers." You who have attained such a knowledge of God, can- not but see how irreconcileable the love of the world is with the love of God. Light and darkness are not more opposed to each other than are these opposing tastes. Compare Rom. viii. 5, G. and Jam. iv. 4. with the text.
A more impressive subject than this would be, can scarcely be con- ceived ; especially if the two parts were first treated separately, as in this book, and then a third Sermon were written on them conjointly, and the connexion between them formed the sole and entire subject of the sermon.