soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward." Do we want a righteousness to justify us before God? He will clothe us in the unspotted robe of the Redeemer's righteousness. Do we want an inward righteousness to qualify us for the enjoyment of his presence? He will work it in us by his good Spirit, and transform us into his own blessed image. Yea, he will "rain down righteousness upon us," giving us "abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness."m Let this then encourage us; for "none ever sought his face in vain.""] APPLICATION [Let us begin the first great work, the plowing up of our fallow ground. We need not be told either the necessity or the reasonableness of this work in husbandry: and a very small acquaintance with the corruption and obduracy of an unrenewed heart, will supersede any attempts to evince the same in the cultivation of the soul. Only let it be remembered, that nothing but the law, opened in all its spirituality, and applied in its awful sanctions, can ever effect this work. Let us study it more and more, Let us try ourselves by it. Let us bring our actions, words, and thoughts to it as to a touchstone. Let us use it for the rooting out of all false principles, and base affections. Thus shall our seed be sown to more advantage; and a glorious harvest await us in the day of the Lord Jesus.P] i Prov. xi. 18. Isaiah Ixi. 10. n Isaiah xlv. 19. 1 Ezek. xxxvi. 26. • Jer. iv. 3. CCCCXLI. OUR RESURRECTION WITH CHRIST A MOTIVE TO HEAVENLY-MINDEDNESS. Col. iii. 1. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. ONE of the most distinguished peculiarities of our religion is, that it suggests entirely new motives to action. The inducements which reason could offer, were weak and inefficient: those alone which Christianity proposes. are capable of restraining the passions of men, and of regulating their conduct. In the words before us we may see I. The duty of Christians We are not forbidden to seek earthly things; for, circumstanced as we are, we must use diligence in our respective callings, to obtain food for the body: but we must seek heavenly things 1. In the first place [We are but too apt to give the preference to earthly things, and to consider religion as a thing of secondary importance. But we are commanded to seek first the kingdom of God: nor is there any interest whatever, which must not be sacrificed to the welfare of our souls.] 2. With the greatest ardour [It is by no means sufficient to give religious duties the preference, unless we also engage in them with a disposition of mind suited to their importance. We may begin and end the day with prayer, and manifest a strict regard to the sabbath, and yet never find acceptance with God, because our hearts are not right with him. Our affections must be set on things above, as those of a worldling are on things below: and in our pursuit of them, we must not only seek, but strive.d We must take heaven by violence, as it were, if we would ever obtain the enjoyment of it."] To enforce this duty, the apostle suggests, in few but energetic words, II. Our obligation and encouragement to perform it 1. Our profession of being risen with Christ, obliges us to it [Christians are risen with their Lord both fæderally, and spiritually; fæderally, in that he is their covenant-head and representative, in and with whom they are circumcised, crucified, dead, buried, risen, and sitting in heavenly places.' They are also risen with him spiritually, in that they have experienced in their souls a change corresponding with that which Christ underwent in his body: they have crucified their old man," are dead to sin," are risen to newness of life," and have their conversation in heaven.P Now for persons professing these things (for the apostle's expression in the text does not imply a doubt, but rather posi ■ Matt. vi. 33. Gal ii 20. b Luke xiv. 26, 27, 33. e Ver. 2. f Col. ii. 11. i Col. ii. 12. m Rom vi 6. P Phil ii. 20, tively asserts, that Christianity have experienced these things) for them, I say, to be carnally-minded, would be as flagrant an inconsistency, as if a man should call himself an angel of light, while all his works were deeds of darkness: consequently our very profession binds us in the strongest manner to live to God.] 2. The consideration of. Christ's exaltation to the right hand of God is, moreover, the greatest possible encouragement to fulfil our duty ["The right hand" of God means the seat of honour and power: and Christ's session there is not mentioned casually, as though it were of no importance to the point in hand: it is specified as an argument of the greatest force; since it is through his appearance there, that we have hope of pardon for our sins, of strength for our duties, of acceptance for our services. Christ is there as our great advocate, pleading for us the merit of his own blood, obtaining fresh supplies of the Spirit for us, and presenting, together with the incense of his own prevailing intercession, our services to God. What an encouragement then is this to seek the things that are above; since we are assured that we shall not run in vain, or labour in vain! However high we may aspire, we need not fear a disappointment: the more we seek of grace and glory, the higher measures of both we shall obtain.] We cannot forbear to NOTICE from this subject 1. How few real Christians are there in the world! [If the character of Christians were, that they sought things below, and resembled Christ in his entombed state, truly they would be very numerous in every place: since almost all are swallowed up and buried in earthly cares or pleasures. But a death unto sin, and a living unto God, alas! how rare are these! Yet most assuredly none who do not exemplify these in their daily conversation, are worthy the name of Christians; nor can they ever enjoy the Christian's portion. We must live to Christ in this world, if we would live with him in the world to come."] 2. How blessed are they who are Christians indeed! [Being risen with Christ, their lives are hid with Christ in God beyond the reach of men or devils. While they are engaged in heavenly pursuits, they may enjoy the security which God has ordained for them. Oppositions indeed, and difficulties they must expect; but Christ will not loose one It is the same as if he had said, "Since ye are," &c. r1 Pct. i. 21. $ 2 Cor. v. 15. t Ver. 3. member of his mystical body. He derides the vain attempts of his enemies and ours. We too may defy the confederate powers of earth and hell:" for, however they may obtain a temporary triumph, their efforts shall terminate in their own confusion. With Christ we shall rise victorious; and "when he who is our life shall appear, then shall wę also appear with him in glory."] u Rom. viii. 33, 34. * Ver. 4. CCCCXLII. THE GOOD OLD WAY. Jer. vi. 16. Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. WHATEVER bears the stamp of antiquity upon it, finds, for the most part, a favourable reception in the world, while innovations are admitted with caution and reserve-The gospel itself is often discarded under the idea that it is new-Even as far back as the days of Je remiah serious religion was deemed a novelty: but the prophet claimed the people's regard to it, no less from the consideration of its antiquity than of its inherent excellence To elucidate the words before us we shall enquire I. What is that old and good way here spoken of? a The explanation, which our Lord himself has given of this passage, shews that we are not to confine its import to holiness alone, but must understand it as comprehending 1. A penitential affiance in God [Christ declares that he himself is "the way," the only way to the Father-To him we must come, trusting in his mediation and intercession, and looking for acceptance through him alone-Now this is certainly the old way, marked out by all the Jewish sacrifices, and trodden by Abel and our first a Matt. xi. 28, 29. VOL. IV. 3D b John xiv. 6. parents-Nor can we doubt of its being the good way, since it was appointed of God himself, and has been approved by all his saints from the beginning of the world-] 2. A cheerful obedience to him [Our Lord expressly says, "Take my yoke upon you;' nor can this ever be dispensed with--Though faith in Christ be the way of acceptance with God, yet obedience to him is the only means of manifesting the sincerity of our faithHence holiness is by the prophet called, "The Lord's highway"-This too is of great antiquity, and must be traced up through prophets and patriarchs to the days of "righteous Abel"-And it must be acknowledged to be good, since it tends so much to the perfecting of our nature, and to the adorning of our holy religion-] This however is not a mere speculative point; as we shall see, if we enquire II. What is our duty with respect to it all God having so plainly revealed it to us, it becomes us 1. To enquire after it [We should not go on in a presumptuous confidence that we are right; but should "stand and see," and attentively consider whither we are going-We should "ask" of those whom God has appointed to be as way-marks to the people, and whose lips should both keep, and dispense, knowledge-Moreover we should search the sacred oracles (which, as a map, delineate our path with infallible precision) comparing with them the various steps we have taken, and noticing with care the footsteps of Christ and his apostles-Not however trusting in our own researches, we should above all implore the teaching and direction of God's holy Spirit, who would bring us back from our wanderings, and "guide our feet into the way of peace"-] 2. To walk in it [To possess knowledge will be of little service unless it produce a practical effect-Having found the right way we must come into it, renouncing every other path, how pleasant or profitable soever it may have been-Nor must we only get into it, but "walk therein" continually, neither diverted from it by allurements, nor discouraged in it by any difficultiesWhatever advances we may have made, we are still to prosecute the same path, trusting in Christ as our advocate with • Isaiah xxxv. 8. |