2. The backflider

[What has the world ever done to deferve your regard?— And has Jefus ever "been a wildernefs to you," that he fhould forfeit it?

If you return to the world, and forfake Chrift, your state will be worfe than ever d -1

c Jer. ii. 31.

d Heb. x. 38. 2 Pet. ii. 20, 21.

XXXII. THE EXTENT AND GROUNDS OF CHRISTIAN
OBEDIENCE.

Rom. xiv. 7-9. None of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Chrift both died, and rofe, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

TO exercife Chriftian forbearance is no fmall attainment

There is continual need of it in the Chriftian worldThere are many things of an indifferent nature, which we are at liberty either to do or forbear-

But all do not fee their Chriftian liberty with equal clearness

Hence the weak are apt to judge the strong, and the ftrong to defpife the weak

Thus the Jews and Gentiles at Rome difputed refpccting the ufe of certain meats, and the obfervance of certain days

The apoftle fhews, that, though the two parties differed in their conduct, they were equally accepted of God

He grounds his affertion on the idea that both of them acted from a confcientious defire to pleate and honour God

I. The extent of Chriftian obedience

If we were to judge from the practice of mankind, we fhould think that very little was required of us-But we muft judge by the unerring ftandard of God's

word

Both

Both the law and the gofpel require the obedience of

the heart

And in this the Chriftian labours to approve himself to God

1. He renounces felf

[Self is the idol of the unregenerate world

They ftudy only to pleafe and exalt felf in every part of their life

They have no higher view in courting or fhunning deathBut the Cariftian fees the finfulness of thus idolizing felf

He therefore endeavours to fupprefs its workings, and mortify its defires

He determines never to make the indulgence of felf his chief aim-]

2. He devotes himself to the Lord

[He fiudies to do his will, and gain his approbation-He feeks to glorify his name in every action of life

He confiders that he is the Lord's property, both by creation and redemption

He ftrives therefore to honour him with every faculty of body and foul--]

This is not a mere theory, but a living picture of Christianity

[The apoftle lays down an univerfal rule to this effect He himself conformed to it in an eminent degree —-Every true Chriftian, according to his meafure, conforms to it; "none of us," &c.-]

Such obedience, however, will not fpring from any but evangelical principles

II. The grounds of it

All poffible obedience is due from us to God by

creation

But God has acquired a new right over us by redemption

Chrift has died, rifen, and revived

[He died to make atonement for our guilt

He rofe for our juftification before God-
He revived, and lives to carry on the work-]

He has done this with an exprefs view to reduce us to allegiance

[He

a 1 Cor. x. 31.

Phil. i, 20.

Vol. I.

Z

[He undertook to fave men from their fins, and not in them

Paul repeatedly declares this to have been the end of our Lord's death C

Peter fpeaks to the fame effect, and our Lord himself alfo confirms this truth

The fame was alfo the end of his refurrection and afcenfion

And in all that he is now doing, he keeps the fame object in view]

What he has done is therefore the proper ground of our obedience

[We are fiill as much as ever bound by the laws of our

creation

But we should be particularly affected with redeeming love

This fhould ftir us up to the most unreserved obedienceThe apoftle requires fuch obedience, on this very ground We shall furely render it, if we have any intereft in redemption -]

INFER

1. How few real Chriftians are there in the world!

[If living to ourfelves were Chriftianity, there would be Chriftians without number

But nothing lefs than an entire devotednefs to God can entitle us to the name

How few then are there to be found!

The text might be reverfed in almost every affembly of profeffing Chriftians

Let us judge ourselves by this criterion

Let us reft in no partial or hypocritical fervices

Let us cry to God for his Spirit to renew us in our inward man-]

2. How reasonable is the Chriftian life!

[Chriftian obedience is often ridiculed as precifeness, and ncedlefs fcrupulofity

It is deemed a mark of a weak and enthufiaftic mind-
But it is juftly called a reafonable fervice *—

Who can ever eftimate the obligation arifing from the death of Chri

Who can fufficiently praife him for what he is now doing for us in heaven ?---

Is it reasonable that we fhould defeat the ends of all his love?

Ought we not rather to requite it to the utmost of our power?

Should we account any thing too much to do for him?— Let all then confefs the reafonablenefs of being devoted to Chrift

Let every Chriftian exert himself more and more, difregarding ridicule and contempt1-]

11 Cor. xv. 58.

XXXIII. THE GREATNESS AND PRECIOUSNESS OF THE

PROMISES.

2 Pet. i. 4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promifes; that by theje ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having efcaped the corruption that is in the world through luft.

COMMENTATORS are not agreed with refpect to the connexion of thefe words "--

a

Nor is it of any great importance for us to enter into the difficulties of it

The words themselves, whatever the precife connexion of them may be, are replete with inftruction and

comfort

We fhall take occafion from them to confider

I. The exceeding greatnefs and precioufiefs of the promises

God, in infinite mercy, has given us many "promifes [Fallen man could not claim any thing at God's hands b

We were deferving of nothing but his wrath and indig

nation

But he was pleased to fend his own Son to die for us

And

* Some connect d' with "glory and virtue" in the preceding verfe, and underftands it thus; by which glorious energy of the gofpel are given to us," &c. Others, understanding the third verse parenthetically, connect d' with "God and Chrift" in ver. 2. and tranflate the words " by whom," &c.

Pf. cxliii. 2,

• Pf. cxxx. 3.

And for the fake of Chrift has promised us many bleffings-]

These promises are exceeding great

[They offer the pardon of all our fins d

They warrant us to expect ftrength for the performance of all our duties

They call us to enjoy the moft intimate fellowship with Godf

They affure us of everlafting happiness and glory —

-Neither are the wants of the body, or the conveniencies of life overlooked b—]

No wonder then that they fhould be "precious" [We cannot afcertain their full value-

But every true Chriftian can adopt the language of David']

But the precioufnefs of them will further appear, if we confider

II. The end for which they are given

God would have us to be partakers of the divine

nature

[The divine nature does not import the divine effenceNor does it mean a perfonal union with God

To partake of the divine nature in thefe refpects was the peculiar honour of Jefus Chrift

But the divine nature has refpect to the moral perfections of the Deity*.

Of thefe God would have us to partake abundantly-]

It is for this end that he has given the promifes

[He does not intend merely to fave us from deftructionHe has laid a plan for our everlafting happinessBut holiness is eflential to happinefs-

We could not enjoy his prefence, if we did not bear his image

He has therefore given us promifes, in order to make us holy

And the promifes, if duly applied, always operate in this manner--]

Their fuitablencfs to this end will be manifeft, while we contemplate

III. The effects they invariably produce

There

f 2 Cor. vi. 16.

Matt. vi. 33. 2 Pet. i. 3. 1 Tim. iv. 8. * Col. ii. 19.