And after all this, he ascribes nothing to himself, but gives Christ the glory of all: "I can," saith he, "do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." He was able to do all this through the power of his grace, which was sufficient for him.e This is somewhat of the much that might be observed concerning this blessed apostle; who, in resignation and submission to the will of God, was one of the best copies, and nearest the original, that ever was drawn by the finger of God, the Holy Spirit: and next to the life of Christ, the fairest picture of purity and holiness represented by the four Evangelists, the life of St. Paul is most largely set forth; above one half of the Acts of the Apostles being spent on his character. Nor was it out of any vainglorious design, or from any undue love or valuation of himself, that he entreated others "to be followers of him, as he was of Christ;" but from the inward sense of the great sweetness, peace, and comfort, and the many advantages he found in the imitation of Him; and from the absolute necessity of this duty. These great reasons induced him to propound himself as a pattern; particularly to the Corinthians, to the Thessalonians," and to the Philippians, where he saith, "Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you." f To conclude this eighth direction: Take heart now, Oh feeble and fainthearted Christian; take heart and courage from these great examples. Up, and be doing; "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Wait upon God, and apply thyself heartily to him; that thou mayest be clothed with the same spirit, "and endued with power from on high." As Elisha said of old, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah ?" so rouse up thyself,and say, Where is the God of Paul, the God of Abraham, Job, David, and the rest? The same God who wrought effectually in these to such an exemplary resignation, will be mighty in thee also; if thou hast the same spirit of faith, the same sincerity and singleness of heart: "He that is mighty". will magnify thee; will do great things for thee, and in thee. "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and for ever;" what he was heretofore to St. Paul, and to others like him, he will be unto thee to-day, and to all believing souls for ever; such as walk in the same spirit, and in the same steps. “ Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary ?" Nor “ hath God forgotten to be gracious ; "8 but his tender mercies are the same, and the arm of his strength the same. "The same Lord over all, is rich unto all that call upon him." Only take heed of "being wearied, and fainting in thy mind." ،، Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Thou shalt then be enabled "to run with patience the race that is set before thee:"" though a long and a hard race, thou shalt run it, "and not be weary;" thou shalt walk in the most difficult m paths of obedience, "and not faint." The "arm of the Lord shall awake as in the ancient days, in the generations of old;"" as it did in the days of the forementioned worthies: and thou shalt be "strengthened," as they were, "with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering;" and that "with joyfulness." CHAP. XIV. That the consideration of Christ crucified is a very effectual means for the crucifying of the old man. NINTHLY. Let thy mind dwell much upon the meditation of Christ crucified. Bring thy self-will and inordinate affections to mount Calvary, and there nail them to the cross of Christ. As Christ "blotted out the handwriting," or, xegóvgapor, χειρόγραφον, ‘bill,' “of ordinances, that was against us," and "which was contrary to us," viz. the Jewish law, the Mosaical rites, "and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross:" so should a Christian do. with the "law in his members," or "the law of sin and death:" the nailing it to the cross of Christ, is a most effectual means to take it out of the way. The cross of Christ is a proper instrument for the "crucifying of the old man," and " and "destroying the body of sin ;" and the consideration of Christ crucified a powerful engine, "mighty through God m Isa. xl. 31. n Ibid. li. 9. P Ibid. ii. 14. • Ibid. vi. 6. Y to the pulling down of strong holds," to the beating down all those fortifications sin hath raised in the soul, "casting down imaginations," all carnal reasonings and affections, "every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and obedience to Christ."a St. Paul speaks his own experience of the success he found in the serious consideration of Christ crucified, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world;"b that is, the vanities and hurtful allurements of the world, whether they be those of its riches, honours, or pleasures, are become lifeless and untempting to me, have no energy, or force, to persuade me to an eager pursuit or fond embracement of them: I am so little affected towards them, so mortified to them, as to place no part of my happiness in such things. Now, the meditation on Christ crucified is a means greatly available to the subduing our selfwill, and irregular appetites; in that, 1. His dying on the cross; as the Scripture declares, that it was to make atonement and expiation for sin; so it affirms, that it was also designed to root out and destroy it.. с This is asserted in many texts, particularly in1 Pet. ii. 24. "Who his own self bore our sins," that is, bore the punishment of our sins, "in his own body on the tree; that we, being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." 2 Cor. v. 14, 15. "For the love of Christ con See the like phrase in Num. xiv. 19. and Ezek. xviii. 20. d straineth us, because we thus judge; that if one died for all, then were all dead," dead spiritually, dead in sin, as it is said of the prodigal, and dead judicially, dead in law, liable and obnoxious to death, which is "the wages of sin;" "and that he died for all; that they who live, should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again." 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. "Forasmuch as ye know, that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation," ("your vain conversation," in opposition to the "being holy in all manner of conversation," ver. 15.) &c. "but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish, and without spot." Gal. i. 4. “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver," or, na, 'pluck,' "us from this present evil world," i. e. from the evil of sin and wickedness, in which "the whole world lieth,' "according to the will of God and our Father." f Titus ii. 14. "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works," that is, following and pursuing goodness and holiness with inflamed desires and earnest endeavours,' as Theophylact, upon the place, explains it. Rom. viii. 3, 4. "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit." 2. Christ's dying on the cross was designed to be d Luke xv. 24. e Rom. vi. 23. f 1 John v. 19. |