Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

join in vain diversions. With all speed he must urge his course to the city of refuge; as if he had seen the avenger of blood with a drawn sword close behind, and heard him uttering most dreadful menaces. When he had gained the appointed asylum, he was required to abide there, at a distance from all his connexions, those excepted who chose to follow him; and this restriction continued, till the death of the high-priest set him at liberty from his confinement.

Thus the sinner, perceiving himself exposed to the wrath of God and the curse of his violated law, must "flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set "before him" in the gospel. Without delay he must diligently use all the means of grace, and separate from the vain pursuits and pleasures of an unbelieving world. He must not give " sleep to his 66 eyes or slumber to his eyelids; but flee as a bird "from the snare of the fowler, and as a roe from "the hand of the hunter." He must "work out: "his own salvation with fear and trembling," and earnestly apply for an interest in the great atonement; knowing that if death should previously overtake him, the avenging justice of God would prove the ruin of his immortal soul. And, when he has obtained a good hope of his acceptance, he must still keep close to this refuge; renouncing the society of all those that refuse to join with him in his new course of life; remembering that, "if any man love father, or mother, wife, or children, 66 more than Christ, he cannot be his disciple."

[ocr errors]

Thus the true believer is in Christ, as in the city of refuge: and, if we do not wish to deceive ourselves, we may know whether our experience,

[ocr errors]

conduct, and confidence bear any resemblance to this representation; and whether we desire to join the apostle in saying, " Yea, doubtless, I count all "things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord :—I count them "but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found " in him, not having mine own righteousness which " is of the law, but that which is through the faith "of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by "faith."1

He that is thus in Christ is finally delivered from condemnation; all his sins are blotted out and buried in the depths of the sea; "being justified "by faith, he hath peace with God;" to whom being reconciled when an enemy "by the death of "his Son, he shall be saved by his life." He is admitted into a covenant of friendship with the everlasting God, and adopted into his family as a son and heir. "All things work together for his "good," and "nothing shall separate him from the "love of Christ." All the promises without exception belong to him, and shall be fulfilled in due season and order; for," says the apostle, "all things are your's, and ye are Christ's, and "Christ is God's."-We consider, then,

"

II. The inward change, which every real Christian has experienced: "He is a new creature."

Whether any one were previously a Jew or a gentile: whether he were moral, civil, learned, ingenious, devout, zealous, or superstitious and enthusiastical, a sceptical reasoner, or a scoffing infidel; when he becomes a Christian," he is a new

'Phil. iii. 8, 9.

"creature."-" We are his workmanship, created "in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God "hath before ordained that we should walk in "them." "For in Christ Jesus neither circum"cision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, "but a new creature." What are we then to understand by these energetic expressions? Will any sensible man maintain, that a new creed or name may properly be called " a new creation?"

Will he affirm that nothing more was meant than a decent moral conduct, or an external reformation? Does this amount to any thing more than the cleansing of "the outside," while the heart remains full of pollution? Such frigid interpretations must be merely the word of man; for "the word of God "is quick and powerful, sharper than any twoedged sword; piercing even to the dividing "asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and "intents of the heart." 2

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

It is however, proper to observe, that he who is a new creature continues, in many respects, the same as before. His body with all its members and senses is the same; though he finds himself disposed to make a new use of it: his soul and all his faculties are the same, though his judgment and affections are entirely changed. He possesses his former measure of capacity and learning, with the peculiarity of his genius and the original complexion of his mind. The man of enlarged powers does not lose that superiority of talent; while he is content to be thought "a fool for Christ's sake,"

'Gal. vi. 15. Eph. ii. 10.

2 Heb. iv. 12. Jer. xxiii. 29.

to seek wisdom from him with the teachableness of a little child, and to devote all his endowments to the glory of the Giver. The man of slender abilities and illiterate education makes no advances in learning or ingenuity, except as he becomes of "good understanding in the way of godliness." No alteration takes place in any person's relative situation or rank in society: he can claim no additional civil immunities or advancement, when he is" in Christ a new creature:" nor does he forfeit any of his rights; though persecution may deprive him of them, and love of Christ make him willing to renounce them. In general he abides in his calling, if lawful; but endeavours to fill it up in a

new manner.

What then is especially intended?—Here again the scripture assists our inquiry by apt illustrations. "Ye were," says the apostle," the servants "of sin, but ye obeyed from the heart that form "of doctrine which was delivered you." Learned men generally agree, that the concluding words would be more exactly rendered, "into which ye were delivered;" alluding to the mould into. which melted metal is poured, that it may thence take its intended fashion and impression. vessels of silver have been thus formed again, they are as really new, as if the metal had just been brought from the mine. Thus sinners are, in themselves, "vessels of wrath fitted for de"struction," bearing the image of fallen Adam, and disposed to imitate his rebellion and apostacy: but the new creation forms them into "vessels of

When

1 Rom. vi. 17.

mercy, prepared for glory," stamped with the image of Christ, " fitted for their Master's use, and "ready for every good work." They are the same men, yet new creatures.

The grafted tree also is in many respects the same as before: yet it is a new tree, and as the poet beautifully expresses it,

Miraturque novas frondes, et non sua poma.

'It wonders at its new leaves, and fruit that is not ' its own.'-Thus, when the word of truth is engrafted in the heart by the Holy Spirit, the same man becomes " a new creature," and his thoughts, words, and actions also become new.

The scriptural emblems of sinners, according to their different propensities, are taken from lions, tigers, foxes, swine, and serpents, and other fierce, crafty, ravenous, or filthy animals: but a sheep or a dove is the emblem of a Christian; and the new creation effects this marvellous change. "The "wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf, "and the young lion, and the fatling together; " and a little child shall lead them. And the cow "and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall "lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw "like the ox: and the sucking child shall play

[ocr errors]

66

on the hole of the asp; and the weaned child "shall put his hand on the cockatrice den: they "shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy moun"tain." Does not every man perceive that, if

[blocks in formation]
« ForrigeFortsæt »