[April 27th, 1856.]
The promises referred to are, 1. “I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” 2. “I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
I. The duty. II. The motive.
I. The duty is to cleanse ourselves from sin.
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These sins are of two kinds, those of the flesh and those of the spirit. 2. This is to be done by perfecting holiness. 3. This is a form of religion, it is to be in the fear of God. Sin is a defilement. It is something which is offensive, debasing, marring the beauty of God’s work.
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This is true of sins of the flesh. In all false religions this class of sins are either denied to be sinful, or extenuated. According to the Scriptures they are debasing. (a.) Because the excellence of man consists in the harmony of his complex nature, in the due subordination of the lower to the higher element in our constitution. (b.) This harmony and subordination are destroyed by such sins. The sensual element is strengthened. If it gains complete ascendency, the man becomes brutal. (c.) The body belongs to Christ, is the subject of redemption, and the temple of the Spirit. It is a profanation, therefore, to make our members the instruments of unrighteousness. (d.) These sins grieve the Spirit. They are the evidence and consequence of reprobation. (e.) They are peculiarly destructive of our own excellence and of the welfare of society.
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Sins of the spirit, such as pride, envy, malice, vanity, selfishness, indolence, as well as unbelief, impenitence, ingratitude, &c., are no less defilements. They render us offensive in the sight of holy beings.
We are to cleanse ourselves from these,
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By washing in the blood of Christ.
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By the work of the Holy Ghost.
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By the use of the means of grace.
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By avoiding evil, and perfecting holiness, i.e., endeavoring to be holy as God is holy.
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By acting in the fear of God. We can be moral only by being religious. Men propose different theories of morality. (a.) Regard to the happiness of the universe. (b.) Regard to our own happiness, (c.) The nature of things, or the essential distinction of right and wrong. (d.) Self-respect, the dignity of our own spirit. All these are irreligious. They leave God out of view. Religion is the only basis of morality.
II. The motive, viz. the promises.
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Great power is in the Scriptures attributed to the promises. By them we are made partakers of the divine nature.
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They are thus powerful because they enable us to draw near to God, to enter into that fellowship with the divine being, which is the source of life.
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The special promises here referred to, are the great means and inducements to holiness. They are 1. God’s presence, or indwelling. 2. His love. “I will be their God, and they shall be my people;” or “I will be their Father, and they shall be my sons and daughters.” This includes everything.
If we are to stand in this intimate relation to God, then we must be holy. 1. Because otherwise he will cast us off. 2. Because otherwise we will be unable to apprehend his presence, or to enjoy his love. We must choose between sin and God. If we cherish or indulge sin, we renounce God. If we take God as our portion we renounce sin.
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