PART SECOND.

THE NATURE OF SANCTIFICATION-RENEWAL OF THE FEELINGS.

"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind."-EPH. iv. 23.

IN formerly discoursing from these words we observed, that the man who is in Christ Jesus is a new creature; first, in his thoughts; secondly, in his feelings; and, thirdly, in his practice. In regard to his thoughts we observed, that they are directed to new objects that they are withdrawn from many subjects upon which he had formerly allowed them to rest, and that even when they are directed to the same subjects as before, they are viewed by him under such a different aspect that his thoughts of them may be considered new. We now proceed to observe, that,

II. Secondly, The man who is in Christ Jesus is a new creature in regard to his feelings.

This particular is intimately connected with, and to a certain degree involved in the former, our thoughts and feelings being so intertwined with one another that there can scarcely be any change in either, without the other being affected. But closely united though they are, there is a difference

between them; they are not the same, and it is necessary, therefore, to treat of them under different heads. It would be an endless task to enumerate all the particulars in regard to which the feelings of that man who has been renewed in the spirit of his mind have undergone a change. I shall, therefore, confine myself to a few that seem more important. And even in regard to these I can mention only a few of the leading circumstances in the change of his feelings respecting them. We remark, then, that the feelings of the man who is in Christ Jesus are new in regard to sin-in regard to holiness-God-his brethren-himself-the world that now is, and the world to come.

In the first place, the feelings of the man who is in Christ Jesus are new in regard to sin. The views of men in their natural state in regard to sin are different, according to their different circumstances and character. Some look upon it with indifference-some with satisfaction and complacency. They cannot see how it can be so great an evil. They cannot believe that it will be attended with such dreadful consequences. Or, if their reason is convinced of its malignity, their heart still clings to itthey cannot relinquish it, and they deceive their own souls with the hope of future repentance or forgiveThere are others whose minds are awakened to a feeling that it is an evil thing and a bitter to sin against the Lord. Remorse seizes upon their soul, because of their aggravated guilt. But then they either think to atone for their past transgressions by their future deeds of righteousness, and thus regain

ness.

a deceitful tranquillity; or, if they feel their inadequacy to satisfy the demands of the holy law, like Judas, they give themselves up to despair, and imagine their sin to be unpardonable. But the man who is in Christ Jesus has feelings in regard to sin different from all these. He views it with hatred and abhorrence, as contrary to the will of God-as having led to all the sufferings of our Lord and Saviour-as grieving the Holy Spirit-as debasing and degrading the nature of every one who commits it-as the cause of all the misery that is to be found in this world, and as inevitably terminating, if unforgiven, in everlasting woe. In whatever aspect he views it, therefore-in itself or in its consequences, in his own person or in the history of the world, sin always excites within him the deepest emotion. When he thinks of his long continued disobedience to the Divine law, and of all the evils to himself and to others that have arisen out of it, while he was a stranger from the covenants of promise, he is a wonder to himself; that in mercy such a rebel should have been spared, and plucked as a brand out of the burning. When he thinks of the power of indwelling corruption, he mourns over his ingratitude to his God and Saviour, and, in the bitterness of his soul, exclaims, "O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" When he looks at the conduct of a world that lieth in wickedness, zeal for the glory of God eateth him up, and concern for the folly and madness of men, who are losing their own souls, fills his heart with sadness; and with the Psalmist he can say, "Rivers of waters run down

mine eyes because they keep not thy law." Even the comfortable assurance that his iniquities are pardoned, and the perfect love of the Divine nature, though they cast out the fear which has torment, and all the poignant bitterness of remorse, do not cast out the deep, and solemn, and soul-filling seriousness and concern, that arise from a sense of the evil nature and dreadful consequences of sin, and the mysterious means by which it was expiated. Though he rejoices therefore, it is with trembling. The very blessings of pardon and reconciliation remind him of his state as it so lately was, and as but for the mercy of God it would have continued to be, and there is that staid and subdued soberness of mind which are becoming in a returning prodigal, or in a pardoned criminal. Not that there is any thing approaching to moroseness or severity;-but as far is he removed from levity and indifference. And the thought of the misery from which he has been rescued the mercy by which this was effected the dangers with which he is still surrounded-the enemies he has to contend with the gracious aids of the Divine Spirit upon which he is continually dependent—the thought of all these things gives a serious colour to all his feelings, and he moves on with the steady and collected yet cheerful mien of a pilgrim, who is travelling through a wilderness where he has escaped from many perils, and is still encompassed with many dangers, but who is following the footsteps of a sure guide, and cheered by the presence of a kind friend, --and who is hastening onward to a happy home. Before leaving this particular it must be observed,

that the Christian looks upon every kind of sin, and upon every particular sin, with hatred and aversion. While in an unrenewed state, there might be some sins that he disapproved of, while he was indulging in others. The prodigal looks with contempt upon the sordid parsimony of the avaricious. The worldly minded scorn the excesses of the dissolute. And the same remark might be applied in many other instances. But the man who is in Christ Jesus makes no reservation in favour of any sin, but looks upon every iniquity as a transgression of the law of God, and, therefore, the object of abhorrence. Not that he never falls into any sin. Alas! even the very

best in all things come short, and in many offend altogether. But it is the power of indwelling corruption, or the strength of temptation, that misleads him; and not a belief that sin can, in any circumstances, be allowable. The believer, therefore, never falls into sin without deeply bewailing it. He prays for grace to be enabled to resist sin and to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. And this leads us to remark, that

In the second place, the man who is in Christ Jesus has new feelings in regard to holiness. If our views in regard to sin are changed, so it is obvious must our views in regard to holiness. The same considerations that lead the believer to hate and to turn away from the one, will lead him to love and to seek after the other. The man who is in Christ Jesus, accordingly, is zealous to maintain good works. His delight is in the law of the Lord, and the desire of his soul is, that he may be enabled to observe it carefully. Here then,