LECTURE XXIX.

THE GRACES AND VIRTUES OF THE RENEWED CHRISTIAN.

COL. iii. 12—15.

12. Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering.

13. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

THE apostle having stripped the old man of his disgraceful and sordid attire, and having described the general interior principles of the new man as "renewed after the image of God," and as accounting Christ the centre and source of his life, proceeds to adorn him with the comely vestments in which he may appear as he ought in the discharge of his duties in the church and the world.

There is nothing more remarkable in Christianity

than the variety and harmony of the graces and virtues it inculcates. They resemble the several distinctive garments, prepared for arraying in a suitable manner the new-born christian disciple; nothing is omitted that can qualify him to "adorn the doctrine of God his Saviour in all things." And the ample exterior robe of charity thrown over the whole, with the peace of God balancing and ruling his heart within, complete his ornamental apparel, and the meek temper in which he is to wear it; whilst the whole is accompanied with a variety of exalted motives to induce him to put on the several parts of it with the greater

care.

This portion of our apostle's instruction is the more important, because it especially tends to correct the incidental ill consequences of the earnest contention against fundamental errors as to the mediation of Christ, which he had urged upon them in his second chapter, and in which it was essential to their salvation that they should engage. For the danger of disunion, harsh judgments, and unforgiving tempers in such a case, was, through human infirmity, so great, that it was needful to dwell on the mild and gentle graces of Christianity with the more fervour.

In these verses, we shall have to notice some motives to the Christian for arraying himself aright, derived from the high privileges he enjoyed, v. 12; the articles of attire which he should put on; sup

D D

Eph. i. 4.

ported by an additional motive, v. 12 and 13; the great importance of charity, as an exterior robe to be thrown over them. Lastly, the inward balance and rule of the mind in carrying out all these directions, v. 14.

2. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved.

The force of the word, therefore, which connects this exhortation with the preceding one, refers us to that solemn profession which the Colossians had made of having "risen with Christ," and having "put off the old man with his deeds," and of having "put on the new man, that was renewed after the image of him that created him," and was independent of distinctions of race and country, absorbed in "Christ as his all and in all."

and

Let them, therefore,-things being so,--their profession being so exalted, the vocation wherewith they were called so high,-put on all the christian graces, as the suitable attire of their new state.

As the elect of God, holy and beloved. The epithets here applied to them have each the force of a motive. For the inspired writers use no titles or names, either as respects the ever blessed God or christian believers, without a reference to the especial argument they are enforcing. Did the Colos sians, then, humbly hope that they were really among the chosen servants of God, or, as the apostle terms them, the elect; taken out of the mass of a fallen race by the divine mercy," according as

they were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, that they should be holy and without blame before him in love;" then let them act agreeably to their high calling. Let their "work of faith and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father," enable them scripturally to "know" and deduce, as our apostle teaches the Thessalonians to

3, 4.

do, "their election of God." Let the infinite mercy 1 Thess. i. of God "who had saved them, and called them with 2 Tin. i. 9. an holy calling, not according to their works, but according to his own purpose and grace which was given them in Christ Jesus before the world began," lead them to practise diligently all those blessed graces and tempers by which they might "make 2 Pet. i. 10. their calling and election sure."

For the most merciful will of God in their election would be accompanied, if it were scripturally and humbly deduced in their case, as in others, with an universal holiness of heart and life; they would be choice, elect Christians, set apart for God as a "peculiar people zealous of good works;" they would be" consecrated and meet for the Master's use, as vessels of honour;" holiness would be the habitual character, and aim, and delight, and employment of their lives. Being "created after God in righteousness and true holiness," the effect of that internal renewal would be that they would be holy persons, partakers of a divine nature," having

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2 Pet. i. 4. "escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

19.

A further privilege follows, and constitutes another powerful motive; they were as the elect of God,

not only holy, but beloved, the objects of God's espePs evi. 4. cial love, of "the favour which he beareth unto his people" of his gracious delight, acquiescence, and 1 John iv. benevolent regard, in Christ Jesus. "We love John iii. 1. him, because he first loved us." "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God." we indeed love Christ and keep his commandment, "the Father will love us, and come and make his abode with us."

John xiv. 23.

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And, if

With such motives derived from our profession of having risen with Christ," of having "put on the new man," of being amongst the chosen and elected servants of God, holy and beloved, surely we shall attire ourselves in the becoming vesture of our filial relation to God; surely we shall reflect on others something of that mercy and love which we have received ourselves.

It is one part of the sincere Christian character to be influenced by motives, derived from the blessings we receive in Christ our Lord. Others may abuse them, neglect the consequences to be deduced from them, overstate some one part or understate another; and hold them merely as articles of a national creed; but the true servant of God employs them