AN EXTRACT
THE word of God affords us two valuable rules for all our actions; and if we could set them always before our eyes, I believe we should seldom be at a loss as to the conduct we ought to pursue. "Whether, therefore, ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. And whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." (1 Cor. 10:3131Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31); Col. 3:1717And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:17).) Let us then always ask ourselves, before we set about any study or employment, or enter into any company, "Am I doing this ' to the glory of God?' Is it my sole, or at least my principal, motive? Can I do it ' in the name of the Lord Jesus?' Can I boldly say it is such an action as He would approve of? And can I look up to Him all' the time I am doing it for His sanction and blessing?"... From the moment we take refuge at the cross of Jesus, and are "washed from our sins in His own blood," from that happy moment we are no longer our own, and must make it our business to "glorify God in our body and spirit, which are God's." This seems to me to be the great and marked distinction between the Christian and the worldling. The one lives to himself; the other "to Him who died for him, and rose again." The one consults his own pleasure, ease, and safety, leans to his own understanding, and seeks his own glory. The other prays that his will may be quite swallowed up in the will of Jesus, "ceases from his own wisdom," and makes "Christ his wisdom." He no longer receives "the honor that cometh from men," but desires that Christ, the author of all good things, may have all the glory of them. His fleshly nature, or, as St. Paul calls it, the old man, strives hard against this, and would lead him to please and honor himself again; and this is the great conflict between the flesh and the Spirit, which makes the Christian life to be so truly called a warfare. The conflict has already begun in you, my dearest friend, and will never cease till death takes you from sense and self to where you shall see Jesus as He is, and wonder that you could ever prefer anything to Him. No wonder you find it a hard and strange conflict. Parting with self-seeking, self-honoring, self-righteousness, is far more painful than cutting off a right hand, or plucking out a right eye. "With man, indeed, this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." Taking this consideration with us, then, that Christ—not self—is the end of all our actions, and "whether we eat or drink," or speak, go in or out, or are alone, or in company, engaged in study or recreation, we must "do all to the glory of God," and "in the name of the Lord Jesus"—I think it will give us a very different view of our duty as to worldly company and worldly employments from any that worldly wisdom or policy can give us And now, my dearest friend, I have proposed many privations to you; and what have I to offer you in return? Nothing but the love of Jesus; nay, this is yours already; for if you are enabled to give these things up, it will be not that He may love you, but because He has loved you ... . Let us cast off the spirit of bondage, and not come to God as slaves, who must serve Him, but as His redeemed children, who love to serve Him, and who find His service perfect freedom. Let us pray that more of the love of God may be shed abroad in our hearts.... It is but a little ray of this love that as yet has warmed my heart, yet I can tell you, dearest and most beloved friend, that it is worth renouncing ten thousand worlds for. The Lord Jesus has sometimes drawn near to me with such unspeakable sweetness, that I have thought all the lovely relations of life—father, husband, friend—had no beauty in them, except as they served to shadow forth the immense love of our reconciled God in Him, and the near and intimate communion to which He admits His chosen and redeemed people. Oh, my friend, He has chosen you. What a wonder of love is here! He has redeemed you at the price of His own precious blood "from this evil world." Will you linger in it any longer? God forbid! May the Spirit of God "fill you with such joy and peace in believing" as may make the world and the things of it appear to you in their true light. Remember, this is not your home. We are strangers and pilgrims here. Let not the world see that the joys of the love of Christ and communion with Him are not enough to occupy us, without having recourse to the many vain and trifling ways they have invented of killing time and driving eternity out of their thoughts ... . I cannot but remind you that "all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution." Not perhaps open persecution now; but ridicule, dislike, sneering, either open or secret, must be your lot, if you determine to be "not conformed to this world." We must not think it hard, or be angry, or disheartened, if these things come upon us, for our Master was a scorn and derision to all around Him.
“STRIVE to be dead to this world, and to your will and lusts. Let Christ have a commanding power and a king's throne in you. Walk with Christ, howbeit the world should take the hide off your face. I promise you that Christ will win the field. Your pastors cause you to err. Except you see Christ's word, go not one foot with them."—Samuel Rutherford.