03 - The Practical Influence of Religion

CHAP. III. The Practical Influence of Religion.

UNITED with right principles, and ex­perience, religion consists in the confor­mity of our temper and life to the will of God.

Hitherto we have viewed the saints as seated at their Saviour’s feet, listening to his gracious words, and feeling the life-giv­ing energy of his promises: there they could always remain, in blissful intercourse with their Lord. It is good for us to be here, is their language: here would we stay, and pass our peaceful days in the admiring con­templation, and satisfying experience, of what thou hast taught us. But that adored Redeemer, to whose direction and disposal they willingly submit, sends them back to their friends and families, to tell what great things he hath done for them; and honours them with this important commission, "Let your light so shine before men, that they, seeing your good works, may glorify your Father in heaven." With this sentiment and aim, they go forth into the world, to act their part in life, and to exhibit that character and conversation which becometh the gospel of Christ. To honour God before men, is the lead­ing object which they propose to aim at, in all their pursuits and actions. They know that their obligations are infinite; and gra­titude constrains them to live to him, who hath redeemed them from everlasting de­struction. Animated with this heavenly de­sire of glorifying God, their first inquiry is after some permanent standard of obedience, and a perfect rule of conduct, to which they can have recourse, amidst all the variety of situations in which they may be placed. The language of their hearts is, "Lord, what wilt thou have us to do? What shall we render to thee for all thy benefits? Speak, Lord, for thy servants hear: not our will, but thine be done: show us thy way and we will walk therein." In answer to these sincere requests, the moral law, explained and exemplified by Christ Jesus, is put into their hands, as the law of his spiritual kingdom, binding on all his subjects, perpetual in its obligations, just in all its demands, perfective of the human character, productive of the highest happi­ness, and addressed to believers with this endearing inscription, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

Piety and benevolence are the leading features in the character formed upon this pure and perfect law; for therein we are re­minded, that the Lord God omnipotent is our God, that we are his children, and that mankind are our brethren. When, there­fore, our conduct is regulated by these unerring and unalterable principles, every duty enjoined upon Christians is welcomed by us, as wisely calculated for our personal welfare, and founded on the endearing relations in which we stand to God and mankind: we then most readily subscribe both to the justice and goodness of each precept in this holy law: and it well becomes us to do so; for all these precepts arise naturally from that love to God and man, which is the foundation and fulfilling of the law. If we love him supremely as our God, we will worship him alone; and will reverence his name, and sanctify his Sabbaths. If we regard all mankind as our neighbours, near to us by partaking of one common nature­-if this law is written on our heart, and if we act invariably under its influence, we will not injure their character by false witness, nor their circumstances by fraud, nor their domestic comfort by envying what they possess: we will not covet, nor kill, nor steal. But though the real Christian desires to be guided and governed by this perfect rule of righteousness, he still experiences the painful and powerful influence of that carnal mind which led him captive in his unregen­erate state, and which is enmity against the law of God. It may, therefore, tend to ex­plain both the parts and the progress of practical religion, if, in connection with the several duties enjoined, we notice the diffi­culties which Christians encounter, when endeavouring, through grace, to do the will of their heavenly Father. The first proof of obedience they are called to give, is the opposing their own corrupt dispositions, in order to attain that self-government, without which no obedience can be willing, or uniform. Evil passions and appetites are deeply rooted in all men by nature; and repeated indulgence strength­ens their hold in many; but they must be resolutely resisted by the Christian, because their gratification is inconsistent with his progress in grace, and injurious to the in­terests of religion. The command there­fore is, if thy right eye offend thee, or cause thee to offend, pluck it out; if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off; rather suffer loss, and endure pain, than sin against thy God. "Mortify your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Put on, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kind­ness, humbleness of mind, meekness and long-suffering: and put off anger, and wrath and malice." The laying aside of formerly besetting sins, is but a poor attainment, unless we are also clothed upon with the beauties of holiness, and the ornaments of a Christian temper. The principal branches of this temper are humility, temperance, patience, meek­ness, and self-denial. To have these in them and abounding, is the prayer, and aim, and, in some measure, the attainment of believers.

Conscious of their unworthiness, and weakness, and daily imperfections, they esteem others more highly than themselves; they admire that forbearance of God, which spares such cumberers of the ground; they adore that grace which extends salvation to such unworthy creatures; they confess them­selves less than the least of all saints; and under the impressions of unfeigned humility, they ascribe unto God the unrivalled glory of all their happiness and hopes.

Pressing forward to the land of promise, remembering that this is not their rest, and declaring themselves only pilgrims on earth, they endeavour, through grace, to be tem­perate in all things, to be contented and resigned in every situation, to have their con­versation without covetousness, and to use this world as not abusing it, knowing that the fashion thereof passeth away.

Encompassed with many cares and tribu­lations, they stay themselves on God, and seek in patience to possess their spirits; to guard against all murmuring and distrust; to bear the indignation of the Lord, until he pleads their cause; and to humble them­selves under his mighty hand, until he exalt them in his due season.

Meekness under affronts is of the highest importance in such a world as this, in which turbulent and unreasonable men every where abound; whose daily injuries and reproaches ire so ready to ruffle the temper, and provoke revenge. But learn of thy Redeemer, O Christian! to be meek as well as lowly: when he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to Him who judgeth righteously. Wherefore, dearly beloved, give not way to wrath, and avenge not yourselves; nay, love them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you. The self-denial so strongly urged in Scripture on all the disciples of Christ, implies a guarding with habitual care, a­gainst those high imaginations which arro­gantly oppose the humiliating scheme of the gospel; and mortifying that vain ambi­tion for human applause, which leads many to mind their own things rather than the things of Christ: but it chiefly means, the opposing those intemperate and impure de­sires, which lead captive the men of the world, which are destructive of all inward serenity, and are justly styled the "ways of bitterness and death." To guard the regenerate a­gainst these fatal paths, the injunctions to self-denial are many, and plain, and strong. "Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. Take heed, lest ye be overcome with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the cares of this life. Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. Walk circum­spectly, not as fools but as wise. Love not the world, nor the things of the world; for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world; and the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever."

Thus, in describing the conversation which becometh the gospel, we have been neces­sarily led to consider the temper of the Christian’s mind, and the operation of his inward dispositions: for though these in­ward tempers are only manifest to God, yet their fruits are visible to all around; so that the careful cultivation of the heavenly tem­pers, now mentioned, forms an essential branch of practical religion. To promote the growth of these tempers, and their pro­gress towards perfection, is perhaps one of the most difficult labours of the Christian in this untoward soil. Numerous and pow­erful are the evil propensities of his deceit­ful heart. Those natural corruptions which he thought had been wholly cast out by the power of regenerating grace, have still their root of bitterness remaining; often regain unexpected vigour, spread their noxious in­fluence, and threaten the destruction of all the graces of the Spirit.

Hence arises another important Christian duty, that, namely, of invigorating and cherishing these heavenly plants by means of religious ordinances. Thus believers are described in Scripture, as trees of righteousness, planted by the rivers of water, which bring forth fruit in their season; and are flourishing even in old age, when others fade. The word of God; the sanctuary and its impressive solemnities; the secret devotions of the closet and family; these are the peaceful streams which water the vineyard of the Lord; and these are the sacred channels through which the almighty Spirit conveys to believers renewed supplies of life, and strength, and fruitfulness. The word of God is their counsellor in straits, and companion in the pilgrimage of life; and many in every age, can say with the Psalmist, "when our sorrows abounded, we would have perished, unless we had found comfort in thy most perfect word." By the prayer of faith, they are strengthened with all might in the inner man; and kept in peace, being staid on God. In his taber­nacles, they behold his power and glory, and are brought near to God as their ex­ceeding joy. At his table, they remember his love more than wine; and the fruits of their Redeemer’s death are sweet unto their taste. With gratitude they welcome every return of that day which God himself hath consecrated; and which brings them the renewed evidence, that their Lord is risen, and hath triumphed over death and the grave. With Simeon, they go up to the temple to worship: with Lydia, they attend to the things which are spoken of the Lord: with Asaph they meditate on the works of God, and remember the years of the right hand of the Most High: with devout Cor­nelius, they worship God in their house: with the disciples going to Emmaus, they take sweet counsel together, and talk of him who redeems Israel: and with the first Christians, they continue steadfast in the Apostles’ doctrine, and in fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. The wilful neglect of these institutions of religion, is not only injurious to the pro­gress of grace in the soul, but indicates impiety towards God; and proves of perni­cious consequence to individuals, and fami­lies, and societies, by setting before them an example of disregard to divine institu­tions. Whereas a regular and reverential attention to religious worship, in the closet, and family, and sanctuary, is one of the various methods by which the faithful in Christ adorn his doctrine, and make their light shine before men.

Having stated the more personal branches of practical religion, let us now direct your attention to the duties which we owe to others, and which are therefore styled relative. They are comprehended under these two leading commands, of loving our neigh­hour as ourselves, and doing unto others as we would wish them, in similar situations, to do unto us.

These general propositions are explained by particular precepts of Scripture. "He hath showed thee, 0 man, what is good, and what the Lord requireth of thee: do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God. Let none of you imagine evil against his neighbour: speak every man the truth, and execute the judgment of truth. Comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient towards all men. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Rejoice with them that re­joice, and weep with them that weep. Little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth: hereby we shall assure our hearts before him. But whoso hath this world’s goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion, how dwelleth the love of God in him!" In these exhortations to relative duties, sincerity, justice, and kindness, are particu­larly recommended, as important articles in the conversation becoming the gospel.

Truth and sincerity of speech is of so much importance in society, that without it, mankind could have no comfort in each other, and no confidence in social inter­course; therefore religion requires, that a Christian’s words shall indicate the undis­sembled sentiments of his heart, and shall be followed out by the conformity of his actions to what he hath spoken or promised: a contrary conduct is treating with disregard the omniscience of God, and substi­tuting dissimulation for the godly sincerity which becometh Christians.

Justice and integrity of conduct should ever accompany sincerity in speech; and will lead the Christian to render to all ranks and relations what they are entitled to ex­pect; tribute to whom tribute is due, honour to superiors, gratitude to benefactors, obe­dience to rulers, subjection to parents, affec­tionate attention to neighbours, and con­stancy of friendship to kindred and compa­nions. It is not therefore sufficient to ab­stain from contention, debate, oppression, cruelty, or fraud; Christians are also re­quired to be the salt of the earth, and the lights of the world; to do good as they have opportunity; to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to succour the distressed, and to honour the Lord with their substance: for they whom he hath prospered in the world, are stewards of the bounties of providence; and are as really bound by Scripture to sup­ply, as not to rob; to communicate, as not to injure; to comfort, as not to smite. But this extensive law of justice hath a particular respect to the relative situation of mankind, regulating the extent of authority in superiors, and the measure of subjection in inferiors. Such, therefore, is its lan­guage, as testified in Scripture.-He that ruleth over men, must be just, ruling in the fear of the Lord. Let every soul be sub­ject to the higher powers: for the powers that be, are ordained of God, for the pun­ishment of evil-doers, and the praise of them that do well.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it: so ought men to love their own wives as their own bodies; for he that Ioveth his wife loveth himself.

Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as unto the Lord. Be sober, be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, obedient to your own husbands. Whose adorning, let it be the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is, in the sight of God, of great price.

Ye fathers provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Lay up these my words in your heart, and teach them to your children, speaking of them when sitting in the house, when walking by the way, when lying down, and rising up.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is good and acceptable to God. Honour thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise.

Let as many servants as are under the yoke, count their own masters worthy of all honour, and please them well in all things: not answering again, not purloining; but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Ye masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal, forbearing threaten­ing; knowing that you have a Master in heaven: neither is there respect of persons with him.*

*These illustrations of relative duties are given in the language of Scripture, but the references are too numerous to he particularized on the margin. We beg to refer the reader for information on these and other topics, to Dr. Chalmers’ very valuable and use­ful work, entitled "Scripture References." ED. To these most reasonable rules of righteousness, which flow from the relative situa­tions of Christians, their Redeemer hath added the new commandment of Love to the brethren. As their head of influence and privilege, he unites them into one spiritual family; and requires them to love each other with a purity, constancy, and endearment becoming fellow-debtors to sovereign grace, and fellow-travellers to the heavenly glory. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another. This love is pure and peaceable, long-suffering and kind; it forgives unto seventy times seven; it rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; it warns the unruly, and restores the fallen, in the spirit of meekness; it com­forts the feeble-minded, and confirms the weak. We are brethren, is its language, let us not fall out by the way: We have one faith, one Lord, one hope of our calling, one Father, and one heaven; let us then build up one another in our most holy faith, and edify one another, and rejoice in the hope of the glory to be revealed. On the other hand, if, among the Chris­tian’s kindred or companions, any seem strangers or enemies to that grace which brings salvation, his duty is, not to irritate them by railing accusation, by haughty ne­glect, or indignant scorn; but in meekness to instruct; in the gentleness of advice to recommend religion; in the circumspection of exemplary conduct, to show its powerful influence; and, in all the importunity of prayer, to plead with the God of all grace, that by his unmerited, almighty, and sove­reign grace, he would pluck them as brands from the burning, and call them from darkness to his marvellous light, and make them joyful with his inheritance.

Such is the nature of practical religion, as delineated in the sacred Scriptures:-­walking in all the commandments and ordi­nances of the Lord blameless: living un­spotted from the world; leading quiet and peaceable lives, in all godliness and honesty: doing good to all as we have opportunity, especially to such as are of the household of faith: growing in grace: following after those things which are pure and lovely, and of good report; adding to our faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, bro­therly kindness, and charity. The motives to this Christian conduct are numerous, powerful, and endearing. Thus, we glorify our Father in heaven, and adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour; and walk before him unto all well pleasing. Thus we live unto the Lord, and, as he hath given commandment, and according to the example he hath left us. Thus the life of Christ is made manifest in us, and our light shineth before the world, and the way of truth is not evil spoken of on our account. Thus our peace floweth as a river, and we grow in meetness for inheriting with the saints in light.

Let us then examine our own character: and inquire, What influence religion hath had upon our hearts and tempers, our words and conduct?

Let us nobly aspire after the highest pos­sible attainments, in that life of exemplary and uniform holiness recommended by the gospel. And for this purpose, while we daily rely on the righteousness of the Redeemer for acceptance, and daily dedicate ourselves to his service, let us also be strong in his might, and in the exercise of prayer wait on the promised influences of the Holy Spirit, to hold up our goings, that our foot­steps may never slide: to keep us in the hour of temptation: to lead us in the ever­lasting way: to sanctify us wholly: to pre­serve soul, body, and spirit blameless unto the coming of the Lord; and to make our path shine brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.