05. Because he is inwardly conformed to the Redeemer more than others
Another reason why Christians do more than others, is, Because they are inwardly conformed to the image of their Redeemer more than others.
As Jesus Christ is the fountain of all excellency, to which all must come; so he is the pattern of excellency, to which all must conform. As he is the root on which a saint grows; so he is the rule by which a saint walks. God has made one Son in the image of us all, that he might make all his sous in the image of that one. Jesus Christ lived to teach us how to live, and died to teach us how to die. Therefore he commands us, saying, Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. O reader! if the life of Christ be not your pattern, the death of
Christ will never be your pardon! Though the
Lord Jesus was a man of many sorrows, yet he was not a man of the least sin. No man can equalize him in holiness; yet every man ought to imitate him in holiness.
As the sun is the glory of creation, so is Christ the glory of redemption. The summit of moral religion consists in imitating God: without this, your religion will be found a Tekel: when it is weighed in the balance, it will be wanting. It would be well if there were as great a similarity between the life of Christ and the life of Christians, as there is between a just copy and the original. What he was by nature, that we should be by grace. As face answereth to face in water, so should life answer to life in scripture. He that was a way to others, never went out of the way himself.
A truly religious life, is a crystal glass; wherein Christ sees his own likeness. In our sacramental participations, we shew forth the death of
Christ; but in our evangelical conversation, we shew forth the life of Christ. An excellent Christ calls for excellent Christians. As he was never unemployed, so he was never ill-employed. For, he went about doing good. As our happiness lay c 3 near his heart, so his honour should lie near our hearts.
Jesus Christ even submits his person to be judged by his actions. If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. As if he had said, Never take me for a Saviour, if I act contrary to a Saviour. Thus should it be with a professor: Never take me for a Christian, if I live contrary to the life of a Christian. If professors do more than others, it might be said, 'Those are men and professors; but not men and Christians.' Man is naturally an aspiring being, and loves to be nearest to those who are highest. Why does he not therefore take as much delight in those precepts which enjoin holiness, as in those promises which ensure happiness? All those who are conformed to the image of the Redeemer, are as willing to be ruled by Christ, as they are to be esteemed by him. He that deems his yoke heavy, will not find his crown easy. By David's language, there were many singular saints in his day: To the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. Was it so then? and should it not be so now? We know the New Testament outshines the Old, as much as the sun outshines the moon. If we then live in a more glorious dispensation, should we not maintain a more glorious conversation? How blessed would it be for us, to have that blessed scripture fulfilled in us, As he was, so are we in this world. Now if we are in this world as he was, we shall be in heaven as he is. If there be no likeness between Christ and you on earth, there can be no friendship between Christ and you in heaven.
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