August 17

"Partakers of the Divine nature."—2 Peter 1:4.

HAVING adverted to the nature, it will be proper to

INQUIRE INTO THE EVIDENCES OF SUCH A CHANGE. Try yourselves by the following tests. If you are partakers of the Divine nature, you will love the Divine Being. The more you increase in your resemblance to God, the greater will be your love to him, and you will show it in many ways; he will be the joy of your hearts, the subject of your thoughts, and the theme of your conversation. You will imitate the Divine perfections. David says, "I have set the Lord always before me," that is, as my pattern. We are to endeavor, after a resemblance to his moral perfections, to be holy and merciful. You will obey the Divine precepts. Instead of looking on the law of God as an iron chain to fetter you, you will regard it as a golden chain to adorn you; will see your privilege in your duty, and cry with David, "Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage." You will be concerned for the Divine glory. Identifying yourself with the cause of God, you will seek its promotion and increase in every possible way, and pray that his "way may be known upon earth, his saving health among all nations." You will be anxious for Divine manifestations. These sweet discoveries in faith's estimation will be as promissory notes from the bank of heaven; the earnest of the full payment—as the sudden opening of the heavens, and the letting down of a stream of light, which gilds the darkest cloud beneath. You will love the Divine family. You will feel interested in all the saints, as they are partakers of the same Divine nature, and bear the likeness of your Father.

CONSIDER THE NECESSITY OF THIS DIVINE RESEMBLANCE. Without it your services are an abomination to God; your pretensions to piety are vain; you cannot enjoy communion with God; you will be excluded from heaven. As we have borne the image of the earthly, may we also bear the image of the heavenly!