January 28

"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children." — Ephesians 5:1.

THE Scriptures present us with some bright examples of piety and devotedness to God, worthy our imitation; but we are only to follow them as far as they followed God. The Almighty himself is our high and exalted pattern. Two things may be here remarked respecting believers.

THE HIGH CHARACTER THEY SUSTAIN. "Dear children." This is expressive of

Intimate relationship. They are God's children in a peculiar sense, by adopting mercy and regenerating grace. It is a relation of high honor, extensive wealth, exalted privileges, and glorious expectations.

Tender affection. "Dear children." They are dear to the Father; he has their names engraven in his hand, and on his heart. Dear to the Son. The sufferings he endured and the death he died, prove this. Dear to the Spirit. He has illumined, quickened, comforted, and sealed them to the day of redemption. Dear to each other, as members of the same body, children of the same parent, partakers of the same nature, sharers of the same privileges, and destined to the same honors.

THE PARTICULAR CONDUCT THEY ARE TO EXHIBIT. "Followers of God." What a model for our imitation! Of course, it is in a subordinate sense we are to be followers of him. Let us select some of the Divine perfections, to which this Christian duty will apply — wisdom, purity, truth, and love. We are to be followers of the wisdom of God, by a search after Divine knowledge; of the purity of God, by aiming after true holiness; of the truth of God, by the display of an upright conduct; and of the love of God, by the exercise of kind dispositions.

"Unsullied meekness, truth and love, Through all thy conduct shine: O may my whole deportment prove A copy, Lord, of thine."