A Christian is _one who has a relation to Christ_; not a professed, but
a _real_ relation—not a nominal, but a _vital_ relation—yea, a very
peculiar and pre-eminent relation, arising above every other you can
mention; spiritual in its nature, and never-ending in its duration; and
deriving the possession and continuance of every enjoyment from Christ.
_Beware of a Christianity without Christ_: it is a stream without a
fountain—a branch without a living root—a body without a soul. “Beware
lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after
Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the godhead bodily. And
ye are complete in him which is the head of all principality and power.”
A Christian is _a lover of Christ’s doctrine_. In all systems there
are some common principles; but my receiving what is _common_ in
the system of a master does not entitle me to be named after him.
My believing with a Socinian that there is a God, and that there
will be a resurrection from the dead, does not render me a Socinian;
but my believing what is _peculiar_ in his creed—that Christ was a
mere man, that he was born in the ordinary way of generation, that
he died only as a witness of the truth, and not as a sacrifice for
sin. Deism has _some_ principles in common with our Christianity:
now my believing these will not constitute me a Christian, but my
holding those _peculiar_ to Christianity. These are to be found only
in the Scriptures; _there_ a Christian searches for them; _there_ he
kneels before the oracle of divine truth; _there_ he takes up these
principles, and says, these, however mysterious they may be to my
reason, however humiliating they may be to the pride of my heart—these
I take up on the authority of him who has revealed them. I sit with
Mary at Jesus’ feet; I pray to be led by his spirit into all truth, and
to be able to say with John, “We have an unction from the holy one, and
we know all things.”
A Christian is _a lover of Christ’s person_. This attachment is
deserved and demanded, by all that he has done and suffered for us.
Paul describes the subjects of divine grace as those “who love the Lord
Jesus Christ in sincerity:” and so far was he from supposing that a man
can be a Christian without this love to Christ, that he says, “If any
man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha.”
Jesus himself was the essence of humility, and yet he had such a
consciousness of his dignity, and of his claims to the supremacy of the
human heart, that he made no scruple to say, “He that loveth father or
mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that forsaketh not all
that he hath and followeth me can not be my disciple.”
The Christian is _a copier of Christ’s example_. Without this in vain
you contend for his truth, and talk of your regard to him. “He that
saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he
walked.” In all things, indeed, he has the preëminence. But Christians
are said to be predestinated _to be conformed to his image_, that he
may be the first-born among many brethren. They are described now as
“Beholding in a glass his glory,” and as being “Changed into the same
image from glory to glory, as by the spirit of the Lord.” He indeed had
the spirit _without_ measure; but the Christian possesses the _same_
spirit; for “If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of
his.” We must, therefore, if we are Christians, resemble him who
went about doing good,—who said, “The zeal of thine house hath eaten
me up,”—who pleased not himself,—who, “Though a man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief,” in the midst of the church sang praises to God.
We are no further Christians than as we are like him, and have the same
mind in us which was also in him.
A Christian is _a dependent on Christ’s mediation_. He rejoices in
Christ Jesus, and has no confidence in the flesh. He says with the
Church, “In the Lord have I righteousness and strength.”
“The best obedience of my hands
Dares not appear before thy throne;
But Faith can answer thy demands
By pleading what my Lord has done.”
He therefore comes to God only by _him_; and he looks for acceptance
as to his person and service _in_ him; and while he makes mention of
_his_ righteousness only, he also goes forth in his strength. He feels
that without him he can do nothing—that he can not stand longer than
he holds him; that he can not walk further than he leads him; but then
he sees that there is an all-sufficiency in him, and he believes that
while without him he can do _nothing_, he equally believes that through
his strengthening him he can do _all_ things. As he begins his course
in this way, so he carries it on; and, however advanced he may be in
the divine life, yet he acknowledges himself an unprofitable servant,
and “looks for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
The Christian is _an expectant of Christ’s coming_. Jesus said to his
disciples, when he was withdrawing from them, “If I go away, I will
come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may
be also.” This spake he; therefore they are described as now looking
for him; “to them that look for him will he appear without sin unto
salvation.” This produces a marvelous difference between him and all
other men. Others are now _at home_—the Christian is now _from_ home.
The Christian views his present possessions and enjoyments, whatever
they may be, as only the accommodation of the passing time; he feels
and acknowledges himself to be a stranger and a pilgrim upon earth; all
his treasure is in heaven; therefore he can not be happy, unless he be
there too. “Where the treasure is, there will the heart be also.” And
Jesus knew this disposition; therefore he said, “Father, I will that
they whom thou hast given me be with me, that they may behold my glory.”
This, in brief, is A CHRISTIAN; a _learner of Christ’s doctrine—a lover
of Christ’s person—a copier of Christ’s example—a dependent on Christ’s
mediation; and an expectant of Christ’s coming_.
[_May 20._]