+I. The negative part of this description.+--1. _Christians must not
remain children._--In humility, meekness, and teachableness, let them
be children; but in understanding, constancy, and fortitude they
should be men. Children have but little knowledge and a weak
judgment. They believe hastily and act implicitly. They are governed
by passion more than reason, by feeling more than judgment.
2. _The apostle cautions that we be not tossed to and fro like a ship
rolling on the waves._--The man without principle, knowledge, and
judgment is at the mercy of every rude gust. He is driven in any
direction, as the wind happens to blow. He makes no port, but is
every moment in danger of shipwreck.
3. _We must not be carried about with every wind of doctrine._--False
doctrines, like winds, are blustering and unsteady. They blow from no
certain point, but in all directions, and frequently shift their
course. The light and chaffy Christian, the hypocritical and
unprincipled professor, is easily carried about by divers and strange
doctrines. He shifts his course and changes his direction, as the
wind of popular opinion happens to drive.
4. _We are in danger from the cunning craftiness of men._--True
ministers use plainness of speech, and by manifestation of the truth
commend themselves to the consciences of men. Corrupt teachers use
sleight and craft, that they may ensnare the simple, decoy the
unsuspecting, and thus make proselytes to their party. They pretend
to superior sanctity. They are watchful to take advantage of an
unhappy circumstance in a Church. They unsettle men's minds from the
established order of the Gospel, and prejudice them against the
regular maintenance of the ministry, representing all order in
Churches as tyranny and all stated provision for the ministry as
oppression. They promise men liberty, but are themselves the servants
of corruption.
+II. The positive part.+--1. _The mature Christian must speak the
truth in love._ Be sincere in love. We should acquire a good
doctrinal knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. We should be well
established in the truth. We should see that our hearts are conformed
to the truth. We must walk in the truth.
2. _We must grow up in all things into Christ._--A partial religion
is not that which the Gospel teaches. We must have respect to the
whole character of Christ, to the whole compass of duty, to every
known doctrine and precept of Scripture. All the graces of the Gospel
unite in forming the Christian's temper. They all operate in harmony.
His religion is one continued, uniform, consistent work.
+III. How Christian maturity is attained.+--From the growth of the
human body the apostle borrows a similitude to illustrate the
spiritual growth of the Christian Church. It is as absurd to expect
growth in knowledge and holiness without the means instituted for the
edifying of the body of Christ as it would be to expect the growth of
a natural body without supplies of food.
+Lessons.+--1. _There is no Christian growth where love is wanting._
2. _Christians are bound to seek the peace in order to the
edification of the Church.--Lathrop._