(Excerpt from Notes on Leviticus)
Nothing can be more dishonoring to the pure grace of the gospel than the supposition that
a man may belong to God while his conduct and character exhibit not the fair traces of
practical holiness. "Known unto God are all His works," no doubt; but He has
given us, in His holy Word, those evidences by which we can discern those that belong to
Him. "The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, 'The Lord knoweth them
that are His.' And, 'Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from
iniquity."' (2 Tim. 2:19). We have no right to suppose that an evil-doer belongs to
God. The holy instincts of the divine nature are shocked by the mention of such a thing.
People sometimes express much difficulty in accounting for such and such evil practices on
the part of those whom they cannot help regarding in the light of Christians. The Word of
God settles the matter so clearly and so authoritatively, as to leave no possible ground
for any such difficulty. - "In this the children of God are manifest, and the
children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that
loveth not his brother." It is well to remember this, in this day of laxity and
self-indulgence. There is a fearful amount of easy, uninfluential profession abroad,
against which the genuine Christian is called upon to make a firm stand, and bear a severe
testimony - a testimony resulting from the steady exhibition of "the fruits of
righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God." It is most
deplorable to see so many going along the beaten path - the well- trodden highway of
religious profession, and yet manifesting not a trace of love or holiness in their
conduct. Christian reader, let us be faithful; let us rebuke, by a life of self-denial and
genuine benevolence, the self-indulgence and culpable inactivity of evangelical, yet
worldly, profession. May God grant unto all His true-hearted people abundant grace for
these things!
"What shall we say then? Shall We continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly
not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" (Rom. 6:1,2).
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due
time: