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willing to learn as scholars, with humility of mind, sensible of our natural ignorance of Divine truth, and praying that we may be taught of God, according to His gracious promise; we must hear and obey the truth, if we would obtain the blessings which it sets before us.

May the Spirit of God be our Teacher, while we meditate upon this portion of His holy word which has been revealed for our admonition, that we may be led to avoid and turn away from every thing that is contrary to His holy mind and will, and to follow all such things as are agreeable to it; and may be blessed by Him in time and in eternity.

It appears, from the manner in which the Epistle for this day commences, that the state of the Gentile world, in the days of the apostles, was most dreadful. It made St. Paul very anxious on behalf of those who were converted to Christianity by his instrumentality, lest they should again be led aside by the evil example of those around them. He therefore speaks in the most solemn and earnest manner, This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk, not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind. He did not think it sufficient merely to make a passing remark on this subject, but he bore his solemn testimony to its importance in such a way, as showed that it demanded their most serious attention; that as they professed

to be Christians, or, in the language of the text, to have learned Christ, to have heard Him, and to have been taught by Him as the truth is in Jesus, their walk or conduct in the world must be different from that of the people among whom they lived.

48

These Gentiles, or heathens, walked in vanity; their minds were filled with it. This character has always been descriptive of the children of this world. Their minds are set upon and take pleasure in vanity and folly; that which is empty, vain, frivolous, and unsatisfying. What is all the display that is made in the world, but a proof of this? Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity. Surely every man walketh in a vain show.49 How is the vanity of mankind displayed in various ways, in ostentation and false pretences of every kind, mental and bodily! But that to which the apostle refers particularly, he mentions more fully to the Romans, when, speaking of the power of God being visible in the works of creation, he represents the heathen as being without excuse, because that when they knew God from His works, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful for the benefits which He conferred upon them, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened; professing themselves to be wise, they

48 Ecclesiastes i. 2.

49 Psalm xxxix. 6.

became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things. The vanity and folly of the heathen philosophers appeared, in that when they were persuaded that the works of creation gave full evidence of the Almighty power which brought them into existence, instead of worshipping the invisible Being who had made all these things, they were satisfied to worship the works of their own hands; images of their fellow creatures, of dead men, and even of inferior animals. they gave full proof of having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that was in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Their minds were blinded by ignorance, and their hearts were hardened; so that love and gratitude to Him in whom they lived and moved and had their being, who giveth to all life and breath and all things,"1 had no place in them; they would not know Him, they did not love Him.

Thus

The apostle goes on to describe the characters of those who have not learned Christ, as being past feeling, or destitute of it, having no tenderness of conscience respecting right or wrong; and being therefore without any remorse for their wicked conduct. And as the consequence of this, they

50 Rom. i. 20-23. 51 Acts xvii. 25, 28; xxvi. 18. 52 Col. i. 13.

had given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Here we learn that sin against God is not void of criminality, on account of those who commit it being ignorant of what is right. The servant who knows his Master's will, and does it not, is indeed more culpable; but all sin brings down the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. What an awful description is this of the state of the Gentile world! Oh! that Christian lands were free from these vices, which are so decidedly condemned in the word of God. In heathen countries it has always been found that vice reigns triumphant. It is the knowledge of the revealed will of God which alone gives proper feelings on these subjects.

The apostle was thankful that the persons whom he addressed had been better instructed; so that they did not act in the wicked manner that he had described. He said to them in the text, Ye have not so learned Christ. The knowledge of Christ Jesus, the Saviour of sinners, had been communicated to them, and it had produced a powerful effect upon them. They had, by the belief of the gospel, been turned from darkness to light; and from the power of Satan unto God.51 They had been delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son. 52 They had learned better than to live in sin and wickedness, as the heathen did, among whom they dwelt. We have reason also to be thankful

that we are not in heathen darkness and sin, but that we know better. Let us see to it that our practice corresponds with our profession; lest those who have not our advantages should rise up in judgment against us.

The Christians at Ephesus afforded proof of their learning and proficiency in the school of Christ: If so be that, or since, ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus. They had heard the word of God with attention, and had not heard it in vain. They had received Divine teaching and instruction, as well as heard with the hearing of the ear. They had attentively listened to the voice of God speaking to them in His holy word. They had been taught the truth as it is in Jesus; that Divine truth which is to be known only through Him, which relates to Him, and is made known by the teaching of His Spirit; the truth respecting the Divine method for the pardon of sin and reconciliation with God.

All who anxiously seek and obtain pardon from God, are convinced of the evil and danger of sin, or they would not be desirous of receiving forgiveness. The truth as it is in Jesus therefore teaches them that they should put off, concerning the former conversation, or their previous course of life, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; their natural carnal inclinations and desires. These must be renounced and put off by the true Christian; they must not be al

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