in Mesopotamia, cannot but long sore after his father's house," that his soul may not be vered, as Lot's was in Sodom, from day to day, with the ungodly deeds of sinners; and that he may not be seduced, as he is in continual danger of being, by the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, to act in disobedience to the commands of his heavenly King, or in a manner unbecoming the children of his heavenly Father.

The apostle having reminded the persons to whom he wrote, of the character which they sustained in consequence of their Christian profession, that of strangers and pilgrims on earth, who were not at home in this world, not among their own people, but were looking for mansions prepared for them in their Father's house, in expectation of being associated with saints and angels around the throne of God hereafter in heaven, exhorts them to conduct themselves in a manner suitable to their future destination and their high expectations: Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul, having your conversation honest among the Gentiles. This is the

Second point to be noticed. As long as the Christian is in this world, he is exposed to the assaults of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

20 2 Kings iv. 13. 21 Gen. xxxi. 30. 22 2 Peter ii. 7, 8.

24

These, his spiritual enemies, war against his soul. They are seeking his destruction, and will not be at peace with him all his days upon earth. It is needful therefore that he should be constantly on his guard against them, lest they should subvert his soul. His carnal mind, the flesh with its affections and lusts, is continually pleading for indulgence. And unless he deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Christ, it will prevail against him. The consideration of the state to which he is called by Divine grace, to be holy and without blame before God in love,23 to walk so as to please God, and not to be governed by the customs and maxims of the people of the world in these things; and of his expectation hereafter to be at home with the Lord in His eternal kingdom and glory-the consideration of these things is calculated to repress his desire for gratifying the evil propensities of his fallen nature; and therefore the apostle reminds Christians of their state and expectations for this purpose. As the believer in Christ would desire the salvation of his soul, and dread its destruction, he will therefore abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. He will possess his vessel, his body, in sanctification and honour.24 And this, not only for his own sake, but also that he may afford an example to others of the effects

23 Eph. i. 4; ii. 3. 24 1 Thess. iv. 1, 4. 25 Rom. xiii. 1, 5.

produced by the principles of Christianity upon the life and conduct of those who receive the truth in the love of it. Therefore he not only abstains from these things as it respects himself; in consequence of being influenced by the fear of God, he does not seek for the gratification of the desires of the flesh and of the mind,23 but, further, as the apostle exhorts Christians to have their conversation, or whole conduct and behaviour, honest, or good, among the Gentiles, he endeavours to be exemplary in all his conduct before the world. Were the power of Christianity co-extensive with the profession of it, this would be the case with all who bear the Christian name.

This good conduct, the apostle shows, is to be manifested especially by subjection to the authority of the civil magistrate. Christians are to be good subjects to the powers that be, which are ordained of God. They will be such, not only for wrath, not only for fear of punishment, but for conscience sake, for the Lord's sake.25 Rulers are of God's appointment for the punishment of evil doers. Without them, there would be nothing but disorder and confusion in the world. The common accusation against Christians, in the primitive ages, was, that they were desirous of overturning the government. But a more groundless charge could not be preferred against them. Because they spoke of another King, even Jesus Christ, their Lord and Master, the heathen ac

cused them falsely of acting contrary to the decrees of Cesar, the Roman emperor. This was the only way that the Gentiles could excite their rulers to oppose Christianity. The apostle therefore thought it needful to instruct Christians, among other things, respecting their duty to the government of the country in which they resided; and showed them that it was their duty conscientiously to submit to it for the Lord's sake, in obedience to His commands, because it was the will of God respecting them, that with well doing they should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, who were accustomed to speak evil against them as evil doers. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake; whether it be to the king as supreme, or unto governors, as to them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. At the same time, the apostle reminded them that they were not called upon, by the submission to royal authority which was required of them as Christians, to give up their civil liberties. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. They were to act as freemen. They might lawfully claim their civil rights and immunities, as the apostle Paul claimed his, being a Roman citizen, when occasion required. But they were to be

ware of using their liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, or a covering for wickedness of any kind; under all circumstances, remembering that their highest privilege was to be the servants of God; and therefore at all times to act as became that character.

This consideration, that they were the servants of God, would lead them, in obedience to His command, to honour all men, and especially all superiors, as some have thought this exhortation to mean particularly, to love the brotherhood, or their brethren in Christ Jesus, the children of God, who have God for their Father; to fear God, to reverence Him as their supreme Governor; and to honour the king, as being appointed by the ordinance of God, for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. Where Christian principles operate, obedience to civil government will be manifested. It is the absence of Christian principle which occasions all sedition and rebellion against the constituted authorities of the country in which we live. No Christian is justified in taking up arms against a legal government. On the contrary, it is the bounden duty of the children of God to pray for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty; for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour. And we find that such good conduct will not be