If then we would indeed be "filled with wisdom and spiritual understanding;" if we would "walk worthy of the Lord unto all well pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;" here let us fix our eyes! "Laying aside every weight, and the sin that does so easily beset us; let us run with patience the race that is set before us, LOOKING UNTO JESUS, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God[98]." Here best we may learn the infinite _importance_ of Christianity. How little it can deserve to be treated in that slight and superficial way, in which it is in these days regarded by the bulk of nominal Christians, who are apt to think it may be enough, and almost equally pleasing to God, to be religious _in any way_, and upon _any_ system. What exquisite folly it must be to risk the soul on such a venture, in direct contradiction to the dictates of reason, and the express declaration of the word of God! "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" LOOKING UNTO JESUS! Here we shall best learn the duty and reasonableness of an absolute and unconditional surrender of soul and body to the will and service of God.--"We are not our own; for we are bought with a price," and must "therefore" make it our grand concern to "glorify God with our bodies and our spirits, which are God's." Should we be base enough, even if we could do it with safety, to make any reserves in our returns of service to that gracious Saviour, who "gave up _himself_ for us?" If we have formerly talked of compounding by the performance of some commands for the breach of others; can we now bear the mention of a _composition_ of duties, or of retaining to ourselves the right of practising _little_ sins! The very suggestion of such an idea fills us with indignation and shame, if our hearts be not dead to every sense of gratitude. LOOKING UNTO JESUS! Here we find displayed, in the most lively colours, the guilt of sin, and how hateful it must be to the perfect holiness of that Being, "who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity." When we see that, rather than sin should go unpunished, "God spared not his own Son," but "was _pleased_[99], to bruise him and put him to grief" for our sakes; how vainly must impenitent sinners flatter themselves with the hope of escaping the vengeance of Heaven, and buoy themselves up with I know not what desperate dreams of the Divine benignity!