eat Christ’s flesh; and so, if Christ be true, can have no spiritual life in Him. For these two reasons, then—because they are revealed by GOD as verities, and because they are the foundations of godliness—it is essentially important to receive every article of the faith: and we, who find ourselves members of a communion in which the faith is thus received, which is apostolic in doctrine, and primitive in practice, have therefore much indeed to be thankful for, and may harmlessly, so as it be humbly, rejoice in the possession of such great privileges. But let us not be high-minded. “Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.” The Jews were a highly privileged people; they received the whole inspired Word; their priests were all called of GOD, as was Aaron; they worshipped in the appointed place, and observed all the enjoined times and ceremonies; yet with many of them GOD was not well pleased. They were unreal, hollow, formal, hypocritical; their service was listless and unmeaning; and so, notwithstanding all their privileges and all their orthodoxy, a Samaritan, a dog of the Gentiles, a publican, a harlot was often nearer to the kingdom of heaven than they were, and met Christ, when they missed Him. Is not this a warning to us? What though we possess the pure and entire faith, though we have an appointed ministry, and continue in the apostles’ fellowship, though the spirit of Christ be present in our ordinances, and all our forms and ceremonies be after an approved pattern, yet may we not any of us be unreal in our use of these things, hollow, formal, listless, and so go away unaccepted and unblessed, while the less privileged Romanist or Dissenter is receiving the sweet assurance, “Thy faith hath made thee whole?” Depend upon it this may be, and often is the case. GOD would have us _intellectually_ wise, but He would also have us _heartily_ good. A good heart and a right mind _united_, form the being who is most blessed; with whom the covenant is surest, and in whom GOD takes most delight; but better, far better, a good heart alone, than a right mind alone. Christ, as He walked on earth the messenger of peace and love to all men, had a special interest in the Jews (His own people), but it was in Jews whose practice corresponded with their profession, whose heart and life illustrated what their understanding received. On such as these, His highest favours would have been most readily bestowed; but wanting these qualities, He estimated their orthodoxy at nothing; and, on the other hand, finding these qualities among strangers and aliens, He allowed not their heterodoxy to prove an obstacle to their blessing. In many cases uncircumcision was counted for circumcision, and circumcision for uncircumcision.