24. And as Christians indeed, are freed from evil thoughts, so are they, _secondly_, from evil tempers. This is evident from the above-mentioned declaration of our Lord himself: _The disciple is not above his Master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his Master_. He had been delivering just before some of the sublimest doctrines of Christianity, and some of the most grievous to flesh and blood. _I say unto you, love your enemies, do good to them which hate you: and unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other._ Now these he well knew the world would not receive: and therefore immediately adds, _Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?_ As if he had said, “Do not confer with flesh and blood touching these things, with men void of spiritual discernment, the eyes of whose understanding God hath not opened, lest they and you perish together.” In the next verse he removes the two grand objections, with which these wise fools meet us at every turn, “These things are too grievous to be borne,” or, “They are too high to be attained:” saying, _The disciple is not above his Master_: therefore, if I have suffered, be content to tread in my steps. And doubt ye not then, but I will fulfil my word: _for every one that is perfect, shall be as his Master_. But his Master was free from all sinful tempers. So therefore is his disciple, even every real Christian. 25. Every one of these can say with St. _Paul_, _I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live. Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me_: words that manifestly describe a deliverance from inward, as well as from outward sin. This is expressed both negatively, _I live not_: my evil nature, the body of sin is destroyed: and positively, _Christ liveth in me_, and therefore all that is holy, and just, and good. Indeed both these, _Christ liveth in me_, and _I live not_, are inseparably connected. For _what communion hath light with darkness, or Christ with Belial_?