You would think it very absurd for a man not to value his own _health_, because he was not a ♦_physician_; or the preservation of his _limbs_, because he was not a _bone-setter_: yet it is more absurd for you, _Claudius_, to neglect the improvement of your soul, because you are not an apostle, or a bishop. ♦ ‘physycian’ replaced with ‘physician’ *Consider, _we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad_, 2 Cor. v. 10. Now, if your _estate_ would excuse you from appearing before this judgment-seat; if your _figure_ could protect you from receiving according to your works, there would be some pretence for your leaving devotion to other people: but if you, who are now thus distinguished, must then appear _naked_ amongst _common souls_, without any other distinction from others, but such as your virtues or sins give you, does it not as much concern you, as any _prophet_, or _apostle_, to make the best provision for that great day? Consider the words of St. _Peter_, _As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation_, 1 Pet. i. 15. If therefore, _Claudius_, you are one of those here called, you see what it is that you are called to. It is not to have so much religion as suits with your temper, your business, or your pleasures; it is not a particular sort of piety, that may be sufficient for gentlemen of figure and estates; but it is, _first_, to be _holy_, _as he which hath called you is holy_; _secondly_, it is to be _thus holy_ in all manner of conversation; that is, to carry this spirit and degree of holiness into every part, and through the whole form of your life. And the reason the apostle immediately gives, why this spirit of holiness must be the common spirit of Christians, as such, is very affecting, and such as equally calls upon all sorts of Christians. _Forasmuch as ye know, that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation,――but with the precious blood of Christ._ As if he had said, forasmuch as ye know ye were made capable of this state of holiness, entered into a society with Christ, and made heirs of his glory, not by any human means, but by such a mysterious instance of love, as infinitely exceeds every thing that can be thought of in this world; since God has redeemed you to himself, and your own happiness, at so _great a price_, how base and shameful must it be, if you don’t henceforth devote yourselves wholly to the glory of God, and become holy as he who hath called you is holy? 5. Again, the apostle saith, _Know ye not, that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify |God| in your body, and in your spirit, which are |God|’s_, 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20.