CHAPTER XVIII.

The First Example of Eminent Piety.

THE thought is not always present to our minds, to what extent and by what a variety of means, the God of heaven is consulting the interests of moral rectitude in this fallen world. Next to his own glory, and as the great means of promoting the highest manifestations of his own glorious nature, is the personal holiness of those who are interested in the blessings of his grace. The special design of the method of redemption, is to secure the interests of holiness: "God hath, from the beginning, chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit;" whom " he did foreknow, he did also predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son." The influences of his Spirit are promised and imparted for this end. Create within me "a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me;" -"I will give them an heart to know me ;"-then will "I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean, and from all your filthiness and from all

your idols will I cleanse you." All the truths of the gospel are "according to godliness," and are revealed that they may become principles of holiness. They are all of the holiest tendency, and teach men that "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, they live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present evil world." This was the great object of the Saviour's incarnation and sacrifice. "He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works." The promises which in his word are revealed that "we might be partakers of the divine nature;" the hopes which he imparts are holy hopes and hopes of holiness; while the heaven to which the eye of faith is directed is a holy world, where "there shall enter nothing that defileth;" which "without holiness no man shall see;" into which God "shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations;" and the perfection of whose blessedness shall be, that its inhabitants shall "be like him, for they shall see him as he is."

It would be a delightful fact, if, in the early history of the world, some vivid exemplification of the power of divine grace could be discovered so clearly as to influence all succeeding generations, and encourage them to aim at high attainments in the divine life. There is one such record. There were good men before; but there is no

example of eminent piety, until we come to Enoch, in the line of Seth. He was the son of Jared and the father of Methusaleh, the most aged of all the ancient patriarchs, and the oldest man on the records of history. Enoch himself lived three hundred and sixty-five years. He was sixtyfive years of age at the birth of his first child; and from the sacred record, we may infer he became a pious man, not far from the time when he first felt the obligations of the parental relation. That record informs us that "Enoch walked with God after he begat Methusaleh, three hundred years.' His name implies that he was the instructed and dedicated one; instructed in the knowledge of God, and dedicated to his service. There is no description of piety more beautiful or more emphatic, than is contained in these few words, "he walked with God." The age in which he lived was a corrupt and corrupting age; but he had no sympathy with its spirit, its maxims, its habits, or its character. The men of the world were not his chosen companions; he did not walk with them; he came out from the world and "walked with God." did not walk contrary to him, but with him. The native enmity of his carnal mind was slain; God was his portion, and refuge, and joy. There was peace between him and his Maker; he was reconciled to all that God is, and all that he does ; they could walk together, because they were

He

agreed. He was the friend of God, and treated God as his friend. He was dutiful in his spirit, and in his life obedient. His fellowship was the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Sweet was this intercourse, sweet his confidence, and very many and precious were the tokens he enjoyed of the divine favor. The Apostle, in the eleventh chapter to the Hebrews, affirms that "he had this testimony that he pleased God."

If we may rely on the testimony of pagan and Christian authors, his memory was long revered, not only in the church of God, but in the pagan world. In that early age, this one man was raised up to exemplify the power of vital godliness, and bear significant testimony to the efficacy of the promised redemption. Such was the maturity of his religion, and so distinguished was he for his unearthly spirit, that he was translated to the heavenly world without tasting of death. When we now point men to a bright immortality, we must tell them that it lies through the grave. His high privilege was to escape the struggle, to be turned aside from the dark valley, to travel above it, and to find his mortal swallowed up in his immortality, without this conflict with the dread destroyer. "Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him." He was favored above Aaron, who went up the mount to die; and above Moses, who, instead of descending into the vale, died amid the

mountain glories of Pisgah. He walked with God, and was no longer found in the abodes of men. He was not among the living, nor was he numbered with the dead; God took him. His sojourn on the earth was comparatively short; nor was the ordinary promise of long life to the virtuous and holy, verified in his history. This privilege was unpromised, and altogether above and beyond the region of the promises. It was the reward of piety, well nigh as signal as his translation. God took him from the sins and sorrows of earth, from its scoffing and hateful associates, from the gloom and fears of death, and the loathsome corruption of the grave, to his own heaven of light and love, to the society of his fathers, to his own presence and joy, and to the beatific vision of a progressively unfolding eternity.

None of us may hope for such a dismission from the scenes of earth as his; yet ought we to hope, and pray, and strive for such a piety. We should not be Christians, if we did not desire to be like Enoch; nor should we have the fitting evidence of piety, if we aim not at piety that is eminent. Ask a truly Christian man in what he takes the greatest delight; and he will answer, the service of God. Ask him what he most desires; and he will answer, more and greater conformity to God. Ask him what he most prays for; and he will tell you, it is that I may be delivered from