Consider Christ So As to Become Like Him (4)

So, you have a taste of Christ's behaviour to his friends, to his enemies, to Satan. And as for hypocrites he says, 'Woe to them' (Matt. 23:13). He hated them above all the proud Pharisees. I might spend much time in going over details in the Gospels, to see what expressions there are of Jesus Christ.
When you read in the Gospels of any expression of his love and gentleness, of his obedience and humility, in washing his disciples' feet, for example, or of his saying 'Learn of me, for I am meek' (Matt. 11:29), then think, 'This is the expression of my blessed Saviour, the second Adam, to whose image I must be transformed.' And when you are tempted to sin, from your own corruption or from Satan, reason with yourself: 'Would our blessed Saviour, if he were upon earth, do this? Would he say this? Would he not be ready to do this good turn? Surely he would; and I must be changed into his image and likeness.' Surely our blessed Saviour would not stain and defile his body. He would not make his tongue an instrument of untruth to deceive others. He would not be covetous and injurious.
Are you a Christian or not? If you are, you have the anointing of Jesus Christ. The anointing that was poured on him as the head, runs down to you as a member, as Aaron's ointment ran down to his skirts. If you are only the skirt of Christ, the lowest Christian, you have the same grace. And you must express Christ; as you partake of his name, so you must partake of his anointing. If you are a Christian, why do you do this? Does it agree with what you profess? Do you carry the image of Satan and think you are a Christian? Are you a Christian in name only? Any true Christian is changed into the likeness of Christ, into his image.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Glorious Freedom, pp. 114-15 [125-26]
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