Vanish forever all thought of indulging the flesh if you would live in the power of your risen Lord! How wrong it is for someone alive in Christ to dwell in the corruption of sin. "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" the angel asked Mary Magdalene. Should the living make their home in tombs? Should divine life be locked away in the charnel house of fleshly lust? How can we drink from the cup of the Lord and yet drink the cup of Belial?

Surely, believer, you have been delivered from open lusts and sins. But have you also escaped Satan's more secret and deceptive snares? Have you come forth from the lust of pride? Have you escaped from slothfulness? Have you clean escaped from carnal security? Are you seeking day by day to live above worldliness, the pride of life, and the ensnaring vice of greed?

Remember—it is for this that God has enriched you with his treasures. If you are indeed the chosen of God, and beloved by him, do not let all this lavish grace be wasted on you. Follow after holiness! It is the Christian's crown and glory.

An unholy church! It is useless to the world, and of no esteem among men. It is an abomination, hell's laughter, heaven's abhorrence. The worst evils which have ever come upon the world have been brought upon her by an unholy church.

O Christian, the vows of God are upon you. You are God's priest—act as such. You are God's king—reign over your lusts. You are God's chosen—do not associate with Belial. Heaven is your portion—live like a heavenly spirit! So shall you prove that you have true faith in Jesus, for there cannot be faith in the heart unless there be holiness in the life.

"Lord, I desire to live as one who bears a blood-bought name, as one who fears but grieving thee, and knows no other shame."