The New Life

The New Life.
ledge them as our people. The one new commandment
that the Lord gave, the sure token by which all
should recognize that we are His disciples, is
brotherly love. Although the children of God in a
locality are few, or despised, or full of imperfection,
yet do you join them. Love them : hold intercourse
with them. Attach yourself to them in prayer meetings
and otherwise. Love them fervently : brotherly
love has wonderful power to open the heart for the
love and the indwelling of God.^
To complete consecration, there also belongs separation
from sin and the world. Touch not the unclean
thing. Know that the world is under the
power of the Evil One. Ask not how much of it you
can retain without being lost. Ask not always what
is sin and what is lawful. Even of that which is
lawful, the Christian must oftentimes make a willing
renunciation, in order to be able to live wholly for his
God.' Abstinence even from lawful things is often
indispensable for the full imitation of the Lord Jesus.
Live as one who is really separated for God and His
holiness. He who renounces everj'thing, who counts
everything loss for Jesus' sake, shall even in this life
receive an hundredfold.^
And what I separate from everything, I will use,
Entire consecration has its eye upon making us useful
and fit for God and His service.
Let there not be
1 Ruth i. 16
;
John xv. 12 ; Rom. xii. 5 i ;
Cor. xii. 20, 21 ; Eph.
iv. 14, 16 ; I Pet. i. 22.
' I Cor. viii. 13, ix. 25, 27, x. 23 ;
2 Cor. vi. 16, 17 ;
2 Tim. if. 4.
3 Gen. xxii. 16, 17 ;
2 Chron. xxv. 9 ;
lyUke xviii. 29 ;
John xii.
24, 25 ;
Phil. iii. 8.