Mark the perfect [man]
None are so in themselves, not the most holy man upon earth; for
though all grace is implanted at once in regeneration, the seed
of grace of every kind is cast into the heart at once; yet it
opens and spreads, and gradually increases; nor is any grace in
its exercise perfect; not faith, nor hope, nor love: sin is in
the best of men, and all stand in need of fresh supplies of
grace. None of the saints ever affirmed that they had arrived to
perfection, but have disclaimed it: one saint may indeed attain
to a greater degree of grace and knowledge than another, and in a
comparative sense be perfect; and there is a perfection of parts,
though not of degrees, in all; the new man is formed in all its
parts, though these are not grown to their full perfection: and
whereas perfection often denotes truth and sincerity, such may be
said to be perfect, that is, sincere, who have received the grace
of God in truth, have the, truth and root of the matter in them;
so Noah, Job, and others, are said to be perfect men; but not
simply and absolutely in themselves, but as in Christ Jesus; who
has obtained complete redemption, perfectly fulfilled the law for
them, fully expiated their sins, procured the entire pardon of
them, and brought in an everlasting righteousness, by which they
are justified from all sin, and are perfectly comely, and a
perfection of beauty, through the comeliness of Christ put upon
them;
and behold the upright;
the man that is upright in heart and conversation, who has a
right spirit renewed in him, and the uprightness of Christ showed
unto him; or, in other words, who has the truth of grace within
him, and the righteousness of Christ upon him: such men are to be
marked, observed, viewed, and considered, as rare and uncommon
men; and to be imitated and followed in the exercise of grace and
discharge of duty; and especially the end of such persons is to
be marked and beheld, as follows;
for the end of [that] man [is] peace:
such a man now enjoys a conscience peace, which passes the
understanding of worldly men; and which he possesses in Christ,
and from him, amidst a variety of tribulations, arising from a
view of interest in his blood and righteousness; and, generally
speaking, goes off the stage of life, if not triumphing, yet
resigned to the will of God, and in a serene and tranquil frame
of spirit, and even desiring to be gone, and to be with Christ,
and to have leave, with good old Simeon, to depart in peace; and
as soon as they are departed they enter into peace, into the joy
of their Lord, into his presence, where is fulness of joy, and
pleasures for evermore; see ( Numbers
23:10 ) .