Eagles and Flies

“Wai luorihy of God, who hath called yoic unto his kingdom, (i Thess. ii. 12) Live as kings, co?n?yzanding your spirits, judgifig your souls to be above ordinary pursuits. It is 7iot for eagles to catch flies. As of old it was said, ‘Cogita te Cassarem esse? ’ — Remember that thou art Ccesar so say we to each believer, Remember that tJiou shall one day be a kitigwith God 17i glory, and therefore walk becomingly.” This is important teaching, and much needed in these days. Many who declare themselves to be eagles spend the most of their lives in hawking for flies: we even hear of professing Christians frequenting the theatre. Instead of acting like kings, many who claim to be the sons of God act as meanly as if they were scullions in the kitchen of Mammon. They do not judge themselves to be Csesars, but they demean themselves as if they were Caesar’s slaves, living upon his smile, and asking his leave to move. What separation from the world, what brave holiness, what self-denial, what heavenly walking with God ought to be seen in those who are chosen to be a peculiar people, the representatives of God on earth, and courtiers of the new Jerusalem above! As the world waxes worse and worse, it becomes men of God to become better and better. If sinners stoop lower, saints must rise higher, and show them that a regenerate life cannot share in the general corruption.

O Lord, I know that in Christ Jesus thou hast made me o king, help me, then, to live a right royal life. Lay home to my conscience that question — What manner of persons ought we to be? and may I so answer it that I may live worthy of my high calling.