But, you may ask, "What is the standard at which I must aim?" I answer:
The law of God is the only true standard of moral excellence; and you
have the pattern of that law carried out in action, in the perfect life
of our blessed Lord and Master. No standard short of this will answer
the requirements of the word of God. "He that abideth in him, ought
himself also so to walk, EVEN AS HE WALKED." All that we fall short of
this is _sin_. There is no want of ability in the case, but what arises
from our own voluntary wickedness of heart. Christ says that he came not
to _destroy_ the law, but to fulfil it. "We are not released from the
_obligation_ of perfect obedience; though grace has taken away the
_necessity_ of such obedience as the ground of our acceptance with God."
The law is not made void, but established, by grace. We cannot be
_saved_ by our obedience; because we have already broken the law, and we
cannot mend it. But, while we trust alone in Christ, independent of
anything in ourselves, for justification before God, the signs or
evidences of our faith must be found within us. There must be a new and
holy principle in our hearts; and just as far as this principle
prevails, so far it will show itself in obedience to the law of God.
There is no resting-place, in the agonizing conflict, till we are "_holy
as God is holy_." I do not say that Christians ever do become perfectly
holy in this life. The contrary appears, from the testimony both of
Scripture and experience, to be the universal fact. But this is the
measure of obligation, and we should strive after it with all the
earnestness of which we are capable.

We must not settle down contented with our attainments, while one sin
remains unsubdued in our hearts. The Scriptures are full of this
doctrine. The apostle Paul expresses far more earnestness of desire
after higher attainments in the divine life than is ever felt by such
Christians as have only a feeble and glimmering hope of entering the