The means of this distinction is our discipleship. We have learned Christ and learned him in a different way from that which satisfies many who profess to know him.

We have not so learned Christ as to be able to profess his name and yet practice lasciviousness.

We are converted into learners and are under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit. How we learn is a test question. Some have learned Christ and yet are not saved; others have not so learned him but are truly his disciples.

• Much more than learning doctrine, precept, or ceremony.


• Much more than knowing about Christ or learning from Christ.

Instead of "if so be that," many very competent scholars propose to render the original "inasmuch as" or "since ye have heard," etc., for the apostle is not referring to a supposed case, but stating a fact, as verse 20 proves. — W. O'Neill

He exhorts not to an outward reformation of their converse only, but to that truth and sincerity of sanctification, which the doctrine and power of grace in Christ teacheth and worketh in all true Christians: "If so be," saith he, "ye have learned the truth as it is in Jesus." Which doeth not, as other doctrines of philosophers, etc., teach you to put off the evils of your outward converse only, and to put on a new conversation over an old nature, as a sheepskin over a wolfish nature; he that doth no more falls short of that truth of grace which Christ requires; but it teacheth principally to put off the old man, as the cause of all the evils in the outward converse; and that is his meaning, when he saith, "As concerning the outward converse put off the old man," without which it is impossible to reform the converse. — Thomas Goodwin

An illustration of the foregoing remarks is found in Lord Chesterfield, who trained his only son, not to abandon vice, but to be a gentleman in the practice of it.

Three truths are incidentally mentioned: evil works are sterile, they are works of darkness, and they deserve reproof.

We must have no fellowship with them, neither at any time, nor in any manner, nor in any degree.

1. By personally committing the sins so described or by joining with others in bringing them about.
2. By teaching wrong doing, either by plain word or by just inference.
3. By constraining, commanding, or tempting: by threat, request, persuasion, inducement, compulsion, bribery, or influence.
4. By provoking, through exciting anger, emulation, or discouragement.
5. By neglecting to rebuke: especially by parents and masters misusing their office and allowing known evils in the family.
6. By counseling and advising, or by guiding by example.
7. By consenting, agreeing, and cooperating. By smiling at an evil attempt, and, in the rend, partaking in the spoil. Those who join with churches in error come under this head.
8. By conniving at sin: tolerating, concealing, and making light of it.
9. By commending, countenancing, defending, and excusing the wrong already done and contending against those who would expose, denounce, and punish it.

Even if we could see no good result, yet our duty would be plain enough; but much benefit may result—

1. We shall be clear of complicity with deeds of darkness.
2. We shall be honored in the consciences of the ungodly.
3. We may thus win them to repentance and eternal life.
4. We shall glorify God by our separated walk and by the godly perseverance with which we adhere to it.
5. We may thus establish others in holy nonconformity to the world.

A member of his congregation was in the habit of going to the theater. Mr. Hill went to him and said, "This will never do — a member of my church in the habit of attending the theater!" Mr. So-and-so replied that it surely must be a mistake as he was not in the habit of going there, although it was true he did go now and then for a treat. "Oh!" said Rowland Hill, "then you are a worse hypocrite than ever, sir. Suppose any one spread the report that I ate carrion, and I answered, 'Well, there is no wrong in that; I don't eat carrion every day in the week, but I have a dish now and then for a treat.' Why, you would say, 'What a nasty, foul, and filthy appetite Rowland Hill has to have to go to carrion for a treat!' Religion is the Christian's truest treat, Christ is his enjoyment." — Charlesworth's Life of Rowland Hill

On one occasion, traveling in the Portsmouth mail, Andrew Fuller was much annoyed by the profane conversation of two young men who sat opposite. After a time, one of them, observing his gravity, accosted him with an air of impertinence, inquiring, in rude and indelicate language, whether on his arrival at Portsmouth he should not indulge himself in a manner evidently corresponding with their own intentions. Mr. Fuller, lowering his ample brows, and looking the inquirer full in the face, replied in measured tones: "Sir, I am a man that fears God." Scarcely a word was uttered during the remainder of the journey. — Memoir of Andrew Fuller

Matthew Wilks once rode by coach with a young nobleman and a female passenger. The nobleman entered upon an improper conversation with the coachman and the woman. At a favorable opportunity, Mr. Wilks attracted his attention, and said, "My lord, maintain your rank? The reproof was felt and acted upon. Let the Christian ever maintain his rank.

A distinguished Christian lady was recently spending a few weeks in a hotel at Long Branch, and an attempt was made to induce her to attend a dance in order that the affair might have the prestige bestowed by her presence, as she stood high in society. She declined all the importunities of her friends, and finally an honorable senator tried to persuade her to attend, saying, "Miss B., this is quite a harmless affair, and we want to have the exceptional honor of your presence." "Senator," said the lady, "I cannot do it. I am a Christian. I never do anything in my summer vacation, or wherever I go, that will injure the influence I have over the girls of my Sunday-school class." The senator bowed, and said, "I honor you. If there were more Christians like you, more men like myself would become Christians." — Dr. Pentecost

Rebukes should always be dealt in love; never wash a man's face in vitriol. Some persons would burn a house down to get rid of a mouse. The smallest fault is denounced as a great crime, and a good brother is cut off from fellowship, and bad feeling is raised, when a gentle hint would have done the work much more effectually. —C. H. S.

Rowland Hill often felt much grieved at the false reports which were circulated of many of his sayings, especially those respecting his publicly mentioning Mrs. Hill. His attentions to her till the close of life were of the most gentlemanly and affectionate kind. The high view he entertained of her may be seen from the following fact: A friend having informed Mr. Hill of the sudden death of a lady, the wife of a minister, remarked, "I am afraid our dear minister loved his wife too well, and the Lord in wisdom has removed her." "What, sir?" replied Mr. Hill, with the deepest feeling, "can a man love a good wife too much? Impossible, sir, unless he can love her better than Christ loves the church: 'Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.'"

"Let all things be done in love," saith the apostle. If all thy actions towards others, then, much more all things that concern thy wife, should be done in love. Thy thoughts should be thoughts of love; thy looks should be looks of love; thy lips, like the honeycomb, should drop nothing but sweetness and love; thy instructions should be edged with love; thy reprehensions should be sweetened with love; thy carriage and whole conversation towards her should be but the fruit and demonstration of thy love. Oh, how did Christ, who is thy pattern, love his spouse! His birth, life, and death were but, as it were, a stage whereon the hottest love imaginable, from first to last, acted its part to the life. It was a known, unknown love. Tiberius Gracchus, the Roman, finding two snakes in his bed, and consulting with the soothsayers, was told that one of them must be killed; yet, if he killed the male, he himself would die shortly; if the female, his wife would die. His love to his wife, Cornelia, was so great, that he killed the male, saith Plutarch, and died quickly. — George Swinnock

The Spanish poet Calderon, in one of his dramas, describes a beautiful Roman girl, Daria by name, eventually a Christian convert and martyr, who declares, while yet a pagan, that she will never love until she finds some one who has died to prove his love for her. She hears of Christ, and her heart is won.