Be ye separate.—2 CORINTHIANS vi. 17.
"They are dead fish which are carried down the stream," says Manton. Living fish may go with the stream at times; but dead fish must always do so. There are plenty of such in all waters,— dead souls, so far as the truest life is concerned; and these are always drifting, drifting as the current takes them. Their first inquiry is, What is customary? God's law is of no account to them; but the unwritten rules of society have a power over them which they never think of resisting. They stand in awe of a fool's banter, and ask of their neighbor leave to breathe.
Good men have generally been called upon to walk by themselves. We can sin abundantly, by passively yielding to the course of this world; but to be holy and gracious needs many a struggle, many a tear.
