practise, that the godly in the land will always be found the quiet and the peaceable in the land,
whatever others are.
Verses 8–10
Christians must avoid useless expense, and be careful not to contract any debts they have not
the power to discharge. They are also to stand aloof from all venturesome speculations and rash
engagements, and whatever may expose them to the danger of not rendering to all their due. Do
not keep in any one's debt. Give every one his own. Do not spend that on yourselves, which you
owe to others. But many who are very sensible of the trouble, think little of the sin, of being in
debt. Love to others includes all the duties of the second table. The last five of the ten commandments
are all summed up in this royal law, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; with the same sincerity
that thou lovest thyself, though not in the same measure and degree. He that loves his neighbour
as himself, will desire the welfare of his neighbour. On this is built that golden rule, of doing as
we would be done by. Love is a living, active principle of obedience to the whole law. Let us not
only avoid injuries to the persons, connexions, property, and characters of men; but do no kind or
degree of evil to any man, and study to be useful in every station of life.
Verses 11–14
Four things are here taught, as a Christian's directory for his day's work. When to awake; Now;
and to awake out of the sleep of carnal security, sloth, and negligence; out of the sleep of spiritual
death, and out of the sleep of spiritual deadness. Considering the time; a busy time; a perilous time.
Also the salvation nigh at hand. Let us mind our way, and mend our pace, we are nearer our journey's
end. Also to make ourselves ready. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; therefore it is time to
dress ourselves. Observe what we must put off; clothes worn in the night. Cast off the sinful works
of darkness. Observe what we must put on; how we should dress our souls. Put on the armour of
light. A Christian must reckon himself undressed, if unarmed. The graces of the Spirit are this
armour, to secure the soul from Satan's temptations, and the assaults of this present evil world. Put
on Christ; that includes all. Put on righteousness of Christ, for justification. Put on the Spirit and
grace of Christ, for sanctification. The Lord Jesus Christ must be put on as Lord to rule you as Jesus
to save you; and in both, as Christ anointed and appointed by the Father to this ruling, saving work.
And how to walk. When we are up and ready, we are not to sit still, but to appear abroad; let us
walk. Christianity teaches us how to walk so as to please God, who ever sees us. Walk honestly as
in the day; avoiding the works of darkness. Where there are riot and drunkenness, there usually are
chambering and wantonness, and strife and envy. Solomon puts these all together, Pr 23:29–35.
See what provision to make. Our great care must be to provide for our souls: but must we take no
care about our bodies? Yes; but two things are forbidden. Perplexing ourselves with anxious,
encumbering care; and indulging ourselves in irregular desires. Natural wants are to be answered,
but evil appetites must be checked and denied. To ask meat for our necessities, is our duty, we are
taught to pray for daily bread; but to ask meat for our lusts, is provoking God, Ps 78:18.