God and the world are at issue in their estimate of his own people. The righteous is low indeed in man's scale. But place him beside the wicked (Mark 6:20) — even upon the same level (2 Kings 3:14), and his superiority is acknowledged. More excellent is he in character, more abundant in privilege, than his neighbour, be his external advantage and endowments ever so great. Look at his birth, a child of God;† his dignity, a king;† his connections, a member of the family of heaven;† his inheritance, a title to both worlds;† his food, the bread of everlasting life;† his clothing, the righteousness of the Savior;† his prospects, infinite and everlasting joy.† Mark the honour which his God puts upon him. He is the fullness of Christ;† “the temple of the Holy Ghost,”† throwing the splendour of Solomon's temple into the shade.† Angels, while “beholding the face of their Father which is in heaven,” count it an honour to “minister to him as an heir of salvation.”† How can his neighbour's most exalted privileges compare with his? Contrast his high walk with God in “the holiest;”† his heavenly profession before men (Philippians 2:15); his Christian victory over himself (Chapter 16:32. Matthew 16:24), with his groveling neighbour. For ‘what an unprofitable drudgery is the service of the greatest prince in the world, in comparison with the work of a poor Christian, that liveth in communion with God!’† And then — passing to the last contemplation — see him in the full enjoyment of his present prospects, “carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom;”† “entering into the joy of his Lord;”† welcome before the assembled world;† then fixed on the throne of his Lord,† to be with him,† near him,† like him,† for ever — what are his neighbour's prospects, but as hell compared with heaven?† Can we doubt this testimony — The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour?

But we must not decide this character according to the standard of this world. It includes all that is meant in that important but despised word — conversion. What is commonly meant by amendment comes very far short of it. That is only an external work. Conversion is an inward change. That is only partial. This is total. That concerns only the outward conduct, and leaves the heart untouched. But whatever good may be in it of moral restraint, the principles are to be found with a far higher standard and tone in the inward change, which reaches the heart, infuses there a new and heavenly principle, and turns it to God by Christ, as its centre of rest, peace, and holiness. Here alone is the real excellence, bearing the stamp of God, and commanding often the reluctant admiration of the world.

But though wicked Balaam acknowledged the higher excellence of the righteous, his own way seduced him to his own ruin. (Numbers 31:8.) Saul's testimony to David, and Joash's reverence for Elisha, still left them seduced by the power of their own corruptions. (Isaiah 44:20.) Always is this way more pleasant to flesh, and therefore more generally approved. Hence is the wicked easily seduced with the appearance of the right way, and blinded to his own ruin. (1 Samuel 24:17. 2 Kings 13:14, with 11.) Let me weigh my path most carefully — With whom am I walking? In what way?