Cleave to That Which is Good.
By A. S. Hutchins
AMONG the many highly important instructions of the twelfth chapter of the epistle to the Romans, the apostle exhorts us to "cleave to that which is good." Or as the original literally signifies, be cemented or glued to that which is good. Hold it as the paramount object of life, to embrace those principles which lead to God, and which contribute most to our own happiness, and that of our fellow creatures. As God surveyed the glorious works of creation when completed, he "saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good." Gen. i, 31. But sin and rebellion have marred all the noble works of creation, alienated man from the Creator, and disposed him to wander from God, the center and source of all goodness, wisdom, light, life and perfection. Yet "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John iii, 16. "Behold," says John, "what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." All the sacrifices, sufferings, agonies, and the death of the compassionate Saviour; his intercessory work in the heavenly sanctuary; the ample provisions of the plan of salvation; the instructions of the sacred word of God; the melting, refining and elevating impressions of the Holy Spirit; the powerful appeals of the preached gospel; the uniting, saving influences of the gifts of the church, are all to bring back man from the thraldom of sin and the deplorable consequences of the fall, and to secure to him eternal life, beyond the reach of harm, in the kingdom of God. "Oh! could I speak the matchless worth,—
Oh! could I sound the glories forth,
Which in my Saviour shine." "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." It is said of Jesus our pattern, that he "went about doing good." Acts x, 38. The Scriptures abound with exhortations to the church to manifest the fruits of goodness. "Trust in the Lord, and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." Ps. xxxvii, 3. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." Matt. v, 16. "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." 1 Tim. vi, 17-19. "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of his visitation." 1 Pet. ii, 12. Truly God has placed before man the highest possible motives to lead him to love and obey him, by doing those things which are good and acceptable in his sight. Let us then cleave to that which is good. "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works." Heb. x, 24.