g flows from
the believer's state of non condemnation in Christ. He is once in Jesus
Christ, and then he walks after the Spirit of Christ. You may make engines
to cause a dead statue walk, but it cannot walk of itself till it have a
principle of life in it. Walking is one of the operations of life, that
flows from some inward principle, and so this spiritual walk and motion of
a Christian in his course, is the proper operation of the new nature that
he is a partaker of in Christ Jesus. As, then, you know it is impossible
that there can be true and unfeigned walking, where there is no life, no
principle within, to put the creature to motion, though a man may by art
and some external impulse so act a piece of timber or stone, as it may
resemble to you a walking like to living creatures, so it is not possible
that any of the sons of Adam, who are by nature dead in sins, can walk
spiritually, before they be united to Jesus Christ, by believing in him
for righteousness and salvation. There may be such a walking of carnal
unregenerate men, as may deceive all the senses and judgments of
beholders. Men may be acting from base external principles in matters of
religion, so that a beholder shall perceive no difference between them and
others in whom Christ lives and walks; but before God it is nothing else
but an artificial walk, a painted and dead business, because the Spirit
that raised up Christ is not stirring in them. They are not living members
of that Head that quickens all, have not been driven out of their own
righteousness to Christ, the city of refuge. Their principles are no
higher than walking to obtain salvation, and acceptation of God in a legal
way, walking to pacify him, walking to please men and their own
consciences, walking for gain or credit, or advantage in the way, walking
according to custom or education in the way. These are not living
principles. But when once a soul hath embraced Christ Jesus within it, he
becomes in a manner a soul to actuate and quicken that soul. He animates
it, and moves it in God's ways, according to the covenant of grace,--"I
will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes."
There is first quickening, and then walking. You who were dead in sins,
hath he quickened together with Christ, Eph. ii. 1, 5; and then it follows
in due order,--"I will cause you to walk in my statutes," Ezek. xxxvi. 27.
Christ comes into the heart to dwell, and then he walks in it, 2 Cor. vi