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God! Blessed are those who, watching the progress of truth within their breasts, can perceive fresh acquisitions gained from error, fresh triumphs wrested from sin and the world, holier sympathies generated, higher hopes sustained, purer affections clinging round the realities of heaven! Blessed are those, who thus one with Christ in heart, and hope, and aim, are anticipating the sacred moment when, having reached the measure of the stature of Christ, and having burst the shackles of the tenement of clay, they shall exclaim, with a gratitude no earthborn heart can feel, "unto Him that loved us, and hath washed us from our sins in his own blood, unto him be glory, and blessing, and praise, henceforth, even for ever!"

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SERMON IV.

SPIRITUAL ALACRITY.

PHIL. iii. 13, 14.

"THIS ONE THING I DO, FORGETTING THE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND, AND REACHING FORTH UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE, I press towARDS THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS."

WE are told by the apostle, that “his rejoicing was this, the testimony of his conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, he had his conversation in the world." He would however have thought this profession of sincerity to be very questionable, if he had been contented either to rest in voluntary ignorance of any part of God's will, which had become matter of revelation; or if he had been satisfied to remain daily without any further growth in faith and holiness, to which that revelation conducts. He felt this world to be a school in which he was to be prepared for the enjoyment of a higher scene. He was a sinner redeemed out of bondage, that he might shew forth the

praise of his great Deliverer. He was exposed to ten thousand debasing influences, which found but too ready an ally in his corrupt nature. Hence it became him to be ever watchful; to pray without ceasing; to advance from one point to another in the heavenly race, to fight daily the good fight of faith, and to lay hold of eternal life. Hence his incessant object of anxiety was "to know Christ, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings; being made conformable unto his death if that by any means he might attain unto the resurrection from the dead. Not," he adds, "as though I had attained, or were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Let us notice from these words,

I. THE HIGH ESTIMATE WHICH THE APOSTLE HAD FORMED OF THE VALUE OF SALVA

TION BY CHRIST JESUS. And

II. THE ALACRITY WITH WHICH HE PUR

SUED IT.

I. In the first place, the apostle had formed

A VERY HIGH ESTIMATE OF THE VALUE OF SALVATION BY JESUS CHRIST.

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In the preceding verses of this chapter, he tells us, with reference to his former observances of the Mosaic law,-" What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ; yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ." This knowledge of Christ was ever connected in his mind, with future realities; with glory, and honour, and immortality." These blessings he here calls, "the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." In a following verse of this chapter, he elucidates yet further his meaning, when he says, "Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

Christianity had in fact opened a new world before the view of the apostle. In the prospect of a higher and endless felicity, he had learned to overlook the transitory objects which had formerly arrested his full and eager attention. He had learned lessons at the cross of Christ, which told daily and hourly upon his estimate

of earthly things. He now understood clearly that which his conscience had already partially pointed out, his depraved condition, and consequent exposure to the wrath of God. Under the dreadful discovery of spiritual guilt and defilement, under the threatenings of a law which pointed to the tribunal of eternal justice as its ultimate sanction, his hopes of earthly happiness had withered away. The attachment of the heart to objects unconnected with God; the emoluments of wealth, ambition, and pleasure, these appeared to him as delusions at once degrading and fatal. With these things, vexation, and disappointment, and decay stood in full and melancholy connection. Even under the most favourable circumstances of their enjoyment, they could make no promise of perpetuity. Death was at hand to destroy them all. But their debasing effects would survive themselves. The character which they form; the taste which they impart; the enmity to truth which they confirm; the opposition to God which they authorise; the indisposition to the culture of high and heavenly tempers which they cherish; the allegiance which they induce their possessors to violate; and the friendship of God which they permit them to despise; these dreadful results perish not with the objects from which they originally spring. These are like terrific poisons

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