come to Christ as their Saviour, and are numbered among His true disciples? Do not even these sometimes suffer themselves to be disturbed by griefs, which a more intimate union with Him would immediately dispel? Are they not on some occasions inclined to deem their troubles almost irremediable, and to seek the remedy elsewhere than from Him, who alone can impart it? Do they not frequently yield to a suggestion of distrust and unbelief, when a right view of His grace, and a firm trust in His declarations would banish their griefs, and restore to them the blessing of peace? How much, my brethren, in these particulars are Christians frequently wanting to themselves! How little comparatively do many of them realize the truth of the description here given of the Messiah! How often while they omit to avail themselves of the privilege, might they run into this refuge and be safe! How often might they repose under this great rock and drink of these living waters! May we learn to behold our blessed Redeemer in the light in which He is here presented to us! May we be duly sensible of the overflowing fulness of His grace, and at all times, and under every emergency repair to Him with fervent gratitude and with ardent hope! The man who seeks for that shelter will assuredly find it; if he would drink of that stream he will not be disappointed; his experience through life will confirm the justice of the description, Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. And a man shall be as a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest: as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land; and his dying testimony will declare, "I have not been deceived; I have trusted in Christ, and He has never failed nor forsaken me; I can now resign myself cheerfully to His disposal, and I doubt not that I shall still find Him to be a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; my refuge in the hour of death, my Redeemer in the day of judgment." SERMON V. THE CHRISTIAN'S CONVERSATION. PHILIPPIANS iii. 20. "Our conversation is in heaven." THE apostle had just exhorted the Philippians to be followers together of him, and to mark them which walked according to the example of himself and his apostolical brethren. To those among them who heard this address, without possessing any correct view of the character and blessedness of Christ's disciples, the question would probably suggest itself:-" On what principle do you thus exhort us? What is there either in your condition or your prospects which should induce us to tread in your steps? What class of persons is exposed to such privations and hardships, and so generally disowned by all who are respectable in society? To be followers together of you is to sacrifice every G thing which is valuable in the estimation of mankind, and, so far as at present appears, without any equivalent." To this possible objection the words of the text may be considered as furnishing a suitable answer; while at the same time they serve to remind the true Christian of his high character and his matchless privileges. Our conversation is in heaven: we are only as strangers and pilgrims on the earth; our home is above. There is the city to which we belong, and to that place our contemplations, our hopes, and desires are perpetually directed. According to this view of the text, we may understand the apostle as affirming, both on his own behalf and on that of all Christians who live in conformity with their principles, the following propositions : I. WE DELIGHT IN HEAVENLY THINGS: LEGES. These are the points upon which, for the expansion of his leading idea, it may be proper to dwell; and when I look at the practical nature of the subject, I would hope that we may all by the blessing of God derive benefit from the consideration of it. OUR CONVERSATION IS IN HEAVEN. I. WE DELIGHT IN HEAVENLY THINGS: (1.) We are frequent therefore in our contemplation of them. The men of this world think chiefly of earthly things. Many who acknowledge the importance of religion would, upon a careful review of what passes in their minds, be surprised to discover how little it is in their thoughts. The real Christian is a man of different habits. He cannot, indeed, avoid giving much both of his time and his attention to the ordinary concerns of life; and to these concerns it is indeed his duty to attend; but they are incapable of diverting him from objects of more serious importance. He is convinced that the things which accompany salvation deserve all the thought which he can possibly bestow upon them; and he habitually turns to them as of all subjects the most interesting to the renewed and enlightened mind. There are times when the most careless of men will either give, or pretend to give, themselves to spiritual considerations; but to those who mind earthly things it is a painful or an unsatisfactory task; a service |
