which are yet distilling upon the heart, when the objects from which they were extracted have for ever passed away. From these degrading results, the power of death can promise no escape. These follow the individual to his eternal condition, and these stamp him to be utterly unfit for that abode into which "nothing enters that defiles." These constitute those mental qualities which can find no sympathy but in the regions of sorrow and of destruction, where the worm of remorse never dies," and where "the flame" of intense recollection "is never quenched."

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This discovery Christianity had made to the mind of the apostle; but Christianity had united to this view of the present world, a disclosure of pardon, and peace, and renovation, and holiness in a brighter and better land. It had pointed out to him, an atonement adequate to shelter him from all his guilt; a Saviour, whose love and compassion could blot out all his crimes; a Comforter, whose silent but effective influences could snap asunder the strongest chains which sin and the world had fastened round his heart; a flight into the arms of mercy and of rest; a home with Christ beyond the grave; a society collected from the awakened myriads of those who once "fell asleep in Jesus, with a hope full of immortality;" an endless felicity, to be enjoyed

in the presence of God, and unalloyed by a single apprehension of injury or decay. The sight of these objects, while it threw into the shade all the transient advantages of the present world, thus opened to the contemplation of the apostle a new scene of deep and unmeasured interest. This salvation became the source of his peace, his joy, his rest. This great redemption now rivetted his full attention. A share in this happiness; a just knowledge of this deliverance; a heartfelt intercourse with him who had procured it for his soul; this now absorbed every lesser interest of the present world. His estimate of this salvation was high, though still inadequate. He was ready, like the merchantman in the parable, to part with all that he had, that he might "purchase this pearl of great price." But

II. Let us advert in the second place, To

THE EAGER ALACRITY WITH WHICH HE SALVATION WHICH HE HAD

PURSUED THE

LEARNED THUS HIGHLY TO ESTEEM.

"Brethren, I count not myself to have already apprehended or attained; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." The apostle does not here speak of his labours as an apostle, of the duty of unintermitted toil in the service of others,

of the accomplishment of his great office of telling to mankind the momentous tale of redeeming grace. He does not speak of the high agency under which he was commanded to convert the wicked, to soothe the sad, or to hold up the blazing torch to the benighted wanderer of various climes, in order to guide him in his long and wearied search after truth and happiness. It was indeed his bounden duty to go onwards in this mighty apostleship, until he should "finish his course with joy;" but he here speaks of his personal character, of his own growth in heavenly knowledge, of his own progress towards that maturity of faith, and hope, and charity, which would make him "conformed to the image of his Lord, and meet for the inheritance of the saints in light." It was in the individual race, not in the public ministry, that he was now pressing to the mark. He might have received splendid gifts, and have reached high attainments in the work of administering God's grace to others; but he might still become a cast away," except he watched, and prayed, and " kept under" the unruly propensities of his own earthly nature. He who had said to the favoured converts of Philippi, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, knew too well his own participation of all the dangers to which the human soul is exposed, to undervalue in his

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individual case, the holy anxiety which he enforced upon the minds of others. It was in truth the personal interest which he had in Christianity, which so remarkably qualified him for the office of an apostle to others. He had felt the worth of the gospel to his own soul, and hence he pressed its application to those of others. He had watched and felt the weakness, and inconstancy, and treachery of his own heart, and hence he anxiously warned others to beware "lest they failed of the grace of God," or were "hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.' He knew the wiles of Satan, the power of sin, the deadly attractions of sense to a fallen creature. He had travelled the path so thickly beset with snares, and had experienced all its ruggedness; hence he besought his converts to walk circumspectly, and to be patient followers of those who at length had inherited the promises. His ministry was thus ever connected in his mind with his own personal safety. While made a lamp to others, he sought the same light to direct his own steps; or while directing the diseased to the great Physician, he ever carried the plague of his own heart to the same generous Friend, whose skill is alike unbaffled, and whose compassion is alike unwearied to all who come to him for help! But all who would be healed, must come, and that incessantly. The apostle

and the prophet are here as needy and as helpless as the poorest and the meanest of the disciples. In reference to this leprosy, the prophet, alike with others, must himself wash and be clean, or he will perish in the common malady. And the apostle knew well, that from the nature of the human mind, and from the condition of the world, there can be no cessation in this personal conflict with evil. He who advances not towards the goal is driven away in his course towards it. He who stems not the torrent is carried back by its pressure. He who deepens not by incessant prayer and contemplation, the spiritual impression upon his heart, is accessary to their daily erasure.

Hence the apostle was not contented with past attainments or with past efforts. He was not contented to survey the progress which he had already made, and with self-complacency to remit his efforts. He could lay up no spiritual store beyond the wants of the present moment. He could find no single spot where he might escape the perils incident to his condition. He must still abide in Christ;" "without Him he could do nothing." "I "I press towards the mark." As if he had said, "I feel how inadequate are the views I have yet attained of the value of eternal life. I feel how poor and cold have been my warmest efforts in the service of my blessed Master. I would love him