committed to Him."

In short, had he no prospect in this life but of bonds and imprisonments, of torture and death? Through this Knowledge, he could triumphantly exclaim, "I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day."+

Here then we may see something of what the Apostle's gain had been by becoming a Christian; and how immensely his profits had exceeded his losses.

And now, my Brethren, what is the great practical lesson which this view of the case tends strongly to inculcate? It teaches us to correct those false, unjust, absurd, distorted notions of true Religion, which we are so apt to entertain. The world speaks of true Religion as if it were a dull, a melancholy, an unprofitable pursuit, which deprives men of their present comforts and enjoyments; lays on them heavy burthens; and gives to them nothing in return, nothing to compensate for all the losses and difficulties to which it exposes them. Perhaps you have been accustomed to look on the subject in this light, and to think and speak of true Religion after this manner. But if this be the case, see from the statement before you how utterly * 2 Timothy, i. 12. + 2 Timothy, iv. 7, 8.

mistaken you have been. See what falsehood and calumny there are in these representations. You have here the strongest and elearest testimony in favour of a contrary sentiment. You have the testimony of a man who made a full and fair trial of the matter; who, as you have seen, relinquished for true Religion as much perhaps as any other man ever relinquished for it; probably far more than would be required of any of you; who in his own language "had suffered the loss of all things" for Christ's sake; but who yet, after a trial of more than twenty years, on minutely casting up his losses and his gains, most deliberately decided in favour of the latter, and unequivocally declared that all the losses which he had sustained for Religion were nothing in comparison with his gains. The Knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord had in it an excellence, a value, a preciousness, which more than made amends for all his deprivations, which made him infinitely richer than he had before been, or could become in any other way.-Surely, my Brethren, this is strong testimony in favour of true Religion; of the peace and consolation; of the hopes and joys which it bestows on its real followers. But remember, that it is not the only testimony to the same truth. You are encompassed by a cloud of witnesses, all declaring the same things. Thousands, and

tens of thousands, have lived and died in testifying, after the fullest experience, their conviction of the inestimable value of that knowledge of Christ, of which St. Paul speaks in the text. Having been taught the truth as it is in Jesus-having been led by the Spirit inwardly and experimentally to "know Him, and the power of his resurrection" - they have been forward to declare that till they thus knew Jesus Christ their Lord, they knew nothing of real happiness; that they have found Him to be a Pearl of great price, yea preciousness itself to their souls; that they have esteemed the Knowledge of Him above all the treasures of this world; and that, far from regretting their losses for his sake, they have counted them as nothing, so that, with the Apostle," they might win Christ, and be found in him.” Oh! that the number of such witnesses may be greatly increased among us! May all of you, my Brethren, be persuaded of the real and intrinsic value of that treasure, which lies hid beneath the surface of the Gospel field! For then you will sell all that you have, and buy it. May you be convinced that there is indeed in that Knowledge of Christ, which I have been attempting to describe, a mine of wealth, a fulness of joy, which will enrich and satisfy the soul for ever above all its present thoughts and desires! For then you will

be stirred up to seek it for yourselves. And for your comfort and encouragement remember, that the same Knowledge of Christ which St. Paul had, and which made him so rich and so happy, you may have, and may be made equally rich and happy by it. The same Spirit who taught him, and revealed Christ in his heart, is able and ready to teach you, and to reveal Him in your heart. If you pray to Him, He will hear you. If you will beseech Him to shine into your soul, He will shed abroad in you the light of the Knowledge of Jesus Christ. He will cause his Glory and his Goodness to pass before you. And you will know by experience the truth of those things, which the Apostle declared and felt. You will feel with Him the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ. You will here taste of the same peace, and joy, and happiness of which he tasted on earth; and you will hereafter receive with him that Crown of Righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will at last bestow on all those who love his appearing.

SERMON VI.

THE PRIVILEGES, CHARACTER, AND EXPERIENCE OF THE LORD'S PEOPLE.

PSALM Ixxiii. 24.

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

THE Psalmist had been under a great trial; the particulars of which, together with his deliverance out of it, he records in this Psalm, for his own benefit, and for that of the Church in all ages. Observing how often the ungodly flourish in the world, he had been tempted to question the justice of the Divine proceedings, and the care which God takes of the Righteous. "My feet (says he) were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipt; for I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." But at length, by meditation and prayer, having overcome this temptation, he then saw the folly of having for a moment submitted to it; and felt