Imatges de pàgina
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as upon "the river of the water of life." And what is it that hinders us? I am not now speaking of those who indulge in wilful sin; but of those who desire to persevere in the love of God-what is it hinders us? It is the remains of unsubdued faults of mind, such as impatience, stubbornness, wilfulness; or of indolence, sloth, and coldness; or it is the conscious want of holy affections, of thankfulness, praise, love, grace, devotion; and, therefore, of endurance and self-denial for Christ's sake. These are the things which make our hold of the Divine will so loose and slack. We feel it to be a high and severe blessedness, for which our hearts are too feeble and earthward. And therefore we open only certain chambers of our will to the influence of the Divine will. We are afraid of being wholly absorbed into it; lest, if I may so say, "the Spirit of the Lord" should take us "up, and cast us upon some mountain, or into some valley,"1 far from all joys, consolations, friends, and home. And yet, if we would have peace, we must be altogether united to Him. For unless we be wholly conformed to His will, we shall never attain the gift of perseverance; or at least, we shall always doubt and fear of our holding out; and when perseverance is doubtful, there can be no true peace.

12 Kings ii. 16.

Let us, then, endeavour so to embrace the gift of life which is in us, that nothing may separate us from Him; that no choice, no intent, no affection, no permitted motion of our will, may cast a shadow between us and His presence. And then let us fear nothing. We need fear no temptations; for He will either turn them aside, or carry us through : we need not be dismayed at the stubborn strength of the sins against which we are contending; for He will cast them all out at last we need not be out of heart, even at our sensible coldness, slackness of intention, impotence of will: for He will kindle the love of God within us; and give us, in His own time, the zeal and energy of a fervent repentance. We have but one thing to make sure, and He will provide all the rest. If His will be our will, He will quicken and cleanse, kindle and sanctify us in body, and soul, and spirit. It is not for us to look back, except in repentance, or to look on, except in hope. (The past is no longer ours; the future is His.) Now is our probation : to trust, to believe His love, to be prompt, compliant to the guidance of His inspirations. His Presence is in us, leading us to rest. Our safety and our peace is to abide under its shadow. Therein can enter nothing that defileth; nothing savouring of death. If the memory of past sin makes you afraid, ask of the Spirit which is in

you the gift of sorrow; if the proved instability of your will makes you almost despair, ask of Him the gift of perseverance. He is in you as a foun-| tain of life, deep as Eternity, inexhaustible as God. The rivers of His strength, healing, consolation, are never stayed, except in hearts barren and dry. In the humble, hoping, loving, trustful heart, the waters of life pour forth in an exuberant flood. "When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them: I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water." This is the gift of the

Spirit in the soul of man;

and the source of it has

been revealed from heaven. "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb." "The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

1 Isaiah xli. 17, 18.

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2 Rev. xxii. 1, 17.

SERMON X.

THE CITY OF GOD.

PHILIPPIANS iii. 20.

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."

ST. PAUL, in these words, is strengthening the Christians at Philippi, by setting before them the greatness of their calling and of their destiny. They had much need of encouragement; for a time of sore and peculiar trial was then upon them. They had to endure not only bitter persecutions and the assault of Antichrists, wielding the powers of the world to wear out the saints of the Most High, but a still more dangerous, because more subtil trial. They were being tried by false and sensual men mingling in the communion of the Church. There were among them false teachers,

who mixed up the law of Moses with the gospel of Christ; double-minded men, steering between both; striving to escape persecution, and yet desiring to obtain the reputation of Christians. These were very dangerous tempters, who entered the Church in disguise, defiling it, and destroying souls for whom Christ died.

There was one special mark by which such men (as we see both from St. Paul and St. John) might be known: they lived evil lives. Therefore here St. Paul sets before the Philippians a contrast of carnal and spiritual Christians, and of the earthly and the heavenly life. After saying, “Many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things;" he adds, "For our conversation is in heaven."

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The word here rendered conversation' means something further and more specific than our word commonly signifies. It means the estate, and therefore the rights and the duties of a citizen of any city.

We see, therefore, that by this word he intends:

1. First, to bid them remember that God had made them citizens of the holy city. "Our con

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