2. A care in keeping Christ above all ; superlative love shows itself in this, in a chariness and tenderness of your interest in Christ above all things which are dearest to you. He is your life, Gal. ii. 20, your strength, 1 John iv. 4, your blessedness, Col. i. 27. Now, then, if you keep your beloved as a bundle of myrrh, or, in plainer terms, if he constantly dwell in your hearts by faith, Eph. iii. 17, and you keep up an habitual dependence upon him, and a constant love to him as to your life, peace, and joy, and are loath to put your comforts to hazard for a little carnal satisfaction, surely then Christ is all in all to you. But when you are careless, and mind not how the spiritual life is obstructed, are not so chary of your respects to your Piedeemer, who is so necessary for you, it is time to look about you, and say, Have I the spirit of the gospel ? is Christ so dear and precious to me as he ought to be?
3. Grief for losing Christ above all. Love is seen in delighting in his presence and mourning for his absence : Mat. ix. 15, ' When the bridegroom is taken away, then shall they mourn.' Many times by our sin and folly we lose the comforts of his presence, the quickening influences of his grace. Now if you take occasion by every sin to renew the sense of the want of Christ, and keep his room warm for him till he return again, by your longings and lamentings after him, this discovers this temper and frame of heart. Certainly it is a great part of a christian's work to observe the accesses and recesses of the Spirit ; for the retiring of the Spirit is a great punishment of sin, as its continu- ance is a benefit to be prized above all the world. David was deeply afflicted with the one : Ps. Ii. 10-12, ' Create in me a clean heart, 0 God ; renew a right spirit within me : cast me not away from thy
20 SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. [SeR. II.
presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me,' &c. No judgment to be dreaded and lamented as the grieving of the Holy Spirit, Eph. iv. 30. But when men are stupid, and never mind whether the Spirit of Christ go or come, surely these have not the heart of christians. Now this holdeth good in cases without us, when Christ's interest riseth or falls, to be affected with joy or grief : 1 Sam. iv. 20-22, ' The women that stood by her said, Fear not, for thou hast borne a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel,' &c. Though a son was born, she regarded it not ; though she had lost a father and a husband, yet the ark of God is taken, and the glory departed from Israel. The ark was a type of Christ, and one of the highest mysteries of their religion. Are we thus affected with the dishonour done to Christ's name? do you rejoice when his gospel flourisheth. and pre- vailcth ? All this floweth from the same spirit.
4. By delighting in him and the testimonies of his love above all things: Cant. i. 4, 'We will be glad and rejoice in thee; we will remember thy loves more than wine.' The choicest contentments of the flesh are not so comfortable and satisfying as Christ's love, the joy which results from thence is unspeakable and glorious, 1 Peter i. 8, better felt than uttered. The strength of it is seen in that it can keep itself alive when all outward fuel and matter of comfort faileth.
5. By loving other things for Christ's sake, everything that hath the stamp of Christ is honourable and precious. His ordinances, because Christ is to be found there : Ps. xxvi. 8, ' I love the place where thine honour dwelleth.' His ministers, as they have authority from him to treat with sinners about the greatest matters on earth : Phil. ii. 29, ' Beceive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such in reputation.' They bring the Lord's message to the soul : 1 John v. 1, ' Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God ; and every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten.' So in order to Christ, valuing all things more or less as they bring us nearer to Christ.
6. By seeking his honour, glory, and praise more than our own interests. They do not live to themselves ; having fixed their end, they take their way as they find it : Phil. i. 20, 21, ' Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or death ; for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.' The scope, end, and business of their living is to honour Christ. They are contented to decrease, so Christ may increase.
7. Things dishonourable are made honourable: Heb. xi. 2G, ' Esteem- ing the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt;' Acts v. 41, ' Kejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame and reproach for his name.' The more the world despiseth him, the more they prize and worship him. The wise men worshipped him when in a stable. Joseph of Arimathea owned him at the lowest, when he had suffered an ignominious death. It is no great matter to own that which is of public esteem ; and now Christ is everywhere received, it is easy to make a general profession of his name.