Satan, and bringing us " into the glorious liberty of the chil- dren of God." This it was for which the Saviour came into the world: and this it is which he effects, in all who are par- takers of his salvation. Let any say whether it be not a proper object of desire, or whether a captive soul can ever desire it too much,]
2. What should be our g-reat aim in hfe —
o [The deliverance, to whomsoever it is vouchsafed, is only gradual : " the flesh will yet lust against the Spirit, as well as the Spirit against the flesh ; so that, to the latest hour of our lives, we shall not be able to do all that we could wish^" Even the Apostle Paul, after having served the Lord for twenty years, yet was constrained to cry, " O wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver me™?" To grow then in grace should be the daily object of our ambition : and to " put off the old man, and put on the new," should be the one labour of our souls: nor should we ever cease from this labour, until we have attained the full measure of the stature of Christ.]
3. What should endear to us the thoughts of death —
[Death will break all our chains, and set us at perfect liberty. Whilst here, we still are complaining that " we are tied and bound with the chain of our sins." But no complaint shall ever be heard in heaven. There we shall be " pure, as Christ is pure;" and " perfect, as our Father who is in heaven is perfect." Let us learn, then, to look on death as a friend, and to number it amongst our richest treasures". That it is disarmed of its sting, is no mean part of our present joy : and that it shall translate us into the immediate presence of our God, is sufficient to make us pant for its arrival, " desiring to depart and to be with Christ, as far better" than the happiest lot that can be enjoyed on earth".]
1 Gal. v. 17. ™ Rom. vii. 24.
n 1 Cor. iii. 22. " Phil. i. 23.