crucified to it," to consider themselves altogether as " pilgrims and sojourners in it," and to " have their conversation in heaven :" but how can they comply with such exhortations as these ? We tell them, that if they will be Christ's disciples, they must deny themselves, and take up their cross and follow him : we tell them, that they must be conformed to him in suf- ferings, if ever they will be partakers with him in glory : but how can they endure such doctrines who are looking for wealth and honour and ease as the great sources of their happiness in life ? " How can they believe who receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour which cometh of God only ? " We have a remarkable illustration of this truth in the conduct of the Pharisees : our Lord had told them that they " could not serve God and Mammon :" and immediately it is recorded of them, that "being covetous, they derided himd." What! was there any thing absurd in our Lord's declarations ? No : but the Pharisees were reduced to the necessity of condemning either themselves or him : themselves they would not condemn, because they were determined not to renounce their covetous desires ; and therefore they condemned him as a weak, foolish enthusiast. Thus it is with worldlings in every age and place. Not but that they see more than they are willing to confess ; but that, " being averse to receive the truth, God gives them over to their own delusions, till at last they believe their own liee."
How then shall this evil be counteracted ? Let us be aware that there is a bias within us, and that Satan makes use of our corruptions to blind our eyes and to harden our hearts. Let us beg of God to take the veil from our hearts, and so to irradiate our minds with divine knowledge, that we shall be constrained to " receive the truth in the love thereof."]
From hence arise two obvious and important ques- tions : 1. What know I of Christ?
[We have certainly in some respects the advantage of the Apostles during the time of Christ's continuance on earth ; because we have clearer light given us, and fewer prejudices to contend with. We therefore, as far as respects our specu- lative views of Christianity, are better instructed than they. But wherein do we differ from them in their practical views ? Are we not as blind to the spiritual nature of the Gospel as they ? We see indeed that Christ has suffered ; but do we see the necessity of those sufferings for our salvation, and the suf- ficiency of them for the salvation of the whole world ? Or, if we do see these truths notionally, do we view them as the life,
d Luke xvi. 14. • 2Thess. ii. 10—12.