or less addicted to gross sin, he loved the ways of the world, and conformed himself to them : all his delight was in the things of time and sense : he lived as if he had nothing else to do, but to consult his reputation, ease, and interests in the world. But, having obtained mercy of the Lord, he now discerns the evil of such a life : he begins to see, that " to be thus carnally- minded is death :" and that there are objects infinitely nobler than those he has regarded, and more deserving his attention. Convinced of this, he " will not live any longer to the lusts of men, but to the will of God." Instead of" fulfilling any longer the desires of the flesh and of the mind," he strives henceforth to mortify them, and labours to "perfect holiness in the fear of God."
We must add yet again, that he once walked in the darkness of distressing apprehensions. God has said, and experience proves, that " there is no peace to the wicked." Every man in his unregenerate state is in bondage to the fear of death, and more or less under the terrors of a guilty conscience. The thoughts of death and judgment are painful to him ; and he puts them far from him : he flees to business, to pleasure, to company, in order to dissipate those reflections which he cannot wholly avoid. He has an inward consciousness that he has not sought the Divine favour, and, in consequence of that, a secret fear that he shall not obtain it. From such feelings as these, the believer in Christ is happily delivered. " He knows in whom he has believed, and that his adorable Saviour is able to keep that which he has committed to him." He has learned to reckon death among the number of his friends, and to regard it as the door of entrance into his Father's presence. Instead of being harassed with a "fearful looking-for of judgment and fiery indignation," he enjoys " that peace of God which passeth all understanding."]
2. He shall have the light of life —
[There is a light which proceeds from life, and leads to life ; and that light is his blessed portion. A dead man has no light at all : but a living man has senses given him, on pur- pose to guard him from things destructive, and to lead him to things conducive to his welfare. The sight, the hearing, the smell, the taste, the touch, have all their appropriate uses ; and each has its peculiar office, in circumstances where the others can find no scope for exercise. They are so many sen- tinels, that guard every avenue of ill, and that give warning on the first approach of evil. Thus protected is the follower of Christ: he has spiritual senses, which, being of quick per- ception to discern good and evil, -give early notice of the things which might prove fatal to the soul. They serve as " a light to his feet, and a lantern to his paths." Solomon justly