his goods out of his ship merely to keep it from sinking, and wishes for them again as soon as he is safe on shore ; but like one racked with pain and agony by reason of an abscess, who not only parts with the corrupt matter with gladness, but be- holds it afterwards with horror and disgust, and accounts its separation from him as his truest felicity.
Let every one then examine himself with respect to these things, and ask himself distinctly, " Am I like Paul in lothing sin of every kind, and of every degree? Does my grief for the secret remains of sin within me swallow up every other grief? And am I using every means in my power, and especially calling upon God, to destroy sin root and branch?"]
2. In a thankful reliance on the Lord Jesus Christ —
[The hope of every true Christian arises from Christ alone : if he had no other prospect than what he derived from his own inherent goodness, he would despair as much as those who are gone beyond a possibility of redemption. But there is in Christ such a fulness of all spiritual blessings treasured up for his people, that the most guilty cannot doubt of pardon, nor can the weakest doubt of victory, provided he rely on that adorable Saviour, and seek his blessings with penitence and contrition. In him the Apostle found an abundance to supply his want ; and from the same inexhaustible fountain does every saint draw water with joy.
And what must be the feelings of the Christian when he is enabled to say of Christ, " This is my friend, this is my be- loved?" Must he not immediately exclaim, " Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift ! " Must not the very stones cry out against him, if he withhold his acclamations and hosannas? Yes ; " to every one that believes, Christ is, and must be, pre- cious." " All that are of the true circumcision will rejoice in him, having no confidence in the flesh." And the deeper sense any man has of his own extreme vileness, the more fervently will he express his gratitude to God for providing a Saviour so suited to his necessities.]
Let us then learn from this subject, 1. The nature of vital godliness —
[Religion, as it is experienced in the soul, is not as some imagine, a state of continual sorrow, nor, as others fondly hope, a state of uninterrupted joy. It is rather a mixture of joy and sorrow, or, if we may so speak, it is a joy springing out of sorrow. It is a conflict between the fleshly and spiritual principle6, continually humbling us on account of what is in ourselves, and filling us with joy on account of what is in
" Gal. v. 17.