profess godliness." That there is no such persecution now, as existed in the apostolic age, is certain ; and, consequently, the preachers of the Gospel exercise not their ministry so much at the peril of their life : but there is as much need of zeal now as ever: and the servants of God are as much bound to be faithful in the discharge of their duty as ever ; and they must be as ready to sacrifice their lives in the cause of their Divine Master as ever. There is to be no difference in these respects between the Apostles and us. If not called to endure the same trials as they, we must be willing to endure them, if called to it : and if we love our lives in comparison of Him and his glory, we shall lose our souls for ever.
As to looking forward to a longer stay on earth, we are no more entitled to indulge such a conceit than the Apostles were ; for " we know not what a day or an hour may bring forth." And it is our privilege to be anticipating the blessed- ness of heaven as much as it was theirs. We should count death amongst our treasures: and be "looking for, and hasting unto, the coming of the day of Christ," quite as much as they did in their devoutest frames
But is this a common attainment? Would to God it were ! But the generality of Christians put the day far from them, as though it were to be dreaded, rather than desired : and even the more godly amongst us live far below their privileges in this respect.]
2. That, however, it ought to be found in all who believe in Christ —
^ [He takes for granted, that all true Christians " rejoice in Christ." And truly this is a distinctive character of them : and the man who has not in himself this evidence of his rela- tion to Christ, has no sufficient reason to think that he belongs to Christ". But, supposing that we are really Christ's, then should the Apostle's experience be ours : and so palpably should it be ours, that we should be able to join in the asseve- ration of St. Paul, and say, ' " I protest, by my rejoicing in Christ, and as I hope to rejoice in him in a better world, I am dying daily :" " I am crucified to the world," and to all things in it : and I am, in the constant habit of my mind, like a dying man, expecting and preparing for my speedy dissolution, and anticipating with joy the blessedness that awaits me.' Beloved brethren, if ye be Christians indeed, this is the experience which you are to aspire after ; this is the experience which ye are bound to attain.]
3. That the existence of this, in the Lord's people,
° Phil. iii. o.