manner. You can never love God too much : nor can you ever love man too much, provided you love him in subser- viency to God. Methinks you may advance far beyond what you have already attained, before you will equal the Apostle Paul : and if at this moment you even equalled him, you would still be far from having already attained the perfection at which you should aim. Study then his character ; mark it in its sublimest traits ; and follow it in the whole of your life and conversation. Let his principles be yours ; his spirit yours ; his conduct yours. This is the way to honour God, and to be happy in your own souls: and " if you do these things, you shall never fall, but shall have an entrance ministered unto you abundantly into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ8."]
g 2 Pet. i. 10, 11.
Phil. iv. 11, 12. I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
ST. PAUL was by no means addicted to boasting. But there were occasions whereon it was necessary for him to declare the secret workings of his heart, in order that he might prevent a misinterpretation of his words, or a misapprehension of his designs. He commends the Philippians for the care which they had taken of him, and the kind attention they had shewn him, during his imprisonment at Rome. But, fearful lest he should be understood as com- plaining of his necessities when immured in a prison, or as wishing, on his own account, a continuance of their attentions, he tells them, that " he had learned, in whatsoever state he was, therewith to be content:" and, in the fulness of his heart, he expatiates upon this idea, as though he would recommend to all per- sons, in this respect, to follow his example.
Let me, then,