round us, but our thoughts and desires should be carefully gathered in. We should pray, like David, " Unite my heart to fear thy name P." Heaven is not to be sought with a divided heart. Earthly affections would impede our progress, as flow- ing garments in a race: the prophet compares them to an in- cumbrance of thick clay upon the feetq. We should therefore " gird up the loins of our mind," and " give all diligence to make our calling and election sure."]
2. Sobriety of manners —
[Sobriety, in the scripture use of the term, means mode- ration. Excessive cares, and inordinate attachments, are very unfavourable to the soul : they so engross the mind with present things, as to draw it away from those which are eternal. We cannot therefore too carefully watch against these evils. We should endeavour to be "dying daily" to the world. We should be as one crucified to it; and it, as one crucified to usr. This is the state and character of every true Christian8; and we must attain it, if we would successfully pursue the one thing needful.]
3. Steadfastness of faith —
[Faith respects the certainty of the promises; and hope, the accomplishment. Now, our faith is apt to waver, and our hope, to languish. Temptations often allure us to forego our interest in heavenly things, and unbelief would often persuade us that we have no part or lot in them. But we must be careful never to be moved away from the hope of the Gospel*. Hope is the very anchor of the soul, that must keep us steadfast in this tempestuous world u. We must " therefore hold fast our confidence and the rejoicing of our hope firm to the endx." The nearer we come to the prize, the more earnest should be our expectation of it. If our conflicts be many, we should, even against hope, believe in hopey. The proper disposition of our souls is well described by the Apostles7- — ; and it is to persons of this description only, that Christ's appearance will be a source of joy a.]
Address —
1. Those who are only nominal Christians —
[Your loins indeed are girt, but it is for the pursuit of earthly objects. Instead of having your souls engrossed with heavenly things, you are perfectly indifferent towards them. As for your hopes they extend to nothing but what relates to
P Ps. lxxxvi. 11. 9 Hab. ii. G. r Gal. vi. 14.
s Gal. v. 24. * Col. i. 23. " Heb. vi. 19.
* Heb. iii. G. y Rom. iv. 18. z 2 Pet. iii. 12. a Heb. ix. 28.