great command be regarded as disobedience. Moreover learn to look at the glorious end to which we are invited in its character and aspect of contrariety to the corrupt ends which ordinarily draw towards them the hearts and lives of men, and the low and unworthy ends to the pursuit of which even christians sometimes lapse. Let it stand forth to the mind in its wisdom, its purity, its elevation, its exclusive majesty, its unearthly character, its divine loveliness and dignity. Recognise its pursuit as that which will eminently constitute our "citizenship in heaven," even whilst we are upon the earth. Another important help will be found in

II. Guarding against converting subordinate and secondary ends into chief and ultimate ones. This misapprehension or rather wilful perversion of ends, has been the world's great mistake. We have certain ends to pursue, necessarily arising from our animal, mental, and social nature and relations, but which are to be subordinate and subservient. Men however choose to regard and follow them as principal and ultimate. They insist upon resting in them, and refuse to go beyond them. In this lie both the apostacy and idolatry of men. The religion of Christ interposes to put things in their right place, to rec. tify these disorders, to correct this great practical error of man's way.. This "wisdom, coming from above" teaches us what estimate to form of things, what relative value to put upon them, what proportionate regard to give them, what is first and what is secondary, what is chief and what inferior, what is subservient and what ultimate; and putting all things in proper relation and beautiful subordination, raises

towards the heaven whence it descended, the spirits it has rectified and restored. But not speedily does it complete this great rectification. It has to give us "line upon line, precept upon precept," whilst it is teaching the "rich man not to glory in his riches, and the wise man not to glory in his wisdom, and the mighty man not to glory in his might, but to glory in the Lord;" whilst it tells us not to "hew out cisterns, broken cisterns which can hold no water;" whilst it calls upon us "to cease from man ;" whilst it instructs" those that have wives to be as though they had none, those that weep as though they wept not, those that rejoice as though they rejoiced not, those that buy as though they possessed not, to use this world as not abusing it, knowing that the fashion thereof passeth away." And how slow are we to learn these lessons! How prone are we to magnify and overrate these intermediate ends! What foolish, doating fondness for these servants of our existence ! What childish passionateness for the toys and furniture of this mere nursery of our being! What unmanly trifling! What unworthy perverseness! Since then there is this sad liability to rest in these lower and subordinate ends, how evident is it that there is proportionate danger of forgetting the great and last end. So much as is improperly paid to these inferior objects, is withdrawn and stolen from God. As then our exposure is so great, so our vigilance should be incessant. We should watch every affec tion and guard every sense. It gives these lower ends an advantage in their encroaching and usurping tendencies upon our minds, that they may be entertained in a modified and limited degree. Our business therefore is, not indeed unnaturally and totally

to abandon these ends, but to see that we pass not the due bounds. We must have our eye upon the landmarks. The boundary walls must be held sacred and inviolable. If we would preserve and heighten a becoming regard for God, we must honestly, ceaselessly and anxiously watch against "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, the pride of life”—against "loving the world and the things of the world." We must "keep ourselves from idols." We must guard against inordinate worldly care, excessive and idolatrous attachment to earthly objects, absorption of mind in the affairs of the present state, and undue elation or depression through mere temporal circum+ stances. When a christian is surprised, overborne and hurried on in some earthly direction, he has little thought and little care left for the honour of God And many will be the instances of such unhappy and disgraceful captivity, unless we preserve a jealous watch, and offer a prompt and valiant resistance..

III. Avoiding despondency in reference to the attainableness of this exalted manner of living to God, will also be found of great avail. A discouraged and spiritless state of mind induces great feebleness and incapacity. It stifles enterprise; cools desire, and weakens determination. The man who desponds is irresolute, indolent and lethargic. Despondeney is therefore a cruel and deadly enemy to all the generous desires, the noble aims, the bold resolves of the christian; and should therefore be seriously watched and striven against. And surely if he will avail himself of his advantages, he has enough to fortify him against this dangerous foe. Is there any occasion for despondency? Let him think

of the obligation to seek the divine glory. That alone is no mean defence. There is assuredly no obligation where there is no possibility. We are not required to do things which cannot be done. We are never commanded to strive for what is unattainable. We are not expected to aspire to what can never be reached. God is no hard and unreasonable task mas

He does not mock us with impracticable demands, and then taunt and punish us for non-compliance. Encouragement lies in the very command, hope springs out of obligation, and the mind entrenches itself against the attacks of despair in reesponsibility itself. Let him think likewise of the lofty motives which are provided. The aim is high; but the inducements are so framed as to be every way fitted and adequate to bring him up to this blessed eminence. Shall he despond of reaching his object when furnished with aids so suitable, so available, so various and so cogent, so divine, so undiminishable, and unimpairable, as are the grand incentives supplied by the gospel of Jesus Christ? It were perverse and strange to despair of success in a work for which we have instruments shaped in heaven and tempered by God himself. Were these put into our hands to afford a spectacle of failure and disappointment? Let the christian think moreover of the nature and power of those principles which are implanted in his heart. Do they supply no grounds of reasonable hope? Are not their aspirings upward? Are not their tendencies Godward? Are not these qualities of heart of an improving and advancing kind? And do not this growth and advancement consist in approximation and increasing resemblance to God? Shall we despair then of reaching our end,

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when actually on our way to it ?-of arriving at our goal, when in the race?-of rising to the summit of our hopes and wishes, when consciously soaring towards it? How pleasant to look at the germinations of piety, and anticipate the near day when their tops shall point and stretch towards the skies! How delightful to mark the foundations of godliness laid in the heart, and to look for the coming hour, when the fair structure shall rear its head to heaven! And shall christians forget that privilege of saints, the promised influence of the Spirit? Is any thing wanting to complete the grounds of expectation and confidence when God himself offers and pledges his omnipotence to lift us to that desired eminence to which we aspire? What would we have more, if God has engaged "to work in us that which is well pleasing in his sight," and "to strengthen, stablish and settle us that we might be to the praise and glory of his grace?" Shall we speak of discouragement, failure, impossibility, where God works? But if the christian require something beyond even this to remind him of the attainableness of his objectsomething to refreshen and stimulate his hopes, let him look at what has been done. Let him consult the examples on record. Let him contemplate the goodly company of Apostles and Prophets, the noble army of confessors and martyrs, the general assembly and church of the first born, the spirits of the just made perfect. These all glorified God on earth. They now glorify him perfectly in heaven. Let us pursue the same path. It is as open to us as it was to them

IV. Acquiring a habitual temper of mind congenial with the end which is sought, is also an essential