true Christians, in the strongest terms, all ambition, avarice, contention for earthly objects, or desire for carnal enjoyments; all of which he represents as wholly incompatible with the hope that is set before us. He declares that they did not covet even the lowest offices in the state 1; that they took no pains to accumulate property; that their industry was actuated by a sense of duty, and by a wish to contribute to the common interests of the Church; for the faithful, in his day, had still all things so far in common that no member of the Church was suffered to want any thing which another possessed.

In one word, the primitive Christians, like all other sincere converts to the Gospel of Christ, "set their affections on things above, not on things on the earth;" and until we have been enabled to do this, it is impossible that we can sincerly

desire" the manifestation of the sons of GOD." Even when affliction overwhelms the worldly-minded man, and troubles surround him on every side, so that he sees no prospect of better days, though he may be driven to long for death as the close of his miserable existence, he has no wish to see "the Lord coming in the clouds of Heaven, with power and great glory." He would contemplate such a scene with unspeakable terror. And as long as we participate in that sentiment of reluctance and fear, we ought to suspect ourselves of partaking also in that "love of the world which is enmity with GOD."

If our hearts be really disentangled from this criminal love of the world, and from sensual pleasures, our compliance with the habits of mankind will not be excessive, nor indiscreet. As a ship of war rides tranquilly at anchor, enjoying the comforts of the port, but is ready for sea, and expands her sails with cheerful

alacrity, the moment that the command arrives; so the mature and wise Christian is content to make the best use of the present state of existence till he is summoned on his voyage to a far distant land; but when the call comes, he obeys it with joy, and hastens to meet his Lord. That this ought to be our state of preparation is undeniably clear to our consciences. If it is not so, the inference is certainly alarming we are tainted with the love of the world; and our salvation is endangered.

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An eloquent ancient preacher proposes to our imitation the prayer of Simeon, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation 1," declaring, he observes, and testifying that peace, and freedom, and tranquil repose, are the lot of the servants of GOD, when, delivered from the storms of the world, we seek the

What but a

weapons and

haven of eternal rest and safety. For that is our peace, that our secure tranquillity, that our fixed and immoveable and perpetual assurance. But what else do we carry on in the world than a daily contest against the devil? continual combat with his fiery darts? Our constant, and endless, and vexatious warfare, is with avarice, with lust, with anger, with ambition, with carnal vices, with worldly allurements: our Lord hath promised that this, our sorrow shall be turned into joy?" Who would not hasten to meet such joy? Who does not desire to be freed from such sorrow? But at what time our sorrow shall be thus converted into rejoicing, the Lord further declares to us, "I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." Since then, to see Christ is our joy; and that we can have no joy until we behold Him, what blindness of mind, what madness is it, to

love the oppressions, and sufferings, and mourning of the world, and not rather to hasten towards that happiness which can never be taken from us. This, my beloved brethren, arises from want of faith; because men do not believe the promises of God, who is truth, and whose Word is eternal, and sure to them that trust in Him."