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we shall, as the apostle expresses it, “be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven, so that mortality shall be swallowed up of life." Evil principles will be daily dying within us, so that having had part in the first resurrection from sin to holiness, we shall hereafter be made partakers of the glory which shall be revealed: we shall so live, that when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, we also

may appear with him in glory. What a day, What a day, then, is this to the Christian, when he reflects upon what has been done for him! he may well go forward in what he has to do; with the grace that God is ever willing to bestow upon him, he may well take courage. We are made more than conquerors through Christ that loved us! This is the day, famous and renowned above every other day. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it! This is the day on which the stone which the builders rejected became the head-stone of the corner. On this solid foundation, therefore, may we build our hopes of happiness: let us live to him who died for us; and, to sum up all in the lan

guage of the apostle-" Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once; but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God; likewise, reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."

SERMON XXI.

LIVING AND WALKING IN THE SPIRIT.

Gal. v. 25.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

IT was the sad, but too true description given of the church at Sardis, by Him who could not err, that "she had a name to live, and was dead." And the exhortation founded upon this sad truth is, "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die." There are certain marks which distinguish a dead body from a living substance. The one is cold, motionless, and altogether insensible: whereas, if a man be really alive, he will bestir himself-he will walk about-he will be actively engaged in his daily employments. As in the living God we live, and

move, and have our being, so, if we be really alive to Him in spirit, we shall delight in serving him. "Because God is a spirit, therefore they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." Religion is of that vast importance to an immortal being, that, at the close of life, we find all persons wishing to be made partakers of its benefits. And yet, in the day of youth, and health, and strength, how few, comparatively, see its excellence!

We

There are certain characters in the world who make light of everything sacred. speak not at present of them. May God, in his mercy, turn their hearts! There are others, and possibly a more numerous class, who make an outward profession of religion, but do not live up to its holy precepts: who have made a little progress in their christian course, but, from a variety of temptations, turn back again to the world.

Remember," therefore, saith the Lord Jesus again to the church of Sardis, "remember how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent." The real servant of Jesus Christ is bound to his beloved Master by every tie of duty, affec

row way, which leadeth unto life. "Many walk of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ." On the other hand, "The path of the just is like the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day." The apostle, by these expressions, live in the Spirit, and walk in the Spirit, clearly means that we may "have a name to live whilst we are dead :" that if we do not exert ourselves, the mere profession of a Christian will be of little avail. As if he had said, It will not do to be barely just alive: would this satisfy you as to the body? No! you would seek for better health; you would try every proper medicine; you would wish for the full use of your faculties, that you might enjoy the good things which God has given you. Do the same by your souls. By the expression, therefore, "live in the Spirit," we infer, that a man may enter a little way on his religious course: that he may prophesy peace, peace to himself, when there is no peace; and that simply because he is not a doer of the word of God. He may just keep the lamp of profession alive, but have

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