Augustus Cæsar, lived to an old age in very great prosperity, flattered all his days, and courted and admired in the world. But time would fail to set forth the worldly disadvantages, if you mean to serve God faithfully. Even these honest heathens in a degree suffered for righteousness' sake; but look to your Divine Master, his Apostles, and his followers in all ages, "of whom the world was not worthy." Many are apt to think they can manage so dexterously as to serve Christ and yet avoid persecution; but it is fixed: “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." In this, then, count the cost. You may be a sort of half-professor, and escape; but if you be a thorough honest Christian (though one of the most prudent men in the world, and having the most perfect dislike to real enthusiasm), you will be looked on as silly and weak; and the world, knowing nothing of Divine wisdom, will congratulate itself as being mistress of all true wisdom. Worldly men will have their day the time is coming when they will appear the most contemptible in folly.

Will you follow Christ on these terms? be content to be thought weak and simple, and meet with hard treatment, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake? Then get your minds well fortified with the subject this day spoken to. Think deeply of what is meant by Christ's kingdom being not of this

world: for if you expect that by and bye you shall live to see the Gospel uppermost, and its glory and grandeur prevailing in this world, you will be disappointed. Aim at right views of heavenly riches, of real spiritual blessings, of the solid excellency of true faith, of unshaken patience, of the love of Jesus Christ, and of the rest which remains for the people of God hereafter; of the crown of glory, which in the sight of all the world his people shall then wear; and of their neverending solid felicity. These things, under God, will encourage you to proceed, and will prevent mistakes you will be led to follow Christ, not in a sudden heat, but with deliberate judgment; and, as our Saviour recommends, having counted the cost. And the world will one day see, whether you or they have been the best calculators, and who are the solid and judicious persons, and to whom belongs the palm of wisdom. For now, O followers of Christ, who love him in sincerity, who abound in sanctified works, who honour God and do good to men in all that you do, doubtless your choice is that of wisdom itself. Divine wisdom enlightened you and disposed you to choose thus, and Divine grace will comfort and support you through all your trials. trials. You see the world a cheat, a bubble, a phantom, a vapour. Oh! have but a little patience, and endure a little longer, and the bubble will burst and be no more. You have the satis

faction to carry the cross of Christ, and ere long shall share in his crown. You suffer with him, and soon shall reign with him. His blood alone gives you peace here, and his Spirit will conduct you safe into his heavenly everlasting mansions.

144

SERMON X.

MARKS OF SPIRITUAL DECAY.

GAL. iv. 15.

Where is then the blessedness ye spake of?

WHEN men have been shewn the way of happiness; have enjoyed it in their souls for a time; and, after having known it, do forsake it, and turn to vain things which cannot profit nor deliver; they may well be addressed as these Galatians are by the zealous and charitable Apostle, "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth?" and in the text, "Where is, then, the blessedness ye spake of?" What, is it come to this? You, who once rejoiced so much in the Gospel, who found so much blessedness in it, and declared that you never knew before what blessedness was, are you weary of happiness? Strange, that men should grow tired of their own felicity! Has the Gospel lost its power of comforting and filling the soul? or, rather, are not you beguiled by some accursed enemy or deceit, and lost. your relish, your appetite for it?--Indeed, indeed, there is a necessity for even the most

confirmed Christians to watch unto prayer, and to keep with diligence their own hearts. The heart is most deceitful, and the case of the Galatians shews it. They were not turned back to professed heathenism: Jupiter, and Mercury, and the other false gods, had no more of their worship: Christ they respected still; and there is no reason to doubt but in words they owned him as the Saviour, and his blood they professed to trust in as the ransomprice for their sins. But they were seduced by Satan and false teachers, to trust in circumcision--just as among ourselves some, it is to be feared, trust in baptism, and others in the Lord's Supper-for salvation, in the room of Christ. It is our duty, brethren, to warn you, that you be not high-minded, but fear.

I am speaking to the people of God, and my business in this discourse will be chiefly with them. Ah! how easily is the precious faith of the Gospel, which makes Christ our all, sullied, obscured, and defaced! It is a precious light from heaven; but all the powers of nature and of Satan are against it. And indeed, though we have often espoused you to one husband, even Christ, yet have we reason to fear of many, that their minds are corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. In fact, there is a deadness, a coldness-not an absolute falling away, but a decay-observable among us. More causes than one may have contributed to produce this effect. The Lord make us sen