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that the principles of the gospel of Christ display their power and virtue

I. In rendering us insensible to the power of affliction-none of these things move me."

II. In raising us superior to the love of life"neither count I my life dear unto me, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus." Let us behold here the glorious gospel of the blessed God. How the religion of Christ displays its potent influenceits mighty efficacy

I. In rendering us insensible to the power of affiction. Its supports enabled the holy zealous apostle to say of painful separation-of the labours of the ministry, and of the large measure of persecution which in that age of the church every where attended the preachers of the gospel, "none of these things move me. Paul had, however, without doubt, the feelings of humanity; and, as I have already intimated, these things would affect his soul as a man, and occasionally overwhelm his spirits; but when he felt the happy influence of the gospel in all its power, he triumphed over these difficulties; he heroically conquered himself; subdued his own feelings, and appeared a ready, a joyful martyr for Christ. Thus did Paul, yet did not he, but the grace of God which was in him. These trials, then, these difficulties, which to many would be insurmountable, did not "move" him; that is, the anticipation of them, the endurance of them, did not so move him as to damp his ardour-as to discourage his soul, or as to make him wish to exchange with the world. Observe, they did not so move him

As to damp his ardour. These trials and apparent obstacles to the success of his work, and to his own happiness in it, did not make him less anxiously desirous of doing good in the world, did not at all diminish the fervent wishes of his soul to be the means of conducting many sons unto glory. Notwithstanding these difficulties, he was still "steadfast, unmov.

able, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for asmuch as he knew that his labour was not in vain in the Lord." And as he had this ministry, as he had received mercy, so he fainted not; hence he could say to others no man should be moved by these afflictions, for yourselves know that we were appointed thereunto. He remembered the long cloud of witnesses, who through much tribulation had entered the kingdom, and he determined to imitate their example; he did more, he considered Jesus, who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself; and this prevented him from being weary, or from fainting in his mind: he looked unto Jesus the author and finisher of his faith, and by that means obtained encouragement to proceed, and grace sufficient for him. Oh! never let the servants of the most high God relax in their endeavours to do good, or grow cold in their desires after the immortal welfare of mankind because some difficulties await them: of these difficulties they ought to say "none of these things move me." Nor did these trials so affect the apostle

As to discourage his soul; that is, to make him shrink at the thought of enduring them-to make him afraid to meet them-no-for, supported by the consolations of the gospel, he could welcome reproaches, pain and death; yea, rejoice and be exceeding glad that he was counted worthy to suffer for the sake of the Lord Jesus. What mean ye,' says he elsewhere, what mean ye to weep and to break mine heart, for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.' Divine grace so supported him, that though he was troubled on every side, he was not distressed; though perplexed, he was not in despair; though persecuted, he was not forsaken ; though cast down, he was not destroyed. I suffer, says he, these things, nevertheless I am not shamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him, until that day.'

Thus

he could endure, and the Saviour enabled him to suffer as well as to preach for him, and none of these things moved him.

Finally, they did not so move him as to make him wish to exchange with the world.

Because he thus reckoned, that the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that should be revealed in us. He saw that our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' He looked not at the things which are seen, which are temporal, but at the things which are not seen, which are eternal. There was a pleasure even connected with the sufferings which far excelled the joy of worldlings; hence he says I am filled with comfort; I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.' For the Lord stood by him and strengthened him; yea, the Lord delivered him from every evil work, and preserved him to his heavenly kingdom. The apostle, taught by the Spirit of God, loved even the difficulties of his Master's service far better than the ease and the pleasures of the world. Oh! that like him, we may wisely count the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures of this world-prefer even the worst, the most painful circumstances in the cause of the Saviour, to the most fascinating pleasures of the world-to the enjoyments which the men who know not God, reckon most valuable and most dear; thus shall we shew that we are willing to be any thing that the Saviour chooses, so that he may be glorified: thus shall we shew that we speak the feelings of our hearts, when we say of the difficulties of our work none of these things move me.' Thus was the apostle enabled to enjoy strong consolations in the midst of trials. Thus did Immanuel's grace quicken him to diligence and fortify his mind against the numerous ills that flesh is heir to. Oh! that the Spirit of glory and of God would rest on

us also; that all our duties may be so discharged, and all our trials so endured, as that the power of the gospel may be evinced, and the supporting grace of the great Head of the Church abundantly magnified. And what can so teach us to endure trials as the religion of Christ? What supports have infidels, mere moralists, and speculative philosophers, like those which may be derived from the fulness of our Lord Jesus Christ? Theirs are refuges of lies, ours a never failing foundation. 'Their rock is not as our rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.' The gospel of Christ presents the only sovereign balm for human wo; it supplies us with real, and with sure support; it emboldens us to say, in the face of difficulties, dangers, and death, None of these things move me.' The gospel, however, does not merely display its power in rendering us insensible to the power of affliction, but

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(II) In raising us superior to the love of life.

For, adds the apostle, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I may finish my course with joy. Skin for skin, yea all that a man hath, will he give for his life.' The preservation of life is the first law of nature. That man is unworthy the character of a rational being, who intentionally shortens, or daringly terminates his own life. And yet here a man comes forward and says, 'neither count I my life dear unto myself and he is taught to form this estimation of life too, by the gospel of Jesus! How is this? The apostle did not choose strangling rather than life; but the case may be stated thus. The gospel taught him the right use of life, and made him earnestly to desire to fulfil it: the gospel taught him as a minister, that life was only valuable to him so far as he accomplished its purposes-the joyful completion of his Christian race, the honourable close of his ministerial exertions. Further than this, life was not dear to him, or highly prized by him, for he was wil

ling to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.' His earnest expectation and his hope was, that in nothing he should be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now Christ should be magnified in his body, whether it were by life or by death.' Yea,' says he, and if 1 be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all.' Oh! what a noble principle is this that renders a man willing to suffer and to die for Christ, for herein perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us; and we ought also to lay down our lives for the brethren.' And now it is said of the apostle, and all who like him triumphed over Satan, they were faithful unto death." They overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, for they loved not their lives unto death. But I digress from the subject. Observe, then, that the gospel raised the mind of Paul superior to the love of life, as it shewed him that it was only useful for two purposes: (1) That he might joyfully complete his Christian So he says, that I may finish my course with joy.' The course to which he alludes is the Christian race, which he had some time before undertaken in divine strength. God had called him so to run, that he might obtain, and hence he laid aside every weight, and the sin which so easily beset him, and ran with patience the race set before him, looking unto Jesus.' He set out with a full determination never to grow weary, or to decline his eager pursuit after glory, honour and immortality. Hitherto he had pursued it with alacrity; he did not count himself to have apprehended; but this one thing he did, forgetting those things which were behind, and reaching forth unto those things which were before, he pressed toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Personal religion had flourished in his soul, and he had not left the path marked out for him, by the great Forerunner, to be led aside either to the right hand or to the left, and now

race.

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