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SERMON IV.

PHIL. III. 18, 19.

For 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 : whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

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THE terms in which the apostle Paul frequently describes his own spiritual feelings and determinations, well exemplify those which should ever be cherished by the disciples of Jesus Christ. Listen to the glowing and holy fervour in which his devotedness is proclaimed :-" God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world : ” “ I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die, for the name of the Lord Jesus:" "What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ; yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the

law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith."Such language as this ought not to be considered as suitable only to the circumstances and station of an inspired messenger of Christ, or of those who in different ages are called to spheres of peculiar responsibility and exertion:it ought to indicate the spirit of all by whom the gospel is professed; and men who are strangers to the principles by which it is inspired, are strangers also to the influences which that gospel employs to purify and redeem.

The object of the apostle, in uttering the animated and striking statement of his own consecration to the Redeemer, contained in the earlier part of this chapter, was, that he might more emphatically express his desire to others, professing an attachment to the faith, that they would strive to follow his course, and to imitate his example. He did not wish to stand on an elevation solitary and unapproached; he endeavoured to kindle the aspirations of multitudes after the attainment of kindred excellence, and induce them to press with equal ardour in the path which would end in the attainment of the same ultimate reward. To this effect, therefore, he exhorts" Let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing: brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample." As they associated in this high companionship, they

would become prepared for the consummation so anxiously to be anticipated, that resurrection from the dead, when the "vile body shall be changed, that it may be fashioned like unto the glorious body of the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

This exhortation to be diligent and devoted in fulfilling the objects of the Christian calling, is enforced by presenting a case of distressing contrast,―men who probably had desired to be considered among the followers of the Son of God, but over whom the obligations of religion had no power, and who were proceeding fast in a career involving deep degradation, and conducting to final perdition. These were they, exhibited in the text. Such men could not be contemplated by any who were susceptible to the demands of spiritual interest, without producing much powerful feeling and salutary impression; and thence, as the apostle was practically aware, the most effective appeals might be deduced by those appointed to watch for souls, to enforce the only method of preparation for eternity and heaven. It is yet incumbent on the ministers of religion, to point out these characters in all that pertains to their condition; justice to the station in which they have been placed, requires that here they should be distinct, uncompromising, and faithful; and although the duty which directs

the exposure and condemnation of their fellowmen, may involve much that is painful, yet if the performance of that duty be calculated, as we believe it is, to animate the saints to more holy vigilance, and to arouse the guilty from their recklessness, how valuable is the result! -We occupy the present season, in illustrating the exhibition made to the Philippian church, that the effects proposed by the apostle may now be promoted :-O that He who alone is master of the heart, may send forth his Holy Spirit to secure them!

Let us observe,

I. THE GUILT ATTRIBUTED TO THE CHARACTERS DESCRIBED.

They are stated to be men "whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things."

The persons to whom such epithets were applied by the apostle, were probably, as we have already remarked, individuals who held a professed connexion with the Christian church, and some of whom even occupied stations of considerable publicity as the avowed teachers of Christian doctrine-not open blasphemers of the name and authority of the Messiah, but pretended votaries of his religion and advocates of his cause. It does not follow-and the case now presented is

a solemn illustration-that all those who assume the name of the gospel, are in their hearts influenced by its spirit, or in their lives obedient to its commands. There are motives and circumstances, common to all ages, which may easily induce many to an external acknowledgment of the truth, and an affected attachment to its interests, while there is a secret enmity of mind against its practical bearing and design, and while there is a disposition to follow indulgences awfully opposed to the influence Christianity ought ever to possess. The true servants of the Son of God will always aim to imitate the holiness of their Master; but there are others also, as there have been from primitive times, who pass under the title of his followers, while their actions detect their falsehood, and prove that they have neither part nor lot in the matter.

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1. The persons exposed in the text, were sensualists: “whose god is their belly"—a strong expression, evidently intended to denote the gross and brutish indulgences to which they resorted for pleasure. In the same manner, the believers of the church at Rome, were warned against individuals who taught the principles, and followed the practice of licentiousness among them. "Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them for they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but

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