embrace the soul returned into the body of the dead?-To what extent can we be the followers of so privileged a servant of Christ ?-To the same extent of moral perfection, my brethren,-to the same degree of Christian holiness, as that to which himself attained.-We have not indeed, one of us the power of working miracles-we have not, one of us the gift of tongues-none of us have been converted by the open and immediate interposition of Jesus Christ-or blessed by a special revelation from heavenbut we all have that, by which alone St. Paul was enabled to walk uprightly,and by which we shall be enabled to tread in his steps-I mean—the inward assistance of God's Holy Spirit.-It is a mistake to suppose that the Apostles and first Christians, because endowed with certain special gifts, are beyond the reach of our imitation on any point of Christian righteousness.-They had these especial gifts it is true-but they were granted for an especial purpose—and did

P

not supersede or overpower the ordinary motives, which regulate the conduct and form the character." We may be sure," says an acute writer, "that the Apostles were not, even the most highly gifted of them, guided by immediate revelation in all the actions of their lives; but were left to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling; though still encouraged to do this by the assurance that God wrought in them.-In fact, the early Christians could hardly have been moral agents, if they had not been left watchfully to regulate their own conduct according to the best of their judgment— but had in every case recognised the immediate dictates of the Holy Spirit, forbidding or enjoining each action of their lives. And yet they were taught that in all their conduct the assistance of God's Spirit was requisite, and was promised to them-our Lord himself told them that without him they could do nothing-and St. Paul's encouragement to them to work out their own

salvation is it is God that worketh in you ''

And thus is Christ still with us-and thus does God still continue to work in us. Why then, profiting by the same assistance, should we not make the same progress? Why should we not attain the same degree of perfection that was reached by St. Paul, seeing that the same Almighty Spirit prevents and furthers us in all our efforts after holiness? -I am aware, that in proposing the example of St. Paul as one within the reach of general imitation, I am citing perhaps the most finished pattern of Christian perfectness that ever was exhibited by man.-But it does not follow that the pattern is inimitable—because so excellent. We are apt to dwell upon it as a whole, till its completeness overwhelms and disheartens us.-But let us take it in detail.-Let us examine it point by point.-Let us mark for instance, the particulars to which the

1 Whately's Essays.

words of the text refer.-They are of the very first importance, for they describe the spirit which animated him in running his Christian course-and the rules he observed in running it.—But what is there here that we cannot imitate ?-Nay, what is there here that we must not imitate, if we would "attain unto the resurrection of the dead 1 ?"

St. Paul cast from him "all confidence in the flesh."-And in this-can we not be followers of him?-In this-are we not followers of him ?-What Christian! is there or what man who calls himself a Christian, however low his attainments, who would voluntarily stand before the judgment-seat of God, and demand that sentence might be passed upon him according to his own deservings?—I am firmly convinced that this is one of the many points on which almost all believers are agreed in substance, though they differ in words.—We may not, some of us, like the terms in which others speak

1 Phil. iii. 11.

2 Phil. iii. 4.

of the utter incapability of nature, and of the all-sufficiency of grace-but when we turn from subtle-perhaps useless— points of theory, to plain every-day practice, I do believe that it would be difficult to find the man (if he have ever consulted his Bible, or kneeled upon his knees before his God), who would hope to walk by his own strength-or venture to be judged by his own righteousness. -No!-on this point, I will assume, that we are most of us, closer imitators of St. Paul, that even we ourselves suppose and may this be proved at the last day" may we be found, not having our own righteousness"-not relying upon our own works or deservings-“ but on that which is through the faith of Christ -the righteousness which is of God by faith '."

Trusting to the free grace of God, and to the sacrifice and mediation of Jesus Christ-those anchors of the soul, sure and stedfast-St. Paul did not, how

1 Phil. iii. 9.