How ought we to live? Do you believe that you have a home in heaven? Are you going thither? ! Will you not then be thinking of your happy home? Will you be sorry to go there? Should you lay up treasures where you cannot long remain? Read Matt. vi. 19; Luke xii. 16-21. Should you not prepare for the state of heaven? Or, since you are a pilgrim, taking a journey, should you be diverted from your object? Should you loiter on the road? Should you expect all things to be agreeable? If you meet with pleasant things, should you be attached to them, as though they were lasting, or the best you could hope for? Would they not in this case hinder your progress, and become snares to you? Read 1 Pet. i. 13; ii. 11; and 2 Pet. iii. 11-14. You may, and ought to be thankful for any comforts God may give you by the way; but they are not to make you lose sight of your journey's end. When you meet with painful things, are you to grieve and repine? Why not? [Two especial reasons present themselves; first, afflictions and crosses are not only a consequence of sin, but a salutary correction; they are sent H as a means of weaning our affections from the land of our pilgrimage, and of preparing us for our heavenly inheritance; and, secondly, the time of trial is short, (1 Cor. vii. 29-31.) the moment of suffering is not to be compared with eternal glory, Rom. viii. 18; 2 Cor. iv. 17.] In Heb. xi. we read of many holy persons, whose lives declared the power and blessedness of Faith. What particular instance of faith is given in the latter part of the 13th verse? ["And confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."] These persons lived before life and immortality were brought to light by the Gospel. If they had such lively faith in the blessedness to come, what ought we to have? Ought not we to live as sojourners here? Let the words we have been considering be deeply impressed on your minds. STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON THE EARTH. Set not your affections upon any earthly thing. "All is vanity" but the knowledge and love of God. Since we have here "no continuing city," let us hasten towards that "whose builder and maker is God."-At present, you cannot deeply feel yourselves to be strangers and pilgrims; but the time may come, when through losses and affliction, you will fully experience that you are so. And it will now be a blessed preparation for the hour of trial, of sorrow, and of death, if you habitually endeavour to think and live as "strangers and pilgrims on the earth." John iv. 10. "LIVING WATER." If you should be told of a Fountain, yielding water which would produce the most blessed effects-which would allay our evil passions, satisfy our restless desires, soothe our deepest sorrows, cure the diseases of our souls, impart to them heavenly virtue, everlasting life-would you not desire this Water? Would you not diligently inquire after and seek this Fountain? This Fountain then is to be found it is near at hand. It is the Fountain of "living water." Who spoke of living water? Read John iv. 10. Consider the words a moment-what do you think they mean? Think of the source of this water; where is there living water, or the "water of life?" Read Rev. xxii. 1. Does earthly water afford spiritual life? Can earthly water satisfy the thirst of the soul? Who gives eternal life? Of what did Jesus say the living water should be a source in the soul? Now read John iii. 3. born again? John iii. 5, 6. What will cleanse-what will renew and satisfy the soul? What will cure the evil of Sin? How does St. John explain the living water, John vii. 39? And what fruits does the Spirit of God produce? Gal. v. 22, 23; Eph. v. 9. How then may you obtain heavenly life, purity, and peace? How may your soul produce the fruits of the Spirit? Has our Saviour invited you to ask for living water? [John iv. 10; vii. 37.]. Does He require of you money or price? Read Isa. lv. 1; Rev. xxi. 6. What is required ? Must you ask? [John iv. 10; and see Luke xi. 13, &c.] Must you believe? John vii. 38. Must you thirst for the living water? [Isa.lv. 1; Rev. xxi. 6.] Can you thirst for it at the same time that you thirst for earthly things? [Compare John iv. 14; vi. 27 and 35; with Rom. viii. 5, &c.] Or, if you take of the living water, will the desires of the flesh, and a worldly mind continue to have the same power over you as before? [No: they will be gradually quenched at this fountain of Holiness.*] * The influence of the Divine Spirit flows into the soul through Jesus Christ, and gradually extinguishes the power of sin. By virtue of this living water, all the fruits of the Spirit spring up in the believer, and flourish and ripen until his full admission to the heavenly abode of the Spirit. Then shall the living water, which has strengthened and refreshed the child of God, throughout his weary pilgrimage, continue to be the fountain of his blessedness in Eternity. In Eternity he shall arrive at the pure river itself, "clear as crystal," which proceeds "out of the throne of God and of the Lamb." Tell me particularly what life will your soul receive from the living water, how will you live? Your soul will receive a heavenly life from Jesus Christ through the Divine Spirit. [John iii. 6-15; vi. 35-58; xvii. 2, 3.] You will live in newness of life, Rom. vi. 4; viii. 1-10; 2 Cor. v. 17... Now put these questions seriously to your heart. Say to yourself"Do I thirst for the living water?" "Do I ask for it?" "Does its heavenly virtue influence my soul?" If you have not the living water in what state are you? Will you continue in Death-will you refuse Life? "Eternal Life" is the Gift of God, "through Jesus Christ our Lord," Rom. vi. 23. With Jesus is "the Fountain of Life," (Psalm xxxvi. 9.) the well of Salvation (Isaiah xii. 3,) inexhaustible and accessible to all, Rev. xxii. 17. You have been often told how much you need the Grace of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit; here this grace is freely offered to you; here all |