Happy is that man who lays seriously to heart in the days of his health and prosperity the warnings of God's revelation; who never lays down his head to rest without reflecting that the same night his soul may be required of him. Happy is he who walks by faith, who lives in the sincere heartfelt expectation of a better existence. He it is, who lies down to sleep in the sense of peace and reconciliation with God, through the atonement of Jesus Christ, and awakes to his earthly labour with the cheerful conviction that it is all for his good. He it is that wisely of his treasure lendeth unto the Lord, by bestowing on the poor according to his ability. (See Prov. 19. 17.) He it is that saith unto his soul, Soul, thou hast treasure in heaven; enjoy therefore, for the present, rest and peace; yet continue to increase in those divine riches, which are hallowed by the help of God's holy Spirit. Him, when the bridegroom cometh, He shall find ready. Him shall death summon from this night of frailty, and spiritual darkness, to a day of everlasting righteousness. Him shall

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the Lord Himself receive, with the voice of mercy, and of love: "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." (Matt. 25. 23.)

SERMON XIII.

THE MIND THAT WAS IN CHRIST JESUS.

PHILIPP. 2. 5, 6, 7, 8.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

IN the preceding verses, we find the apostle exhorting the Philippians, and through them all Christians to the end of time, against variance, pride, and selfishness. "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." (ver. 3.) That is, let no Christian ever perversely quarrel with his neighbour, or proudly exalt himself; do any thing for

the purpose of annoying others, or for the setting forth of his own credit in the world. But rather let each esteem himself, in his own heart, to be of less worth, to deserve less both of God and man, than those amongst whom he dwells. And further let each kindly take an interest in the welfare of all around him, feel as much, nay more pleasure, if possible, in helping them, than in serving himself. For this is the force of the verse next before the text: "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." (ver. 4.)

In order to enforce these exhortations, St. Paul points to the example of our blessed Lord; explaining what mind we should have in us, by describing what mind was in Christ Jesus: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." God grant us to have here a just conception both of the eminence of our Lord's divine nature, and of the extent to which He humbled Himself for our sakes! God grant that the consideration of his humility and love may incline us, as St. Paul exhorts, to have in us the same mind, to cherish the same kind and lowly temper, as was in Christ Jesus!

I. First then we have it here plainly set forth that Christ Jesus is no less than God. "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." Here observe the apostle is exhorting to humility, exhorting by the pattern of Jesus Christ. And yet he tells us of this most humble Saviour, that He "thought it not robbery to be equal with God." No words could be devised more strongly to express how truly, how fully He is equal with God, even is God Himself. And this doctrine, however hard to be apprehended, lies at the very foundation of our Gospel privileges, and Gospel hopes. It is be