132 THE HIDDEN LIFE OF -A CHRISTIAN, tions in the world, and not to be puffed up in countenance, nor swell atheart. If they are but watchful to keep their divine life vigorous they will distinguish themselves as christians, even in scarlet and gold, and that by a glorious humility. They know, that all their advancementsonearth are but mean and despicable things, in comparisonof their highest hopes, and their promised crown in heaven. They can meet threatening danger, diseases, and deaths, without those terrors that overwhelm the carnal sin- ner; for their better life shall neverdie. Theycan sustain los- ses, and sink in the world, when it comes by the mere providence of God, without their own culpable folly, and bear it with a hum- ble resignation of spirit, and with much inward serenity and peace ; for the things which they have lost, were not their life all these were visible, but their life is hidden ; Phil. iv. 12. I know how to be abased, and how tobe exalted ; I knowhow to abound, and to suffer want; I can do all these things through Christ strengtheningme : Christ, who is the principle of my in- ward life. O ! that the christians of our day had more of this sublime conduct, more of these noble evidences of the life of christianity. IV. Inference. How vain and needless a thing is it for a christian to affect popularity and to set up for a shew in this world. How vain is it for him to be impatient to appear and shine among men, for he has honours and treasures, joys and glories, that are incomparably greater, and yet a secret to the world. A christian's true life is hidden, and he should not be too fond of public and gay appearances. The apostle Peter gives advice how thechristian women should behave themselves not as the rest of the worlddo, whö set themselves forth to public shew, with many ornamentsof gold and pearl ; but the believer should adorn . herself With modesty, and with everygrace, in the hidden man of the heart; 1 Pet. iii. 4. How unreasonable is it for us who profess the christian life to be cast down, if we are confined to an obscure station in the world! Was not the Lord of glory, when he came down on earth to give us a pattern of the spiritual life, content to be ob- scure forthirty years together ! Was he not unknown to men, but as a commoncarpenter, or a poor carpenter's son ! And in those four years of appearance which he made as a preacher, how mean] how contemptible were the circumstancesof life which he chose ? And shall we be impatient and fretful under the same humbled estate ? Do we dislike so divine a precedent ? Must we, like mushrooms of the earth, be exalted, and grow fond of making a public figure, when the King of heaven was so poor and lowly ? We lose public honour and applause indeed, butper-
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