Iti 178 The Love of WIfdom S ER M. it. This was the excellent fpirit of the VII. apoftle Paul, Philip. iii. 8. rea, doubtlefs, ``' "and I count all things but lofs for the excel-. lency of the knowledge of Chrifl yefus my Lord ; by which is meant true chriftianity, pure and undefiled religion before God the father, thus explained by him in thefe words, ver. to. which, in the ftyle of this apoftle, evidently fignify holinefs, charity, meeknefs, and patience, after the example of Chrift ; that I may know him, and the power of his refurretlion, and the fellowfhip of his f ferings, being made conformable to bis death. This he prized above all things, and counted them but lofs and dung that he might attain it. But the infincerity of many may appear to themfelves, if they bring the temper of their minds to a fair trial ; for they cannot but be confcious to themfelves, that other oppofite inclinations prevail ; though they may have fome delires to wif- dom, efpecially becaufe it is of fo great im- portance to their intereft, yet they have little fenfe of its beauty and atniable excellence; or things more grofs, and of an inferior na- ture, preponderate, and their delires of re- ligious virtue are, as Solomon elfewhere fpeak- eth, feeble and ineffeáual, Prov. xiii. 4. The foul cf the Jiuggard defìreth and bath nothing.
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