162 THE HIDDEN LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN. [SERM.. I&. lost his riches in a storm at sea, gave thanks to provi- dence, under a heathen name ; " I thank thee, fortune, that thou hast now forced me to retire, and to live within my cloak;" that is, upon' the supports of philosophy,. in meaner circumstances of life. how much more should the christian be pleased with a private station, who has the supports of the gospel to live upon, and to sweeten his retirements. How cautious should christians be, therefore, of the management of all the public affairs of their civil life, lest they do any thing that should hurt their secret or religious life ! We shouldbe still enquiring, " Will such sort of company to which I am now invited ; such a gainful trade which I am ready to engage in; such a course Of life which now lies before me; tempt me to neglect my secret converse with God ? Does it begin to alienate my heart from heaven, and things unseen ?' then let me sus- pect and fear it." Be afraid, christians, of what grieves the blessed Spirit of Christ, who is the principle of your life, and may provoke him to retire from you. Be dili- gent in such enquiries, be very watchful and jealous of every thing that would call your thoughts outward, and keep them too longabroad. Christiansshould live much at home, for theirs is a hidden life. VI. Inference: We may see here divine wisdom in contriving the Ordinances of the gospel, with such plain- ness, and such simplicity, as best serves to promote the hidden life of a christian. Pomp and ceremony, gilded and sparkling ornaments, are ready to call the soul abroad, to employ it in the senses, and divert it from that spiritual improvement, which the secret life of a Christian requires, and which gospel-institutions were 'designed for. You see in the heathen world, and you see in popish countries, that the gay splendors of worship tempt the hearts of the worshippers to rest in forms, and to forget God ; and we may fear that the greatest part of the people lay under the same danger in the days of Ju- daism. I grant indeed,. that where, pompous and glittering rites of religion are of special divine appointment, and were designed to typify the future glories of a more spi- ritual church and worship ; there they might hope for
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