God. And as they have turned their backs on Him, He will hide His gracious face from them. Should we not then avoid their company, as Moses directed the people to avoid the company of Korah, which the earth was to swallow up alive? Their glory is in their shame. They make a boast of the success with which they gain proselytes; but of this one day they will bitterly repent, when they shall have to answer to God for being the instruments of Satan in deluding people to their everlasting ruin. Should we not then beware, lest we fall into the same condemnation? They mind earthly things. They have their portion in this short life. "They have received their reward." All the good that belongs to them is the short-lived good of this present world. They mind not, and therefore they have no interest in, the things above. They care not for the joys of heaven; and therefore they shall never taste them. May we not then say of them as Jacob on his death-bed said of his sons Simeon and Levi :-“O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united." From modern errors of Puseyism and Popery on the one hand, and Socinianism and Infidelity on the other, it is my heart's desire and fervent prayer, that I and all my brethren in this country may be ever preserved!

By way of contrast to the false teachers, St. Paul tells us in v. 20. he had his conversation in heaven ; i.e. while they gave their minds and thoughts to earthly things, he was engaged about, was conversant in, things of another and better world. He despised the comforts and pleasures of this world, in order that he might be an instrument of saving sinners, by declaring to them

the forgiveness of their sins through the merits of the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. He made light of the sufferings and trials to which he was exposed on earth, because he had ever the eye of his faith fixed on the crown of righteousness which was laid up for him in heaven. He indeed lived as a citizen of heaven, even when on earth—he appeared as a pilgrim among men. Here he had no city--but he looked for one that was to come. This is the proper view of the words" our conversation is in heaven." For here, as in modern English, conversation does not mean speech, but the conduct or privileges of a citizen. Now, brethren, let us bear in mind, that what Paul says here of himself is true of all real Christians, they mind not earthly things-but they behave as the citizens of heaven. And this is a very serious point for our reflection; for if we be not living as citizens of heaven, we have cause for passing judgment against ourselves, as having a name to live while we are dead.

Why is it, brethren, that Christians are said to be citizens of heaven? Because Christ our head hath ascended up there, and there reigns a Prince and victorious King; and because, to use the beautiful language of the Collect for the Sunday after AscensionDay, we expect to be "exalted unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before." We, who are on earth, look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall come to do great things for us. As surely as He went up into the heavens, in the presence of His faithful disciples, so surely shall He come again to the earth; He shall come with ten thousand of His holy ones ; He shall come with clouds, and every eye shall

see Him. When such a glorious sight shall appear, then shall the full redemption of His people draw nigh. Their souls now go at death to be with Him in Paradise, while their bodies are committed to the tomb. But when He shall appear, our bodies and souls shall again be united, and we shall in this complete state go "to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we be ever with the Lord."

He shall change our vile body. Do not suppose that Paul is here speaking with contempt of the Christian's body. The words in the original express no contempt; they stand thus-" who shall change the body of our humiliation." This is said by way of contrast to the glorious body of Christ, or "body of His glory," as it is in the original, like which it is to be made, when Christ shall appear the second time from heaven. Our present bodies are indeed humiliated—they have been brought low by sin, by using them as instruments of unrighteousness; they have been brought low by numerous diseases and troubles; they have been defiled with the wrinkles of care and grief; and at length they will be brought very low-oh! let the proud sons of earth remember this—they will be brought so low as to become the prey of the worm! But why should the believer shrink from realizing this truth? These humiliated bodies are one day to be made like unto Christ's glorious body. His body is immortal, so shall ours become. His body is fitted for the glorious mansions of heaven, so shall ours be fitted. His body is free from all future pain and trouble, so surely shall ours be rendered free. Let no doubts trouble our minds on this deeply important, this vital Christian doctrine. For

though this be a great work, remember it is to be done by One that cannot fail to accomplish His promises for want of power; for it is to be done by Him who at first gave a being to us, and all other parts of the visible and invisible creation-by Him, by whom, and for whom are all things-even by Him "who is able to subdue all things unto Himself!"

LECTURE XVI.

PHILIPPIANS IV. 1–7.

Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved, and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I entreat thee also, true yoke-fellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

BY the word therefore, in verse 1, a connection is intimated between what is said in the preceding chapter and the exhortation here given-Stand fast in the Lord. In the 3rd chapter, the apostle had cautioned the Philip