SERMON XIII.

CHARACTERISTIC MARKS OF POSSESSING THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST.

ROMANS VIII. 9.—“ If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

To belong to the family of Christ is an honour which many claim, without being at all entitled to the privilege;-possessing neither the temper nor the disposition which distinguished Christ himself. Now, from the words of the text, and indeed, from the whole tenor of the evangelical and apostolic writings, we may plainly infer, that this is a most dangerous self-delusion. In the hope, therefore, of enabling you, under divine grace, to "prove your own selves" by the sure test of the Gospel, it is my present intention briefly to consider what those qualities are which shine with such peculiar lustre in the character of the Son of God,—to shew you how indispensable it is for all who call upon his name, to let the same mind be in them, which was also in Christ Jesus,-and to entreat you all honestly

and impartially, to ask yourselves, whether you are of the number of merely nominal christians, or whether you have in truth "the Spirit of Christ!"

The first quality that attracts our notice in the character of Christ, is, his unceasing anxiety for the glory of God. Here indeed, he seems to be warmed with all the fervour of heaven. It was his zeal for the honour of his heavenly Father, that made him lay aside the robes of his Majesty,-leave the realms of glory,-take upon him the nature-the infirmities of those whom he "came to seek and to save," and sojourn in this vale of sorrows. It was a pure, disinterested

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zeal-a zeal that scorned to assert the cause of God from selfish motives. Far other views inspired the bosom of our blessed Redeemera sincere determination, under all circumstances to promote the glory of his Father, animated his soul; and we may be assured, that if we do not partake of this spirit, we cannot "glorify God in our souls and bodies which are his." we are careless and lukewarm in the cause of God, most certainly we shall not resemble the character of Him, whose "meat and drink it was to do the will of his Father." If we neglect his sanctuary, make light of his sacraments, and despise his ordinances, we have not the Spirit of that Holy Saviour, whose custom it was to attend the synagogue every

Sabbath Day;—who, though entirely without sin, continually occupied himself in the duties of prayer and praise.

Consider next the wonderful love of Christ towards the whole human race. Pitying our fallen, lost, and miserable state, the Anointed of Heaven was pleased to become the means of our restoration to the favour of God. And how did he execute this great design? Did he employ any of his ministering angels in this mission of mercy? Did he send them on the embassy of man's redemption, to intercede with our offended Maker? No-He himself, who "thought it not robbery to be equal with God," voluntarily undertook the cause of sinful man,―came down from Heaven, and "took upon him the form of a servant,"-sojourned upon earthbecame himself a "man of sorrows," and ceased not to prosecute his arduous task, till, with his dying breath, he could pronounce it "finished"till God was reconciled, and man forgiven. Yes, He who was the eternal Son of the eternal Father, having assumed the garb of human infirmity," himself bare our sins in his own body on the tree:""He who knew no sin was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him:"-"He-while we were yet sinners,-so loved us, as to wash us from our sins in his own blood," and "reconciled us unto God by the cross."

But, unhappily, how different from this benevolent temper of our Redeemer is the too general conduct of men towards each other! The feuds, the jealousies, the envyings, the strifes among mankind, ill accord with "the Spirit of Christ." Nay, were we to form our judgment from the unkind and unchristian behaviour of one frail mortal to another, we might surely deem that man was born only to frustrate the happiness of his fellow creatures. What malicious constructions are too often put upon our words and actions! How frequently the frailties and misfortunes of our neighbours are the subject of common discourse! and, by a strange malevolence, too often are reversed, the kind injunctions of divine mercy,-rejoicing over them that weep, and weeping over them that rejoice. The heart is too often callous to the pleadings of distress; and in pride or presumption, too many forget that "they themselves also are compassed with infirmities," and that the "same measure" of inhumanity which they mete to an unfortunate fellow creature, may be "measured to themselves again.

But, need I ask, is this to act in conformity with the amiable and tender disposition of the Friend and Saviour of mankind? Is it thus we are to manifest that we "have the Spirit of Christ?" The true disciple of that Saviour, who is long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and goodness,

will bear with the infirmities of others, and in their frailties will acknowledge his own. He who is educated in that school of forbearance which the Holy Jesus founded on earth, will, like Him, "have compassion on the ignorant, and those that are out of the way;"-and, conscious how many are his own backslidings, will not be offended at the errors and failings of human nature, which his Divine Master pardoned and commiserated. He who, with his Saviour, contemplates the whole race of mankind, (however they may differ in outward circumstances) as children of the same Almighty Parent, will seek to contribute to their comfort;and "strong in faith, and giving glory to God," it will be the joy of his heart to prepare himself by deeds of mercy and compassion on earth,to be admitted, through the merits of his blessed Redeemer, into those heavenly mansions of peace and concord, where all shall be employed in love, and adoration, and praise.

He that hath truly "the spirit of Christ," will not "think of himself more highly than he ought to think,”—but, "condescending to men of low estate," "serve the Lord with all humility of mind." He will not forget that He who is "the High and Lofty One, inhabiting eternity," humbled himself to the lowest condition of mortality; and "came not to be ministered unto, but to minister." Oh! my brethren, how ill