306 PKACTICAL HINTS TO [OH. VII

But this world is not his resting place: here, to
the very last, he must be a pilgrim and a stronger ;
a soldier, whose warfare ends only with life, ever
struggling and combating with the powers of dark-
ness, and with the temptations of the world around
him, and the still more dangerous hostilities of in-
ternal depravity. The perpetual vicissitudes of this
uncertain state, the peculiar trials and difficulties
with which the life of a Christian is chequered, and
still more, the painful and humiliating remembrance
of his own infirmities, teach him to look forward,
almost with outstretched neck, to that promised
day, when he shall be completely delivered from
the bondage of corruption, and sorrow and sighing
shall flee away. In the anticipation of that blessed
period, and comparing this churlish and turbulent
world, (where competition, and envy, and anger,
and revenge, so vex and agitate the sons of men,)
with that blissful region where Love shall reign
without disturbance, and whore all, knit together in
bonds of indissoluble friendship, shall unite in one
harmonious song of praise to the Author of their
common happiness; the true Christian triumphs over
the fear of death; he longs to realize these cheering
images, and to obtain admission into that blessed
company.—With far more justice than it was ori-
ginally used, he may adopt the beautiful exclamation—
"O prseclarurn ilium diem, cum ad illud divinum
animorum concilium coetmnquo proficiscar, atquo ex
hac turba et colluvione discooam !"

What has been now remarked, concerning the
habitual feelings of the real believer, may suggest
Falsehood ofa rePty *° an objection common in the
the objection, mouths of nominal Christians, that wo
would deny men the innocent amusements
and gratjfications of life ; thus causing our