Another fault is, that CHRIST is not sufficiently in all our thoughts. Our religion is too much of mere routine; our obedience is mechanical, unintelligent; our holiness is acquired, because of an imposed necessity; our faith is but historical. We do not feel what St. Paul felt when he said, “To me to live is CHRIST.” By which it is clear he meant much more than that CHRIST’S service was his one employment, CHRIST’S rewards his one expectation, CHRIST’S grace his only strength. He did not simply look back to a crucified Saviour, nor forward to a coming Judge, believing himself to be made a servant, and to have by and by to render an account, to be liable to a judgment of his service; but meanwhile to have no LORD near and over him. No! the CHRIST that had departed in the flesh was felt to have come back in the spirit. St. Paul saw Him by faith, knew Him, walked side by side with Him, served Him personally, derived constant grace from Him, loved Him, and felt His love. CHRIST was the Alpha and Omega of his being, the beginning, the motive power of all his thoughts, and words, and deeds, the companion of all his ways, the object of all his aims: CHRIST the power of GOD unto salvation, CHRIST a very present help and comfort, CHRIST the hope of glory. Life was full of CHRIST in its experiences, its aims, its delights, and hopes. Gladly, therefore, would he retain it as long as GOD willed; but knowing that death was gain, that after death CHRIST would be more palpably with him, that he would be more able to appreciate CHRIST, that heavenly joys would then be added to the joys he had on earth, he still longed for his departure, he desired ardently to be clothed upon, he loved the thought of CHRIST’S final appearing, and his whole life acted the prayer which St. John uttered, “Come, LORD JESUS.”