severance shall result in final salvation. " He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Not one of those who endure tribulation shall miss his reward. All shall at length reap a rich harvest. Though they sow in tears, they shall reap in joy. Their light afflic- tion, which is but for a moment, shall lead to an eternal weight of glory.
Let us gather comfort from these comfortable promises for all true-hearted servants of Christ. Persecuted, vexed, and mocked, as they are now, they shall find at length they are on the victorious side. Beset, perplexed, tried, as they sometimes are, they shall never find themselves entirely forsaken. Though cast down, they shall not be destroyed. Let them possess their souls in patience. The end of all that they see going on around them is certain, fixed, and sure. The kingdoms of this world shall yet become the kingdoms of their Grod and of his Christ. And when the scoffers and ungodly, who so of- ten insulted them, are put to shame, believers shall re- ceive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.*
* There is a promise in the passage now expounded which is often much perverted. I allude to the implied promise contained in the words, " Take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate : but whatsoever shall be given you in that time, that speak ye."
The perversion I mean, consists in supposing that tins passage warrants ministers in getting up to preach unprepared every Sunday, and in expecting special help of the Holy Ghost in addressing regu- lar congregations, when they have neither meditated, read, nor taken pains about their subject.
A moment's reflection must show any reader, that such an ap- plication of the passage before us is utterly unjustifiable. The passage has no reference whatever to the regular Sabbath sermon
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