possessed more than any other man ever did, has pronounced it all to be vanity ; and not vanity only, but vexation of spirit also. And, whilst it is so incapable of adding any thing to your happiness, it subjects you to innumerable temptations s, impedes in a very great degree your progress heaven-ward11, and greatly endangers your everlasting welfare \ " Love not the world then, nor any thing that is in itk:" but " set your affections altogether on things above." In your attachment to them there can be no excess. In your desire after God you cannot be too ardent : for " in his presence is life, and his loving-kindness is better than life itself." Set before you the prize of your high calling, and keep it ever in view : and be assured that, when you have attained it, you will never regret any trials you sustained, or any efforts you put forth, in the pursuit of it. One hour spent in " your Father's house " will richly repay them all.]
2. To those who have been delivered from trouble —
[It is common with persons in the season of deep affliction to make vows unto the Lord, and especially when drawing nigh to the borders of the grave. Now you perhaps in the hour of worldly trouble or of spiritual distress regretted that you had wasted so many precious hours in the pursuit of earthly cares and pleasures, and determined, if God should accomplish for you the wished-for deliverance, you would de- vote yourselves henceforth entirely to his service. But, when delivered from your sorrows, you have, like metal taken from the furnace, returned to your wonted hardness, and forgotten all the vows which were upon you. Even " Hezekiah ren- dered not to God according to the benefits conferred upon him," and by his ingratitude brought on his whole kingdom the heaviest judgments, which would have fallen upon himself also, had he not deeply " humbled himself for the pride of his heart1." Do ye then, Brethren, beware of trifling with Al- mighty God in matters of such infinite concern: "it were better never to vow, than to vow and not paym." God forgets not your vows, whether you remember them or not. At the distance of twenty years he reminded Jacob of his vows ; and then accepted him in the performance of them n. O beg of him to bring yours also to your remembrance ! and then " defer not to pay them," in a total surrender of yourselves to him, and a willing consecration of all that you possess to his service0.]
3. To those whom God has prospered —
[In how many is that saying verified, " Jeshurun waxed
s 1 Tim. vi. 9. h Hab. ii. 6. ! Matt. xix. 23, 24.
k 1 John ii. 15, 16. » 2 Chron. xxxii. 25. m Eccl. v. 4, 5.
n Gen. xxxv. 1, 3, 6, 7, 9 — 12. ° Rom. xii. 1. 1 Cor. viii. 3 — 5.
47.1 JACOB PLEADING WITH GOD. \l 1 .*>
fat and kicked." But, Beloved, let it not be so with you. It were better far that you were spoiled of every thing that you possess, and driven an exile into a foreign land, than that you should " forget God who has done so great things for you," and rest in any portion short of that which God has prepared for them that love him. Who can tell? your prosperity may be only fattening you as sheep for the slaughter: and at the very moment you are saying, " Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years ; eat, drink, and be merry ; " God may be saying, " Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee." Know that every tiring which thou hast is a talent to be improved for thy God. Hast thou wealth, or power, or influence of any kind, employ it for the honour of thy God, and for the enlargement and establishment of the Redeemer's kingdom. Then shalt thou be honoured with the approbation of thy God ; even with the sweetest manifestations of his love in this world, and the everlasting enjoyment of his glory in the world to come.]