1. Our privilege as Believers —
[Believers now feed on Christ, as the whole Jewish nation fed upon the manna : and from day to day it is found, that " they who gather much nave nothing over ; and they who gather little have no lack." In the Church of God at this day persons are very differently circumstanced; some having much leisure, and deep learning, and many opportunities of attending ordinances in public, and of acquiring information in private; whilst others are so entirely occupied with temporal concerns, or so remote from opportunities of instruction, that they can gather but little comparatively of the heavenly bread. But have the one therefore any superfluity, or the other any want? No. We will ask of those who are most devoted to the word of God and prayer, whether they find their attain- ments in knowledge and in grace so abundant, that they have more than their necessities require? No. A blind Papist may boast of his works of supererogation, and of having merits to sell for the benefit of less-favoured people: but " ye, Be- loved, have not so learned Christ:" ye know, that if your attainments were an hundredfold more than they are, there were scope enough for the employment of them, without over- bur thening your souls : you would still " forget all that was behind, and be reaching forward for that which was before, if by any means you might obtain the prize of your high calling in Christ Jesus e." On the other hand, I will ask of those whose attainments are more contracted ; Do you not find that your more slender portion is sufficient for you? You feed on the Lord Jesus Christ, as the bread of life : and do you not find that he nourishes your souls ; and that pardon, and peace, and holiness, are the fruits of your communion with him? Yes: it is said, " He that believeth" (not he that is very strong in faith) " shall be saved;" yea, and that " all who believe (whatever be their stature or growth in grace) are justified from all things." If you be but a child, incapable of digesting strong meat, you find that " the sincere milk of the word " is sufficient to nourish and support you ; and that if you be but a lamb in Christ's flock, " he carries the lambs in his bosom," because " it is not the will of your Father that one of his little ones should perish." This is no reason for your neglecting to exert yourselves to the uttermost: but it is a comfort to you to know, that, though from the peculiarity of your circumstances you have been able to gather but little, you neither have, nor shall have, any occasion to complain that you have " lacked" what was needful for you. If you have
1 Pet. ii. 24. Both senses were true: but the spiritual sense was the more important. e Phil. iii. 13, 14.