[Wliere is there a servant of God who would not, if it were possible, extend the blessings he enjoys to every child of man ? Where is there a real saint that does not attempt this, so far as his influence extends ? Is the very first petition which our Lord has commanded us to offer at the throne of grace, that " God's name may be hallowed ;" and does not the real saint endeavour to carry this into effect, both in his own soul, and in the souls of those around him ? Does he further pray, " Thy kingdom come ; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven ;" and does he not long to see these things effected ? He says from his heart, " O that the wickedness of the wicked might come to an end!" yea, he prays with David, " Let the whole earth be filled with the Redeemer's glory. Amen, and Anien &." But how little of this is he able to accomplish ! Even ministers, who " labour most assiduously, and for many years, in the blessed work of bringing souls to God, how universally are they constrained to adopt the prophet's complaint, and to say, " Who hath believed our report ? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed ? " The parent for his children, and the children for their parents, have but too much reason to acknowledge, that " whoever may plant or water, it is God alone who can give the increase."]
It is a comfort to them, however, to know, n. That not the smallest good that is in them shall pass mmoticed, or mirewarded, by their God — God inspects the inmost recesses of the heart —
[So he himself declares : " I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them'^." To the same effect, also, it is said by an inspired Apostle: " All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do\"]
And this he does in order to a futm'e judgment —
[" He will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ'^;" and "will bring every secret thing into judgment, whether it be good or eviP." It is in this way that the ungodly shall be judged: for the motions of anger or impurity, though not operating to the extent of the outward act of murder or adul- tery, will be construed as violations of the commandments which prohibit those particular sins, and be visited with the penalties due to such transgressions™. So, also, the good desires of men shall be rewarded, though, from circumstances, they were never carried into full effect. Young Abijah had " in his heart some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel,"
s Ps. Ixxii. 19. h Ezek. xi. 5.
' Heb. iv. 13. See the Greek, nrpa^rikiaixiva.
k Rom. ii. 16. ' Ecd. xii. 14. >" Matt. v. 22, 28.