comparison of th? blessings, to the possession of vvhich they have introduced you. I hear you adoring God, and saying, " I know that in very faithfuhiess thou didbt afflict nie :" for " before I was afflicted I went astray ; but now have I kept thy law." Go on then blessing and praising God; and never forget that "by the grace of God you are what you are."
To those who possess not this portion, I will *' give a word of counsel " in the name of the Lord —
[Survey the portion of the worldling, and see how empty it is. Look back on all that thou hast enjoyed, and see how little
solid comfort it has afforded Then survey *' the glory of
God in the face of .lesus Christ," Think what it must be to say of God, " O God, thou art my God ;" and of Christ, " Thou
art my Friend, and my Beloved " 'I'hen turn to the
holy Scriptures, and see what counsel God has given thee there : *' Wherefore do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth not ? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and letyoursoul delight itself in fatness""." Nothing does God desire more than to give himself to you for a portion, if you will but receive him. He complains, " Ye will not come unto me that ye may have life," " How often would I have gathered you, and given my- self to you, but you would not !" Dear Brethren, let God choose your inheritance for you : and he will be as much delighted to enrich vour souls, as ever you can be to be enriched by him. Indeed by imparting himself to you, he himself will be enriched : for he regards you as his property, and says of you, " The Lord's por- tion is his people, and Jacob is the lot of his inheritance ^"]
1. To those who already enjoy this portion, I will offer a word of congratulation—
[" Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, and the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance*:" yes, *' Happy art thou, O Israel, O people saved by the Lord"." I ask not wiiat you possess, or what you want : if you had em- pires, they could add nothing to you ; and if you want bread to eat, it can take but little from you. Look at Paul and Silas when in prison, and their backs torn with scourges : their situ- ation was to them as " the very gate of heaven '^." So, if only you live nigh to God, and in the r.ear prospect of the eternal world, you also shall be happy under all circumstances whatsoever. Imitate for once the worlding who is jubt about to take posses- sion of his inheritance : with what joy he surveys it, and antici- pates the delight which he will experience in the full possession
of
" Isai. Iv. 1,2. ^ Deut, xxxii. (j. ' Ps. xxxiii. 12.
" Deut. xxxiii. 29. *^ Acts xvi. 25.