2. To be satisfied, with our condition —
[To Judas was consigned the custody of the stock provided for the daily support of our Lord and his D.^ciples. What it the other Disci[)les had envied liim that honour? would they have been wise? Judas was a thief: and the pre-eminence he enjoyed, afforded him an opportunity of gratifving his covetous desires, whilst the rest were iree from any such temptation. God knows that many of those things which we would fain enjoy, would
only
^ ib. ver. 27, 28.
s Ps. xcii. 7. Job XX. 4—7. 8c xxi. 30. Prov. xxiii. 1 7, 18.
•* Uom. ii. 5. ' Jiiu^. v. 1 , 2, 3, 5. '' ver. 2, 3,
' Acts viii. 22, ' ver. 22.
only prove snares and temptations to our souls. He sees, not only the evil that does exist, but the evil also that might arise, within us : and he withholds in mercy many things, which he knows would be injurious to our spiritual wtUare. How happy had it been fur the rich youth in the Gospel, if, instead of being possessed of wealth, he had been as poor as Lazarus himself! It was his wealth alone that induced him to forego all hope of an in- terest in Christ™: and, if he had been a poor man, he might, for aught we know, have been at this moment a blest inhabitant of heaven. Let us then remember, that if God sends us trials which we would gladly escape, or withholds comforts which we would desire to possess, he, does it in wisdom, and in love : and in all probability we shall one day see reason to adore him for the things which we now deplore, as much as for any of those be- nefits in which we are" most disposed to rejoice.]
3. To seek above all things the prosperity of our souls —
[Here is full scope for our ambition. We may " covet, as earnestly as we will, the best gifts." We must not iudted grudge to any their higher attaiimients: but we may take occasion from the superior piety of others to aspire after the highest possible communications of grace and peace. Were we to possess the wliole world, we must leave it all, and " go as naked out of the world as we came into it." But, if we possess spiritual riches, we shall carry them with us into the eternal world, and have our weight of glory proportioned to them. The operation of these upon our souls need not be feared : they bring no snare with them ; or, if they be accompanied with a temptation to pride, they will lead us to Him, who will assuredly supply an anti- dote, to screen us from its injurious effects". If we are " rich towards God," we are truly rich ; yea, though we possess nothing in the world besides, we may exult, as " having nothing, and yet possessing all things". "J
"' Mark x. 22. " 2 Cor. xii. 7 — g. ° 2 Cor. vi. 10.