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 Jesus 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" Then 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 let your soul 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 myself to you, but you would not!" Dear Brethren, let God choose your inheritance for
1 Job xxxiii. 15—20. ^ isai. Iv. 1, 2.
you : and he will be as much delighted to enrich your 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 portion is his people, and Jacob is the lot of his inheritance ^"]
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 what you possess, or what you want : if you had empires, 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 near prospect of the eternal world, you also shall be happy under all circumstances whatso- ever. Imitate, for once, the worldling who is just about to take possession of his inheritance: with what joy he surveys it, and anticipates the delight which he will experience in the full possession of it ! Thus go ye, and survey your inheritance. See the state of those who are now possessed of their entire lot. Behold how they feast in the presence of their God ! Think, if you can, what God is to them^: and know, that their bliss is yours, in all its fulness, and for ever. , Think how you will then " bless the Lord for giving you counsel." Live, then, now as persons sensible of their privileges; and say, as ye may well do, " The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places, and I have a goodly heritage."]
s Deut. xxxii. 9. * Ps. xxxiii. 12. u Deut. xxxiii. 29
^ Acts xvi. 25. y Rev. xxi. 4, 5.