552.]
as " the very chief of sinners"." And so will divine grace operate on us also. People imagine, that if we profess to have received special answers to prayer, and to have obtained the forgiveness of our sins, we must, of necessity, be elated with pride. But the very reverse of this was the effect pro- duced on the minds of Job, and of the . prophet Isaiah, who only lothed themselves the more in proportion as they were honoured of their Godi': and thus it will be with every real saint : he vpill account himself" poor" even to his dying hour, and will be ever ready to " prefer others in honour before himself!."]
If, then, this retrospective view of God's mercies be so sweet on earth,
1. What must it be, the very instant we arrive at the gates of heaven !
[At the moment of our departure from the body, we shall have a complete view of all God's dealings vdth us, whether in his providence or grace. And if here our partial views of these things fill us with such joy and gratitude, what will a full discovery of them do? As to any undue elevation of mind, on account of the mercies vouchsafed to us, it will pro- duce a directly contrary effect : for all the glorified saints cast their crowns at the Saviour's feet, and prostrate themselves before him, and sound no other name than his"". And there they will have their salvation altogether complete. No further "trouble" to all eternity will they experience; for "all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes for ever^" Oh ! look forward to that day with holy delight : and let the foretastes of it, which you here enjoy, stimulate your exertions, to honour God, and to obtain a meetness for the blessedness that awaits you.]
2. How earnest should you be in commending to others the Saviour you have found !
[The Psalmist sets you the example : " Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. Verily, God hath heard me, and hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me*!" Thus, then, do ye also. Be not content to go to heaven alone. Tell to those around you the efficacy of prayer ; and extol the Saviour, as " able to save to the uttermost all that come unto
° 1 Tim. i. 15. p Job xlii. 5, 6. and Isai. vl. 5.
1 Rom. xii. 10. Phil. ii. 3. "■ Rev. v. 8 — 10.
« Rev. vii. 14—17. * Ps. Ixvi. 16—20.