the utmost possible extent of our necessities. In truth, the benefits we do receive are only the emanations of love from him, even as the rays of light which every moment proceed from the sun : and if any possess them not, it is not owing to any want of liberality in God, but because they foolishly and wickedly bar their hearts against the admission of his gifts. Ascend then. Brethren, from the gifts to the Giver, and from the streams to the Fountain-head, and see what a fulness there is in him for all the sinners of mankind ! and, from blessing your God and Saviour on account of what he has imparted to you, learn to adore and magnify him for what he is in himself, even on account of his own proper character, as " the God of salvation."]
2. His peculiar ofHce —
[" Unto God the Lord belong the issues from death." And is this also spoken of the Lord Jesus ? Hear what Jesus himself, after his ascension, said to the Apostle John : " Fear not : I am the first and the last : I am he that liveth, and was dead ; and, behold, 1 am alive for evermore, Amen ; and have the keys of hell and of death ^" He who is the God of salva- tion has a perfect control over every enemy ; so that none can assault us without his special permission ; nor can all the powers of darkness prevail over the least or the meanest of his people. " He openeth, and no man shutteth ; and he shut- teth, and no man openeth." Satan could not assault Job, or even enter into the herd of swine, before he had obtained per- mission from the Lord : nor can he now prevail to injure us, either in body or in soul, any farther than our infinitely wise and gracious God sees fit to permit. Our Lord has assured us, not only, " that no weapon which is formed against us shall prosper, but that the smith himself, who forms the weapon, derives his very existence from him, and subsists alone by his power. Consequently, we have none to fear ; and " every tongue, whether of men or devils, that shall rise against us in judgment, we shall condemn. This is the heri- tage of the servants of the Lord ; and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord'."
Contemplate, I pray you, this glorious and all-sufficient Saviour ; and there will be no end to your praises, no limit to your adorations and thanksgivings.]
See, Brethren, from hence,
1. What is the proper employment of a saint on earth —
[The ignorant and ungodly world are mostly occupied in ruminating on their troubles, and in casting reflections upon
k Rev. i. 17, 18. 1 Isai. liv. 16, 17.