too plainly on this subject to admit of any doubt g ■ —
Say then, Are these to be envied? Alas! if viewed aright, they must be regarded only as persons accumulating wrath upon their own heads h, or as victims fattening for the slaughter1: and consequently, their superior prosperity in earthly things affords no ground for complaint to the godly, however destitute they may be, or however afflicted.]
Let us learn then from this subject,
1. To mark the motions of our own hearts —
[We greatly deceive ourselves if we imagine that our actions afford a sufficient criterion for judging of our state. There are many who indulge in all manner of evil thoughts, whilst yet they are restrained by merely political considera- tions from carrying them into effect. Whilst therefore man
b Deut. xxxii. 35. c ver. 18. d ver. 19.
e Luke xvi. 23, 24. f Luke xvi. 27, 28.
& Ps. xcii. 7. Job xx. 4 — 7. and xxi. 30. Prov. xxiii. 17, 18.
h Rom. ii. 5. » Jam. v. 1,2, 3, 5.
sees nothing amiss in us, God may see our " hearts to be full of evil." It was not any overt act that the Psalmist spoke of in our text, but of his thoughts only : and yet he acknow- ledges, that they had well nigh destroyed and ruined his soulk. O let us observe from time to time the various thoughts that arise in our corrupt hearts, (the proud, the vain, the envious, the wrathful, the vindictive, the impure, the covetous, the worldly thoughts,) and let us humble ourselves for them in dust and ashes, and pray, that " the thoughts of our hearts may be forgiven us1 !" If we view ourselves as we really are in the sight of God, we shall see that we may, on many occa- sions, justly, and without hyperbole, say, " So foolish am I and ignorant, I am even as a beast before theem."]
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 disciples. What if the other disciples had envied him that honour ? would they have been wise ? Judas was a thief: and the pre-eminence he enjoyed, afforded him an opportunity of gratifying his covetous desires, whilst the rest were free from any such temptation. God knows that many of those things which we would fain enjoy, would 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 welfare. How happy would it have been for the Rich Youth in the Gospel, if, instead of being possessed of wealth, he had been as poor as Lazarus ! It was his wealth alone that induced him to forego all hope of an interest 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 re- member, that if God sends us trials which we would gladly escape, or withholds comforts which we would desire to pos- sess, 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 benefits 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 indeed grudge to any their higher attainments: 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 whole world, we must leave it all, and " go