To the saints, blessings are really blessings ; and even troubles are blessings in disguise. The man who truly believes in Christ, enjoys, in common mercies, a sense of God's love and favour, to which an unbeliever is an utter stranger : and his trials he receives as paternal chastisements, which are the means ordained for his furtherance in the divine life, and for the eventual increase of his happiness to all eternity. Though therefore, in a certain degree, he finds vanity and vexation of spirit to be stamped on all sublunary good, he has, on the whole, a different portion from that of the ungodly world even here : and hereafter, I need not say how widely different is his lot. As for the impenitent and unbelieving, possess what they may, they are not happy ; and, in the prospect of death and judgment, it is from want of reflection only if they are not completely miserable ]
To apply the subject to our hearts —
[Have we not sinned enough already? May not the past time suffice for our neglect of God, and our contempt of his favours? Shall it continue to be said of us, ' They have sinned still; and will not believe in God, notwithstanding all his wondrous works? ' Do but look back, and see what has hitherto been the " fruit" of such a lifee. I appeal to all, What have ye found but vanity and trouble, even in your best enjoyments ? Verily, they have been but as the " crackling of thorns under a pot," which blazed for a moment, and then vanished in smoke f. Indeed, Brethren, if the happiness of this world only were concerned, I should recommend to you a life of peni- tential sorrow, and of entire devotedness to God : for " godli- ness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life which now is, as well as of that which is to comeg." But there is a world to come ; a world in which we shall reap, in its full extent, the fruit of our present conduct. Oh! where will the impenitent transgressor find pardon then ? and where the contemptuous unbelieving sinner flee to hide himself from the wrath of an avenging God ? Let there then, Brethren, be an end to your contest with the God of heaven. Cast down the weapons of your rebellion; and, with penitential faith, cast yourselves on the Saviour, who died even for the very chief of sinners. " Humble yourselves truly under the mighty hand of God ; and in due season, notwithstanding all your past transgressions, he will lift you uph." ]
e Rom. vi. 21. f Eccl. vii. 6.
g 1 Tim. iv. 8. h Jam. iv. 10.
(335.J THE EXTENT OF GOD's MERCY. 53