preserving life? Much less then are any sufferings to be accounted evil, which the Believer can ever be called to sus- tain : for he shall never endure any, which shall not work for good to him in this life, and be the means of increasing his weight of glory in the nextV]
2. None hereafter —
[It is in this life only that the Believer can meet with even the semblance of evil : when he goes hence, he is instantly placed beyond the reach of harm. No sin, no sorrow, no pain, no temptation, no weariness, no want, can ever be felt by him in the mansions of bliss. He will there enjoy for ever one unclouded day ! and his happiness will be without alloy, with- out intermission, without end1."]
To render this subject more instructive, we shall add a word,
1. Of direction —
[Christ, in reference to the sheepfold of his church, says, " I am the door ; if any man enter in by me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture™. " The same figure we may apply to the subject before us : " Christ is the door ;" he is " the way to the Father;" and " no man cometh unto the Father, but by him." To those who come to God in any other way, he is not " a Refuge," or " Habitation," but "a consum- ing fire "." But if we believe in Christ, then " will he dwell in us, and we shall dwell in him ° :" yea, " he will be our house of defence, to save us for everp."]
2. Of warning —
[Who, except the believer, can apply to himself the pro- mise in the text ? As for the unbelieving and disobedient, they are in danger every hour : they know not but that God's wrath may bi'eak forth against them the very next moment to their destruction. Of this they are certain, (whether they will be- lieve it or not,) that in a little time his judgments shall overtake them, and the greatest of all evils shall befall them, unless they repent. O that they would be prevailed upon to flee for refuge to the hope that is set before them ! O that they would now seek to be " found in Christ ! " Then should the destroying angel pass over them, and " they should dwell safely, and be quiet from the fear of evil q."]
3. Of encouragement —
[The weakness of men's faith often robs them of the com- fort which it is their privilege to enjoy. Why should a believer
k Rom. viii. 28. and 2 Cor. iv. 17. x Rev. xxi. 4.
m John x. 9. n Heb. xii. 29. ° John vi. 56.
p Ps. xxxi. 2. i Prov. i. 33.