These observations, however, are confined to that mediocrity of condition to which Agur refers, when he says, " Give me neither poverty nor riches, but food convenient for me d." For opulence does not of itself increase our comfort : it increases rather our temptations and our cares : for what has a man of extensive property, more than the mere enjoyment of "behold- ing it with his eyes ?" In proportion " as his goods increase, they are increased that eat theme." A man's own personal comfort is confined within very narrow bounds : " food and raiment " constitute the catalogue of his wants f; and whatever is beyond this, brings with it more the appearance, than the reality, of comfort. The peaceful and regular enjoyment of a moderate competency, however, is doubtless a rich blessing: and, with David, we may justly say, " Happy are the people that are in such a case."
Yet, viewing the latter clause of our text as restricting the former, we must particularly observe, that earthly things are no blessings, except as they are subordinated to God : for the very instant they are put in the place of God, they may be apparent blessings ; but in reality they are curses ; as every thing must be which estranges our hearts from God. As received from him, and employed for him, they are good: but, when they usurp his throne, and become a god unto us, they are as contemptible as the very dirt under our feet.]
That we may see earthly prosperity in its true light, it will be proper to view it in contrast with spiritual blessings : for which end I will proceed to mark, II. The superior comfort of true piety —
Piety consists in this, the " having the Lord for our God." The broad line of distinction between the righteous and the wicked is, that, whilst the wicked have their affections supremely placed on some object of time or sense, the righteous have their hearts en- tirely fixed on God, as reconciled to them in the Son of his love. Now these are far happier than any worldly man : for they have,
1. A more suitable portion —
[What can the world do for the soul of any man ? He is oppressed with a sense of sin : What is there in the world that can remove the load from his mind ? He wants the pardon of his sin, and peace with God : What can the world do to obtain these blessings for him ? He desires strength to resist tempta- tion : Whither upon earth can he go, with a hope of acquiring
d Prov. xxx. 8. e Eccl. v. 11. '1 Tim. vi. 8.