countenance ; and " comprehends it too, so far as a finite creature can comprehend it, in all its breadth and length, and depth and height0." By the Holy Spirit, also, he is enabled to realize in his soul those divine impressions, " a spirit of adoption," " the wit- ness of the Spirit," "the sealing of the Spirit," and " the earnest of the Spirit ; " and by means of these impressions, he feels " the love of God shed abroad in his heart," and is filled with " a peace that passeth all understanding," and "a joy that is unspeakable and glorified."
I am aware that I have here entered upon ground untrodden by the natural man, and therefore un- known to him, and despised by him. But " among them that are perfect," as the Apostle says, " we speak wisdom ; not indeed the wisdom of this world, but the wisdom of God in a mystery," which yet is " revealed to all whom God instructs by his Holy Spirit"." And now, I ask, What "treasure" in the universe can be compared with this ? What is all earthly science in comparison of this ? It is only as the twinkling of a star when compared with the splendour of the noon-day sun. This is well called " a treasure hid in a field :" to purchase which, every wise man will part with all that he possesses in the world6.
But we can never appreciate this wisdom aright, till we regard it as putting us into the possession of eternal wealth. We are told, that " godliness is pro- fitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to comef." Its value, if this world alone were considered, would be inestimable : but when eternity is taken into the ac- count, " its riches are absolutely unsearchable ;" so that if all the angels in heaven were to exert their powers, they would never be able to compute them. Who shall say what it is to be admitted into the pre- sence of the Most High ; to behold the Saviour face to face ; to participate his throne, and to be joint- heirs of his glory ? In attempting to bring before
c P:ph. iii. 18, 19. a 1 Cor. ii. 6, 7, 10.
e Matt. xiii. 44. f 1 Tim. iv. 8.