but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that we may be able to bear it."]
But the full possession of it is reserved for another world —
[There is an inheritance prepared for them from the foun- dation of the world : and in due time they shall enjoy it in all its fulness. The believer may now look forward to it with assured confidence. Here he is a minor only ; and therefore, though the heir, he differs but little from a servant : he has so much of the inheritance as is suited to his condition, and suffi- cient for his necessities : but in the last day he will have the very same possession of his inheritance that Christ himself has : his vision of Jehovah will be most bright ; his communion with him most intimate ; his communications from him most abun- dant : and he will know that eternity itself will be the duration of his bliss. " He shall be a pillar in the temple of his God, and shall go no more out."]
Address —
1. Those who oppose the Church of God —
[As in their journey to the land of Canaan, the Edomites and other nations opposed the progress of the Children of Israel ; and as in the latter days there will be a confederacy of many people to prevent their re-establishment in their for- mer inheritance ; so now at this time, and indeed in every age, the men of this world " have evil will at Zion," and exert themselves in every way to obstruct the progress of all who are going thitherward. But what success had their enemies against Israel of old? or what shall they have in the day spoken of in our text ? Verily the strongest of them will be only " like sheep before a lion, who will go through, and tread them down, and tear in pieces ; and none shall deliver themh." Thus shall it be with those who now oppose and persecute the Church of God. We say not that the people of God will be the instruments of God's vengeance; for that they cannot be, seeing that " the weapons of their warfare are not carnal:" but this we say, that " no weapon formed against God's people shall prosper ;" and that all who seek their ruin shall be put to shame: they "fight against God:" they "kick against the pricks :" and in due time a suitable recompence shall be given them. God, when denouncing his judgments against Edom, reminds them of particular evils, which, however gratifying they were to their malignant spirits at the time, they should not have committed : thus also will he bring to the remem- brance of his enemies all the evils they have committed, and
b Mic. v. 8.