the time of your first awakening, with the same accuracy as the laying of the first stone of the temple was marked (" the 24th day of the 9th month"), you would be able to say with certainty, " From that day God has blessed me"
Supposing, then, that we have been truly converted to God, let us,
II. Consider the anticipations which we are authorized to indulge —
Here the promise in our text indisputably belongs to us : " From this day will I bless you." Again I say, that we are no longer to estimate the Divine favour by the measure of our success in temporal things. True indeed, " If we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, all earthly things, so far as they will conduce to our zvelfare, shall be added unto usg." But that which we are authorized to expect, is, that " God will bless us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ Jesus V God will give you,
1. The communications of his grace —
[These shall be suited to your necessities1, and sufficient for your wants k ]
2. The manifestations of his love —
[No words can express what is implied in these. But " he will manifest himself to you as he does not unto the world1," and "shed abroad his love in your hearts™," and " give you the witness of his Spirit, as the earnest of your everlasting inheritance n " ]
3. A meetness for glory —
[His whole work of grace will he carry on within you0, till you are transformed into his image p, and fully prepared for his glory q ]
Address —
1. To those in whom the foundation of God's spiritual temple is not yet laid —
[You, alas ! have no part or lot in these promises : and a far different portion have you to expect. If ye will be intent
e Matt. vi. 33. h Eph. i. 3. J Jam. iv. C.
k 2 Cor. xii. 9. 1 John xiv. 21 — 23. m Rom. v. 5.
n Eph. i. 13, 14. o Phil. i. 6. p 2 Cor. hi. 18.
q Phil. i. 9—11. and Col. i. 9—12.