And here let me observe, that, in the vision, the lamps, the pipes, the bowl, the oil, were all of gold. Those who wait upon the Lord in sincerity and truth are in themselves as superior to unregenerate men as gold is to the baser metals ? And what is there of such value as the grace of which they have been made partakers ? in comparison of it, all else is but as dung and dross. And are there not in the Gospel "unsearchable riches?" And may we not well say, that under the ordinances, whether public or private, we have enjoyed many golden opportunities ? Yes indeed : and if we be careful to keep up the communication between Christ and our souls, we shall have all our wants abundantly supplied*, and the "salvation ministered unto us shall be as a lamp that burnetii u."]
4. That however low our state may be, or power- ful our enemies, His grace shall be sufficient for us —
[Of this were Zerubbabel and Joshua assured : and the event corresponded with the vision. Of this too may we be assured ; for to us, no less than to St, Paul, does the Lord Jesus say, " My grace is sufficient for you." Is that grace at present imparted in but a low degree ? Still God says to us, " Who hath despised the day of small thingsx?" 'I do not: and therefore let not any of you do it.' Are our enemies exceeding powerful ? God teaches us again to say, " Who art thou, O great mountain ? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain y." Have we an evidence in ourselves that the Lord Jesus Christ has begun a work of grace within us? God again teaches us to say, " The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house : his hands also shall finish itz." Shall it be thought that these passages relate only to that particular occa- sion ? Look then to the New Testament, and there you will find all the same assurances and triumphs. We are told that " He, who has been the author, will also be the finisher of our faith V We may be confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun a good work in us, will perform it " until the day of ChristV And even now, whilst yet conflicting with our enemies, we may say, " If God be for us, who can be against us?" " Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? Who is he that shall condemn ? Who shall separate me from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword ? No : I am per- suaded, that neither angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate me from the love
4 Phil. iv. 19. u Isai. lxii. 1. x ver. 10.
y ver. 7. z ver. 9. » Heb. xii. 2.
b Phil. i. 10.