18 JAMES, I. g— 10. [1I3JI,
In short, being horn from above, they are sons of God, and " if sons, then heirs, lieirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ." What an elevation is this! Surely, in comparison of it, all earthly dignities are no better than the bawbles of children, or the conceits of maniacs.
When elevated thus, the poor begin to feel also dispositions suited to their state. While they are destitute of rehgion, they either riot in a licentious independence, without any re- gard to character, or, with a servihty unrestrained by con- science, yield themselves willing instruments to any one that can reward their services. But when once they are taught of God, they learn primarily and solely to regard his will. We again say, that they will obey all the lawful commands of their superiors''; tlwy will regard their authorilii as God's, and do whatever is required of them, " as unto the Lord ;" but their first inquiry will be, " What does my God require ?" and, if urged to violate their duty to him, they will reply as the Apostles did, " Whether it be right to hearken unto yon more than unto God, judge ye:" "we ought to obey God rather than men''''." Nor have they a lov.'er standard of action than the most polished Christian vipon earth : if they are truly up- right before God, the rule by which they walk is that prescribed by the Apostle' ; and wliat can the highest refinement suggest more? Here therefore their elevation again appears, inas- much as their habits are no longer formed by interest or the caprice of men, but founded on, and assimilated to, the mind and will of God.
As to the hopes of the poor, they have little to stimulate their ambition. To provide for their present wants, and to lay up something for a time of sickness, is the utmost that the generality of them aspire to. But what glorious views does religion open to them ! Truly, instead of looking up with admiration to the great and opulent, they rather stand on an eminence, from whence they can look down upon them with pity and compassion. What are the prospects of princes, to those which are unfolded to their view ? They can look within the veil of heaven itself, and there see crowns and kingdoms reserved for them, yea a seat upon the throne even of God himself Wlio that contemplates this will not say that reli- gion "exalts" the poor?]
1. Upon the rich —
[T/?e,9(? religion himibles. It does not indeed despoil them
of that honour which is due to their rank ; (it rather confirms
it to them*^;) but it humbles them in their oirn estimation, and
in the eslimntionof r,fhfr<:, and in the daily halnt vf their minds.
The rich are apt to arrogate much totncmselves onaccount
of '■ Rom. xiii. 1, 2, 4. '''' Acts v. 29. ' 1 Cor. vii. 21 — 23. * Rom. xiii. 7.