get to heaven with them as easily as without them?' But would it be thus, if we really believed the words of our blessed Lord ? Alas ! even the Apostles themselves scarcely knew how to receive so hard a saying : we are told, that they were " astonished out of measure." But it becomes us to credit the assertion of Him who could not err, and would not deceive.]
2. What reason have the poor to be satisfied with
their lot !
[If rich men have the advantage of them with respect to this world, the poor have incomparably better prospects with respect to the world to come. These are free and unincum- bered, and ready, as it were, to run the race that is set before them ; while the others are impeded by their lusts as with flowing garments, and have their " feet laden with thick clay." These in multitudes flock to heaven, " as doves to their win- dows," whilst veiy few of the others ever attain the heavenly prize e. It must not however be imagined that the poor will be saved, because they are poor ; any more than the rich will perish, because they are rich. All must run, if they would obtain the prize. He who regards the salvation of his soul as " the one thing needful," shall be saved, whether rich or poor; and he who does not, will perish. Neither the riches of the one, nor the poverty of the other, will avail him any thing. The only inquiry will be, Who among them was " rich towards God ? " and their several attainments in real piety will be the only ground of distinction between them. Yet, inasmuch as a state of poverty renders us less exposed to temptation than wealth, it may well be endured with patience, and improved with gratitude. Even, if we have (through misfortunes of any kind) experienced a transition from wealth to poverty, we may well be reconciled to the change (however painful it may be to flesh and blood) ; since the loss we sustain may be in fact our greatest advantage : we have lost perhaps the cargo, which, if suffered to continue on board, would utterly have sunk the ship.]
3. How thankful should we be that " help is laid on One that is mighty!"
[When the Apostles exclaimed, " Who then can be saved?" they were consoled with the declaration, that " all things were possible with God." Now this is our comfort, that all fulness is treasured up for us in Christ; and that " he is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him." None then need despair : however great our temptations may be, " He
e 1 Cor. i. 26—28. Jam. ii. 5.