II. The representations of happiness given us in the Scriptures —
Poverty, dissatisfaction, sorrow, and contempt, are, it must be confessed, not pleasing in themselves ; nor indeed does any blessing necessarily attach to them ; but under certain circumstances they may be a desir- able portion —
[Poverty and sorrow often have been, and still are endured for Christ's sake ; nor is there any thing more common than for his servants to be reviled and despised for their fidelity to him. It should seem indeed that the world could not hate and execrate those whom God esteems and declares blessed ; but the treatment which the prophets, and Christ, and his Apostles, met with, proves the contrary. If we then be treated like them, we have no reason to be dejected ; yea rather, we may consider it as an honour conferred on us by God'1.]
In a spiritual sense, poverty, hunger, &c. are great blessings —
[No doubt there is a spiritual meaning also in our Lord's words1. And what so desirable as to feel our need of Christ? And what so desirable as to be hungering after his righteous- ness ? And what so desirable as to be mourning for our cor- ruptions ? And what so desirable as to endure shame for his sakek? They who experience most of this state, find most delight in it ; they are most fortified against the incursions of worldly sorrow, and most abound in spiritual consolations.]
And all who now submit to the pressure of spiritual afflictions, shall be abundantly recompensed in the eternal world —
[In heaven there is enough to repay all our labours. The riches of glory will compensate for all present losses; the fulness of joy in those blest abodes will satiate the hungry soul ; the inconceivable delights will far outweigh our transient sorrows1; and the honour which God will put upon us in the society of saints and angels, will make us forget our short-lived disgrace. Christ, the true and faithful witness, has repeatedly affirmed this : and he who declares such persons blessed, him- self will make them so.]
Address —
1. The mistaken votaries of this world — [All profess to seek after happiness ; but how many mis- take the shadow for the substance. We may even appeal to you
h Phil. i. 29. » Compare Matt. v. 3, 4.
k Acts v. 41. i 2 Cor. iv. 17.