from those whom he so ungratefully undervalues : he contri- butes to excite divisions in the Church of God; and, as far as in him lies, weakens the hands of those ministers, on whom, in comparison of his favourite, he pours contempt. Brethren, let the arguments of the Apostle have their proper weight. The object of your idolatrous regard is given, not to you only, but to the whole Church of God, for whose benefit he is sent forth : and whilst he is sent for others, others also are sent for you : and you are ungrateful to God in so limiting your regards, as not to give a due proportion of them to all who seek your welfare. Besides, you are not to view them, so much as God in them : for of themselves they are nothing : whoever plants or waters, it is God alone that gives the increased To God then supremely, and to God exclusively, are your affections due: and, if you will set them on any creature, you will " provoke him to jealousy," and cause him to take away from you, as " Nehushtan," [a piece of brass,) the instrument which he had raised up for the salvation of your souls p.]
2. In its positive and more general view —
[You should glory in God with your whole hearts. Think what reason you have to glory in him : what unspeakable benefits you have received at his hands, and what obligations you have to surrender up yourselves wholly unto him ! Who, besides the believer, can take to himself the declarations of our text? Of whom, besides him, can it be said, " All things are yours?" Survey the catalogue, believer, and think whether there be any thing in the whole universe that you can add to it ? Should not you then be contented ? Should not you be thankful ? or rather, should there be any bounds to your joy and gratitude ? I ask not whether you be in health or sick- ness, in wealth or poverty, in joy or sorrow : the state you are in is that which Infinite Wisdom has ordained for your greatest good ; and there awaits you, at your departure hence, the im- mediate and everlasting fruition of God himself O be joyful in the Lord, all ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard day and night ! And, as God is wholly yours, so be ye wholly his, in body and in soul, in time and in eternity.
We cannot however conclude without entreating all to see that these blessings do indeed belong to them. It is to the be- liever, and to him alone, that they do belong: and we earnestly invite all, first, to believe in Christ as their only Saviour, and, then, to make it evident by their works that they have indeed believed; for, if our character be not clear, we can have but little comfort in the promises to which the saints alone are entitled, and of which they alone will ever receive the final accomplishment ]
0 ver. (>, 7. 1' 2 Kings xviii. 4.
1950.] BELIEVERS ARE CHRIST's PROPERTY. 139