appointments they are vexed ! See them in the full enjoyment of their portion ; What have they ? what, but " vanity and vexation of spirit?" But, on the other hand, behold the Christian that is enabled to live above the world : his acquisi- tions cause no idolatrous feelings, like those which the rich man expressed, when he said " Soul, take thine ease ; eat, drink, and be merry s :" nor do his losses cast him down, or cause him to cry out, " Ye have taken away my gods ; and what have I more1?" "He knows how to be full or to be hungry," as God shall see fit : and " in whatsoever state he be, to be therewith content"." His happiness is independent of earthly things. " God himself is his portion, and his inheri- tance x :" and death, which is so formidable to a worldly man, is to him an object of desire y, because it brings him to the full fruition of all that he holds dear. In a word, in him is fulfilled " the will of God the Father ;" and in him is accom- plished the purpose of Christ his Saviour2. Behold this man ! I ask not whether he be rich or poor, learned or unlearned, infirm or strong ; but this I ask, Is there a person who does not in his heart envy him ? I know, full well, that in words the generality will reproach him, as a weak enthusiast: but who would not wish, in a dying hour, to be found in his place ? A superiority to the cares and pleasures of life, if accompanied with a suitable deportment in other respects, carries such evi- dence along with it, as men know not how to reject. They may be ignorant of the principle from whence such conduct flows ; but the conduct itself commends itself to their con- sciences, with a force which they cannot resist. All in their hearts congratulate the consistent saint ; and though they will not say, " Let me live his life," they will say, " Let me die his death, and let my latter end be like his."]
s Luke xii. 19. l Judg. xviii. 24. u Phil. iv. 11, 12.
x Ps. xvi. 5. y Phil. i. 23. z The text.