expectations too high : he is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever : you may rely on him, for body and for soul, for time and for eternity : he will be to you a " sun and a shield ; he will give you both grace and glory ; nor will he withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly." If he see it necessary that for a season you should be " in heavi- ness through manifold temptations," he will make your trials to work for good ; and " your light and momentary afflictions shall work out for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory :" only commit your souls to him in well-doing, and he will *'keep you by his Almighty power, through faith, unto salvation."
In the IMPROVEMENT which we would make of this subject —
We beg leave once more to notice the words that immediately precede the text ; " Remember them that have had the rule over you, that have spoken unto you the word of God ; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." We may appear indeed, in this, to draw your attention from Christ, and to fix it on the creature. But we shall still keep in view our main subject ; and at once consult the scope of the context, the peculiarity of this occasion, and the feelings of your hearts.
First then, " Remember him who has had the rule over you, and has preached unto you the word of God." Surely I need not say much to enforce this part of the exhortation : he is deeply engraven on your hearts, nor will the remembrance of him be soon effaced from your minds. Many of you would have *'even plucked out your own eyes and have given them unto him," if by so doing you could have conferred upon him any essential benefit : yea, I doubt not, there are many in this assembly that would gladly, very gladly, have laid down their lives in his stead, that so great a blessing as he was, might yet have been continued to the Church of God. It cannot be but that the poor must long remember