made " more than conquerors : " not all the powers of darkness can stand before them. Have they to sustain the heaviest afflictions ? Through Christ they are enabled to " glory in tribulations;" and to " take pleasure in every species of distress for his sake," under a full assurance that " his strength shall be made perfect through their weakness ;" and that " he shall be magnified in their body, whether by life or death." Whatever they have either to do or suffer, " his grace his sufficient for them ;" and his divine power " makes them perfect in every good work to do his will, working in them that which is well- pleasing in his sight."]
3. The consolations of his Spirit —
[These are of prime necessity in the divine life; for "the joy of the Lord is our strength." Without the light of God's countenance lifted up upon us, our "hands will hang down, our knees be feeble, and our hearts faint." But he will send to his people the Comforter, according to his word, to be in them "a Spirit of adoption," "a witness of their relation to him," and " an earnest of their eternal inheritance." This will sup- port them under all their trials, and animate them in all their conflicts, and bear them up above all the concerns of time and sense. With " his love shed abroad in their hearts," nothing will move them: " nor will they count their lives dear unto them, if only they may but fulfil his will, and finish their course with joy."]
Application —
1. Let us inquire whether these blessings have
indeed been conferred on us —
[As possessing the Book of Revelation, we have free access to all the benefits contained in it. But have we availed ourselves of this liberty, so as to have become partakers of the blessings themselves ? How many are there who name the name of Christ, and yet have never received any thing from him but the name! Look ye well to this matter, my dear brethren; for, if ye be not brought to live by him, and/or him, and to him, it were better that ye had never heard the Gospel at all ; yea, and better that Christ himself had never come into the world.]
2. Endeavour to make a just improvement of
them —
[If we are responsible to God for the offers of salvation, which are given to the whole world, much more are we for those special communications which are made only to God's peculiar people. Have you light in your understandings ? follow it with holy assiduity, and with a tender conscience ;