life, yet every righteous person may expect it, as the completion of his wishes, and the consummation of his bliss. The moment that his soul is released from this frail tabernacle, it shall bid an everlasting farewell to sin and sorrow. The hunger and thirst which characterize him in this world, will then cease for ever : there will remain to him no heights unattained, no wishes unaccomplished: his soul will be " JUled"" with the desired good, yea, filled to the utmost extent of its capacity.]
Application —
[Are there those who, instead of hungering and thirsting after righteousness, despise it? Tell me, will ye despise it in the day of judgment? will ye despise it, when ye shall see the difference that is put between the godly and the ungodly? And what is that which ye prefer to it? Can ye say of your pleasures, your riches, or your honours, what our Lord says of righteousness? shall ye certainly be filled with those things? or if ye were, would they ever render you truly blessed ? Go, ask of Solomon, or ask of any who have made the experiment; and see whether, in their sober moments, they will not confess those things to be " vanity and vexation of spirit ?" O " spend not your money any more for that which is not bread, nor labour for that which satisfieth not ; but eat ye that which is good, and let your soul be satisfied with fatness*^."
Are there those who rest in a form of religion ? Know that it is not the form, but the power, of godliness that God requires. The Pharisees of old abounded in outward duties ; but " except your righteousness exceed theirs, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." That which you must desire, that which you must attain, is an universal change both of heart and life : you must become new creatures : old things must pass away, and all things become new."
Are there any discouraged because of the small proficiency they have made in holiness ? Doubtless this is a matter of lamentation to the best of men. If indeed we are ex- cusing ourselves, and pacifying our consciences from the idea that in this frail state we cannot but commit sin, we are deceiving our own souls ; for " he that is born of God, sin- neth not' ;" that is, he alloivs not himself in any sin, whether of excess or defect ; whether of commission or of omission. But if " our souls are really athirst for God, and we are panting after him, as the hart after the water-brooks," we need not fear. God will ere long " fill the hungry with good things;" " he will satisfy the longing soul, and replenish every sorrowful soul." The very idea of hunger is a painful sensation of want ; and if holiness be the object of that appetite, all shall he well, yea, and all is well: " that soul is blessed, and shall he filled."] k Tsai. Iv. 2, 3. ' 1 John iii. 9.