serve him in the lower functions of his temple on earth, and to serve him hereafter in his eternal kingdom and glory. What will it avail any of us to possess now what we must then cease to possess; what we can possess only till we arrive at the threshold of death, and shall look back on the distinctions which must then have vanished; when we lay down our bodies in the grave, and have nothing before us but a vast eternity, the complexion of which will be decided by the will of another, by the will of that Being who sees not with the eyes of flesh and blood, before whom riches and poverty, wisdom and folly, and all physical distinctions are nothing; who will regard nothing in his creatures but the will to please him, and obedience to that will? The happiness to be obtained by faith will be infinitely superior to the happiness which is derived from the objects of sense. For a man thus to lose his own soul, will be to sacrifice the great end of his being. But there are some here to whom the possession of riches is sanctified, who consider them as a great trust, for the use of which they are responsible, and who are asking, What shall I do? What return shall I make to God for all his benefits? and who tremble, lest at the final account they should be found unfaithful stewards. They trust in the Saviour; they cultivate communion with God; they condescend to men of low estate; they are rich in good works; they lay up a good foundation for the time to come; they will surmount the perils of the most prosperous fortune; they will combine the riches of this world with the riches of glory; they will be distinguished in both worlds, standing complete and ready for their Master's will; they are armed for the combat in the present state, and fitted at any moment to take wing, to "depart and be with Christ, which is far better." Happy those who, while they have abundance of the things of this world, have also a treasure elsewhere! While they walk in light, and glory, and reputation on earth, they seek first the honour that cometh from above; they seek, indeed, no higher honour than that which comes from Him who is the arbiter of all destinies. Let me now say a word to the poor. If they are poor, and yet partakers of true piety springing from the faith of the gospel, let them not repine. Let them indulge no envious thought at those who possess more of this world's goods than is allotted to themselves. To such I would say, Recollect that your happiness depends not on the station in life which you occupy, but on the manner in which you perform its duties. A small circle is not less complete than a large one: a humble field of occupation, yielding proper fruits in their season, will be recognized by God and approved of men. You will have the testimony of your conscience that "in simplicity, and godly sincerity, you have your conversation in the world." You will leave a testimony behind you of the power of religion: your remains will breathe a sweet odour in all the churches of which you formed a part: you will dignify a low station, you will rescue it from all reproach; for the reproach consists not in poverty, but in yielding to the temptations of poverty. Riches, in themselves, confer no lasting honour, but as they are accompanied by a resistance to their peculiar temptations. You are walking in the footsteps of "the Lord of all," who, when he came into the world, made poverty his abode, became a companion of fishermen, and at length a companion of sinners on the cross. Let such as are poor seek to be "rich in faith" let them exult and rejoice in the prospect of future happiness : let them rise above the sorrows of time in the contemplation of the glory which awaits them. Your recompense is above; your pleasures are in heaven. If you are real christians, you would not relinquish one portion in heaven for all the happiness of the present state. Avoid every temptation to dishonesty, to prevarication, to envy, to murmuring, to discontent. Avoid all those temptations which arise from a narrow and scanty fortune. Shew how religion can dignify the lowest station in society, and do all possible honour to that station. Thousands of saints have done this. Saviour illustrated the sorrows and privations of poverty; and, if you are animated by his spirit, you will walk in his steps; and after having suffered with him here, you will be also glorified together with him, and reign with him for ever and ever. Our FINIS. INDEX. The Roman numerals refer to the volume, and the figures to the page; ACADEMICAL EDUCATION; its usefulness to the candidate for the AMBITION; its pleasures shown to be unreal and imaginary, vi. 184. ANNUAL PARLIAMENTS recommended, iii. 108-111. ANTINOMIANISM, ii. 230—232, vi. (Mem.) 119. Its tenets described, APOSTASY; reasons why the Jews who had been baptized by John were APOSTOLIC PRECEDENT; explained, ii. 56, iii. 419. Examination of ARBITRARY POWER, iii. 64. Approaches towards it in England, 159. ASSOCIATIONS; origin of the political societies so called, formed at the ASSURANCE OF SALVATION, v. 558. Its importance, 353. AUGUSTINE; his opinion on John's baptism, ii. 34. His remark on BAPTISM; instituted by Christ after his resurrection, ii. 20. Implied a BAPTIST MISSION; Letter to the Committee respecting an application of BAPTISTS; their sentiments stated, ii. 15, iii. 414. Causes of the preju- BAXTER, Andrew; his work on the Soul,' vi. (Mem.) 48. BAXTER, Rev. Richard; character of his writings, vi. (Mem.) 120. BELSHAM, Rev. T.; character of his Memoirs of the Rev. T. Lindsey,' BENEVOLENCE, i. 53. Connexion and compatibility of general bene- BENEVOLENT SOCIETY at Cambridge; account of, i. 122-124. BENTHAM, Jeremy; Mr. Hall's high opinion of his writings, vi. (Mem.) 99. |