134 THE CHRISTIAN'S TREASURE. [SERM, XXXVIII. law and the prophets, the histories and the epistles, and from all the ordinances of the sanctuary : He teaches them to borrow some food and delight from Moses and David, as well as from Peter and John. He leads them through the sweet fields ofgospel grace, and directs them to gather many a flower there for their refreshment, and to feed on the fruit of the tree of life for their support. He shews them how to profit by the ministry of a Paul, and to learn the deep,mysteries of Christ : He impresses on their souls the warm and pathetic words of an Apol los, and fires their hearts thereby with zeal and love; He teaches his younger disciples over again the first lessons of grace, which a Cephas had just taught them, Thus Paul and Apollos, and Cephas are theirs. He instructs them how to converse with things invi- sible and future by faith, and to make use of the unseen and distant glories of eternity, for their. present comfort and joy. " It is the God of hope, who by his Spirit fills them with all peace and joy in believing," Rom, xv. 13. And I might add also, that the holy Spirit is given them, and dwells in them as an earnest of their inherit- ance of all things, 2 Cor. v. 6. till the redemption of this purchased possession, that is, till it shall be redeemed, and freed from all the present incumbrances of sin and Satan : Eph. i. 13, 14. Then in a happy hour shall this purchased possession be disclosed in the fairest light, and proclaimed to be the property of the saints. To sum up all in a fewwords, a christian's interest in all things is well founded, and well confirmed. They arehis by the original purpose of God the Father, when he created all things; it was his design that his chosen, people should receive benefit from them. They are his by the appointment of divine providence, that all things shall work together for his good. They are his ; for Christ the Son of God has purchased adominion over all things, that he may manage them for the service of his redeemed ones. They are his, because the Spirit teaches him to derive some advantage from all things by faith and holy meditation. God has given himself to the saints as their portion for ever : He has given his own Son for them as a ransom from death : he has givenhis Spirit to them, as the principle of their life : And in this view, wYf
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