242 THE CHRISTIAN'$ TREASIAE. [BERM, XXXVIBD. instruct us to think ourselves rich, because we are heirs" of the kingdom, while we are poor and destitute in this lower world ; James ii. 5. It is the spirit of faith that taught the apostle Paul to triumph under all his infirmi- ties, in such language as this : " As dying and behold we live; as sorrowful, and yet always rejoicing ; as poor, and yet making many rich; as having. nothing, and yet possessing all things," 2, Cor. vi. 9, 10. And ifwe have the same spirit of faith we may believe and speak the same language. Fifth Use. This doctrine forbids all murmuring at the band of God, though his dispensations may have some- thing painful and severe in thefn. He has given ns all things indeed, by the promise of the gospel, but he has not put this treasure into our own hands, lest we should abuse and forfeit it; but he has put it into the hands of Christ for us; and it is Christ our Lord who distributes out such parcels and portions of our estate to us daily, as his perfect wisdom sees most proper to promote our real interest. The christian under sickness, perhaps will say, Is not life and health writ down in the inventory of my inherit- ance? Yes, but sickness and death are written down there toó, and thy Saviour knows that sickness is better for thee at this season than health. Do not. murmur at his hand, for God the Father has intrusted him to ma- nage and govern all his own vast dominions; and canst not thou intrust him to manage thy estate, to dispose of concerns, and to allot thydaily portion to thee? The saint surrounded with distress and poverty, or naked, and hungry, will say, " Is not food, andJ rai- ment, and peace specified in the articles of the cove- nant, and numbered among m'i treasures?" Yes, but poverty, and hunger, and cold, andnakedness, are there also: And thy heavenlyFather sees it best to with-hold peace and plenty from thee át present, or to give thee thy food and raiment but in a scanty measure, to mortify thy flesh, to humble thy pride, to wean thee from the creatures, to teach thee immediate dependance on him- self; and to fit thee for a departure to the heavenly world. When thou art deprived therefore of one earthly com- fort alter another, and the remaining good things of this 4
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