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THE
CHRISTIANS
TREASi1RE.
[SER:uI,
counsels
of
his
Father's
mercy,
and
his own
kind
designs
for
his
chosen
and
redeemed people.
And
as
the whole world
of
nature,
and the present
af-
fairs
of
nations are managed
by
Christ,' for the
good of
the church;
so
the world
of
grace,
and the
affairs
of
his
sanctuary, and
his
kingdoms on earth;
are
all ordained
for
the benefit
of
the saints. Christians,
why
did
he
separate
you from the world,
and
call
you
out of
the
wilderness, and make you
a
chosen
nation, a
peculiar
people?
Was
it
not
for
your advantage?
Why
did
he
write
his
word? Why did
he
ordain
ministers and
holy
institutions?
Was
it
not
for
your
edification
?
Were
.not
the seals
of
the
covenant
given
to assist
your
faith,
by the aid
of
your
senses,
and
by
this means to
inflame
your
love,
and
exalt your joy
?
Are
not
the precepts
of
the
word written
to
direct
you in
the
way
of
duty?
Are
not
the threatenings pronounced
to
awaken
your
fear,
and
guard
you
from
sin
and
folly? And
are not
all
the
promises
of
the gospel
given to
comfort your
souls, to
support
your
spirits, and
give
a
sweet
taste
of
glory be-
fore-hand.
Whatsoever temporal circumstances
attend
you
in
this
present
life,
whether they
are
painful
or pleasant, they
are
all
the
appointments of your
heavenly
Father
for
your
real interest. Are
you
at
peace in the midst of
plenty, and
sloes
every
thing
around
you
smile
upon you?
It
is
that
your hearts
may be
raised
to
thankfulness, and
your
lips
tuned
to
praise.
Do
you
labour under
pain
or
sickness
?
It
is
to
wean you from
flesh
and
blood, to
put
you
in
mind
that
this
tabernacle
is
falling, to
awaken
your
hearts
to
insure
a
better habitation
on high.
Do
you
want
food or
raiment
?
It
is
to
make you remem-
ber that
you
are
in
the wilderness,
and to
call
your
me-
ditations
upward
to
your Father's
house, where
there
is
bread enough, and
to spare. Are you
scorned and
re-
viled
by
the basest
of
men?
Are
you
persecuted or
im-
prisoned, and
treated
with
rudeness or cruelty?
It
is
to
try
and prove
your
suffering graces,
that
your faith, cou-
rage, and
patience
may
shine as
'gold
that
has passed
through
the
furnace;
arc
you called to seal the
truth
and
testimony
of Jesus
with
your
blood
?
It
is
to
prepare
you
for the crowns
of
glory
that
are laid
up
for martyrs: