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1'HE
CNRISTIAN'S TREASURE.
[BERM.
XxxviII.
I.
It
is
the kind and
eternal
purpose
of God
their
Bather,
that it
should
be
so.
Christians, God
has
created
all things
in the
world of nature
with
this
design,
that
you
should derive
some
benefit from them,
as
far
as they
can come within
your reach or
notice,
your
ser-
vice or
use
:
He appointed
all things in
the
counsels of
his
providence,
to
bear
some blessing for you.
He
has
ordained
all things
in his
kingdom
of
grace
for your
ad-
vantage.; and
there are unknown
regions
of
light
and
glory
which he
has provided for
you.
His elect
were
ever nearest
to
his
heart,
next
to the man
Christ
Jesus,
next
to his
only
begotten
Son
;
" for
they were
all chosen
in
him
before the foundation
of
the world,"
Eph.
i.
4.
Whether creation
or providence, whether nature,
grace,
or
glory,
"
all
things
are
for
your
sakes,"
2
Cor.
iv.
15.
I
would
caution
you again,
that
you
are not
to under-
stand it
in
such
an incredible
sense, as
though
God
made
every
particular creature
in the
upper
and the lower
worlds,
only
to give
the
possession
of
them
to
the
saints,
or that
he manages all
his
providential
kingdom,
merely for
the
sake
of
his own
people
without
any
other
view.
No,
this
is
stretching
the words into an
extent
too large
and
unreasonable;
for there are
millions
of
creatures,
mil-
lions
of
plants
and
animals in
earth
and
sea,
that
are
born, and
grow,
and
live,
and
die again, which
the
saints
of God
never
saw,
nor
know,
nor
shall
know;
nor
can they receive any immediate benefit from
them.
But
the meaning
is
this,
that
all
things whatsoever
the
.saints
can
or
shall have to do within this
or other
worlds,
were intended
to yield some
profit
to
them, and
especi-
ally
while
they
maintain their character
as
the
children
of
God, and
walk as
becomes
their
dignity
and their
pro
-
fession.
In
all
God's general
counsels
of
creation,
and
providence,
and
grace, he
kept
his eye, as
I
may
say,
still
upon
his
saints
:
He
designed
their
good in
ten
thousand
instances,
in his
great and
glorious
works,
and
resolved
that
nothing
in
all his
kingdoms should interfere
with
their last
and best interest.
.
Though what
he has
written
down in
the book
of
his
decrees,
is
read
only
at
large
by
his Son
Christ
Jesus,
yet
he has written
out
a
sweet
abstract of
it
in
the book of
his
promises,
that
the saints
on
earth
might read and
know
it;
Rom.
viii.
28.
And
we
know
that
all
things
work