SERMON XXXVII. 523 for you to give you day-light, that you may work for God : Ana the evening spreads its long thick shadows over the nations, to determine a time for your repose and refreshment. The darkness and the light are yours, during your continuance in the flesh. Whenall your work here is done, these lower " heavens shallbe folded up like an old garment, as a vesture shall they be chang- ed;" they shallflee away and be no more. Survey the trees and the fields, how they bring forth food for you. The beasts of the earth grow and are nourished for your conveniency ; they were born and live, and diefor your sup- port and nourishment. The windsblow to purge the air for you, and to keep it wholesome, while God has appointed you to breathe in it. The fountains bubble, and the rivers flowto quench your thirst. Flax andwool are ordained for your covering, and the silk-worm is set to his shining task, that some of your gar- ments may be soft and easy : The beasts of the earth are at peace with you, and you are in league with the stones ofthe field ; Job - v. 23. 0 happy and glorious state of the children of God Christ, in his providential management of all things in this world, has a chief regard to his own people: The wicked of the earthwho dwell among the saints, come in for a share of the common good things of life, chiefly as they are instruments of the providence of Christ, for some known or unknown benefit to his church. I might tell you also, that if you are christians indeed, then thoughyour ungodly neighbours may have a rightful civil pro- perty in many good things of the world, yet you have a better and sweeter interest in the earthlyblessings which you possess: You can taste the love of aFather in them, and the kindness of a reconciled God. They are common benefits to the world, but they are made as it were special blessings to you. They are put into your handby a better covenant: They are sanctified to your use : Theworld itself becomes a means to raise your heads to- wards God. And whereas wealth, and honours, and the plente- ous enjoyments of life, become a temptation and a snare to the wicked; and, through the corruption of their natures, divide their souls from God and heaven, the same things are made happy instruments in the hand of the Mediator, to furnish you out for eminent service, and to help you onward to a better world. III. Life and death are yours. Life, with all the comfort- able attendants of it; or even with all its difficulties and vexa- tions, it is still designed for your advantage : And death, as ter- rible as it is in itself, shall appear to be benefit tìtyou. But I insist no longer on this head at present, because I design it to be the subject of following discourses.
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