(stranger still) all that shall be, and says to the believer, It is all yours. "Things present" are so. As "the world" is the believer's, so the present course of that world is his. Nothing befalls him, individually, that ministers not to his real welfare, promotes not his truest interests. It is very hard, always to believe this; but, if we will only credit God, here is his unequivocal assertion of it: and so he elsewhere testifies, "All things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Rom. viii. 28.) O try, beloved, to realize this sweet truth to live in the sure persuasion, the soul-quieting assurance of it. Satisfy yourselves with this, amidst much that is painful in your present experience. Say of it, notwithstanding, It is all mine. Be it what it may,-sickness, sorrow, bereavement, temptation, conflict,—it is well. It cannot harm me. It must serve me. Things present" are mine.

And then, not things present, only, but “ things to come" are theirs, who themselves are Christ's. They may look forward into futurity, and though they know not, more than others, what a day may bring forth, this they know, and this is enough for them to know, It shall be theirs. We find the happy Psalmist, adopting this language, walking in this very confidence, in the contemplation of

Jehovah as his. He is "my shepherd," saith he and what then? I have not wanted hitherto? I do not want at present? than this," I shall not want."

No, but, more "Surely," he Assuredly, good

says again, in the same Psalm, " ness and mercy shall follow me, "all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." Things to come,-they are all mine.

Now, Are you a believer, like him? Then, this may be, this ought to be, your language: for God has said it of you: and, believe me, it is a miserable humility, that refuses to take a privilege, when God confers it. Things to come are yours. Why, then, be anxious? Why take thought for the morrow? Why dread the uncertain future? O no: only believe this, and it will bring such a heavenly peace and calm into your soul, as cannot otherwise be conceived. Again, believe this, and it will cure you of the feverish thirst which consumes so many, after the muddy streams of earthly joy. It will beget in you a holy contempt of the poor possessions, if possessions they can be called, which others so inordinately value. Look upon the world around you, and everything in it,-it is yours. Look to the heaven above you,-yours is the God who dwells in it. Look to the present, or look beyond the present, still, all is yours: yours, by the best of titles, the most secure conveyance;

F

yours in Christ. Wait yet a little moment, and the inheritance that is now "reserved" for you, (1 Pet. i. 4,) shall be made over to you, in full possession, in everlasting, satisfying fruition. "He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."

We may consider these words, further, not merely as they relate to the individual experience of saints, but as they bear upon the whole mystery of events, present and future, in this world, and in that which is to come. They are all for the church. We know but little of them, in the present state of being. The scheme of God, in providence and grace, is but partially developed. We cannot fathom it: but we know, that all events of time are tending to a blessed issue for the saints; they shall bring in a dispensation of glory, a day of blessedness, for which "the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together, until now." Be it so, then, that events are, at present, dark and perplexing: contrary, in appearance, to the good of the children of God. Let the enemies of Jesus triumph, for a season; and Satan have full sway, in the children of disobedience and their kingdoms. Jehovah reigneth. Our God knows what he is doing. He is guiding the wheels of Providence for the church. The wrath of man shall praise him, in ministering to their welfare, and the remainder

of it he shall restrain. Troublous times tell the saints, Your redemption draweth nigh. (Luke xxi. 25, 28.) The breaking up of earthly kingdoms prepares the way for the "kingdom which cannot be moved." (Dan. ii. 35, 44; and vii. 27.) Dissolving elements and the wreck of worlds usher in, for the saints, "new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Pet. iii. 13.) Presently "things to come" shall be to come, no more. They that are Christ's shall enter into their full enjoyment, and find them theirs for ever. We cannot describe them: we cannot detail them : but let faith live on the amazing assurance, They are yours. Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come,

ALL ARE YOURS!

SERMON IV.

CIIRISTIAN DEPORTMENT IN INTERCOURSE.

1 PETER iii. 8, 9.

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another. Love as brethren. Be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

THE apostle, in the preceding context, has been applying the holy doctrine of the gospel to the duties of social life in its several relations; as, of subjects toward their governors; servants to their masters; wives toward their husbands; and again, husbands toward their wives. He, here, passes on, to point out, more generally, the spirit and temper which should distinguish the intercourse of Christians, one with another, and indeed with all men; and reminds them of that