So says the dea Holy Spirit by the This then is a pro Spirit, and ratifie Who then will sa be consummated have said what is this promise, or a The kings of t and will as long a power of the air, a of disobedience in and mighty men o oppose this gloriou world is governed war, rapine, and l power. The prou good promise, as lo men, to lord it ove obtain notoriety of gratify their lust by

Ps

THE TRUE INHERITANCE OF THE

SAINTS.

MATTHEW V. 5:"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."

So says the dear Savior, and so said the Holy Spirit by the sweet psalmist in Israel.* This then is a promise of God, given by his Spirit, and ratified by his Son Jesus Christ. Who then will say, this promise will never be consummated? Many, my kind reader, have said what is tantamount to a denial of this promise, or an unbelief in its fulfilment.

The kings of the earth have opposed it, and will as long as the devil is prince of the power of the air, and ruler over the children of disobedience in the earth. The great men and mighty men of the earth, have, and will oppose this glorious promise, so long as the world is governed by physical force, and war, rapine, and lust are the instruments of power. The proud clergy will oppose this good promise, as long as they seek to please men, to lord it over the heritage of God, to obtain notoriety over their fellows; or to gratify their lust by sanctimonious names or

* Psalm xxxvii. 11.

titles, which our Savior forbade his followers to receive, or wear.

All impenitents will oppose it, so long as they possess reason or judgment; for they well know if none but the meek should inherit the earth, they themselves must be thrust out and this is the very reason why a certain class of men never quote this text to prove universal salvation; because their reason tells them that shame would mantle their cheek with a blush, to claim this appellation for all men.

Then let me discuss my subject in the following order:

I. I WILL INQUIRE, WHO ARE THE MEEK? II. WHAT EARTH IS PROMISED AS THEIR INHERITANCE? AND WHEN, AND HOW, THIS BLESSING WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED?

I. WHO ARE THE MEEK? They are not the proud Pharisees, who think themselves better than others; for this would be a contradiction of terms. To say a proud man is a meek man, would be putting evil for good, and I should meet with the wo pronounced by the prophet Isaiah, (v. 20,) "Wo unto them that say concerning evil, it is good." And the wise man says, Proverbs xvi. 5: "Every one that is proud in heart, is an abomination to the Lord." It cannot be a bigoted man; for the prophet has pronounced a solemn wo against all such. Isaiah v. 21: "Wo unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight."

not the love of God in you." It cannot be those who are fond of titles, love the uppermost rooms at feasts, chief seats in the assemblies, greetings in the markets, and to be called of men Doctor, Doctor, or Rabbi, Rabbi; for Jesus says of the like, "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers! how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" Matthewxxiii. 1-23. Who then can it be? you may inquire; for there is no sect in Christendom, at the present day, but are seeking for the honors and emoluments of the world. I acknowledge your charge is apparently just, but not universally true. As it respects the leaders and most active men, as the world would judge, in all the sects of Christendom, I fear your objection would hold good in the main; and the reason is plain: meekness is modesty; it "vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up;" and, of course, in the bustle of the present day, meekness would not be found in the world's first ranks. It is only in a time of severe trial, or great persecution, that you will discover the meek man in the front rank; and then he "doth not behave unseemly, seeketh not his own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil."

Therefore, not many mighty, nor many noble, or rich, will be found in the company of the meek, in such a time as this.

Yet

God has reserved, in my opinion, more than seven thousand, who have not bowed the knee to Baal, (the god of honor.) But, who are the meek? I answer, Christ was meek, as he tells us: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls." Again; "Behold thy king cometh unto thee, meek," &c. Christ, also, has the same promise from the Father, Psalm ii. 8: "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." The children, which are born of the Spirit of God, are meek, because they possess the same spirit which was in Christ. Isaiah xxix. 19: "The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." Those who are given to Christ by the Father, are called the meek. Psalm xxii. 26, 30, 31: "The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this." Those who obey the commandments of God. Psalm xxv. 9, 10: "The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such