CHAPTER X.

THE CHRISTIAN'S GAIN.

HITHERTO We have been looking steadily at the pracical duties of the Christian believer. We have seen that these duties are enjoined by the word of God; and that unless we will Do them, we cannot be accepted as genuine disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Will it be asked, what advantage the Christian is to secure by all this toil and discipline? Let the mind in which this question shall arise, give attention, and receive an answer in the truth. The Christian's gain is more than enough to compensate him for all the spiritual toils and conflicts which he is called to endure. He possesses an advantage, which is neither known nor felt by the unbeliever. It is a real advantage, not a dreamy, an imaginary one. He is not the dupe of imposition; he has not hastily embraced "cunningly devised fables"; he has not erected his house on the sand. His foundation is the ever-enduring rock of divine truth.

And the more closely the Christian believer attends to his "high calling of God in Christ Jesus," the more clearly will he see and understand this advantage; and the more sincerely and devoutly will he thank God, that in "the unsearchable riches of Christ," he possesses all things; all things necessary to his spiritual peace and happiness in time and in eternity. There is no desire of his heart which is not met and satisfied with gospel truth.. Life, health, strength, riches, honor, friend

ship, joy, light, righteousness, everlasting love, salvation, glory, immortality! all are contained therein.

This is the Christian's portion, place him where you will. The world may frown, the unrighteous oppress, the unbelieving scoff, the skeptical bigot smile in his illnature at the strange credulity of a Christian dreamer. So far as earthly prospects are concerned, he may have nothing of which to boast, no one with whom to hold communion; yet with him are the riches of gospel truth; and he is satisfied.

And no satisfaction can be equal to that of the positive believer in the doctrine of God our Saviour; who believes it because he possesses it, and possesses it because he believes it. With him the discords of error are heard in strange contrast with that perpetual harmony breathed into his soul from the united voices of nature and revelation. He lives and moves in a universe of intelligences, where the Creator God is acknowledged, and where the pestilential blasts of unbelief have never come. While below, he has his conversation above. The glories of earth are mingled with those of heaven to delight his spirit; and when his lips can no longer utter praise, his heart burns within him, and expressive silence attests his inward adoration. The poet has described him.

"He is the freeman whom the truth makes free,
And all are slaves beside. There 's not a chain,
That hellish foes, confederate for his harm,
Can wind around him but he casts it off
With as much ease as Samson his green withes.
He looks abroad into the varied field

Of nature, and though poor, perhaps, compared
With those whose mansions glitter in his sight,
Calls the delightful scenery all his own.

His are the mountains, and the valleys his,
And the resplendent rivers. His to enjoy
With a propriety that none can feel,

But who, with filial confidence inspired,
Can lift to Heaven an unpresumptuous eye,

And smiling say 'My Father made them all!'"'

Let us now enter upon a brief consideration of some of the peculiar advantages of the gospel believer; and as we proceed, may our undivided attention be given to the things of the kingdom, and our ardent prayer ascend to Jehovah, that he would cause us to enter therein and enjoy its ineffable delights.

I. The gospel believer is taught of God. When we say this, we are not to be understood that he looks only into one department of the great school of instruction, namely, that of revelation; that he hears nothing, sees nothing, learns nothing, save that which is taught in the pages of the Scriptures. No; his attention is also directed to the instructive page of nature's works; and he there reads, ponders, loves, adores. He sees God in everything. Creation is alive with his wonders, and revelation confirms its instructions. He cannot go where he is not surrounded with evidences of the divine greatness. He says with David, "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." And in that presence he realizes "fulness of joy."

The character and attributes of God as made known

in the Scriptures and confirmed in nature, and in his dealings with man, furnishes the believer with ample means for spiritual profit and improvement.

1. The wisdom of God.

believing Christian.

Here is a lesson for the Divine wisdom is seen in every department of creation. It laid out the pathway of every planet, every star, every world that exists in the regions of space. It measured the sea, "weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance." It planned the revolutions of the seasons; gave to every beast, bird, fish, and creeping thing, its nature and propensities, with the means for their enjoyment and happiness. In every climate, whether torrid, temperate, or frigid, it has manifested itself in an ample providence for all.

In the structure of the mighty systems that run their everlasting rounds in the firmament, this wisdom is seen. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handy-work. Day unto day uttereth speech; night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language; their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world." In the infinite variety of nature, in the mechanism of animated beings, wisdom above the comprehension of man is read by the Christian's eye, and adored by his spirit. Wherever he begins to reason, the result is invariably the same; from the planetary system; to the atom that floats in the sunbeam ; from the huge elephant and the monsters that inhabit the great deep, to the "crooked serpent," and the meanest reptile that grovels in the dust.

"Part of his name divinely stands
On all his creatures writ;

They show the labor of his hands,
The impress of his feet."

He sees that God has made them all happy in their spheres, and rules over all in his infinite wisdom. As the believer contemplates, therefore, he is led to adopt language which the written revelation of his Maker has taught him; language uttered in view of this wisdom, by those who sought to know God, and to declare him to his children. "In his hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. — In him we live,

and move, and have our being. How manifold are thy works, O Lord! in wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy riches; so is the great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. Hearken unto this, O man! stand still, and consider the wonderful works of God. Contemplate the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge. There is none like unto thee, O Lord, neither are there any works like unto thy works. Thou art great, and doest wondrous things; thou art God alone. - Marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For of him, and through him, and to him are all things, to whom be glory forever."

The same wisdom seen by the Christian believer in the material systems of the universe, leads him to under