Is not godliness gain? profitable for this life as well as that
which is to come? What is the portion of the worldling? even in this
life 'shadowy joy or solid woe,' without a balance to the first, or
consolation in the last; no sure footing in the one, nor support in
the other; distanced from the fountain of happiness by nature,
prosperity incrusts their hearts and increases their carnality;
nestling in their worldly comforts, they forget they are the creatures
of a day, that an endless eternity lies before them, and only the
feeble uncertain thread of life between them and that curse under
which they were born. Not so the child of God; all things work
together for his good--_all things;_ his standing is not in
himself; his footsteps are directed by infinite wisdom: he is kept by
the power of God, through faith, unto salvation. Nothing can separate
him from the love of God. His life is hid with Christ in God: there is
cause to rejoice always; his privileges are boundless, infinite, for
God himself is become his salvation.

"Have we then any cause for fear? Yes, my children, yes; though
nothing can rob us of our charter, there is another side to be beheld.
In Christ we have all things richly to enjoy, but we have not all in
possession: what we have is by faith; all is secured by our Surety for
eternity. We shall overcome by the blood of the Lamb; but by the
constitution of the covenant we must enter into that rest, that
perfect rest, through great tribulation. While our eternal salvation
is secured by our Surety, it hath pleased infinite Wisdom to appoint
another connection, which shall exist while we remain on earth: even
the connection between our steadfastness, consequently our comfort,
and the means of grace which he hath appointed, making the first to
depend in a great measure on our diligent use of the last, insomuch
that a great number of the promises are proposed conditionally. Many
exhortations are given in this view, and also many threatenings. 'They
that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength,' etc. 'Seek, and ye
shall find; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened
unto you.' 'Abide in me; as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, no
more can ye, except ye abide in me.'

"Close, intimate, near communion with God, is to be sought by
means of prayer, meditation, and reading. If the Christian be careful
to husband time, and set apart a portion for God, and set about these
duties