on of my Narrative, I would add some hints on a
few passages of the word of God, both because I have so very frequently
found them little regarded by Christians, and also because I have proved
their preciousness, in some measure, in my own experience; and therefore
wish that all my fellow-saints may share the blessing with me.

I. In Matt. vi. 19-21, it is written: "Lay not up for yourselves
treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where
thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do
not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your
heart be also." Observe, dear reader, the following points concerning
this part of the divine testimony:

1. It is the Lord Jesus, our Lord and Master, who speaks this as the
lawgiver of his people,--he who has infinite wisdom and unfathomable
love to us, who therefore both knows what is for our real welfare and
happiness, and who cannot exact from us any requirement inconsistent
with that love which led him to lay down his life for us.

2. His counsel, his affectionate entreaty, and his commandment to us his
disciples is, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth." The
meaning obviously is, that the disciples of the Lord Jesus, being
strangers and pilgrims on earth, _i. e._ neither belonging to the earth
nor expecting to remain in it, _should not seek to increase their
earthly possessions_, in whatever these possessions may consist. This is
a word for poor believers as well as for rich believers; it has as much
a reference to putting shillings into the savings bank as to putting
thousands of pounds into the funds, or purchasing one house or one farm
after another. It may be said, But does not every prudent and provident
person seek to increase his means, that he may have a goodly portion to
leave to his children, or to have something for old age, or for the time
of sickness, etc.? My reply is, it is quite true that this is the custom
of the world. But whilst thus it is in the world, and we have every
reason to believe ever will be so among those that are of the world, and
who therefore have their portion on earth, we disciples of the Lord
Jesus, being born again, being the children of God, not nominally, but
really, being truly partakers of the divine nature, being in fellowship
with the Father and the Son, and having in prospect "an inheritance
i