CHAPTER X.

CHRISTIAN PRIVILEGES.

1. The outward state of the Christian.-2. His varied spiritual state. -3. His ordinary privileges in this life.-4. His special privileges.5. His hope of future glory.-6. The communication of these privileges.-7. The effect of them.

1. THE OUTWARD STATE OF A CHRISTIAN.

THE outward condition of a Christian partakes of all the varied circumstances of our fallen race. There is no lawful situation in which a Christian may not prosper and adorn the gospel, from the highest to the lowest. Like David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, he may reign as a righteous king; like the blind man, he may be a beggar by the way side. Like Abraham, he may be very rich; like the poor widow, he may have but a single farthing. Like Moses, he may have vigorous health, even in old age, his eye not dim, nor his natural force abated; or, like Gaius, he may be sick, or, as Lazarus was, he may be full of sores, and die in poverty and affliction. In these outward circumstances all things come alike to all; there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good and to the evil; to the clean and to the unclean; to him that sacri

ficeth and to him that sacrificeth not; as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth as he that feareth an oath.

But his spirit being different from the spirit of the world, through the abounding grace given to him; this makes a prodigious difference in all these circumstances between him and the man walking after the course of this world.

First, he sees that all things are divinely ordered and appointed in infinite wisdom and love. Promotion cometh neither from the east nor the west, nor from the north or the south; but God is the Judge, he putteth down one and setteth up another. Of him, and through him, and to him, are all things. And this is not a mere fact of sovereignty and power, but there is a special appointment of holy love and heavenly wisdom designing in all things the highest good of him who believes in the Lord. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

This at once changes the character of every situation to the Christian. He sees, if he has power and authority, talents or knowledge, entrusted to him, they are given that he may be a minister of God to others for good, and thus he is preserved from the intoxicating spirit of eminent station. If he be left in poverty and affliction, he is assured that it is only that he may the more glorify God in them, and have a fuller reward hereafter; our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Infirmity itself thus changes to him its very nature. The grace of Christ imparted with it, and his strength

made perfect in our weakness, the mature Christian can say, Most gladly therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me ; therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in nccessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake : for when I am weak then am I strong.

In all outward things, then, there may be great similarity between the state of the righteous and the wicked; or even the afflictions of the righteous may be many, and abound: the real difference here is in the spirit in which events are received. This makes that which is peculiarly the subject of God's commendation or condemnation, the inward character of a man, of such immense importance. This is what may be attended to by us in all situations, what may make us miserable or happy in all circumstances; what leaves the wicked without excuse from their fancied difficulties of serving God; for it will be found in the day of Christ that others in the self-same difficulties have served the Lord, and have been happy in his service. Thus the gospel gives us to be blessed now, however we may be situated, as well as blessed for ever. See in the beatitudes (Matt. v. 1—12.) in what consists the true description of privileges and blessings: inward poverty of spirit, mourning, meekness, hungering and thristing after righteousness, being merciful, pure in heart, and a peacemaker, and even in being persecuted for righteousness sake! To see this indeed requires us to know and believe God's word, and to prefer the truth set before us by that word to our own carnal wisdom. Hence faith is the very root and spring of all right views, and the most important of all graces in gaining heavenly wisdom.

Well has the poet Cowper expressed the privileges even in this life of him who receives the truth of God:

'He is the freeman whom the truth makes free,
And all are slaves besides. 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 withs.
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.'
Are they not his by a peculiar right,

And by an emphasis of interest his,

Whose eye they fill with tears of holy joy,

Whose heart with praise; and whose exalted mind
With worthy thoughts of that unwearied love
That plann'd and built, and still upholds a world
So cloth'd with beauty, for rebellious man?'

Prayer to look at things unseen.

O my God, who hast made all things, and didst design every thing for thy glory, and to be a means of good to those that serve thee, I pray thee that I may so trust in and love thee that all things may work together for my good; that I may so look, not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen, that the light and momentary afflictions of this life may never cast me down in despondency, but work out for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

2. THE VARIED SPIRITUAL STATE OF A CHRISTIAN.

The scriptures speak very highly of the believer's present state. Many and precious are the names by which he is called: elect, holy, beloved, a son of God, his heir, his house, a King and Priest unto God, the light of the world, and the salt of the earth; these are only some of the titles by which he is distinguished from others.

The source of all his blessedness is the free love of his heavenly Father. God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved), and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in hea-venly places in Christ Jesus.

We shall have a clearer view, however, of this state, and of his rich privileges in it, if we remember that the scriptures distinguish between different stages of the Christian life. There is not only the natural man, who neither receives nor knows the things of God; but there is also the man who is comparatively carnal, and only a babe in Christ; and the spiritual man, who discerneth all things, yet is himself discerned of no man. St. John distinguishes Christians into three classes; little children, young men, and fathers. Our Lord compares also the kingdom of God to seed in the ground: first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

Let us, then, view these privileges in their varied states. The apostle first states the general privilege of ALL Christians, as children. Your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. This belongs to all, without exception, even to the youngest in the school