and undefiled, and that fadeth not away"-of glory, honour, and immortality—of “a kingdom which cannot be moved"-he who knows and loves God, and is thereby proved to be his child, needs not envy the richest, the most distinguished for talents and acquirements and station, of the sons of men. No; he does not envy such an one; he would not change places with him, unless he were sure that he possessed that which he values far above them all. Now, that "pearl of great price," the inestimable treasure-which he that hath it (and there are many such) would not part with for all the treasures of this, or of ten thousand such worlds as this may be yours. Every one of you, my friends, may make it your own. It is not, like earthly treasures, necessarily confined to few: it is derived from an inexhaustible storehouse, from which you, and I, and every individual of the human race, may take much more freely and largely than we have yet done;-and yet there will be" enough, and to spare." That merciful God and Father, who willeth not the death of a sinner, but that all should come to repentance and live— who "so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life*”. will not disappoint the desires of any one of you for His heavenly treasure, provided you seek it with an earnestness at all proportionate to its value. If " thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding +." Oh! seek this wisdom, from Him, "who giveth" to all that ask, "liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given." Ask în faith, nothing doubting. Seek it in the use of the appointed means of grace, and you shall set to your seal that God is true. You shall know, from your own experience, that "the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the + Prov. ii. 2-7. *John iii. 16. gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire, are not to be compared unto her." "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom and with all thy gettings, get understanding.”* * Prov. iii. 14, 15. iv. 7. : |