Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

eligion, despise a crucified Saviour and the men who proclaim salvation
through his name alone.
Who, whatsoever his authority might be, or his qualifications, has been
able to make many favourable impressions on the souls of mighty, and
particularly rich and opulent men, so as to stem the torrent of fashionable
impiety, and to establish among them the "form," or, if already
established, imbue it with the "power of godliness?"
Neither good nor evil can be known by the occurrences of this life.
Every thing argues the certainty of a future state, and the necessity of a
day of judgment. They who are in the habit of marking casualties
(especially if those whom they love not be the subjects of them) as tokens
of divine displeasure, only show an ignorance of God's dispensations, and
a malevolence of mind, that would fain arm itself with the celestial
thunders, in order to transfix those whom they deem their enemies.
"Blessed are the poor!" This is God's word: but who believes it? Do we
not say, "Yea, rather, blessed is the rich?"
A man may be grievously afflicted, and yet have his eye bent on
temporal good; from his afflictions he can derive no benefit, though many
think that their glorification must be a necessary consequence of their
afflictions; and hence we do not unfrequently hear among the afflicted
poor, "Well, we shall not suffer both here and in the other world too!
Afflictions may be the means of preparing us for glory, if during them we
receive grace to save the soul." But afflictions of themselves have no
spiritual nor saying tendency; on the contrary, they sour the unregenerated
mind, and cause murmurings against the dispensations of divine
providence. Let us, therefore, look to God, that they may be sanctified;
and when they are, then we may say exultingly, "These light afflictions,
which are but for a moment, work for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory." O world to come, in exchange for the present! O
eternity, for a moment! O eternal communion in the holy, blessed, and