they embrace the things of this life, while they refer principally to that which is to come. They speak to our personal interests in such terms as these-" Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, as well as that to come." They address our patriotic and benevolent feelings by reminding us, that the wise and good are the salt of the earth. And they touch a tenderer cord, when they tell us, as in the text, that "a good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children."

It is not necessary, we are confident, to say one word in proof of the power of the appeal made in the words before us. Who will undertake to set forth in adequate terms the affection you have for your children, and the hold they have upon your heart? Sure we are, it will not be those who have felt it-for your children are endeared to you by a thousand tender ties. They are entwined around every affection of the heart-they are dear to you as the light of your eyes, and the breath of life ;-and even among the irrational creation, how often do we see the parent placing little value on her own life, in comparison with the life of her offspring? In proof of all this, were proof necessary, we might appeal to your own observation and feelings, to the records of history, or to the Word of God. We prefer the last source of evidence, because of its undoubted truth, and universal application. "Me have ye bereaved of my children”-said the patriarch Jacob, in the bitterness of his heart-" Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away; all these things are against me.”—Or hear the yet bitterer

cry of distress bursting from the tender parental heart of Israel's King, and that too, for a rebellious subject and profligate child. In his secret chamber, these are the affectionate breathings of a father's heart"O Absalom, my son-my son Absalom, would God I had died for thee; O Absalom, my son, my son !"

Now brethren, if there be all these irrepressible and inexpressible feelings connected with the relation of parent and child, you will certainly admit that the connecting their present and future happiness so intimately with our conduct in the world, and character we maintain before God and man, affords one of the strongest reasons possible for our living holy, justly, and unblameably in the world, and for our walking worthy of the high vocation wherewith we are called; -for the Psalmist says, "the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children." And Solomon, his son and successor, says in our text, a good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children."

66

In discoursing from these words, we purpose, in dependence on the God of all grace, First, to describe the character here assigned to the man who transmits this inheritance. Secondly, to point out the nature and origin of the inheritance he is here said to leave to his children's children. And Lastly, we shall found on all this an admonition to parents and to children.

First, we are to describe the character here assigned to the man who transmits this inheritance-and this we shall do in very few words. In our text, he is

called "a good man." Now, you are all aware, that no man is naturally good-for by nature the very reverse is the fact-we are alienated from God, and his enemies by wicked works. But the God of glory, the Son of the Highest, in the fulness of time, came down from heaven to seek and to save the lost. He took our nature upon him, and shed his precious blood for us; and now his intimation is this, "whosoever believeth in him shall not come unto condemnation, but shall have everlasting life." The guilt of their sin is washed away. They have redemption through the blood of Jesus-the forgiveness of sins. Nay, they not only obtain pardon for the past, but grace to walk in newness of life for the time to come. The Holy Spirit is sent down to dwell in them. They are quickened from their death and sin, and born again, so that henceforth they walk in newness of life. They are strengthened for every duty and every trial—and enabled to run without being weary, and to walk without being faint. Thus, although no man is naturally although, in this world, no man is absolutely good-the person described in our text has had all his sins forgiven unto him, for his sake who died for our sin and rose for our justification. He has the Spirit of God dwelling in him, and he is daily endeavouring to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord-and even now he is an heir of God, and a joint heir of Christ. Let it then be proclaimed, as with trumpet sound, that his goodness is not his own, nor is it of his own acquisition. He is indeed clothed with righteousness as with a garment-but it is the righteousness of Christ-freely,

graciously given unto him, without money and without price. The case of the guests unexpectedly brought from the high-ways to the marriage of the king's son, will illustrate this. They were suddenly brought from the lanes and the high-ways to that august assembly. But the fitting raiment was provided for them; and the presumptuous guest who took his place without the wedding garment, was cast into outer darkness, not because he could not obtain, but because he would not wear it. And so, it is in the robe of Christ's righteousness that the believer is clothed. It is under the influence of his Spirit that he attains a title to the appellation, in our text bestowed on him, who leaves an inheritance to his children's children.

We press this matter on your serious consideration, at the very outset, that ye may, each for himself, see whether ye have, by the grace of God, acquired the character to which this precious privilege belongs. Whether ye are making it your constant aim to have a conscience void of offence, both toward God and toward men. Whether ye are keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Whether, as heirs of God, and jointheirs with Christ, ye are living under the influence of his Spirit dwelling in you, and adorning the doctrine you profess, by a walk and conversation becoming the Gospel; for, if so, to you belongs the name, and with it the privilege described in our text. As good men, ye will transmit an inheritance to your children's children.

We now go on, in the second place, to inquire into the nature and origin of the inheritance the good man is here said to transmit. There is something so cheering, so exciting, in the very name of an inheritance

Ꮓ

when conjoined with those who are so dear to us, even when this is merely of a terrestrial and perishing nature, that it rouses every energy of mind and body, and calls forth untiring activity. In the hope and prospect of this, what toils and privations have been borne! What perils have been encountered! What crimes have been perpetrated? And yet, when acquired, it was to an immortal being worthless and perishing. We are, however, to speak principally of an inheritance certain in the acquisition-imperishable in its nature-capable of satisfying every want-and exactly suited to our wants in time, and throughout eternity. And we pray you, for yourselves, and for those who are so dear to you, to covet the best gifts, and to seek above all things to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom.

In descending to particulars, however, we observeFirst, that the children of the good man derive from him a rich inheritance in the religious instructions they have received from him. When Philip asked the Ethiopian eunuch, if he understood what he was reading, he replied, "How can I, except some one should guide me ?" Now, the plain truth here stated is still more evident in the case of children. They need some one to guide them to knowledge, and most of all to the knowledge of divine things. To imagine that it grows by instinct is to imagine a vain thing. Means must be used to communicate all kinds of information, more especially that which maketh wise unto salvation. The tender plant must be both trained and pruned, that it may grow in the right direction, and be fitted to bear fruit. And Solomon says, "Train up a child in the way he