opposite of curse. As the latter comprehends in it all that is evil, with respect to body and soul, in time and eternity; so blessing, on the contrary, comprises in it all inward and outward temporal and spiritual prosperity. Outward prosperity, that is, perfect health, disturbed by no sickness, pain, or indisposition; in the enjoyment of which, the body possesses all possible perfection, so that no weariness oppresses it, no tedium troubles it, and every sense is capable of uninterrupted and exalted enjoyment. We must certainly take into account, at the same time, the infinite period after the resurrection ; but in the kingdom of God a thousand years pass for a day, and Jesus as a perfect Savior renders at length both body and soul perfectly healthy and happy; as an infallible pledge of which we know that he himself dwells in heaven with body and soul.

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Blessing, in a spiritual sense, is a perfectly tranquilized mind, an understanding endowed with all perception, a heart thoroughly pervaded by God, and entirely one with God, which may be experienced even here below, in a good measure. It is true we live here by faith and not by sight, and are saved and sanctified by hope, and are not yet in perfect possession and enjoyment. The blessing, the life, however, which takes its commencement here, is an eternal blessing, an eternal life; and becomes in us a well of water springing up to everlasting life. Let it suffice you, that you are kept, through faith unto salvation; and that all things shall work together for good to them that love God. Rejoice that your names are written in heaven, and that a mansion it already prepared for you. The heavenly Joshua is

able to conduct you through the wilderness, and not to let you want either bread or water; and even if you must have flesh, he knows how to procure it; only take care to leave the world its onions and its garlic.

What has been premised sufficiently proves, that blessing comprehends in it the entire appropriation of salvation, from the first gentle inclination of the man's will towards God-of which he himself may perhaps be unconscious to perfect felicity before the throne of the Lamb; from the being called with a holy calling to the being glorified in heaven; for it is one blessing, 、something entire. Hence Paul represents it, in Rom. viii., as in a chain or series of blessings; 'Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son. Whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?'

Earthly benefits are also a species of blessing, which certainly ought not to be overlooked. The abundant harvest of the present year forcibly draws our attention to this view of the subject. The field and the garden preach to us concerning the goodness of God, by presenting us with the enjoyment of it, with respect to which we ought not to be unsusceptible, but to lift up our eyes to the God of blessing, who opens his liberal hand, and satisfies the desire of every living thing, and on whom our temporal prosperity as much depends as our spiritual. But we call whatever belongs to our temporal prosperity only a species of blessing; because

even the wicked partake of it, whilst the godly not unfrequently obtain only a small share. God causes his sun to shine upon the evil and the good, and his rain to descend on the just and the unjust. Temporal benefits are only a curse to the wicked; and in the end they fall into the most bitter poverty, as we see in the example of the rich man. What does it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? What avails all participation in the things of the present world, without having part in that which is to come? And how lamentable is the folly of neglecting eternal blessings, whilst seeking after transitory good; and yet, alas! how common !

The triune God is the source of all blessing. The Lord bless thee and keep thee! The Lord cause his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious to thee! The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon thee, and grant thee peace! From him, as the Father of lights, comes down every good and perfect gift. No man can receive anything, except it be given him of the Father. It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy, and of his free will. It is in vain to rise early and sit up late, unless the Lord give his blessing with it. In vain is the watchfulness of the watchman, unless the Lord keep the city; or the industry of the builder, unless the Lord co-operate. With all his rapidity, the swift may fail in the race, because he either applies it too early or too late. With all his ability, the merchant may miscalculate, and fail, notwithstanding all his prudence. Strength alone is not sufficient to secure victory in the combat, nor does

expertness in anything render the individual acceptable.

Success belongs to a jurisdiction which receives no laws from princes, since they are themselves the subjects of that which men call time and chance; but we Christians, Divine Providence.' Be careful for nothing, and know at least that it is of no avail. The case is the same with spiritual things, and in a still greater degree. The Lord bless thee! Thou art then blessed indeed.

The real cause of blessing is Christ crucified-his priesthood—and, primarily, his expiring on the cross. The blessing had departed from us, and it was necessary to regain it for us. The curse had come upon us, and must be removed. Both were too great and too difficult for us to accomplish. The price was such, that we should never have been able to procure it. God then sent his Son into the world. He came attired in such a manner that no one regarded him for what he really was but he to whom the Father revealed it. A simple son of man, in fashion as other men, few only beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. In the form of a servant, it was easy to take him for any thing else than the Lord from heaven. And what was the end of him? He died in the flower of his years-died without having apparently accomplished any thing-died in the most wretched, painful, and ignominious manner, as a condemned malefactor, as a defamer of Divine and human majesty, and was buried. What shall we say to these things? The disciples knew not what to say, and wept. The Jews thought they understood it. "If he were

not a malefactor; if there were any truth in the thing; if it were only half true what he affirmed as entirely so with an oath, that he was the Son of God; he could not possibly have been crucified." But a mystery lay, and lies, in the whole affair—a mystery that was hidden from the beginning of the world; but which is revealed to us by the Apostles; a mystery which was unknown to the rulers of this world; a wisdom of God with them that are perfect; in one word, the mystery of the cross of Christ. And what mystery is that? Paul declares it in Gal. iii. 13, when he says, 'Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, by becoming a curse for us, which is proved by the manner of his death; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.' And Christ hung upon the tree, that we might receive the blessing already promised to Abraham. Jesus is therefore, by virtue of his death, the true high priest, who pronounces the blessing upon us; from Him we must seek it, even as Jacob did.

But what are the means for obtaining the blessing? Not works. If you seek it thus, you will nevertheless continue under the curse; (Gal. iii. 10) and though you torment yourselves day and night, you will advance no further. Jacob had also wrestled mightily; and such must be the case, and it must be continued with all earnestness, as long as we are able to accomplish anything. At length we are obliged to stand still. Jacob had at last no alternative, after his thigh was put out of joint, than passively to cast himself upon the neck of the Son of God; and then only it was that 'he blessed him there.'