re study these things most, if ye
would be Christians in truth and in deed. It is these two that ye must
still pass between, if ye keep them not both in your view at once, ye
cannot well perceive any of them, either comfortably, humbly, or
profitably.

This is even the sum of Christianity. Look what ye want in yourselves, and
make up that in God. Discover your own emptiness and fill it up with God's
fulness. "The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth, shall
be watered also himself," Prov. xi. 25. Be not niggards here. Be liberally
minded, both in seeking and receiving, so shall ye please him best who
counts it his glory to give. "The instruments of the churl are evil, but
the liberal deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things he shall
stand," Isa. xxxil. 7, 8. Seek answerable to your own necessity, and God's
all sufficiency, and know no other rule or measure.

Now, Christians, this is your calling and employment here, to be seekers
of God's kingdom and righteousness. But shall we come speed? Yes
certainly. It is so far put out of question here, that it needs not be
expressed. "Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be"
superadded to you. He thinks it needless to say, _and ye shall find the
kingdom of God, and his righteousness_, for it is supposed as a thing
unquestionable, and he adds these words, "and all these things shall be
added to you," to answer the faithlessness of these who could not credit
him in temporal things, though they had concredited(504) to him their
immortal souls. Ye do not doubt, then, but ye shall have the kingdom of
heaven. Ye do indeed seek it. Many by seeking kingdoms lose here--by
seeking to make them more sure, they lose the hold they have. Many by
aspiring to greater things, lose these things they have, and themselves
too. But here is the man that is only sure of success,--the man that may
reckon upon his advantage before he take pains, if indeed he resolves to
take pains for it. This one thing is made sure, eternal life, if ye lay
hold on it here by faith, and quit your hold of present things that end in
death, Rom. vi. 21. We may well submit to the uncertainty of all other
things, as David, who held himself well satisfied with the everlasting
covenant God had made with him, which was well ordered in all things and
sure, 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. Though the kingdom and house go, it matters not, if
he keep this fast. If he take not away his loving kindness, this