glory. But with regard to
temporal things it will be thus, that if indeed we walk according to
the mind of God in these things, whilst more and more we become
instruments of blessing to others, we shall not seek to enrich
ourselves, but be content when the last day of another year finds us
still in the body, to possess no more than on the last day of the
previous year, or even considerably less, whilst we have been,
however, in the course of the year the instruments of communicating
largely to others, through the means with which the Lord had
intrusted us. As to my own soul, by the grace of God it would be a
burden to me to find, that, however much my income in the course of a
year might have been, I was increasing in earthly possession; for it
would be a plain proof to me, that I had not been acting as steward
for God, and had not been yielding myself as a channel for the waters
of God's bounty to pass through. I also cannot but bear my testimony
here, that in whatever feeble measure God has enabled me to act
according to these truths for the last fifty-one years and a half, I
have found it to be profitable, most profitable to my own soul; and
as to temporal things, I never was a loser in doing so, but I have
most abundantly found the truth in II Cor. ix. 6, and Luke vi. 38,
and Prov. xi. 24, 25, verified in my own experience. I only have to
regret that I have acted so little according to what I have now been
stating; but my godly purpose is, by the help of God, to spend the
remainder of my days in practising these truths more than ever, and I
am sure, that, when I am brought to the close of my earthly
pilgrimage, either in death, or by the appearing of our Lord Jesus, I
shall not have the least regret in having done so; and I know that
should I leave my dear child behind, the Lord will abundantly provide
for her, and prove that there has been a better provision made for
her than her father could have made, if he had sought to insure his
life or lay up money for her.

Before leaving this part of the subject, I mention to the believing
reader, that I know instance upon instance, in which what I have been
saying has been verified, but I will only mention the following:--I
knew many years ago a brother as the manager of a large manufactory.
Whilst in this capacity he was liberal, and giving away considerably
out of his rather considerable salary. The Lord repaid this to him;
for the principals of the establishment, well