Thus you see the world is divided into two classes; sheep and goats: and there are two sorts of fruits; those of the flesh and those of the Spirit so likewise there are two covenants; one

of grace, and the other of works: so also there are two sentences; that of justification, and that of condemnation. The effect of justification is the blessing of God; and the effect of condemnation is the eternal curse of God. A blessing and a curse will close the scene in the great day, and finally conclude the mystery of God, Rev. x. 7.

As a just God and a Saviour the Judge will appear, and both classes will be judged according to their works: those that sow to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; and they that sow to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting, Gal. vi. 8. Thus every man shall receive the things done in his body; according to that he hath done, whether good or bad." If he be a believer, he is blessed with faithful Abraham; if he be a hoping soul, he shall not be ashamed of his hope but shall enjoy his expected inheritance, after his patience is tried in "looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."

O how thankful ought a soul to be at the thought of the blessed Lord's appearing to give a reward to his servants the prophets, and to all that fear his name, small and great, Rev. xi. 18. While, on the other hand, he that dies in the flesh is not one of the children of God; for he dies in

his sin, not in the Saviour, and dying in unbelief, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. For my part, I know of no other sorts of fruits or works but these two; and all the human race are bringing forth one or the other, according to the state they are in, and the covenant they are under; nor is there any middle state between them.

Ahimaaz. For my part I am satisfied. "Bless the Lord, O my soul! and all that is within me bless his holy name, Bless the Lord, O my soul! and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies.” Pray now go on with the description of the blessed inheritance,

Cushi. That is more than man or angel can do: but the book of God mentions it: God the Father hath promised to be our God: "At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people," Jer. xxxi. 1. This implies that God will be the portion of his people. "Fear not, Abraham, I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward,” Gen. xv. 1. Thus the Lord is the portion of his people, and Jacob is the lot of his inheritance, Deut. xxxii. 9. This glorious portion is to be known, and to be enjoyed by every believer at last. For he is, as the scriptures witness, an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ, Rom. viii. 17.

The blessed Saviour is the believer's portion

also: "God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish, but have everlasting life." And again, I will keep him, and give him for a covenant of the people, Isaiah xlii. 6. The sight of this made Paul count all things but dung that he might win Christ, Phil. iii. 8; whom he styles our life, Col. iii. 4.

The Holy Ghost also is the portion of a believer, and an earnest in his heart of all that he has in hope: "Behold I send the promise of my Father upon you." And again: "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever," John xiv. 16.

Thus God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, are the believer's everlasting portion; and so he will find it in the end, when he comes to be filled with all the fulness of God; the whole of which is couched in these words: "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them, that they may be one even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one." Thus much for the portion.

But a dwellingplace is likewise included in scripture, as well as the enjoyment of God; for the inheritance of the saints consists of a place as well as a glorious state: "I go to prepare a place for you; and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself,

66

that where I am there ye may be also, John xiv. 2, 3. We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness," 2 Peter iii. 13.

Ahimaaz. This is an inheritance indeed! and, blessed be God, it is in a measure enjoyed in this life; for when God sheds abroad his love in our hearts, upon our receiving the atonement, the Holy Ghost fills us with joy and peace in believing; and we feel union and fellowship with the Father and the Son, and enjoy the communications of the Holy Ghost. “ And I believe this is what Paul means when he says, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."

Cushi. It is Paul's meaning: and thus the blessed Trinity is experimentally and savingly known by every real believer in this world. The above inheritance is the inheritance promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: “ I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward." And it is said that they sought a country better than that which they left, namely, an heavenly one, Heb. xi. 16.

Ahimaaz. But pray, how is this inheritance secured to the heirs thereof? Because some people say that an heir of it may fall from grace, be disinherited, and have his portion in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; and if so, it had been better for them that they had never been made heirs.

Cushi. Men who talk at that rate do not trust in the grace of God; if you read their writings, you will find that all their contention is for fleshly works, and in works they trust. And though the word, grace, be often brought in, yet it is only done as a deception to entangle others; hence such are said in scripture to weave the spider's web; that is, as the spider catcheth her prey in her web, so these interweave the word, grace, to catch souls for Satan in the net of works. And as many a fly settles on the web to rest till it be devoured, so many souls settle on the Arminian web of grace and works, till they are entangled in the curse of God and jaws of the devil. Such trust in themselves, not in God; and in their own dead works they place their hopes, instead of grace. But the inheritance is not promised to our works, nor secured by them: "For if the inheritance be of the law it is no more of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise," Gal. iii. 18. If it were to be obtained by the works of the law it would be very uncertain; man might perform his part, and he might not: and if he did not perform the conditions, whatever such conditions might be, then Infinite Wisdom might be frustrated in his grand designs: therefore God has secured it in a way that the end is sure to be accomplished; which will plainly appear, if you consider the following negative and positive: "For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect; because the law work