can effectually subdue evil and misery, but the patience of Jesus Christ; and every evil or misery which comes upon man, seems intended to call into exercise that divine virtue, by convincing man that of himself he cannot endure it, and that none else but Jesus Christ can enable him to endure it. It is therefore written, Cast thy burden upon the Zord, (Psalm lv. 22); and if this precept be fulfilled, the burden is not only removed, but becomes the blessed means of effecting a closer conjunction of love and of life with the removing power, than could have been accomplished without it. Quarrel not, therefore, with the appointed means of thy purification and salvation, but, if evil and trouble disturb, seek refuge in the patience of the Great Saviour, and thou shalt be safe.
71. Jesus Christ says, Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, &c. (Matt. vi. 19, 20,) to teach us, not only a lesson respecting temporal riches, but also respecting eternal. For the treasures here spoken of, in their internal spiritual meaning, have respect to the knowledges of heavenly things revealed in the Word of God, the great law respecting which treasures is, that they should not be laid up in the earth, or the outward memory only, but that they should be deposited in the inner man, or heaven, so as to operate upon the will and the understanding, by inclining the will to love God above all things, and by enlightening the understanding with the light or wisdom of that love.
