64 The True Riches,

by Jesus’ blood, freely given to us by grace,
witnessed to and the earnest given us by
the Holy Spirit, so that we have Him assur-
ing us that, weak as we are, all is right and
secure, not for time only, but for eternity.
God is all strength, so that we hold not only
by right but by might also. It is a blessed
thing “to have the loins girt and our lamps
burning, and we ourselves as men who wait
for their Lord.” The eager longing for the
Lord’s blessed appearing, is the best antidote
to holding, except with the loosest hand,
“The gear and gare.”

Dives, you would have said, was a very
happy man, faring sumptuously every day,
having servants at his command, chariots at
his call. He wanted for nothing, and yet
he wanted everything ; whilst the beggar at
his gate having nothing, yet possessed all
things. "Tis true, Lazarus was in want of
doctors, food, and medicine ; the dogs took
pity on him and licked his sores, whilst he
shared his food with them. Yet what a
difference when death closed the account !
In the one case, perchance a grand display
of waving plumes and weeping women