He now knows that his heavenly Father will so order all things that befall him, even pain, misfortune and sorrow, that he may obtain from them true profit and advantage. Hence his trust in God is perfect, and his prayers and supplications are such as to be well pleasing unto God Most High. Having tasted the salvation which the Lord Jesus Christ has bestowed on him, the true believer is filled with joy, and he knows for a surety that after death he will enter into the enjoyment of everlasting life and glory. Accordingly the Apostle says: Being ¹ therefore justified by faith, let us have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and let us rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but let us rejoice in our tribulations; knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, probation; and probation, hope: and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Ghost which was given unto us. For while we were yet weak, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: for peradventure for the good man some one would even dare to die. But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' And in another place it is

written of true Christians: 'Ye ¹ are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.' And again: 'Ye ² received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, where-by we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him.' The meaning of the expression 'heirs of God' is that believers in Christ will in the next world through Him share in his glory and participate in the holy bliss that God bestows there, to the full extent of their own capacity to receive these blessings. Hence the Apostle writes: ' I ³ reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward;' and again:—

Things ⁴ which eye saw not, and ear heard not,
And which entered not into the heart of man,
Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.

Besides all these blessings in the world to come, our heavenly Father bestows others upon us even here, as has been already said, even the assurance of pardon and peace. Above all, through the Lord Jesus Christ He bestows upon believers the gift of His Holy ⁵ Spirit, and through his gracious and holy influence their hearts become filled with the love