'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — September 25

As a merchant in London may import horses from Barbary, spices of Egypt, wares of Alexandria, silks of Persia, and embroideries of Turkey, so may you, if God is your portion, import the finest bread to feed you, the choicest wine to comfort you, oil to cheer you, joy to refresh you, raiment to clothe you, jewels of grace to beautify you, and the crown of glory to make you blessed; yes, all the wealth of this and the world to come. All the riches of the covenant of grace that Christ has purchased with his precious blood, and all the good that an infinite God can give, you shall have them. God will fill up your soul to its utmost capacity. When you have these, you desire no more, and quietly rest forever. What a portion is this! The pleasures of sin are for a season, a little inch of time. This portion is forever. The greatest estate is like a flood, soon up and down, but if God says once to your soul 'I am your inheritance', neither men or devils can cheat it from you. The portions of the world are dying vines, deceitful brooks, and shadows. If God is once your portion, he will forever be your portion. When earthly things are taken from you, he is the good part that will never be taken away (Luke 10:42). When dying and withered, he will never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5). Satan cannot part you from your portion. God has him in a chain, and like a dog without teeth, he may bark, yet he can never bite. At death, your portion will swim out with you in that shipwreck. Death parts all other portions from the sons of men, but gives you your full portion. Then will you know your portion's true worth. When fire burns up the world it will not even singe your portion. You may stand upon the ruins of the world and sing: I have lost nothing, I have my inheritance, my happiness, and my God still.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
George Swinnock, Works, IV:41-43
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