For us, indeed, who are all the adopted children of God our Saviour, what addition is wanting to complete our happiness? What can increase their peace who believe and trust in the Son of God? Shall we add a drop to the ocean, or grains to the sand of the sea? Shall we ask for an earthly inheritance, who have the fulness of an heavenly one; power, when in prayer we can use the power of Christ, or wisdom, guided as we may be by the true Wisdom and Light of men? It is in this sense that the Gospel of Christ is a leveller of ranks: we pay, indeed, our superiors full reverence, and with cheerfulness as unto the Lord; and we honour eminent talents as deserving admiration and reward, and the more readily act we thus, because these are little things to pay. The time is short, year follows year, and the world is passing away. It is of small consequence to those who are beloved of God, and walk in the Spirit of truth, whether they pay or receive honour, which is but transitory and profitless. To the true Christian the world assumes another and more interesting appearance; it is no longer a stage for the great and noble, for the ambitious to fret in, and the wealthy to revel in; but it is a scene of probation. Every soul is a candidate for immortality. And the more we realize this view of things, the more will the accidental distinctions of nature or fortune die away from our view, and we shall be led habitually to pray, that upon every Christian may descend, in rich abundance, not merely worldly goods, but that heavenly grace which alone can turn this world to good account for us, and make it the path of peace and of life everlasting. [1] Prov. xxx. 8. [2] Eccles. i. 18. [3] 1 Tim. i. 19. [4] 2 Chron. xxxii. 31. [5] 1 Sam. xvii. 37. [6] 1 Kings xi. 1, 4, 5. [7] Ps. xciv. 12. [8] 2 Cor. xii. 7. [9] Mark x. 23. [10] James ii. 5. [11] Matt. xx. 27, xxiii. 8. [12] 1 Cor. xii. 31. [13] 1 Tim. iv. 4. [14] 1 Matt. xxiii. 19. SERMON VI. The Season of Epiphany. "_This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him._"--John ii. 11.