I conclude with a single word of remark on the expression in the text, "We _know_ that all things work together for good." It expresses the _personal experience_ of the Christian. It answers to a similar expression of the same apostle to the Philippians--"I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ." But to whom is this knowledge vouchsafed? To whom is it a safe and a sure conviction--an "earnest expectation and hope," so "that in nothing we shall be ashamed?" Truly, to those only who "_love God_"--to those who are "the called according to his purpose." His purpose is our sanctification, and that we should be "conformed to the image of his Son." To such truly, to such only does that blessing apply, so frequently indeed, and but too rashly, appropriated by many others, "All is for the best." Let the careless rather tremble, those as yet not effectually called into the gospel vineyard, at such an appropriation of the text. To them it may be only a savour of death unto death, a deadly security, a hope that "_maketh_ ashamed, because the love of God is _not_ yet shed abroad in their hearts." Gain rather in prayer, in secret meditation and much retirement from the presence and the love of this world, the true love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Then being first transformed yourself, you will be enabled, by a divine power, to transform everything around you; you will receive all things as from the hand of the Father whom you love, the Benefactor and Friend whom you wish and aim to serve. Your willing and noble obedience to him will render, then, prosperity a new advantage to you by awakening your gratitude, and adversity a blessing, by exercising and perfecting your patience. You will have a fence around you, an armour of divine temper to fortify you in the presence of every temptation, and to turn the very weapons of your adversaries into your own instruments of victory, the trophies of your triumph. Sin will have its struggles within you, but will not gain dominion over you, while every deviation from God's righteous will is mourned in secret, and restored through grace; and while it brings you the more urgently and constantly to the foot of the cross, where hung the Saviour whom you love, whose favour and forgiveness you implore; and you shall be enabled to close the volume of your experience in the concluding words of the chapter, and with the apostle himself: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?... I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is Christ Jesus our Lord." THE GLORY OF THE SAVIOUR'S TRANSFIGURATION.[Y] "And was transfigured before them, and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light."