+I. The well-being of the righteous.+ 1. _It is a great fact that it is well with the righteous._ It is well with him _always:_ in prosperity, which is a time of peril; in persecution, which is hard to bear; in childhood, manhood, and old age; in time, and throughout eternity. 2. _We are assured of this fact on Divine authority._ Reason might assure us of it, but it is better to have it under the hand and seal of omniscience. If thou canst not see it, let God's word stand thee instead of sight. 3. _It is the will of God that His people should know this great fact._ He would have his saints happy, and therefore He says to His prophets, "Say ye," &c. 4. _With God's people it is emphatically "well."_ When GOD says it is "well" with a man, it must be well indeed. 5. _There are many obvious reasons why it is well with the righteous._ (1.) His greatest trouble is past. His greatest trouble was the guilt of sin. (2.) His next greatest trouble is doomed. The dominion of sin over him shall speedily come to an end. (3.) His best things are safe. His treasures are in heaven. (4.) His worst things work only for his good. (5.) He is well _fed,_ for he feeds upon Christ; well _clad,_ for he wears the imputed righteousness of Christ; well _housed,_ for he dwells in God who has been the dwelling-place of His people in all generations; well _married,_ for his soul is knit in bonds of marriage union to Christ; well _provided for,_ for the Lord is his Shepherd. (6.) God has put within him many graces, that help to make things well; _faith,_ which laughs at difficulties; _love,_ which accepts them; _patience,_ which endures them; _hope,_ which expects a rest to come. (7.) Day by day, God the Holy Ghost visits him with fresh life and power. (8.) He has a bank that never breaks--the glorious "throne of grace;" and he has only to apply on bended knee to get what he will. (9.) He has ever near him a most sweet Companion, whose loving converse is so delightful that the roughest roads grow smooth, and the darkest nights glow with brightness. (10.) He has an arm to lean upon that is never weary, never feeble, never withdrawn. (11.) He is favoured with a perpetual Comforter, who pours wine and oil into every wound, and brings to his remembrance the things which Christ has spoken. It is well with the righteous in life, well when he comes to die, and well after death. 6. _The blessedness of the righteous rest upon a solid ground._ The text says, "they shall eat the fruit of their doings." Those are the only terms upon which the old covenant can promise that it shall be well with us; but this is not the ground upon which you and I stand under the gospel dispensation. Absolutely to eat the fruit of our doings would be even to us, if judgment were brought to the line and righteousness to the plummet, a very dreadful thing. Yet there is a limited sense in which the righteous man will do this. "I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat,"