+II. A false estimate of life in relation to poverty.+ It is a mistake also to look on poverty as a "destruction." If the rich man errs on the side of excessive confidence, the poor man errs on that of fearfulness. He should remember--1. _That the blessedness of life here does not consist in what a man has, but in what he is._ Wealth may be a curse to existence, and so may poverty, but a good conscience, a godly character, is a continual feast. And it is quite _as_ easy, perhaps more so, to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God in poverty as in wealth. "A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke xii. 15). This is the declaration of Him who created man, and who, therefore, knows his needs. The poor are the objects of His special regard. "Hath not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?" (Jas. ii. 5). 2. _He should keep in mind the day of levelling and compensation._ "Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented" (Luke xvi. 25). +III. A right estimate of that which constitutes life, viz., righteous labour+ (verse 16). The first clause of this verse suggests (1) that there can be no true life without righteousness; (2) that righteousness must show that it exists by honest labour; (3) that the honest labour of a righteous man, whether of hand or brain, shall bless his existence. From the second clause we learn (1) _that godless men likewise labour for a harvest._ There are as hard workers among the godless as among the good. They toil for earthly gain all the more earnestly because they have no other to possess: that which belongs to the present life is their all. (2) _That there is no blessing in the gain of the ungodly._ The gain of a sinner only tends to confirm him in his ungodliness--it "tendeth to sin." If a tree is bad at the root the larger it grows the more bad fruit it will bear. The richer a bad man grows the worse he becomes, the greater are his facilities for sinning himself, and the more evil is his influence upon others. Sin being at the root of his actions, sin will be in the fruit. The whole subject teaches us not to make poverty and riches the standard by which to measure a man's blessedness or misfortune. Beecher says, "We say a man is 'made.' What do we mean? That he has got the control of his lower instincts, so that they are only fuel to his higher feelings, giving force to his nature? That his affections are like vines, sending out on all sides blossoms and clustering fruits? That his tastes are so cultivated that all beautiful things speak to him, and bring him their delights? That his understanding is opened, so that he walks through every hall of knowledge and gathers its treasures? That his moral feelings are so developed and quickened