6. How much more does he rejoice, if he can do any good to the soul of any man? This power indeed belongeth unto God. It is he only that changes the heart, without which every other change is lighter than vanity. Nevertheless it pleases him who worketh all in all, to help man chiefly by man; to convey his own power and blessing and love, through one man to another. Therefore, although it be certain, that _the help which is done upon earth_ God _doth it himself_, yet has no man need, on this account, to stand idle in his vineyard. The peace maker cannot: he is ever labouring therein, and as an instrument in God’s hand, preparing the ground for his Master’s use, or sowing the seed of the kingdom, or watering what is already sown, if haply God may give the increase. According to the measure of grace which he has received, he uses all diligence, either to reprove the gross sinner, to reclaim those who run on headlong in the broad way of destruction; or _to give light to them that sit in darkness_, and are ready to _perish for lack of knowledge_; or to _support the weak_, to _lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees_; or to bring back and heal that which was _lame_ and _turned out of the way_. Nor is he less zealous to confirm those who are already striving to enter in at the strait gate; to strengthen those that stand, that they may _run with patience the race which is set before them_; to _build up in_ their _most holy faith_, those that know in whom they have believed: to exhort them to stir up the gift of God which is in them, that daily _growing in grace, an entrance may be ministered unto them abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our_ Lord _and Saviour Jesus Christ_. 7. Blessed are they who are thus continually employed, in the work of faith and the labour of love. _For they shall be called_, that is, _shall_ be (a common hebraism) _the children of_ God. God shall continue unto them the Spirit of adoption, yea, shall pour it more abundantly into their hearts. He shall bless them with all the blessings of his children. He shall acknowledge them as sons before angels and men; _and if sons, then heirs; heirs of_ God _and joint heirs with Christ_. III. 1. One would imagine such a person as has been above described, so full of genuine humility, so unaffectedly serious, so mild and gentle, so free from all selfish design, so devoted to God, and such an active lover of men, should be the darling of mankind. But our Lord was better acquainted with human nature, in its present state. He therefore closes the character of this man of God, with shewing him the treatment he is to expect in the world. _Blessed_, saith he, _are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven_.