him; and goes creeping into the spirit-world, a poor shivering creature,—poor, poor indeed. And poor he must remain—to eternity. For he has laid up no spiritual wealth, no wealth of mind and soul, which can enrich him in the next life: he is beggared for ever.
But the man who has lived as man ought to live, for the true end of living,—while he has been comfortable even in this life, and has had as much as was needful and for his real good,—at the same time has been steadily laying up a great store of spiritual riches. Acknowledging and worshipping Him, who is truly The Rich One,—for He is the Owner, as He is the Maker, of the Universe,—he has been continually receiving from Him the inward wealth of true thoughts, kind affections, peaceful and happy states of mind—all which, when once received, remain and are increased for ever; they are not left behind with the body, but accompany the spirit into the next life. And there, not only will they be perceived and felt as inward riches, giving content and peace of mind, but they will also put themselves forth in beautiful forms around him, producing visible beauties, and elegancies, and charms, thus affording outward riches corresponding to the inward. So that he, who in this life was poor in the world's estimation, but yet was "rich towards God[1],"—after death, will find himself in mansions and paradises, surrounded by all things beautiful to the eye, as well as charming to the soul:—"Eye hath not seen, neither hath ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." And those delights will
- ↑ See Luke xii. 21.
