Verses 81–88

81. My soul fainteth for thy salvation; but I hope in thy word.

THE salvation of the Gospel was the constant object of faith and desire to the Lord’s people under the old dispensation. Long had the church triumphed in the glowing anticipation, as if in the full possession of the promised blessing — “It shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation; he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness; as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” ‘And as it was the joy of their living moments, so was it the support and consolation of their dying hours. “I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord,” 2 — was the expression of the dying patriarch’s faith. And how cheering were the last words of this “sweet Psalmist of Israel,” whose “soul was now fainting for God’s salvation” even in his dark and foreboding family prospect! —” Although my house be not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure; for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although

1 Isaiah xxv. 9; lxi. 10. - Gen. xlix. 18.

he make it not to grow.” ] Good old Simeon, in the break of the gospel-day, was ready to “depart in peace, for his eyes had seen God’s salvation.” 2 And shall not we, under this heavenly influence, naturally appropriate these feelings of ancient believers to ourselves? What interpreter but experience will be needed to explain them? The uneasiness felt in any interruption of our enjoyment, will show the soul to be “fainting for this salvation” Nothing will satisfy but the Saviour. The tempting oifer of “all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them,” will fail in attraction. Still the cry will be, “Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.” 3 “Let thy mercies come also unto me, 0 Lord; even thy salvation, according to thy word.” 4

As the lowest expectant of this salvation, am not I richer than the sole possessor of this world’s portion? And therefore if the Lord hides his face, I would look to no other quarter; I would stay by him, and “wait on him,” though days and months and years may pass away, “until he have mercy upon me.”5 “My soul faintethfor his salvation;” and — pressing to my lips the fullest cup of earth’s best joy — my heart would burst with despair of satisfaction, “but” that “/ hope in his word.” 6 “By this hope I am saved.” 7 In “the patience of hope “8 I am resolved to wait until the last moment, lying at the footstool of my Saviour. I am looking for the “assurance of this hope” 9 — when, in the joyous anticipation of eternity, and with “the earnest of” the heavenly “inheritance” in my soul, I shall echo the voice of my coming Saviour — “Even so come, Lord Jesus.” 10

1 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. 2 Luke ii. 28 — 30, also 25.

3 Psalm xxxv. 3. 4 Verse 41.

5 Psalm cxxiii. 1, 2. Compare Isaiah viii. 17. Micah vii. 9.

6 Psalm cxxx. 5. 7 Rom. viii. 24.

8 1 Thess. i. 3. 9 Heb. vi. 11. 10 Rev. xxii. 20.

Oh, how precious and important a part of our armour is Hope? As a “helmet,” l it has “covered our head in the day of battle” from many a “fiery dart of the wicked.” In times of darkness — when the restless foe hides the prospect from the eye of faith, and the child of God can scarcely, if at all, mount up and sing — even then hope remains, and lights a taper in moments dark as the chamber of the grave — “Yet the Lord will com mand his loving-kindness in the day-time; and in the night-season his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.” 2 And when the afflicted, tempest-tossed soul is trembling at the prospect of impending danger — at this moment of infinite peril, Hope holds out the “anchor sure and stedfast;” 3 so that in the awful crisis, when “deep calleth unto deep, and all the waves and billows are going over us,” 4 most unexpectedly “an entrance is ministered unto us abundantly,” in the Lord’s best time, into our desired haven.5 And it is this hope alone that sustains us. Were we to conceive of God according to the notions of our own hearts, we should give way to most unbelieving impatience. But the Divine character — as it shines forth in the word with such love and wisdom, such tenderness and grace — invigorates our hope. The strength of the strongest of God’s people proves but small, when afflictions press heavy, and expected help his delayed. But though the “soul fainteth,” it cannot fail. We depend not on what we see or feel, but on what the word promises. If God has engaged, it must be fulfilled, be the difficulties — nay, impossibilities — what they may. Fixed, therefore, upon this sure foundation, with our father Abraham, against hope from what we see,

1 Eph. vi. 17. 1 Thess. v. 8. 2 Psalm xlii. 8.

3 Heb. vi. 19. * Psalm xlii. 7.

6 2 Peter i. 11. Psalm cvii. 30.

“we believe in hope from what God has promised.” l Thus the word is faith’s sure venture for eternity — stamped with such a marvellous, mysterious impression of Divine glory and faithfulness, and communicating such Divine power and refreshment, that the believer cannot but produce his experience of its efficacy for the support of his tempted brethren — “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” 2

82. Mine eyas fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thon comfort me?

THOUGH the believer may be enabled, in the habitual working of faith, to sustain his “hope in the word” yet “hope deferred maketh the heart sick.” 3 Still, Christian, as you value the promise, trust the assurance. Do not be discouraged by present appearances. The sunshine is behind the storm. “The visionis for an appointed time; though it tarry, wait for it.” 4 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,” but we are hasty in looking for it.5 The failing of our eyes is the impatience of the will, “limiting God” 6 to our own time, ways, and means. Faith may be exercised in not seeing his reasons — not being able to harmonize his promises with his providences, or his outward dispensations with his Divine perfections.7 But let us leave this to him, and “be still, and know that he is God.” 8 We shall find in the end, that perseverance in waiting has turned to double advantage; and that even when the present answer to prayer, and also sensi-

1 Rora. iv. 18. 2 Psalm xxvii. 13, 14. 3 Prov. xiii. 12.

4 Hab. ii. 3. 6 Conip. 2 Pet. iii. 9, with Isa. v. 19; xxviii. 10”.

* Psa. lxxviii. 41. 7 Jer. xii. 1. 8 Psalm xlvi. 10.

blc comfort and acceptance have been withheld; yet that important blessings have been accomplished, and the merciful purposes vouchsafed in bringing the wayward will into more entire subjection to himself. Yea — the blessing will be so much the sweeter, from being vouchsafed in the Lord’s best time. Waiting time — what ever weariness may attend it — is precious time, and not a moment of it will be lost. The Lord secretly upholds faith and patience, so that every step of feeble perseverance in the way brings with it unspeakable delight. Even while our eyes fail for the fulfilment of the word, peace is found in submission and joyful expectation; and instead of a time of hardness, indolence, or carelessness, the Lord’s return is anticipated the more intensely, as his absence had been felt to be the most painful trial. For as well might the stars supply the place of the sun, as outward comforts, or even the external duties of religion, supply to the waiting soul the place of an absent God.

Never, however, let us forget, that the real cause of separation between God and a sinner is removed. The way of access is opened by the blood of Jesus; ] and in this way we must be found waiting, until he look upon us. Here will our cry — “When wilt thou comfort me?” be abundantly answered; and though the sovereignty of God will be exhibited in the time and measure of his consolations, yet the general rule will be — “According to your faith be it unto you.”2

But if unbelief clouds our comfort, turn the eye more simply to the “word” as testifying of Jesus. Here alone is the ground of comfort; and the more confidently we expect, the more patiently we will look. Nor shall we ever look in vain. Sin will be rebuked.3 But restoration and acceptance are assured. We shall obtain — not

1 Hebrews x. 19, 20. 2 Matthew ix. 29.

3 Psalm lxxxix. 30 — 32.

the spurious comfort of delusion — but those wholesome comforts, founded upon the word of promise, and connected with contrition, peace, love, joy, and triumph. The gospel shows hell deserved, and heaven purchased — thus combining conviction and faith. Indeed, con viction without faith would be legal sorrow; as assurance without conviction would be gospel presumption. Paul’s experience happily united both. Never was man at the same moment more exercised with conflict, and yet more established in assurance. Thus may we maintain our assurance as really in wrestling trouble as in exulting joy; honouring the Lord by a humble, patient spirit — in Bernard’s resolution — ‘I will never come away from thee without thee’ — in the true spirit of the wrestling patriarch — “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.”2

But we sometimes seem to go “mourning without the sun”3 — “shut up, and we cannot come forth”4 — straitened in our desires and expectations — doing little for the Lord — with little enjoyment in our own souls, and little apparent usefulness to the church. At such seasons it is our clear duty and privilege to “wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and to look for him.”5 “He waiteth that he maybe gracious. He is a God of judgment: and blessed are all they that wait for him.”6 He waits — not because he is reluctant to give, but that we may be fitted to receive.

1 Comp. Rom. vii. 14 — 25; viii. 33 — 39. 2 Gen. xxxii. 26.

3 Job xxx. 28. 4 Psalm lxxxviii. 8. 5 Isaiah viii. 17.

B Ib. xxx. 18. ‘Thou mayest seek after honours, and not obtain them •, thou mayest labour for riches, and yet remain poor; thou mayest dote on pleasures, and have many sorrows. But our God, of his supreme goodness,’says — Who ever sought me, and found me not? Who ever desired me, and obtained me not? Who ever loved me, and missed of me? I am with him, that seeks for me. He hath me already, that wisheth for me; and he that loveth me is sure of my love. The way to come to me is neither long nor difficult.’ — Auyustine.

83. For I am become like a bottle in the smoke, yet do I not forget thy statutes.

WHAT an affecting picture of misery! Not only were his patience and hope — but his verybody — “driedup” by long continued affliction. This is he, who in the prime of youth was “ruddy and of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to” 2 — now shrivelled up like a bottle of skin 3 hung up in the smoke! ‘Such is the mark that the rod of “chastening” leaves on the body of humiliation.’4 The soul is strengthened — the body withers — under the stroke.

What might naturally have been expected to have been the result of this lengthened exercise? Saul, under protracted trial, resorted to the devil for relief.5 An infidel nation took occasion from thence to throw off the yoke.6 Even a good man, under a few hours’ trial, murmurs against God — nay, even defends his murmuring.7 How did this man of God behave? When his soul was fainting, his hope in the word kept him from sinking.8 Under the further continuance of the trial, the same recollection gives him support — yet do I not forget thy statutes.9

Now — Christian — do not expect a new way to hea ven to be made for you. Prepare for the cross. It may be — as with David — a heavy, long-continued burden; and, should it come — look on it as your appointed trial

1 Prov. xvii. 22. 2 1 Sam. xvi. 12. 3 Jos. ix. 4. Matt. ix. 17.

4 Psa. xxxix. 11. Comp. xxxi. 12; cii. 3. The history of Job: xxx. 30. The woeful misery of the church; Lara. iv. 8: v. 10. The sufferings of the Saviour; Psalm xxii. 15. Isaiah Hi. 14.

5 1 Sam. xxviii. 6, 7. 6 Mai. iii. 13, 14, with ii. 17. 7 Jonah iv. 7 — 9. 8 Verse 81.

9 Compare Verses 51, 61, 109, 141; xliv. 17 — 19.

of faith, and your training discipline for more enduring conflicts. And remember that your determined resolution rather to pine away in affliction, than “make a way of escape” by sin — is the proof of the reality of his own grace in you, and of his faithful love towards you. Think how honourably he manifests your relation to Christ, by causing “his sufferings to abound in you,” and making you “bear in your body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” l And do you not thus realize, as you could not otherwise do, the sympathy of our High Priest, who was himself “a root out of a dry ground, having no form nor comeliness, and no beauty that he should be desired — despised and rejected of men” 2 to the end? Oh, what a supporting cordial to his afflicted people is the sympathy of this suffering, tempted Saviour! 3

But to look at David, under his long-continued trials, preserving his recollection of the Lord’s statutes — what a striking evidence of the presence of his God, and the sustaining power of his word! If we then — blessed with much larger Scriptures than he — fail in deriving from them the same support, it can only be, that we do not search them in a dependent, prayerful, and humble spirit — that we do not simply look for the revelation of Christ; to mark his glory, and to increase in the know ledge of Him.4 In this spirit we should have more to say of the comfort of remembering “the Lord’s statutes;” and of their upholding influence, when all other stays were found as “the trust in the shadow of Egypt — shame and confusion.” 5

Job’s history strikingly illustrates both the trial and its sanctified results. When “scraping himself with a potsherd, and sitting down among the ashes,” — the

1 2 Cor. i. 5. Gal. vi. 17. 1 Pet. iv. 13. 2 Isaiah liii. 2, ?,.

3 lleb. iv. 15; ii. 18. John v. 39. 5 Isa. xxx. 1 — 3.

temporary victim of Satanic power — he might well have taken up the complaint, “/ am become like a bottle in the smoke.” But when in this hour of temptation he was enabled to resist the tempter in the person of his own wife, and commit himself with implicit resignation into the hands of his faithful God, “What! shall we receive good at the hand of God; and shall we not re ceive evil?” * — was not this the confidence, — yet do I not forget thy statutes?

This confidence is indeed an encouraging seal of the Lord’s love on our souls. For we never should have remembered “his statutes,” had he not written his covenant promises upon our hearts. 2 And how much more honourable to our God is it than the desponding complaint, “The Lord hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me!” 3 Let us watch then against a proud sullenness under every little trial — such as the coldness of friends, the unkindness of enemies, or our Father’s providential dispensations. How sinful to allow hard thoughts of him, whose name and character, “without variableness or shadow of turning,” is “Love!” A steady trust in the long and wearisome seasons of tribulation, is indeed to “glorify God in the fires.”4 Nothing honours him so much as this enduring overcoming faith, persevering in despite of opposition, in destitution of all outward prospects of relief. It is when “against hope we believe in hope, not staggering at the promise of God through unbelief,” that we are “strong in faith, giving glory to God.” 5

1 .lob ii. 7 — 10. 2 Jer. xxxi. 31 — 34.

3 Isaiah xlix. 14. 4 Ib. xxiv. 15.

5 Romans iv. 18, 20.

84. How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? — 85. The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.

THOUGH a steady confidence in severe and protracted exercise may enable us “not to forget the statutes;“” yet we shall hasten to carry our complaint before him, “How many are the days of thy servant?” — my days of affliction under the “fury of the oppressor.” To complain of God is dishonourable unbelief. J To complain to God is the mark of his “elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bears long with them.” 2 Christian! study this instructive pattern; and, when exposed to the lawless devices of “the proud” forget not your hiding-place. God in Christ is your strong hold, “whereunto you may continually resort.” He “hath given commandment to save you.” 3 Your trial has done its appointed work, when it has brought you to him; and inclined you, after your blessed Master’s example, instead of taking the vengeance into your own hands, to commit yourself and your cause “to him that judgeth righteously.” 4 ‘And this,’ as Archbishop Leighton excellently observes, ’ is the true method of Christian patience — that which quiets the mind, and keeps it from the boiling tumultuous thoughts of revenge; to turn the whole matter into God’s hands; to resign it over to him, to prosecute when and as He thinks good. Not as the most, who had rather, if they had power, do for themselves, and be their own

1 Jonah iv. 1 — 3.

2 Luke xviii. 7, with Psa. vi. 3 ,- xiii. 1, 2. 3 Psalm lxxi. ‘<!>.

4 1 Peter ii. 23, and Archbishop Leighton on the passage.

avengers; and, because they have not power, do offer up such bitter curses and prayers for revenge unto God, as are most hateful to him, and are from this calm and holy way of committing matters to his judgment. The common way of referring things to God is indeed impious and dishonourable to him, being really no other than calling him to be a servant and executioner of our passion. We ordinarily mistake his justice, and judge of it according to our own precipitate and distempered minds. If wicked men be not crossed in their designs, and their wickedness evidently crushed, just when we would have it, we are ready to give up the matter as desperate; or at least to abate of those confident and reverent thoughts of Divine justice which we owe Him. However things go, this ought to be fixed in our hearts, that He that sits in heaven judgeth righteously, and executes that his righteous judgment in the fittest season.’

Usually the Psalmist is expressing his love for the law. Here he is complaining against his enemies; yet still implying the same spirit, that the pits, which the proud dug for him,1 were not after God’s law. The martyrs’ cry under the altar shows the acceptance of this complaint; 2 “seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble” his people “and to them that are troubled rest.” 3 Some of us indeed have known but little of “cruel mockings “4 and bitter persecutions. Let such be thankful for the merciful exemption from this” hardness: “5 but let us gird on their armour for the conflict. Let none of us, in the determination to “live godly in Christ Jesus,” expect to escape “persecution.“6 Let us “count the

1 Psalm xxxv. 7. See Rev. vi. 9 — 11.

8 2 Thess. i. 6, 7. * Hebrews xi. 36.

5 2 Timothy ii. 3. 6 Ib. iii. 12.

cost “! of suffering for Christ, whether we shall be able to abide it. For the mere spiritless notions, or for the unenlivened forms of religion, of which we have never felt the power, nor tasted the sweetness, it would be little worth our while to expose ourselves to inconvenience. But if we understand the grand substantials of the gospel — if we are clearly assured of their reality, practically acknowledge their influence, and experimentally realize their enjoyment, we shall dare the persecuting malice of “the proud” in defence of a treasure dearer to us than life itself. Should we, how ever, be too rich to part with all for Christ, or too high in the estimation of the world to confess his despised followers, it will be no marvel, or rather a marvel of mercy, if he should sweep away our riches, and suffer “the proud to dig pits for us.” To make this world “a wilderness or a land of darkness” to us, may be his wisely-ordained means to turn us back to himself as our portion, to his word as our support, to his people as our choice companions, and to heaven as our eternal rest.

86. All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.

IN the lengthened duration of trials, the “eyes fail with looking upward,” the voice of prayer grows faint, and in a moment of weakness, the faithfulness of God is almost questioned, as if we should go mourning to the very end of our days. It is at such a season that he, who delights to “comfort them that are cast down,” 2 realizes to the view of faith the unchangeable faithfulness of his commandments with respect to his people. In this

J Luke xiv. 28. 2 2 Cor. vii. 6.

recollection we can “look up and lift up our heads,” and “go on our way,” if not “rejoicing,” yet at least with humble acquiescence; assured, that in the perseverance of faith and hope, we shall ultimately be “more than conquerors through him that loved us.” l

Many Old Testament Histories beautifully illustrate the reward of this simplicity of faith in temporal emergencies.2 When Asa’s “hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob,” “his bow abode in strength.” 3 When, at a subsequent period, he “trusted in man, and made flesh his arm, and his heart departed from the Lord,” 4 he became, like Samson, “weak, and as another man.” 5 So true is it, that no past communications of Divine strength can stand in the stead of the daily habit of dependence upon the Lord, without which we are utterly helpless, and are overthrown in every conflict. Our best prosperity therefore is to leave our cause in his hands, looking upward in the simplicity of wretchedness for his help, ‘All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully: help thou me. Wretched and forlorn I am; but thy truth is my shield.’

Believer! This is your only posture of resistance. Should you enter the field of conflict without this “shield of faith,” some crevice will be found in your panoply, through which a “fiery dart” will inflict a poisonous wound.6 But how can faith be exercised without a distinct acquaintance with the object of faith? We cannot repose trust or expect help, in an unknown God — in an offended God, whom every day’s trans-

1 Romans viii. 37.

2 The examples of Asa, 2 Chron. xiv. 10 — 12, and Jehoshaphat, 2 Chron. xx. 1 — 30, may be referred to.

3 Gen. xlix. 24. 4 Comp. Jer. xvii. 5 — 8. 5 Judges xvi. 7, with 2 Chron. xvi. 7. 6 Eph. vi. 10’.

gression has made our enemy. There must, then, be reconciliation, before there can be help. Those, there fore, who are unreconciled by the death of Christ, cry for help to a God, who does not hear, accept, or answer, them. But when Christ is known as “the peace,” and the way of access to God, what instance can there be of trail or difficulty, when our reliance upon the Lord will fail? Not indeed that we shall always return from the throne of grace with the wished-for relief. For too often we bring our burden before the Lord, and yet through distrust neglect to leave it with him. Oh! let us remember, when we go to Jesus, that we go to a tried, long-proved, and faithful friend. Dependence upon him is victory. The “good fight” is the fight “of faith.” * We are hest able to resist our enemy upon our knees; and even such a short prayer as this “Help thou me,” will bring down the strength of Omnipotence on our side. But we might as well expect to crush a giant with a straw, as to enter the spiritual conflict with weapons of carnal warfare. Every trial realizes experimentally the help of a faithful Saviour. He does indeed deliver gloriously; and leaves us nothing to do but stand still, wonder, and praise, “Fear ye not; stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you to-day; for the Egyptians, whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.”2

87. They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.

AND why did they not quite consume him? Be cause” the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout

1 1 Tim. vi. 12. 2 Exodus xiv. 13.

the whole earth, to show himself strong in behalf of them, whose heart is perfect toward him.”! “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.” 2 And why have not our spiritual enemies “consumed us upon earth?” “Satan hath desired to have us, that he may sift us as wheat.” “But,” saith the Saviour, “/ have prayed for you, that your faith fail not.” * “My sheep shall never perish; neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.” 4 Stedfastness of profession is the evidence of the life of faith: grounded upon this security, the more we are shaken, the more we shall hold fast. Neither long-continued distress,5 nor determined opposition,6 will turn us from the ways of God. We would rather “forsake” all that our heart held dear upon earth, than “the precepts” of our God. With whatever intensity of affection we love father and mother, (and the influence of the Gospel has increased the sensibilities of relative affections,) we remember who hath said, “He that loveth father and mother more than me, is not worthy of me.” 7 Unlike the deluded professor,8 we have counted the cost of the tribulation and persecution of the Gospel; and the result has only served to confirm our love and adherence to our heavenly Master. Shall not we find in heaven — nay, do not we find in the gospel — a far better portion that we lose? 9

When, therefore, we are tempted to neglect the precepts; or when we fail to live in them, and to delight in them, let us each bring our hearts to this test. ‘What would I take in exchange for them 1 Will the goodwill and approbation of the world compensate for the loss of

’ 2 Chron. xvi. 9. - Psa. lxxvi. 10. 3 Luke xxii. 31, 32. 4 John x. 28. 5 Verse 83. 6 Verses 84 — 86.

7 Matt. x. 37. 8 Ib. xiii. 21. 9 Ib. xix. 29.

the favour of God? Could I be content to forego my greatest comforts, to “suffer the loss of all things,” l yea, of life itself,2 rather than forsake one of the ways of God? When I meet with such precepts as link me to the daily cross, can I throw myself with simple dependence upon that Savivour, who has engaged to supply strength for what he has commanded? ‘How often in times of spiritual temptation, if not of temporal danger, “they had almost consumed us upon earth!” hut “in the mount” of difficulty “the Lord has been seen.” 3 Oh! let each of us. mark our road to Zion with multiplied Ebenezers, inscribed Jehovah-jireh — Jehovah-nissi 4 — “By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.” 5

What a fine testimony of the upholding grace of God? How could a helpless believer stand against such an appalling array? Yet it is a great, but a true word, suitable for a babe in Christ as well as for an Apostle — “I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me.”6 Yes, I can “wrestle even against principalities and powers” of darkness, if I be “strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”7

88. Quicken me after thy loving -kindness: so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

WE need continual quickening to maintain our stedfastness in the precepts.” God, who is rich in mercy, for

1 Phil. iii. 8. 2 Acts xx. 24.

3 ‘In the Mount the Lord shall be seen, or shall appear, Jehovah-jireh.’ (Gen. xxii. 14.) — Scott, in loco. * Exod. xvii. 15. 6 Psalm xli. 11, 12. Phil. iv. 13. ‘< Eph. vi. 10, 12. his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.” 1 But without daily “quickening after” the same “loving-kindness,” “the things which remain will be ready to die.” For every breath of prayer, Divine influence must flow — “Quicken us, and we shall call upon thy name.” 2 For the work of praise, without the same influence we are dumb. — “0 let my soul live, and it shall praise thee.” 3 For the exercise of every spiritual grace there must be the commanding voice of our Divine Head — “Awake, 0 north wind; and come, thou south: blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out” 4 Thus is the creature laid in the dust, and all the glory is given to God. “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.” 5

Why is it, then, that at one time we spring to duty as the joy of our life; while at other times the soul is so chained down under the power of corruption, that it scarcely can put forth the feeblest exercise of life? The source of our life is the same — “hid with Christ in God.” 6 But the power of the flesh hinders its every motion. 7 Such a spiritual sloth has benumbed us — such backwardness to prayer, and disrelish for heavenly things — sins deeply humbling in themselves, and aggravated by the neglect of the plentiful provision laid up in Christ, not only for the life, but for the peace, joy, and strength of the soul. Nothing but indolence or unbelief straitens our supplies. Oh! stir up the prayer for quickening influence, and we shall be rich and fruitful. Sometimes also self-confidence paralyzes our spiritual energy. We expect our recovery from a life-

1 Eph. ii. 4, 5. 2 Psalm lxxx. 18. 3 Verse 175.

4 Cant. iv. 16. * 2 Cor. iii. 5. 6 Col. iii. 3.

7 See Gal. v. 17.

less state by more determined resolutions, or increased improvement of the various means of grace. Let these means indeed be used with all diligence, but with the fullest conviction, that all means, all instruments, all helps of every kind, without the influence of the Spirit of grace, are dead. “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing.” l

These records of David’s prayers strikingly mark the intensity of his desire to live to God. Every decay of strength and activity was, as it were, death to him, and awakened his reiterated cries. Do we desire to keep the testimony of his mouth? Do we mourn over our short comings in service? Oh! then, for our own sake, for the Lord’s sake, and for the church’s and the world’s sake, let our petitions be incessant, each one for him self — ‘“quicken me” — Quicken this slothful heart of mine. Enkindle afresh the sacred spark within, and let me be all alive for thee.’ Let faith be kept alive and active at the throne of grace, and all will be alive; our obligation will be deeply felt, and practically acknow ledged.

The title here given to the directory of our duty — “the testimony of God’s mouth” — adds strength to our obligations. Thus let every word we read or hear be regarded, as coming directly from the “mouth of God.” 2 What reverence, what implicit submission does it demand! May it ever find us in the posture of attention, humility, and faith, each one of us ready to say — “Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth!” 3

1 John vi. 63. 2 Compare Judges iii. 20.

3 I Sam. iii. 9, 10.