A Devout Meditation upon Psalm LXXIII. 25

A devout Meditation upon Psalm lxxiii. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none uponarth that I desire besides thee.”

What is there In heaven or in earth, O Lord! but thy presence, to be valued, loved, desired, chosen, sought, or delighted in? There is nothing in either world desirable without thee, nothing certainly above thee, nothing in comparison with thee. In thee alone I trust, on thee I depend, in thee I repose my confidence and hope, from thee I expect all my felicity and salvation. Whatever I can lose, yet with the continuance of thy favour, which is my life, I have still enough. With that I am rich, without it I am poor and miserable. And if I want the love of God, all that heaven and earth can give besides, will not make me happy. In thee, therefore, I would terminate all my affections, all my devotions I there is nothing of heaven to be had on earth but in thy favour, image, and love, and the reviving sense of it. And all the heaven I expect hereafter, is in the more full and immediate commanications of these in thy blessed presence. I can desire nothing upon earth, I can enjoy nothing in heaven, but thee! Both here and there thou art, and shalt ever be, my all-sufficient, satisfactory portion, my everlasting all! none else can be the portion of my soul. Nothing else can fill up all its wants, answer all its cravings, be suited to all its capacities, appease and charm all its restless motions, and givie complacence to all its desires, and be the proper object of all its affections.

What is there else can justly claim my love, or pretend to my supreme affection, in comparison with God! Thou art alone the proper centre of it. Thine infinite and incomparable excellences (.who art love itself) deserve my choicest love, and thy numberless mercies and benefits challenge it as a just debt; as a piece of homage due from all, and of special gratitude also from me. Oh, that I could love thee above all things I who alone art worthy of ail my lov€! O that divine love might be the ruling principle within me, to inspire all my thoughts, to regulate all my desires, to set all the powers of my soul at work? O that it might take the full possession of my heart, and so animate and order all my actions to please him, whom my soul loveth! If, as yet, I cannot say with thine Apostle, ^’ Lord! thou, that knowest all things, knowest that I love thee:” yet, I can say. Lord t thou knowest that I would love thee I Thou hast provided for our happiness, by that first and great command of loving thee with all our hearts, and souls, and strength. But, alas! how backward is my sluggish, carnal hearty to this ddigbtful exercise! Tlou Wva.-^^ so oft been told, that ‘* God is love,’’ and that “he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in ’ him,” O shed abroad thy love into my soul that I may feel the vital power and influence of it, and Ii?e continually in the love of God, and that nothing may ever be able to separate me from it.

Whom have I in heaven, or earth, to hope in but thee? I expect more from creatures than they ean or will perform; but God can do for me more abundantly than I can ask or think; exceed my largest thoughts, outstrip my highest expectations.’ And no man was ever disappointed who made thee his hope. When I meet with crosses and wrongs, unfaithfulness, contempt, hatred, and persecution, from men, I need not wonder; I was never told by God it would be otherwise here. Did I look for less from creatures and expect more from God; did I reckon this world to be a state of trial, and not a place of rest and satisfaction; my faith and my desires would be stronger with respect to God and heaven; and temporal calamities and disappointments less afflictive and vexatious.

And what is there, O Lord! in heaven, or in earth, my soul can desire besides thee? Is there any thing desirable but as it is thine, of thee, and from thee? and bears some impression of thine excellence, or brings some intimation of thy love? and what can I reasonably desire; what, that is worth desiring or having, but thou art able to be, and do, and give?

In whom, or what, shall I rejoice but in thee, O Lord? shall I solace myself in transitory goods that slip between my fingers, and perish in the uaing!

or relish carnal joys, which pollute and debase the soul! when I may and ought to rejoice in thee at all times, as the only source of perfect everlasting joy! Let roe then stir up my drooping, desponding, unbelieving heart, to rejoice in God; who takes pleasure in the cheerful service and obedience of his children, who delighteth in those who delight in him. Is not delighting in God a most essential, vital part of religion? Should it not be my constant frame? Hath not God sufficiently provided, that it may be so? Can I say and believe that God is the portion of my soul; that he is my God, and I hope to live with him for ever, and not rejoice? Or can I consider the grace of the new covenant, the matchless love of Christ, and the precious promises of the gospel, and not see reason to rejoice? Yea, doth my soul love God and endeavour to please him; and is not the very act and exercise of holy love mixed with unspeakable sweetness?

Whom is there, in heaven, or in earth, or in hell, that I ought to fear, but thee? who hast a negative voice in all the designs of men and devils; a hook in their nostrils, a bridle in their mouths, to make them fulfil thy pleasure, and in every thing accomplish thy sovereign decree.

Is there any other, in whom I may repose my trust, but in thee, O Lord? the Rock of Ages! the might of thy power, the unsearchableness of thy wisdom, the righteousness of thy nature, the stability of thy truth, the riches of thy grace, and the immutability of thy promises, are a sure foundation for my soul to trust to and rely upon. Thy word stands £rm for ever, and the truth of thme a>VV^ ^A

f3 readiness to help, in every time of need, “endures the same throughout all generations.” At all times, and in all places, my soul may trust in thee, and find relief. And they who know thy name will do so; for, ^Mn the Lord Jehovah is everlasting kindness and strength,” to answer all my doubts, to supply all my wants, and fulfil all my desires, may not God take it unkindly, that I trust him no more? And is it not a criminal unkindness that I give him not the glory of all these excellent attributes, which are the grounds of truth; by a constant, steady, entire dependence on him for all that I need?

I have none in heaven but thee, O Lord I as the object of my invocation and worship. Let other Christians have recourse to new mediators, and call upon other gods; I will make mention of thy name and of thy righteousness only, and ask of thee whatever I need, for the sake of thy Clnist, my only adorable Mediator. Him thou hearest always; with him thou art always well pleased. I honour the holy angels as glorious attendants about thy throne, ainl bless thee for them, as ministering spirits for the good of thy servants; but I dare not invoke or worship them, because they are fellow-servants. On the same account, I honour the memory of departed saints, but neither invoke them nor pay them religious worship. That glory thou wilt not give unto another. I have no precept in Holy Scripture to direct, no promise to encourage, no example to authorise, the invocation of any other but thee; in whom I believe and trust.

Having such a God in heaven, what can I need on earth? His eyes behold me, his wing is over me, his hand can supply me, his grace provide for me. I CBD want nothing that is good, unless I should need somewhat which God, the infinitely blessed and all-sufficient God, cannot bestow. If thou be the portion of my sool, all mine enemies cannot make-;me miserable, unless they can void heaven of tlf presence of God, hinder bis c&re, bind up his band, or obstruct his love. But, though my enemies cannot, I fear my sins may. They alone can separate between God and my soul; and, considering the multitude and aggravations of them, and thine unspotted holiness and justice, I should have too much reason to fear and tremble, yea, and utterly despair, if I had none in heaven but thee. But thy word assures me that I have a Mediator there; a faithful and a compassionate High-priest, Jesus Christ, the righteous; whom thou hast exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins. Who liveth for .ever in heaven, to make intercession, till he hath brought me there, to behold his glory, and partake of it.

That glory, O Lord! thou hast reserved for heaven; in this world we only desire, believe, and hope to enjoy it. Whom have I in heaven I that is the place of fruition. What can I desire upon earth? this world is the place of desires, as the other of full enjoyment. Most of that which men call enjoyment in this life, consists but in desire. Desire, “or lust, is all that is in this wicked world. The riches of a covetous worldling make him desire more; and the great mystery of intemperance is, to create and increase desires,- and desires of another kind are the portion of good men in this vtoiV^

Oh! that I could breathe after a state of p

fruition in heaven with more importunate dei

Who will give me to be in heaven with thee

earth I desire nothing.” (So one version ha

Let roe, O my soul! think of heaven as such a

or state of blessed enjoyment! Speak of it, s(

long for it, prepare for it, as such. And let

Christ, “who is the desire of all nations,” (th

whom all divine communications are made to

sinners,) be the great object of my present

and love! Let me desire nothing but as ii

and for him; that, believing his word, obeyir

law, adoring his person, imitating his example,

ing his promise, constrained by his love, partal

his image, filled with his grace, and comforted

Spirit, my meditations of him may be sweet<

my love stronger; and ‘I may have nothing

left to desire for myself, but that God, wh(

raised and exalted, would keep alive my fail

hope, and holy desires, till he hath made me i

be with him; and, after having guided me

grace, and Spirit, and counsels here on earth,

receive me to his most blessed and glorious pi

in heaven! Amen amen