There is none like the God of Jeshurun, &c. In these last words of Moses, we have the glory of God set forth. The whole universe God hath made for his own use, to be the chariot for him to ride in, as is represented in Ezekiel's vision. In this chariot God's seat or throne is heaven. This visible universe, subject to such continual changes and revolutions, we may compare to the wheels of his chariot. God's providence is represented by the motion of the wheels; he brings to pass his own counsels in the lower world, and manages and directs all, as a man doth his chariot which he turns as it pleaseth him. How safe then must they be who are under the wing of the God of Jeshurun; who find him reconciled to them by the death of his Son; and feel themselves reconciled to him by the power of his grace. "He rideth on the heavens for their help." Verily, he it is that giveth strength and victory to his people, blessed be God. Reader, is the God of Jeshurun, the God of Israel, thy God? Is he who rideth on the heavens thy help? Does thine heart trust in him alone, and his grace subdue thine outward iniquities, and thine inbred corruptions? Is he who rideth on the sky thine excellence? If the Lord is not thy help, alas, thou wilt prove a ruined soul. If the Lord is not thy excellence, thou art still a stranger unto God and CHRIST. Awake, arise, and call upon God; his ear is open unto prayer, and thou art yet on mercy's ground. O call upon him speedily, and cry unto him earnestly, that thou perish not. May Christ, who ruleth in the sky, My soul defend, my wants supply, Heb. Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have. xiii. 5. For they that will be rich, fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition; for the love of money is the root of all evil, &c. 1 Tim. vi. 9, 10. A COVETOUS man is called an idolator, and has no part in the kingdom of God; but who believes that he is covetous? Now, here you see that every one is actually covetous who is not content with what he has. And what says the apostle of such as will be rich? They fall. Not only may they fall, but they actually do fall, nor can the fall be avoided, if men are determined they will be rich. O reader, be thou frightened; get the covetous desires of thy heart subdued, and keep disentangled from worldly things; for who knows how soon you must go out of this world, and leave everything behind? Away from it with thy heart, else thy death will be very hard. The Christian's motto is, God and enough; for he that has God is content; and consequently always rich enough, even in poverty; and that must be a covetous man indeed, who has not enough, having God! O Lord, make me so free by faith from the love of earthly things, that I may equally praise thee, whether thou be pleased to give me something, or to take it away from me! and that I may never covetously refuse that to others or to myself, which thou hast given for my own and my neighbour's comfort. The rich young man whom Jesus loved, His love of earthly treasures proved The soul of the diligent shall be made fat. Prov. xiii. 4. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. Rom. viii. 12. You are concerned for having no more grace! What is the reason? Perhaps you are indolent, careless, and unfaithful. And though you have no warrant even for an hour to live, yet unreasonably you suppose you have time enough; therefore you are not serious, diligent, and fervent in prayer, for sufficient strength to be always prepared, and have boldness in death. No wonder, if you do not immediately resist sin, that it grows strong, and you always are weak and discouraged. And how can you expect to receive more grace, if you do not faithfully improve what little you. have? If you would but diligently and faithfully apply yourself to the word and prayer, God would certainly not be wanting on his part to fulfil his promises, and give you enough; but not otherwise; for it is well to be observed, that we must know it once for all, that there is no such thing as making any progress in grace, and carrying our point, unless we are mindful, of ourselves; watching and praying against all sins, and whatever may be an hinderance, on the one hand; and following with all diligence that which is good, and what may be a furtherance, on the other. It is not enough to use some, but we must use all diligence; and according as our grace is increased, our diligence must increase also, since it goes against the stream. Well to resist the sinful power In lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Phil. ii. 3. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ; for if a man think himself to be something, &c. But let every man prove his own work, and then he shall have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. Gal. vi. 2-4. If we were truly humble, and looked upon ourselves as most miserable sinners, we should willingly submit to all adversities, and patiently bear the burdens and infirmities, considering that God has borne with us a great deal more. Observing, therefore, the faults of our neighbour, we must not forget our own. Perhaps in other things we are weaker than he. This will restrain us from judging harshly, or speaking unadvisedly to others; but first, we should speak to God about it, and then try with gentle means to bring them to rights again. Nay, the best method is to consider our neighbour on the good, and ourselves on the bad side; and to see whether we can excuse him and accuse ourselves, and if his fault could not be excused in any manner, we must not suffer him to stir up our corruption, but come in with prayer between God and him, to plead his cause before the throne in hearty love. It is very easy to find fault with others; but to shew love, and restore them by prayer and brotherly correction, is quite another thing. Bless'd are the souls who stand afar From rage and passion, noise and war; Though in the path of death they tread, The eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thy hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; he also will hear their cry, and will save them. Ps. xliv. 15, 16, 19. See also Ps. civ. 27, 28. WHO Considers these words enough! The hand of God being my chief provision and store-house, is it not a shame to be anxiously careful for anything? Has the Lord all things in his hand? then surely I shall receive what he has for me; none will be able to withhold it. Faith has always a free access to the treasures of God, who is never wanting. Christians have their chests and treasures in such a high place, even in God, that no thief can rob them, and they are sure to have enough in God; and though the Lord should try them with want a little while, yet he relieves them in due time; their bread must rain from heaven, rather than they should be left without. You need not, says CHRIST, seek these other things, they shall be brought to you if ye only abide in me. If this does not comfort and strengthen us, nothing else will. Now, many rely on their full pockets and purses; but if they had true faith, it would be enough that they believed and had it in God's hand, purse, and chest. If the Lord is pleased to bestow some provision on his servant, he is very thankful for it, and is careful to apply it well. But if God thinks proper to deny it him, he is content, and cheerful. The Lord is good, the Lord is kind; |