13. The true Believer understands that God alone is the chief good

EXHORTATION.

"Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever."— Ps. lxxiii. 25, 26. Men in every age have desired and sought after what they supposed to be the highest good; but they have nearly all failed in this, that they did not understand what really is the chief good. It must be something that is eternal and exhaustless, and that will be able to elevate and comfort us in suffering and in death, in fortune and misfortune. 1. Accordingly the chief good is not riches, which many have considered, and still consider the chief good, for they desert us in death.

2. Nor does the chief good consist in worldly honor and applause, for how often do the righteous fall into contempt and disgrace; fortune gives place to misery and wretchedness. 3. Wisdom and skill have this advantage beyond all other worldly gifts, that they cannot be taken from us, yet they vanish in death.

4. Wherefore the true believer seeks a true per-

THAT GOD ALONE IS THE CHIEF GOOD.

petual good, which is God alone; if God be our portion, then we possess the greatest honor, the chief riches, and the highest wisdom for time and eternity. God cheers the believer in prosperity, comforts him in sickness and affliction, refreshes him in death, and remains united with him in eternity. 5. This good is to be attained by prayers, hearing God's Word, meditating upon it, and the assistance of the Holy Ghost.

6. We must beware against thrusting God out of our hearts again, and making a chief good of the love of the world, vanity and sinful pleasures.

O thou eternal God! how rich, great and glorious art thou! He that has thee possesses all that is great, good, wise and excellent—he has all things. O thou God, so rich in mercies, how glorious art thou, how perfect! O engrave this truth deeply upon my heart, that I may seek thee alone, and find thee; preserve me from the folly of the world's people, who fondly think that in having great honor in this world, or riches, or pleasure, or glory, that they had attained the chief good? Fools! Fools! these forsake them in death! follow them not into eternity, comfort not their last hour! They pass into eternity naked and comfortless, withTHE TRUE BELIEVER UNDERSTANDS out God. Therefore give, that I may well distinguish the true chief good from the transient and fleeting one. O thou triune God! thou art alone my chief, dearest, true, and most precious good; thou wilt give thyself to me, wilt unite thyself with me, then unite thyself with me in time and in eternity. While all earthly things are obnoxious to foes, to moths and rust, while a mishap may destroy them, my God, as my highest good, is mine forever, with him I go out, with him I enter in, him I take with me when I travel, with him I lie down to rest, yea, with him I shall once attain a glad eternity. Therefore, O my God, when I possess thee, I care not for heaven or earth; when I have thee, I have eternal life. O do thou dwell in me, stay with me for ever. Then I shall have a help in time of need, a supporter in trials and afflictions, riches in poverty, comfort in sickness, and the sweetest of refreshment in the final hour. Then, when the children of the world are deserted by their fancied good, my God will not forsake me. Amen. 1. Every joy and every pleasure

In the thought of God I see;

God is greatness, God is treasure,

Happiness itself is he.

THAT GOD ALONE IS THE CHIEF GOOD

Therefore let the world be shattered,

Let the thunderbolts be scattered,

While the Highest sides with me

I am still from terror free.

2. Since his wrath no more pursues me

I have rest and peace in him.

While so fondly Jesus woes me,

Nothing can my gladness dim.

I can die without distortion,

Knowing joy will be my portion,

Joy while here on earth I live,

Joy which heaven alone can give.

3. His embrace allays the galling

Of the world's fierce agony;

Like the pigeon at the falling

Of the night to him I fly.

Rest at evening, rest at morrow,

Rest in trouble, rest in sorrow,

Rest in hunger, rest in dearth,

Rest in silence, rest in earth.

4. God, from ample stores and lavish

Pours profusion all around;

Pleasures that the soul might ravish.

Peace and solace here abound.

Even in this vale of trial

All may come without denial;

How delicious must it be,

Where he smiles eternally!

MORNING PRAYER FOR FRIDAY.