January 13

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.—Psalms 23:1.

ALTHOUGH God allure us gently to him by his benefits, as it were with the taste of his fatherly sweetness, yet is there nothing to which we are more prone, than by little and little to forget him in time of peace and mirth. Yea rather, prosperity makes many so delirious, that they not only overleap all bounds in their joy, but it also begets insolence, so that they proudly fly in

2 the face of God, and thus scarce the hundredth man keeps himself stayedly in the fear of God, while enjoying his good things. So much the more warily then must we mark this example of David, who, in the highest degree of dignity, in the glory of riches and honor, in the abundance of wealth, and in the midst of princely pleasures, not only testifies that he is mindful of God, but also makes himself ladders of his benefits, whereon to climb up nearer to him. And by this means he not only bridles the wantonness of his flesh, but also spurs himself on more sharply to thankfulness, and to the exercises of godliness; according as it appears by the close of the Psalm, where he says, he will dwell in the house of the Lord all his life long. So also in the eighteenth Psalm, when there was clapping of hands at him on all sides, he shows how his heart was framed to humility by calling himself the servant of God; and at the same time professed his thankfulness, in setting forth his praise. Moreover, under the similitude of a shepherd, he commends God's providence toward him; as if he had said, that God had no less care of him than the shepherd has of the sheep committed to him. Now in that God often in the Scripture assumeth the name, and putteth on the character of a shepherd, it is no slight token of his tender love toward us; for seeing it is a lowly and homely manner of speaking, it must needs be that he is singularly well-affected toward us, that disdains not to stoop so low for our sake. It is a wonder, therefore, that so gentle and familiar an invitation should not allure us to him, to rest safely and quietly under his custody. But it is to be noted, that God is not the shepherd of any other than those who, acknowledging their own weakness and want, feel themselves to have need of his defence; and also who, willingly abiding in his sheepfold, yield themselves to be ruled by him. David, who excelled both in power and wealth, nevertheless confessed himself, willingly, to be a sheep, that he might have God as his shepherd. Which of us, then, will exempt himself from this necessity, who are all of us convinced by our own weakness, to be more than miserable, unless we live under the protection of that shepherd? It behooves us, then, to bear in mind, that the sum of our felicity consists in this; that his hand be stretched out to govern us, that we live under his shadow, and that his providence keep watch for our welfare. Wherefore, although we have abundance of all things, yet must we know that our blessedness comes not elsewhere, than that God vouchsafeth to reckon us in his flock. Besides, then is the office of shepherd attributed with due and rightful honor unto God, when we are persuaded that his providence alone is enough for us. For as they are empty and hungry, even in most abundance, who have not God for their shepherd; so are we well assured that they whom he taketh charge of, shall want nothing to the full abundance of all good things. And therefore David says he is afraid of no want, because God feedeth him.