April 26

within proper bounds, is a lawful use; the latter is a pious one. In the first, the creature only appears; in the second, the Christian is seen. Some live to eat and drink: some eat and drink to live. The former are the disgrace; the latter are the glory of human kind. Even in common things the partakers of divine grace are a peculiar people—Their motive distinguishes them. This turns a natural action into a spiritual duty. This also enlarges the province of their religion to the extent of all their concerns; keeps them waiting upon God all the day long; and enables them, whether they eat, or drink, or whatever they do, to do all to the glory of God.

APRIL 26.—"Willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."—2 Corinthians 5:8.

IT seems impossible to read these words, and not admit that Paul and his companions believed three things—That they were complex beings, and had spirits which could be present with the Lord when absent from the body—That there was an intermediate state between death and the resurrection, so that as soon as they were absent from the body they were present with the Lord—And that their being present with the Lord was the completion of their happiness and their hope.

Hence their wish. It was not an absolute desire, but a preference. Their state here under the influence of divine grace admitted of comfort, and demanded gratitude. But to depart to be with Christ was far better. They were therefore "willing rather to be absent from the body, and present with the Lord."

This seems to have been very much in the beginning of the Gospel a common experience. Hence we read of looking for that blessed hope; waiting for his Son from heaven; loving his appearing; hastening unto the coming of the day of God; and crying, Amen; even so, come Lord Jesus. Those also who were called by divine grace at the reformation in Germany, and at the revival of evangelical religion, in our own country, seemed familiar with death; were not shocked to be reminded of their age and infirmities; and loved to talk with each other of going home.

Yet all, yea, many cannot receive this saying. Even the subjects of redemption are said to be, through fear of death, all their lifetime not actually in bondage, but subject to it. The desire of death cannot be natural; nature must abhor its own dissolution. Yet what is impossible to nature is possible to grace. We commonly find more of this willingness to leave the world among the poor and afflicted of the Saviour's followers: they have much to wean as well as to draw: their consolations correspond with their sufferings; and the Lord is found a very present help in trouble. When the love of life can subserve no important purpose, it declines; and the fear of death commonly diminishes as the event approaches. Thousands who often trembled before, have at last been joyful in glory, and shouted aloud upon their beds. Clouds and darkness have obscured their day, but at even-tide it has been light.

All believers have cause enough, if they knew it, to make them long for their removal. For to die is gain, unspeakable and ever-Vol. I. 20

lasting gain. They then exchange faith for sight; and hope for possession; and that which is in part for that which is perfect.

And the apprehension of many of the Lord's people regards the manner of their departure rather than the effect. The parting scene; the pains, the groans, the dying strife; the separation of soul and body, and the consignment of the flesh to corruption and worms; all this leads them to say, with good Dr. Conyers, I am not afraid of death, but of dying.

And indeed all real Christians must long for the consequences; in being fully like their Saviour; and able to serve him; and to enjoy him completely. But they resemble the man whose beloved family is abroad. He would rather therefore be there than here—But while he feels the attraction, he shudders at the sea and the sickness. Watts represents the believer as loving the Canaan beyond, but dreading the Jordan between.

Well, if you really love the heaven of the Christian, that is, a heaven derived from being present with the Lord; fear not, but thank God and take courage. Either will you have, like the Israelites, a dry-shod march across the river; or if, like Bunyan's pilgrims, you wade through, your feet shall feel the bottom, and your eyes shall see the shining ones ready to receive you on shore. Your passage will be safe and short; and the issue an abundant entrance into the joy of your Lord.

"'Tis pleasant to believe his grace, But we would rather see; We would be absent from the flesh, And present, Lord, with thee."

APRIL 27.—"The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine."—I Sam. xvii. 37.

THESE are the words of David when he would justify himself from presumption in fighting with Goliath, who was defying the armies of the living God. It is observable that he acknowledges the Lord to be his deliverer. He delivered me; he will deliver me. "Salvation belongeth unto the Lord." To him it belongeth supremely, and in a sense only. For though we have many deliverers, they only deliver us instrumentally. The means he employs often conceal his agency, but they should lead us to it: for instrumentality implies and requires agency. Adaptation is not efficiency. However suited a pen is to write, it is nothing without a hand to use it—Hence the question, "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?" In a state of nature men are a kind of atheists: whatever be their speculative belief, they are practically without God in the world; God is not in all their thoughts. In conversion they are awakened from this dreadful insensibility and indifference; and are led to inquire after God; And they not only seek him, but find him; and not only find him, but hold communion with him; and hold communion with him, not only in his word but in his works, not only in his ordinances, but in his dispensations. They connect him with the events of life, and this gives them a sacred importance. They connect him with their trials, and this softens them.