May 12

of the Word of life. "Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good." It is thus we gain the tongue of the learned, and know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: it is thus we can comfort others with those comforts wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Christians therefore should study their experience. It is one of their best books; and as to some of them it has become now no inconsiderable volume. They should remember how differently things have frequently appeared in prospect, and in review. They should observe how differently they have felt and acted in various periods and conditions of life; especially they should examine what were the workings of their hearts under those afflictive dispensations which are called trials, because intended to be moral probations.

It is natural that Christians should communicate of their experience; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. But here wisdom is profitable to direct. We are not to give that which is holy to the dogs; neither should we cast our pearls before swine. In a general way it will be proper to follow the example of David, who said; "Come unto me, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul"—They alone can understand and relish the communication. And with regard to them, we are not to speak without distinction. We are not to bring forward the deep things of God to those who cannot bear them now. Neither should we dismay the timid and doubting, by displaying before them our confidence and ecstasies. We may talk with some out of the eighth of the Romans, but with others we must quote out of the seventh. It will often be better to talk of divine things at large without referring to our own experience. And we must always remember that we had better never speak of our experience at all, unless it be accompanied with suitable practice: for it is always of the nature of personal evidence, and therefore will only affect the hearers in proportion as they confide in us.

MAY 12.—"Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not."—Psalms 17:5.

RELIGION is principally an intercourse maintained between God and us. And in the thought of it there is something very wonderful and striking. When we consider his greatness and glory, and our vanity and vileness, we are led to exclaim, "Lord, what is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visitest him?" But so it is—And as he visits us, so he allows us to visit him—and while he addresses us we address him. He addresses us in his Word, and we address him in prayer.

How much they lose who are strangers to this duty, this privilege. It is our light in darkness; our solace in affliction; our sanctification in prosperity. We cannot be wise, or happy, or even safe without. Let me observe David's course, and his concern respecting it; and learn to pray as he prayed, "Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not."

First, his course. He speaks of his "goings." Religion does not allow a man to sit still. Under the influence of it he believes, knows, feels, speaks: but all these are vain unless they result in

practice—unless he is, so to speak, set a going—unless he says, with David, “I will walk in thy truth.” To walk is to be active and advancing. It stands for the whole of our conduct: and upon this it is that the Scripture lays such stress, requiring us as we have received Christ Jesus the Lord so to walk in him; and to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called.

He speaks of his goings “in God’s paths.” These are three-fold.—The path of his commands. “O let me not wander from thy commandments.” “Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.” His commands are to be found in his word; and faith in Christ is one of them, and necessary to our obeying all the rest; for “this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ.”—The path of his ordinances. Pious minds alive to the authority of God who has appointed them, and believing the promise that they who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, and feeling their need of spiritual supplies and succour, can never neglect the means of grace. They will value retirement for reading the Scriptures, and meditation, and prayer. They will love the conversation of the godly. As they have opportunity they will repair to the sanctuary, and join in the solemn assemblies in public devotion, and in hearing the word preached, and in surrounding the table of the Lord. Others may indeed occasionally or even frequently attend upon religious institutions, but not as spiritual worshippers who use them as mediums of communion with God, and channels of communication from him.—The path of his dispensations. Nothing in our condition happens by chance. Events are the movements of his providence: and where others disregard them or view them only in connexion with creatures—for God is not in all their thoughts, believers acknowledge him in their connexions, their losses, their gains, their comforts, and their trials. Thus Job said, “The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” And David says, “I will sing of mercy and of judgment; unto thee, O Lord, will I sing.” Such was his course. Observe.

Secondly, his concern respecting it—“Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.” It is the language of conviction. He knew the injury that would result from a fall or even a slip in religion—How it would dishonour God, cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of, harden the wicked, scandalize the weak, distress the strong, injure his own usefulness and peace, and bring upon himself those trials by which his wickedness should correct him, and his backslidings reprove him. It is the language of apprehension. He knew his footsteps were prone to slide. How can a man be ignorant of this, who reflects on the malice and power of his adversary the devil, and the allurements of the world, and the corruption of his nature; and has seen the errors and falls of others far superior to himself? It is well to be sensible of our danger; and it is only grace that can enable us to say—

“Prone to leave the God I love—”

It is the language of weakness. He knew not only his exposure, but his inability to help himself. This a Christian learns not only