July 9

able retreat from the weather and the birds of prey. Our Lord uses this image; and David had also said, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler." What an encouragement is this in times of public and general calamity! Indeed without it we should not be able to live a day in quiet from the fear of evil. The husbandman, when the grain is ripe, gathers the wheat into the barn. The bridegroom is said to go "down into the garden to gather lilies." It is thus the Lord, when they are made meet, removes his saints from the Church below to the Church above, and from earth to heaven, by the hand of death. Thus they are continually gathering one by one to their own people. At length he will send forth his angels, and will gather together his elect from the four winds; and the aggregate will be perfect. To this the Apostle refers, when he says, "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him."

Two things result from hence. First—That sensibility attends genuine religion. The Lord takes away the heart of stone out of our flesh, and gives us a heart of flesh. Secondly—Nothing is more pleasing to God than a feeling, lively, public spirit, that will not allow of our looking on our own things, but also on the things of others, and especially the things that are Jesus Christ's. If we have no concern for the welfare of Zion, we are not living members of the mystical body. If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They shall prosper that love thee."

JULY 9.—"Are the consolations of God small with thee?"—Job xv. II.

THEY are not so in themselves, nor have they been so in the experience of many. Many have found them sufficient to wean their affections from the vanities and dissipations of the world, to set their hearts at rest, and to sustain them under every loss: when they have walked in the midst of trouble these have been able to revive them; and in the multitude of their thoughts within them his comforts have delighted their souls. Nor can they be small in the estimation of any who have tasted that the Lord is gracious. But some know their fuller value from the want, rather than from the possession. They have had indeed relishes of them; but as to habitual enjoyment, the consolations of God are small with them.

But is there not a cause? And should not serious inquiry be made after it? The cause cannot be found in the God of all comfort. We are not straitened in him. All the fulness of God is before us. "Have I been a wilderness to Israel? a land of darkness?" Sometimes the reason is the indulgence of something incompatible with the will of God. This injures our peace and joy, as the worm affected Jonah's gourd: the cause was not so visible, but it was real, and while the refreshful shade was withering over his head, a worm was working at the root. The boughs and leaves were some way off from the mischief, but they felt the influence in every pore, and for want of vital communication could no longer resist the scorching sun. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord

will not hear me. There was an Achan in the camp that troubled Israel; therefore they could not stand before their enemies. Our obedience will be imperfect as long as we remain here, but it must be impartial. We shall rue for any reserve we make: and can only be preserved from shame if we have respect unto all his commandments. When Joab was assaulting Abel, he said to the wise woman, I do not wish to destroy this mother city in Israel; but a man, Sheba by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king—Throw his head over the wall, and the siege shall be instantly raised: and so it was. Let us therefore search, and try our ways, and resolve to act faithfully by the discovery.

"The dearest idol I have known, Whate'er that idol be; Help me to tear it from thy Throne, And worship only thee. So shall my walk be close with God, Calm and serene my frame; So purer light shall mark the road, That leads me to the Lamb."

And be it remembered that the evil we are speaking of may regard not only some sin committed, but some duty neglected. One complainer perhaps holds back that which restitution requires. Another perhaps forgives not his brother his trespasses. A third does not reprove his neighbour, though he sees sin upon him.

Neglect in attending divine ordinances will furnish a reason. When by the Providence of God we are deprived of these, or of the ability to repair to them, we shall find that there is not an essential connection between grace and what we call the means of grace. He will be with us in this trouble, and we shall see his power and glory, so as we have seen him in the sanctuary. But it is otherwise when having the opportunity in our hands we are found absent. We then transgress the command which forbids us to forsake the assembling of ourselves together; we put a slight upon the Lord's own appointment; and show a disregard to his presence and blessing. The hand of the diligent maketh rich: and they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. How much did Thomas lose in being absent from the Apostles when the risen Saviour appeared in the midst of them! How often have we heard persons remark, that when they have been absent from their places, the text or the sermon has touched the very subject they wished to hear; and it is not improbable that something was then lost which might have confirmed or comforted them through life.

Ignorance of their privileges has also its influence. Many labour under great difficulties for want of evangelical instruction; and some who have many advantages are yet very obscure and perplexed in their views of the grounds of their acceptance before God, and of the certainty of their persevering in the divine life; and also of the nature and design of afflictive dispensations. Persons may be safe, and feel little of the glorious liberty of the sons of God; for this depends on knowledge: "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." "Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance, in thy name shall they rejoice all the day, and in thy righteousness they shall be exalted."