July 13

"standing before the throne," and "falling down before the throne." All is necessary to do justice to the subject. Their standing is a posture of readiness for service; and they serve him day and night in his temple. Their falling down is a posture of self-abasement, reverence, and adoration. But sitting shows distinction and privilege. Sitting in the presence of the king, especially when upon his throne, was limited to great favourites or near relations. "When therefore Bath-sheba went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah, the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother." And the Lord Jesus not only calls his people his friends, but his kindred—"The same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Sitting is refreshment and rest—we sit when we come in from travelling or from toil. And they who die in the Lord "rest from their labours." It is also the posture of festive enjoyment—in allusion to which it is said, "Many shall come from the East and from the West, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven."

We have also their apparel—They were "clothed in white raiment." They had complied with the Saviour's invitation, who had counselled them to buy of him white raiment, that they might be clothed: and we are informed what this was; "the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." This is two-fold. It is their justifying righteousness, of which Paul speaks when he says, "that I may be found in him; not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is of faith." In this righteousness believers are not only absolved, but "exalted." They have more to appear in than Adam in Paradise: his righteousness was finite, theirs is infinite; his was the righteousness of a creature, theirs is "the righteousness of God."—And it is their sanctifying righteousness. We are required to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ," by a participation of his qualities, and an imitation of his example. The Scripture speaks of "the garment of praise;" and of being "clothed with humility." When we read of "keeping our garments," and "not defiling our garments," the reference is to our religious principles, and actions, and habits, which cover, and defend, and distinguish, and adorn the mind, as vestures do the body. And to these John refers when he says, "They have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb:" for the righteousness of Christ needs no cleansing. But their obedience is defective and polluted, and needs a sacrifice to render it acceptable, and grace to render it rewardable.

Finally; we are informed not only of their dress, but of their dignity. Persons may be clothed and not crowned; and they may be crowned, but not with gold!—But these "had on their heads crowns of gold." The glory to which they are advanced is of the highest degree, and of the most durable and valuable quality—"Such honour have all his saints." It shows the amazing goodness of God towards them; for originally they were nothing, and viler than the earth. They were guilty and depraved. But he not only spares them, but forgives them; not only relieves them, but enriches and dignifies them. What a contrast between their lapsed and their restored condition! How low the one, how elevated the other! "He raiseth

up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dung-hill; that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people."

Here is scope and food for ambition—true ambition—commendable ambition. Let us despise the groveling projects and pursuits of men of the world, who have their portion in this life, and, by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory, honour, and immortality.

Oh! says the Christian, the attainment seems incredible—But, unworthy as I am, it is not too great for me to expect—

"There shall I wear a starry crown, And triumph in almighty grace; While all the armies of the skies Join in my glorious Leader's praise."

JULY 14.—"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary."

Psalm lxiii. 1, 2.

"As the man is, so is his strength:" and as the man is, so are his desires. "They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; and they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." Let persons therefore judge of themselves religiously, by their desires; and if the stream does not rise so high as they could wish, let them observe the direction in which it flows. Let them ascertain that their desire is to the Lord, and the remembrance of him; and the promise assures them, "Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."

Natural men live without God in the world. God is not in all their thoughts. If he attempts to enter their alienated mind, he is resisted as an intruder, and they say unto God, Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. But the spiritual delight themselves in the Lord. Their language is, "Where is God my Maker that giveth songs in the night?" "Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee." "It is good for me to draw near to God."

We here see the strength of David's desire after communion with God in the discoveries and operations of his glory and power in his house and ordinances. Stronger terms could not be employed to express it. But two things served to excite and enhance it.

First, his present condition—"My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee, in a dry and thirsty land where no water is." He was now driven out of his country, exiled from his inheritance, and deprived of the songs and services of Zion. And in this condition what does he only or chiefly mourn over? Not the loss of his domestic and civil advantages, but of his religious. "When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that keep holy day." How, says he, I envy the Priests and Levites—"Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, they will be still praising thee." How I envy the companies that journey to Salim, whatever be the weather or the road—"Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them: who passing through the valley of