July 31

All that relieves our spiritual wants and supports our eternal hope has reached us, and continues to delight us by means of what holy men wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost—

"Our nation reads his written word, That book of life, that sure record: The bright inheritance of heaven Is by the sweet conveyance given."

It is probable that from this time Moses began to keep a journal of striking and useful occurrences. Great men have frequently done the same for intellectual; and good men for religious purposes. Diaries were formerly much more common among pious people than they now are. This is to be lamented; for though their frequent publication was unnecessary, and their minuteness often rendered them exceptionable, they served to promote self-attention and acquaintance; and recorded events and circumstances with the impressions they produced at the time, which could not be reviewed without some utility. Whatever may be said of the particular mode, the thing itself is of importance. If we are to be affected with past transactions, and views, and feelings, they must be in some way secured and retained: when buried in forgetfulness they can have no influence to reprove or encourage, to excite gratitude or to increase confidence. And as, like the Jews, we are liable, and alas! prone to forget the works of the Lord and the wonders which he has shown us, we should write them, if not as Moses was enjoined to do, in a book, yet in the fleshly tables of our hearts. "O my people," says God, "remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord." And when his disciples seemed ready to despond because they had only one loaf on board, our Lord said to them, "Remember ye not the miracle the five barley loaves and the two small fishes, and how many of baskets full of fragments ye took up?" "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."

A reason is assigned for the recording and rehearsing of this transaction in a dreadful menace: "For I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." So highly did God resent the injury intended against his people. So dear are they to him, and so truly are they one with him, that he who toucheth them toucheth the apple of his eye. Let those who oppose them tremble—"I will curse him that curseth thee."

The threatening was executed partially by Saul; but fully by David, after whose time we read no more of the Amalekites as a people. For some stragglers of course escaped and survived, and were to be met with in various countries. Haman, whose mortified ambition led him to contrive the destruction of the Jews, was one of this detested and exterminated nation.

The Scripture cannot be broken. Whatever improbabilities appear, whatever difficulties stand in the way, whatever delays intervene, God's counsels of old are faithfulness and truth; and heaven and earth shall pass away sooner than one jot or tittle of his word shall fail. This applies to the destruction of the wicked, as well as to the salvation of the righteous. And it applies not only to nations, but to individuals. Behold a signal instance. "And