August 14

"I am thy shield." And he feared the absence of good—and therefore says God, "I am thy exceeding great reward." But what is this to us? Every thing. God is the same in all ages; and they that be of faith are blessed with faithful Abram. They also have their fears. But are they exposed? Do they live in the midst of dangers? Are they conscious of inability to defend themselves? They are not defenceless. Their defence is of God—Their defence is God. He is interposed between them and all evil—"I am thy shield"—a shield too solid for any weapon to penetrate; and so capacious as to leave no valued and endeared interest uncovered. The truth of this fact constitutes their security; but the belief of it creates their confidence: and it should be their concern to realize and apply it by faith; that their souls may dwell at ease; and be in quiet from the fear of evil.

But do they feel not only dangers which require a powerful preserver; but exigencies which call for a munificent benefactor? Let these exigencies be as numerous and as great as they may, their sufficiency is of God—"I am thy exceeding great reward." The language of the Scripture is peculiarly strong. David does not say, the Lord enlightens and defends me; but, the Lord is my light and my salvation. Isaiah does not say, Thy God, thy glorifier; but thy God, thy glory. And the Lord does not say here, I will reward thee, but I am thy reward. The meaning, however, is not so much, I will recompense thee for whatever thou doest for me; as I will supply all thy need: only in a way of condescension he calls these bestowments by a word which would seem to intimate as if we deserved or earned them. But we must not suffer his glory to be injured by his goodness. A creature can never merit any thing from his creator. A sinner only deserves punishment. A Christian will acknowledge that he is not worthy of the least of God's mercies—If a reward be of grace, it is a free benefaction, whatever service it may be connected with. Hence the vastness of the good—not only thy reward, but thy great, thy exceeding great reward; surpassing all example, all representation, all conception. We therefore never need be afraid of the participation of others; for there is enough, and to spare. And we may give full scope to our own desires and hopes. Whatever spiritual wisdom, or strength, or comfort we need, we are commanded to ask and receive, that our joy may be full. In temporal things too, we should remember, that the silver and the gold are his. We should learn, in whatsoever state we are, therewith to be content; assured that if any wish be denied us, it is from wisdom in our generous Friend, and not from a want of love or a deficiency in his resources. Let us honour him, by living on his fulness in the failure of every creature succour. When Paulinus heard of the sacking of Nola by the Goths, and the destruction of all his property, he lifted up his eyes and said, "Thou knowest where my treasure has long been." And what says the Church? "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

Let us think of the full possession and enjoyment of our supreme