February 27

what the Church resolves to do when she exclaims. "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridgeroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."

Let us make his reasoning our own; and derive, as he did, confidence from experience—"Because thou hast been my help, therefore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice." It is needless to observe how frequently this mode of arguing and acting is exemplified in the Scriptures. And what can more naturally tend to encourage us in the Lord our God than the proofs we have had of his power, faithfulness, mercy, and grace? The fisherman is the more inclined to repair to the place where he has been successful. The beggar feels no excitement to revisit the door where he was insulted or repulsed; but he hastens to the house where he has always met with kindness and relief. He may indeed feel some hesitation arising from the thought that he has frequently been there before. But the oftener we come, the more welcome we are. The beggar too, when after an absence he applies again, may find a change in the benefactor as to his disposition, or even his ability. But the Lord changeth not. What he has been, he is, and will be for ever. His hand is not shortened that it cannot save, nor his ear heavy that it cannot hear. And one of the designs of God in his kindness towards us is, not only by his benefits to relieve our present wants, but to excite our future applications and embolden our future hope.

If we have never addressed God, we are authorized to do it; but our encouragement in our first approach must be derived only from faith. But some have believed, and have now the witness in themselves. They have made the trial. They go to a known God—And they that know his Name will put their trust in him. Nothing is more becoming a Christian than a lively cheerful confidence. And in order to maintain and increase it, we shall do well to consider not only God's word, but his works; and to remember the years of the right hand of the Most High. "For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?"

FEBRUARY 27.—"Behold, we count them happy which endure."—James 5:11.

THIS seems a strange judgment; and we may ask, Who are they that draw such a conclusion?

There is a sense in which men in general make this estimate. They commonly admire those that suffer well; and are struck with instances of prudence in difficulties, and magnanimity in dangers; calmness in a storm, and firmness under an operation. There is a tameness in the character of one who has always sat in the lap of ease and indulgence. The most striking and interesting materials for biography are derived from those sudden changes and painful occurrences which tried, discovered, and improved the sufferers who had to encounter them.

Yea, men, even natural men, have often admired those who have endured for the sake of religion. For it has been the strange lot of

many of God's people to be hated and persecuted while living, and to be praised and extolled when dead. Thus the Scribes and Pharisees painted and garnished the tombs of the prophets their forefathers had slain, at the very time they wished to crucify the only begotten Son of God. And thus many now talk highly of the noble army of martyrs, who revile some of their fellow-creatures for displaying a little of the same spirit by which they were actuated. Deceased saints are beyond our envy. They are no longer seen or heard. They no longer reproach us by their conversation and temper; no longer incommode us by disturbing us when we wish to sleep, or by flashing upon us truths of which we are willingly ignorant.

We should therefore inquire, not what we think of dead saints, but how we feel towards living ones. These are scoffed at by many: are they with us more excellent than their neighbours? Is all our delight in them? Are they our brethren and companions? "Every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him."

The Apostle however attests here, not the judgment of men, but of believers. These differ widely from each other in their sentiments with regard to a thousand subjects—especially misery and happiness. Men call the proud happy; but God resisteth the proud. Men bless the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth. Men are afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; but God tells us a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things that he possesseth. And faith confers not with flesh and blood: it does not estimate things by time but eternity; it does not view them through the reports of sense, but through the decisions of unerring wisdom; and echoes back the testimony of God: "Blessed are the poor in spirit—Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness—Blessed are they that mourn—If ye suffer for the sake of Christ, happy are ye."

When we believe the principle from which their afflictions are sent; the designs they are to accomplish; the evils they prevent; the peaceable fruits of righteousness they yield; the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory they work out; and even the supports and consolations enjoyed under them: we shall feel little difficulty in the decision—"Happy is the man," not who escapes the rod, but "whom the Lord correcteth." Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Lord. Nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.

FEBRUARY 28.—"Ye have heard of the patience of Job."—James 5:11.

THERE was therefore really such a man to be heard of; and the book that bears his name is therefore not a parabolical representation, but a true history. Ezekiel mentions him more than once, with Noah and Daniel. They were real characters; and would Job have been specified with them had he been a fictitious one? Noah and Daniel, and a metaphor! James also associates him as an example with the prophets, who were not imaginary, but real beings.

But how came we to hear of this man at all, seeing he lived more than two thousand miles off, and more than four thousand years ago?