March 19

why should I wait for the Lord any longer? Hence "it is a good thing that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord: for the Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him"—

And thus the church is here encouraged: "He is our help; and our shield." He is

Their help. They need aid; and they feel their need; and they increasingly feel it as they advance in their religious course. They do not complain of their duties, or murmur at their trials; but with the knowledge they have of themselves, they often fear whether they shall ever discharge the one, and endure the other, as becomes their profession. And they would not if left to themselves. But they are not left to themselves. They have a divine helper whose resources are infinite. Through his strengthening of them they can do all things; and as it is with their work, so it is with their sufferings—

"He hears them in the mournful hour, And helps them bear the heavy load"

And he is "a very present help in trouble"—easily found—always near them—always within sight—or within call—and while they call he will answer—and say, "Here I am!"

He is also their shield. They are not only weak, but exposed. They are in an enemy's country. Their adversary the devil like a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour. He is yet more dangerous as the serpent; and we read of his depths, wiles, and devices. They are surrounded with the errors and vices, frowns and allurements of a world lying in wickedness: while owing to the remaining corruption of their nature, all their passions, appetites, and senses, may prove inlets to evil. But their defence is of God, who saveth the upright in heart. The Lord is their keeper, and he is able to keep them from falling—Faith can realize this, and preserve the mind in perfect peace, being stayed upon God. "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?"—Thus he is their benefactor as to good, and their preserver as to evil. What can they want more?

And can such an experience be kept to themselves? Impossible—"If these should hold their peace, the stones would cry out." "O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield."

MARCH 19.—"And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."—Revelation 19:16.

THE name is expressive of dignity, greatness, and dominion. A more elevated idea of him could not be given comparatively, than to say he was higher than the highest, and governed those who governed the earth. The title has been worn by princes and popes; but the assumption was always founded in ignorance, pride, and impiety. To Jesus it truly and perfectly belongs. It may be considered two ways. First, as importing the extensiveness of his empire: his kingdom ruleth over all; and there are no beings in the universe

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but are either his subjects or slaves. Secondly, as referring to his connexion with the personages here mentioned: he is, "the King of kings, and the Lord of lords." They are all amenable to his authority, and will be judged at his bar. They are all raised up by his power. They are all controlled by his providence. They all subserve his designs.

But where is the name worn? "Upon his vesture and upon his thigh:" that is, upon the part of the vesture which covered the thigh. His ways are not our ways. This is not the place where we should have looked for his name—the thigh is the place where hangs the sword. It is—and this is the very reason why his name is found there. It reminds us that his kingdom is not of this world: then would his servants fight: but now is his kingdom not from thence. And therefore, says the apostle, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual. He had a sword; and John saw the sword; but it was a sword "going out of his mouth." This intended his word, and showed—not that he does not make war, but by what kind of instrumentality his victories are to be achieved. He meets with opposition both in gaining and maintaining his dominion; and he rules in the midst of his enemies. But how? By the rod of his strength - the gospel of Christ, which is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth. "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

And how was it impressed? It was "written." As the vesture seemed dipped in blood, and appeared as of a deep crimson colour, the letters of the name it is probable were white and glistening. We know not in what language the name was inscribed. It was legible to John. Might it not be like his title on the cross, written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin? However this may be, it was written in order to be read and known. Many individuals pass us of whom we are ignorant. A nobleman may be ascertained by his livery or his arms. But he who has his name written even upon his vesture and upon his thigh must assuredly wish to be read and known of all men. Paul earnestly desired to know him; and esteemed all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord. The reason results from two things—He is of unspeakable importance to the case of fallen man: no one can supply his place in any thing pertaining to our recovery: there is salvation in no other—And we can derive no advantage from him without knowing him. Without knowing him how can we love him? How can we put our trust in him? How can we repair to him for refuge or help? Therefore says God, "by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many." It is true that we are justified only by faith. But "how can they call upon him in whom they have not believed; and how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?"

Hence the expediency, the necessity of making him known. Hence it is said, "I will cause thy name to be remembered in all generations;" and "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the seas." Hence the Scriptures so clearly reveal him; and ministers so constantly cry, "Behold the Lamb of