March 24

When they go in, he shall go in—and they shall see his beauty, and behold his goings: for where two or three are gathered together in his name, there is he in the midst of them. Or do they enter the closet? When they go in he shall go in—and manifest himself unto them. And how often can they say,

"While such a scene of sacred joys Our captured eyes and souls employs; Here we could sit, and gaze away A long, an everlasting day."

But they cannot be always in devotional engagements. They have many other duties to discharge; and must go forth to meet the claims of civil and relative life—But when they go forth he shall go forth; and be with them in the farm, the shop, the road, as well as in the church and the closet. It is true therefore as to the common concerns of life. If in the evening they retire to rest, or in the morning go forth to their work and their labour; if they enter their calling or withdraw; if they begin or finish an enterprise; he is still with them. Hence they are in the fear of the Lord all the day long, and acknowledge him in all their ways, and are safe, sanctified, and happy. "The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; he shall preserve thy soul." "Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out."

It is also true with regard to their sufferings. When they enter these, they often fear they shall sink; but they do not enter alone—"I will," says he, "be with him in trouble." And he comes forth with them, or they would not come forth as gold, or be able to retain the lessons and impressions they received, and to say, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted." Wise Christians feel more need of his presence and grace when they are coming out of a trial, than when they are going into it; though in both they are indispensable.

And is there before them the valley of the shadow of death? It often dismays them. But they need fear no evil, for he is with them. Their friends indeed can attend them only to the entrance of it. But he will go with them into it, accompany them through it, and bring them out into a wealthy place. "When they go in, he shall go in; and when they go forth, he shall go forth"—He hath said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." One place seems an exception. They shall enter Immanuel's land, the rest that remains for his people: but when he goes in with them there, he will not go out. But the reason is because they shall go no more out: but they shall be for ever with the Lord.

MARCH 24.—"But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple."—Psalms 5:7.

LET us make this noble resolution our own; and in order to this let us endeavour to understand it. Observe the singularity of the resolution. "Let others take their course, I have chosen mine. It is good for me to draw near to God. Him will I seek and serve. And though it is desirable to have company in religion, and I wish to bring all my fellow-creatures to walk with me in the way ever-

lasting, their determination will not influence mine—As for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple." Let us not be peculiar in little and lawful things; nor affect singularity for its own sake. This is always the mark of a vain but weak mind: the man wishes for distinction but cannot attain it by excellence, and so has recourse to eccentricity; he cannot excite notice by the goodness of his pace, and so tumbles in the road, or leaps through the hedge. But where truth and duty and conscience are concerned, singularity is a noble virtue; and no one shows such dignity of principle, and pureness of motive, and simple regard to the authority of God, as the man who goes forward according to his conviction, without the company and commendation of others, and especially when reproached and opposed by them. And them that honour me, says God, I will honour.

Mark the object of the resolution. It regards the service of God in the sanctuary. I will come into thine house in the multitude of thy mercy, and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. David was fond of retirement, and was much alone in meditation and prayer. Yet he knew the closet was not to exclude the sanctuary, but to prepare for it; and therefore he could say, I have loved the place where thine honour dwelleth; a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. Though a king, he did not think it beneath his greatness to sanctify the Sabbath, and attend the gates of Zion; yea, he knew he was the more bound to do it, from the eminence of his station, and the influence of his example. Though a man full of employment, who had to give audience to ambassadors, orders to officers, and instructions to ministers; and had to manage the affairs of a large and distracted empire; yet he had time for God's ordinances—for he rose early—and loved order, and such beings have leisure for every thing. Though a genius, a very wise man, a prophet, he did not neglect the institutions of religion, and say, I cannot learn more than I know already. Humility attends profound knowledge. Teach a wise man, and he will yet be wiser. He was a godly man; but under a notion of superior piety, he did not despise the means of grace; like some who say they never had so much communion with God in their lives as they now have; every day now being a Sabbath, every place a temple, every creature a preacher—Believe them not. God knows what is in man, and what is needful to him, and has appointed his ordinances for our welfare: and though a painted man does not want food, a living one cannot dispense with it. A real Christian feels his necessities and deficiencies; and knows by experience where his heart has been enlarged, and his strength renewed. He has found God for a refuge in his palaces. Strength and beauty are in the sanctuary.

The manner in which he would accomplish the resolution is worthy our notice. It includes two things. He would do it impressed with a sense of divine goodness. I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy. How can we reflect and not feel this? The worship itself is a privilege. It is a mercy that we have a sanctuary—It is a mercy that we have liberty to assemble together—It is a mercy that we have health and strength and leisure for divine worship—It is a mercy that we have a disposition to avail