March 27

willingness to stay if there was any thing more for him to do or suffer!

"Behold the awful portrait, and admire. Nor stop at wonder. Imitate and live."

MARCH 27.—"Am I in God's stead?"—Genesis 30:2.

WHAT Jacob here says to Rachel, every creature to which we address ourselves will sooner or later say to us: "Am I in God's stead?" The doctrine we may derive from the words is this, NO CREATURE CAN BE IN THE STEAD OF GOD. But let us explain the doctrine by some distinctions and concessions.

Though no creature can be in the stead of God, God can be in the stead of any creature. David therefore at Ziklag, when deprived of all his substance and his relations, "encouraged himself in the Lord his God." And the Church exclaims, "Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vine; 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."

The sun may enable a man to dispense with a lamp, but the lamp cannot supersede the sun. The fountain is necessary to the stream, but not the stream to the fountain.

Though no creature can be in the stead of God to us, one creature may be in the stead of another creature. A minister may more than fill the void made by the removal of his predecessor, and may possess a double portion of his spirit. A child may be deprived of a father, and some kind patron may take him up, and educate him, and place him abroad in life, and fully repair his loss. A husband may seem inconsolable when deprived of the desire of his eyes; but soon after, another soft hand may wipe away his tears. One relation seems much more irreparable; it is that of a mother. Yet we ought not to indulge in general and indiscriminate reflections. There are mothers-in-law who are mothers in kindness; and step-mothers—that is—those who step into the place of real mothers, who fulfil the duties of the office, and are mothers indeed—and such can never be too much commended and praised.

Though no creature can be in God's stead, a creature may be in God's hand. He may be God's instrument, but cannot be his substitute. The instrumentality that God employs differs much from the instrumentality which men employ. Men employ instruments from necessity, God employs them from choice. Men employ them from weakness, God employs them from wisdom. Men depend upon their instruments, God's instruments depend upon him. They are no more than he is pleased to make them. How then can they fill his place? They are nothing without his agency. "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase."

The truth of this doctrine it would be easy to exemplify. Can any be in God's stead as a creator? This is Jacob's immediate aim in his reply—am I in God's stead, who hath withholden from thee

the fruit of the womb? He is the sole author of existence; the former of our bodies; the father of our spirits; and by this he has an infinite distinction from all creatures—they are made, and he is the maker. Who can be in God's stead as a preserver? It is in him alone we live and move, as well as have our being. If preservation be not a continued creation, it is a continued agency. Were he to suspend his upholding influence for a moment, we should relapse into nothing. Can any be in God's stead as a redeemer? Who but he could say, deliver from going down into the pit, I have found a ransom. He alone who required the sacrifice, could provide the lamb for a burnt-offering. He made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. "Beside me there is no Saviour." Who can be in God's stead as a teacher? "Who teaches like him?" We are not only in darkness but blind—Who but he can give us eyes as well as light? We are not only ignorant but weak—Who but he can give us capacity as well as lessons? Who but he can bear with our infirmities? Who but he can make us wise unto salvation? Who can be in his stead as a sanctifier? Who but he can create in us a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within us? "This people," says he, "have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise." Who can be in his stead as a comforter? Who can be a substitute for him in healing the broken in heart, and binding up all their wounds? Who can revive those who walk in the midst of trouble? Who can fill the valley of the shadow of death with joy unspeakable and full of glory?

Let us think of this fact, and be thankful that this only, this all-sufficient Being is accessible; and allows and commands us to "take hold of his strength." Let us think of it in reference to creatures—Let us think of it in asking for them. They may appear desirable; they may be useful; but let us never suppose that we must obtain them in order to happiness. One thing only is needful; it is an interest in God. Let us think of it in possessing them, and say with Watts,

"To thee we owe our health and friends, Our wealth and safe abode; Thanks to thy name for meaner things, But they are not my God."

Let us think of it in losing them. We are allowed to feel but not to despair. Yet what idolaters are we! and it appears when our gods are taken away. Oh! if I should lose such a preacher! Oh! if that beloved connexion was removed—mine eye would no more see good. But the storm that carries away the stubble, does not destroy the estate. It was not a bad question the child addressed to her bereaved and weeping mother when she said, "Is God dead?" How strange would some of our feelings appear if they were expressed in words! The meaning of many a murmur, and many a groan is, I have nothing—but God himself left! Yet what did David think of this? "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever."