June 20

"Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name." Psalms 61:5.

So, then, they that fear God have a heritage. All of them have not a heritage in the world. And they need not be ashamed to own it; they have the honor of conformity to their Lord and Saviour, who had not where to lay his head. And though they have nothing, they yet possess all things: "I know thy poverty; but thou art rich." Indeed, even as to temporal good, they are above others. He blesses their bread and their water; and bread and water, with the favor of God, are dainties. And a little that a righteous man hath, is better than the riches of many wicked. It is not only sweeter, but safer, and will go farther. The grace of God will make a little go a great way. This we have often seen; and we should have been amazed how some individuals, with their very slender means, could make a decent appearance, and pay their way, and have a trifle to give to him that needeth, did we not know that the secret of the Lord was upon their tabernacle. Godliness also, with contentment, is great gain. Contentment is a kind of self-sufficiency. It does not allow us to want what Providence denies. And who, whatever be his affluence, can be more than content? A man is satisfied with much less in a journey than he has at home. Now regeneration makes a man a stranger and a pilgrim upon earth, and then reason as well as faith says to him,

"Turn, pilgrim, turn: thy cares forege;

All earth-born cares are wrong:

Man wants but little here below;

Nor wants that little long."

But as to spiritual good, they may well say, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. For the Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup." His testimonies are their heritage for ever, and they find them the rejoicing of their hearts. All the exceeding great and precious promises are theirs. And theirs is the inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for them. Compared with this, what was the heritage of a Jew in Canaan; of Adam in Paradise? What is the heritage of a crowned worldling; of an angel in glory? Yet this is as true as it is wonderful: "This is the heritage of the servants of God; and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord."

For this heritage is not obtained by force, nor by purchase, nor by desert, but by bounty and grace. It is "given."

And we may know that we possess it. David speaks without any hesitation: "Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name."

O that I could read my title clear! "Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion." I long to be able to praise thee as the health of my countenance, and my God. "Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation." And "show me a token for good."