September 12

Let me learn, then, to improve the works of creation to pious purposes, and make nature a handmaid to grace.

And let me be thankful for the harvest with which we have so recently been favored. He has again "prepared of his goodness for the poor." All, indeed, are concerned. "The king is served by the labor of the field." But kings have many ways of living that poor people have not. We do not think of palaces or mansions, so much as of the dwellings of the poor, when we view the waving fields. He has not only given us plenty, but afforded us the appointed weeks of harvest. "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness."

Yet man liveth not by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Let me therefore labor not for the meat that perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life. All spiritual blessings in heavenly places are provided and presented. Yet the season for securing them is limited, short, and uncertain. Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. And how many, in consequence of neglect, have exclaimed, at a dying hour, THE HARVEST IS PAST, THE SUMMER IS ENDED, AND WE ARE NOT SAVED!

"Yea, he loved the people." Decr. 33:3.

THERE can be no doubt of the truth of this assertion with regard to Israel. They were often reminded of it, and they were as often told why he set his love upon them. The reason was, not their greatness, for they were the fewest of all people, nor their goodness, for they were a stiff-necked people, but because the Lord had a favor towards them. Hence he chose them, and redeemed them, and provided for them, and distinguished them by miracles and privileges. "To them pertained the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises." "He dealt not so with any land."

But has he less appeared to thee, O Christian, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love, and with loving-kindness have I drawn thee? Here is the source of your salvation. However wide, and however far it flows, here the river rises; and take what stream of it you please, it will lead you up to this spring-head, the free and undeserved favor of God. "Yea, he loved the people."

But his love to his people, so to speak, is of three kinds.

A love of benevolence. This consists in wishing and designing them good.

A love of beneficence. This consists in doing them good. It appears in a thousand instances. The principal one of all is his remembering them in their low estate, and sending his only begotten Son into the world, that they might live through him. Herein, therefore, says the apostle John, is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. It was necessary to find a way in which his goodness could reach us, consistently with his nature as a holy being, his claims as a lawgiver, and his honor as a governor. And this medium of our salvation does not therefore detract from the author of it; for if he required a sacrifice, he furnished one, and it was the Lamb of God. And therefore the apostle says, being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.

A love of complacency. The love of benevolence, and the love of beneficence, regarded them as unworthy and as miserable; but the love of complacency regards them as new creatures. He cannot take pleasure in them while they are destitute of his image, and enemies to him by wicked works. What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness, and what communion hath light with darkness? But he prepares them for his delighting in them, and holding intercourse with them. He saves them by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. Then he takes pleasure in them, for they fear him, and hope in his mercy. Does a man take pleasure in his inheritance? In the wife of his bosom? In the children of his affection? In the work of his hands? They are all this, and more than all, to the God of all grace. He puts their tears into his bottle. Are they not in his book? Their prayer is his delight. Their alms are the odor of a sweet smell. He corresponds with them, visits them, takes up his abode with them. He rejoices over them with joy; he rests in his love; he joys over them with singing.

What can I wish for more? Suppose men reproach? Since I have been precious in thy sight, I have been honorable, and thou hast loved me. Let them curse, but bless thou. One smile of thine is better than life, and will more than balance a universe of frowns.

Let my portion and the portion of mine be, "The good will of him that dwelt in the bush."