February 3

But is this true? Sleep, sound, wholesome, refreshing sleep, has least to do where fortune smiles. His ready visits are paid to the early rising, the temperate, the diligent; the sleep of a laboring man is sweet. "The wretched," indeed, "he forsakes." But where does he find them? Here is one of them, the ruler of one hundred and twenty-seven provinces—on that night could not the king sleep. Ahab, the monarch of Israel, is melancholy and sick, and cannot eat, because he cannot obtain Naboth's little parcel of ground for a garden of herbs, and neither his happiness or health could go on till his worthy helpmate taught him to gratify his wish by the destruction of the noble-minded peasant. How wise was the answer of the Shunamite, when Elisha offered to speak for her to the king: "I dwell among my own people." If we are not content with such things as we have, we shall never be satisfied with such things as we desire. If there is a difference in outward conditions, it lies against those who fill the higher ones. Their want of occupation—the listlessness, far worse than any labor, they feel—the little relish they have of natural refreshment—their sufferings from weak nerves and timid spirits—their squeamish anxieties about their health—the softening of their disposition by indulgence and ease, so that they are unable to endure—their sensibility under trifling vexations, which others despise—their leisure to brood over a progeny of dangers—the envies to which they are liable—their cares, fears, responsibilities, and dependence—the unreasonable things looked for from them, and their inability to give satisfaction to expectants: where shall I end? These, and a thousand other things, should be enough to show the poor and the busy that those who are placed above them are taxed in the same proportion.

Neither, however, is the opposite state the most desirable. As far as happiness depends on an outward condition, there lies, between the extremes of prosperity and adversity, penury and affluence, the most eligible choice. If life be a pilgrimage, man the traveller is best prepared for advancing, not when the shoe pinches, or when it is large and loose, but when it fits; not when he is destitute of a staff to lean upon, or when he has a large bundle of such articles to carry, but when he has one which affords him assistance without incumbrance. Pray we therefore, "Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain."

"Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee thence." Deuteronomy 24:18.

THE bondage of Egypt, under Pharaoh's tyranny and taskmasters, was nothing to the bondage of corruption in which sinners are naturally held, and the power of darkness, from which we are translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son. And the freedom the Jews obtained, when they were delivered by a strong hand and a stretched-out arm, was not to be compared with the glorious liberty of the sons of God. If the Son makes us free, we are free indeed.

And this redemption is what we are called to remember. The admonition may seem needless. For can such a deliverance be ever forgotten? We should once have deemed it impossible, but we are prone to forget his works, and the wonders which he has shown us. The event indeed can never be forgotten completely. But we need to have our minds stirred up by way of remembrance. And for four purposes. We should remember that we were bondmen in the land of Egypt, but the Lord our God redeemed us thence:

First, for the purpose of humility. We are prone to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think, but with the lowly is wisdom. "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." And surely we have enough to hide pride from us, if we reflect properly. If we are now wise, we were once foolish; if we are now justified, we were once condemned; if we are now the sons of God, we were once the servants of sin. "Let us look to the rock whence we were hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence we were digged."

Secondly, we should remember it for the purpose of gratitude. We are affected with the kindnesses shown us by our fellow-creatures, yet they are under obligation to relieve us. We had not forfeited our lives to them. They did not deliver us from the lowest hell. They did not become poor to enrich us, and die that we may live. And shall we overlook our infinite Benefactor? We have no claims upon Him, for the least of all his mercies, and therefore should be thankful for all his benefits. But herein is love. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visited and redeemed his people.

Thirdly, we should remember it for the purpose of confidence. David argued from the past to the future, and said, "Because thou hast been my help, therefore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice." But here we have a peculiar reason for encouragement. For what were we when he first took knowledge of us? Was he not found of them that sought him not? The want of worthiness was not a bar to his goodness then; and will it be so now? Is there with him any variableness or shadow of turning? Is there not the same power in his arm, and the same love in his heart? Did he pardon me when a rebel, and will he cast me off now he has made me a friend? "If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

Fourthly, we should remember it for the purpose of pity and zeal. How many are there all around you, in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity, ready to perish! You know the state they are in.

and you know the blessedness of a deliverance from it. You are witnesses for God, and can tell of what he is able and willing to do. You can speak from experience. Invite, therefore, the prisoners of hope to turn to him. Say to the destitute, That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.