March 6

"The spiritual judgeth all things; but he himself is judged of no man." They who are strangers to the warfare in which he is engaged, can never clearly comprehend his language, or enter into those feelings which produce such a depth of confession and abasement. Those who have never been in the field, may be surprised at many things related by a veteran, in describing the campaigns he has passed through; but his old scar-worn comrade can attest the truth of them. In religious matters, more than in any other, the heart knoweth its own bitterness, and a stranger intermeddleth not with his joy. But "the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him."

We allow that this chapter has been much perverted. There is no part of the Bible that Antinonians so much delight in, or which ungodly men who turn the grace of our God into lasciviousness so often quote. Such persons wrest also the other scriptures to their own destruction. And are we to argue against the use of a thing from the abuse of it? What good thing is not abused? We do not refuse raiment to the naked, because there are some who glory in what ought to remind us of our shame; nor food to the hungry, because some make a god of their belly. And shall we refuse to sincere and humble souls, mourning over the evils of their own heart, the instruction and consolation here provided for them, for fear the interpretation should be applied to an improper purpose? No one really taught of God will abuse it; nor can he be more reconciled to his corruptions, or more satisfied with his deficiencies, in consequence of being able to adopt the language as his own.

For shall they "continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid! How can they who are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" We are not to make sad hearts of God's people, but to comfort them, for the joy of the Lord is their strength. And only the last day will show how much this section of Scripture has strengthened the weak hands and confirmed the feeble knees of those who were deeming their experience peculiar, and concluding that they had no part with the Israel of God till they heard Paul bewailing and encouraging himself thus: "For to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I MYSELF serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."

"Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee: fear not, neither be discouraged." Deuteronomy 1:21.

WE may, and we ought to transfer what is here said to the Jews concerning Canaan to ourselves, with regard to a better country, that is, a heavenly: for the one was designed to be typical of the other.

Observe the exhibition: "Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee." Where? In the Scriptures. Not in its full development, for so it is a glory to be revealed, for it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but in its general nature, and in a way adapted to our present apprehensions, and likely to take hold of our mind. Hence so many figures are employed, all of which, while they fall short of the subject, aid our conceptions.

But does he place it before our eyes to tantalize us, by awakening our notice, and drawing forth our admiration, and exciting our desire, when the boon is not within our reach?

Observe the command: "Go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee." This supposes it to be attainable: yea, it makes the attainment our duty. Our missing it is not only our misery, but our crime. We shall be punished for neglecting so great salvation. It is our guilt—the guilt of the vilest disobedience to the most gracious authority: for he not only allows, but he enjoins us to seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and commands us to believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ. Are we doing this? For He is the way, and we come unto God by Him.

Observe the encouragement: "Fear not, neither be discouraged." To this we are liable on two accounts. First, by a sense of our unworthiness. The greatness of the blessedness, when combined with a sense of our desert, astonishes the mind into a kind of incredulity; and makes hope seem no better than presumption. But every thing here is free, and designed to show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us. We are as welcome as we are unworthy. Why then should we refuse to be comforted? Secondly, by a sense of our weakness. Who is sufficient for the distance, the difficulties, the dangers? The Jews were dismayed by the report of the spies. The towns, said they, are walled up to heaven. There are the Anakim, in whose sight we were but as grasshoppers. The people were disheartened. But said Caleb, "Let us go up at once and possess it, for we are able." Did he mean, without God? No; but with him—with him as their leader and keeper; and this he had promised. And is he not with you? Has he not said, "Fear not, for I am with thee; he not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness?" We cannot be too sensible of our weakness; but let us remember that his grace is sufficient for us. Has it not been sufficient for all those who have gone before us? They had their fears, but they overcame. They are now more than conquerors through Him who loved them.

But Jordan rolls between. So was it with the Jews; and it was even overflowing its banks at the time. But the ark divided the waters. They went through dry-shod. And their enemies were as still as a stone, till they were clean passed over, and the land was all their own.