March 19

Peter had denied his Lord, and rendered his attachment to him questionable. Perhaps John had been more compassionate towards him after his fall, and more ready to restore him in the spirit of meekness. David, after his back-liding, prayed, "Let them that fear thee turn unto me;" and some do this much more freely than others.

But connections and intimacies are not always to be accounted for. They often depend on things impossible for us to describe. They come from God, who has peculiar purposes to answer, and link us together by invisible chains. See an instance of this: "It came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle." Though an heir apparent, Jonathan was at once attached to a man who was to exclude him from the succession. But the thing was of the Lord. How often do we read of God's giving a man favor in the eyes of another.

We have here a word in recommendation of friendship. It is sanctioned by Scripture and example. It is not good for man to be alone; but we are not required to put even every one we love into our bosom. Peter had many colleagues, but one companion, one friend.

Their friendship was religious, and instead of leading them to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful, it took them to the house of God in company. Those connections are the most valuable in which the Bible is a witness between us; in which another world is not forgotten; in which we are bound by faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; in which we walk together as heirs of the grace of life, that our prayers be not hindered.

We see that public devotion has claims upon us. God has commanded us not to "forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;" and he has said, "In all places where I record my name, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee." The worship of the sanctuary enlivens our feelings, endears us to each other, and keeps the distinctions of life from becoming excessive. There the rich and the poor meet together, and seek and serve a Being with whom there is no respect of persons. Happy they who love the place where his honor dwelleth. Let me always avail myself of the duty, the privilege, and be glad when they say unto me, Let us go up into the house of the Lord.

"Ask thy father, and he will show thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee." Deuteronomy 32:7.

THERE is much truth in the proverb, He that will learn of none but himself, is sure to have a fool for his master. The way to advance in knowledge, is to be sensible of our own deficiencies, and willing to avail ourselves of assistance. The cause of all errors is pride; for though we are ignorant, and unable to guide ourselves, there is an infallible Instructor, under whose teachings we may place ourselves. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him."

And there are others that may be subordinately consulted; they possess and can impart a little of his judgment, for in his light they see light. The priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. And not only ministers, but private Christians may be useful; yea, and unlearned Christians, and poor and afflicted Christians, who walk much with God, and draw in their irradiations immediately from the Scriptures. Indeed, there is hardly a being, however inferior to ourselves in some respects, but being better versed in others, can teach us something. A wise man will learn more from a fool, than a fool will learn from a thousand wise men. The Scripture sends us even to the brute creation: "Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee." "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise."

"But I said, days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom." It is true, "great men are not always wise; neither do the aged understand judgment;" yet they must have had many more opportunities for observation and decision than others; and God obviously intended to place some under the tuition of others. We were designed to live in a state of connection with, and dependence upon each other; and while the old need the strength and activeness of the young, the young need the prudence and counsel of the old. Therefore says Peter, "Ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder." In the young, nothing can be more offensive than self-sufficiency. Surely they must acknowledge, that those who are much older than themselves have at least the advantage of experience, which is commonly the slow growth of time, and is the most valuable of all knowledge. And when young people so often err in the connections they form, and the steps they take, and the hazards they run into, is it not from that self-confidence which deems advice needless? They are not sober-minded, but think more highly of themselves than they ought to think.

But what advantage do we derive from writing and printing. The birds and beasts are no wiser now than when they went to Noah for shelter, and to Adam for names. It is nearly the same with savage life: knowledge is not preserved, transmitted, and increased, for want of books. But in consequence of these helps, the improvements of one age flow into another, and the stream is continually enlarging by the influx of additional discoveries. By means of them, we can consult the dead as well as the living; for though dead, they yet speak. And we can hold converse with Bacon and Boyle, with Luther and Leighton; and can be alone with them, and be with them in their best moments.

and when they are most ready to communicate. Yea, by the Scriptures we can associate with Paul and Isaiah, with Moses and the patriarchs, and can sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God.