July 3

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men. - Psalms 31:19.

THE exclamation is well founded. David speaks of the grounds of God’s goodness, and in order to impress his memory more, he speaks of it under the distinction of future and present, performed and promised, concealed and displayed. How great is the goodness which is laid up for them who fear and trust the Lord. This, indeed, is the principal part; this surpasses all representation and conception too. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

Eternity will be given us to develop the glory that shall be revealed; and yet “how great is the goodness he has wrought for them.” Though they have more in reversion, they have much in possession; though they have more in hope, they have much in hand. It is said the Jews did eat angels’ food, because the manna on which they fed was not produced by human instrumentality, but created immediately in the clouds, and sent down from heaven, but-

“Never did angels taste above

Redeeming grace and dying love.”

Oh how great is his goodness! Jesus, the elder brother of the family, is ours; all creation is ours; redemption is all our own. And in our redemption by an infinite price, in our justification by a righteousness wrought out and brought in, a righteousness which is of God, in the renovation of our souls by the operation of almighty grace, in our guidance through all the intricacies of the wilderness, and in the gracious provision for our daily wants by a peculiar providence-oh! what rewards will those that fear him hereafter find! oh, what exquisite delight will belong to them, and them only! As yet, it is not day with them, but it is the dawn; and the one will infallibly bring on the other. As yet the good work is not finished in them, but it is begun. An infinite good is being wrought out in them as well as for them; and “we are confident,” says the Apostle, “of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”