January 8

"This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me." Psalm exix. 50.

WHAT a treasure is religion! When all human resources fail, this continues; when the streams of earthly comfort are dried up, this fountain still flows on; when worldly props are taken away, here we always have an arm to lean upon. The passage presents us with the result of the long experience of the man after God's own heart. Here we have the trials and the consolations of a believer.

HIS TRIALS. "In my affliction." Every Christian has a thorn in the flesh, and peculiar trials concerning which he has to say, "my affliction." These may be either bodily, mental, or relative. They arise from many sources, are diversified in their character, various in their degrees, but are always sent for wise and gracious purposes.

HIS CONSOLATIONS. David's past experience of the comfort and quickening influence of the word, was his ground of support under present trials. Thus the believer is

Quickened to the discharge of Christian duties. We need quickening not only in, but after conversion; we feel the deadening influence of the world, and must acknowledge, that oftentimes when we ought to burn with ardor in the cause of the Redeemer, a chill comes over our spirits, and we find ourselves spell-bound by the chains of indifference. The word quickens us in prayer, and other religious exercises in which we engage.

Quickened in the exercise of the Christian graces. Has not our faith been strengthened, our hope revived, our love increased, our patience had its perfect work, and all the graces been made to shine brighter in the dark night of affliction? When the grace of an afflicted saint is in exercise, his heart is like a garden of roses, which, the more they are moved and agitated, the sweeter is the fragrance they exhale. There is nothing of an earthly nature concerning which we can in truth say, "This is my comfort in my affliction."