the word." It now lives supremely "to him that died for us, and rose again."1 The Christian's motto and character now is "To me to live is Christ." 2 Nor indeed does the highest archangel, he that is nearest to the eternal throne, know a higher object of existence than this. And how encouraging the reflection, that in this glorious object the meanest servant in the household of God is an equal participant with the most blessed inhabitant of heaven! 18. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. IN order to " keep God's word," the Psalmist here prays, that he might understand it; and though under the teaching of the Spirit he had acquired "more understanding than all his teachers," yet we find him ever coming to his God under a deep sense of his blindness and ignorance. And this is indeed the invariable effect of Divine teaching. Those, who have been best taught and longest taught, will be the most ready to sit at the feet of Jesus," as if they knew nothing, and had every thing to learn. It is indeed an unspeakable mercy to know a little of the Lord, and at the same time to feel that it is only a little that we do know. In this spirit we shall be longing to know more, and yet anxious to know nothing except as we are taught of God. There are indeed "wondrous things" to be known in God's law, things so wondrous, that the angels desire to look into them."5 The exhibition of the scheme of redemption is in itself a world of wonders. The display of justice exercised in the way of mercy, and of mercy glorified in the exercise of justice, is a wonder that must fill the intelligent universe of God with everlasting astonishment. And yet these "wondrous things are hid from multitudes, who are most deeply interested in the knowledge of them. They are "hid" not only from the careless and unconcerned, but "from the wise and prudent, and revealed" only "to babes "1-to those who are experimentally acquainted with that important truth, that a man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven." The largest and clearest print can never assist our sight, as long as a covering remains before our eyes. So neither can the Holy Scriptures enlighten the mind, until "the veil is taken away" from the heart. Oh! how needful then is the prayer—‹ Unveil 3—“ Open thou mine eyes : Let the veil be taken away from the law that I may understand it; and from my heart that I may receive it.' It is a most affecting consideration, that even Christians often find the word of God to be to them as a sealed book. They go through their accustomed portion without gaining any increasing acquaintance with the light, life and power of it, and without any distinct application of any part of its contents to their own experience. And thus it must be, whenever reading has been unaccompanied with prayer for Divine influence and teaching. For we not only need to have Our eyes opened to behold" fresh wonders, but also to maintain our perception of those wonders, which we have already beheld, that we may continue to behold them in a new and more spiritual light. But are we conscious of our blindness? us hear the counsel of our Lord, that we 1 Matt. xi. 25. 2 Revela oculos meos. Synopsis.-Margin, Reveal. 2 John iii. 27. Then let "anoint Velamen detraha oculis meis.' Poli our eyes with eye-salve, that we may see.' The recollection of the promises of divine teaching are fraught with encouragement. The Spirit is freely and abundantly promised in this very character, as "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God." "2 If therefore we desire a clearer insight into these "wondrous things" of revelation-if we would behold the glorious beauty of our Immanuel-if we would comprehend something more of the immeasureable extent of that love, with which " 'God so loved the world, as to give his only-begotten Son" 3-and of that equally incomprehensible love, which moved that Son so cheerfully to undertake our cause,1 we must make daily, hourly use of this important petition Open thou mine eyes." 66 19. I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. THIS Confession from a solitary wanderer would have had little comparative meaning; but in the mouth of one who was probably surrounded with every source of worldly enjoyment, it shows at once the vanity of "earth's best joys," and the heavenly tendency of the religion of the Bible. This appears indeed to have been ever the character, confession, and glory of the Lord's people.5 They "would not live always," and they gladly hear the warning voice, that minds them to "arise and depart, for this is not their rest."7 And was not this especially the character not of David only, but of David's Lord? 1 Rev. iii. 18. 3 John iii. 16. 2 Eph. i. 17. 4 Heb. x. 5-7. Born at 5 Abraham, Gen. xxiii. 4. Jacob, Gen. xlvii. 9. David, Psalm xxxix. 12. All, Heb. xi. 13. 6 Job vii. 16. 7 Micah ii. 10. an inn1--not " having where to lay his head” 2— suffering hunger 3-subsisting upon alms -neglected by his own 5" looking for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but he found none" 6-might he not justly take up the confession -I am a stranger in the earth? If we consider this verse as descriptive of the condition of the child of God, it exhibits him in many most interesting points of view: distant from his proper home 7-without a fixed residence 8-with no particular interest in the world 9—and submitting to all the inconveniences of a stranger on his journey homewards.10-Such is the stranger's state! And what does he want? a guide, a guard, a companion to direct, secure, and cheer his way. Now, all this he finds in the word of God-" When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee." 11 Most suitable then is his prayer-" Hide not thy commandments from me." For thus, indeed, acquaintance with the word of God makes up all his hopes, and soothes all his sorrows. It supplies all the room of friends and counsellors. It furnishes light, joy, strength, food, armour, and whatever else the pilgrim may need on his way homewards. Let us put this subject closely to ourselves. As rational creatures, we know that "our life is even a vapour, which appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away," 12 As believers, we know that we cannot, and we would not, call this world our home; and we are assured, that it is far better to be without 1 Luke ii. 7. 7 Heb. xi. 9. 2 Matt. viii. 20. 81 Chron. xxix. 15. 3 Ibid. xxi. 18. it, than to have our portion in it. But do we never feel at home in the midst of our earthly comforts, and thus forget our proper character, and our eternal prospects? Do we always live, speak, and act as "strangers in the earth?" Does our conversation in the society of the world savour of the home whither we profess to be going? To feel ourselves "" strangers in the earth," and in the midst of the enjoyment of the gifts of God, to sit loose to them, as if our treasure were in heaven, is a sure mark of a right spirit. If the world, however should be gaining ascendancy in our affections, let us only turn our eyes to "the cross of Calvary. Let that be the object of our daily contemplation-the ground of our constant " and the world will then be to us as a object.' And lastly, let us not forget that we are looking forward, and making progress towards a world, where none are strangers-where all are children of one family, in one eternal home. "In my Father's house -said our gracious Head-" are many mansions; I go to prepare a place for you." 2 glorying" 66 crucified" 20. My soul breaketh, for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. WHO would not wish to adopt this language of intense desire and affection for the ways of God? It is such fervour as marks the Christian's ardent longings for communion with his Saviour" I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that ye tell him that I am sick of love. Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm; for love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as the 1 Gal. vi. 14. 2 John xiv. 2. |