FEBRUARY 12.
SUCH was the language of the Jewish leader to Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law. In whatever condition we are found, how numerous are our wants. We need food to nourish us, apparel to cover us, sleep to refresh us, friendship to succor us. We need the heart of one of our fellow-creatures, and the hand of another. One must be feet to us; another, eyes. Who is self-sufficient? Who, but under the delusion of pride and vanity, would ever affect independence? The eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee. Nor, again, the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body which are feeble are necessary. Though above others in circumstances, we may be inferior to them in grace, or experience, or some particular attainment. David was superior to Jonathan in divine things, yet " Jonathan went to David in the wood, and strengthened his hands in God." I long to see you, says Paul to the Romans, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, that ye may be established ; but they aided and confirmed him first, for they came down to meet him as far as Appii Forum and the Three Taverns : and when he saw them, " he thanked God, and took courage."
Here we see the advantage of society. A God of knowledge and truth has said, It is not good for man to be alone. If it was so with regard to a paradise, how much more with regard to a wilderness. Half the pleasure of solitude, it has been remarked, arises from our having a friend at hand to whom we can say, How delightful this retirement is. "Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart ; so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel." Why, but to encourage social devotion, did our Saviour say to his disciples, "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Why did He send forth the seventy, two by two, in their mission through Judea, but to comfort each other in distress; to confer with each other in cases of perplexity; to stimulate each other in cases of languor; to check each other in cases of temptation? "Two are better than one; because they have good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow : but woe to him that is alone when he falleth ; for he hath not another to help him up."
Let none despond. As all are required to be useful, so all may be serviceable, if they will, and often far beyond the probability of their condition, or their own hope, for humility makes a good man modest in his expectations, as well as in his pretensions.
We also see here, that confidence in God is not to lead us to disregard any advantages we can derive from ordinary resources. Moses lead the engagement of God, and was even under a miraculous guidance; Yet he does not overlook the assistance he could derive from his father-in-law, as to his advice in difficulties, and those instructions which, from his knowledge of the wilderness, he could give him, with regard to particular situations, and their conveniences or inconveniences. The religion of the Bible is always a reasonable service. It does not keep a man's eyes upon the stars, while he falls over every stumbling-block in his way, but says to him, " Let thine eyes look right on, and thine eyelids straight before thee: ponder the path of thy feet, that thy goings may be established." It places our dependence upon God, but that reliance is favorable to activity, and is the spring of it. In him we live, move, and have our being; but this does not supersede eating and drinking. He teaches us, but we are to read and hear his word. He promises, but he will be inquired of for the performance. And none of the aids he affords us render needless the exercise of prudence, the exertion of our faculties, the offices of friendship, or the means of grace. "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you."
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TO REV. WILLIAM JAY'S HOMEPAGE
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TO REV. THOMAS BOSTON'S HOMEPAGE
