FEBRUARY 9.
WE are prone to boast, and there is scarcely any thing that does not call forth the tendency. Some boast of their beauty; some, of the multitude of their riches; some, of their pedigree and rank; some, of their genius, and learning, and knowledge. Some boast of their wickedness, which is glorying in their shame. Some boast of their goodness, when, too, they have none, for " there is a generation who are pure in their own eyes, and are not washed from their filthiness." But they who have "the root of the matter" in them, have they any right to boast? Is their religion derived from themselves? Is it self-sustained? Is it perfect? Where is boasting, then? It is excluded. By what law? The law of faith; for "it is of faith, that it might be of grace." And this is its language: "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise ; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are ; that no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; that, according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
But here we see that we may glory in Him, though we are forbidden to glory in creatures, or in ourselves. Accordingly David says,
"My soul shall make her boast in the Lord." And there are moments and frames when, surveying him in his works and perfections and promises, the believer can exult with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
What a Friend have I! a tried, kind, almighty, everlasting Friend; a Friend who loveth at all times, and has sworn that he will never leave me, nor forsake me. "This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend, 0 daughters of Jerusalem." What a Shepherd have I! The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. What a God is mine! The God of truth; the God of all grace; a God in covenant; a God in Christ. This is my God for ever and ever; he will be my guide even unto death. What a portion is mine! The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage."
But not only is included here the elevation of joyous feeling, arising from the view and possession of magnificent good, but also the breaking forth of gratitude and praise. The selfish and the proud dislike the thought of dependence, and wish every acquisition to be considered as of their own procuring; " therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag." But pious minds ever delight to own that they have nothing but what they have received. It is very painful to be under obligations to an enemy, but how pleasant is it to be indebted to one we admire and love! They who therefore supremely love their God and Saviour, make their boast in the Lord. They will hereafter cast their crowns before the throne, and their language now is, "By the grace of God, I am what I am." "In the Lord have I righteousness and strength." "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God ; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."
David supposes that his doing this would be known. "The humble shall hear thereof." They would possibly hear it from others, for the godly have their observers, and are "men wondered at." They were likely to hear it from himself. Therefore says he, " 0 magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." " Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue." Spiritual sadness seeks seclusion and concealment. Then, as the stricken deer leaves the herd, the man sitteth alone and keeps silence, because he has borne it upon him. Peter went out and wept bitterly. But spiritual freedom and joy soon discover themselves. Like the return of health, and of day, it says to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves.. When Hannah was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore, it is said, she prayed in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. But when she had succeeded, she broke forth into a song, and said, "My heart rejoiceth in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord; my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation."
David also inferred the effect this knowledge would produce in them. " The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad." He could reckon upon this, from his own disposition, and from the connection there is between all the subjects of divine grace. They are all one in Christ Jesus. They belong to the same family; they are parts of the same body; and if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; and if one member be honored, all the members rejoice. They who have prayed for me, will not refuse to praise. "Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me." What sight can be so gratifying to a good man, as to see a convert leaving the world and entering the church; a backslider returning into the path of peace; a believer walking worthy of the vocation wherewith he is called; a dying saint joyful in glory, and shouting aloud upon his bed? They that fear thee, will be glad when they see me, because I have hoped in thy truth.
The Lord's followers are supposed to be mopish and melancholy, but they have a thousand sources of joy which others know not of. How great is the pleasure they derive even, from others. Indeed, they can often rejoice on the behalf of their brethren, when they fear things are not going on well with themselves. But what a proof is this feeling, that their heart is right with God.
Envy is the rottenness of the bones, and the temper of the devil. To rejoice in another's good is Christian, angelical, divine. God is love. And he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him.
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