FEBRUARY 22.
"Ye shall
serve the
Lord your
God, and he
shall bless
thy bread,
and thy
water."
EXOD.
23:25.
OUR
chief
concern
should be to
secure those
blessings
which will
supply the
soul and
endure for
ever. He
only is
truly
blessed who
is blessed
with all
spiritual
blessings in
heavenly
places in
Christ. Our
Saviour
therefore
says, " Seek
ye first the
kingdom of
God and his
righteousness;"
yet he does
not scruple
to say, "and
all these
things shall
be added
unto you."
Temporal
benefits are
not beneath
the
attention of
our kind
Father. He
knoweth that
we have need
of these
things
before we
ask him.
He knoweth
our frame,
and he
knoweth our
fears. And
not only
under the
law, but
under the
gospel,
godliness is
profitable
unto all
things ; and
has promises
of the life
that now is,
as well as
of that
which is to
come.
The promise
before us
extends to
all the
temporal
support of
his people ;
but there is
wisdom in
the
language. In
another
place it is
also said,
"Thy bread
shall be
given thee,
and thy
water shall
be sure." Is
not the
specification
designed to
check not
only
anxiety, but
ambition and
avarice?
Does it not
say, "Seekest
thou great
things for
thyself?
Seek them
not." "Let
your
conversation
be without
covetousness,
and be
content with
such things
as ye have."
Nothing can
do us good
without the
blessing of
God; but his
blessing
commands
what it
announces ;
and what he
blesses, is
blessed.
Hence " a
little that
a righteous
man hath is
better than
the riches
of many
wicked." It
is more
efficient.
It goes
further ; as
Philip Henry
was wont to
say to his
family, "My
dear
children,
the grace of
God will
make a
little go a
great way."
It is
surprising
to see with
what a
slender
income many
Christians
keep up a
decent
appearance,
owing no man
any thing,
and even
giving to
him that
needeth. The
thing is,
"The secret
of the Lord
is upon
their
tabernacle."
But while he
blesses "the
habitation
of the
just," his
curse "is in
the house of
the wicked."
And then
nothing
prospers.
They seem a
wonder to
themselves
and others.
They get
much and
gain
nothing. So
it was with
the selfish
and
illiberal
Jews when
they came
back from
Babylon, and
built their
own ceiled
houses,
while the
house of God
lay waste.
Had they
minded his
affairs, He
would have
minded
theirs, and
have proved
that we
cannot serve
God for
naught. But
now, says
God, "Ye
have sown
much, and
bring in
little; ye
eat, but ye
have not
enough; ye
drink, but
ye are not
filled with
drink; ye
clothe you,
but there is
none warm ;
and he that
earneth
wages,
earneth
wages to put
it into a
bag with
holes."
It is also
more
satisfying;
for the
state of the
mind
conduces to
the relish
of every
outward
comfort; and
in the
Christian
this state
of mind is
grateful and
peaceful and
cheerful,
arising from
a hope of
reconciliation
with God.
His frown
would darken
a thousand
suns. But
every thing
smiles when
he smiles.
"How sweet
our daily
comforts
prove,
When
they are
seasoned
with his
love."
And we see
the dear
medium
through
which they
come as
covenant
blessings:
"He
sunk beneath
our heavy
woes,
To raise us
to his
throne
There's not
a gift his
hand
bestows,
But cost his
heart a
groan."
The wicked
feast
without
fear. But
there is
reason
enough why
they should
fear.
Neglecting
the service
of God, they
are
strangers to
his
blessing.
Left to
themselves,
every
advantage
and
indulgence
operating
upon their
depravity,
contributes
to their
guilt and
misery.
Their table
becomes a
snare, and
that which
should have
proved for
their
welfare
becomes a
trap. The
prosperity
of fools
destroys
them. Now
consider
this, ye
that forget
God, and
without
delay seek
to be
numbered
with the
seed which
the Lord
hath
blessed.
RETURN
TO REV.
WILLIAM
JAY'S
HOMEPAGE
RETURN
TO REV. THOMAS BOSTON'S HOMEPAGE
