In lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. PHIL. ii. 3. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ; for if a man think himself to be something, &c. But let every man prove his own work, and then he shall have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. GAL. vi. 2-4. IF F we were truly humble, and looked upon ourselves as most miserable sinners, we should willingly submit to all adversities, and patiently bear the burdens and infirmities, considering that GOD has borne with us a great deal more. Observing, therefore, the faults of our neighbour, we must not forget our own. Perhaps in other things we are weaker than he. This will restrain us from judging harshly, or speaking unadvisedly to others; but first we should speak to GoD about it, and then try with gentle means to bring them to rights again. Nay, the best method is to consider our neighbour on the good, and ourselves on the bad side; and to see whether we can excuse him and accuse ourselves, and if his fault could not be excused in any manner, we must not suffer him to stir up our corruption, but come in with prayer between GoD and him, to plead his cause before the throne in hearty love. It is very easy to find fault with others; but to show love, and restore them by prayer and brotherly correction, is quite another thing. Bless'd are the souls who stand afar Though in the path of death they tread, The eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thy hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; he also will hear their cry, and will save them. Ps. cxlv. 15, 16, 19. See also Ps. civ. 27, 28. WHO HO considers these words enough? The hand of God being my chief provision and store-house, is it not a shame to be anxiously careful for anything? Has the LORD all things in his hand? then surely I shall receive what he has for me; none will be able to withhold it. Faith has always a free access to the treasures of GOD, who is never wanting. Christians have their chests and treasures in such a high place, even in GOD, that no thief can rob them, and they are sure to have enough in GoD; and though the LORD should try them with want a little while, yet he relieves them in due time; their bread must rain from heaven, rather than they should be left without. You need not, says CHRIST, seek these other things, they shall be brought to you if ye only abide in me. If this does not comfort and strengthen us, nothing else will. Now, many rely on their full pockets and purses; but if they had true faith, it would be enough that they believed and had it in God's hand, purse, and chest. If the LORD is pleased to bestow some provision on his servant, he is very thankful for it and is careful to apply it well. But if GOD thinks proper to deny it him, he is content and cheerful. The LORD is good, the LORD is kind; They withstood Uzziah the king, and said, It appertaineth not unto thee to burn incense unto the Lord. 2 CHRON. xxvi. 18. HE ERE is the only blot we find on the name of Uzziah as long as he sought the LORD in the right way, GOD made him to prosper. GOD helped him till he was strong; but when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his own destruction. He was not content with the honours GOD had put upon him, but would usurp those that were forbidden him, like our first parents.. The chief priest and other priests were ready to burn incense for the king, according to the duty of their office; and plainly acquainted him, that if, through a mistaken zeal, he offered to do it himself, he would incur the wrath of GOD and suffer for it; but this served only to excite his wrath, till he felt the judgment of God's hand in his punishment. Though he strove with the priests, he would not strive with his Maker, but retired as soon as he was smitten with the leprosy. Thus we see that "the GOD we have to deal with is a jealous GOD," who expects all that serve him shall do it according to his own institutions. Do you, reader, come to him in the way of his appointments? Take care that you come not with unhallowed fire before the LORD, lest you be also smitten. Our prayers, our graces, and our duties must always be put by faith into the hand of our LORD JESUS, the High Priest of our profession, to be by him presented unto God along with the sweet incense of his merits, else we shall find ourselves deceived, and have no acceptance with God. No strange incense let me bring To present unto my King; I renounce my own desert; JESUS, thou my incense art. He, the Lord, will beautify the meek with salvation. Ps. cxlix. 4. And if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye. 1 PET. iii. 14. Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear. Ps. x. 17. The meek shall eat and be satisfied; they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. Ps. xxii. 26. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Ps. xxxvii. 11. See also Ps. xlviii. 10. ISAIAH liv. 11. ALL this is for the humble and poor in spirit. Α How does that agree? poor, and yet blessed! O, yes, poor in ourselves, but blessed and glorious in CHRIST. If we never experience his glory, the reason is, we are not truly sensible of our misery; but when we are come quite low, let us confidently lay hold on CHRIST, and we shall be blessed; for all is ours. We may say, O LORD, if thou art a glorious help to the needy, lo! here is want and misery enough! therefore I come with all my want and poverty to the fulness of thy grace and riches, with my darkness to thy light, with my Grant that all Grant that all my evils may be swallowed up by thy goodness and glorious deliverance ! Mine innumerable wants I set before thee, as so many empty vessels, and desire to have them filled with thy spiritual and heavenly blessings. death to thy life. O might I hear the heavenly tongue But whisper, “Thou art mine! " Those gentle words should raise my song How would my leaping heart rejoice, And think my heaven secure ; I trust the all-creating Voice, And faith desires no more. Be ye renewed in the spirit of your mind. And put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. EPH. iv. 23, 24. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Rom. vi. 4. LORD, grant me daily repentance, and a tender feeling of my sins, that by the power of thy death the Old Man may be crucified, and by the power of thy resurrection the New Man may rise up and grow in grace, being filled and refreshed with the fruits of the Spirit! Let me ever be in earnest, and look upon every day as the very first and the very last, that with each I may, as it were, begin anew to work out my salvation with fear and trembling, and so be always prepared for death and eternity. Give me grace to surmount all difficulties, and to avoid everything may prove a torment of conscience in the hour of death. And as there is no standing still, I humbly beseech thee to stir me up daily and hourly more and more, that I may make all haste, and "give all diligence to make my calling and election sure." that Lord, I am vile, conceived in sin! Sprung from the man whose guilty fall Soon as we draw our infant breath, Great GOD, create my heart anew, |