Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

st at ni 9edi

»d mi bis prad qur to

"moval to solo ad ei fl-"bods

PSALM xxii. 26. ed er i bun

The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him your heart shall live for ever.

IN genuine religion there is great reward. Nothing is so conducive to the happiness of man, nothing so effectually secures it.

What is the end of our preaching, and of your hearing? It is, that religion may be more widely diffused, and more heartily embraced: it is, that happinesss may be more universally and fully enjoyed. Our mutual object, therefore, is important: may we so regard it as to advance in that "godliness which is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come!"

L

This Psalm was written by David, but is not to be considered exclusively in reference to him. It is full of Christ. It consists of two principal parts, and these describe, prophetically," the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." The latter part begins at verse the twenty-second: "I will

a

declare thy name unto my brethren in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee." Then are stated the beneficial effects of this, in the conversion of men to God, and in their present and eternal happiness. The text is beautifully descriptive of the nature and recompense of true piety The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him your heart shall live for ever."

66

Let it be remembered were it not for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, his sufferings and his glory, we should have no such declaration as this. The hope of sinners springs from the cross of Christ. And as he was delivered for our offences," so he was raised again for our justification." These things are written, that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing we might have life through his name "axoodT

66

[ocr errors]

We are taught in the text-the TEMPER to be cherished the CONDUCT to be pursued and the BLESSINGS which, in this way, will be secured. u.ft oopalizing teatrocini mo hos lub po ci I. The TEMPER to be cherished: we should be meek" baislant

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Meekness is opposed to pride and passion: it is contrary to every feeling of irritation and resentment. A meek man is not easily, provoked:" when slandered, he knows how to forbear; and when injured, he knows how to forgive." A meek and quiet spirit is, in the sight of God, of great price:" it is a close imitation of the example of Jesus it yields tranquillity to ourselves, and contributes much to the peace and comfort of all about us. boi) to W5udoja od

But the word "meek" may here be rendered, with equal propriety, poor or lowly; and it seems to regard, -particularly, a humble, penitent disposition of heart: the same which, in other places, is expressed by poMerty of spirit; a broken and a contrite spirit. Nothing more evidently becomes us as sinners; and it is

[ocr errors]

produced, not by the effort of man, but by the agency of the Spirit of God. The first work of the Holy Spirit is, by the law to convince of sin; to let us see that we are justly condemned on account of transgression; to empty us of every high thought and selfrighteous conceit; to humble us in contrition and shame. This, doubtless, is the disposition of heart which we should cherish: nor is it well with us till this be the case. The meek are pronounced "blessed." The poor in spirit are "blessed." The humble are happy. The Lord looks to such: he dwells with such. "Be clothed with humility, for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time."-Observe,

II. The CONDUCT to be pursued: we should "seek the Lord."

This is taught in the promise, "They shall praise the Lord that seek him." To seek him, therefore, is our duty, and our important privilege.

It supposes clearly that a loss, a very serious loss, has been sustained: we seek not what we already have, and what we think secure in present possession. Now we, as fallen sinful creatures, have lost the knowledge of the Lord, and are involved in awful darkness-we have lost his favour, and have incurred his righteous displeasure :-we have lost his image, that moral resemblance, which was once the chief glory of man, and are debased with guilt, covered with pollution and shame-we have lost also the enjoyment of God, are sunk into things earthly and sensual, and may justly lament our ruin and disgrace. But are we sensible of this loss? We feel under temporal affliction: the loss of health, of children, of friends, of property, closely affects us; but are we aware of this most grievous privation? and are we deeply humbled on the account?

Seeking the Lord also implies, that this loss may be regained. And in what way? We are indebted to the gospel," the glorious gospel of the blessed God," for this reviving discovery. It reveals the everlasting love of the Father to a lost world; it unfolds the mediation of the Son, suffering and dying for lost sinners; it brings nigh the grace of the Spirit, enlightening the mind, renewing the heart, and enriching the soul with the blessings of eternal redemption. In this truth there is hope for us, and for millions more. Have we "" 'destroyed ourselves?" In the Lord is "our help."-Are we convinced of our degeneracy, and of the mischief and misery which sin hath introduced? It is good, though painful, to have this conviction.-Then, and not before, are we roused to seek the Lord, when we feel the magnitude of our loss; and discover, that, through the exceeding riches of Divine grace, the loss may be amply supplied.

The use of proper means is likewise supposed. No end is attained in the neglect of means, when means are appointed in order to its attainment. Seek the Lord How? Not with sloth and indifference, but earnestly, with persevering diligence, with all the powers of the soul and application of the mind. Seek the Lord-Where? Certainly where he is known; where he has already been found; in his word, in his ordinances, in his house. Seek the Lord this day, and in this place. It is the place where" his name is recorded," and he engages" to come, and to bless." It is the place where "his honour dwelleth ;" and he says, "Mine eyes, and mine heart shall be there perpetually

[ocr errors]

Hence, seeking the Lord frequently denotes his worship and service. They seek him who pay him homage; and it should be our care to do this with holy reverence, "with simplicity and godly sincerity.'

* Ex, xx. 24; 1 Kings ix. &

[ocr errors]

"God is a Spirit," a pure and infinite Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth." How remote is this from that levity, and heedless inattention, which mark the apparent devot tion of many! The Most High turns from such mockery with holy indignation; and he says in effect, "I abhor the sacrifice of fools."But, for the encouragement of the humble and earnest, this is the promise of his grace,The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth."-This leads to observe, -sb mo lo bobdivno pw 91k

66

وا

f

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

gled wo el bro.I

III The BLESSINGS which, in the way of meekness and devotion, will be secured:we shall eat and be satisfied"—we shall praise the Lord our fheart shall live for ever." The text, in this view of it is divided into three parts; each is interesting, and may be considered in its order to ivic to 01. The meek shall eat and be satisfied.”T andt may regard temporal favours. The rapacious and ambitious, men of pride and impenitence, eat and are not satisfied. They enjoy the good things of life, perhaps in abundance and variety, but they are not happy there is a restless craving after something else, while the very temper of their minds imbitters every comfort, and incapacitates for every rational enjoyment. But, with the meek and lowly,"bit is otherwise. Their bread is given them, and their wa ter is sure, and they are " satisfied."You enter the cottage of the pious poor; you see their homely fare, their scanty supply; but you hear no fretful murmur -they "eat and are satisfied." Their pittance is the gift of their covenant God, land accompanied with a sense of their Saviour's love: hence they areiff cons tént with such things as they have," and learn “in "every thing to give thanks."ua iliw "

[ocr errors]

"The meek shall inherit the earth :" probably our Lord meant, the things which are. unquestionably the

« AnteriorContinuar »