A Goodly Heritage

The main object of the mission which David received from God for all generations in the church was the composition of the Psalms. Indeed, he composed the Psalms , or a great part of them , in the midst of the most cruel sufferings . Just imagine that , overwhelmed by suffering , physical , moral and spiritual, you were called to write a Psalm , and in the very midst of all these sufferings , and at the very time when they were like those described in Psalm 38. , hymns began to ring out to the glory of God and for the instruction of the church! How David triumphs over himself , and how humiliating it is for us who, in our weakness, are obliged in most instances to wait until our sufferings are past before we can gather the fruit of them , both for ourselves and others! But David in his sufferings writes his Psalms . He writes Psalm 38. while he suffers persecutions , inner torments , the bitterness of sin. I know that one could say that David wrote Psalm 38 in cold blood , by tak

Psalm.78:20 . can he give bread also ? Can he provide flesh for his people ? 21 Therefore the Lord heard this , and was wroth :so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel: 22. Because they believed not in God , and trusted not in his salvation; 23. Though he had commanded the clouds from above , and opened the doors of heaven. 24. And had rained down manna upon them to eat , and had given them of the corn of heaven. 25. Man did eat angel's food : he sent them meat to the full. 26.He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven; and by his power he brought in the south wind . 27. He rained flesh also upon them as dust , and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: 28. And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations; 29So they did eat and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; 30.They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, 31. The wrath of God came upon them, and s

Hab.3.17. Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines ; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold; and there shall be no herd in the stalls; 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19. The Lord God is my strength , and he will make my feet like hinds feet, and he will make me to walk up on mine high places....

Heavy afflictions are the best benefactors to heavenly affections . Where afflictions hang heaviest , corruptions hang loosest ; and grace that is hid in nature , as sweet water in rose leaves , is most fragrant when the fire of affliction is put under it to distil it out . Samuel Clark. Let all inquire whether this is in harmony with his experience , if it be so , let him testify to his tried brethren that he has tasted and handled of the goodness of the Lord Jesus, and has found him full of grace to help , and power to comfort . Open your mouth as wide in praise as you did in prayer, and let your gratitude be as lasting as his love .

V.30.As for God, perfect is his way: the Lord his word is try'd; He is a buckler to all those who do in him confide. 31. Who but the Lord is God ?but he who is a rock and stay? 32. Tis God who girdeth me with strength, and perfect makes my way.

The humble soul is like the violet, which grows low , hangs the head downwards, and hides itself with its own leaves, and were it not that the fragrant smell of its many virtues discovered him to the world , he would choose to live and die in self- contenting secrecy. T . Brooks They seem to be an endangered species in this day and age.

"O Jerusalem , how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee?"Jeremiah 4:14. It is not Satan casting in vain thoughts that can keep mercy from the soul, or undo the soul , but the lodging and cherishing of vain thoughts. They pass through the best of hearts , they are lodged and cherished only in the worst of hearts. Brooks

William Grimshaw to a lady who was expressing her admiration for a minister who had more talents than grace :- "Madam ", he said, "I am glad you never saw the devil . He has greater talents than all the ministers in the world. I fear, if you saw him , you would fall in love with him, as you have so high a regard for talents without sanctity. Pray, do not be led away with the sound of talents."

Isaiah. 44:22. "I have blotted out , as a thick cloud , thy transgressions, and as a cloud ,thy sins; return unto me, for I have redeemed thee".Micah. 7:18." Who is a God like unto thee; that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage ? He retaineth not his anger forever , because he delighteth in mercy." 19. "He will turn again , he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities ; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." The promises of God are a precious book; every leaf drops myrrh and mercy. Though the weak Christian cannot open , read and apply them, Christ can and will apply them to their souls. "I,I am he , blotting out thy transgressions

A king issues a decree. His oath is pledged that death will follow disobedience . A subject rebels . He is convicted . Execution is required. If the king hesitate, where is his faithfulness, and where is the majesty of his empire? But let the king's son , in the offender's stead , endure the penalty. Then the law is magnified , the statute is inviolate , the sacredness of the order rejoices , while the guilty lives. Thus , when Jesus suffers , Truth gains honour for its every saying and smells a sweet savour of content . Believer , rejoice in the cross . Here the Word , which had forged such mighty chains , finds , that it can only live in your life . It demands salvation for you ; for it has nothing against you , but all for you in the unalterable promise , "Whosoever shall believe in Him shall not perish , but have everlasting life." Law

The seventh day God ' blest '. He uttered His mind concerning it , calling it a day of blessing; and in so doing , communicated to it ( as it were ) the power to impart blessing . This then is the primary meaning and object of the Sabbath. It is the day on which God specially blesses man. But more than this . It is added , 'He sanctified it '. He marked it off from all other days , as the tabernacle was marked off from all the tents of Israel. He drew a fence round it , which was not to be broken through. He set it apart for Himself , just as He set six days apart for man. It was to be His day, not man's; just as the altar was His altar , the laver ,His laver , not man's. And when ,or where , or how has God,s claim to a Sabbath been renounced? When has His setting apart been done away? Men speak and act as if this 'blessing' this 'sanctification ' of the day were a yoke not to be borne ; as if the Sabbath were a curse and not a blessing

Romans . 11: 33. O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! how unsearchable are his judgements and his ways past finding out! 34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord ? or who hath been his counsellor ? 35. Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again ? 36 . For of him , and through him , and to him , are all things: to whom be glory forever . Amen.

Man was formed . The smile of innocence met the smile of Heaven. The heart was only love - the worship only praise - But man was a creature, and a creature must obey. God cannot be but on a throne of rule . But obedience shall not be a heavy yoke . Only one command is issued. Only one tree forbidden. To transgress is death. Who can bear this penalty , and think that sin is a trivial fault - easily to be pardoned - soon to be effaced? The slightest sin is the soul in open rebellion. It casts God from the heart. It strives to tread Him in the dust . It avows the godless principle of independence . It proves that self has erected the idol of self-love. Can God then connive at evil ? Ah. no. The whole of Deity abhors it . Therefore to transgress is death . Such is the penalty . Who can fathom the depths of misery in this curse ? It involves the instant withdrawal of heavenly presence It denounces withering to the core of every spiritual faculty and perception. It warns that to

Anselm in his Meditations ,said, that all his life was damnable for sin committed, or unprofitable for good omitted, and at last concludes, "Oh, what then remains but in our whole life, to lament the sins of our whole life." So much the more God has been displeased with the blackness of sin, the more will he be pleased with the blushing of the sinner. (Bernard) They that do not now burn in zeal against sin, must before long burn in Hell for sin.