allurements on every side, they stopped their eyes and ears, and quickening their pace, cried-" Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity." A striking reproof to us, who too often loiter and gaze, until we begin to covet those vanities, to which, as Christians, we are dead." 1 Is it asked-" What will most effectually turn my eyes from vanity?" Not the seclusion of contemplative retirement-not the relinquishment of our lawful connexion with the world-but the transcendent beauty of Jesus unveiled to our eyes, and fixing our hearts. This alone is effectual. Thus " may our eyes be turned from vanity" in the midst of its most glittering forms! The sight of the "pearl of great price" dims the lustre of the "goodliest pearls" of earth. While, therefore, we are diligently seeking the preventing grace of God to keep us from evil, and his quickening grace to urge us forward in a steady, active, habitual progress; specially let the eye and the heart be kept looking to Jesus." Then will the world, with all its flowery paths of vanity, appear a dreary wilderness, and Christ and heaven the only objects of desire" He that shutteth his eyes from seeing evil, he shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him, his water shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off."3-Precious promises to those that flee from temptation, and desire to walk in the ways of God! 66 1 See Col. iii. 2, 3. 2 Matt. xiii. 46. 3 Isa. xxxiii. 15-17. F 38. Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. and " IF the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, a "treasure, a "strong confidence," 3 a fountain of life; "4 how wise, how rich, how safe, how happy is he that "is devoted to" it. Blessed indeed is he with every spiritual blessing— with the favour of his God,5 the secret manifestations of his love, the teaching of his grace,7 and the mercy of his covenant. This principle, so far from being the spirit of bondage, flows into the heart from a sense of forgiveness--"There is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared."9 It is also invigorated by an interest in the privileges of the gospel. For “receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved," we are exhorted to seek for " grace whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear.10 It also completes the character of a "servant of God— devoted to his fear" in an obedience of choice, of reverence, and of love; "joining himself to the Lord to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servant." 11 'Yes, gracious Lord, I had rather be bound than loosed. I only wished to be loosed from the bonds of sin, that I might be bound to thy service for ever. My heart is treacherous, and I care not what bonds are laid on me. "O Lord, truly I am thy servant, thou hast loosed my bonds; 12" I am "devoted to thy fear." Is this my desire, my mind, my determination, my character? Then let me come and plead my title to an interest in the promises of the word-rich and free, "exceeding great and precious"1 -all mine—“ yea and amen in Christ Jesus; "' 2 let me plead at the throne of grace, that every word may be "stablished" in my victory over sin, advancing knowledge of Christ, experience of his love, conformity to his image, and finally in my preservation in him unto eternal life. But I must inquire how far has the fear of God operated with me as a safeguard from sin, 3 and an habitual rule of conduct? 4 I observe that David's confidence in the promises of God, far from lessening his jealousy over himself, only made him more "devoted to the fear" of God. And if my assurance be well-grounded, it will be ever accompanied with holy fear; so that my progress may be known by my standing more in awe of God's word; "5 having a more steady abhorrence of sin, and a dread of "grieving the holy Spirit of God." Thus this filial fear produces a holy confidence; while confidence serves to strengthen fear; and their mutual influence quickens our devotedness to the work of the Lord. 66 It is interesting to remark, that the Christian privilege of assurance is not confined to the New Testament dispensation. In David's pleading to have the "word of his God stablished unto him," 6 he settles himself upon the tried grounds of faith. And this direct act of faith, as it regards God in Christ, his engagements, and his promises, cannot be too confident. The promises are made to the whole church, that we might 1, 2 Peter i. 4. 2 2 Cor. i. 20. 3 Genesis xxxix. 9. Neh. v. 15. Prov. xvi. 6. 4 Proverbs xxiii. 17. 6 Mark this petition drawn out by David into a full pleading with his God, 2 Samuel vii. 25, 28, 29. The expression also of the same confidence will afterwards be noticed, verse 49. each look for our part and interest in them. And much of the power and comfort of faith is realized in the personal application of them to our individual cases, and bringing them before the throne of grace as the subject matter and arguments of our pleading. The plea here employed is familiar with the believer's experience- Stablish thy word unto "thy servant.' Thou hast bought me with a precious price: thou hast made me thine: thou hast subdued my heart to thyself, so that it is now "devoted to thy fear." Whatsoever, therefore, thy covenant has provided for my sanctification, my humiliation, my chastisement, my present and everlasting consolation-" Stablish this word; let it be fulfilled in me, for I am "thy servant devoted to thy fear." 2 39. Turn away my reproach which I fear; for thy judgments are good. THERE is a reproach that we have no cause to fear, but rather to glory in; that which is stamped by our Lord as one of the chief privileges of his Gospel,1 and which his faithful people have ever reposed in as the badge of their profession. But the "reproach" of bringing dishonour upon the name of his God-David had cause to "fear;"3 and the removal of it was with him a subject of the deepest anxiety and the most 1 Matthew v. 10-12. Comp. Phil. i. 29. 2 Acts v. 41; xxiv. 5; xxviii. 22. Heb. xiii. 13. 1 Peter iv. 12-16. 32 Sam, xii. 14. The same deprecation of "reproach" appears to have been strongly felt by Saul-"I have sinned; yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel." (1 Sam. xv. 30.) But how different the principle in these two instances under a similar trial. The one tremblingly alive, that the name of God might not be reproached through his shameful fall. The other earnest only to secure his own reputation. 66 importunate prayer. The fear of this "reproach" is doubtless felt by the most established believers, while it is overruled for his habitual dependence upon an Almighty upholding power. "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe"-will be the constant suppliIcation of one that fears the Lord, and fears himself. Professors of religion do not perhaps sufficiently consider that the enemies of the gospel are ever watching for their halting; "2 else why among many of them this remissness in removing all occasions of " reproach" on account of inconsistency of temper or conversation? None therefore, that feel their own weakness, the continual apprehension of danger, the tendency of their heart to backslide from God, and to disgrace" that worthy name by which they are called," 3 will think this prayer unseasonable or unnecessary-" Turn away my reproach which I fear." Perhaps also those who have been exposed in spiritual conflicts, to "the fiery darts of the wicked one," may find this a suitable prayer in such seasons of trial. Sometimes when Satan has succeeded in beguiling a child of God-when he has drawn him into some worldly compliance or weakened his confidence, by tempting him to look to himself for some warrant of acceptance, (in all which suggestions he is aided and abetted by his treacherous heart) this " accuser of the brethren " will then turn back upon him, and, changing himself into "an angel of light," reproach him with those very falls, into which he had successfully led him; so that frequently a long and black catalogue is presented to the harassed soul with a view of adding to his distress. Bunyan does not fail to enumerate these " reproaches" as amongst the most harassing assaults of Apollyon. In his despe 1 Verse 117. 2 Jer. xx. 10. 3 James ii. 7. |