to the word of God"-specially thankful for its heavenly light, guiding to the "fountain that is opened for sin and for uncleanness." Let us also under the same Divine light seek for the daily sanctifying influence of the Spirit of God.1 "Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults." 2 6 Cleanse the thoughts of my heart by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit.' 3 10. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. WE lose much of the comfort of our religion, and greatly obscure the glory of our profession, by neglecting to bring our whole heart" to the work of the Lord. When sin is vigorous, and our spiritual affections are dull, and various circumstances combine to put difficulties in the way of prayer; this is a crisis with the soul, when strong faith is needed to overcome and to persevere. But then it is, that the soul too commonly yields to the difficulty, and contents itself either with heartless complainings, or with just sufficient exertion to quiet the voice of conscience, and produce a delusive peace within. But remember that the Lord will not be found thus. His promise is not to such seekers as these; and if we are satisfied with such a state as this, we must look for a very scanty measure of spiritual success, accompanied with the total absence of spiritual enjoyment. This however was not David's spirit. In the true spirit of Christian confidence he could appeal "With my whole heart have I sought thee." And this assurance, so far from producing self-confidence in the soul, will, so far as it is genuine, be invariably attended with peculiar apprehensions of our own weak3 Prayer Book. 1 Zech. xiii. 1. 2 Psalm xix. 12. ness, such as give constant occasion for the prayer-"O let me not wander from thy commandments." Yet the feeblest desire and attempt to seek the Lord, is the Spirit's rising beam in the heart, "a day of small things" not to be "despised." It is distinguished from every other principle by the simplicity of its object-"This one thing I do." "One thing have I desired of the Lord; that will I seek after."2 My God! my Saviour!" with my whole heart have I sought thee. The desire of my soul is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee. With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early." "3 And it is when the soul is thus conscious of "following the Lord fully," that there is a peculiar dread of wandering. In a careless or half-hearted state, wanderings are not watched, so long as they do not lead to any open deviation from the way. Secret prayer will be hurried over, worldly thoughts unresisted, waste of time in frivolous pursuits indulged, without much concern. But it is not so, when the heart is fully in pursuit of its object. There is a carefulness lest wandering thoughts should become habitual. There is a resistance of the first step that might lead into a devious path. The soul remembers the "wormwood and the gall," 4 "the roaring lion." and the devouring wolf; and in the recollection of the misery of its former wandering, dreads any departure from the Shepherd's fold. This is indeed a blessed state of mind, and one which the flock of Christ should seek to cherish with godly jealousy. Yet let it be remembered, that daily progress in the heavenly walk is not maintained by the yesterday's supply of grace. It must flow from a fresh supply continually drawn in 2 Phil. iii. 13. Psalm xxvii. 4. 4 Lam. iii. 19. 1 Zech. iv. 10. by humble and dependent prayer, such as"O let me not wander from thy commandments.”— Lord, I feel my heart so prone to wander. My affections are often scattered to the ends of the earth. "Unite my heart to fear thy name." 1 Concentrate every thought, every desire, in thyself, as the one object of attraction.' 11. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. WHAT an aggregate of guilt and misery is comprehended in this short word "sin"-the greatest curse that ever entered the universe of God, and the parent of every other curse! Its guilt is aggravated beyond the conception of thought. Injury to a Superior -a Father-a Sovereign! It seems impossible to rise in our conception, so as to give an adequate idea of its infinite malignity. Its power is misery, wherever it extends-in the heart-in the family-in the world. In eternity its power is unrestrained. Sometimes the death-bed scene casts a fearful gleam of light upon "the worm that never dieth, and the fire that never shall be quenched; "2 but what besides experience can develope its fullgrown horrors? How supremely important therefore to secure the object of our preservation from sin ! and how wisely adapted are the means to the end! "Thy word," (says the believer, who knows the sinfulness of his own heart, and the inefficacy of any efforts of his own to bring it into subjection)" thy word have I hid in mine heart" there it lies as my treasure, which I would not lose, and my rule, which 1 Psalm yi, 11, 2 Mert ix. 44. I would not transgress.' Not however, that every acquaintance with the word proves an effectual safeguard from sin. In some instances, indeed, Satan shuts out its entrance altogether, or taketh away that which was sown. Transient impressions of its power are equally uninfluential for permanent benefit. In many cases also is it "choked by the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things; and it becometh unfruitful.” But whenever it falls on good ground, "the honest and good heart" "hides it, keeps it, and brings forth fruit with patience, unto perfection." Here it "dwells richly in all wisdom," as a treasury to be resorted to, when need and occasion require as a principle of holiness, a covering from sin. In this view it is recommended by one who had well studied its uses, and acquainted himself with its value-" My son, let them not" (the divine precepts) "depart from thine eyes keep sound wisdom and discretion. So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble." 2 David also gives us the same experience of the power of this safeguard By the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer." 3 And it was probably the recollection of many instances of preservation, united with a sense of continual danger, that suggested the prayer Order my steps in thy word; and let not any iniquity have dominion over me,” 4 Let us take a few illustrations of the incalculable blessing of thus "hiding the word in the heart." How does the word resist some insinuating bait of 1 Luke viii. 15, with the whole parable. C pleasure, or some entangling claim of business, that was likely to draw back the heart to the world. "No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."1 Does the soul doubt the extent or application of mercy to its case? The word says" Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out."2 Thus, when hid in the heart, it is a preservative from unbelief. Again the unbelieving believer, (if the expression may be allowed,) is alarmed by ridicule or persecution; but what says his Saviour's word ?- If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated "3 you." He fears that he shall never hold out unto the end; but here is suggested a most encouraging word for his support -“ He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." 5 He trembles lest his sins should rise up to his condemnation; but the word again speaks--“ the blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God cleanseth from all sin." 3 And then as to duties. Let his Saviour's word rebuke his indolence in spiritual services. "What? could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.' Let the sorrowful story of his agony in the garden, and his death on the cross, be treasured up in the heart, that sin may appear yet more exceeding sinful.—But how is the word to gain entrance into hearts like ours? How shall it be "hid" in so unkindly a soil? No power of man surely could plant it there. The Holy Spirit's almighty agency must be diligently sought; for in proportion as we are filled with his gracious influences, shall we be armed, as was our Master, for the effectual resistance of our spiritual temptation.7 356 |