171. My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes. How happy is it to bring to God a heart as large in praise as in prayer! The answer of the supplication for spiritual understanding and deliverance naturally issues in the sacrifice of praise. Guilt had sealed David's lips, while living in sin, and restrained alike the utterance of praise and prayer. But when awakened to a sense of his sin, how earnest were his cries!" Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise." And if guilt or unbelief has made us dumb, his petitions will tune our hearts to the "songs of Zion." When the Lord has taught us in his statutes the revelation of himself as having given his dear Son for us and to us, "the tongue of the dumb is made to sing,"_" Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!"3 And do I not remember "the time of love," when I was "a brand plucked out of the fire"-a redeemed sinner-a pardoned rebeldestined for a seat on the throne of God-indulged with a taste, and assured of the completion of heavenly bliss? This was a work worthy of God—a work, which none but God could have wrought. What mercy is this! Everlasting! Unchangeable! Let me cast myself daily upon it; yea, let me bury myself in it! What gratitude is demanded! "My lips shall utter praise, now that he has taught me his statutes." "O Lord, I will praise thee; though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me."4 Again-I seemed to have sunk beyond all help. No means, no ministers, no providences, could reach my extremity. All were "physicians of no value;"s tried and tried again, but tried in vain. But "in weakness" thoroughly felt "strength was made perfect." The threatening clouds were dispersed; the breaches were healed; the veil of unbelief was rent. "The right hand of the Lord had brought mighty things to pass"-"He hath spoken unto me, and himself hath done it"s and it is "marvellous in our eyes." Let my stammering "lips utter praise." What a display of power! It is the spark preserved in the ocean unquenched, the drop in the flames unconsumed-the feather in the storm unshaken. "Who is a God like unto thee!" "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory."10 And again I was perplexed in a dark and bewildered path. Every dispensation appeared to frown upon me. One dark hour had blotted out all the recollections of my former comforts; and it was as if I never could, never should, rejoice again. But little did I think how the Lord was "abounding towards me in all wisdom and prudence"-how his arrows were sharpened with love-how he was "humbling me, and proving me, to know what was in my 1 Psalm li. 12, 15. 4 Isaiah xii. 1. 2 Isaiah xxxv. 6. 5 Job xiii. 4. 7 Psalm cxviii. 16, prayer-book version. 9 Psalm cxviii. 23. 3 2 Cor. ix. 15. 8 Isaiah xxxviii. 15. 10 Micah vii. 18. Psalm cxv. 1. 11 Eph. i. 8. heart," and in the moment of chastening was speaking to me-I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord: thoughts of peace, and not of evil, "to give you an expected end."2 What a display of "wisdom!" "My lips shall utter praise," for if I "should hold my peace, the stones would immediately cry out." 193 The thought what I was before my conversion—what I have been since-what I am now-overwhelms me with shame and with praise. "Lord, how is it that thou shouldst have manifested to me, as thou hast not unto the world?" "Who am I, O Lord God, that thou hast brought me hitherto!" And how much more "that thou hast spoken of thy servant for a great while to come!"4 For thou hast prepared for me a happy eternity in thy unclouded presence. Should not then my praise be bubbling up as from a fountain-pouring forth as from a rich treasure house? Should not my instrument-if not always employed-be always kept in tune? Yes-when I am most deploring my sins, never let me fail to thank the Lord, that he has not taken away his truth utterly -that he has left me clinging to some twig of hope, instead of leaving me to find-what many who look very calm have foundthe depth of this precipice of despair. And has not the time been with you-believer-when you have been almost ready to give up all for lost, and to say, "Evil be thou my good," and when the thought flashed light and comfort, 'While I am struggling between despondency and rebellion, and too hard-too cold-too discouraged to look up, my blessed Saviour is pitying and succoring me in my struggle. Then let me put off despair at least till to-morrow' ---and before to-morrow's dawn the cloud was swept away. Ought not we then to glorify our Saviour-a privilege as high as to enjoy him-nay-the very means of increasing our enjoyment of him, in the active excitement of my love, and every grace for his sake. Let not the enemy rob me, as too often he has done, of my high privilege. Let me prize secret prayer. Let me be separated from an ensnaring world. Let me dread separation from my God -and if ever estranged from him, let me never rest, until by "receiving the atonement," always presented and accepted on my behalf, I once more walk in the light of his countenance. Let me then fix the eye of my faith, weak and dim as it may be, constantly upon Jesus. He must do all for me, in me, by me. He must "teach" me more and more of "the statutes" of my God, that my heart may be delightfully engaged with "my lips in uttering his praise." 172. My tongue shall speak of thy word; for all thy commandments are To speak of God and for him, whose heart and lips 1 Deuteronomy viii. 2. righteousness. him, will be the desire and delight of have been taught to "utter praise." 2 Jer. xxix. 11. 5 Psalm xlvi. M. R. 3 Luke xix. 40. 6 Matt. xii. 34. Yet alas! how seldom is "our conversation seasoned with grace 1221 So much of this poor world's nothing! So little of Jesus! If only five minutes can be redeemed for prayer-for Scripture-or for thought-let it be seized as an inestimable jewel. If we can pass five minutes less in foolish or ensnaring company, secure the advantage. If vain words are flowing up from the bottom, look on the restraint that represses them from our lips as a triumphant mercy. This active energy of Christian discipline will communicate a fragrance to our conversation, most acceptable to our Beloved Lord; and will make our "lips" enriching," feeding, and instructives to his church. And truly when we see how hardly men judge of him-how they count his "commandments grievous," and his ways "unequal," it will be delightful to bear our testimony, that "all his commandments are righteousness"-restraining the power of sin, and conforming the soul to his image. 4 "Lord, open thou my lips, that my tongue may speak of thy word." Honor me, O my God, by helping me to show, that "all thy commandments are righteousness." In our own atmosphere, and our own spirit, how often do we pour out our words without waiting on the Lord for unction and power-speaking of the things of God without his presence and blessing! Were we living fully in the atmosphere and breathing of prayer-enriched with habitual meditation in the word-how much more fluent would our tongue be to speak of his word "to the use of edifying!" It would be made really our own-known experimentally-and then how cheering, how enlivening the conversation of the man of God! His "light so shines before men, that" they are constrained to "glorify his Father which is in heaven."s Perhaps, believer, supposed inability, natural bashfulness, or want of seasonable opportunity may restrain your lips. But under most unfavorable circumstances something may generally be said or done in the service of God. And whilst it is well carefully to watch against the "talk of the lips, which tendeth only to penury;" beware, lest, through the scrupulous tenderness of conscience, "Satan get advantage" to shut the mouth of the faithful witnesses of God, and thus to weaken that cause, which it is your first desire to support.10 Guard against the influence of unbelief. Bring your weakness and inability daily to the Lord. Let any dreaded inconsistency of profession be searched out, examined, and lamented before him, and opposed in dependence on his grace; but never let it be made a covering for indolence, or supply fuel for despondency. Consider how your interest in a Divine Saviour makes your way open to bring all your wants to him. Be encouraged therefore to ask for the Spirit of God to guide your lips: that a poor weak sin 1 Col. iv. 6. 5 Prov. xv. 7. 8 Matt. v. 16. 2. Can. iv. 11. 6 Ezek. xviii. 25. 3 Prov. x. 20. 10 It was an excellent saying of Archbishop Usher, when in the society of his friends'A word of Christ before we part.' ner may be permitted to "show forth the praises of Him," who is surrounded with all the Hosts of Heaven. When however our silence has arisen from the too feeble assistance of our natural carelessness and indolence, the recollection of many important opportunities of glorifying our Saviour, lost beyond recall, may well excite the prayer-"Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God; and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness." Oh! to have the preciousness of souls deeply impressed upon our hearts! Oh! for that compassionate love, that would never suffer us to meet a fellow-sinner, without lifting up our hearts to God on his behalf: making an effort to win his soul to Christ : and manifesting an earnest desire for his salvation! What loss is there to our own souls in these neglected opportunities of blessing the souls of others! For never do we receive richer fruit to ourselves, than in the act or endeavor to communicate to others. The heart becomes enlarged by every practical exercise of Christian love. Yet much simplicity-much unction from above-much tenderness of heart-much wisdom combined with boldness-is needed in our daily conversation, that we may "make manifest the savor of the knowledge of Christ in every place ;" and specially that our very desires to bring sinners to the Gospel may proceed--not from a goading conscience, much less from pride and vain glory-but from the pure source of love to Christ and to our fellow-sinners. For even if we are as "full of matter" as Elihu3 was, nothing will be said for God-nothing, that will "minister grace to the hearers," unless the influence of the Divine Spirit fills our hearts, as "a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life,”—a blessing to all around us. may 173. Let thy hand help me: for I have chosen thy precepts. DAVID, having engaged himself to a bold profession of his God, now comes to seek his needful supply of "help."—" Let thine hand help me." And if we may come to the throne of grace," that we find "grace to help in time of need," when should we not come? For is not every moment a "time of need," such as may quicken us to flee to the "strong tower," whither "the righteous runneth, and is safe?" Besieged without; betrayed within : "wrestling against flesh and blood," and yet not against flesh and blood only; disputing every inch of ground, yet often discouraged by the little ground we seem to gain; surely we need all the help of Omnipotence to sustain us in the tremendous conflict. plead our "choice of his precepts," in looking for his "help," David had before "taken the testimonies of God as his heritage" -including all the precious promises of the Gospel, extending to every necessity of time, and to every prospect for eternity. He We may now confesses his obligation-" in choosing the precepts”—a happy choice—the influence of the Spirit upon his heart.' This choice is the distinctive mark of the Lord's people-the exercise of a well-instructed and deliberate judgment--prompt obedience in the simplicity of faith. It is the choice of all the precepts -no other than the voluntary acknowledgment of our baptismal obligations. Many carnal suggestions offer themselves, the moment that the purpose is forming into the choice. "The things that were gain to us," and which now must be "counted loss for Christ," (should we allow their weight in the balance at this crisis) will bring much hesitation and perplexity. Conferences "with flesh and blood" are most subtle hindrances to Christian determination.1 'What will the world say? If I go too far, I shall give offence; I shall lose all my influence-and blast all my prospects of eventual benefit to those around me. The apprehension also of losing the affection, and of incurring the displeasure, of those whom my heart holds dear, is most fearful. And then, this sacrifice is too costly to make; that pleasure too hard to resign.' Such thoughts -the injections of the tempter-are ever at the door; and even when effectual resistance is offered, the struggle is often most seBut it is such a mighty help in this conflict, when one desire has taken sole possession of the heart-"Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ;"5 when we are so crucified to worldly influence, whether of pleasure, profit, fear, or esteem, as to be ready to act upon the resolution- "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh." Now the heavenly beauty of the religion of the Gospel breaks in upon us. vere. Experience of our own weakness, and of the great power of the world, is gradually preparing us for victory over it. We shall then most specially find our happiness in losing our own will; and our Master's cross will be a delightful burden-like wings to a bird, or sails to a ship-assisting, instead of retarding, our course. The more we trust to his help and guidance in everything, the more we shall be able to do, and the more delightful will his service be to us. The want of a determined choice is the secret of the halting profession that prevails among us. A compromise is attempted with the world. "The offence of the cross" begins to" cease." A middle path of serious religion is marked out, divested of what is called needless offensiveness-forgetting, that the religion that pleases the world will never be acceptable with God; nor can the religion that pleases God be ever accommodated to the inclination of the world. Oh! we shall do well to consider, whether the way of "the Lord's precepts" may not be found too hard, too strait, too unfrequented -whether we are prepared to brave the pointed finger and whispered scoff of the ungodly-and, perhaps, the mistaken opposition 1 See Ezek. xi. 19, 20. 4 Compare Gal. i. 16. 2 Isaiah lvi. 4. 3 Phil. iii. 7. 6 2 Cor. v. 16. |