370 GOD ACKNOWLEDGED. character he reveals himself to us in Christ Jesus, and presses us with his love; and shall we resist? God as our benefactor. Every moment he provides for us, defends us from danger, and comforts us in sorrow. What is it to acknowledge him ?-It is to give him our hearts. There the fear, and love, and allegiance must begin; and if we yield up ourselves and our hearts to him, it will be the sweetest and happiest moment of our life, and the beginning of a course that will never end. It is to confess him with our mouth. Out of the abundance of the heart we will give him a place in our conversation, own him before men, and commend him to their attention. It is to aim at his glory. In all our actions, we must have an eye to the divine glory and the good of others. In what circumstances should we do it?" In all thy ways." We should acknowledge God in our business transactions. These should be lawful, and in accordance with the laws of God and man. In entering upon them, we should consult God; and in order that they may be successful, we should seek his blessing. In the discharge of religious duties. Let us realize his presence in the closet, in the family, and in the sanctuary. In all our trials. In adversities, in personal affliction, in relative distress, in painful bereavement, let us see the hand of God, and acknowledge his right to chasten us. What will be the result?" He shall direct thy paths." We have a journey to pursue, through a great wilderness, to a land of rest. He will give us guidance. He will lead us by a way that we know not, and keep us from turning aside. He will give us strength to carry us on. "If thy way be rough, thy shoes will be iron and brass;" and though often faint, he will enable us to pursue our journey. He will bring us to a safe termination. All is well that ends well; and what though the trials of the GOD ACKNOWLEDGED. 371 journey be great, if we reach home at last? "Thou wilt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." AUGUST 15. The Curse of Meroz. 'Curse ye Meroz (said the angel of the Lord), curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty."-Judges, v. 23. THE Lord has enemies-they must be resisted and overcome every one must assist in the warfare-and those who do not will be cursed. At the The Lord has enemies.-They are numerous. time referred to here, all the kings and people of Canaan hated God's people, and eagerly desired their destruction. In our day, the cause of God has numerous foes, for threefourths of the inhabitants of the world are in favour of sin and idolatry. They are mighty. The enemies of Israel were sons of giants, and had chariots of iron. The enemies of God and his people are still mighty: "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord." They are united. However much the enemies of God differ among themselves, they are at one in opposing his cause. Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, idolaters, infidels, and worldlings are all united foes to Christianity. They must be resisted and overcome.-Deborah and her ten thousand, though weak and contemptible, must fight with hundreds of thousands. The faithful band in the Christian church must aim at the conquest of the world. The soldiers of Christ have a good leader; they must be animated with his courage, and be strong in faith, and they will overcome. They must seek and expect help 372 THE CURSE OF MEROZ. from God. Without God they are weak, but through him they are mighty and invincible. Every one must assist in the warfare.-Some must directly attack the enemy. Ministers of the gospel especially must stand in the front of the battle, and all who can must countenance and aid them. Some must contribute to carry on the warfare. From love to Christ, and for the salvation of souls, sacrifices must be made, and money paid down, to send forth the bravest men to fight the battles of the Lord. All must pray. "Ye that make mention of the Lord, give him no rest, till he establish and make Jerusalem a praise in the earth." Surely God expects every man to do all he can. Those who do not will be cursed.-Those who profess to receive benefit from Christ, and yet do nothing for him, are exposed to this curse. The inhabitants of Meroz were not among the enemies of God, but they did nothing along with the friends; hence they were cursed. Those who let the cause of Christ alone without helping it, expose themselves to this curse. It is not a curse from man, but from God. The angel of the Lord is Christ, and how terrible, how withering must a curse be from him! It is a bitter curse, a treble curse, so awful that no calamity on earth can give us any idea of it. AUGUST 16. The Kind Shepherd. "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."-Isa, xl. 11. LET us think of Christ's character-his work-his interest in the young and his regard for the feeble. Christ's character." He shall feed his flock like a THE KIND SHEPHERD. 373 shepherd." He is the shepherd of souls, the good shepherd, the great shepherd, and the chief shepherd. Every one of his flock is well known to him. He is able to supply all their needs, and he is anxious continually to do them good. He greatly loves his sheep, and "calleth them by name, and leadeth them out." The fire of love burned in his bosom from eternity; and no rebellion, no unworthiness, no guilt, could make it burn less brightly, or quench its flame; and when the proper time came, its reality was evidenced by his giving his life for the sheep. Christ's work." He shall feed his flock." He shall be present with them-never leaving them to themselves, but watching over them with tender solicitude. "Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." He shall provide for their wants: "Their bread shall be given. them, and their water shall be sure." He shall nourish them with the sincere milk of the word; he shall govern them, maintaining peace, and keeping down the unruly. His yoke is easy, yet it must be borne ; his commandments are not grievous, yet they must be obeyed. He defends them from enemies. Enemies are always watchful, that they may enter and devour the flock; but Jesus restrains and conquers them. His interest in the young." He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom." The lambs are attractive and hopeful, and Jesus loves them; they are tender and weak, and he nourishes them, and helps them; they have many dangers, and are easily injured, and he carries and protects them; they are easily vexed and overcome, and he comforts them in his bosom. "I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me." He cares for the young as much now as when he was on earth; for his servants have this special charge: "Feed my lambs." His regard for the feeble." He shall gently lead those that are with young," or have young. He feels for the 374 THE KIND SHEPHERD. weak, and for parents who have the charge of children. He does not drive them before him, but leads them, and deals gently with them. However peculiar their trials, their temptations, and wants, the Great Shepherd proportions his regards. Let his unparalleled love, his tender sympathies, his tears, his prayers, his agonies, and dying groans, come home to our hearts. Then shall we say, "The Lord is our Shepherd." AUGUST 17. The Fallen Christian Restored. "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."-Luke, xxii. 31, 32 In this striking case of Peter, we have the Christian's warning-the Christian's security-and the Christian's duty. The Christian's warning.-"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you." This warning originated in Christ's love to him. "Having loved his own, he loved them unto the end." He knew beforehand the perilous scenes through which Peter must pass, and with affectionate earnestness he warned him. Peter himself was ignorant, insensible, and self-confident: Jesus knew this, and hence he warned him. "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." Satan desires to have believers for his own; and because he is a foe unseen, he is all the more dangerous. He has little trouble with sinners; but for believers he has to lay his subtlest snares. His design is to sift them as wheat. By blasts of temptation he winnows them, and tries whether they are wheat or chaff. Let us beware of trusting in ourselves. Let us resist the devil, and he will flee from us. The Christian's security.—“I have prayed for thee, that |