Application.
Use 1. Information ; It informs us of two things.
1. Of the great love of God, that he would be our God, and take us for his people. The apostle saith, Heb. vi. 13, 'Because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself.' So when God had no greater thing to give us, he gave us himself. There is nothing more infinite and glorious than himself, and he hath bestowed himself on us. If we had all things else, and should want God, it would not perfect us. Oh, the greatness of his love, that he would take us to be his, and that he would be ours ! Christ shed his blood for us to this end. Tliese are the two great things that set forth the love of God ; the covenant, and the death of Christ ; the death of Christ, by which he got a new title to us ; and the covenant, by which we have an interest in him.
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2. Of the happiness of the children of God above wicked men. Wicked men may have Ishmael's blessing and Esau's portion ; they may have the world to be theirs, but they have not God to be theirs, as the saints have. You think it is a great matter when a carnal man can say, This house is mine, this estate is mine, this lordship is mine, this kingdom is mine ; but a christian can say more, This God is mine, this Christ is mine, this Holy Spirit is mine. Alas ! riches, honours, and worldly greatness are poor things to God, made ours by a covenant interest ; these things may suit better with our present iuimours, but they can never yield us solid contentment.
Use 2. Caution. Take heed of those things that may withdraw God from us. Sin in the general makes God stand at a distance from v.s: Isa. lix. 2, ' Your iniquities have separated between you and your (lod.' It robbeth us even of God himself; and in robbing a man of God, it robbeth him of all other things ; for in God we have all ; his favour is life ; better never have been born than to live out of the favour of God : Ps. Ixiii. 3, ' Thy lovingkindness is better than life. He is house and home to us : Ps. xc. 1, ' Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations.' He is wealth, and honour, and ])leasure to us, his face maketh heaven — 'In thy presence there is ful- ness of joy,' Ps. xvi. 11. Let us then walk more watchfully : especially let us take heed of making bold ^4th God to please men. Doth your happiness depend upon them or upon God ? Upon having their favour or God's favour ? Carnal compliance is a very provoking sin, and most contrary to the duties of the covenant.
Use 8. Exhortation. It exhorteth us (1.) To take God for our portion ; (2.) To make it sure that God is our portion.
1. To take God for our portion. We are known by the choice of our portion. There is nothing distinguisheth man and man so much as this — what do we choose for our happiness and portion ? A worldly man is not dainty in his choice, anything contents him, that which comes next to hand, which yields a present satisfaction. But a godly man cannot be so contented ; he is more dainty in his choice ; he must have a portion to satisfy the desires of that divine nature that is infused into him — a portion that must endure for ever ; he must have his soul contented, his conscience as well as his affections ; he must liave something that will stead him when he comes to die, otherwise lie cannot be contented. Let me urge two or three arguments.
[1.] There is none so tit as God to be our portion ; he is the best and greatest, and he is the most durable and lasting portion.
(1.) He is the best portion ; there is none greater than he, none better than he. It is never well with us till we subscribe Christ's conclusion : Mat. xix. 17, ' There is none good but one, that is God/ God is good of himself, the fountain of good ; other things, what- ever good they have is of him, and it is infinitely greater and better in him than in them ; and that small good that other things have is not to hold us on them, but to lead us to God who is originally good, infinitely good, and communicatively good. He is good of himself, which nothing else is — good in himself, yea, goodness itself. The heart is never in a good frame till we see that none is good but God — no good above him, besides him, or beyond him ; unless it cometh from him, it is not
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good. Oh ! be not of a Gadarene spirit, to prefer a seeming good before a real, the stream before the foimtaiu, the shadow before the substance.
(2.) He is the most durable portion. The good things of this life are perishing ; our life is short and they serve for this life only ; they do not go down with us to the grave; it were well if they did continue to the grave. We are mortals, and they are more mortal — * Eiches make themselves wings ; they fly away as an eagle towards heaven,' Prov. xxiii. 5. There are many wings by which an estate flies away ; there is the winds, the sea, the fire, the bad debtor, the displea- sure of the magistrate, and the fury of the times. Experience hath taught us, that these things are not mere speculations, but real things. Many a man's estate hath died before himself, and then he hath lived like a neglected stalk when the flower is gone. But now God endures for ever ; he was before the world was, and he will be when the world shall be no more. God will stand us in stead in death and after death.