In all our services we should look to God ; for our aim in our works shew what they are, whether they come from servants or no. As the stamp upon a token makes it, if there be a good stamp on it ; it is not the matter that makes it current. A stamp on silver makes it current as well as gold, though the metal of gold be better. So when things are done, because God commands them, to please God, as a service to him, this makes it good that we are servants indeed, that the relation is good. When we go about the service of the church or country, or place we live, in, to think I do God service here, and do it as a service to God, who will be honoured and served in our service to others, herein I am a good servant. Though the matter of my service be a common, base, and mean matter, yet it hath a stamp upon it. It is God's will. God hath placed and planted me here, and he will be served of me in this condition at this time, though the matter of it be an ordinary thing. I know it may help the good of the church. It hath reference to the will of God and the good of the church. Thus if we do what we do with an eye to God in the place where he hath set us, that we do it as to him, we are God's servants, whatsoever the work is.
And let us remember oft to think of it, to bring it in our prayers, ' Master,' say they when they were ready to be drowned, ' dost thou not care that we perish ? ' Mark iv. 38. They put him in mind of the relation they were in to him. So when we can put God in mind of our relation — ' Father, we are thy children ;' ' Lord, we are thy servants' — it will strengthen our faith and hope of all good. Will a master sufier his servant to miscarry in his service ? Surely God will never turn away true-hearted servants that have served him a long time. It puts us- in mind of our duty, and serves to strengthen our faith ; for as it is a word of service on our part, so it is a promising word of all good from God. Doth he expect that masters should be good to their servants because they have a Master in heaven ? and will not the great Master of heaven be good to his servants ? You see how he follows the relation.
' Prosper thy servant this day.' What is included in this word ' prosper f*
It includes not only success, which is the main upshot of all, but all that tends to good success. * Prosper thy servant this day ;' that is, direct thy * That is, = ' make terms.' — G.
102 TDE SPIRITUAL FAVOUKITE
servant this day how to do and to carry himself. And likewise assist thy servant. When thou shalt direct him, assist him by thy strength, direct him by thy wisdom, prosper him with thy grace, give him good success in all. It includes direction, and assistance, and good success. In that ho saith, ' prosper thy servant,' it includes these things.
First of all, that in ourselves there is neither direction, nor wisdom, nor ahilitij en(nt'ih for success. We have not power in ourselves to bring thing3 to a comfortable issue. So it enforceth self-denial, which is a good disposi- tion when we come to God in prayer.
2. And then again, to attrilnite to God all, both wisdom, and strength, and goodness, and all. Here is a giving to God the glory of all, when he saith, ' Prosper thy servant this day.'
3. Then in the third place, hero is a dependence njwn God ; not only acknowledging these things to be in God, but it implies a dependence upon God for these : ' Prosper me. Lord.' I cannot prosper myself, and thou who art the Creator hast wisdom, and strength, and goodness enough. Therefore I depend upon thee, upon thy wisdom for direction, and upon thy strength for assistance. I depend upon thy goodness and all for a blessed issue. Here is dependence.
4. Again, in the fourth place, here is a recovimendation of all hy jn-ayer : a recommendation of his inward dependence upon God for all. Now, Lord, ' prosper thy servant.'
So that when we come to God for any prosperity and good success, let us remember that we bring self-denial, and an acknowledgment of all excel- lency to be in God, to guide, and direct, and assist, and bless us. And remember to depend upon him, to cast ourselves on him, to bring our souls to close with the strong, and wise, and gracious God, that God and our souls may close together. And then commend all by prayer * to cast ourselves and our affairs, and to roll ourselves,' as the Scripture saith, and all upon God, Ps. Iv. 22 ; and then we shall do as the holy man Nehemiah did here, we shall desire to good purpose that God would ' prosper us.' Indeed, ' it is not in man to guide and direct his own way,' Jer. x. 23. We are dark creatures, and we have not wisdom enough. And we are weak creatures. "We have no strength. "We are nothing in our own strength. And for success, alas ! a thousand things may hinder us from it. For success is nothing but the application of all things to a tit issue, and foreseeing all things that may hinder, and a removing of them. Now who can do this but God ?