to have little with a devout spirit, than abundance, and " lean- ness of soul withal." God shewed that it was not from any want of power that he did not feed them every day with flesh ; but because he knew that it would be productive of no good to their souls. Think not that it is from any want of love or power that he suffers you to be tried in a variety of ways. He could easily carry you on without any trials, and give you all that the most carnal heart could desire. But trials are the fruits of his love : he desires to instruct you in every part of your duty ; that you may " know both how to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." " Learn then in every thing to be content," and to say from your hearts in all things, " Not my will, but thine be done."]
3. Expect from God all that is truly good for you —
[Moses himself staggered at the promise, when God said, that all the people should feed on flesh for a whole month1 : but God said to him, " Is the Lord's hand waxed short ? Thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or notm." His promises to us also are " exceeding great and
precious," both in relation to our bodies and oiu* souls
Let us never presume to " limit the Holy One of Israel," as though any thing which he has promised, were either too great, or too good, for him to give. The trials which he sends us, are often sent on purpose that we may see the exceeding riches of his grace in our deliverance. For temporal things, let us depend entirely on his good providence ; and for spiritual things, on his all-sufficient grace. In Christ Jesus there is a fulness of all that we can want ; and " out of his fulness we may all receive " from day to day ]
1 ver. 21, 22. ™ ver. 23.