3. It paves the way to all other good —
[Earthly blessings may come alone : but the favour of God brings along with it every other blessing that God can bestow. Even earthly things, as far as they are needful, are " added to those who seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness ;" and we need scarcely say what peace, and joy, and love, and holiness in all its branches, are brought into the soul in the train of a reconciled God. We may confidently say with Paul, " All things are yours, if ye are Christ's'^."]
4. It will never cloy —
[There * Ps. xxi. 1 — 6.
^ Ps. cxliv. ) in the close of which, David corrects, as it were, what he had said in the two preceding verses.
« 2 Cor. vi. 10. * 1 Cor. iii. 21—23.
115 PSALMS, IV. 6. [3tJ4.
[There is no earthly gratification which may not be enjoyed to satiety : but who was ever weary of the Divine presence ? in whom did a sense of God's pardoning love ever excite disgust ? A man " in a fulness of earthly sufficiency may be in straits* :" and it not unfrequently happens, that the rich have less comfort in their abundance tlian the poor in their meaner and more scanty pittance. But " the blessing of the Lord maketh rich, and addeth no sorrow with it*^^:*' the man who possesses it has not his enjoyment lessened by repetition or repletion ; but, on the con- trary, has his capacities enlarged in proportion as the communi- cations of God's favour are enlarged towards him.}
5, It will never end — -
[Whatever we possess here, we must soon bid farewell to it ; whether our enjoyment be intellectual or corporeal, it must soon come to an end. But the favour of God will last for ever, and will then be enjoyed in all its inconceivable fulness, when death shall have deprived us of every other enjoyment. *' In God's presence there is a fulness of joy j and at his right hand there are pleasures for evermore^."]
Address,
1 . Those who are seeking happiness in the things of time and sense —
[We ask the votaries of this world. Whether they have ever found that permanent satisfaction in earthly things which they once hoped for? Has not the creature proved itself to be *' a broken cistern that can hold no water?" and is not Solomon's testimony confirmed by universal experience, that " all is vanity and vexation of spirit?" If this then be true, why will ye not avail yourselves of that information, and go for all your comforts to the fountain-head ? " Wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieih not ? *' Hearken diligently unto me ; and eat ye that which is good ; and let your soul delight itself in fatness ^." O let the blessing which the priests of old were authorized to pronounce, be the one object of your desire'! and we will venture beforehand to assure you, that you shall never seek for it in vain. After other things ^•ou may inquire, and labour in vain : but the man that looks to God as reconciled to him in Christ Jesus, and desires above all things his favour, shall never be disappointed of his hope.]
2. Those who are seeking their happiness in God — [Professing as you do that God is a sufficient portion, the
world will expect to find that you are superior to the world, and that you hve as citizens and expectants of a better world. Thus it
was
« Job XX. 22. Prov. xir. 13. ' Prov. x. 22. ^ Ps. xvi. 11. ' '' Isai. U. 2. * Numb. vi. 24—26.