but what thou hast is secured to thee by the promise and oath of God, and is to be enjoyed by thee with ever augmenting zest for ever and ever. Say, Dost thou not in this survey of thine inheritance pity tliobe who can rest in any earthly portion ? Art thou not ready to weep over them as maniacs, who fancy them- selves kings and emperors, whilst they are but httle elevated above the beasts ; yea, in some respects inferior to them, because they fulfil in a far less degree the true ends of their creation ? Well indeed mayest thou exult when thou surveyest thy portion ! When tliou beholdest the sun and moon and stars, togetiier with this globe whereon thou standest, and callest to mind, that the Maker of them all is thy Friend, thy portion, thine inheritance ; methinks it is almost strange that the contemplation is not too much for frail mortality to bear. To be lost in wonder, and be swallowed up in ecstacy, is no more than what may be expected of thee from day to day.]
1. His thankfulness to God for it —
[David clearly saw that of himself he would never have chosen such a portion as this. His earthly mind would have been as groveling as that of others, if God himself had not *' counselled him," and discovered to him the vanity of all earthly good. Amidst the various trials which he had endured, God had drawn nigh to him ; and in the night-seasons of afflic- tion had instructed him, and had revealed himself to him in all his beauty and excellency and glory. Thus he had enabled David to make a fair estimate of the portion offered him, as compared with that which the world around him enjoyed. In this view of the mercy vouchsafed unto him, David says, " I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel ; my reins also instruct me in the night-seasons." And is it not thus with -every Be- liever ? Do you not know assuredly, that of yourselves vou would never have chosen God for your portion ? Are you not well con- vinced, that you would " not have chosen him if he had not chosen you," or " loved him, if he had not first loved you ?" Did you not even hold out against his counsels for a long time, till he forced conviction on your mind, aiid "made you willing in the day of his power ?" If you have been kept awake in the night seasons, and " your reins instructed you," till with a compunction you were " pricked to the heart ;" or, if you have been visited with trials that were necessary to wean you from the things of time and sense, do you not bless him for it, and for " the instruction which he then sealed upon your mind''?" Yes, and with your whole hearts. You see in what a portion you would have rested, if these means had not been used to bring you to a better mind ; and, if they had been a thousand times heavier than they were, you would now account them as unworthy of a thought, in
comparison •> Job xxxiii. 15 — 'SO.