363.] David's desire after god. 147
1. A diligent attendance on all the means of grace —
[Where shall we look for God, but in his holy word, where he reveals to us all his majesty and his glory ? That word then we shall read with care, and meditate upon it day and night,
and listen to the voice of God speaking to us in it
We shall also pray over it, converting every command into a
petition, and every promise into an urgent plea The
public ordinances of religion we sliail highly prize, because in them more especially we honour God, and have reason to expect
more abundant manifestations of his love to our souls ■ At
the table of the Lord too we shall be found frequent guests, not only because we are recjuired by gratitude to remember the love of Christ in dying for us, but because the Lord Jesus still, as formerly, delights to " make himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread." If we do really pant after God, 1 say again, we cannot but seek after him in the way of his ordinances.]
2. An acquiescence in every thing that may bring him nearer to us —
[God is pleased oftentimes to afflict his people, in order to Avean them from the love of this present world, and to quicken their souls to more diligent inquiries after him. Now " affliction is not in itself joyous, but grievous :" nevertheless, when viewed in connexion with the end for which it is sent, it is welcomed even with joy and gratitude by all who are intent on the enjoy- ment of their God. In this view St. Paul " took pleasure in infirmities and distresses" of every kind, because they brought him to God, and God to him ; — him, in a way of fervent prayer ; and God, in a way of rich and abundant communication'*. In this view, every saint that has ever experienced tribulation in the ways of God is ready to say, that " it is good for him that he has been afflicted," and that, if only God's presence may be more abidingly manifested to his soul, he is ready to suffer the loss of all things, and to count them but dross and dung.]
3. A dread of every thing that may cause him to hide his face from us —
[We know that there is in every generous heart a dread of any thing that may wound the feelings of those we love : how much more then will this exist in those who love God, and are panting after the enjoyment of him ! Shall we under such a frame of mind go and do " the abominable thing which his soul hates ?" shall we by any wilful misconduct " grieve the Holy Spirit of promise, whereby we are sealed unto the day of re- demption ?" No : when tempted to evil, we shall reject it with abhorrence, and say, " How shall I do this wickedness, and sin
against * 2 Cor. xii. 10,