are constantly watered by that " river which makes glad the city of God:" and by the fertilizing influences of the Spirit of God they bring forth in rich abundance " the fruits of right- eousness, which are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God." A diversity of seasons they doubtless experience : but never is their profession tarnished by openly visible decays, or by a want of such fruits as the peculiar season calls for. On the contrary, the winds and storms, and heat and cold, all tend to further their stability and fruitfulness ; insomuch that " whatsoever they do," or whatsoever is done to them, " they prosper ^" See them in the diversified seasons of prosperity and adversity, they shew by their conduct " whose they are," even Christ's, " of whose fulness they continually receive," and " of whom all their frviit is found."]
In perfect contrast with this is, II. The description of the ungodly—
Exceedingly pointed is that expression, " The UNGODLY ARE NOT SO." No, indeed : they " are not so,"
1. In their character —
[The ungodly, instead of shunning the company of those who fear not God, prefer it ; and would far rather associate with an avowed infidel, or a notorious libertine, than with one who was distinguished for the most exalted piety. They do not all proceed to the same extent of open profaneness; but all, without exception, "love darkness rather than light;" yea, " they hate the Hght, and will not come to it, lest their deeds should be reproved."
And as they prefer the society of them that know not God, so they prefer any other book, whether of science or amuse- ment, before the sacred volume. They may study the Holy Scriptm-es indeed with a view to head-knowledge ; but not with any desire to imbibe the spirit of them in their hearts, or to have their lives conformed to them. In this there is an ex- tremely broad line of distinction between the two characters : to the godly the Scriptures are " sweeter than honey, or the honeycomb;" but to the ungodly they are insipid, and are either not perused at all, or studied only for the purpose of exercising a critical acumen. There is nothing in the sacred volume that is suited to their taste : the wonders of redemption do not affect their minds ; nor are the precepts of the Gospel palatable to their souls.
Would we but candidly examine ourselves by these two marks, we should soon discover to which of these parties we belong.]
a Rom. viii. 28. b2