power avoid ; and I am enabled to do things, for which my own strength would have been utterly insufficient : by my own ex- perience therefore, no less than from the divine testimony, I can say, " The Lord is my strength, and my shield."]
As from David's assertions we learn what God is to us, so from his frame of mind we may see,
II. What should be the disposition of our hearts towards him — Certainly these exalted privileges should be re- ceived by us,
1. With joy —
[^\'Tio can have reason to rejoice in comparison of the believer? Look romid and see how the world at large are taken in the snare of the devil, and led captive by him at his will. Have you no reason to rejoice when God has interposed with a mighty hand and a stretched-out arm to deliver you ? When you see the dangers with which you are surrounded, have you no reason to rejoice in having such a shield as is sufficiently large to encompass you on every side, and so strong as to be impenetrable to all the fiery darts of the de\dl ? When you see what lusts you have to mortify, and what duties to perform, have you not reason to rejoice in having Omnipotence for your strength ? O rejoice ; rejoice in the Lord always ; yea, "rejoice in him with, joy unspeakable and full of glory!" However " greatly your heart rejoiceth," you never need be afraid of excess : let it be but the joy of a dependent being, and it cannot be too great.]
2. With thankfulness —
[It is your privilege to " sing in the ways of the Lord." In heaven the redeemed are singing praises to their God day and night : and so should you do on earth. As for David, he would " praise God day and night ;" and that too with " all that was within him;" yea, and " as long as he should live." Not content with praising God himself, he would have the sun, moon, and stars, together with every thing that had life and breath, to praise him too^ This is a state of mind worthy of a redeemed sinner ; nor should we ever rest till we have attained it.]
We shall conclude this subject with two inquiries :
1. Whence is it that so few possess this heavenly frame ?
[It must be confessed, that amongst the professors of religion, there are but few comparatively in whom Christianity
^ Ps. cxlv. 1 — 7. and cxlviii. 1 — 14.