THE christian's FRAME OF MIND.
Ps. Ixx. 4, 5. Let all those that seek Thee rejoice and he glad in Thee : and let such as love thy salvation say continually , Let God he magnified. But I am poor and needy : make haste unto me, 0 God : Thou art my help and my deliverer : O Lord, make no tarrying.
THIS psalm is entitled ^''A psalm to bring to re- membrance." What were the things to which David more especially referred, we do not certainly know. The whole psalm, with only a few verbal alterations, is taken from the 40th Psalm, of which it forms a part ; and it seems to have been separated for the purpose of being used by David on some particular occasion, to which the former part of that psalm was not applicable. It served to bring to his remembrance some special deliverances : and for a similar end it may well be used by us. We have many who would exult in our destruction, even as he had : and we may well desire that all their efforts may be frustrated, and their expectations disappointed. On the other hand, we should desire the prosperity and happiness of the Lord's people : and be earnest with God in prayer, that we ourselves may " participate tlie feh- city of his chosen, and give thanks with his inhe- ritance." Our past trials and deliverances should all be brought to remembrance for this end ; and be made subservient to our own advancement in the divine life, and to the glory of our God.
From the words before us, I shall, I. Point out to your notice that frame of mind which the Lord's people are privileged to enjoy —
Short is the description given of the Lord's people; but it is amply sufficient to distinguish them from all other people upon earth. " They seek after God, and love his salvation." The great mass of mankind live without God in the world. And of those who seek him, there are few who " love the salvation" set before us in the Gospel. As for those who seek him in ways of their own devising, they have no claim to
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the character of God's people. Those only are truly his, who come to him through Christ, and emhrace the salvation offered them in the Gospel, and love that Saviom' who has bought them with his blood. To them " Christ is precious ;" and their privilege is to live in the daily experience,
1. Of sacred joy —
[Truly they have cause to rejoice. If it were only that they hear of a Saviour, that would be ground enough for joy: but to have a view of him in his mediatorial office, and to hope that they have obtained an interest in him, is a reason for " rejoicing in him with joy unspeakable and glorified." Hence the Apostle enjoins it upon us as a duty : " Rejoice in the Lord alway ; and again I say, Rejoice." " Rejoice evermore." It surely does not become a redeemed soul to be cast down with despondency ; and still less to be in a state of stupid insensibility. He should be sensible of the mercies vouch- safed unto him, and should " serve his God with gladness and joyfulness of heart."]
2. Of grateful adoration —
[The Christian's joy should not terminate on the benefits he has received, or on his own personal interest in them, so much as on his God and Saviour, from whom he has received them. This distinction I conceive to be of considerable im- portance: for joy may be excited by novelty, and may be little more than an ebullition of the animal spirits arising from a new hope kindled in the soul : whereas, when it arises rather from a contemplation of the Saviour's love, it is of a more refined quality, more humble, more tender, more modest, more reserved. " The children of Zion should be joyful in tJieir King ;" and, instead of arrogating any thing to themselves, should say continually, " Let God be magnified." Such was Mary's joy, when she was honoured to be the means of bringing forth the Saviour of the world : " My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." The two kinds of joy, as considered apart, may be compared with fruit in its earlier or its more matured state. The unripe peach, for instance, is brilliant in its hues ; but, whilst it is beauteous to the eye, it is crude and sour to the taste : whereas that which is of a more mellowed tint, obscured perhaps by the foliage under which it hangs, will approve itself by its susceptibility of impression from the slightest touch, and the richness of its flavour when submitted to the taste. Such as this latter will be found the joys of heaven. The glorified saints, yea, and the angels too, all fall upon their faces before the throne of God, whilst yet with all their powers they sing