brought into closest union with the Deity. What has been said of a father and a son, does but very faintly convey what actually passes between God and him. There is, on the one part, the entire dependence of his soul on God ; and, on the other part, the tender care of a father exercised towards him in every step he takes. Throughout the whole of his life is this continued, till the period has arrived for his being invested with all the glory and felicity of heaven. And is not this a glorious life ; ordered as it is by the Father ; prepared by the Son ; effected by the Holy Spirit ; begun in grace ; consummated in glory ? Think what ye will, this is a glorious life indeed ; a life which even an angel might affect; and which is, in some respects, more glorious than that of angels, inasmuch as it is the effect of Redeeming Love, and will issue in louder songs of praise and thanksgiving, than the angels, who never experienced such trials, will ever be able to sing.]
Ps. lxxiii. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
THIS evil and deceitful world promises happiness to its votaries ; and men, naturally carnal, are too willing to be deceived by it. Even the godly them- selves are sometimes drawn aside by its delusions ; but when the snare is broken, they see, and lament their folly a. David contrasted the mirth of the wicked with the troubles he had to conflict with, and was ready to conclude that they had a better portion than himself b ; but on deeper investigation he found, that their happiness was soon to endc. Whereas, however difficult his path at present was, God would guide him safely to the regions of eternal felicity d.
Hence, as the result of his more deliberate judg- ment, he determines to take God as his only portion6.
I. The Christian's choice —
The Christian, by nature, differs not at all from those who are still in darkness. He once chose the
a ver. 22. b ver. 3, 4, 5, 10, 12, 13, 14.
c ver. 17—20. a ver. 23, 24. e The text.