And should we not praise him for these? If we are silent on subjects like these, verily our mouths will be shut in the day that our ingratitude shall be punished by our indignant God.]
2. Those which are more particularly specified as vouchsafed to " the longing and hungry soul" —
[Under the image of a weary traveller rescued from the deepest distress, and brought beyond all expectation to the rest he had desired, the Psalmist represents a soul hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and raised from a state of despondency to the full enjoyment of its God. Thousands there are who are reduced to great perplexity in the pursuit of heaven. They feel their guilty and perishing condition ; but how to extricate themselves from the wilderness of this world, and to find their way to the city of habitation, they know not. Having tried in vain those self-righteous methods of escape which their own reason has suggested, they cry at last to God, and implore his guidance. He, ever ready to hear the prayer of the poor destitute, " reveals his dear Son in their hearts:" he shews them that in Christ is their hope, in Christ is their refuge, in Christ is their security. Being thus led to Christ, their " longing souls are satisfied, their hungry souls are filled with
goodness " Who can conceive what satisfaction a soul
feels, when Christ is thus revealed to it as " the way, the truth, and the life ? " And I wish you particularly to notice how God marks with approbation not our attainments only, but our very desires. " Longing and hunger" are the very lowest operations and effects of grace in the soul: yet does God delight in them, and magnify his mercy towards those in whom even these slight beginnings of what is good are seen.
And is not this a ground of praise? If any who have ex- perienced such mercies " should hold their peace," methinks Sodom and Gomorrha will rise up in judgment against them. The more we contemplate redeeming love, the more will a sacred ardour glow within our bosoms to bless and praise the Lordq.]
Address —
1 . Those who never praise God at all —
[What enemies are such persons both to their present and future happiness! How much richer enjoyment would they now have of all God's mercies, if they could discern his hand in them, and taste his love ! And how much happier would they be in the eternal world ! for, can it be supposed that God will bestow heaven indiscriminately on the evil and unthankful to- gether with the good and thankful ? Can it be thought that a man who was more insensible of favours than an ox or an assr, shall instantly on his dismission from the body begin to adore
li ver. 43. r Isai. i. 3.