[Others may indulge in carnal mirth ; but their joy will expire " as the crackling of thorns under a pot ;" and no solid benefit will accrue to their souls. But if we view God in our mercies, they will lead our affections heavenwards ; they will tend to abase us in the dust for our own unworthiness, and to magnify in our estimation the goodness of God, who has done such great things for us. Compare these feelings with those which the ungodly experience on such occasions ; how pure, how elevating, how abiding ! We may see the conduct of the ungodly strikingly exemplified by the Amalekites after they had invaded and plundered Ziklag : " they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating, and drinking, and dancing, because of the great spoil that they had taken 1." On the other hand, we may behold in Israel the conduct of the godly, singing praises unto God, and glorifying him for all the wonders he had wrought for them at the Red Sea; "Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders m ?" Can we doubt which of the two had the richer enjoyment of their prosperity ? Let us then imitate the pious Israelites : yea, let us contemplate, like David, every occurrence whereby God has manifested his care over us ; and let us, in reference to every one of them, say, " His mercy endureth for ever; his mercy endureth for ever"."] 3. A view of him in these his providential mercies will encourage us to apply to him for the blessings of his grace —
s Isai. xlv. 1—7. h Deut. viii. 11—17. j Ps. xlvi. 9, 10.
k Amos. iii. 6. ' 1 Sam. xxx. 16.
m SeeExod. xv. 1 — 11. n See Ps. cxxxvi.