they called, he answered ; and while they were yet speaking, he heard." Know ye, then, your privilege : Carry to the Lord your every want, your every fear ; and " cast all your care on him, who careth for you." " Commit your way to him, and" not only shall your trials be alleviated, but " your very thoughts," the most variable things under the whole heaven, " shall be established." " This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord ;" and they who possess it, enjoy a heaven upon earth. Go on, then, improving daily your liberty of access to God ; and spread before him all your wants, and " make known with confidence your requests unto him:" so shall " the peace of God now rule your hearts," and " God himself be your portion, and your eternal great reward."]
THE POOR AND CONTRITE THE OBJECTS OF GOD's FAVOUR.
Isai. lxvi. 2. To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
IT often happens that accidental distinctions serve men as grounds of confidence towards God. Many found their hopes on no better basis than Micah dida : the Jews in particular thought themselves assured of the Divine favour because of God's resi- dence in their temple \ But God shews them the folly of their notions0, and declares the character of those who alone shall be considered by him with any favourable regard :
I. Who are the objects of the Divine favour —
Men choose for their companions the rich and gay ; but those whom God regards are of a very dif- ferent character —
1. They feel themselves destitute of all good — [It is not temporal, but spiritual poverty, that distin- guishes God's people. They have discovered their total want of
a Judg. xvii. 13.
b Hence that common boast among them, Jer. vii. 4.
c ver. 1, 2. The import of which is, How can you think that I, an infinite Being, who myself created those things of which you boast, can be allured by an earthly structure to continue my presence among you, if you persist in your evil ways ?