his was intended to supersede ; the Jewish dispensation con- sisting mainly of restraints, (" touch not, taste not, handle not;") but Christianity " giving us all things richly to enjoy." But, that our liberty may not be turned into licentiousness, we should always invite the Lord Jesus Christ, if I may so say, to be a guest with us : for he has promised to "come unto us, and to sup with us, and to manifest himself unto us as he does not unto the worldf." And need I say how sweet our feasts will then be ? Who that has ever enjoyed Christian society in a truly Christian way, has not found an infinite distance between the conviviality of the ungodly world and the refined enjoyment of heavenly converse ? The very best of worldly intercourse is but " as the crackling of thorns under a pot," where the blaze that brightens the scene for a few minutes, soon expires in offensive smoke. But, where the Lord Jesus Christ vouch- safes his presence, the savour of the feast still abides upon the soul, and affords reiterated gratification in the recollection of it. Such seasons, however long since enjoyed, will afford us comfort even in a dying hour ; so truly is it found on all occasions, that our blessed Saviour gives us the best wine last. Let Jesus be present at our feasts, and there will be in them neither levity nor excess; but our very festivities, instead of contributing to sensuality, shall be made to administer to the good of our souls.]
2. If we will leave our concerns to his disposal, he will surely glorify himself at last —
[If at any time our necessities be at all urgent, we are too apt to dictate to our Lord as to the time and manner of our relief. But such presumption, whoever may be guilty of it, will surely meet with a rebuke. It is sufficient for us to know that Jesus is both able and willing to supply our every want, and that he has pledged himself, that " they who seek him shall want no manner of thing that is good." Who has not already on many occasions found, that his own impatient desires, if gratified at the time, would have proved injurious to him, and that the very delay of which he once complained, has proved of most essential service to his soul? Let us then habitually commit our concerns to our all-wise and all-gracious Lord, and look to him to glorify himself in his own time and way. Then shall we have reason, ere long, to say, " He has done all things well ;" and shall find at the last, that our very straits have contributed to his honour and our own eternal good.]
f John xiv. 22, 23. Rev. iii. 20.