Nor is this to be wondered at; he had despised the authority and glory of the great Jehovah; and the deep sense which he now had of his awful guilt, filled his conscience with horror. Still he had a hope that his backslidings would be healed, and that he should live to teach transgressors the ways of God, "that sinners might be converted unto him.” The Lord was gracious, and put away his sin. The guilt of it was removed through faith in the Redeemer's blood, which should afterwards be shed; and his soul was comforted, though, at times, he felt most keenly all the days of his life. REFLECTIONS ON THE CHARACTER OF DAVID. 1. What cause have we to abase ourselves before God! O that my soul may be brought to repentance for all my sins, and that, through the atonement of Jesus, I may be delivered from the curse of the law, and from the fiery indignation of a righteous God. Let there be joy in heaven over my repenting soul. If I have not sinned as David did, never may the proud thought enter into my mind, that I am incapable of it, if left to myself. "Consider thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Let me remember the martyr who said when he saw a criminal going to be executed," There goes John Bradford, if it were not for the grace of God." Let me look at David, and beware of danger. May I ever be sober and vigilant, as my adversary the Devil goes about seeking whom he may devour. O my God, " keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins, let them not have dominion over me," as long as I live. 66 2. This instance of sovereign mercy forbids the penitent to despair. Is the reader a backslider? David's fall was at least as bad as yours. Yet he found mercy and was restored to soul prosperity again, even when he thought the mercy of God was "clean gone for evermore." A throne of A throne of mercy is provided, approach it in the name of Jesus, and plead his atoning blood. That blood can expiate your accumulated guilt, nor is there any other method by which you can again be established in holiness and comfort. The Lord grant we may never be numbered with the backsliders in heart, who shall "be filled with their own ways." If we have fallen, may we rise again by him who is able to uphold us with his hand. May the joy of salvation still, and for ever, flow into our hearts; that we may henceforth be actively devoted to God, and ever be concerned to live, so as to adorn the gospel of Christ in all things. 3. David is much spoken of in the holy Scriptures. He was at once a prophet, a progenitor, and a figure of our Redeemer. The last particular is evident from innumerable passages, where David and his Lord exchange not only words and speeches, but even names. Christ is the true David, which, as it signifies beloved, may intimate that Christ, his antitype, was beloved both of God and man. David was the son of Jesse the Bethlehemite. Christ was born in Bethlehem. David was a man after God's own heart; but these wonderful endowments were found in their highest perfection in Jesus Christ the Son of David, and the Son of God. David suffered much, so did Christ. David obtained wonderful victories, so did Christ, who set his foot on the head of the old Serpent and bruised it. David was raised from small beginnings to great glory, honour, and dignity; not indeed without many sins, but Christ, who took our nature, grew up in this world, suffered the death of the cross, and is even at the right hand of God, from thence expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. And " of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end." O thou exalted Saviour, cause my soul to prosper, and may I look to thee in every time of need. God was pleased to make a covenant of royalty with David and his seed for ever. This is an emblem of that covenant which was made with Christ, as the representative of his chosen people. This was David's consolation in all his family-trials and afflictions. O may it always be my consolation, all the days of my life. O to be enabled at all times to say, "I welcome all thy sovereign will, For all that will is love; And when I know not what thou dost, ELIJAH. We must not pass over the history of this holy prophet, without holding him up as a person remarkable for soul prosperity. The splendour and riches of this world are often bestowed on base and worthless characters, and withheld from those who are precious in the sight of God, and of whom "the world is not worthy." This applies to Elijah in a very remarkable manner. He was one of the most extraordinary prophets of the Old Testament. Through his whole life he was employed as the im mediate messenger of heaven; and when under distressing trials, he was supported by miracles. To escape the violence of Ahab, God commanded him to fly to a considerable distance, where he should be concealed, and be fed with "bread and flesh," which the ravens should bring him, while he should drink of the water of the brook. This was done accordingly. Behold the man of God in this retired situation! His soul prospered, and he enjoyed his morsel and his God, with whom he had sweet intercourse, and to whom, doubtless, he offered his daily and constant prayers for the conversion of his impenitent countrymen. How admirable was that faith which enabled him, day after day, to expect a miraculous supply in such an improbable way. In this instance, the ravens acted contrary to their nature, in order to minister to the necessities of the holy prophet. "The Lord will ever be mindful of us, the Lord will bless his people with peace." After a while, the brook dried up, and the prophet could stay there no longer. According to the divine direction, he moved, and when he reached the end of his journey, the way was prepared for him. 0 believer, remember thy God is all-sufficient. The very person whom he sought, met him just as he arrived at the city. His request was painful, but the woman did as he told her, and thus gave a noble display of her faith and piety. She was well rewarded. "The barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail." It might daily appear to them as if they were eating their last morsel, but still secret resources were left; and when hunger returned, there was always a supply at hand. Let us say, "Give us this day our daily bread." Why should we so anxiously inquire "what shall we eat and what shall we drink?" Let us rather "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and and all other things," truly needful," shall be added." What means our unbelief? "Has God forgotten to be gracious? Will he be favourable no more?" He feeds the ravens, and all the fowls of the air, and every living thing; "that which he gives them they gather, he opens his hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing." "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof," and he has innumerable ways of relieving our necessities. At length this man of God defeated all the prophets of Baal, with the wicked Ahab at their head, to lead them on. He stood, as it were, alone, but trusting in God, his courage was unshaken, and a peculiar majesty appeared in his deportment. The living God stood by him and "answered by fire." Soon the universal cry was, "The Lord he is God, the Lord he is God." What a lasting honour was thus put upon Elijah! |