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"The Lord is my Shepherd: I shall not want." Ps. xxiii. 1. SHEPHERDS are those who have the care of flocks of sheep, and who make it their business to direct them to a good pasture, lead them to wholesome water, gather them to a fold, at a proper time, and protect them from all harm. Jesus Christ is God's Shepherd, because his Father gave him his flock of men who are called sheep; and appointed him to die for, call, feed, and gather them: Ps. c. 3: Zech. xiii. 7: John x. 15.

Although the Lord cares and provides for all, none but a believer can truly say, "The Lord is my Shepherd." Reader, are you a real believer? if so, the Lord is your Shepherd; and you have a right to call him such. It is your duty and privilege to encourage yourself in him not only from the relation in which he stands to you, but also, from what you have already experienced of his goodness: Ps. cxxi. 2, 3.

David, here expresses. 1st. His present confidence, "The Lord is my Shepherd;" you may do the same; for

you have the same privilege, seeing he is the Shepherd of every particular believer; not one escapes his notice; no, not even the meanest of the flock, will be neglected: Isa. xl. 11. He has them all in his fold, and performs well the part of a good shepherd. John x. 11. Unlike the hireling, he never leaves, but is constantly watching them: Ps. xxxiii. 18: and will suffer no one to harm them: 1 Chron. xvi. 21.

All are well kept whom the Lord keeps he not only provides food, but whatever will add to their comfort: Ps. lxxxiv. 11. This David knew from experience; hence,

2d. He declares his future hope, “I shall not want.” Trust in the Lord at all times; and depend upon it he will never suffer you to want any good thing: Ps. xxxiv. 10. You shall have food convenient, and raiment to put on; and such a supply of all good things, as shall leave you no cause to complain the want of any. Bread is not always given to those who trust in themselves; but verily all who trust in the Lord shall be fed: Ps. xxxvii. 3. If the Lord is so good a Shepherd, surely we ought to be guided by him, obey his voice, follow his steps, and, like harmless sheep, lie at his feet、

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things."

Rom. viii. 32.

THIS is a question which unbelief will never be able to answer; and ought to remove all doubts, and silence all objections. Here we have,

1st. The firm foundation on which our hopes are built : "He," the Father of all our mercies, loved our race so well, that when we were under an arrest and condemned to die, "spared not his own Son," did not think him too precious a gift to bestow for our salvation: John iii. 16. We had all sinned and brought ruin upon ourselves, having violated God's holy law. Rom. v. 12. Stern Justice held us by the throat, while the broken Law thundered out its curses upon all: Gal. iii. 10: and, lo! when satisfaction was demanded, and we had nothing to give, the very God against whom we had sinned, and whose injured Law held us under a curse, spared not his own Son, "but delivered him up for us all," to be made a curse for us," Gal. iii. 13; that he might redeem us from the curse under which the Law held us. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins: 1 John iv. 10.

We may, therefore reasonably, and confidently expect, 2d. That "with him he will freely give us all things." He has given his Son for us, and will give him to us: and with him also "freely," not grudgingly, nor sparingly, "give us all things," that he sees we really need: Phil. iv. 19. We have only to let Infinite wisdom determine what things we do need, and then depend upon having them. But we must not think of buying or bartering, in order to attain them: no; we must be willing to receive them as a gift. The coin we use in this world is not current in the other: we must, therefore, go to God as petitioners, and not as purchasers. And now,

3d. Put the question, "How shall he not?" If when we were enemies to God by wicked works, he spared not his own Son," would not forgive him one stroke, nor abate one farthing of the debt he had undertaken to pay for us, what may we not expect him to do for us now we are friends? Col. i. 21.

"The desire of the righteous shall be granted." Prov. x. 24.

EVERY real believer in Christ has a threefold righteouness: 1st. He is righteous in his person, in Christ; having Christ's obedience and sufferings imputed to him: Isa. xlv. 24: Rom. iv. 6. 2d. His nature being renewed, assisted and directed, by the Spirit of God, he is righteous in his life; but utterly disclaims this, in the case of justification before God: Phil. iii. 9. He believes unto righteousness; Rom. x. 10; and therefore, 3d. his faith is counted unto him for righteousness: Rom. iv. 3, 5, 9.

Although the righteous frequently have their fears, their desire is towards God: and not according to their fears, but according to their faith, shall it be done unto them: Matt. ix. 29. It does not say, the appetites of the body shall be gratified, but the desire of the heart shall be granted. The desire of a heart renewed by grace, is, to become like God; to love him more, and serve him better; and to please Him in every thought, word, and act: Ps. cxix. 97, 113. If we make God the delight of our heart, He will give us the desire of our heart: Ps. xxxvii. 4. While in this world we want but little, nor shall we want that little long; but while we need it, God will give it: Ps. lxxxiv. 11. If we take God for our Leader, we are sure to have him for our Provider. We must take care to have the law of God in our hearts, and that will regulate the desire of our hearts. Whatever we desire and God withholds, we may rest assured that it would do us no good, could we obtain it, or the goodness of God would compel him to give it.

No father loves his child any the less for withholding what he knows would injure it; neither does our heavenly Father evince a want of love to his children, by suffering them to cry loud, and long, and, after all, refuse to give what he well knows would harm them. But of this we may always rest assured, "The desire of the righteous shall be granted," in some way or other; and in that way too, which will be most to their advantage; for when the Lord does not remove the burden from the back, he never fails to fit the back for the bur den; 2 Cor. xii. 8, 9,

"Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.' 1 Tim. iv. 8.

For those who are under the law, it is very natural for them to think, that for so much work, they shall obtain so much wages: and that God will be faithful to his promise, if we perform the required conditions. This is the result of pride, which arises from ignorance of ourselves, and of the word of God's rich grace and free promises: 2 Cor. i. 20. Every believer in Jesus is a holy, godly soul, and has all cause for daily comfort and joy: 1 Pet. i. 8. All who live godly have the gain of godliness while living: for, observe,

1st. It is profitable; and has, or having, the "promise of the life that now is:" there is nothing, which would be truly profitable unto us, but godliness has the promise of. Under the Old Testament, the promises were mostly of temporal blessings; but under the New Testament, of blessings spiritual, and eternal. It may be, that but little of this world's good things fall to your lot; but let this encourage you, that, though you may possess but a small portion in the life that now is, you will, ere long, have no cause for complaint.

2d. Godliness has the promise of the "life which is to come:" and the good things you will enjoy there, will fully compensate you for all your pains, trials, crosses, losses, and sufferings, that you may be called to endure, in "the life that now is:" Rom. viii. 28. You will find too, even now, if you will only take the trouble to balance the profit and loss, that you are a great gainer. For,

3d. Godliness "is profitable unto all things:" and will, yea, does, more than make up for all you might be called to lose. Should you be disgraced among men, you are honored before God; 1 John, iii, 2: denied in carnal pleasures you enjoy spiritual ones; Ps. cxix. 165: and for losing a short, vain, uncertain, and sorrowful life upon earth, you will gain a durable, immortal, and most blessed life in heaven: 2 Cor. iv. 17. Having obtained an evidence of the favor of God, in Him you will find a rich, full, and ready supply of all your needs. The form of Godliness alone, is profitable in nothing; but "godliness" in power, "is profitable unto all things."

"Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." Ps. xxxvii. 3.

THE whole of religion appears to consist in taking God at his word; neither can any man be said to trust in God who does not obey him. 1 John v. 3. To

trust in the Lord," is,

1st. Firmly to expect whatever he has promised in his word: Ps. lxii. 8. And to stay ourselves upon Him, being resolved to leave with him all future events: Isa. xxvi. 3. But, observe, 2d. It is not enough that we trust in the Lord and do no harm; no: we must trust in Him and do good; neither will it do to do good and then trust in our good doings; nor in ourselves, nor any thing that we can, or may do: but we are to trust in the Lord after having done all the good we can. Luke xvii. 10. And 3d. It is only when we have done good, that we have a right to expect good: but then, we may confidently trust in the Lord for everything necessary to our well being, which will include food as well as every other good thing. It does not say, thou shalt be rich; but fed: neither does it say, thou shalt live in a palace, or be surrounded with a retinue of servants; but thou shalt dwell in the land." And certain it is, if you trust in the Lord, you shall have a place to live in ; and be fed with food convenient for you: Isa. xxxiii. 16.

All you have to do, is, to be careful to live right, and then whatever comes must be right, as far as you are concerned: Rom. viii. 28. Should the winds of adversity blow hard upon your humble cot, and poverty with his iron grasp press you sore, still trust in the Lord, and continue to do good: resolve, rather to perish than to sin: be careful not to go out of the way of Providence ; dwell in the land; and, though dark may be your way, and your prospects gloomy, forget not, that it is still written, "Verily thou shalt be fed:" yea, as truly as God hath declared it. He who fed you last, will feed you still. Be not ambitious; nor covetous; nor a lover of gain; but be careful of your walk, watchful over your own conduct, and, in all things, adorn your profession, lest Jesus be wounded in the house of his friends. The time of your extremity is God's opportunity: food he has promised, and that you shall have. Gen. xviii. 25.