THE DESIRES GRANTED.

"The desire of the righteous shall be granted.” PROV. X. 24.

Nor every desire of a righteous man, but such as are in accordance with his character. A righteous man not only believes in the Son of God, that he may be justified; but seeks to be ruled entirely by the will of God, that he may be sanctified. Receiving the proffered righteousness of Jesus, he is justified from all things at once, and for ever; and being justified by grace, he seeks to abound in every good work. He takes God's word for his rule in all things, and desires to be internally and externally conformed to it. He is regenerated, as well as justified; possesses a new nature, as well as a new righteousness; and this new nature is holy, and will influence and characterise the man. Thus he will be justified before God, by the work of Christ alone; but he will be justified before men by his own work, called the work of faith and labour of love. The desires referred to are only good. They are generated in the heart by the Holy Spirit, they centre

in spiritual things, are according to God's will, and have a tendency to glorify his holy

name.

We have many desires and wishes which God cannot grant, except he became our enemy. For we often wish for things which would inflate our pride, harden our hearts, sear our consciences, and lead us directly away from God and holiness. Such desires cannot be granted. Nor does the wise man refer to temporal things, so much as spiritual. Righteous desires shall be granted. Such as are warranted by the promises, suited to our condition, and tending to the good of the church and the world. And we may be sure too, that if God grant us our desires, he will greatly try us, for we shall certainly desire that God may be glorified; and in order to this, our faith, patience, fortitude, and love will be tried: and we shall be tried too, very much, in reference to the object desired. Abraham desired a son, it was granted, but how he was tried in connection with that son! Job desired to reason with God; his desire was granted, but how deeply he was humbled by it!

Let us desire the sincere milk of the word, that we may grow thereby. Those mercies from the God of heaven, which will sanctify and satisfy the soul. To serve the Lord in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life. To dwell in the Lord's courts, that we may behold his beauty, enquire his will,

and enjoy his ordinances. Such desires shall be granted. So also, let us desire the better country, to depart and be with Christ, and to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven; these desires shall be granted. All good desires find their objects in Jesus, and in the well-ordered covenant, hence David could sing, "Although my house be not so with God, yet hath he made with me an everlasting covenant, which is ordered in all things and sure; this is all my salvation, and all my desire."

Reader, are you a righteous man? Have you been stripped of self-righteousness, being led to hunger and thirst after righteousness, and from sheer necessity embraced the righ teousness of Jesus? If so, you are righteous before God, and your aim will be, to be righteous before men. What are the ruling desires of your soul? Are they spiritual, or temporal ? Are they found in Christ, or in the world? As the heart is, so I will the desires be. If the heart is under a carnal bias, carnal things will be principally desired; and if the heart is under a spiritual bias, spiritual things will appear all important. It is a mercy that God does not fulfil all our desires, for we should be in a sad state if he did; and it is as great a mercy, that he does fulfil every desire that flows from the new nature, accords with his promises, and will promote his glory and our good. Gracious Lord, we beseech thee, so

to sanctify our natures, that we may only desire what thou hast provided; and only ask for what thou hast promised, so shall we realise the encouraging declaration, that "the desires of the righteous shall be granted."

Ye Lambs of Christ's fold, ye weaklings in faith,
Who long to lay hold on life by his death;
Who fain would believe him, and in your best room
Would gladly receive him, but fear to presume.

Remember one thing; (Oh! may it sink deep)
Our Shepherd and King cares much for his sheep,
To trust him endeavour, the work is his own;
He makes the believer, and gives him his crown.

Those feeble desires, those wishes so weak,
'Tis Jesus inspires, and bids you still seek:
His Spirit will cherish the life he first gave;
You never shall perish, if Jesus can save.

Blest soul that can say, "Christ only I seek!" Wait for him alway; be constant, though weak: The Lord, whom thou seekest, will not tarry long, And to him the weakest is dear as the strong.

THE INQUIRY.

Ir is very refreshing to the spiritual mind, to meet with persons who are asking the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward. To hear people inquiring about the Lord Jesus, and his glorious salvation. No doubt the church of old found it so, when the daughters of Jerusalem inquired of her, respecting her Beloved, "Whither is thy Beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? Whither is thy Beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee." Song vi. 1.

WHO MAKES THIS INQUIRY? They are called, "the daughters of Jerusalem," and they represent those who have been affected with the representations of Christ which they have heard who are impressed with a sense of the beauty and excellency of the Saviour -and who begin to feel interested in all they hear respecting the person and work of Jesus. They feel a desire to know him, and enjoy him, working within them. They also perceive the loveliness of the Church, as the bride of Christ; to them, or in their estimation, the Lord's people are the excellent of the earth, and occupy the most enviable position. They are convinced of the excellency