66 66 unto himself. As he said by the prophet, This people have I formed for myself, they shall show forth my praise." He highly prizes them. Yea, it is impossible to say how highly he prizes them. Those are won drous words, "The Lord hath chosen Jacob for himself, and Israel for his peculiar trea sure." Did the eastern Shepherd prize his flock? They are called "his flock, his beau tiful flock." Does the miser prize his wealth? He says, Ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people; for all the earth is mine." Does the prince prize his jewels? He says "They shall be mine, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." Does the Bridegroom prize his beloved and dearly pur chased bride? It is written, "As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee." Does the reigning monarch prize his crown ? God has said, "Thou shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God." What wondrous love such expressions as these represent! How precious must the Lord's people be to him! Truly they are his special treasure! He chose them to be special unto himself. Chosen from among others. In preference to others. He chose them to bring them near to himself, that they may know him: and by the most wondrous ways he brings them to the knowledge of himself, as he is revealed in Jesus. He chose them, that they might need him; and so need him as not to be able to do without him. Therefore they are brought to feel their need of his grace, wisdom, strength, and presence. Nor can they be supplied from any other source, or be happy but as they realize his presence and his love. Which shows that he chose them that they might enjoy his presence, and be for ever with him. His tabernacle was pitched in the midst of the typical people, and the symbol of his presence was always with him. His spiritual presence is ever with his spiritual people, and he will soon collect them all into his glorious presence, and have them near to himself for ever. He chose them out from others on purpose that they may be a peculiar people unto himself, and in so doing he acted freely. It was not on account of anything he saw in them, or on account of anything he expected from them; but in the exercise of his most free and holy sovereignty he chose them to participate in the glory of his Son. choosing them, he acted also deliberately. It was no hasty choice. His thoughts had been eternally filled with them. His heart had been eternally set upon them. Therefore he chose them in Christ before the foundation of the world; in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. In In choosing them he acted wisely, if he really desired to have them. For each one of them is ready to confess that if he had not chosen them, they should never have chosen him. The nature regulates the choice, and as our nature is carnal and impure, we should never have chosen God, who is spiritual and holy. His choice was just an early expres sion of his love. The love that chose them could do anything for them, or give anything to them therefore God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for them all; and in so doing gave them an assurance that with him also he is prepared freely to give them all things. O the wonders couched in electing love! This act of choosing such creatures as we are to be a special people unto himself, displays such grace, such condescension, such infinite wisdom! It seems to say, 66 The Lord hath need of you." And, indeed, if he is to display all the glorious perfections of his nature, if he is to communicate of his infinite fulness to creatures, if he is to appear the God, in the most wondrous and astonishing manner, he does need us. As the mother needs the child to empty the full breast; as the Father needs the Son to share and enjoy his possessions with him; as the bridegroom needs the bride to satisfy the deep love that is hid in his heart towards her; so God, our covenant God, may be said to need us. It does say, "The Lord. loves you." Loves us! Yes, and with a love that is eternal, immutable, sovereign, infinite, and free. All the love of God is lavished upon us as his special people in Christ. Oh, those wondrous words of Jesus, "Thou hast loved them, as thou hast loved me!" Beloved, if God has chosen us to be a special people unto himself, let it be the ruling object of our lives, to be specially for God; and as God desires to have us near to himself, let it be a daily effort to get near, and keep near to him. But few among the carnal wise, He takes the men of meanest name, And thus he pours abundant shame He calls the fool, and makes him know Nature has all its glories lost, When brought before his throne; TIME FOR GOD TO WORK. WE may not dictate to the Lord, but we may plead with him, and bring before him our wants, wishes, and desires. We may lay before him the state of our souls, our families, our churches, our country, and the world. 66 Supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, should be made for all men. But there are special times of special prayer, and we have instances of this in Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. So also David, when he saw men become unusually profane and lawless, cried out, with intense fervour," It is time for thee, Lord, to work.' Ps. cxix. 126. GOD HAS SPECIAL TIMES OF WORKING. There is a time to favour Zion, a set time. Judgment is the Lord's strange work, and he often withholds his hand, in long suffering to his foes, for he is slow to anger; and also to chastise his friends, whom he chastens with the rod of men. Mercy is his delight. He works in his people to will and to do; and he works by his people, accomplishing all the good pleasure of his will. He sometimes ceases to work, or appears to do so, and then we feel no power working within |