How various! How endearing! How impressive the objects which strike and occupy their minds! "My meditation of him shall be sweet; I will rejoice in the Lord." The second regards traffic. It is an unspeakable advantage to a place to be accessible by water, as it renders commerce not only practicable, but easy and extensive. The Humber was the making of Hull. The Thames has rendered London so famous. Were this stream dried up, or diverted, how would the mistress of the nations be humbled and reduced! It is owing to their trade carried on by the means of their rivers, that many cities on the Continent have united themselves to the ends of the earth, and acquired such distinction and wealth. And by these streams Christians obtain riches for the soul and eternity: unsearchable riches; durable riches, with righteousness. It is by these they carry on business with the land that is very far off, the merchandise of which is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. The third regards fertility. Imagine a dry and barren land where no water is, and think what happiness would ensue if springs gushed forth from the sands, and meandered through meadows with grass, and reeds, and rushes. Lot chose the plain country, the vale of Sodom, near Jordan, because it was well watered, like the garden of the Lord. Did you never read the words of Balaam in describing the blessed ness of Israel? "As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters." What is a tree planted by the rivers of waters, bringing forth fruit in its season, and with never withering leaves, but a Christian by these streams, growing in the divine life; adorned with the graces of the Spirit; and filled with all the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the praise and glory of God? The fourth regards supply. What could a city do without this precious, all-important fluid? An enemy, therefore, always endeavours to cut off the water, to compel a place the more suddenly and speedily to surrender. Hence the boast of Rab-shakeh; "With the sole of my foot I have dried up all the rivers of the besieged places." This shall never be the case here. Your resources can never fail. Your relief can never be cut off. You have always access to the God of all grace. And how superior are your supplies! How free! How full! How satisfying! "Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." Are you asking, Who will shew us any good? Let the subject supply an answer. Oh, there is-there is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God. Forsake the foolish, and live, and go in the way of understanding. Leave the world, and enter the Church. There-how unlike creatures, who are all vanity and vexation of spirit-There you will find a Saviour full of grace and truth. Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace; thereby good shall come unto thee. O my soul, am I the subject of this happiness? Let me give proof of it. Let me be a witness for God. Let me exemplify his word. Let me convince others that there is a reality-an excellency-a blessedness in the religion of Jesus that can set the heart at rest, and yield a joy unspeakable and full of glory. The pleasures of which we have been speaking are the pleasures of the way. What will be those of the end! "If such the sweetness of the streams, What must the fountain be, Where saints and angels draw their bliss END OF VOL. II. |