May 6

He is altogether lovely. - Song of Solomon 5:16.

THERE is only one Being in the universe to whom, for one moment, these words will apply. “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” “He came to his own, but his own received him not;” and he is still “despised and rejected of men.” But this is not universally the case; there are some blessed exceptions; there are some who know his name and put their trust in him, to whom he is fairer than the children of men, yea, “he is altogether lovely.” Peter says,” To them that believe he is precious.” With regard to these admirers we have two remarks to make.

First, We hope their number is increasing. We hope, by means of the instruction given to the rising generation, numbers of children will be heard in the temple, crying, “Hosanna! blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord!” We hope, by the endeavours made, that the poor will have “the gospel preached to them.” We hope, by the efforts put forth to translate the Scriptures and to send forth missionaries, that he will soon have “the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession;” that “every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain;” “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”

Secondly, Their attachment to him is well founded. The world, indeed, knoweth him not; they consider their religion as enthusiasm: but it is a “reasonable service;” they can give a reason of the hope that is in them; they know whom they have believed, and he is every way worthy of their blessing and praise. He is every thing with them, because he is every thing to them. He is their Rock and their Refuge, their sun and their shield, their righteousness and their strength, their only and all-sufficient resource in every time of need! And this is their testimony:-“ And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.”