January 15

This is not your rest. Micah 2:10.

THIS admonishes us not to look after too much here. There are some persons who idolize life; but after all, what is it found to be? There is no condition, nor any period of it, but justifies the sentiment of the poet-

“Too low they build who build beneath the skies.”

They who do this are walking in a vain show, and are disquieting themselves in vain-are going to broken cisterns, and seeking the living among the dead. If we would not be exposed to continued disappointment and wretchedness, we “must set our affections on things above, and not on things on the earth.” Let us therefore draw in our earthly hopes and contract our desires after worldly good, that we may thus escape mortification.

This is no rest, no home for a believer. Abraham had many blessings, but it was not to Isaac, although very dear to him, nor to his flocks and herds, however large, that he trustfully looked. But with “Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise, he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” So David, though he had the splendour of a court around him, says, “Hide not thy commandments from me, for I am a stranger in the earth.” “I have made thy statutes my song in the house of my pilgrimage.” Did he feel at home? “Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” Did he find this to be his rest? “Lord,” says he, “deliver me from men of the world, that have their portion in this life.” “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I wake up in thy likeness.” There tended his thoughts, and there terminated his hopes.

“My rest is in heaven, my rest is not here,

Then why should I tremble when troubles appear?

Be hush’d, my dark Spirit; the worst that can come

But shortens thy journey, and hastens thee home.

“It is not for me to be seeking my bliss,

Or building my hopes in a region like this;

I look for a city that hands have not piled,

I pant for a country by sin undeflled