THE CHRISTIAN WITH GOD, SUPPORTED BY HIM.

Nevertheless I am continually with thee; thou hast holden me by my right hand. Ps. lxxiii. 23.

THESE are the words of the Psalmist, just recovering from a deep and sore distress, which he describes in the foregoing verses at large, with the occasion of it. He consoles himself with the reflection, that, in his greatest distress he had been with his God, and his God had graciously supported him: "Nevertheless I am," &c.

1. What is implied in being continually with God. As a duty, it implies,

That this is peculiar to real Christians; as they alone are prepared for it, and disposed to it, as being acquainted with him, reconciled to him, and in a state of the most intimate friendship with him. (Amos iii. 3.) Many things tend to engage such, in point of duty, thus to be with him.

1. It is God's express command. Gen. xvii. 1.

2. Their covenant-consent strengthens the obligation (Jer. 1. 5.); and having opened their mouths they cannot go back.

3. The honour of God, which of all things is the dearest to them, obliges them to it. To forsake him would be a reflection on God and his ways.

4. To this they feel the constraints of love, verse 25. 5. The blessedness arising from it, and the misery resulting from a contrary conduct, is a farther obligation to this.

6. The sincerity of their love and attachment to God is thereby to be evidenced.

7. And they feel themselves deeply concerned thus to act, as they would not lose their work and their crown, and expose themselves to greater wrath. 2 John viii; Heb. x. 38.

As a privilege it implies, that they are with God.

1. As members of his Son. 1 Cor. xii. 27.

2. As his children. Rom. viii. 14.

5. As his living temple. Eph. ii. 21.

II. The happiness resulting therefrom: the Lord holds them by their right hand. This is necessary, 1. On account of the weakness of their graces. 1 Cor. iii. 1, 2.

2. The remains of the carnal mind. 1 Cor. iii. 3. 3. The prevalence of evil example. 1 Cor. v. 3. 4. The opposition of the world. John xv. 19.

5. The unwearied diligence of Satan. 1 Pet. v. 8. 6. And in all these circumstances God will uphold them, according to his word and promise. Heb. xiii. 3; Isa. liv. 17.

Improvement.

1. How happy is the state of those who walk with God! Let us cultivate a greater intimacy than ever. 2. How dreadful is the state of those who are at a distance from God! Ps. Ixxiii. 27.

THE MUTUAL INTEREST BETWEEN
CHRIST AND BELIEVERS.

My beloved is mine, and I am his. Cant. ii. 16. THIS book is a song of love, and these are some of the sweetest expressions of it.

They are the church's triumph in Christ, by an appropriating faith, feeling the happiness arising from an interest in him: "My beloved," &c.

Consider,

1. The nature of that relation which subsists between Christ and believers.

As to Christ, He is theirs,

1. By the appointment of the Father, and that from everlasting. 1 Pet. i. 20; Isa. xlii. 1, 6.

2. By his free and voluntary undertaking of their recovery. Isa. 1. 5; Ps. xl. 6—8.

3. As having a regard to them in what he did and suffered. Eph. v. 22-24.~

They are Christ's,

1. By the Father's gift (John xvii. 6.); as his charge to be ransomed by his blood, as his reward for his obedience.

2. By right of purchase. 1 Pet. i. 19.

3. By conquest. 2 Cor. x. 5.

4. By self-dedication-in the closet-after some affliction at the Lord's table.

II. The ends of this mutual relation, on either side. As to believers.

1. Christ is theirs to answer all the demands of justice, and deliver them from wrath.

2. To rescue them from the power of sin, and the tyranny of Satan. Rom. v. 9; 1 Thess. i. 10.

3. To bind up their wounded spirits, and speak peace to their troubled souls. Matt. xi. 28.

4. To restore them to God's favour. Kom. v. 1, 2. 5. To hear and answer their prayers, and to supply all their wants. John xiv. 13, 14.

6. To over-rule all things for their good, guide them

by his counsel even unto death, and afterwards receive them to glory. Matt. xxv. 34.

And, as to believers,

1. They are Christ's, to listen to, and learn of him, what they are to know, believe, and do, in order to salvation. Mark ix. 7.

2. To obey and please him, as the end for which he redeemed them. 2 Cor. v. 14, 15; Phil. i. 21.

3. Entirely to depend on him for all they need, or hope for, as to this world or another. Isa. xlv. 24, 25.

4. To employ every talent they have received from him to his glory. Luke xix. 13.

5. To fight under him, as the Captain of their salvation. 1 Tim. yi. 12.

6. To love and delight in him while they live, and to cujoy him above for ever. When he proclaims from heaven, "Behold I come quickly;" the church replies "Amen, even so, come, Lord Jesus!" Rev. xxii. 20.

Application.

1. How wonderful is the method of salvation by Jesus Christ! that the eternal Son of God should not only be given for us, but given to us!

2. From the mutual and endearing relation between Christ and believers: let it be remembered, that he observes what is done for, and against any of them, and takes it as done to himself. Matt. xxv. 40.

3. This may be considered as a confirmation of their faith, as to their resurrection, and future blessedness. Rom. viii. 11.

CHRIST'S DYING REQUEST FOR HIS

FOLLOWERS.

Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory. John xvii. 24.

THESE are the words of our dying Redeemer, praying over his disciples when about to take his farewell of them, to go to his Father. Having loved his own, he loved them to the end, and discovered the most anxious concern for their happiness, as to both worlds. As he was now about to leave them, he commends them to the care of his Father, ver. 15. And looking up to heaven, whither he was seen to ascend, he with the most affectionate vehemence, thus interceded in their behalf, "Father, I will."

I. The character of the persons given by the Father to Christ.

If we examine the context, it will appear that those who are given to Christ,

1. Are such as have received and believed on him, having been previously exercised with a godly sorrow for sin. Ver. 8.

2. They are his disciples, his followers; and, as such, a people distinct from the men of the world, different in their views, principles, dispositions, conversation, conduct. Ver. 14.

And they are given to Christ,

1. That he may feed and nourish them. Isa. xl. 11. 2. That he may lead and conduct them. Isa. lv. 4.

3. Protect and defend them. Isa. xxxii. 2.

4. Advocate their cause. 1 John ii, 1.