Oh, let us think of the tenderness of the heart of Christ! No apple of the eye so tender as that heart. Let us then be careful to do His will; chiefly lest we grieve Him; but also for our own comfort and joy. A child of God ought to be ever committing himself into God's hand, that God may direct his way for him. The natural man deviseth his own way; but God would have His children hang upon Him for counsel and guidance in everything. One of David's mighty men fought singlehanded with the Philistine host for a piece of ground full of lentiles: others might have thought it not worth fighting for, but it was parcel of king David's land; and to his faithful one that was enough. Let us in our spiritual warfare be like that good soldier. (2 Sam. 23:11.12.) Be content, for He hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." This promise was first given to Jacob; then to Joshua: now it is spoken to all God's children. (Gen. 28:15; Josh. 1:5; Heb. 13:5.) Let me lay up this promise in my heart, and I am a rich man. How can I please God to-day? He will take care of to-morrow, will be my settled, blessed mind. Providences Never judge God by His providence, unless your will is wholly subject to His will. To judge Him before the issue of His dealings is to judge rashly and wrongly. The end of the Lord will justify all His ways. When Job rashly judged, he said, "Thou art become cruel to me;" but at last he justified God, saying, "Behold, I am vile." "I abhor myself." (Job 30:21; 40:4; 42:6) Let us put all our matters into God's hands, and leave them there. Can they be better ordered than by Him? We never think that the sun, moon, and stars will go wrong, because man has nothing to do with the ordering of them. Be familiar with this precious thought, that God decrees the little as well as the great things of His providence; and that all His decrees are those of love to His people. Gratitude Mercies reviewed and pondered are even sweeter than when first bestowed. Amongst the perilous mercies pleasing to nature, is health of body. Sickness, although a mark of the curse, usually favours, more than health, communion with God. True gratitude never says, I have done enough. The best way to keep our mercies, is to be ready at all times to give them up at God's call. A child of God, taking a cup of cold water with a thankful heart, may render a better service to God than one who gives thousands of gold and silver. Ingratitude towards God for benefits received makes us distrustful of Him as to the future. Praise Praising God should be to us our chiefest, happiest employ. It is the "service of song" of the sanctuary. God preserve us from ingratitude, that abominable thing, that viper which creeps forth when the sun is up; for when signal mercies demand especial thankfulness, how often have we resembled Hezekiah, who rendered not again according to the benefit. (2 Chron. 32:25)