Seek early, as the Israelites went early in the morning to seek for manna (Exod. xvi. 21), and as students rise early in the morning and sit close to it to get knowledge. To seek the Lord early is to seek the Lord (1) _firstly;_ (2) _opportunely._ There is a season wherein God may be found (Isa. lv. 6), and if you let this season slip, you may seek and miss Him. (3) _Affectionately, earnestly_ (Isa. xxvi. 6). That prayer that sets the whole man a-work will work wonders in Heaven, in the heart, and in the earth. Earnest prayer, like Saul's sword and Jonathan's bow, never returns empty.--_Brooks._ Verse 18. Spiritual riches are durable. 1. Because they are gotten without wronging any man. Temporal riches are often gotten by fraud and violence, and, therefore, are not lasting. The parties wronged use all means to recover their own, and God punishes unjust persons. Spiritual riches no man can challenge from us. 2. They are everlasting riches, and therefore durable. That must needs last long which lasts ever. These are true, not transitory riches, which often change their masters. They will swim out of the sea of this world with us, out of the shipwreck of death. Neither fire nor sword can take them from us.--_Francis Taylor._ In the matters of rank and riches, the two strong cords by which the ambitious are led, the two reciprocally supporting rails on which the train of ambition ever runs,--even in these matters, that seem the peculiar province of an earthly crown, the Prince of Peace comes forth with long challenge and conspicuous rivalry. Titles of honour! their real glory depends on the height and purity of the foundation whence they flow. They have often been the gift of profligate princes, and the rewards of successful crime. And the best the fountain is low and muddy: the streams, if looked at in the light of day, are tinged and sluggish. Thus saith the Lord, "Honour is with me." He who saith it is the King of Glory. To be adopted into the family of God,--to be the son or daughter of the Lord Almighty,--this is honour. High born! We are all low-born until we are _born_ again, and then we are the children of a King.--_Arnot._ Verse 20. Christ guides infallibly by--1. _His Word._ It is all truth. 2. _His Spirit._ Men mistake and think they are guided by God's Spirit when they are guided by their own, or by a worse spirit. But certainly when Christ's Spirit guides He guides aright. 3. _His example._ All other men have their failings, and must be followed no further than they follow Christ. He is the original copy; others are but blurred abstracts.--_Francis Taylor._