2 Samuel 9:13

REFLECTIONS

READER! In the view here presented of David's generosity to the family of Saul, do not fail to remark the sweet and sure properties of grace. Depend upon it, if a man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his. And how shall you and I testify that the Spirit of Christ dwelleth in us, but by a conformity to the actions of the Son of God? If David, therefore, sought out the ruined family of Saul, and took them into favour, shall not you and I seek out the scattered sheep of Jesus, and bring them home to his fold? Can I behold one of those precious souls for whom Christ died, in circumstances of distress, and feel nothing like what actuated the Son of God, in commiserating and relieving the sorrows of cur common nature? Surely, I behold in everyone of them thine image, blessed Jesus; and methinks I hear thee say, Inasmuch as ye have shown kindness to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have shown it unto me, But oh thou David's Lord, from whom David received the very grace which prompted him, and enabled him, to show grace unto others; do thou regard me as the Mephibosheth of the fallen house of our first father. I am, by nature, lame in both my feet, a cripple from my mother's womb: I bow myself before thee, overpowered with astonishment that thou shouldest look upon such an unworthy creature as I am. And wilt thou indeed, dearest Jesus, take me home to thy table? Wilt thou cause me to eat bread in thy presence? Oh! for grace to live upon thee, as well as with thee; to entrust in thine hands, with full assurance of faith, all the concerns of my salvation. And, while I eat at thy table below, to live in the glorious expectation and confidence of the arrival of that blessed day of God, when thou wilt come and take the home to thy table above to be eternally supplied at those fountains of living waters, where God hath wiped away all tears from all eyes.