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being without a pursuit, because that pursuit terminates in some frivolous or fugitive acquirement, than he will voluntarily submit himself to the torture, because that torture is to be of short duration."*

How much of wisdom, then, was there in the method resorted to by the Psalmist, with a view to the right government of his thoughts, and how exquisite is the beauty of expression, with which he has described the intellectual and devotional habits of his mind, in the hundred and thirty-ninth Psalm;-"How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them" Let us pause a moment, before we proceed to the

* Dr. Chalmers.

verse which follows. What can present such admirable and delightful materials, to occupy the thoughts of man, as the book which contains the thoughts of God? Might not the Bible be entitled,-" The Thoughts of God?" Is it not replete with the contemplations of the Eternal Mind? And what are the lofty and the glorious subjects which they present to our regard? They are the attributes of his own nature-the laws which take their origin from his own rectitudethe purposes of mercy emanating from his own love, and extending to rebels against his throne-the mediatorial scheme of redemption, illustrating, in full-orbed glory, the perfections of his own adorable character-the revela

tions of a future and eternal world of blessedness! Having obtained on these subjects (though less clearly and less fully than we of the gospel-day) the thoughts of God, we wonder not that the Psalmist should have exclaimed, "How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand when I awake, I am still with thee!" With the thoughts and counsels of Jehovah in his mind, "he laid down at night to rest, and when he awoke in the morning, his thoughts naturally recurred to the pleasing theme; he began where he had left off, and found himself in heart and soul still present with God, still

ruminating on him and his works. The mercies of heaven, in the redemption of the church, by the sufferings and exaltation of the true David-how precious are they to believers! How great is the sum, how far exceeding all human arithmetic, to number them! Let them be to us the constant subjects of contemplation, admiration, and thanksgiving day and night; and let death find us engaged in an employment, which, when we awake, and arise from the grave, we shall resume and prosecute to eternity, in the presence of God!"*

Thirdly, There must be earnest prayer, that our thoughts may be

+ Bishop Horne's Commentary.

guided and controlled by the influence of the Holy Spirit.

"When He, the Spirit of truth, is come," said Jesus to his disciples, "he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Now the acquisition of knowledge, and the habitual remembrance of that which is acquired, are usually the result of those two leading operations of the intellect, on which the character of the thoughts chiefly depends. Consider, then, O believer in Jesus, how much you are authorized to expect, in relation to the right government of the thoughts from the influence so faithfully promised. When you take up the Bible and read some selected paragraphs, or

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