The Twelfth of September.

HUMBLED BEFORE THE LORD --- 2 Kings 22:8, 19.

"I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. . . . Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, etc." --- 2 Kings 22:8, 19.

The priests, probably to save themselves the trouble of writing, and the people of reading the book at large, had furnished themselves with abstracts of the law, leaving out, or slightly mentioning, some parts thereof, and particularly the threatenings; which Josiah was so much affected with, as being new to him. The book of God's law seems in our day to be lost; a sealed book to most of the congregations that profess themselves Christians; imperfect accounts of it are given, which hide the promised blessings and threatened curses of God.

When this book by spiritual light is found, and on reading or hearing thereof conviction reaches the conscience, it is a great instance of God's favour, a token of good, and must be faithfully acknowledged as such. Reader, art thou truly apprehensive of the weight of God's wrath, and solicitous to obtain his favour?

Seek, then, earnestly upon thy knees, and in the house of the Lord, redemption from the curses of the law; pray that Jesus may be revealed to thee; the blood of the Lamb of God alone can take away the guilt of sin; having found the law, rest not till thou find the gospel also, and arrive at a comfortable assurance of thine interest in its blessings. Josiah's heart was tender, he wept, and was encouraged; follow his sorrow, and thou wilt partake of his blessings; and make the law of God thy delight and counsellor.

The word of God is seal'd from us,
Till he our hearts prepare;
But when the Spirit light imparts,
'Tis found and read with care.

Devotion for September 12