The Fifth of November.

THE GOD OF JESHURUN --- Deuteronomy 33:26.

"There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky." --- Deuteronomy 33:26.

In these last words of Moses, we have the glory of God set forth in the communication of good to God's Israel. The whole universe God hath made for his own use, to be the chariot for him to ride in, as is represented in Ezekiel's vision. In this chariot God's seat or throne is heaven, where he sits and governs. This visible universe, subject to continual changes and revolutions, we may compare to the wheels of this chariot. God's providence is represented by the motion of the wheels; he brings to pass his counsels in the lower world, and manages and directs all as a man doth his chariot, which he turns as it pleases him.

How safe, then, must they be who are under the wing of the God of Jeshurun; who find him reconciled to them by the death of his Son, and feel themselves reconciled to him by the power of his grace! "He rideth on the heavens for their help," and none can outstrip his progress, or overturn his purpose. Verily, he it is that giveth strength and victory to his people, blessed be God.

Reader, is the God of Jeshurun, the God of Israel, thy God? Is he who rideth on the heavens thy help? Does thy heart trust in him alone, and his grace subdue thine outward iniquities, and thine inbred corruptions? Is he who rideth on the sky, thine excellence? Does he seem excellent only in thy eyes, and cause thee to excell in virtue? Hath he planted thee among his excellent ones of the earth, and made thee to abound in faith, in love, and in fruits of righteousness? If the Lord is not thy help, alas, thou wilt be slain by sin, and prove a ruined soul!

If the Lord is not thy excellence, thou art still an apostate spirit, a stranger unto God and to his Christ. Awake, arise, and call upon God; his ear is open unto prayer; and thou art yet on mercy's ground. O call upon him speedily, and cry unto him earnestly, that thou perish not.

May Christ, who ruleth in the sky,
And is Jeshurun's God,
My soul defend, my wants supply,
And wash me in his blood.

Devotion for November 5