"All my Springs are in Thee."
By Sel.
THE various inspired writings composing the sacred canon may be divided into different classes, according to the nature of the subject treated of, and the manner of presenting divine truth. There is such a marked and striking dissimilarity in these sacred compositions, that the attentive reader may readily discover the natural temperament and character of the writer, as moulded by the spirit of inspiration. We have the impartial historian, giving us the only authentic account of the creation, the fall, the deluge, the preservation and continuation of the people of God through successive generations—the sweet singer of Israel—the evangelical and the weeping prophet. Among all these writings, the Psalms of David stand pre-eminent for their full and accurate delineation of the divine character and purposes, the depths of human depravity in contrast, their faithful record of Christian experience under many trying and afflictive dispensations of Providence, and the joyous language of the Christian, when walking in the light of the divine countenance. We here find the language of a heart supremely devoted to the service of Jehovah, in varied scenes of trouble and trial, joy and sorrow; which is designed to serve all succeeding generations of the people of God, as a correct standard by which they may judge of their character and attainments in the divine life. With what a keen relish does the Christian, in the exercise of gracious affections, partake of the spiritual food here provided! How readily does he perceive the breathings of his own soul to flow in with those of the pious Psalmist, in the most exalted expressions of praise and adoration of the divine character! The clause which stands at the head of this article, is one in which the writer has felt a peculiar interest. "All my springs are in Thee." In this passage David acknowledges God as the source from whence all his blessings, both of a spiritual and temporal nature, flow. When we stand upon the bank and view the rolling current of some broad, majestic river, we are naturally led to inquire, Whence come all these mighty waters, rushing with such resistless force to join "old ocean?" If we oppose its current, in search for its source, we witness with pleasure its numerous tributaries, flowing in to swell the principal stream; perceive that it gradually diminishes, till after we have traveled hundreds of miles, we find the broad, majestic river has now become the rivulet, whose silvery waters course silently down over their pebbly bed from the spring in the mountain side. As in the natural world, so in the moral we are prone to seek the source whence our blessings and enjoyments proceed. All mankind are seeking happiness with the earnest inquiry, "Who will show us any good?" Innumerable are the fountains which are opened to meet this demand of our nature; but the great error of mankind since the fall consists in this—that they have chosen to draw from fountains which cannot satisfy the soul. "They have forsaken the fountain of living waters," and hewn out to themselves "broken cisterns which can hold no water." We are all voluntary in the choice of our springs, and are therefore justified or condemned according to the nature of our choice. The Christian has chosen all his springs in God, far above the effects of sublunary change, beyond the reach of any opposing foe. Nothing can prevent the flow of living water into his soul, but a voluntary forsaking of the fountain. In saying that all the Christian's springs are in God, we do not mean to say that he has no earthly enjoyments. He enjoys all the real pleasures of earth, and they are pleasures to him because he considers them as the gifts of his heavenly Father, as well as a foretaste of heavenly joys. Mothers—ye who profess to be on the Lord's side, who have consecrated your children to God in baptism—where are your springs? Does an approving conscience prompt you to reply, They are all in God? Are you daily drawing abundant supplies from the Fountain of living waters, that your own souls may live, and that you may be well qualified for the arduous duties growing out of the interesting relation you sustain? Are you bringing all your energies to bear upon the one great point of influencing your children to come to Christ, and make choice of him as their portion and hope?—Sel.