THE service and office which here we find our God and Savior puts upon us, ought to be noticed by us and acted upon.
Making " supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks for all men."
God watches over the earth, and sees the needs of man, as such; and the fruits of His covenant given to Noah, are part of the blessing. But thankless man sees Him not who is the giver, sees Him not who causes the sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and gives rain to the just and to the unjust.
In the needs of men around us, even amid God's judgments, we are to be those who can in heart and act connect the griefs with the ear and mind of God, so fulfilling a service of privilege to Him. And, as the unseen hand pours out its rich blessings on the world as such, we are to turn ourselves to be givers of thanks.
Prayer too is called for in behalf of God's agents of government-" For kings, and all that are in authority;" the end, " that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
The call is not to pray for our monarch, as some suppose, so individualizing the matter to ourselves, and putting ourselves into a false position as to the powers that be. The exhortation is as to God's ordinance, of government of the world by the sword of a Caesar, or any other, and our own God in it, and we are to pray for all such upon earth, that all (we) saints may be quietly and peaceably governed.
If God has committed the word of His grace to me, I can well commit it and myself, in whom it dwells, to the hand of the Lord. Little, Lord God, and I among thy people upon the earth; but the message sent by thy risen Son, through Mary, has reached unto me. " Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto ray Father, and your Father, to my God, and your God."
A word-and I cannot either deny or reduce it to barrenness-most precious. The risen and ascended Lord Jesus owns us as brethren, and has communicated to us, as such, that His Father is our Father, and His God is our God. This is known in heaven above as reality, on which He acts, as light of time most precious kind.