How can we sing songs in a strange land?

Gen. 47, Ver. 9. The days of the years of my pilgrimage.

All saints here are sojourners, all good people “pilgrims and strangers.” {#1Pe 2:11 Heb 11:13,14}

Far they are from home, and meet with hard measure; as Israel did in Egypt; as those three worthies in Babylon. {#Da 3:23}

Their manners are of another manner: hence the world owns them not. {#Joh 15:19}

Diet drink

Gen 42 Ver. 29. And they came to Jacob.

Who had looked many a long look for them, no doubt, and was now glad to see their faces and full sacks. But this joy lasted but a little while; for no sooner had he heard them speak, but he was thunderstruck, as it were: so little stability is there in any worldly felicity.

He is the man

To lie by her, or to be with her. Gen 39:10

“Keep thee far from an evil matter,” saith Moses. {#Ex 23:7}

“Come not nigh the door of” the harlot’s “house,” saith Solomon. {#Pr 5:8}

“Flee fornication,” saith Paul. {#1Co 6:18}

And “Flee youthful lusts.” {#2Ti 2:22}

About prayer

Ex. 32 Ver. 13. Remember Abraham.

Here Moses neither invocateth the patriarchs, nor allegeth their merits, but reminds God of his promise to them, and presseth the performance.

What shall it then be in heaven?

Here we find that when there is great joy, the body is not able to bear it, our spirits are ready to expire;

what shall it then be in heaven?

(in ref. of 2 Cor. 4:17)

What should be a minister’s care?

Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. (2Cor. 11:11)

It should be a minister’s care to preserve in the hearts of his people an opinion of his love to them. For if they once conceive an incurable prejudice against him, that he hates them, or the like, there is no good will be done.