will he
know this? By the heart consolations and comforts it brings him. The
Holy Spirit will bear witness with his spirit that he is a child of
God. "God is not slack concerning his promises." When he says: "Obey
my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people," do you
think he has no way of letting them know they _are_ his people? Will
not a father and mother own the child they love? How much more our
heavenly Father will own and bless his child!

"The opened heavens around me shine
With beams of sacred bliss,
When Jesus shows that he is mine
And whispers: I am his."

There can be no greater enjoyment than the reading of the Scriptures
when we feel that we have complied with their injunctions and
requirements, and have a will to do so for ever. It is then the "peace
of God which passeth all understanding" fills the soul, and the mind
is happy.

The text says: "I will be your God; and ye shall be my people." This
is the reward of our obedience. If men would preach from this to the
end of time they could tell but a very small part of the blessedness
wrapped up in this promise. People think much of the blessings of this
life when they are joyous and cheerful from health and prosperity. But
in this promise life and health are guaranteed to all eternity. "He
that believeth on me shall never die." We are assured that in the
glory world sickness and pain and death shall be no more. "I will be
your God." This means in the way of every good. "No good thing," says
the Psalmist, "will the Lord withhold from them that fear him." This
will be made clearest in the world to come. "He is able to do
exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think." "I will be your
God,--not for awhile and then cast you off. I do not repent of my
promises and gifts. You may make a promise, or give something, or do
something from an impulse of feeling, which you afterwards regret; but
I am subject to no such weakness." In this sense he speaks to us in
his Word. He will, if we heed his voice, make of us all "a people
prepared for the Lord," a converted, obedient, sanctified and
eternally saved and happy people.

Some may regard God as man's enemy. They seem to think there is
something terrible in religion, and the farther away they can keep
from it the safer they are. What a fatal mistake! To be a child of God
is to be safe and happy. Our heavenly Father feels the love of pity
for the sinner. I lately read a very touchin