My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof and be glad. – Psalm 34:2
There was a poor vain-glorious boaster, who had arrived to the summit of his happiness, and attained the zenith of his glory: the sun of prosperity shone with great splendor upon him; he bade adieu to all care, and sat down to solace himself: "Soul," said he, "thou hast much goods laid up for many years, take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." But, awful moment! dreadful doom! God said unto him, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee." Luke 12:19, 20.
O how many such are there, who think the soul can be made happy in outward ease, eating, and drinking, and earthly enjoyments! Alas! one moment dashes the honey of their comforts into the gall of disappointment. Not so that soul who boasts in the Lord. This was not a transient fit of David's, caused by a glow of the passions; for, says he, "I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall be continually in my mouth." This is living indeed like a son of God and an heir of glory. Paul, like David, sets us the same example. Christ and free grace, says Luther, was ever in his mouth; he never thought he could mention the precious name of Christ too often; he repeats it in every verse of the ten of the first chapter of 1 Corinthians.
If Christ is the boast and glory of our souls, his name will ever be uppermost in our hearts and upon our tongue. It was the martyr Lambert's motto, "None but Christ, none but Christ." It is said of some one, that he seldom or never mentioned the name of Jesus without a tear. A martyr who was judged to be dead, being burned as black as a coal in the fire, moved his scorched lips, and was heard to say, "Sweet Jesus," and fell asleep. These were all poor, needy sinners, like ourselves; they saw their want of Christ; they believed what he had done for them, and was to them; they gloried in him, and made him the boast of their souls. The humble are glad to hear of this; it delights their souls to hear the name of their Saviour and his sacrifice gloried in, his righteousness exalted, and his salvation made the triumph of sinners; their hearts catch the sound, and with a glow of the fire of love they join the heavenly, cry, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive honor, and glory, and blessing." Rev. 5:2. O how vastly different is this from self-exalting and self-boasting: "God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble." James 4:6.