The Fourteenth of March.

AT THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD --- Numbers 9:17-19.

"At the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched; and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and journeyed not." --- Numbers 9:17-19.

Thus the spiritual Israelites; they ought not to undertake anything from their own will, lest confusion and disappointment should encompass every path.

The unconverted are full of their own will, how should they succeed? They are bewildered here, and run into perdition eternally.

Sometimes the faithful may, with a good design, when they are engaged in a good work, outrun the will of God, and not wait for his counsel.

And yet the Israelites journeyed not, though the cloud tarried many days, and they might imagine they were losing time on their journey.

O my God, grant that in all things, even in my best works, I may be guided by thine eye, and wait for thy counsel with a resigned temper!

May I speak or be silent, work or rest, when and as thou wilt; then shall my ways be blest, and thou wilt never leave me nor foresake me.

My God, the steps of pious men
Are order'd by thy will;
Though they should fall, they rise again,
Thy hand supports them still.

I chose the path of heav'nly truth,
And God inspired my choice;
Not all the wealth of all the earth
Could make me so rejoice.