oncerns me; of this I am as sure as that I now write it.

"The law of thy mouth is better unto me than gold and silver. O
how I love thy law, it is my meditation all the day. Thou, through thy
commandments--or the whole of thy truth--hast made me wiser than my
teachers. The law of God makes the simple wise. How sweet are thy
words unto my taste, yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth. Through thy
precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way. 'Thy
word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.' How safe, how
happy are they who are taught by the word of God. 'Blessed art thou,
Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not taught thee this, but my
Father who is in heaven.'

"O my children, enrich your minds with a full acquaintance with
the word of God; lay it up in your memories, when you can do nothing
more; be assured, if ever you are made wise unto salvation, it must be
by this word; if ever you are taught of God, he will teach you by the
words contained in the Bible. 'Search the Scriptures, for they are
they which testify of me;' search the Scriptures, for in them are
contained the words of eternal life. 'Be followers of them who,
through faith and patience, now inherit the promises.'

"Holy David went forward, heavenward, improving in the knowledge
of God, of himself, and of God's plan of salvation for ruined sinners,
by studying the word, the works, and the providences of God, but
chiefly the word of God; praying for, watching for the influences of
God's Spirit on his judgment and thinking powers: it was by this that
he became wiser than his teachers. He was a king, and had the cares of
the nation to occupy his mind; he was a man of war, and had that art
to study. But O, the privilege of the Christian! he goes through every
part, even of his earthly way, leaning upon God. David could say, even
of war, 'The Lord teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.'
'The Lord subdued the people under me.' In temporals and in
spirituals, he is my shield, my strength, my buckler, my strong
tower.' I shall not fear what man can do unto me.' 'In Judah's land
God is well known; there he brake the spear, the bow, and the battle.'
He ascribes all to God. We hear nothing of his own wisdom, his
disciplined armies, his order of battle and warlike powers, though
attention to all these was his duty, and not neglected by him. He
devoted all his natural talents to God; he exercised them diligently