HE PRESERVETH THE SOULS OF HIS SAINTS.

 

APRIL 16.
 
He preserveth the souls of his saints.
Psalm 97:10
 

EVERY creature needs the preserving care of its Creator,
  no power short of omnipotence is sufficient to preserve us.
 
Our weakness is so great,
  our corruptions or so strong,
  our foes are so crafty, and
  our dangers are so numerous,
  that we are never safe except the Lord keeps us.
 
We are never in such great danger,
  as when we fancy ourselves quite safe.
 
“Let him that thinketh he standeth,
  take heed lest he fall.”
 
But the Lord has promised to preserve his saints;
  they are separated from the world,
  set apart for his glory, and
  inhabited by the Holy Spirit.
 
They feel that they need preservation,
  they exercise faith in God's promise, and
  plead earnestly for it at the throne of divine grace.
 
And the Lord will preserve them
  from the designs of their foes,
  from the natural tendency of inward sin, and
  from apostatizing from his own cause.
 
“He preserveth them by the means which
  are naturally likely to injure them.
By painful afflictions,
  by losses and crosses,
  by trials and temptation,
  by reproaches and persecution,
  by the conflict within, and
  by opposition without,
he preserveth the souls of his saints.”
 

His grace shall on his saints descend,

And keep their souls secure;

From earth and hell his arm defend,

And make their victory sure.

 
James Smith 1849