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I. UPON WHAT ACCOUNT IS GOD SAID TO BE OUR LIFE?

1. God gives life. He is the Author and Fountain of our being. All living creatures have their life from God (Acts 17:25; Psalm 104:30); but especially man (Isaiah 42:5), who is the object of His peculiar care.

2. God maintains life. Life in man is like a lamp kindled, which wastes and consumes, and will be soon extinguished, without fresh supplies of oil. And this supply is from God, who doth not only light the lamp at first, but keeps it burning. How liberal is God to the benefit and comfort of man; other creatures die that we may live.

3. God preserves life. He doth not only maintain and keep it from inward wasting, by daily supplies, but doth also preserve and keep it from outward dangers in daily protections. He holdeth our soul in life (Psalm 66:9). His daily visitation preserveth our spirits (Job 10:12).

4. God sweetens life. We have not only life from Him, but all the comforts of life, which tend to make life pleasant and delightful; and without which it would be little better than a continuing death.

5. God prolongs life. Long life is very frequently in Scripture spoken of as a special gift of God.

6. God restores life. Elijah, Elisha, Christ, and His apostles, have done it. And He will do it for all mankind at the general resurrection at the great day (John 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15:42; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; John 5:26-28).

7. God is the sovereign Lord of life. The life of all the creatures is entirely at the disposal of the living God.

II. THE EXPLICATION and illustration of such truths as those doth all aim at the application of them. What fruit, then, may we gather from this tree of life?

1. The greatness and goodness of God. If God be our life, then He is a great God.

2. The wisdom and happiness of the saints. Their wisdom, to choose this God to be theirs, and to be solicitous to keep themselves in His favour.

3. The evil of sin, and misery of sinners.Exhortation —

1. Own and acknowledge your dependence upon God.

2. Make God your friend, and be very careful also to keep yourself in His love.

(Matthew Henry.).

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KJV: See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

WEB: Behold, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil;