1

cover, unless a proper temptation bring them forth to our view. David, whofe confcience was fo tender in the wilderness, that it fmote him for cutting off the skirt of Saul's garment, continued infenfible for a long time under the most aggravated guilt, after he was fixed in the peaceable poffeffion of the throne. Hezekiah, whofe devotion was fo humble and ardent in the time of his fickness, waxed proud and vain-glorious when restored to health; infomuch that "he brought wrath upon himself, and upon

Judah, and upon Jerufalem." Many who, in a low eftate, were humane and kind, and did good with the little they poffeffed, have been fo intoxicated with the full cup of profperity, that, for a feafon at least, they have forgotten themselves, their neighbour, nay, their God, and become quite the reverfe of what they formerly appeared to be. One thing is certain, that if left to our own choice we should never feel diftrefs or affliction of any kind; and yet the Scriptures affure us, and our own obfervation may. convince us of the truth of it, that adverfity is more friendly to religion than profperity. Our

Our diseased nature requires bitter medi cines much oftener than cordials; even the beft need frequently to be dieted, and brought low, to keep their feverish paffions and appetites within bounds. Now God is perfectly acquainted with all the tendencies of our nature, and can therefore judge with unerring fkill what things are beft for us, and most conducive to our intereft. Hẹ knows what measure of health, or riches, or honours, we fhall be able to bear, or be disposed to improve; when, and in what proportion, pain or fickness, or poverty, or reproach, are neceffary to expel fome fpiritual distemper, to exercise and strengthen fome languishing grace, or to make room' in the heart for his own divine prefence. Again, let our enemies plot against us in the moft fecret manner; let them fhut themfelves up in the clofeft retirement; yet it is impoffible for them to hide their confultations from God, "who discovereth deep "things out of darknefs, and bringeth to "light the fhadow of death." When Benhadad had failed in his repeated attempts to cut off the armies of Ifrael by furprife, · D d 2

his

1

his heart was fore troubled; and fufpecting treachery in his own court, he called his fervants together, and faid unto them, "Will ye not fhew me which of us is for the

King of Ifrael ?” To which one of his fervants replied, "None, my Lord, O King; "but Elisha the prophet that is in Ifrael, "telleth the King of Ifrael the words that "thou speakest in thy bed-chamber." Nay, he can preferve his people from the effects of their own folly, as well as from the craft and malice of their enemies. "The Lord "knoweth how to deliver the godly out of "temptation:"-" He leadeth the blind in a way that they know not:"" he giveth "understanding to the fimple:"- "the meek "will he guide in judgement, the meek will "he teach his way." And if infinite Wisdom take the difpofal of our lot, if he who cannot err, vouchfafe to become both our guardian, and our guide, with what unfufpecting truft may we commit ourselves into his hands, and cheerfully acquiefce in all the determinations of his Providence? Efpecially when we confider,

2dly, That his power is equal to his wif

dom.

dom.

"Whatsoever the Lord pleaseth, that "doth he, in heaven, in the earth, and in "the fea, and in all deep places." He caufeth the wrath of man to praise him; and the remainder thereof he is able to restrain. All the power of the creatures is derived from him, and dependent upon him. The haughtieft tyrant upon earth is only the rod of his anger, which he employs for a fea fon, and then breaketh in pieces, and throws it away. When Pilate faid to our Lord, "Knoweft thou not that I have pow

er to crucify thee, and power to release "thee?" he at once detected and reproved his ignorance and pride, by answering him, "Thou couldst have no power at all against

.66

me, except it were given thee from a"bove."-And as the power of God is fupreme, fo is it likewife everlafting." The "Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth, "fainteth not, neither is weary." His arm is never fhortened that it cannot fave; neither age nor exercife can impair its vigour ; what he did yesterday he can do to-day, and repeat it as often as his people have occafon for it. This was the foundation of that

expoftulatory addrefs, Isa. li. 9.

"Awake,

"awake, put on ftrength, O arm of the

"Lord; awake as in the

ancient days, in

"the generations of old.

Art not thou it

"that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the “dragon?" To which God replied, " I, even I, am he that comforteth

you:

who

66 art thou then that thou fhouldst be afraid " of a man that shall die, and of the son of "man which fhall be made as grafs? and "forgetteft the Lord, thy Maker, that hath "ftretched forth the heavens, and laid the "foundations of the earth? and haft feared "continually every day, because of the

fury of the oppreffor, as if he were ready "to destroy? And where is the fury of "the oppreffor? I am the Lord thy God, "that divided the fea, whofe waters roared: "the Lord of hofts is my name."His power reacheth to the heart of man, to which no creature can have immediate accefs: even the hearts of kings are in his hand, and he turneth them as the rivers of water. Thus he promised to Jeremiah, "that he would caufe the enemy to intreat "him well in the day of evil." Who but