Satisfied with these appointments of the Deity, let us enquire III. What our conduct should be when called to suffer The best of men may be brought, as it were, "to their wit's end❞— But the advice in the text is the most proper that can be given— 1. Let us" commit our souls to God's care and keeping" [We must not attempt to stand in our own strengthNothing less than God's wisdom and power can defeat the conspiracy that is formed against us We should make him therefore the manager of our cause, and "the keeper" of our souls-] 2. Let us at the same time persist "in well-doing" [We must neither be irritated to do evil, nor deterred from doing good The more we are persecuted for the sake of Christ, the more studious we should be "to put our enemies to silence by well-doing" The very efforts of the enemy to extinguish our light should cause it to shine the brighter-] 3. Let us, above all, confide in God "as a faithful Creator" [God has promised to "keep the feet of his saints;" and he will perform it We should suffer nothing to rob us of this confidenceIf we "trust firmly in him, we shall be like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved"-] XXVII. THE DISCOURAGEMENTS AND SUPPORTS EXPERIENCED BY GOD'S PEOPLE. Is. xl. 29-31. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint. THE Christian's life is a continual warfare- VOL. I. Tt He is prone also to reflect more on his own weakness than on God's power Hence he is often filled with fears respecting the issue of his conflicts But God has provided an antidote against them The Jews are here addressed as though they were already in Babylon Their desponding fears are represented and reproved, ver. 27, 28. They are reminded of the many displays their nation had formerly seen of God's almighty power and unsearchable wisdom— They are taught to expect deliverance if they will wait on God The words of the text are applicable to the church in all ages We shall consider from them L.. The discouragements which God's people labour under None but they who have experienced the Christian's conflicts can form any adequate conception of them— Many are bowed down under a load of temporal afflictions [Christians are as much exposed to temporal afflictions as others Nor are these so easy to be borne as men generally imagine Job himself sank for a time under the pressure of them— No wonder then if men of less attainments be discouraged-] Spiritual troubles are the lot of all Christians [The corruptions of the heart are extremely painful to a renewed person The many unsuccessful conflicts which the Christian maintains with them is a source of much grief The temptations of Satan also are often as "fiery darts" inhis soul Nor can he see the desolations of Zion without much anguish of mind-] a Pain and sickness, losses and poverty, are sometimes rendered more afflictive by the unkindness of friends, and the invectives of calumny... b Job iii. 1. & xxvii. 2. c Ezek. ix. 4. Even the strongest of the saints are ready sometimes to faint under their trials [By "youths" we may understand, not inexperienced, but strong believers Even they may both "faint and utterly fall" in their affliction David affords an example of disquietude and despondencyd The whole Jewish church in Babylon, seemed possessed with this spirit And even in this day too many exclaim like those in Isaiah-] Still however none need despair, if they consider II. The supports which God will bestow God is never at a loss for means to succour his people— Nor does he want tenderness and compassion towards them [He has given them a sympathizing high priest— He has promised his acceptance of their weak endeavoursi Nor shall their infirmities be any bar to his favoursHe will even "perfect his own strength in their weak ness"-] He expects however that they "wait upon" him [Prayer is necessary in order to obtain divine blessings!— Nor must we be discouraged because we receive not an immediate answer We must "wait the Lord's leisure”—] By waiting on him they will obtain effectual aid [God will never turn away his ear from an humble suppliant He will give all needful and seasonable help They who were drooping shall "mount up with wings as eagles" They that had " utterly fallen" shall "run" as in a race— They shall "march " onward," in spite of all oppositionThey shall never "faint" through want of strength or courage-] d Ps. lxxvii. 7-9. g Ver. 28. e Ezek. xxxvii. 11. *Matt. xii. 20. f Isaiah xl. 27. i Isaiah xl. 31. m Deut. xxxiii. 25. Nor will any one be disappointed in his hope [David experienced success in the use of these meansoEvery believing soul shall experience the same3] ADDRESS 1. To those who bless themselves on account of never having felt such discouragements [An ignorance respecting spiritual conflicts is far from being a matter of rejoicing It argues an utter ignorance of true religion He who floats with the stream neither makes nor feels any opposition But the Christian has to stem the torrent of the world and of his own corruptions And under his conflicts he will be often ready to faint Let all therefore begin to "run their race," and "to fight a good fight"-] 2. To those who are now discouraged [Many are the sources from whence difficulties ariseBut God is an all-sufficient helper to those who trust in him He is pleased to leave his people for a season, only that they may be made to feel their own weakness and to rely on him Let none therefore despond like those of old Let them rather wait on God in the use of his appointed means Let them remember the encouraging declarations of St Paul' They shall soon be able to attest the truth of the prophet's assertion"] t 2 Cor. xii. 10. last clause, and Phil. iv. 13. " Isa. xxx. 18. last clause. 9 Gal. v. 17. • Jer. ii. 25. XXVIII. THE INESTIMABLE PRIVILEGES OF BELIEVERS. 1 John iii. 2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. OUR Lord was hated, reviled, and persecuted unto death But we see how glorious was his person, and how exalted his character In the same manner his followers are treated with contempt But God declares their state to be the most honourable upon earth To this effect St. John represents them as slighted by man and honoured by God I. The present state of believers The Scripture speaks of believers in the most exalted terms They are not merely servants, but "sons of God”-- 1. By adoption [Every believer was once a child of wrath" But God takes whom he will into his own family He adopts them as his sons, and makes them heirs of his gloryd-] 2. By regeneration Gode [Once they had only a carnal mind that is enmity against But they have been born again of the Holy SpiritThey are renewed after the image of their heavenly Father-] They enjoy this state "now" [Rich and poor, learned and unlearned, partake alike of this honour Nor does God withhold it from any on account of their remaining infirmities Even now, while the world despises them, does God own his relation to them-] What an unspeakably blessed state is this! [How different is it from the state they were once in!— How great the privileges which they enjoy by means of this relation! How sweet the sense of this relation often is to their souls!— To what a glorious state does it lead them in a better world— Well might the apostle break forth in wonder and admiration] 2 Cor. vi. 18. d Rom. viii. 15, 17. Col. iii. 10. b Eph. ii. 3. с Eph. ii. 19. f John i. 13. h 1 John iii. 1. |