The experience of every man attests the truth of them in the latter view Waving the less profitable consideration of the text, we observe, I. None can trouble those whom God comforts God is pleased to bestow peculiar quietness on his own people [He sprinkles their souls with the blood of his dear Son Hence they enjoy peace with God, and in their own consciences By his Holy Spirit also he sheds abroad his love in their hearts Hence they maintain a filial confidence towards him Moreover he convinces them of his own continual care over theme Hence their minds are established in the most trying circumstances-] This quietness is widely different from the false peace enjoyed by the world [There is a kind of peace possessed even by the ungodlyBut it flows only from inconsiderateness or delusionIt vanishes as soon as light breaks in upon the soul— Hence the wicked cannot be said to enjoy true and solid peaceb But the peace of God's people consists in a resignation to his will, affiance in his promises, assurance of his love, and an expectation of his glory Hence the apostle speaks of it in the most exalted termsWhen God vouchsafes it to their souls, none can trouble them [The question is much stronger than the strongest affir mation It is a triumphant challenge to the whole universe They who enjoy God's presence may disregard the pressures of poverty! It is not said here that none will endeavour to trouble the believer; for it is certain that both the world and Satan will exert all their influence for this end; 2 Tim. iii. 12. 1 Pet. v. 8. Nor is it said that God's children shall never have cause for trouble, for they are liable to pain, sickness, &c. as much as others; but it is affirmed, that none shall greatly or materially trouble them; and this assertion is verified by daily experience. 1 Hab. iii. 17, 18. Nor will they be discouraged by the persecutions of man, or the temptations of Satan" Every child of God therefore may adopt the apostle's words"— He may assume the triumphant language of Messiah himself] On the other hand, God's determinations are irresistible also with respect to his enemies; so that II. None can comfort those whom he troubles Though God does not leave it in the power of creatures to trouble his people, he does not see fit altogether to exempt them from trouble He sometimes, for wise and gracious reasons, hides his face from them [David had frequent occasion to lament the loss of God's presenceP It was a subject of complaint with the church of old"— Even our Lord himself cried out by reason of dereliction There is therefore an awful propriety in the prophet's address to God-] Nor can any comfort them at such seasons' [Job speaks of himself as quite disconsolate under the hidings of God's face" David also describes the anguish of his heart on a similar occasion And universal experience confirms the truth of Job's assertion] The wicked, however, are more awfully exposed to these tokens of God's displeasure' [They are now indeed, for the most part, insensible of God's absence from them— But at the hour of death they will feel the whole weight of his indignation2 n Rom. viii. 31. • Isai. 1. 7-9. q Isai. xlix. 14. m 2 Cor. xii. 9, 10. P Ps. xxx. 7. and xiii. 1. Matt. xxvii. 46. The last clause of the text admits of two different interpretations: it may import, either that none can behold God with comfort, when he hides his face from them, or, that if God hide his face from any one, men will no longer look upon him, or at least that they cannot so look upon him as to impart comfort to him. The sense we adopt includes both. God will not, and men cannot, comfort those from whom God hides his face. Job iii. 23, 24. y Job xii. 14. z Rom. ii. 8, 9. Ps. cii. 1-11. God will then assuredly hide his face from them, and bid them to depart from him-] And who will comfort them, when they are in such a tremendous state? ableb [Sinners even here are often made utterly inconsol But, in the eternal world, GOD will afford them no comfort The angels will certainly administer none— Nor can their fellow-creatures help them in the leastThey cannot derive any comfort from reflections on the past Nor can they find consolation in their prospects of the future Thus can they find no comfort from without, or from within-] APPLICATION 1. To those who are seeking rest and quietness in the world [How poor a portion is the world in comparison of God! And how absurd would it appear if any one should affirm of the world what is here affirmed respecting God ! Let every one then acquiesce in the decision of Solomon And let Christ be regarded as the true and only source of rest8-] 2. To those who now enjoy quietness in God [Peace, however firmly established at present, may soon be lost a Deut. xxxii. 20. Matt. xxv. 41. plified in Judas, Matt. xxvii. 3-5. b This is awfully exemThe angels will rather be the executioners of God's vengeance, Matt. xiii. 41. d Their wicked companions will only increase their misery, as may be inferred from the solicitude which the rich man manifested respecting the probable condemnation of his five brethren, Luke xvi. 27, 28.; and the righteous will not afford them so much as a drop of water to cool their tongue, Luke xvi. 24, 25. e Should any one ask, "If the world comfort me, who can trouble me?" we answer without fear of contradiction; "Conscience, if awakened by God, may trouble thee; pain and sickness may disquiet thee; the prospect of death may appal thee; and, above all, the wrath of God shall trouble thee for ever, if thou continue to seek thy happiness in the world." If, on the contrary, any one "When the world troubles me, who can comfort may refer him to that unalterable declaration of the prophet, Isai. say, xxvi. 3. me we f Eccl. i. 14. Matt. xi. 28. It can be maintained only in a way of holiness"— Sin indulged will cause God to hide his face from us— This is the true source of the disquietudes which many feel Let all therefore mortify secret and besetting sins In this way they shall attain happiness in life, in death, and for ever-] h Isai. xxxii. 17. Ps. cxix. 165. and 2 Pet. i. 10, 11. i Isai. lix. 2. LXIII. THE FOLLY OF A FRUITLESS PROFESSION. Luke vi. 46. Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? THE honour of Christ and the salvation of our souls depend on our having right views of the gospel— We cannot therefore too earnestly insist on the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ Nevertheless we should constantly urge the practice of good works as the fruits and evidences of our faith in Christ The folly of expecting salvation while we neglect them is strongly represented by our Lord in the text I. Shew who they are that deserve the censure in the text- The heathens have less to aggravate their sins than Christians The greater part of those who live in countries that are evangelized are obnoxious to this censure 1. Mere nominal Christians deserve it [Many are Christ's, as having been devoted to him in baptism By the appellation of Christians they profess to be his followers But they are in no respect subject to his will and wordChrist commands them to "seek first the kingdom of God," &c. and they seek it last-] 2. Formal, self-righteous persons deserve it [Many will go far in the outward duties of regionThey will profess too a veneration for the name of Christ But he calls them to regeneration," and they deny their need of it He bids them live by faith on him, and it proves an hard saying They are satisfied with the form of godliness, without the power-] 3. False professors deserve it [None are so worthy of reproof as they They will talk much of their dependence on Christ— They will profess perhaps to have experienced much of his power and grace They may even glory in the recollection of his truth and faithfulness But in the midst of all, they can be proud, covetous, passionate, censorious, unforgiving, deceitful, and dishonestTo such the text may be applied with peculiar energy-] Such persons ought to be addressed with all plainness of speech II. Expostulate with them on the folly of their conduct The service of God is justly called a "reasonable service But a fruitless profession is most unreasonable No reason can be assigned "why" persons should rest in such a state 1. Is not a conformity to Christ's precepts practicable? [Many allege that such strictness as he requires is unattainable We allow that absolute perfection is not to be expected in this world But an unreserved devotedness of ourselves to God is attainable Thousands of the saints of old have walked thus with God There is a cloud of living witnesses who exemplify this conduct God has promised grace to all who seek it diligently-] 2. Is not obedience to him necessary? [We may be good citizens if we possess only the virtues of heathens Put an unfeigned regard to Christ is necessary to constitute us Christians St. Paul has fully declared the inefficacy of outward religione a John iii. 3. b John vi. 53. 60. Rom. ii. 28, 29. |