ne swore to Noah that the waters should no more go over the earth, so hath he sworn that he would no more be wroth and rebuke his people. "The mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my covenant shall not fail." The faithfulness of God with respect to his completing his promises in giving eternal life to his people is not a matter of experience-it cannot be in the present world; but, if we believe Christianity, we believe this-that, when Jesus Christ appears the second time, all that are dead in Christ shall appear with him, and shall be caught up together and meet him in the clouds, and thus shall they be forever with the Lord. If he has fulfilled one hundred of his promises-if the course of his providence has corresponded with the expectation excited by the word of promise, then we believe that that faithfulness will not fail us; that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; that he who has filled our minds with expectation will not disappoint us with respect to this great hope. Let us, therefore, lift up our heads, if we are real Christians, for the day of our redemption draweth nigh. Let us rejoice that we have a covenant of God, and a covenant ordered in all things and sure, which is all our salvation and all our desire.

And, in the first place, by way of improvement, let us observe the propriety of remembering the way in which the Lord God hath led

us.

Israel is called on to look back and to compare the conduct of God's Providence towards them with the promise he had uttered long before; and the exercise of tracing the dealings of God enabled them to rely upon that faithfulness and truth, to which their attention is here directed. We all see much of the consolation which we might dorive to our own souls if we did only meditate on the way the Lord hath led us. If we consider the trials and sorrows of the present life as a part of that holy dispensation, in that proportion shall we be disposed to glorify God. If we trace the hand of man in these events, this may produce disquietude; but if we could extend our view to the farthest limit, all this would frequently be matter of gratitude, and we should be enabled to give thanks to God in every thing. Let every one who has made a profession of Christianity trace the conduct of God towards him since that profession commenced. As spiritual Christians, formed in Christ Jesus to show forth his praise, if they mark the conduct of God, they will perceive the faithfulness and truth in it which will attach them to his character and stimulate them to revere his ways. Let us look forward to that state in which we shall have his kindness fully displayed. If the grand assurance which Jesus Christ has given to his disciples is fulfilled, how happy shall we shortly be happy, if we are his; with what delight shall we then look back on the way he has led us! How sweet it will be to retrace the mysterious operations of his providence-the wonderful way in which God hath brought us all the journey through; all the trials and afflictions of this life so tempered and overruled that none could be spared, none could be wanting; they are all a part of the Divine mercy towards us. and not only do they not obstruct our felicity, but in the hand of the Great Disposer they are made subservient to pro

moting it. "These light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."

And while common salvation produces a common song of praise, millions of glorious spirits will each have a separate song, each a separate theme-each one will have within him motives of gratitude which are peculiar to himself, and will not cease to wonder that he should be brought thither-that he should be singled out as a brand from the burning. Eternity will never cease to exhibit fresh occasions of wonder that he should be brought from danger and distress, and made an heir with God and joint-heir with Christ. It will be said by every adoring soul, Is not this a brand plucked out of the burning? Let us, my dear brethren, endeavour to anticipate that prospect. Let us place ourselves by faith where we shall shortly be placed. Let us walk, as it were, in the suburbs of that heavenly city, and endeavour to anticipate something of its spirit and enjoyment. Then shall we be "strong in the Lord and the power of his might." The joy of the Lord will be our strength, and our only stay and support; the spirit of consolation will alleviate the weight of our afflictions-will make the paths of the Divine Being unspeakably delightful, ways of pleasantness and paths of peace.

VII.

DEALINGS OF GOD WITH HIS PEOPLE.*

PSALM Cvii., 7: And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

[Preached at Broadmead, Bristol, April 19th, 1828.]

THE design of this Psalm is to invite us to meditate on God's providential dispensations for our own benefit, and the Psalmist concludes this chapter with this remark: "Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even he shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord." The angel, speaking to the Prophet Daniel of the mystery of Divine Providence, says, "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand." We have here, in this Psalm, the history of the children of Israel in their passage through the wilderness into the land of Canaan. It is intended for reproof, conviction, and instruction in righteousness; and to be a representation of the conduct which God observes towards his servants now; for we have the authority of the apostle in this application to the present times, who says, "These things happened for our ensamples, upon whom the ends of the world are come." We are, therefore, deeply concerned in the conduct of Divine Providence towards the

From the notes of John Greene, Esq.

Israelites, it being, like a mirror, continually presenting the object to our view, and for our benefit.

1st. What was the right way in which the Lord led his people, or what are we to understand by it?

2dly. Observe that, notwithstanding appearances were so dark and mysterious, it was the right way.

First. One of the most striking features of the journey was, that it was extremely circuitous. There was a direct way from Egypt to Canaan, "the land flowing with milk and honey," in a straight line for them to take possession of it, through Seir from Goshen, but they were commanded to turn and go through the wilderness of Paran. We find they frequently retraced their steps, wandering about, and visiting the same places for forty years. This is an instructive lesson and figure to the spiritual Israel. They have the promise of a future land, a place of rest, a city of habitation; and instead of being conducted immediately there, they are ordered to wander about in this wilderness state. The Lord evidently intends them not to look to the present world as a state of rest; for He exercises their patience by many trials; they have, therefore, need of faith to overcome the world, and to establish their hearts in waiting. He can secure his purpose without making haste. He has no occasion to take quick measures; and he that "believeth shall not make haste."

We often find that, as soon as persons are converted to God, they imagine their trials are all over, and that they shall have nothing but peace and joy; but they soon experience greater trials and afflictions than ever entered into their conception. The children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt, instead of entering into the Holy Land, passed through the wilderness. Thus the excellent of the earth are often conducted into the wilderness. The Israelites went not into an inferior country merely, but they passed through "that great and terrible wilderness by the way of the mountain of the Amorites." "They wandered in a solitary way; hungry and thirsty, their souls fainted in them; then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses."

There were many intricacies, many privations, and "but for the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night," they would have lost their way. Thus it is with the children of God. There are great intricacies in the journey of life, and many privations, but they have a constant communication of Divine wisdom to guide them, if they supplicate for it. Hence the Psalmist prays, "Make plain the path of my feet because of mine enemies." If left to ourselves, we should fall by the right hand and by the left; but He has promised to guide us by his counsel, and to lead us by the way we should go. The Lord God is a sun and shield, He will give grace and glory;" He will supply wisdom for direction, in answer to prayer. "Commit thy way unto the Lord." "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own understanding." "I know," says the Prophet Jeremiah, "it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." Although the spiritual Israel have not a miraculous direction, they have

a real one; it is the path of duty, the path of safety, and of happiness. The Israelites were fed with manna, by a Divine and supernatural production; thus the people of God are conducted through the world they have many natural and spiritual enemies to combat, and many privations to endure, yet they are sustained, in a supernatural manner, by the Word of God and by the Spirit. They are nourished by the Word and ordinances, and sustained by the Spirit.

Thirdly. The Israelites were also called upon to encounter great and serious conflicts. They had many enemies to contend with: there were the Amalekites, the Amorites, and Moabites, and "Og, king of Bashan, who went out against them, he and all his people." Thus it is with the people of God; they have not only to travel, but to fight. They have enemies to obstruct them, their spiritual enemies from within and without, the interests of a sordid world, and the allurements of pleasure. They are called "to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ." The state of a Christian here is a militant state; there are enemies in himself, and there is Satan, his great adversary. He wrestles not with flesh and blood only, but "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." I would appeal to the Christian's experience. He finds himself continually harassed by a set of enemies of a new kind. Satan will inject his fiery darts of temptation; sometimes he will appear as an angel of light, at others as a roaring lion, and he will never suffer a Christian to rest till he arrives at the conquered land: but our Saviour says, for his encouragement, "Him that overcometh I will give to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father on his throne."

He that knows nothing of this spiritual warfare, knows nothing of the Christian life or of the mind of Christ. The Saviour says, “In the world ye shall have tribulation, but in me ye shall have peace." The seed of the woman was to bruise the serpent's head, and he was to bruise his heel. "The wisdom that is from above is first pure, and then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated." The people of Israel were not only accustomed to conflicts, but they were exercised by various trials and chastisements, owing to the latent depravity and infidelity of their hearts; and their greatest trials were the fruit of their own perverseness. It is said, in the book of Deuteronomy, 8th chapter and 5th verse, "Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee." Those, my brethren, who are not sharers in these chastisements are said, by the apostle, to be bastards, and not sons; "for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." Our greatest trials are often brought on us from a just animadversion of our faults; had we been more faithful, more humble, and obedient, they would have had no place.

Secondly. Notwithstanding these features in relation to ancient Israel, and the conduct of God to his Church, it is yet "the right way to a city of habitation." He was their guide; He went before them,

marking out and directing their marches and encampments, all by a right way, as most conducive to his own glory, and the happiness of those that were dear to Himself. Thus the people of God have the promises of his spiritual presence: "I will guide thee with mine eye; fear not, I am with thee;" and He assures us that "all things shall work together for good," if we love Him, and our hearts are steadfast to his covenant. Of Israel He said, "Is not my way equal; are not your ways unequal?" His ways are equitable, and worthy of Himself. The consideration of whose ways they are ought to silence every doubt or murmuring thought, especially when we reflect that He is infinite in power, infinite in goodness and in mercy. We ought, therefore, to exercise our unlimited trust in his guidance, where we cannot trace his footsteps; for if we cannot rely upon Him in the dark, and infer from his known character that all his ways are wisdom, and truth, and faithfulness, we shall remain without the consolations of piety. Even as to an earthly parent, a child is confident of his father's love in the midst of discipline; and so, in the Divine Being, his chastisements should be submitted to, from a distinct perception of his love to his children. We should argue from his perfections with which we are acquainted, and from the testimony of his word, that all his dealings must be right and good; that in the best sense, "whatever is, is right," although at the time they may not seem most for our good. Afflictions, for the present, are not joyous, but grievous; yet afterward they yield the peaceable fruits of right

eousness.

:

Again The Israelites of old are represented as under a moral discipline. They were perverse, disobedient, and rebellious; they had an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; and it may be doubted whether any less discipline and trials would have fitted them for the Holy Land. Our present trials, bereavements, and afflictions are the chastisements of our heavenly Father, "for whom he loveth he chasteneth." Our undue attachment to the world, the desire to have our own way, and an over-value of present objects, demand these severe trials for our moral improvement, and for our advancement in holiness.

Secondly. We may learn that the time will arrive when the Divine conduct will afford matter of praise and thanksgiving, however it might have staggered his people here below, and induced them, as Jacob did, to say, "Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away; all these things are against me," yet they proved all for him. The crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ appeared to be a decisive blow to the expectations of the disciples: "We thought it had been He that should have redeemed Israel," said his disciples. They knew not that he had redeemed them. Those trials, my brethren, which Christians have found to be most difficult to reconcile with the loving kindness of their heavenly Father, they have often, even in this life, had reason to bless God for. They have drank the cup, and felt its purifying effects, and have said with the Psalmist," Before I was afflicted I went astray;" and have exclaimed, with holy Job,