2. The excellence of a shield lies in that it is hard and impene- trable. So this answers to the invincible power of God's providence, by which he can break the assaults of all enemies ; and such a shield is God to his people : Ps. cxliv. 2, ' My strength and my shield, in whom I trust.'
3. Shall I add one thing more ? Stones and darts flung upon a hard shield are beaten back upon him that flings them ; so God beats back the evil upon his enemies, and the enemies of his people : Ps. lix. 11, ' Bring them down, 0 Lord, our shield.' Shall 1 speak in a word ? The favour of God is a shield : Ps. v. 12, ' With favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.' The truth of God is a shield : Ps. xci. 4, ' His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.' And
VeR. 114.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 171
tlie strength and power of Grod, that is our shield : Ps. xxviii. 7, ' He is my strength and my shiekh'
Well, now, you see how this defence and this protection is set forth, ' Thou art my hiding-place and my shield.' God accommodates him- self to lisp to us in our own dialect, and to speak in such notions as we can best understand, for the help of our faith. Having opened the nature of this defence, the next thing I am to do is to show —
Secondly, The respect to the word, ' I hope in thy word.'
1. The word discovers Grod to be such a protection and such a de- fence to his people everywhere : Ps. Ixxxiv. 11, ' God will be a sun and a shield, grace and glory will he give.' As a sun, so he will give all things that belong to our blessedness ; as a shield, so he will keep off all dangers from us. The scripture shows not only what God can do herein, but what he will do for our sakes. So Gen. xv. 1, saith God to Abraham, ' I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward.' Abraham might be under some fear that the kings which he had lately vanquished would work him some trouble, and then God comes and appears to him and comforts him, and tells him, ' I am thy shield.'
2. As the scripture doth discover God under these notions, so it in- vites us and encourageth us to put God to this use : Isa. xxvi. 20, ' Come, my people, enter into thy chambers, shut the door about thee,
•and hide thyself as it were for a little moment.' There are chambers where we may rest ; where are they but in the arms of God's protec- tion, in the chambers of his attributes, promises, and providence ? The word invites us so to make use of God, to enter into him as into a chamber of repose, while tiie storm is furious, and seems to blow hard upon us. So Ps. xci. 1, ' He that dwellethin the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.' He that committeth himself to God for refuge shall not be thrust out, but suffered to dwell there, and enjoy the benefit of a covert and defence.
3. The scripture assureth us of the divine protection, that certainly it shall be so : Prov. xxx. 5, ' Every word of God is pure ; he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.' Do not think that these are careless expressions, that dropped into the scripture by chance. No ; they are the sure and pure words of the Lord, that will yield a great deal of comfort, peace, and happiness. So Ps. xviii. 30, ' As for God, his way is perfect : the word of the Lord is tried : he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.' God hath passed his word, which he hath ever been tender of in all ages of the world ; he invites us to depend upon it. Thus it assures us of the divine protection.
4. It directeth us as to the qualifications of the persons who shall enjoy this privilege. Who are they ?
[1.] You might observe, all those that believe, and none but those that believe ; he is a buckler and a shield to all those that trust in liim, Prov. xxx. 5 ; Ps. xviii. 30. Trust and have it. If you will glorify God by faith, and depend upon him according to his word, you will find it to be so. We miss of our protection and defence by our doubts, unbelief, and distrust of God. All those that in time of danger are duly sensible of it, and make use of God as their refuge and hiding-place, shall find him to be that to them which their faith expects from him.
172 SERMONS UPON rsALM cxix. [Ser. CXXY.
[2.] Tlic qualification Avliich tlie word directs us unto is this : those that sincerely obey his covenant : Ps. Ixxxiv. 11, ' God is a sun and a shield to those that walk uprightly ; ' and the same is repeated Prov. ii. 7, ' God is a buckler to them that walk uprightly ;' and Jsa. xxxiii. 15, 16, where God saith they that seek him shall dwell on high ; his place of defence shall be the mmiitions of the rocks; they shall be preserved safe that fear him, and walk with him according to the tenor of his covenant. If you will not be faithful servants to God, how can you expect he should be a good master to you ? Sincerely give up your heart to walk with God exactly and closely, and he will not be wanting to you. Others may be preserved by general pi'ovidencc, or rather reserved to future judgment ; they may be kept until the pit be digged for the wicked, Ps. xciv. 13, as a malefactor is suffered to live till the i)lace of execution be prepared. But to have this protection in mercy, it supposeth we are in covenant with God, and walk sin- cerely with him.