5. It directeth us how to expect this blessing, in what manner; only in the way and manner that it is promised, Zejih. iii. 3. Seek righteousness, seek meekness, it may be you shall be hid ; not abso- lutely, but as referring it to God's will. There is the keeping of the outward man, and the keeping of the inward man. As to the out- ward man, all things come alike to all ; the Christian is safe, whatever becomes of the man ; the Lord will keep him to his heavenly kingdom, 2 Tim. iv. 17, 18. That which the Christian desires mainly to be kept is his soul, that he may not miscarr}', and blemish his profession, and dishonour God, and do anytliing that is imseemly. I say, we cannot absolutely expect temporal safety. The righteous are liable to many troubles, tlierefore in temporal things God will not always keep off the temporal stroke, but leave us to many uncertainties, or at least hold us in doubt about it, that we may trust his goodness. When we trust God we must trust all his attributes, not only his power, that he is able to j^reserve, but his goodness, that he will do that which is best, that there may be a submission and referring of all things to his will ; as David, 2 Sam. xv. 2G, ' If he say, I have no delight in thee ; be- hold here am I, let him do unto me as seemeth good unto him.' God will certainly make good his promise, but this trust lies not in an absolute certainty of success. However, this should not discourage us from making God our refuge, because better promises are sure enough, and God's keeping us in suspense about other things is no evidence he will not afford them to us ; it is his usual course, and few instances can be given to the contrary, to have a special regard to liis trusting servants, and to hide them secretly. They that know his name will find it, that he never hath forsaken them that put their trust in him, Ps. ix. 10. It is the only sure way to be safe ; whereas to perplex our souls with distrust, even about these outward things, that is the way to bring ruin and mischief upon ourselves, or turn aside to crooked paths. Well, then, you see what respect the word hath to this privilege, that God is a shield and a hiding-place. The word discovers God under these notions, the word invites and encourageth us to put God to this use, the word assures us of the divine protection, it directeth us to the qualification of the i")ersons that shall enjoy this
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privilege, they that can trust God, and walk uprightly with him ; and it directeth us to expect the blessing, not with absolute confidence, but leaving it to God.
Thirdhj, The third thing I am to do is to show this word must be applied by faith, ' I hope in thy word.' Hope is not strictly taken here, but for faith, or a certain expectation of the blessing promised. What doth faith do here ? Why, the use of faith is —
1. To quiet the heart in waiting God's leisure: Ps. xxxiii. 20, ' Our soul waiteth for the Lord ; he is our help and our shield.' If God be our help and shield, then faith is quietly to wait the Lord's leisure ; till he sends deliverance, the word must bear u]i our hearts, and we must be contented to tarry his time: Isa. xxviii. IG, ' He that believeth shall not make haste,' will not outrun God.
2. In fortifying the heart against present difficulties, that when all visible helps and interests are cut ofi", yet we may encourage ourselves in the Lord. When they were wandering in the wilderness, and had neither house nor home, then Moses, the man of God, pens that psalm, and how doth he begin it ? ' Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations,' Ps. xc. 1. What was wanting in sense they saw was made up in the all-sufficiency of God. And so here is the use of faith, when in defiance of all difficulties we can see an all-sufficiency in God to counterbalance that which is wanting in sense. So doth David, Ps. iii. 3, ' Lord,' saith he, ' thou art my shield and glory, and the lifter up of my head.' Look to that psalm ; it was penned when David was driven from his palace royal by Absalom : when he was in danger, God was his shield ; when his kingdom and honour were laid in the dust, God was his glory; when he was under sorrow and shame, and enemies insulting over him, when the people rose against him, and ho was in great dejection of spirit, God was the lifter up of his head. This is getting under the covert of this shield, or compass of this hiding-place.
3. The use of faith is to quicken us to go on cheerfully in our duty, and with a quiet heart, resting upon God's love, power, and truth. So David, Ps. cxxxi. 5, ' Into thy hands I commit my spirit, for thou hast redeemed me, 0 Lord God of truth.' David was then in great danger ; the net was laid for him, as he saith in the former verse ; and when he was likely to perish, what doth he do? He casts all his cares upon God, and trusts him with his life, ' Into thy hands I commit my spirit,' that is, his life, safety, &c.