[1.] Because he hath undertaken to keep us, and guard us from all evil. See Gen. xv. 1, ' Fear not, Abraham ; I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward ; ' Ps. Ixxxiv. 11, * The Lord God is a sun and a shield.' The removal of evil belongeth to his covenant, as well as the bestowing of all manner of blessings. The blessings of the covenant are privative and positive. His providence is mainly seen in our pil- grimage in keeping off evils, Phcres sunt gratim prwativce — There are more privative blessings here, in keeping from sin, temptation, and danger. In the world to come we know more of the positive blessings. See also that promise, Zech. ii. 5, ' I will be unto her a wall of fire round about.' Pray mark the promise, for every word is emphatical. It was spoken when the returning Jews were discouraged with the small number they had wherewith to people their country and man their towns against their enemies. Now, after a promise of future increase, God for the present telleth them that he ' would be to her a wall of fire round about.' The words are so precious, it is a pity a syllable should be lost. There are two promises included in this one promise —
(1.) That God will be a wall. There is a distinct promise for that : Isa. xxvi. 1, *We have a strong city-; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks round about her.' So Ps. cxxv. 2, ' As the moun- tains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.' God will be instead of all guards.
(2.) Then a wall of fire ; not of brass or of stone, but of fire. Qui comminus arceat et eminus terreat. They made fires about them to keep off the wild beasts. Here is enough for a refuge, and to stay our hearts on the Lord's keeping. Would God speak at this rate, and not be a shelter to us ? If we did make use of him, we should find the benefit. These promises show that we have leave to dwell in God as
SERMONS UPON PSALM XC. I. 175-
our fortress, and that we shall not be refused lodging, nor thrust out when we enter into him for that end and purpose. Yea, they give us confidence as well as leave that we shall have the benefits we expect, or a benefit every way as good or better,
[2.] Because he alone will keep us, and every part of us, and all that belongeth to us ; our souls, our bodies, our names, and our estates.
(1.) Our souls : Ps. cxxi. 7, * The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil, he shall preserve thy soul.' If a believer lose anything by trouble, he shall not lose what is most precious, he shall not lose his soul. In a fire, a man careth not so much though his lumber be burnt, if he can preserve his money and his jewels. Our soul is in more danger than the body, and needs more keeping. Our body is in danger of men, but our soul of spiritual and ghostly enemies. If God suspend the keeping of the soul, how soon doth man fall and lose himself 1 Now God preserveth the souls of the saints : Ps. xxii. 20, ' Deliver my soul from the sword, and my darling from the power of the dog.'
(2.) Our bodies are not left to the wills of men, but are under the special care and protection of God : Ps. xxxiv. 20, ' He keepeth all his bones, not one of them is broken.' They are not left to the will of instruments in their trouble. In our Lord Christ was this promise fulfilled. Nay, the excrementitious parts are taken care of : Mat. x. 30, ' The very hairs of your head are all numbered.' He hath a care, not only of the essential parts, body and soul, and of their integral parts, any joint or limb, but of their excrementitious parts, which are the least things about them, and serve for ornament rather than for use.
(3.) So for all their concernments and estates : Job i. 10, ' Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side ? ' Not only about him, but his children, servants, horses, oxen, asses ; Satan could not find a gap or breach whereby to enter and work him any annoyance. Such an invisible guard there is upon the saints. It is true there is a difference. God hath absolutely promised to save the souls of his people, but life and the comforts of it, so far as shall be expedient for his glory and our good ; upon which terms we must trust all in his hands.
(4.) I had almost forgotten our name : Ps. xxxi. 20, ' Thou shalt keep them secretly, as in a pavilion, from the strife of tongues.' Slander and detraction is an arrow that flieth in secret, and so we are often struck with a blow that smarteth not. Calumnies and false accusa- tions are privily whispered to our wrong and prejudice. Now it is a comfort to remember that God hath the keeping of our credit as well as of other things. He will not only keep us from being smitten, from the fist of wickedness, but from the strife of tongues.