(3.) We may lawfully hope for good success though there be no promise, if there be nothing to the contrary ; because God is so ready to do good to all his creatures, especially to his people and faithful servants, when in their distress they seek to him and humbly wait upon him. Surely we ought not to be faithless and distrustful in par- ticular exigencies. Thei-e is a common bounty and goodness of God which is over all his works : Ps. cxlv. 9, ' The Lord is good to all ; his tender mercy is over all his works. This reacheth to the preservation of the smallest worm, decketh the lilies, feedeth the ravens and fowls of the air ; therefore certainly more noble creatures, such as man is, may expect their share in this common bounty. How much more may God's people and children ? See Mat. vi. 2.5, &c., ' Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink ; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on : is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment ? Behold the fowls of the, air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not mucli better than they ? ' Will he not give to children that which he giveth to beasts, to fowls of the air, to enemies? You would count him an unnatural father which would feed his dogs and hawks, and let his children die of hunger.
(4.) In case the scruple be whether any promise belong to us, see the parables : Luke xi. 8-13, 'I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend ; yet because of his imi)ortunity, he will rise, and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it
26 SERMON UPON PSALM XCI. 1.
sliall be opened unto you. For every one that asketli, receiveth,' &c. ; Luke xviii. 7, 8, ' And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them ? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.' Thus we should raise ourselves into a confidence and comfortable expectation in waiting on this good God.
II. Let us see how it is expressed and recommended to us in this text. Here is the person trusting, the act, the encouragement to trust.
1. The person trusting is indefinitely expressed, 'He that dwelleth/ &c. And the indefinite expression in the case is equivalent to an uni- versal inviting all. There is no exception against any because of their outward condition. ' He,' whatsoever he be, high or low, rich or poor ; for God is no accepter of persons, but is rich to all that call upon him. Among men it is otherwise ; the poor, who most need cherishing and protection, have least share of it. Men barter with their kindness, and give harbour and entertainment to them from whom they may receive it again. It is the fashion of the world to respect great ones. If a rich or noble man should invite himself to our houses, we take it for a great favour, and strain ourselves to give them suitable entertainment; the more free they are to take any part of the provision made for them, the more we thank them, as if obliged by a new benefit ; which liberty, if a poor man should take, we should look upon it as a bold intrusion. It is the rich are respected, the rich are entertained in the world, whose causes and suits are despatched, when the poor can hardly get access and audience. As all floods run to the sea, so do the respects of the world to the rich and mighty. But this is a general and common promise, which excludeth no sorts of men. Here is no distinction of high and low, prince and subjects, nobles and common people ; whoso- ever come to seek an hiding-place in God are welcome, if they come in faith. He doth not say, The prince or potentate that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, &c., lest he should exclude meaner people ; nor doth he say, Only the poor and destitute that dwell, &c., lest the trust of princes and persons of better condition should be cut off. No ; the bosom of God's providence is open to receive persons of all sorts, ages, sexes, degrees, and state of life. He is present with all, providetli for all, protects all, supplieth all that flee to him in their tribulation : Ps. xxxiv. 6, ' This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him.' Not the mighty prince or eminent saint. Prayers in cottages are as accept- able to him as prayers in palaces.
2. The act, ' He dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High.' He that expecteth the protection of the Almighty must be a person quali- fied for that protection ; he must be one that dwelleth in God ; such as are reconciled to him by Christ Jesus, such as have taken God for their God, such as fear him, and have chosen him for their portion, and are resolved with an upright heart to obey him; these are the objects of God's protection, blessing, and defence : Ps, Ixxxiv. 11, ' The Lord God is a sun and shield : the Lord will give grace and glory : no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.' The Lord complaineth of some that would lean upon him and yet continue in their sins: Micah iii. 11, 'Tlie heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money :