SERMON UPON PSALM XCI. 1. 27
yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us ? none evil can come upon us.' Such God will cast off, as Paul cast off the viper that fastened upon his hand. These sleep too securely already in their sins, and God never intended to provide a pillow for them in his promises. These God meaneth to punish, not protect. These rather build castles in the air than dwell in the secret place of the Most High.
More particularly, this dwelling in God —
[L] Noteth trust, or making God our refuge, in whom alone we seek safety, comfort, and defence. In a time of danger men seek out for a secure dwelling and safe place of retreat : Prov. xviii. 10, 11, ' The name of the Lord is a strong tower : the righteous fleetli to it, and is safe. The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and an high wall in his own con- ceit.' What wealth is to another, that the name of the Lord is to the righteous person ; he hath no de]iendence but on God, from whom he expecteth safety and supply. Whither doth a man retreat from the storm, but to his house ? There he seeketh shelter, and there he enjoyeth all his comforts. So doth a believer in God ; there is his protection and consolation. We have a sure dwelling in reality, they in conceit.
[2.] It notetli a constant intimacy or continual trust. We do not call our tarrying in an inn for a night our dwelling, nor running to a tree or shelter in a storm, with a mind to depart thence as soon as it ceaseth. Many run to him in their distresses. No ; the secret of the Most High must be our dwelling-place, or the place of our constant residence. The expression intendeth such as live in an holy familiarity with God, and have constant recourse to him : Job xxii. 21, ' Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace.' Most men make use of God in their straits, when they are beaten to him, and have no other place of retreat. No ; it is meant of such a trust as puts us upon a constant communion with God, or an habitual converse with him, not by fits. In this Ps. xci. 9, ' Thou shalt make the Most High thy refuge, and my God thine habitation.' God cannot be well our refuge unless he be also our habitation. A refuge is a place of retreat and safety in a time of war, and an habitation is the place of our residence and abode in a time of peace. So that whatsoever our condition be, our dependence must be still on God, When things are prosperous, he must be owned as the fountain of our blessings, and all our comforts taken immediately out of his hand, acknowledging that we hold all by his mercy and boun- tiful providence. If we consider our forfeiture by sin, the uncertainty of these outward comforts, and the continual necessity of God's provi- dential influence, and how apt the heart is to be enticed from God by carnal confldencCj we shall soon find that trust is as necessary in pros- perity as adversity. Then in adversity no man can withdraw himself from God; therefore it is best dwelling in him. Qui a tefugit, quo fugit, nisi a ie placato, ad te iratum f He doth but forsake him as a friend to find him as an enemy. There is no way to avoid his justice but by flying to his mercy. We may escape the wrath of earthly kings and potentates ; their eyes cannot see all, nor their hands reach all ; but who can lie hid from him that filleth heaven and earth, that he should not see him and find him out ? Jer. xxiii. 24, ' Can any hide himself in secret places, that I shall not see him, saith the Lord ? Do not I
28 SERMON UPON PSALM XCI. 1.
fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord ? Our sins cannot be hidden from his sight, nor our persons from his punishment. There can be no hiding-place without God, nor hiding-place against God. None can hide liimself from him, but in him. Mercy receiveth those whom justice threateneth.
3. The encouragements to this trust. They are three —
[].] The titles and attributes given to God, ' Most High,' and 'Al- mighty.'
(1.) The first is ' Most High.' There are many names given to God in scripture, but this is most proper to the case in hand ; for all our enemies and dangers are something under God, and at his disposal. Whether they be men or devils, they are not exempted from the do- minion and government of God's providence. If you be in their hand, they are in God's hands, and can do no more than he pleaseth. Devils are spiritual wickednesses in high places ; they are high, but God is Most Pligh. So when men oppress others by their power : Eccles. v. 8, ' He that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher than they.' Nothing on this side heaven should be feared by a believer ; for the Lord in whom he trusts, ' is high above all,' Ps. cxiii. 4. Could we dwell more above with God, how would both the splendour and terror of all worldly glory be lessened in our eyes ; how soon and easily should we despise this little ant-hill of the world, where poor worms creep up and down, and make a great deal of pudder about a thing of nought !