(2.) The other title is ' Almighty.' We need not warp, nor shrink, nor shift: Gen. xvii. 1, 'I am God Almighty ; walk before me, and be thou perfect' He is able to keep off danger, to give us all manner of happiness. You have his promise who hath power and dominion over all things in the world ; and if omnipotency shall be employed for your comfort and protection, why should you be disquieted ? His power is above all power, and his wisdom above all wisdom, and his love will never fail. He can destroy what resists his will ; for he that made all things out of nothing can easily turn them into their original nothing again. If we can do nothing for our own relief, he can do all things ; one beck of his will is enough to make a world ; he can speak creatures into being or nothing at his pleasure.
[2.] The expressions that set forth the manner of this help. They are two — ' The secret of the Most High,' and ' The shadow of the Almighty.'
(1.) The first word, ' The secret,' hath various acceptations. Some- times it is put for the knowledge of God's will : Ps. xxv. 14, ' The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him ; ' and Prov. iii. 32, ' His secret is with the righteous.' Sometimes it is put for his gracious protection : Job xxix. 4, ' The secret of the Lord was upon my taber- nacle,' So Ps. xxxi. 20, ' Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man.' By it is meant that special favour of God which the world knoweth not, or his providence, that protecteth his people and keepeth them safe, though they have nothing to trust to. As there is a secret curse, that, like a moth, eateth out all the enjoy- ments of the wicked, so there is a secret and insensible blessing that maketh godly men to prosper in the midst of all difficulties. This secret preservation is not discerned by carnal men ; they are kept, and
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none knoweth how, when, to appearance, they are not only laid in common with others, but exposed to the rage of others. Well, then, God's power, wisdom, and goodness, whereon faith doth fix itself, is a riddle and mystery to the world, which carnal reason knoweth not how to improve to any satisfaction and comfort. However, it teacheth us to depend upon the providence of God, whether there be any a{)pearance of the benefit we look for, yea or no. If the name of the Lord be a strong tower, it is an invisible tower, only found out by faith and entered into by faith. Therefore he that would take up his dwelling-place in God must not go altogether by probabilities of sense, but govern him- self by grounds and reasons of faith.
(2.) The other notion is, ' The shadow of the Almighty.' Shadow is defence, as we said before. Yea, not only defence and safety is implied in it, but that sweet refreshing of mind which they find who repose themselves under the protection of God ; as it is a mighty com- fort to men when they come out of the scorching heat of the sun into some shady place : Ps. Ivii. 1, ' Under the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.' So Ps. xxxvi. 8, and in many other places. The allusion to chickens shrouding them- selves under the dam's wing, or the outstretched wings of chenibims, &c., or else to the shadow of a tree, as Cant. ii. 3. Thus Jonah was mightily refreshed with the shadow of his gourd ; and you know how passionate he was when it was blasted, see Jonah iv. 8, 9. But this is another manner of shadow. Earthly shadows may be blasted, but this is always fresh and green ; here we may abide, and have many cool re- freshings. There is no danger of the withering of our shadow, or our being thrust out.
[3.] It is given out as a promise, 'He that dwelleth shall abide;' which implieth two things — (1.) Leave to dwell in God; (2.) Assur- ance of safety and comfort.
(1.) Leave to dwell in God. There is an entrance for and admission of poor penitent believers. The throne of grace or mercy-seat standeth always open in the times of the gospel : Heb. iv. 16, ' Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.' None are rejected that come in faith, and seek all their hope and comfort in God through Christ. When times are uncertain, and we know not the bottom of the dangers that compass us about, is it not a great comfort to have a hiding-place, where we may remain secure and without fear? And is any place more secure than the heart of God ? Evil may come at us in other places, but there we are safe day and night. Now we may have a room in the heart of God if we will but enter into his peace, and seek our reconciliation by Christ Jesus : 'He that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out/ John vi. 37.