[2.] There is a tempest; — in reference whereunto Christ is here said to be " a covert." A tempest, in the Scripture, represents the wrath of God for sin. " He breaketh me," saith Job, " with a tem- pest," chap. ix. 1 7, when he lay under a sense of the displeasure and indignation of God. He threatens to rain upon the wicked "an horrible tempest," Ps. xi. 6. A tempest is a violent mixture of wind, rain, hail, thunder, darkness, and the like. Those who have been at sea will tell you what a tempest means. Such was that in Egypt, Exod. ix. 28. There was thunder and hail, and fire running upon the ground ; fire or dreadful lightning, mingled with hail, verse 24. What did men now do, upon the apprehension of this tempest? They made their servants and cattle flee into the houses, verse 20 ; got them into safe covert, that they might not be destroyed ; — and they were safe, accordingly.
THE STRENGTH OF FAITH. 51
Suppose a poor creature to be under this tempest, full of sad and dreadful thoughts and apprehensions of the wrath of God ; behind, before, round about, he can see nothing but hailstones and coals of fire; heaven is dark and dismal over him; he hath not seen sun, moon, or stars, in many days, — not one glimpse of light from above, or hopes of an end. " I shall perish ; the earth shakes under me ; the pit is opening for me. Is there no hope?" Why, see how Christ is suited in this distress also. He is "a covert" from this tempest; get into him, and thou shalt be safe. He hath borne all this storm, as far as thou art concerned; abide with him, and not one hurtful drop shall fall upon thee, — not one hair of thy head shall be singed with this fire. Hast thou fears ? hast thou a sense of the wrath of God for sin ? dost thou fear it will one day fall upon thee, and be thy portion? Behold a covert, a sure defence, is here provided.
[3.] There is drought, causing barrenness, making the heart as a dry place, as a heath or a parched wilderness; — in reference where- unto Christ is a river of water, abundantly, plentifully flowing for its refreshment. Drought in the Scripture denotes almost all manner of evil, it being the great, distressing punishment of those countries. When God threatens sinners, he says they " shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good"' (or water) " cometh ; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness," Jer. xvii. 6; he shall be left to barrenness and want of all refreshment. And David complains, hi his great distress, that his " moisture was turned into the drought of summer," Ps. xxxii. 4.
Two things are evidently in this drought; — want of grace or moisture, to make the soul fruitful; and want of rain or consolation, to make it joyful. Barrenness and sorrow, or disconsolation, are in this dry place. Let us, then, suppose this condition also. Doth the soul find itself like the parched ground? It hath no moisture to enable it to bring forth fruit, but is dry, sapless ; all the fruits of the Spirit seem to be withered ; — faith, love, zeal, delight in God, not one of them flourishes ; yea, it thinks they are quite dead ; it hath no showers, not any drop of consolation, no refreshment, but pines away under barrenness and sorrow. What would now best suit such a condition ? Why, turn in a stream of water upon this parched ground. Let there be springs in this thirsty place, let " water break out in the wilderness, and streams in the desert," as Isa. xxxv. 6, and how will all things be changed ! Those things that hung then heads, and had no beauty, will flourish again; and the things that are ready to die will be revived. Why, in this condition Jesus Christ will be water, and that in abundance, — rivers of water, that there shall be no want. He will, by his Spirit, give supplies of grace to make the soul fruitful ; he will give in consolation to make it joyful.
52 THE STRENGTH OF FAITH.
[4.] There is weariness;— and in respect hereof Christ is said to be " the shadow of a great rock." Weariness of travel and labour, through heat and drought, is insupportable. He that is to travel in a thirsty land, dry and hungry, the sun beating on his head, will be ready, with Jonah in such a condition, to wish he were dead, to be freed of his misery. Oh, how welcome will " the shadow of a great rock " be to such a poor creature ! If Jonah rejoiced in " the shade of a gourd," how much better is " the shadow of a great rock ! " Many a poor soul, exercised with temptations, hindered in duties, scorched with a sense of sin, is weary in his journeying towards Canaan, in his course of obedience; and thinks with himself, it were better for him even to die than to live, having no hopes to come to his journey's end. Let now this poor soul lie down and repose him- self a little under the shadow and safe-guarding protection of this Rock of ages, the Lord Jesus Christ, — how will his strength and resolution come to him again !