Let us now "turn aside and behold this great sight" (let us turn from every worldly thought, and inspect this wonderful appearance, not with curiosity, but profoundest reverence) ; let us observe herein,
1. To what state God's most favoured people may be reduced —
[Your afflictions may be heavy. But are any discouraged by reason of their great trials ? Be it known that tribulation is the way to the kingdom; and all, who arrive there, have trodden the same path n. Nor need we be alarmed at any fire that is kindled for us, since Christ will be with us in the midst of it0, and "bring us out of it purified as gold."]
2. What they may expect at God's hands —
[In seasons of great trial we are tempted to think that God has forsaken us: but he never was more immediately present with the Hebrew youths, than when they were cast into the furnace ; nor did he ever feel more love to his own
s Numb. xiv. 42 — 45. Josh. vii. 4, 5. h Eph. jjj. 17,
1 Col. iii. 4. k Gal. ii. 20. 1 Ps. xlvi. 5.
m Ps. cxxiv. 1—5. n Acts xiv. 22. Rev. vii. 14. ° Isai. xli. 10. VOL. I. Y
Son, than in the hour when he cried, " My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? " Let us then learn to trust God, and expect that, when we walk through the fire, we shall not be burned p.]
3. What in the midst of all their trials should be their chief concern —
[Moses in his valedictory address to the twelve tribes, congratulates Joseph on " the good-will of Him who dwelt in the bushq." And most truly are they blessed who are thus interested in the divine favour. To them God is " a wall of fire" for their protection r : but to others he is "a consuming fire " for their destruction s. Alas ! alas ! in what a fearful state are they, who shall be " cast into the lake of fire and brimstone," into " a fire that never shall be quenched," and in which they shall continue unconsumed to all eternity ! Oh ! " who can dwell with everlasting burnings1?" But, if we are reconciled to him in the Son of his love, we have nothing to fear : we have nothing to fear either in time or eternity : for, however painful our state in this world may be, he will sup- port us with his presence ; and in the world to come, we shall be for ever beyond the reach of harm, even in " his immediate presence, where is the fulness of joy for evermore." Seek then his favour ; yea, seek it with your whole hearts ]
P Isai. xliii. 2. i Deut. xxxiii. 16. r Zech. ii. 5.
s Heb. xii. 29. l Isai. xxxiii. 14.