Again ; Hast thou also much to suffer for God in thy Chris- tian course ? Doubtless thou must have some cross to bear, else thou couldest not be conformed fully to thy Saviour's image. But, whether thy trials be more or less severe, the h Zech. iv. 7. ' Isai. xli. 10.
promise in my text secures to thee an effectual help, and a sure deliverance. For thus saith the Lord : " When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee ; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee : when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned ; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee : for I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour k." Here again the extent of the promise clearly appears, and its perfect sufficiency for every trial to which thou canst be exposed.
Is there yet a lurking apprehension that in the extremity of death thy heart will fail ? At this season, also, shall the pre- sence of thy God afford thee effectual support : " Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil ; for thou art with me ; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me1." Now, though the valley of this shadow of death may comprehend the whole of the present life as beset with snares and difficulties, yet it must include the closing scenes of life, as well as those that have preceded it; and, consequently, when our flesh and heart fail, we maybe assured that " God will be the strength of our heart, and our portion for ever"1."]
Learn from hence —
1. To undertake nothing but in dependence on God—
[When God vouchsafed his assistance to Israel, no man could stand before them : but when they went up against the Canaanites in dependence on an arm of flesh, they were put to flight and slain n. So it will be with us, if we presume to engage in any thing without first asking counsel, and implor- ing help, from him. God is jealous of his own honour : and if we place our reliance on any thing but him, we must expect a curse, and not a blessing, on all our labours0.]
2. To shrink from nothing to which he calls us —
[If Moses was forbidden to shrink from the duties im- posed on him, what shall we not willingly and confidently undertake for God? We must not contemplate human means, when the path of duty is clear ; but must expect him to " per- fect his own strength in our weakness." With him it is alike " easy to save by many or by few:" nor need we doubt a moment, but that " through Christ strengthening us we can do all things." " If God be for us, who can be against us ? "]
3. To despair of nothing which we undertake at his command —
[We may be in the path of duty, and yet find many dif-
k Isai. xliii. 2, 8. x Ps. xxiii. 4. m Ps. lxxiii. 26.
n Numb. xiv. 43 — 45. ° Jer. xvii. 5, 6.