e Numb. xiv. 2 — 4. f 1 Sam. xxvii. 1. R 1 Kings xix. 1 — 3. » Mark iv. 38. j Luke ix. 34. k 2 Tim.i. 12. ' Rom. viii. 28.
80.] god's condescension to his people. 393
is graciously pleased to hide from them at the present the trials which they will hereafter sustain, well knowing that they would be too much discouraged by a sight of them, and perhaps be tempted to despair. " He does not put new wine into old bottles," but only into vessels capable of enduring the expan- sive efforts of fermentation"1. He will not overdrive the lambs, lest they die of fatigue". In the mean time he expressly assures us, that he will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able, but will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape, that we maybe able to bear it0; " and that as our day of temptation is, so shall also our strength bep."]
On these truths we would ground a word of exhor- tation—
1 . Fear nothing in the way of duty —
[Had the Israelites considered what God had already done for them, they would not have been afraid of any armies that could be brought against them : for, could not the angel that destroyed the Egyptian first-born destroy them also 1 And what have we to fear when once we are enlisted under the banners of Christ ? Is not " the Captain of our salvation " at hand to fight for usq ? and " if He be for us, who can be against usr? " Let us not then be afraid, even though earth and hell should com- bine against us: "let us not cry, A confederacy, a confederacy, or fear like other people; but sanctify the Lord of Hosts him- self; and let him be our fear, and let him be our dread s." " The waves of the sea may rage horribly ; but He that sitteth on high is mightier4:" " therefore we should not fear, though the earth were removed, and the mountains cast into the depths of the seau." It is a fixed unalterable truth, sanctioned and confirmed by the experience of millions, that " none can harm us, if we be followers of that which is goodx." If we be weak as " worms," yet shall we " thresh the mountains," and make them as the dust of the summer threshing-floor y.]
2. Commit yourselves to the divine guidance and direction —
[God is the same now that he was in the days of old. What he did for Israel in a visible and external manner, he will do invisibly and internally for his Church at this time. Only " acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will direct your paths2." We say not that he will guide you by visions, or voices, or revelations ; but he will by his word and Spirit : in
m Markii. 22. •> Gen. xxxiii. 13, 14. ° 1 Cor. x. 13.
p Deut. xxxiii. 25. i Josh. v. 14. r Rom. viii. 31.
8 Isai. viii. 12, 13. l Ps. xciii. 3, 4. u Ps. xlvi. 2, 3.
x 1 Pet. iii. 13. y Isai. xli. 10—16. z Prov. hi. 6.