sake." O that we might be like him ; men of piety, men of principle, men of firmness and decision !]
2. They who serve the Lord shall be saved by him —
[The trust which the Jews at those stated seasons reposed in God was never disappointed. Nor shall ours be, though all the hosts both of men and devils were confederate against us. The challenge is justly given us, " Who ever trusted in the Lord, and was confounded ? " There is a great fault amongst religious people in relation to this : many are distressing them- selves with doubts and fears, ' Shall I persevere to the end ? shall I be saved at last?' A holy caution is doubtless very becoming in every state ; but not a slavish fear. Our concern should be to serve God : it is his concern, if I may so speak, to save us. Even from temporal trials he can, and will, pro- tect us, as far as is for our good0 As for spiritual and
eternal evils, he will assuredly protect us from them. " Who is he that shall harm us, if we be followers of that which is good?" Satan, it is true, will never for a moment relhjquish his desire to assault us : that roaring lion will never intermit his wish to devour : but God will be as " a wall of fire round about us," and " his grace shall be at all times sufficient for us :" " nor shall any temptation take us beyond what we are able to bear, or without a way to escape from it." " Know ye then, Brethren, in whom ye have believed ; that he is able to keep that which you have committed to him." Know that, if only your eyes were opened, you might at tliis moment see horses of fire and chariots of fire all around you, and an host of angels encamped around you for your protection. Invade not any longer the province of your God. Leave to him the care of preserving you; and confine your solicitude to the serving and honouring of him. This is your duty ; it is also your privilege : the direction of God himself is this ; " Commit your souls to him in well-doing as into the hands of a faithful Creator." Be assured that he will not fail you ; and that " He who hath promised, is able also to perform."]
0 See a most striking illustration of this truth in Acts xviii. 9 — 18. To allay Paul's fears, God promised to protect him in a city pro- verbially abandoned. He preached there eighteen months unmolested. At last a violent assault was made upon him by all the Jews in the city : but the judge would take no cognizance of their complaints, and drove them away from his judgment-seat. The Greeks, who had joined with the Jews, being irritated by this conduct, laid hold on Sosthenes, whom they conceived to be a friend of Paul's, and beat him in the very presence of the judge : but Paid, on whose account the clamour was raised, escaped unhurt, and continued in the city a good while longer without any injury whatever ; and at last departed from it in peace. So faithful are the promises of God !