liim. What should they do, but keep themselves in readiness at any time, in any way, to any extent to follow his leadings and fulfil his will ?
The precise state of mind which this dispensation called for was that which comprised their entire duty, and would ulti- mately conduce to their truest happiness.]
But it was not for their sakes only that this dis- cipline was used, but for ours also; as will clearly appear, whilst we consider,
II. The instruction it conveys to us — ■
We should not limit these things to the generation then existing, nor to that peculiar people. The whole of that mysterious dispensation had a refer- ence to the dispensation under which we live: and the particular circumstance mentioned in our text is expressly spoken of in that view : " The Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence1." It may well be con- sidered as teaching us,
1. What we may expect from God —
[There was no mercy vouchsafed to the Jews, which we may not expect at God's hands. In fact, all that he did for them, he will do for us. Did he direct them in all their way? he will go before us also, and direct our way. This he declares, in many express promises : " In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths k." We may say of God's people now, as certainly as of his people of old, " The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord1:" and, " The Lord shall guide thee continually111."
But we must be careful not to form wrong notions respect- ing the guidance which we are authorized to expect. The Jews lived under a dispensation, the blessings whereof were chiefly carnal : but we live under a dispensation which is altogether spiritual : " We walk by faith, and not by sight11." It is not by any thing obvious to the senses that God will guide us ; but by his word and Spirit. His word is the one rule by which we are to walk. There is not any thing we are bound to do, but we may find it there ; nor any thing con- tained in that blessed volume, but what, according to our
1 Isai. iv. 5. k Prov. iii. 6. ] Ps. xxxvii. 23.
m Isai. lviii. 11. n 2 Cor. v. 7.