to arise from a view of duties impracticable, or of difficul- ties insurmountable: but, in the former case, David consoled Solomon1, and, in the latter case, Hezekiah comforted the Jewsk, with the very address which we are now considering : a sure proof, that it contains a sufficient antidote against all disquieting fears, of whatever kind they be, and to whatever extent they may prevail.]
God promises to his people his presence and aid — [If he refused to go forth with you, you might well say with Moses, " If thy presence go not with us, carry us not up hence1." Even if he offered to send an angel with you, it would not be sufficient™. But he has promised to be with you himself, and to exercise all his glorious perfections in your behalf. As in the days of Joshua he sent his Son to be " the Captain of the Lord's host"," so has he given him to be "a Leader and Commander unto " you ° : by whom he says to you at this hour, " Lo ! I am with you alway, even to the end of the world." Having then his wisdom to guide you, his arm to strengthen you, his power to protect you, what ground can you have for discouragement ? "If he be for you, who can be against youp?"]
Nor will he ever fail you or forsake you —
[There may be times and seasons when he may suffer you to be assaulted with more than usual violence ; but he will never give you up into the hands of your enemy, or " suffer you to be tempted above your strength :" or if for gracious purposes he see fit to withdraw himself, it shall only be " for a little moment," that he may afterwards the more visibly shew himself in your deliverance. Respecting this he engages in the strongest manner ; and refers us to the rainbow in the heavens as an infallible pledge of his faithfulness and truths Created helps may fail us; but our God never will1; and you may " be confident that, having begun a good work in you, he will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ8." The manner in which the Apostle quotes the words of our text, abundantly shews how assured he was that it should be fulfilled ; for he uses no less than five negatives to express the idea with the utmost possible force, and then "boldly" draws the inference for us, that we have nothing to fear from our most inveterate enemies*.]
Let these considerations then inspire you with confidence and joy —
1 1 Chron. xxviii. 20. k 2 Chron. xxxii. 6 — 8.
1 Exod. xxxiii. 15. m Exod. xxxiii. 2. n Josh. v. 13, 14.
0 Isai. lv. 4. p Rom. viii. 31. i Isai.liv.7 — 10.
r 2 Tim. iv. 16, 17. s Phil. i. 6. * Heb. xiii. 5, 6.
228.1 MOSES' ENCOURAGING ADDRESS TO ISRAEL. 4fi3
[Hear the animated exhortation which God himself gives you by the Prophet Isaiah; " Fear thou not, for I am with thee ; be not dismayed, for I am thy God : I will strengthen thee ; yea, I will help thee ; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness11." If you reply, that there are mountains of dimculty before you, and you but as a worm to contend with them; then says God, "Fear not, thou worm Jacob ; behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instru- ment having teeth; thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff; thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel*." " Who then art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and the son of man that shall be as grass, and forgettest the Lord thy Maker y? " All that you have to do is, to wait upon your God; and then, in spite of all your apprehensions of failure, or even of occasional defeats, you shall rise superior to your enemies, and be triumphant over them at last2. I say then to you in the words of our great Captain, " Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom3."]