d Rom. viii. 29. e Exod. xix. 5. f 1 Pet. ii. 9.
s 1 Pet. ii. 9. h 2 Tim. i. 9. * Tit. iii. 5.
k 1 Johniv. 10. i John xv. 16. m Isai. xliii. 21.
232.1 god's regard for his peofle. 479
But that which our text chiefly leads us to con- sider, is, II. His tender care over them —
This towards his ancient people is illustrated both by an appeal to fact, and by an apt and beautiful similitude —
[It was in the wilderness that he first formed them into a peculiar people for himself. There he took the entire charge of them, leading them in all their way, and supplying their every want. There he instructed them both by his providence and grace ; shewing them by all his diversified dispensations the extreme depravity of their own hearts, and the marvellous patience and long-suffering of their Godn. Had he even for a few days intermitted his care over them, they must all have perished ; being in the midst of perils on every side, and inca- pable of protecting themselves against any of the dangers to which they were exposed. But " he kept them even as the apple of his eye," so that no evil whatever, except what he himself sent for their correction, could assail them. An eagle is very careful of its young : and when the dam judges that her young are prepared to fly, will "nutter over them, and spread abroad her wings, and stir up her nest," that one or other of her offspring may try their powers : and with such tenderness does she watch the attempt, that, if the scarcely fledged young one prove incapable of stretching its flight so as to return to its nest, she will, "with incredible swiftness and skill, fly to its succour, and on her own wings bear it back in safety to its wonted home. Thus did God encourage his ancient people to soar towards heaven, and succour them effectually in every hour of need. And in all this he acted " alone, there being no strange god with him," nor any that could claim the smallest measure of honour from their success. The passage of the Red Sea, the bread from heaven, and the water from the rock, the passage of Jordan, and the fall of Jericho, with a thousand other events, clearly shewed, that all that was effected for them was done by him alone.]
And is he not alike attentive to his people now ? — [Where did he " find any of us," my Brethren, but "in a waste howling wilderness," where we must have inevitably perished, if he of his own sovereign grace and mercy had not come to our relief? And how has he " led us about" even to the present hour, not in the way that would have been most pleasing to flesh and blood, but in the way which he knew would be most conducive to our good, and to the glory of his own name ! In this way he has conveyed to our minds such
n Deut. viii. 15, 16. Neh. ix. 19—21.