even the greater part of them unarmed, except with such weapons as they might hastily collect''. Indeed his mother and friends had not the least doubt of a successful issue to the conflict. But when his time was come, he and his army were wholly destroyed: and the very steps which he took for the destruction of God's people, God himself overruled to effect his overthrow s. Thus it shall be with all the oppressors and persecutors of God's Church and people : how potent soever they may be, and however seciu'e they may think themselves, " their judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not''." They exult in the thought of what they will effect: but God " laugheth them to scorn, for he seeth that their day is coming \" The very plans which they concert for the destruction of the Church, God will often overrule for their own destruction'': or, if no particular judg- ment come upon them in this world, the time is quickly coming, when they would be glad to have " the rocks and mountains fall upon them, to cover them from the wrath " of an avenging God. They think themselves strong now: but " will they be strong in the day that he shall deal with them, and will they thunder with a voice like his?" O that they were wise and would consider this, ere they " be suddenly destroyed and without a remedy 1 "]
2. Of the triumphs that are prepared for the Lord's
people —
[The Church at large, or individuals in it, may be re- duced, like Israel of old, to great distress; but they shall surely triumph at last. However weak you may be in yourselves, you have no cause to fear ; for God is on your side ; and will suffer neither sin nor Satan to have dominion over you'. You need not direction or assistance from man; you need not say to any human being, " If thou wilt go with me, I will go; but if thou wilt not go with me, I will not go"':" for God is with you; and " through him you shall be more than con- querors." His voice to every one of you is, like that of Deborah to Barak, " Up, for this is the day that the Lord hath delivered thine enemies into thine hand: is not the Lord gone out before thee"?" The very " stars in their courses shall fight for you °," rather than that you shall be subdued. This is the testimony of all the prophets ; nor shall any one that trusts in it be disappointed of his hope. See how the sun bursts through the clouds that obscured it in the early
f Judg. iv. 13. with v. 8. s Judg. iv. 6, 7. '' 2 Pet. ii. 3.
i Compare Ps. ii. 3, 4. with xxxvii. 12, 13. ^ Mic. iv. 11, 12.
1 Rom. vi. 14. and xvi. 20. " Judg. iv. 8.
n Judg. iv. 14. " ver. 20.
c 2