glories of eternity, it is every believer's privilege to say, " I shall not want."]
2. " I will not fear " —
[It were presumptuous in the extreme for any one to use such an expression as this, if he looked only to an arm of flesh : for " of ourselves we have no sufficiency even to think a good thought :" but, with such a Protector as the Lord Jesus, we may laugh all our enemies to scorn. We know how powerful, how subtle, how malignant is that " roaring lion that seeketh to devour us ;" and we know that we are as weak and impotent in ourselves as sheep : but if David, a man like ourselves, s)ew a lion and a bear that invaded his father's flock, what shall not Jesus effect in our defence ? Who shall escape his eye, or who shall withstand his arm ? Hear what our Lord himself says ; " My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwell- ings, and in quiet resting-places, when it shall hail., coming down on the forest, and the city shall be low in a low place'." Let the timid then dismiss their fears, from whatcjver source they may arise. '' I will fear no evil," said the Psalmist ; and we, whether we take a general view of our enemies, or enter into a distinct enumeration of them, may adopt the same trium- phant language™ If " we know in whom we have be- lieved, we may be assured, that he will keep that which we have committed to him against that glorious day," when all his flock shall be gathered together, and be one fold under one shepherd.]
3. Of my happiness there shall be no end-—-
[Behold how confidently the Psalmist speaks on this sub- ject 1 " Sureli/ goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." What, hast thou no doubt about this , great matter ? No : it shall be surely so. Art thou not presumptuous in speaking thus in relation to thyself? No : it shall be thus to me. But would it not be abundantly sufficient to say, that goodness and mercy shall not turn away from thee ? No : they shall follow me, and that too " all the days of my life :" they shall follow me, even as my shadow does, wherever I go ; " good- ness," to supply my wants ; and " mercy," to cover my defects. And art thou bold enough to carry this confidence beyond thp grave ? Yes : " I will dwell in the house of the Lord Jbr ever i* not only serving him in his house below, but enjoying and glori- fying him in his house above.
Behold here the felicity of the Saints ! All the rest of the world are following after happiness, and it eludes their grasp : but those who believe in Jesus have happiness following after them: " goodness and mei'cy " are their attendant angels,
that
^ ' Isai. xxxii. 18, 1 9. "" Ps. xlvi. 1 — 3. Rom. viii. 35—39.
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