Ps, Ixvi. 8,9, 0 hless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to he heard ; which holdeth our soul in life, and suj- fereth not our feet io be moved.
THE blessmgs of Providence, v^hen uninter- ruptedly continued, are scarcely noticed : it is only when the loss of them has been painfully appre- hended, or actually sustained, that we consider how much we were indebted to God for them. What were the particular trials that had been endured by David or the Jewish nation, we cannot precisely determine : but it is evident, that the deliverance vouchsafed to them had made a lively impression on
the
218 PSALMS, Lxvi. 8, g. [378.
the Psalmist's mind ". The words of our text would furnish exceedingly profitable meditations, if we con- lined them to their primary import ; since the pre- servation of our life and health, amidst the many seen and unseen dangers with which we are sur- rounded, demands our most grateful acknowledg- ments. But a subsequent part of the psalm shews clearly that the writer had respect also to spiritual blessings'"; and therefore we shall draw your atten- tion more especially to them ; and shew,
I. What a mercy it is to be upheld in the ways of God— We feel somewhat of the obligation conferred upon us in our first awakening and conversion ; but are by no means duly sensible how much we cv/e to our God for our daily preservation. But we shall learn better to appreciate this mercy if we consider,
1. To how many snares and dangers we are ex- posed !
[We have frequent occasion to advert to the temptations with which we are encompassed in the world ; and to notice the still greater dangers we experience from the corruptions of our own hearts ; and the additional conflicts which we have to sus- tain with all the powers of darkness. We dwell not therefore so particularly on those things at this time ; but rather mention the danger to which we are exposed even from lawful things. It is not only allowable, but highly proper, to prosecute our worldly callings with diligence ; and to cultivate the tenderest regard for our wife or children : yet both the one and the other may en- gross too much of our hearts, and become hindrances to us in our journey towards heaven. Our food, our sleep, our studies, our recreations, may become snares, if we be not continually on our guard. It is therefore an unspeakable mercy to be upheld in the midst of such manifold temptations.]
2. How many, in like circumstances with our- selves, have fallen —
[We are living in the fulF enjoyment of divine ordinances, and of whatever can conduce to the welfare of our souls. But are we therefore secure? Look back to the Apostolic age : see how many then were seduced by error "^ — or disheartened by the
feav
* Compare ver. 1, 2. with ver. 10 — 12.
" ver. IQ. « Tit. i. ll. 2 Tim. ii. 18.