exceeding long and tedious, will come at last®. He mny for wise reasons hide his face from us for a time; but it shall not be for ever^. Hear his own answer to the complaints which we are apt
to make^*^ And know, that though " heaviness may endure
for a night, joy shall surely come to us in the morning":" if only we wait till the appointed hour, " our light shall rise in obscurity, and our darkness shall be as the noon day*^."]
2. Those who enjoy the light of God's coun- tenance— •
[O what a privilege, what an unspeakable blessing, is this ! Learn to value it aright : and take care that you do not pre- sume upon the mercy vouchsafed unto you. Do not be sayin:^ with David, " My mountain stands strong, I shall never be moved," lest you provoke " God to hide his face from you, and you be troubled'." A slavish fear is doubtless to be avoided on the one hand ; but so s a presumptuous security on the other. The true medium is, to " rejoice with trembling *"," and to unite *' the fear of the Lord with the comforts of the Holy Ghost '.'* Be watchful then, that you do not by any unhallowed dispositions *' grieve the Holy Spirit™;" but endeavour to " walk in the fear of the Lord all the day long"."]
* Hos. vi. 3. '' Isai. liv. 7, 8. " Isai. xlix. 14 — \6.
^ Ps. XXX. 5. '' Isai, Iviii. 10. ' Ps. xxx. 7.
■'Ps. ii. 11. 'Actsix. 31. "" Eph. iv. 30. " Prov. xxiii. 17.
cccxc.