the mansions of bliss. He will there enjoy for ever one unclouded day; and his happiness will be without alloy, without inter- mission, without end'.]
To render this subject more instructive, we shall add a word,
1. Of direction- —
[Christ, in reference to the sheepfold of his Church, says, " I am the door; if any man enter in by me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture"*." The same figure we may apply to the subject before us : " Christ is the door ;" he is " the way to the Father;" and " no man cometh unto the Father, but by him." To those who come to God in any other way, he is not *' a Refuge," or " Habitation," but " a consuming fire"." But if we believe in Christ, then " will he dwell in us, and we shall dwell in him°:" yea, " he will be our house of defence, to save us for ever?."]
2. Of warning —
[Who, except the Believer, can apply to himself the pro- mise in the text ? As for the unbelieving and disobedient, they are in danger every hour : they know not but that God's wrath may break forth against them the very next moment to their destruc- tion. Of this they are certain, (whether they will believe it or not,) that in a little time his judgments shall overtake them, and the greatest of all evils shall befall them, unless they repent. O that they would be prevailed upon to flee for refuge to the hope that is set before them ! O that they would now seek to be *' found in Christ!" Then should the destroying angel pass over them, and " they should dwell safely, and be quiet from the fear of evil V]
3. Of encouragement — •
[The weakness of men's faith often robs them of the comfort which it is their privilege to enjoy. Why should a Believer be afraid of thunder and lightning ? Were he but sen- sible what a Protector he has, he would feel assured that no evil could come unto him. How varied are God's promises to him in the psalm before us ! How diversified also are the as- surances given him by Eliphaz in the book of Job"" 1 Let him only commit himself to God, and he has nothing to fear. Let us then. Beloved, have faith in God ; and let those words of David be our song in this land of our pilgrimage; " God is our refuge, &c. ; t herefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the waters be carried into the midst of the sea': Sec."]
' Rev. xxi.4. "• John x. g. " Heb. xii. 2().
" John vi. 5Q. '' i-s. xxxi. 2, "^ Prov. i. 33.
' Job V. '9 — 24. ' Ps. xlvi. 1—4.