What plots can men or devils form, which God does not see ? or what can they essay to execute, which he cannot defeat ? He that sitteth in the heavens " laughs them to scorn." " He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that they cannot per- form their enterprize ;" yea, " he taketh the wise in their own craftiness." It is not possible to find a more beautiful eluci- dation of this subject than that which is recorded in the history of Elisha. When the king of Syria was warring against Israel, behold, all his plans were made known to the king of Israel ; and were thereby defeated. But how were these secrets made known? Was it by treason? No: God revealed to Elisha the things which the king of Syria spake in his bed-chamber. The king of Syria determined therefore that he would kill EKsha, and sent an army to encompass the city wherein Elisha was. Elisha's servant, just like David's friends, cried, " Alas, my master! how shall we do?" But, when God opened his eyes, he saw the whole surrovmding atmosphere filled with horses of fire and chariots of fire : and soon afterwards he saw the whole smitten with blindness, and led by the prophet into the very heart of their enemy's country*^. Thus are all the saints watched over by an Almighty Power; and under his protection they are safe.]
2. As a righteous Judge —
[It may be that God sees fit to let the enemies of his people prevail over them: but their success is only for a moment: the time is near at hand when the apparent in- equality of these dispensations will be rectified ; when God, as " a righteous Judge, will recompense tribulation to those who trouble us ; and to us who are troubled, rest." He narroiohj inspects'^, not the actions only, but the dispositions also, of men, in order to render unto them according to their works : " the wicked his soul hateth ;" and in due time " he will rain upon them snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest," even as he did upon Sodom and Gomorrha: yes, " this shall be the portion of their cup;" and they "shall drink it to the very dregs." On the other hand, " he loveth the righteous, and beholds them with delight ;" and reserves for them a weight of glory proportioned to all that they have done and suffered for him. The believer is persuaded of this: whom then shall he fear ? He knows that no weapon formed against him can prosper, unless Infinite Wisdom has ordained that it shall ; and that no evil can be suffered to approach him
<= 2 Kings vi. 8 — 20.
^ " His eyelids try " as persons narrowly inspecting some very minute object, almost close their eyelids, to exclude every other object.