according to God's word^?" Whatever then they are solicited to do, they bring it to this touchstone, and try it "by the haw and the testimony." If they find not the pi'ecept clear, they hesitate : and, if they find not the footsteps of Christ and his Apostles, they pause. They know, that " whatsoever is not of faith is sin^:" and, till they can see their way clear, and be " thoroughly persuaded in their own mind," they will not pro- ceed^; lest they lay a stumbling-block in the way of others, and bring guilt upon their own souls ^.
I may add further, that they will pray unto God to guide them. They know their privilege : they know that God has said, that, if they call upon him for direction, " they shall hear a word behind them," saying, " This is the way ; walk ye in it;" when without such a direction " they would have turned to the right hand or to the left^." They therefore in every difficulty betake themselves to prayer ; and experience the truth of that promise, " The meek he will guide in judgment ; the meek he will teach his way*^."]
2. Principally, from the care and fidelity of God —
[God has promised that " he will keep the feet of his saints'^," and that "none of their steps shall slide:" and this promise he does, and will, fulfil. He fulfils it to them in a variety of ways. He " takes them, as a mother does her little child, by their hand, and guides them in their way*^:" and, when they are weak, " he strengthens them with might in their inward man^:" and, when they would otherwise fall, he upholds them with his own almighty arms ; agreeably to that express promise which he has given them ; " Fear thou not ; for I am with thee : be not dismayed ; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee ; yea, I will help thee ; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness'^." Thus is fulfilled that promise which is contained within a few verses of our text, " The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord up- holdeth him with his hand\" We may wonder whence it is that the people of God in all ages have been enabled to main- tain their steadfastness in such trying circumstances : but the true reason is to be found in that inviolable engagement which God has entered into, that " they shall hold on their way, and that their hands shall wax stronger and stronger'^:" and tliis promise he has fulfilled to them, giving them " strength
y Ps. cxix. 9. 2 Rom. xiv. 23. ^ Rom. xiv. 5.
^ lCor.viii.il — 13. •^ Isai. xxx. 21. ^ Ps. xxv. 9.
e 1 Sam. ii. 9. f Hos. xi. 3. s Eph.iv.l6. Col. i. 11
^ Isai. xli. 10. ' ver. 23, 24. ^ Job xvii. 9.