SO circumstanced ? The state of Jeremiah, when cast into a dungeon, and sunk in the mire, and ready to perish with hunger^, was distressing to flesh and blood : but what was that to a sinner shut up in hourly expectation of the wrath of an offended God ? Oh ! it is inexpressibly tremendous : no tongue can tell how a soid trembles, and sinks, and faints under such appalling apprehensions, as are called by the Apostle, " a certain fearful looking-for of judgment and fiery indignation to con- sume it" But from this state David was delivered by
means of fervent and persevering prayer. Who will say that he was not well repaid for waiting, for waiting patiently upon the Lord, and for the Lord ? Had his supplications been un- intermitted for ten thousand years, they would have been well compensated by such an answer as this at last. And, if a promise of such an answer after such a period were given to any one that is now gone beyond redemption, we may well conceive wdth what ardour he would commence, and prosecute his labour through the appointed time : the very hope of de- liverance at last would more than half annihilate the anguish with which despair has already overwhelmed his soul.]
2. Holiness —
[When God, by a sense of pardoning love, " brought David up out of an horrible pit, and out of the miry clay," he at the same time " set his feet upon a rock, and established his goings." What that rock was, we are at no loss to determine: it was no other than " the Rock of Ages," the Lord Jesus Christ, who is " a sure foundation" to all who stand upon him^ and who will impart of his own stability to all who put their trust in him. " On this Rock the whole Church is built ; nor shall the gates of hell prevail against it''." It is not pardon only that we obtain by union with the Lord Jesus Christ, but strength also, to walk steadfastly in the ways of God. Separate from him, we can do nothing': united to him by faith, we can do all things™: and so estabhshed shall our hearts be by his grace, that we may defy all the powers of darkness, and already, by anticipation, enjoy our final triumph"." What a fruit then was here of persevering prayer ! Yet so shall all who wait patiently upon their God be favoured: they shall be " turned from dark- ness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God."]
3. Joy —
[" A new song was now put into the mouth of David, even praise unto his God." And praise is indeed a " new" song to one who is but just brought to peace with God through
^ .Ter. xxxviii. 6, 9, 10. ' Isai. xxviii. 15.
k Matt. xvi. 18. 1 John XV. 5. >" Phil. iv. 13.
n Zech. iv. 7. Isai. xli. 14—16. Rom. viii. 35—39.