1. To speak generally, we should betake ourselves to prayer —
[God is the only source of strength and consolation. If we apply to the creature in our distress, we shall invariably find him but a broken reed^. On the contrary, the pressure that is on our minds will, for the most part, increase : or, if the trouble be removed, the removal will prove a heavier judgment than its continuance. But if we apply with humility to a throne of grace, the desired effect will almost instantly appear^. There is no trouble from which prayer has not extricated the sons of men: it prolonged the life of Hezekiah'^; brought Jonah from the bottom of the sea' ; and restored to peace the tempest-tossed soul of David '^. For us also, if it be fervent, it shall effectually prevail': there is no disquietude which it shall not pacify, " no sorrow which it shall not turn into songs of joy""." Wherever we are therefore, even " at the very ends of the earth," and however circumstanced, we should make our requests known unto God, in order to the attainment of solid peace".]
2. More 'particularly, we should beg of God to lead us to the Saviour —
[David, though a king, had no sufficiency in himself: he was forced to look to one higher than himself, even to Jesus, the Rock of his salvation". But how should he come to Jesus, unless the Father should draw himP? Hence he prayed so fervently, that God would " lead" him to that Rock. Thither then must we also go ; for there alone can we find stability. Does guilt appal us ? nothing but the blood of Jesus can com- pose our minds 1. Do temptations harass us? nothing but his grace can enable us to withstand them''. Do accumulated troubles threaten to overwhelm us ? we can both do and suffer all things, if he strengthen us; yea, we shall be more than conquerors through him that loved us^ Like a shipwrecked mariner standing on a rock, we may defy the waves that roar beneath our feet. Such was the experience of David himself* ; and such shall be ours also, if the storms that threaten us drive vis for security to that place of safety. Let us then, in every affliction, look to Jesus as our help ; and, with a deep im- pression of our inability to go to him aright, let us cry unto God, " Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I !"]
f Hos. V. 14. Isai. xxxi. 3. s Isai. Ixv. 24.
^ 2 Kings XX. 1 — 6. ' Jonah ii. 1 — 7. ^ Ps. cxvi. 3 — 8.
1 Jam. V. 16. m Ps. 1. 15. " Phil. iv. 6, 7.
o Ps. Ixxxix. 19. P John vi. 44. q Actsxvi.29 — 31.
>• 2 Cor. xii. 9. ^ Rom. viii. 37.
t Ps. xl. 1—3. N. B. " ihe rock:'