" Knowing in whom he has believed," he expects —
1. Guidance in all his way —
[In addition to all the difficulties of his journey, he knows not which way he is to pursue. He has a general notion of his path : but an infinite variety of circumstances occur from time to time, to render it difficult to discern which is the way in which it will be best and safest for him to proceed. He is aware that one single step may lead to consequences incon- ceivably important. Joseph was sent to visit his brethren. The step was good : but oh ! to what a diversity of trials did it leadM David also was sent to visit his brethren: here too the step was good; and from it resulted the victory over Goliath, and the deliverance of Israel from their oppressors c. In the consciousness that God alone can guide him, he asks counsel of the Lord every step he takes : and God vouch- safes to guide his feet into the way of peace. There are many different means which God is pleased to make use of for the direction of his people : sometimes he guides by his word; sometimes by his Spirit; sometimes by his providence, opening or shutting a door, as is pleasing in his sight : diver- sifying these as he sees occasion, he accomplishes his gracious ends ; just as, in the days of old, he led his people Israel through the trackless wilderness, till they came in safety to the Promised Land.
The entire process may be seen, as it were, realized in actual life. Behold the saint's desire of counsel, as expressed in the prayers of David d and mark the accomplish- ment of that desire in the consolations and encouragements
administered to the waiting soule And this is exactly
what every believing soul is warranted to expect : "I will instruct thee, and teach thee in the way thou shalt go : I will guide thee with mine eyef."]
2. Glory at the end —
[Never will God cease from his offices of love, till he has completed all his gracious purposes, and fulfilled the utmost desires of those who wait upon him. Glory is that to which every soul looks forward, as the consummation of its bliss : that is " the joy that is set before us, the prize of our high calling," " the recompence of our reward ; " and God will not suffer his people to come short of it. " He will fulfil in them all the good pleasure of his goodness," till the work which has been begun in grace is consummated in glory. Of this St. Paul was confident8; and in the prospect of it every believing soul
b Gen. xxxvii. 14. c 1 Sam. xvii. 20. d Ps. cxliii. 4 — 8. e Isai. xli. 10—15. f Ps. xxxii. 8. e Phil. i. 6.