Egypt to die in the wilderness, yet he brought their children, who they supposed would fall an easy prey to their enemies, into that good land, and gave it them for their inheritance : .and so perfectly did he fulfil his word to them in every respect, that Joshua after many years could appeal to the whole nation, that " not one thing had failed of all the good things which the Lord their God had spoken concerning them; all was come to pass unto them, and not one thing had failed thereof2." Thus, if the thought arise in our hearts, " Is his mercy clean gone for ever ? doth his promise fail for evermore ? " our answer must be, " No:" " it is impossible for God to liea:" " his promises in Christ are all yea, and amenb:" and " his mercy endure th for everc."]
Address,
1, Those who are walking in darkness —
[There are changes in the spiritual, as well as in the natural world. We must not any of us expect that our sun shall shine equally at all times with unclouded splendour. Notwithstanding we may truly " fear God and obey the voice of his servants, we may yet be walking in darkness and have no light." But in that state we are directed what to do : we must " trust in the Lord, and stay upon our Godd." The longest night will have an end : and if we wait patiently upon our God, " his way is prepared as the morning," which, though the night appear exceeding long and tedious, will come at laste. He may for wise reasons hide his face from us for a time ; but it shall not be for everf. Hear his own answer to the com- plaints which we are apt to makeg And know, that
though " heaviness may endure for a night, joy shall surely come to us in the morning11:" if only we wait till the appointed hour, " our light shall rise in obscurity, and our darkness shall be as the noon day1."]
2. Those who enjoy the light of God's counte- nance—
[O what a privilege, what an unspeakable blessing, is this ! Learn to value it aright : and take care that you do not pre- sume upon the mercy vouchsafed unto you. Do not be saying with David, " My mountain stands strong, I shall never be moved," lest you provoke " God to hide his face from you, and you be troubled k." A slavish fear is doubtless to be avoided on the one hand ; but so is a presumptuous security on the other. The true medium is, to " rejoice with trembling1," and
2 Josh, xxiii. 14. a Htb. vi. 18. b 2 Cor. i. 20.
c Ps. cxxxvi. 1—26. d Isai. 1. 10. e Hos. vi. 3.
f Isai. liv. 7, 8. s Isai. xlix. 14— 10. h Ps. xxx. 5.
1 Isai. lviii. 10. * Ps. xxx. 7. l Ps. ii. 11.