hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee." How strong must have been the conviction of it in his mind! And can any thing be more clear? To have the Lord God himself for their light and defence, and to have all the blessings of grace and glory ensured to them by the unalterable promise of Jehovah; what can they have more? Let every upright soul then rejoice ; for he is and shall be blessed. And let all be stirred up to walk worthy of their high calling. So shall God be glorified in them ; and they, ere long, be glorified with him for evermore.]
2. In what a pitiable state are the generality of mankind !
[There are many who are honest and just even among the heathen. But, alas! the generality labour not in earnest to find out their duty; nor do they know any thing of that unre- served devotedness to God which characterizes the true Chris- tian. Is God then a sun to them ? Is he not rather a cloud of darkness to them, or rather, I should say, a consuming firer? Is he a shield to them? Is he not rather an irresistible adver- sary5? Will he give them grace and glory? Shall he not rather visit them with wrath and fiery indignation1? Will he with- hold from them no good ? Is there not rather a time shortly coming when they shall not have so much as a drop of water to cool their tongue ? O that men would consider this ! Surely their state calls for much compassion. Let every one lay this to heart. Let every one seek to be found " an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." And let it be the one ambition of us all to be found of God in peace, without spot and blameless u.]
r Exod. xiv. 20. Heb. xii. 29. ■ Matt. v. 25.
t Rom. ii. 8. "2 Pet. hi. 14.