in an apostrophe addresses the person whom he has been describing; " Surely he shall deliver theeh," &c. &c. According to this rendering, we have a clear exposition of the character and blessedness of every true believer. Let us consider, then,
I. His character —
He is not described either by his religious creed or by his moral conduct. We are led to view him rather in his secret walk with God : and in this view his character is portrayed,
1. Figuratively — [It will be remembered that God dwelt by a visible symbol of his presence in the tabernacle ; and that the high-priest on the great day of annual atonement went within the veil, and abode there till he had sprinkled the blood of his sacrifices upon the mercy-seat, and covered the mercy-seat with his incense. Now, what he did corporeally once in the year, the true Chris- tian does spiritually every day in the year ; for through Christ we all are " made kings and priests unto our God." Paint to yourselves, then, the high-priest in his occasional access to God ; and there you see the Christian going continually within the veil, or rather habitually dwelling there, and " making God himself his habitation c." And truly this is " a secret place," of which an unconverted man has no conception : it is " the secret of God's pavilion, the secret of his tabernacle d." But we must divest ourselves of the notion of locality : for this place is wherever God manifests his more immediate presence : and therefore David beautifully calls it, " the secret of his presence e." There the Believer dwells : and., O ! who can conceive " the fellowship which he there enjoys with God the Father and with the Lord Jesus Christf;" whilst they, with condescending and affectionate endearment, come to him, and abidingly feast with himg. In truth, the communion between God and the soul is such as no language can convey: it is nothing less than a mutual in-dwelling, resembling that which subsists between the Father and the Son; they being in God, and God in them; yea, and
being one with God, and God with themh This is a
mercy which the Believer alone enjoys. But some little idea of it may be formed from the favour conferred upon the camp of Israel in the wilderness. The cloudy pillar led them in all
b Bishop Low tli and Bishop Home. See Bishop Home on the place. c ver. 9. d Ps. xxvii. 5. e Ps. xxxi. 20.
f 1 John i. 3. s John xiv. 21, 23. Rev. hi. 20.
h Compare John vi. 56. and 1 John iv. 15, 16. with John xvii. 21—23.
654. J THE BLESSEDNESS OF GOd's PEOPLE. loo
their way, affording them shade by day from the heat of the burning sun, and light throughout the night season. To no other people under heaven was this ever vouchsafed. And so it is with the camp of the true Israelites at this day : they, and they only, behold the light of God's countenance in the night- season of adversity ; and they alone are sheltered from, every thing that would oppress and overwhelm their souls ; as it is written, " The Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night : for upon all the glory shall be a defence1."]
2. In plain terms —
[The workings of his mind, under all the trials and diffi- culties which he has to encounter, are here set forth. He is con- vinced that no created arm can be sufficient for him. Hence he directs his eyes towards the Creator himself, and saith of him, " He is my refuge" from every trouble: " He is my fortress" against every assailant: " He is my God," all whose powers and perfections shall be employed for me. " In Him will I trust," in Him only and exclusively ; in Him always, under all circumstances ; in Him, with perfect confidence and unshaken affiance. The man is not like the ungodly world, who know not what to do, and are at their wit's end when trouble comes : he is " in the secret place of the Most High;" and, where others can see nothing, he beholds " chariots of fire and horses of fire all around himk," or, rather, he beholds " God himself as a wall of fire round about him1," and has the very glory of God resting on himm. Thus is the true Believer distinguished from all others: " he beholds Him who is in- visible";" and walks as in his immediate presence, saying, " If God be for me, who can be against me ? "