in his mind, and be sources of much anxiety within him
Religion is not intended to destroy these feelings, but only to regulate them, and to render them subservient to his spiritual
welfare ]
2. In reference to the concerns of their souls — [The very intent of piety is, to make every thing that relates to eternity interesting to the soul. Now the saint, in this pre- sent state of warfare, cannot always preserve the same state of sublime and spiritual affection : there will be seasons of compara- tive darkness and deadness, and seasons too of temptation, when Satan has gained some advantage over him. Now, such ought to be seasons of deeper humiliation to the soul : and, together with contrition, there will often arise doubts and fears, which will fill the soul with most distressing perplexity. David himself sometimes had his fears, lest God should have cast him off for ever b: and similar apprehensions are experienced by the Lord's people, in every age and in every place ]
But in the example before us we see, II. The consolations which God administers to them in their troubles —
Truly they have comforts which the world knows not of: they have for their refreshment and delight,
1. The comforts of God's word —
[The Scriptures are a " well of salvation, from whence they draw water with joy." In them they behold the character of God, exhibited as it were at full length, in all the dispensa- tions of his providence and grace. There they see how God has dealt with his people in every age, ordering every thing according to the counsels of his unerring wisdom, and overruling every thing for their eternal good. There they behold him as a refiner, regulating the furnace into which he puts his vessels; and watching the process, in order to bring them forth in due season, fit for the master's use. There they see the " covenant ordered in all things and sure0;" and there they find promises without number, exactly suited to their state. These are as marrow and fatness to their souls ; and, nourished by these, they not only bear with patience, but glory and exult in, all
their trials Encouraged by these promises, they are
content to go into the furnace, assured that they shall come forth, at last, purified as gold.]
2. The comforts of his Spirit —
[Afflictions are seasons when God for the most part ma- nifests himself to the souls of his people. The Son of man
b Ps. lxxvii. 7 — 10. c 2 Sam. xxiii. 5.