till their work is done." Not that they are at liberty to tempt the Lord by rushing needlessly into danger : but, if called by God to perform any duty, they have nothing to fear. David's deliverances were numberless, as were those also of the Apostle Paul. Our Lord himself, too, was encompassed for years by those who sought his life : but none could prevail against him, till " his hour was come." Weak as his people are, even " as lambs in the midst of wolves," none can effect their ruin, " none can ever pluck them out of his hands." " There is an appointed time" for every one of them; and, as they must wait, so must their enemies also wait, till that time is come.]
2. He will come forth to avenge it —
[God does suffer his people to be assaulted, and to be put to death : but he will call their enemies to a severe account for all that they do against the meanest of his saints. It is said, " He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eyed." We well know the force of this figure, if but a mote get into our eye : and we may therefore understand from thence how God feels when any of his people are assaulted. He has told us, that " it were better for any man that a millstone were hanged round his neck, and that he were cast into the depths of the sea, than that he should offend one of God's little ones." We see, in the history of David, how Ahithophel suffered for his treachery, and Absalom for his rebellion : and sooner or later shall every man who, either in a way of direct assault or of silent contempt, offends the people of the Lord, surely " give account thereof in the day of judgment e."]
3. He will never suffer it, till he has accomplished his good work within them —
[To every one of his people has God assigned his proper work : to some, as to the dying thief, little more is given than an opportunity of confessing Christ : to others, as to Paul and John, are long and arduous labours allotted : but the times of all are in God's hands ; and he will enable every one of them to say, " Father, I have glorified thee on earth ; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to dof." To his blood- thirsty enemies our Saviour said, " I must walk to-day and to- morrow ; and the third day I shall be perfected :" and even to the most potent amongst them we may say, " Thou couldst have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above." Men may think they have accomplished their purposes ; as when Peter was kept in prison till the very night preceding his in- tended execution ; or as when Paul had been stoned, and left for dead. But " there is no counsel or might against the Lord." He will make " the wrath of man to praise him ; and the
d Zech. ii. 8. " 1 Pet. iv. 4, 5. f John xvii. 4.