truth is largely declared in the book of Job, in reference to every species of calamity, that it shall not befall any one who trusts in God, or, if it befall him, it shall be overruled for his more abundant goodf. We must doubtless take the promise in this latitude ; else it would be contrary to fact and experience : but understood with this limitation, it is, and ever shall be, accom- plished in every child of Godg.]
2. In relation to the concerns of the soul —
[It is expressly asserted here, that God will " preserve our souls." We may be assured therefore, that whatever he does for the body that perishes, shall much more be done for our im- mortal part. Yes, " he will keep the feet of his saints," nor shall all the powers, whether of earth or hell, be able to cast them down. " Never will he leave us ; never, never forsake us." Our enemies, it is true, will fight against us to the uttermost : but he will suffer none of them ever to " pluck us out of his hand." To this extent St. Paul avows his confidence in Godh: and every believer may justly assure himself, that " nothing in heaven, earth, or hell, shall ever separate him from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."]
Address —
1. To those who have no fears —
[Whence proceeds this ? If from confidence in the power and veracity of God, it is well : you are then entitled to cast off all fear ; for they who fear Him, have nothing else to fear. But if your want of fear arises, as it too generally does, from an ig- norance of your danger, or a confidence in yourselves, you have no reason for self-congratulation : since the greater your fan- cied security is, the more imminent and awful is your danger. Would you be afraid if you were surrounded by armed hosts that were seeking to destroy you ? and will you not be afraid, when Satan himself, that roaring lion, is going about day and night seeking the everlasting destruction of your souls ? To continue ignorant of your danger is the readiest way to ensure your everlasting ruin. What if some alarm be occasioned by a sight of your danger ? Is it not better to dread the pursuer of blood, than to fall into his hands ? Will not your security when you have gained the city of refuge, compensate for the terror that drove you thither ? Know then, that if you are yet strangers to a salutary fear, you have yet to learn the true im- port of a scriptural and saving hope.]
2. To those who are too much under the influence of fear —
f Jobv. 19 — 23. g Isai. xxvii. 3.
h Rom. viii. 35—39. with 2 Tim. ii. 18.