is reposed. Consequently, a general notion of God's ordering all things according to the counsel of his own will, however deep that conviction be, will not amount to the grace that is here described. The devils possess that conviction, in its utmost possible extent; but they cannot trust in God, because they have no promise given them, nor any ground whatever to hope that he will ever interpose in their favour. The person who trusts in the Lord must see him as a Covenant-God in Christ Jesus, engaged to accomplish for his chosen people all that their necessities can require ]
2. In our habits —
[With such views of the Deity must be united a total renunciation of every other hope, and a committing of all our concerns to him, for body and for soul, for time and for eternity. There must be a going forth of the soul to him in prayer ; a spreading of our wants before him ; and a declared affiance in his great and precious promises. Viewing him as both a God of providence and of grace, we must fully expect his attention to our every request, to order every thing for our good, and to save us in Christ Jesus with an everlasting salvation. Our expectations must be co-extensive with his engagements : and, as he has engaged to " be a God unto us," we must expect from him all that unerring wisdom, unbounded power, unsearchable love, and unchanging faithfulness, can
effect This is, in fact, what the Apostle elsewhere
calls " the life of faith in the Son of God ;" and nothing short of this will answer the character in my text. But, wherever this is, there shall also be,]
II. The privileges connected with it —
There shall be,
1. Stability — [Mount Zion was a place of so much strength, that, from the days of Joshua to the time of David, the Israelites could never take it. They occupied Jerusalem : but Mount Zion was too strong for them ; insomuch that the Jebusites who inhabited it laughed them to scorn, vaunting, that if there were none left but blind and lame to defend the fortress, the Jews should never be able to prevail against ita. But far more impregnable is the fortress in which they dwell who trust in the Lord: " The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth to it, and is safeV They may be assaulted both by men and devils ; but they are assured, that " God will keep them by his own power, through faith, unto everlasting salvation0." They are in the Saviour's hands ; and he has pledged himself that " none shall ever pluck them out of his
a 2 Sam. v. G— 8. »> Prov. xviii. 10. c 1 Pet. i. 5.