that the man whose "help'''' is in God can never be overcome, and whose "hope''' is in God can never be disappointed ; let me, II. Commend it to your special attention —
We suppose you all to wish for a participation of the Psalmist's happiness. To all of you, then, I would say,
1. Seek to know the character of Jehovah, as here
drawn —
[We have not, in general, worthy conceptions of the Deity, either as a God of Providence or as a God of Grace. We do not at all realize in our minds his universal agency, or the tender care which he takes of his believing people, insomuch that not a hair falls from the head of any of them without his special permission. But see in what light the Psalmist viewed him, when he gave concerning him the testimony which we are now considering : " Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God ; who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that therein is ; who keepeth truth for ever ; who execute th judgment for the oppressed ; who giveth food to the hungry ; who looseth the prisoners, and openeth the eyes of the blind, and raiseth them that are bowed down, and loveth the righteous, and preserveth the strangers, and relieve th the fatherless and the widow1:" see all these diver- sified conditions ; see the relief administered agreeably to the necessities of all ; and then say, whether he be not happy who has this God for his help ? If you had all the men upon earth engaged for your support, yea, and all the angels in heaven too, it were nothing in comparison of the blessings you enjoy. Only realize the thought, that every perfection of the Deity is occupied day and night in your behalf, for the express purpose of securing and consummating your eternal happiness; and you will need nothing more to render you completely happy, amidst all the diversified scenes of this vain and troublesome world.]
2. Seek to obtain an interest in him, as your God — [Doubtless, unless he be your God, you can derive no
comfort from the consideration of his perfections ; for, what- ever he may be to others, to you he will be only " a consuming firem." But how shall he be made your God? There is but one way, and that is by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ : for " to all that believe in Christ, is given the privilege of be- coming sons of Godn;" " and if sons, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ0." Look then, and see what an
l ver- 5 — 9. m Heb. xii. 29. n John i. 12. ° Rom. viii. 17.
744.] THE BLESSEDNESS OF TRUSTING IN GOD. oOl
interest Christ himself possesses in the Father's love : see all that the Father did for him : see him now sitting at the right hand of the Father, in inconceivable blessedness and glory. All this shall you also inherit together with him: for, " all things are yours, if ye be Christ's p." Will ye not, then, come to Christ, and cleave unto him, and live by faith upon him ? Me- thinks I need not urge this upon you: your own minds are already bent upon this ; and you are determined, through grace, to renounce every thing in comparison of Christ, and to make him " all your salvation and all your desire."]
3. Make use of him for all the ends for which he has given himself to you —
[When once you can say, with David, " O God, thou art my God!" then carry to this almighty Friend your every want, your every wish. Lean not at any time to your own wisdom ; and undertake nothing in your own strength. Look to your God for guidance, even in the most common affairs of life ; and, in all the difficulties which you may be called to encounter, " be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Re- member all that he did for " Jacob, ivhose God he was "