to us, of " abasing the proud, and exalting those who humble themselves before him h ]
Let us now proceed to mark,
II. The effect which this view of him should produce upon us —
In this view should every living soul rejoice.
1. The wicked themselves —
[What a ground of joy should it be to them, that they are not, as they well might have been, shut up in hell, but that they have still an opportunity of embracing the salvation which infinite wisdom has devised : and almighty power is ready to
impart ! To every such person I say, Compare your
state with those whose day of grace has closed, and, amidst all your sorrows for your past sins, bless and adore and magnify your God, that it is yet " the day of salvation" to you1, and that you have yet One following you with that blessed assu- rance, " Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out" ]
2. The meek in particular —
[Well does the Psalmist say to you, " Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God." Do but think what a Protector you have, even one who is in- finitely wise to discover all that your great adversary is plotting for your destruction — — — and infinitely powerful to shield
you from his fiercest assaults Surely you may adopt
the triumphant language of St. Paulk, since, however weak you be, God has engaged to " perfect his own strength in your weakness " —
Think too what a Friend you have, who will " supply your every want out of the fulness that is in Christ Jesus," and em- ploy all his wisdom and all his power for the enriching and comforting of your souls
Lastly, think what a Rewarder you have, who has provided for you on earth whatsoever his infinite wisdom has judged best,
and his almighty power can impart to make you happy —
whilst in heaven is reserved for you an eternity of inconceivable
and unutterable bliss
I say then to you especially, " tune your harps to sing the praises" of your redeeming God and live in the habi- tual and delightful anticipation of the blessedness that awaits you in a better world ]
h Isai. ii. 11. '2 Cor. vi. 2. k Rom. viii. 35 — 39.
747.] god's regard for the least of his saints. 509