As to excuses for withholding or delaying a general surren- der of ourselves to God, they are lighter than vanity itself. Think not that they can stand one moment, when you come before your God. To serve God instantly, and with our whole hearts, is the duty of every child of man : and therefore, to the proposal which God at this moment makes by my voice, let every individual amongst you reply, " Here am 1 ; send me."]
n Exod. iv. 1. o Exod. iv. 10. p Exod. iv. 13.
1 Exod. vi. 12. N. B. Cite all these passages from Exodus; because they are, in fact, the very excuses which a false humility invariably suggests.
' 2 Cor. xii. 9. » Deut. xxxiii. 25.
Isai. viii. 12 — 14. Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to iohom this people shall say, A confederacy ; neither fear ye their fear, nor he afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him he your fear, and let him he your dread: and he shall he for a sanctuary.
RELIGION, under any circumstances, is of incal- culable advantage : but its benefits are most seen and felt when we come into trials of a complicated and
overwhelming nature. Such were the troubles of the Jewish nation at the time referred to in my text. The Syrians had entered into a league with the ten tribes of Israel to dethrone Ahaz, King of Judah, and to establish a king of their own appointment upon his throne : and the prospect of this event spread such dismay amongst the Jewish people, that they were " all moved by it as trees of the wood before the wind''." But the prophet was sent to shew them where their strength lay, and to assure them, that, if they would but trust in God, they had nothing to fear, since Omnipotence itself would interpose for their deliverance. In the message which the pro- phet was instructed to deliver to them, we see,
I. A word of reproof —
To the people of that day was a reproof most justly due —
[They all were alarmed at the confederacy that had been formed ; and each, by expressing his own fears, helped to spread a panic through the land. But the prophet was or- dered to discountenance this, both by precept and example, not by any means joining in the general cry, or suffering himself to participate in the people's fears.
Somewhat of a similar consternation prevailed occasionally among the Apostolic Churches : on which account St. Peter, plainly referring to the very words of my text, bade the Christians of his day not to be troubled about the menaces of their adversaries, but to follow the advice here given ^.
And are there not many amongst ourselves who give way to needless fears, on account of the number and inveteracy of their enemies ? " We wrestle, not with flesh and blood only, but with all the principalities and powers of hell :" and at times our hands are ready to hang down, and our hearts to faint in utter despon- dency. It was thus with David when he said, " I shall one day perish by the hands of Saul." And more especially was it thus with Asaphj when he questioned with himself, " Will the Lord cast off" for ever? and will he be favourable no more''?" In fact, by the recital of our own doubts and fears, we often contribute to create the same painful feelings in others, and to diffuse amongst our brethren apprehensions, which ought rather to be discountenanced and withstood. We know what dis- couragement the spies occasioned through the whole camp of
a Isai. vii. 1, 2, 6. •> 1 Pet. iii. 14, 15, = Ps. Ixxvii. 7 — 9.