grateful surprise, he exclaims, ' Lo, this is my God, for whom I have waited and prayed! this is my Lord, whom alone, and above all things, I have desired to behold. I once thouglit the time long ; but now I regret not the troubles which I endured whilst seeking after him : had they been ten times as pungent, or had I endured them ten times as long, I should not now repine : one view of him as reconciled to me, and one hour spent in communion with him, is sufficient to repay me for a whole life of sorrow and suspense.' I will appeal to all, whe- ther any man, who can say, " He hath taken me out of the horrible j)it, and out of the miry clay," does not find occasion cilso to add, " He hath put a new song into my mouth, even thanksgiving to our God^"?]
2. In the anticipation of what is yet future —
[Doubtless he looks forward to many conflicts with sin and Satan : he sees a host of enemies arrayed against him, enemies with whom he would be utterly unable to cope : but he knows in whom he has believed ; and, in dependence on the Saviour, he defies every adversary, saying, " In the Lord put I my trust : I will not fear what either men or devils can do against me\" In answer to the remonstrances of a guilty con- science, he replies, " My Lord will save me : " and, if the number or power of his enemies be urged against him, he an- swers with confidence, " This Saviour is my God : and if He be for me, who can be against me?" This is He for whom I have waited ; and He will save me. " In his name I set up my banners; " and in reliance upon Him, I know that no enemy shall prevail against me, or " ever pluck me out of his hands." I give loose therefore to joy : yea, " I will be glad, and rejoice in his salvation "^ ; " and though I "see my Saviour no other- wise than by faith, I will rejoice in him with joy unspeakable and full of glory."]
Application —
What now shall I say, to commend this Saviour to you?
1. Let your expectations from him be enlarged —
[It is not possible for you to expect too much. If your sins were numerous as the sands upon the sea-shore, you might expect that he would " blot them all out as a morning cloud," or " cast them behind him into the depths of the sea." If he who has undertaken to save you be " God,* what have you to fear? And if he have promised to be " a God unto you," it is not possible that you should ever want. You may stretch your
^ Ps. xl. 1 — 3. ' Ps. xxvii. 1. "^ Ps. xx. 5.