generation following; for this God is our God for ever and evera."]
2. Plainly—
[The Church is under the immediate government of God, as Israel was of old. He is its Judge, its Lawgiver, and its King, who, while he requires the obedience of his people, is pledged by that very relation to afford them his protection. Men, standing in that relation to us, may be overcome ; and we may fall together with them : but we are thrice reminded, that it is Jehovah who is our defence. Whom then can we have to fear, when the honour, the power, the veracity of Jehovah are pledged for our protection ? How absurd is it to be alarmed on account of our own weakness, or of the power and malignity of our enemies ! The answer which David gave to those who persuaded him to flee, is that which should be our solace in the most discouraging circumstances ; " How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain, for the foundations are destroyed, and what can the righteous do ? " (Tell me not of the failure of earthly helps ; for) " Jehovah is in his holy temple, Jehovah's throne is in heaven V]
Infer —
1. Whither we are to look for the continued enjoy- ment of our religious privileges —
[It is a mercy to us, that, notwithstanding the enmity of the carnal mind against God is as great as ever, we are pre- served by the laws from such persecutions as have been endured by the Church in former ages. But men are changing, and laws may change with them. Our safety therefore does not depend on man, but on God : and on him alone must we rely for the peace and prosperity of Zion. Let us trust in him ; and " he will be a wall of fire round about us, and the glory in the midst of usc."]
2. Whither we are to look for the peace and sta- bility of our own souls —
[We should first take care that God be indeed the Judge, the Lawgiver, and the King whom we unfeignedly obey : for, if we refuse allegiance to him, it will be in vain to expect pro- tection from him. But, if we have the testimony of our con- science that we devote ourselves unfeignedly to him, we may say with David, " I will not fear, though the earth be moved, and the hills be carried into the midst of the sea." We have an almighty Defender, who is interested in the welfare of his subjects, and is moreover pledged to us by promise and by oath.
a Ps. xlviii. 12—14. t» Ps. xi. 1—4. c Zech. ii. 5.