not all the powers of earth or hell can prevail against you, if only, in the exercise of faith and patience, you wait on God. Take courage, then, and call yourselves to an account, as David did, for such unworthy fears and such unhallowed depression : " Why art thou cast down, O my soul ! and why art thou dis- quieted within me ? Hope thou in God : for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance and my God*." If you need some specific promise for your support, take that which God has given to such as are in your very state: " Fear thou not, for I am with thee ; be not dismayed, for I am thy God : I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness11." Rest on this, and you shall soon add your testimony to that of David : " I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and ordered my goings : and he hath put a new song into my mouth, even praise and thanksgiving to my Godx."]
* Ps. xlii. 5, 11. and xliii. 5. u Isai. xli. 10. x Ps. xl. 1 — 3.
Isai. xli. 10. Fear thou not; for I am with thee : be not dis- mayed ; for I am thy God : I will strengthen thee ; yea, I will help thee ; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
OF the contest between Jehovah and the wor- shippers of idols, we who have never witnessed the madness of idolaters, have no conception : and, con- sequently, the pains taken by Jehovah to vindicate his exclusive right to the worship of his creatures appear almost superfluous. But the pertinacity with which idol-worship was upheld, not only amongst the heathen nations around Judea, but even in Judea itself, rendered every possible effort necessary to withstand its influence, and to suppress its growth. Power and authority were for the most part on the side of idolatry; in support of which the bitterest persecutions were set on foot against the adherents of true religion. But Jehovah promises to them his support, and assures them, that, however severely tried for a season, they shall triumph at last.