And let your confidence in him for the future be entire. Lie in his hands precisely as a little infant in its parent's arms ; and look to him, exactly as the Israelites in the wilderness did, to direct your every way, and to supply your every want. It is not possible for your reliance on God to be too simple or too entire. In this respect also is David an excellent pattern for you to follow : " Thou art He that took me out of the womb : thou didst make me hope, when I was upon my mo- ther's breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb : thou art my God from my mother's belly. Be not far from me ! for trouble is near : for there is none to help. Be not thou far from me, O Lord! 0 my strength, haste thee to help mey\"
Let your devotion to him also be unreserved. " You are not your own, but his ; and therefore you should glorify him
r Prov. xxiii. 26. s Prov. xv. 8. ' Isai. lxvi. 3.
» 2 Pet. ii. 20. x Ps. vii. (i. y Ps. xxii. 9, 10, 11, 19.
with your bodies and your spirits, which are hisz." This is what God expects at your hands : " Ye have seen," says he, " how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now, therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then shall ye be a peculiar treasure unto me, above all people : for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel*." Yes, these words I do speak to you in God's name. Your privileges are all a delusion, if they be not productive of this effect : but if they lead to this issue, then is God glorified in you, and ye shall ere long be glorified with him in the realms of bliss b.]
z 2 Cor. vi. 20. a Exod. xix. 4—6. * 2 Thess. i. 11, 12.