themp. None can be in so distressed a state, but they shall have " rivers" of consolation at hand for their refreshment01.
Is their path peculiarly intricate and slippery? God will " make their way plain before their face:" " the rough places shall be plain, and the crooked paths straight." In seasons of difficulty " they shall hear a voice behind them saying, This is the way, walk ye in itr." And if at any time their foot slide, he will put " his everlasting arms underneath them," and uphold them that they may not fall.
Of these seasonable communications the Christian may be assured, because of the near relation in which he stands to God himself. " God is his father, and considers him as his first- born8." Whatever therefore is suited to that high relation shall certainly be imparted to him, in such a measure, and such a manner, as shall most conduce to his eternal welfare.]
Address —
1. Those who are yet in a state of bondage —
[Whatever diversity there may be in the states and cha- racters of those who return to Zion, there is not one who does not see abundant reason to class himself among those men- tioned in the text : and if we have never felt ourselves in a state resembling theirs, we may be assured that we are yet in bondage to sin and Satan. Behold then, to such persons we have a message from God himself: as God's "watchmen, we would cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God*!" Make no excuses, no delays. The Lord Jesus Christ has " proclaimed liberty to the captives, and the open- ing of the prison to them that are bound." Be not then like those in Babylon, who, because of their comfortable settle- ments there, sat down regardless of the Holy Land ; but put yourselves under the guidance of your Divine Leader ; brave the dangers and difficulties of the way ; and look to the honour and felicity of serving him, as an ample recompence for all that you can do or suffer in the ways of his appointment.]
2. Those who are travelling towards Zion —
[Adored be God, who " has brought you out with a mighty hand and a stretched-out arm ! " But beware how you ever think of returning to your former bondage : for " then will your last end be worse than your beginning11." You must expect difficulties : your faith and patience will be tried : it is " through faith and patience that you must inherit the pro- mises1." But, when God is for you, you need not care who,
p Isai. xliii. 19, 20. and xl. 29—31. <i Isai. xli. 17, 18.
r Isai. xxx. 21. and xxxv. 8. s Exod. iv. 22, 23.
1 ver. 6. u 2 Pet. ii. 20. x Heb. vi. 12.