friends, or our own exertions. God is invariably our la&t refuge.]
2. In spiritual troubles — [Under conviction of sin, we betake ourselves to the ob- servance of duties, and make resolutions to amend our lives, instead of fleeing to Christ as the refuge of lost sinners6. In seasons also of temptation, or desertion, we adopt a thousand expedients to remove our burthens, but will not cast them on the Lordf. Though foiled ten thousand times, we cannot bring ourselves to lie as clay in the potter's hands ; but will rest in the means, instead of looking simply to God in the use of means.]
But the longer we persist in it the more we shall find, that,
II. The creature cannot afford us any effectual suc- cour—
There are circumstances indeed wherein friends may be instrumental to our relief : but they can do,
1. Nothing effectual —
[The consolations which are administered by man, or by the vanities of this world, are poor, empty, transient8. Not the whole universe combined can ever bring a man to " glory in tribulations11," and to say with Paul, " I take pleasure in them for the sake of Christ1 :" as soon might they enable him to stop the sun in its course, as to reduce to experience the paradoxes of that holy apostle k — .]
2. Nothing of themselves —
[It is not a little humiliating to see how weak are man's endeavours to heal either the disorders of the body, or the troubles of the soul, when God is pleased to withhold his blessing. The best prescriptions, or the wisest counsels, are even lighter than vanity itself. Reasonings, however just and scriptural, have no weight : advice, however sweetened with love and sympathy, is rejected : the very grounds of consola- tion are turned into occasions of despair1. When God says, " Let there be light," there is light: but till then, the soul is shut up in impenetrable darkness"1.]
Address —
1. Let us guard against this sinful propensity, both in our national and personal concerns —
e Isai. lv. 2. f 1 Sam. xvi. 14 — 16. s Jer. ii. 13.
h Rom. v. 3. » 2 Cor. xii. 10. k 2 Cor. vi. 10.
1 Ps. lxxvii. 2, 3. m Job xxxiv. 29.