is good." There may be want to the lions ; but there shall be none to theme. " Those who seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, shall have a due supply of all needful things added unto them."
The extent to which these promises are fulfilled is little understood by those who have much of this world's goods : but by the godly man who subsists by his daily labour, it is known and felt. He sees often in his small pittance such " wondrous dealings," as fill him with utter astonishment, and constrain him to cry out as Israel after the passage of the Red Sea, " Who is a God like unto thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders f."]
2. The blessings of his grace —
[Where shall we find one contrite sinner whom God ever refused to hear ? Never was there one, from the foundation of the world. " Never did God say to any, Seek ye my face in vain." Not even a Manasseh, who had filled the streets of Jerusalem with the blood of innocents, was rejected, when once he humbled himself before his God. And our blessed Lord has said without any exception whatever, " Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." " Where sin has abounded, grace shall much more abound ; " and it shall prove sufficient for our necessities, even though our trials and diffi- culties be multiplied above the sands upon the sea-shore. The Christian's hope is firm, and " shall never make him ashamed :" for God has said, that " Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation : he shall not be ashamed or confounded, world without endg." This is repeated with yet greater em- phasis in the verse following my text, in that it is associated with an assurance that his people shall be made sensible of his presence with them, and his relation to them as their God for ever and ever. This is the heritage of all who believe in Christ11, and make him the one foundation of all their hopes1.]
Address —
1. Those who are under any trouble —
[Whatever be your trouble, give not way to despondency; but betake yourselves to the remedy which God has prescribed, even that of " turning to him with weeping and with mourn- ing and with fasting k." Were it a mere peradventure that God would hear you after a long trial of your faith and patience, it would be quite sufficient encouragement to call upon him1. But his return to you in a way of mercy is sure, if only you
e Ps. xxxiv. 9, 10. f Exod. xv. 11. e Isai. xlv. 17.
h Rom. ix. 33. and x. 11. ! 1 Pet. ii. 6.
k ver. 12. ' ver. 14.