Hab. iii. 17, 18. Although the Jig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat ; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls ; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my sal- vation.
A CHRISTIAN will be distinguished from others, whatever be his situation in life ; but the more trying and afflictive his condition be, the more will he cause his light to shine before men, and demonstrate the excellence of the principles he has embraced. The prophet's resolution, in the prospect of the Baby- lonish invasion and of the calamities consequent upon it, affords a just picture of every child of God : for though all do not possess the same attainments, all determine through grace to make God the exclusive object of their joy and triumph. Taking then the text as expressive of the feelings of all God's people, we shall notice, I. The Christian's boast —
The Christian is not exempt from the common calamities of life : but though he partakes of the trou- bles in which others are involved, he feels supports with which others are wholly unacquainted —
1. He views God as his God and Saviour —
[The Christian contemplates God as the Creator and Governor of the universe, but more especially as the Saviour of sinful man. He admires the stupendous method which God has devised for the salvation of sinners through the blood and righteousness of his only dear Son : but that which gives pecu- liar sweetness to his meditations is, that he is enabled to claim God as his Saviour, who has been already the " God of his salvation, and is daily his strength ; and will be an effectual Saviour, making his feet like hinds' feet, and causing him to walk upon his high places a" ]
2. He determines, in the want of all other things, to rejoice in him —
a ver. 19.