excellently well set forth the universal use that faith is of to the
Christian. It defends the whole man: every part of the Christian by
it is preserved. . . . . The shield doth not only defend the whole
body, but it is a defence to the soldier's armour also; it keeps the
arrow from the helmet as well as head, from the breast and
breastplate also. Thus faith, it is armour upon armour, a grace that
preserves all the other graces. William Gurnall.
HINTS TO THE VILLAGE PREACHER
Verses 1, 2. Prayer in its threefold form. "Words,
meditation, cry." Showing how utterance is of no avail without
heart, but that fervent longings and silent desires are accepted,
even when unexpressed.
Verse 3. The excellence of morning devotion.
Verse 3. ( last two clauses )
1. Prayer directed.
2. Answers expected.
Verse 4. God's hatred of sin an example to his people.
Verse 5. "The foolish." Show why sinners are justly
called fools.
Verse 7. "Multitude of thy nercy." Dwell upon the
varied grace and goodness of God.
Verse 7. The devout resolution
Verse 7.
I. Observe the singularity of the
resolution.
II. Mark the object of the
resolution. It regards the service of God in the sanctuary. "I will
come into thine house . . . in thy fear will I worship
towards thy holy temple ."
III. The manner in which he would
accomplish the resolution.
(1) Impressed with a sense of the divine
goodness: "I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy
mercy."
(2) Filled with holy veneration: "And
in thy fear will I worship." William Jay, 1842.
Verse 8. God's guidance needed always and especially when
enemies are watching us.
Verse 10. Viewed as a threatening. The sentence, "Cast them
out in the multitude of their transgressions," is specially fitted to
be the groundwork of a very solemn discourse.
Verse 11.
I. The character of the righteous:
faith and love.
II. The privileges of the righteous.
(1) Joy —great, pure, satisfying,
triumphant, ( shout ) constant ( ever ).
(2) Defence —by power,
providence, angels, grace, etc.
Verse 11. Joy in the Lord both a duty and a privilege.
Verse 12. ( first clause ). The divine blessing upon
the righteous. It is ancient, effectual, constant, extensive,
irreversible, surpassing, eternal, infinite.
Verse 12. ( second clause ). A sense of divine favour a
defence to the soul.