determine but it is evident, that the deliverance vouchsafed to them had made a lively impression on the Psalmist's mind. The words of our text would furnish exceedingly profitable meditations, if we confined them to their primary import; since the preservation of our life and health, amidst the many seen and unseen dangers with which we are surrounded, demands our most grateful acknowledgments. But a subsequent part of the psalm shews clearly that the writer had respect also to spiritual blessings; and therefore we shall draw your attention more especially to them; and shew, I. What a mercy it is to be upheld in the ways of God- We feel somewhat of the obligation conferred upon us in our first awakening and conversion; but are by no means duly sensible how much we owe to our God for our daily preservation. But we shall learn better to appreciate this mercy if we consider, 1. To how many snares and dangers we are exposed! [We have frequent occasion to advert to the temptations with which we are encompassed in the world; and to notice the still greater dangers we experience from the corruptions of our own hearts; and the additional conflicts which we have to sustain with all the powers of darkness. We dwell not therefore so particularly on those things at this time: but rather mention the danger to which we are exposed, even from lawful things. It is not only allowable, but highly proper, to prosecute our worldly callings with diligence; and to cultivate the tenderest regard for our wife or children: yet both the one and the other may engross too much of our hearts, and become hindrances to us in our journey towards heaven. Our food, our sleep, our studies, our recreations, may become snares, if we be not continually on our guard. It is therefore an unspeakable mercy to be upheld in the midst of such manifold temptations.] 2. How many, in like circumstances with ourselves, have fallen [We are living in the full enjoyment of divine ordinances, and of whatever can conduce to the welfare of our souls. But are we therefore secure? Look back to the apostolic age: see a Compare ver. 1, 2. with ver. 10-12. b ver. 16. how many then were seduced by error - or disheartened by the fear of man"—or turned aside by the love of the worldor overthrown by unbridled passions. What reason then have we to adore the grace that has preserved us!] 3. What would be the probable consequence of our falling [Some who have fallen have been restored speedily; and some after a lapse of time: but thousands have fallen to rise no more. The progress of declension is for the most part rapid. The heart becomes averse to holy duties: from secret neglects proceeds a backwardness to social conference and public ordinances. The conscience is gradually weakened, till it ceases to perform its office, or speaks in so faint a voice, that it is scarcely heard. The besetting sin then gains an entire ascendant, and leads him captive; till at last, God, filled with indignation against the base apostate, "gives him up to a reprobate mind i," and either cuts him off by a sudden stroke, or leaves him to protract a miserable existence, merely that he may bear testimony against his own impieties, and proclaim to those around him the foretastes which he already feels of his eternal destiny'. Such examples we have seen: what a mercy it is that we ourselves, instead of being warned by others, are not made a warning to others!] 4. What occasion we have given to God to let us fall [Let us call to mind our own backslidings; our secret neglects; our tamperings with temptations; our indulgence of evil passions; our vain-confident presumption: is it not wonderful that God has not long since said respecting us, "Let him alone":" "My Spirit shall strive with him no longer":" "He likes not to retain God in his knowledge; so I will give him upp?"] If we be convinced of these things, let us proceed to consider, II. The duty of those who experience this mercy c Tit. i. 11. 2 Tim. ii. 18. d 2 Tim. i. 15. and iv. 16. Matt. xxvi. 73, 74. e Matt. xiii. 22. 2 Tim. iv. 10. g John xxi. 15-17. i Ps. lxxxi. 11, 12. 1 Eccl. v. 17. with Prov. xiv. 32. f 1 Tim. v. 11, 12. 2 Sam. x1. 4. h 2 Sam. xii. 13. k Prov. xxix. 1. Acts v. 5, 10. m This was preached on occasion of a person that had made a profession of religion, going back to drunkenness, and dying in a drunken fit. See other examples, 1 Cor. x. 6—11. n Hos. iv. 17. • Gen. vi. 3. P Rom. i. 28. There can be no doubt on this subject. If our souls have been upheld in life, we should, 1. Acknowledge God in our steadfastness ["Who is it that has made us to differ" from others?? Have we by nature any more strength than they? or have we of ourselves a more abundant measure of goodness? No: it is "by the grace of God we are what we are1:' we have been as much indebted to his protecting hand, as a new-born infant is to its mother's care. We should then acknowledge, that "of him our fruit is founds;" that "it is he who hath wrought us to the self-same thing;" and that to him belongs all the glory of our stability".] 2. Bless and adore him for his great goodness [It is not by cold acknowledgments merely that we are to requite the Lord, but by fervent and devout thanksgivings. It is not possible for language adequately to express the obligations we owe to him: and therefore we should call upon that is within us to bless his holy name." "all We Nor should we be content with doing this ourselves: we should invite the whole creation, as it were, to join us. should labour to stimulate all to love and serve him; and to make his name known to the very ends of the earth. It is in this way that we should endeavour at least, as much as in us lies, to "render unto the Lord according to the benefits" he has conferred upon us.] 3. Walk humbly and carefully before him— [We must not presume upon the kindness of our God, or imagine, that, because we have been upheld hitherto, we are in no danger of falling: if we had attained the stability of St. Paul himself, "we must keep our body under, and bring it into subjection, lest we become cast-aways ourselves." To neglect this, were to tempt God. God has warned us plainly, that " he will be with us no longer than we continue with him; but that if we forsake him, he will forsake us "." We therefore must not be high-minded, but fear; and take heed lest we fall"; and "watch and pray, that we enter not into temptation." If we would have our God to keep us, we must be careful to "keep ourselves." We must look at the fearful examples that are before q 1 Cor. iv. 7. r 1 Cor. xv. 10. s Hos. xiv. 8. Isai. xxvi. 12. t 2 Cor. v. 5. u Ps. lxii. 8. and xxvi. 12. x Isai. xii. 4-6. or xlii. 10-12. See also the text. y 1 Cor. ix. 27. b Rom. xi. 20. z 2 Chron. xv. 2. c Matt. xxvi. 41. d ver. 18. with Jude, ver. 20, 21. a 1 Cor. x. 12. our eyes, and tremble lest we ourselves become similar monuments of instability, and of God's deserved wrath.] 4. Commit ourselves continually to him [God has engaged to "keep the feet of his saints';" and directed us to commit ourselves to him for that purpose; and assured us, that, if we do so, "he will establish our goings." We should commend ourselves therefore to his gracious care and protection. We should say with David, "Hold thou up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip noti:" "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe k." To this we are encouraged by our past experience of his mercy: we may from the kindness already shewn us, safely infer the continuance of it to our souls'. If we can say, " He hath delivered," we may properly add, "In whom we trust that he will yet deliver us m."] But here arise two important QUESTIONS, which it is of the utmost importance to resolve 1. Are our souls really alive to God? [In vain shall we speak of having "our souls upheld in life," if they have never yet been quickened from the dead. Let us then seriously, and as in the presence of God, inquire, Whether we have been made partakers of a new and living principle, whereby we have been enabled to die unto sin, and to live unto God? Let us not mistake a mere approbation of religion for real regeneration : we must have become new creatures, having new views, new desires, new pursuits, and new prospects, if we have been truly born again" and if this change have not been wrought within us, we are yet in our natural and unconverted state; we may have " a name to live, but are really dead" before God: notwithstanding we may have been preserved from any flagrant violation of our duty, we are yet "dead in trespasses and sins."] 2. Supposing that we are on the whole alive to God, have "our feet really been kept from falling?" [We must ascertain this fact, before we can cordially thank God for it. And is it indeed true of all who profess religion amongst us, that they have been kept? Have none of us acted unworthy of our high calling? Has there been nothing in our tempers, nothing in our worldly transactions, inconsistent with our profession? Or, supposing our outward conduct to have been unimpeachable, have there been no secret sins, e Luke xvii. 32. g 1 Pet. iv. 19. k Ps. cxix. 117. n 2 Cor. v. 17. Heb. iv. 11. h2 Chron. xx. 20. f 1 Sam. ii. 9. i Ps. xvii. 5. m 2 Cor. i. 10. which we have reason to mourn over; nothing for which we ought to blush and be confounded before God? Perhaps, if we look inward, we shall find more occasion to bewail our falls, than to bless our God for having kept us from falling. But, if conscience testify that we have indeed walked uprightly before God, then let us imitate the example in the text, and not only bless and magnify him ourselves, but endeavour also to "make the voice of his praise to be heard" throughout the world.] DCVI. ANSWERS TO PRAYER ACKNOWLEDGED. Ps. lxvi. 16. Come and hear, all ye that fear God! and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. ANY person of benevolence who should have discovered an antidote, or remedy, to a very fatal disorder, would feel happy in communicating information respecting it, wherever such knowledge was required. If indeed great gain would accrue to him by concealment, we must concede to him the right of procuring to himself the advantages to which his superior knowledge has entitled him: but where the very act of communicating information will enrich, rather than impoverish, the instructor, and he himself will be made a gainer by imparting, he would be highly criminal if he withheld from the world the blessings he was enabled to confer. This is invariably the case in things pertaining to the soul: and hence we may expect to find all who have been taught of God, ready and willing to impart to others the benefits they have received. The early Apostles, Andrew and Philip, no sooner found the Messiah, than they sought to bring their brethren, Peter and Nathanael, to an acquaintance with him. And the Samaritan woman was no sooner convinced herself of the Messiahship of Jesus, than she went to invite all the men of her city to come and see the person, whom she believed to be the Christ. Thus it was a This has been done in reference to vaccination by the benevolent Dr. Jenner. c John iv. 28, 29. b John i. 40, 45. |