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a ship; the world is a sea; temptations, persecutions, and afflictions, are the waves of it; the prince of the power of the air is the stormy wind which raises them; and heaven is the only port of rest and security. Often during the voyage, for our punishment, or our trial, God permitteth us to be thus assaulted. The succession and the violence of our trouble, the elevations and depressions of mind and fortune, the uncertainty of our counsels, and our utter inability to help ourselves, are finely represented by the multitude and impetuosity of the waves, the tossings and agitations of the vessel, the confusion, terror, and distress among the sailors. In both cases, prayer is the proper effect, and the only remedy left. With the earnestness of affrighted mariners, who will then be devout, though they never were so before, we should "cry unto the Lord Jesus in our trouble ;" we should, as it were, "awake" him, like the disciples, with repetitions of Lord, save us, we perish!" Then will he arise, and rebuke the authors of our tribulation, saying unto them, "Peace, be still;" and they shall hear and obey his voice. "He will "make the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof "shall be still ;" and at length he will bring us" in peace, joy, and gladness, to "our desired haven," there to "exalt him in the congregation" of his chosen, and "praise him in the" great" assembly” of saints and angels. This is the consummation so devoutly wished and requested by the church for all her children, at the time of their baptism, that they,

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being delivered from God's wrath, may be received "into the ark of Christ's church; and, being stead

"fast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in

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charity, may so pass the waves of this trouble"some world, that finally they may come to the "land of everlasting life." Thus we see there is no spiritual evil, out of which God is not both able and willing to deliver us, when we call upon him. Are we ignorant of the way to the heavenly city? He will guide and conduct us thither. Are we bound with the chains of sin and death? He will loose and deliver us. Are our minds diseased and languid? He will heal and invigorate them. Are we in danger of being overwhelmed by the troubles of the world? He will preserve us in the midst of them, until he bid them cease. Of his power and inclination to do these things for our souls, he hath given assurance to all men, by those pledges of his love, the benefits and blessings conferred on the bodies of his people, in leading them through the wilderness to Canaan; in rescuing them so often from the miseries of captivity; in healing their diseases; and in saving those of them who "did business in great "waters," from the perils of the sea. Certainly the mind of man cannot have a nobler subject for meditation in this world, than the wonders of providence, considered as representing the mercies of redemption.

33. He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the water springs into dry ground. 34. A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. 35. He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into water springs; 36. And there he maketh the hungry to

dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; 37. And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. 38. He blessed them also, so that they are multiplied greatly, and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

In this latter part of the Psalm, the Prophet farther exemplifieth the power, the justice, and the goodness of God: his power, in being able to change the very nature of things; his justice and his goodness, in so doing, either to punish the rebellious, or to reward the obedient. A well watered and fertile country shall, for the sins of its inhabitants, be converted into a dry and a barren one. The plain of Jordan, which, before the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, was well watered every where, "like the garden of Jehovah," Gen. xiii. 10. hath, since that overthrow, been a land of salt and sulphur, and perpetual sterility. Nay, even the once fruitful Palestine itself, that flowed with milk and honey, is at this day a region of such utter desolation, that the very possibility of its ever having sufficed to maintain the people who formerly possessed it, is now called in question. And, indeed, while the rain of heaven shall continue to be in the hand of God, how easy it is for him, by withholding it during a few months, to blast all the most promising hopes of man; and, instead of plenty, joy, and health, to visit him with famine, pestilence, and death! On the other hand, when the ways of a people please him, he can rid them of these dreadful guests; the rain shall descend from above, the springs shall rise from beneath, the earth shall yield her in

crease, the cattle shall feed in large pastures, the sea. sons shall be kindly, the air salutary, and the smiling face of nature shall attest the loving kindness of the Lord. Thus, in the dispensations of grace, hath he dealt with Jews and Gentiles. The synagogue of the former, once rich in faith, watered with the benedictions of heaven, fruitful in prophets and saints, adorned with the services of religion, and the presence of Jehovah, hath been, since the murder of the Son of God, cursed with infidelity, parched like the withered tops of the mountains of Gilboah, barren and desolate as the land of their ancient residence, whose naked rocks seem to declare to all the world the hard-heartedness and unprofitableness of its old , possessors. When the " fruitful field" thus became a "forest," the "wilderness," at the same time, became a "fruitful field." A church was planted in the Gentile world, and the " Spirit was poured out "upon it from on high." In that "wilderness did "waters break out, and streams in that desert." There was faith sown, and holiness was the universal product. "The wilderness and the solitary place was glad, and the desert rejoiced, and blossomed "as the rose. It blossomed abundantly, and rejoiced "even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon

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was given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and "Sharon;" the privileges and honours of the synagogue were conferred upon the church; and the nations now" saw the glory of Jehovah, and the

excellency of God:" Isa. xxxii. 15. xxxv. 1, 2. Spiritual increase, health, and plenty, spiritual peace, joy, and happiness, appeared in beauteous and lovely

procession, and the blessing of Jesus was upon this his new inheritance in every way.

39. Again they are minished and brought low, through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. 40. He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way. 41. Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.

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But let not those who have received the largest share of Heaven's favours therefore boast and preThe continuance of those favours dependeth upon the continuance of their fidelity and obedience. Mighty empires, with their "princes," have, for their wickedness, been" brought low" by the arm of Jehovah, and laid in the dust, while nations poor" and feeble, and never thought of, have "been taken from thence, and exalted over them." What revolutions have, in like manner, happened, and probably are still to happen, in the church! Jerusalem is fallen, through unbelief; and the Gentile church standeth only by faith, from which, if she depart, vengeance will be executed on her likewise. Yet, even in the worst of times, there is a promise, that "the poor" in spirit, the faithful and humble disciples of the holy Jesus, shall be preserved from the evil, and "set on high from affliction ;" yea, that they shall be multiplied "like a flock," under the care of the good Shepherd, to preserve his name, and to continue a church upon the earth, until he shall return again.

42. The righteous shall see it, and rejoice; and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

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