Moses and Aaron to go before them, and to encourage them in the devious paths through which they were called to pass, but he also provided a column of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night, to conduct them in safety in their hazardous journey to the promised Canaan. Nor is he less solicitous to provide for the Christian's journey to the heavenly Canaan. The blessed Jesus has uudertaken to guide the poor pilgrim through the valley of miseries; and for that purpose, he has already travelled the road, and made himself acquainted with all its difficulties, and windings, its sorrows and tribulations, that he may be the better able to minister to the necessities of his suffering people, and conduct them in safety to the port of endless bliss. The Holy Spirit's influence, the light of the sacred word, and the presence of the angel of the covenant, conspire to render the Christian's path plain, to secure his feet from stumbling, and to keep his face turned towards Mount Zion, the city of the living God. Thus guided, he marches forward without fear, knowing that all his ways are ordered for the bestbelieving in hope against hope, and resolved, through difficulty and danger, darkness, bereavement, and death, to persevere to the end; knowing that those only who endure to the end, shall be saved. He has a strong guard.—In a dangerous road, a guide is necessary; but is not always sufficient. But the Christian has both a guide and a protector. The Lord God,' says the Psalmist, 'is a sun and shield.' 'He is both a guard and a light. The Lord fought all Israel's battles. The Lord is a man of war: The Lord is his name. Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea. Thy right hand, oh Lord, is become glorious in power: Thy right hand, oh Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy! Thou, in thy mercy, hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: Thou hast guided them in thy strength to thy holy habitation. He was their Captain-and vain is the arm of might, the councils of the wise, or the rush of armed legions, without his assistance and support. The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. It is the Lord who giveth the victory. He alone can subdue our foes, and overcome the obstacles in the Christian's course. When he withholds his aid, and leaves us to ourselves, the feeblest worm is capable of destroying us, the most insignificant circumstance may work our ruin. But they who put their trust in the Lord, shall never be confounded. They shall be like Mount Zion, that cannot be moved. When the king of Assyria encompassed the Lord's prophet in Dathan, with horses and chariots, and a great host, his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, fear nothing; for they that be with us, are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man and he saw, and behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire, round about Elisha. The Christian's guard are numerous and mighty. They encamp around the faithful like a wall of fire. The forms of the heavenly ones, unseen indeed by mortal eyes, crowd the region of atmosphere where we dwell. Their presence is a safe protection from dangers seen and unseen. They watch their charge continually, and never slumber nor sleep. No change of circumstances, poverty, or pain, weal, or wo, makes any change in their regards, nor lessens the deep interest and anxious solicitude they always manifest for the heirs of glory, in screening them from harm, covering their heads in every severe conflict with their spiritual foes, and preserving them alive when death and hell stalk abroad, trampling upon the haughty ones of the earth. The chivalry of heaven is the Christian's guard! He is supported by the arm of Jehovah. Though all the powers of darkness should be leagued against him, he need fear no ill-for greater is he that is for us, than all that is against us. What enemy can compete with the Almighty? or measure strength with the arm that supports a universe of worlds? What resistless tide, but he can, in a moment, roll back! What mountain billows, but he can stay! Can he not hush the wild uproar of contending elements, smooth the ruffled brow of the blackening heavens; arrest the forked lightnings in their destructive course, and change blustering winds into Zephyrs, soft as the balmy airs of Eden! All things are subservient to his will, and minister to his pleasure. And can he not engage them all in the Christian's service, to ensure his happiness and safety, and to conduce to his present and everlasting good! 'What though a thousand hosts engage, There is He has rich and abundant supplies.-Israel had nigh fainted in the wilderness for lack of bread; his soul was thirsty; but he cried unto the Lord in his trouble, and he delivered him out of his distresses, and he heard his voice. Sweet water streamed from the smitten rock, and manna dropped down fresh from the propitious skies. That rock prefigured Christ. His body was stricken, his bosom cleft, and from thence flowed the living waters that make glad the city of our God. His body is bread indeed, and his blood is drink indeed. The Lord has provided a rich and generous feast for his children. The table is large, and extends all over the earth. no spot on the footstool, it matters not how barren, or dreary, rocky, or uncultivated, but what is visited by the rich dews of heavenly grace, or from whose soil, does not spring up celestial fruit, pleasant to the taste, and refreshing to the soul. For the Christian's accommodation, the Lord has opened up springs in the desert, and crowned the unfruitful places of the earth with the flowers of paradise, and sweetened the very air we breath with the spicy gales of Calvary. All along the King's highway, cast up for the ransomed of the Lord, are the arbors and shady and beautiful groves, his hands have planted and adorned, to comfort and refresh the weary pilgrim in his toilsome journey to the desired haven. He is constantly supplied with every thing necessary and useful to satisfy his wants. Shining ones attend his footsteps-extensive prospects, ever-varying, reaching far up above the realm of clouds, glowing with the touches of a divine pencil-ravishing sounds of melody and song, with hopes immortal, that know no bound— and the recompense of reward, that no eye hath seen, nor ear hath heard, and which hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive, all these, with more than tongue can utter, or language describe, are intended for his benefit and use, to animate, encourage, and strengthen him, till he hears the trumpet of victory, exchanges the mortal coil for the wardrobe of the skies, and mingles with the church triumphant on the banks of deliverance. He is not travelling an unknown road.—When the Israelites fled from the face of Pharaoh and his armed host, they were treading an unknown path. No monuments arose to their view-no voices came upon the winds to tell them that others had trodden the same way encountered the same difficulties, triumphed over similar obstacles, and that they might push on without faltering, having the noblest examples to stimulate them to deeds of glory and suffering. No encouragements like these, were adduced to sustain the minds of the affrighted multitude, who stood trembling between the sea of difficulty and the pursuing army. But the Christian sets his foot upon the proud wave, feeling assured that myriads have passed over in safety. He enters the wilderness unmoved; confident, that he who conducted all that had gone before, securely and triumphantly, unmaimed and untouched to the purchased possession, is able to save to the uttermost all them who humbly rely upon his promises, and commit their souls to his faithful keeping. Thanks be to God! the Christian is not like one who beats the air. He is not trying an experiment. . |