ashamed at the impatience and unbelief which he had manifested. "So foolish was I, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee." Recovering from his temporary delusion, he more distinctly perceived the value of spiritual blessings, and reflected, with joy and gratitude, on his own privileges as a servant and child of God. He had been led to doubt the Lord's loving-kindness to him: but what were the animated strains in which he now vented the pious feelings of his soul! "Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou hast holden me by my right hand; Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory." These last are the words which I have chosen for the text; and I purpose to consider them as throwing light on three important particulars belonging to the people of God.

I. Their privileged Condition.
II. Their peculiar Character.
III. Their happy Experience.

And may the Spirit of God so assist and bless our meditations on this subject, that we may both distinctly see our own interest in these particulars, and may be stirred up to seek a more full participation of them!

Let me only premise, that by the people of God, I mean true Christians, the real followers and servants of Jesus Christ: those who, being justified by His Blood, and re

newed by His Spirit, are now living by faith in Him; those who, according to St. Paul's description, "worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." * Such are the persons of whom I design to speak; and in respect of whom let us consider the light which the text casts,

I. On their privileged Condition.

Their Condition is privileged, highly privileged in two respects; as to their present state, and as to their future prospects.

Their present state is a state of safety and security; for they are under the Lord's guidance. He "guides them by His Counsel." "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord;" and "He keepeth the feet of his saints.

In temporal and worldly things, he directs and prepares their way. Nothing befalls them, but by His permission: nothing comes to them, but by His appointment: while His watchful and over-ruling Providence causeth all things to work together for their good. Are they in affliction? He supports them under it. Are they in difficulty ? He carries them through it. Is there any station of life which is best suited to their comfort, happiness, or usefulness? He brings them into it. How eminently was this care and

* Philip, iii. 3.

watchfulness of God over His people illus trated in the lives of Abraham, and Jacob, and Joseph! How did he "lead them about, and instruct them, and keep them, as the apple of His eye!" "As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young ones, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings, so the Lord alone did lead them." And so He leadeth, not them only, but all His people. He directs all their paths, and is their Guide even unto death. And what a privilege, my Brethren, is this! How safe and secure are the people of God under the care and guidance of their heavenly Father! With what confidence and comfort may they commit their ways unto Him! And how certainly will it appear in the end, that the paths by which he has led them, have been the best and happiest for them!

But it is not merely in temporal things, that the Lord guides His people. He guides them also in spiritual things. He orders and appoints all things for their spiritual instruction, improvement, and growth. He brings them under the ministry of His word. He provides them with teachers suited to their need and capacity. He furnishes them with the means and ordinances of Grace. He that has mercy on them leads them, even by the springs of waters, He guides them. Their faith, their peace, their hope, are assailed by

many secret and open enemies. But the Lord delivers them from all; from the snare of the fowler, and from the roaring lion. Their path is often intricate: difficulties obstruct their road; they are at a loss in what direction to proceed. But at such times the Lord remembers his promise. They "hear a word behind them, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when they turn to the right hand, and when they turn to the left." Too often they wander out of the way, and are entangled in the wilderness, and know not how to return. But the Lord does not forsake them. "He restoreth their soul; He leadeth them again into the paths of righte ousness for his name's sake."

Such are the safety and security which the Lord's people enjoy both in their temporal and spiritual concerns. Such is their privileged Condition with respect to their present

state.

But what are their future prospects? It is a small thing with the Lord to guide his people through life; to conduct them in peace and safety through the storms and tempests of this lower world. He has a far higher, a far nobler object in view. He has a blessedness in store for them, infinitely surpassing all temporal comfort, all spiritual consolation on earth. He not only "guides them here

ceive them to glory." Yes, my Brethren, it is glory, which Christ has reserved and prepared for his people hereafter: glory eternal in the Heavens; glory, which our utmost imagination cannot now conceive, and which therefore no language can attempt to describe. It is called by the Apostle "an eternal weight of glory.' It is spoken of by the Prophet as something, "which ear hath not heard, nor eye seen, neither hath entered into the heart of man.' 99 But to this glory, great, eternal, unspeakable, incomprehensible, the Lord will bring His people. It is for this purpose that He now guides them and keeps them in this world, that they may be everlastingly blessed in the world to come. To put them into possession of this glorious inheritance was the travail of his soul on earth. It was the end for which he endured the cross, despising the shame: the end, for which He died and rose, and revived; for which He now intercedes in heaven, and administers the universal power committed to his hands. Nor will his soul be satisfied, nor his end ac-. complished, till He shall conduct all His people, triumphant over every enemy, to his own blissful presence in Heaven; and Himself" receive them to glory:" till having redeemed them from death and the grave, having conformed them to his own glorious likeness both in body and soul, He shall