COMFORT. I. THE REFUGE FROM THE STORM. EN, in great straits, when they are not able to MEN make defence against pursuing enemies, run to their hiding place, as the Israelites did from the Philistines. "When the men of Israel saw that they were distressed, they hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in high places, and in pits," 1 Sam. xiii. 6; and so God's children, when they are too weak for their enemies, seek a safe and sure hiding place: "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself," Prov. xxii. 3; certainly there is a hiding place for God's children, if we had but the wisdom to find it out-and where is it but in God? "Lord, thou art my hiding place, thou shalt preserve me from trouble." So again-"In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion; in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me: he shall set me upon a rock," Psalm xxvii. 5. God's protection of his people is a secret, hidden mystery, as everything that pertains unto God is to the carnal man. The person hidden is seen abroad every day following his business-serving his generation—doing that work which God hath given him to do, yet is he hidden, while he is seen, by the secret power and love of God dispensing all things for his protection, the man is kept safe by ways which the world knows not of. Thou shalt hide him in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man," Psalm xxxi. 20. There is a secret power of God by which his people are upheld and maintained by one means or another, which they see not, and cannot find out. So there is that in God, that we may trust him with our souls, with our bodies, with our peace, with our goods, with our good name, with our all; all that concerns us between this and the day of judgment, as St. Paul did I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." His soul and all the concerns of it he durst trust in the hands of God. Our soul is much sought after; Satan, that hath lost the favour of God himself, envies that others should enjoy it, therefore he pursues God's people with great malice and power; but let them put it into the hands of God, he is able to keep it. And so for outward things this hiding place is large enough for all we have. "Thou shalt keep them secretly as in a pavilion, from the strife of tongues." As the hearts of men are in the hands of God, so are their tongues, Exod. xi. 7. There is the same reason why we should trust God in all things, as when we trust him for one thing. And indeed, did we truly, and on scripture grounds, trust him for one thing, we should trust him for all. If we did trust him with our souls, we should without anxious care trust him with our bodies, our secular interests and concerns also. There is safety till the trouble is over, and we may be kept as quiet in God, as if there was no danger. "Under the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge until these calamities are overpast," Psalm lvii. 1. There is an allusion to the chicken under the hen's wing: -when hawks or birds of prey are abroad, that are ready to seize upon them with their talons, they run to the hen's wings, and there they are safe. "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut the doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast," Isaiah xxvi. 20. Here we have an allusion to a storm which is soon over; it is as a little cloud, that will easily be blown over; but in the mean time here is a covert and defence. The use of God's protection and love is best known in a time of straits and difficulties. There is not only safety, but comfort also. Christians, it is not a dead refuge or hiding place, but, as the Psalmist says, "None of them who trust in God shall be desolate," Psalm xxxiv. 22. There are sweet support, spiritual experience, and inward comforts; so that a believer, that is hidden in the secret of God's presence, fares better than all those who have the world at their command, and go on in ease and plenty, if we judge of his condition by |