WAITING ON GOD> 381 God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." So the Psalmist speaks else- where : "Wait on God and be of good courage ;" shake off sloth, rouse up yourself from under despondencies, let not fears prevail. This is the only way for suc- cess, and it will assuredly be prevalent.' Oppose this resolution to every discouragement, and it will give new life to faith and hope : say, "My flesh faileth, and my heart faileth ; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever," as Psalm 73 : 26. Though thy perplexed thoughts have even wearied, and worn out the outward tuan, as in many they do, so that flesh faileth and though thou hast no refreshing evidence from with- in, from thyself or thy own experience, so that thy hca faileth ; yet resolve to look to God, there is strength is him, and satisfaction in him, for the whole man : he is a rock and a portion. This will strengthen things which otherwise will be ready to die. This will keep life in thy course, and stir thee up to plead with God in an ac- ceptable season, when he will be found. Job wrought up his condition to a supposition that God might slay him ; that is, add one stroke, one rebuke unto another, till he was consumed; and so take him out of the world in darkness and in sorrow. Yet he resolved to trust, to hope, to wait on him, as knowing that he should not utterly fail in so doing. This frame the church expresses so admirably, that nothing can be added thereto. " Thou hast removed my soul far off from peace. I forgat prosperity., And I said my strength and my hope is perished from the Lord ; remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul bath them still in re-
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