RELIEF IN GOD ALONE. 43 before thee, incline thine ear unto my cry," ver. 1, 2. Day and night he cries to the God of his salvation, and that with earnestness and importunity. The greatest of men's interests may well occasion this earnestness. Suppose a man of the world should have his house, wherein all his stock and riches are laid up, set on fire, would he be calm and quiet in the considera- tion of it 1 Would he not bestir himself with all his might, and call in all the help he could obtain ; and that because his portion, his all, his great interest is at stake 1 And shall the soul be slothful, careless and secure, when the light of God's countenance, which is more to him than the greatest increase of corn and wine can be to the men of the world, is removed from him 1 What a fatal sense of security did it argue in Jonah, that he was fast asleep when the ship was ready to be cast away for his sake. And will it be thought less in any soul, who being in a storm of wrath and displeasure from God sent out into the deep after him, shall neglect it, and sleep, as Solomon says, on the top of a mast in the midst of the seal How did that poor creature, whose heart was mad on his idols, (Judges, 18 : 24,) cry out, when he was deprived of them ! " You have taken away my gods, and what have I more 1" And shall a gracious soul, through his own folly, lose his God, the sense of his love, the consolation of his presence, and not with all his might follow hard after him 1 Can they forbear crying out with Job, " O that it were with us as in former days, when the candle of the Lord was up- on our tabernacle 1" chap, 29 : 2-4; and with David, " O Lord, restore unto me the joy of thy salvation1" Psalm 51 : 12. But suppose they might pass on in their pilgrimage whilst all is prosperous about them ; what will they do in the time of outward trials and distresses, when deep calleth unto deep, and one trou- ble excites and sharpens another 1 Nothing then will
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