200 r1FTH SERMON shelter of the church against storm and tempest, against rain and heat, against all trouble and perse- cution, is from him alone. He is the only defence and covering that is over the assemblies and glory of Sion, Isa. iv. 5. The name of the Lord is a strong tower, unto which the righteous fly and are safe, Prov. xviii. 10. So the Lord promiseth when his people should be exiles from his temple, and scattered out of their own lánd, that he would himself be a little sanc- tuary unto them in the countries where they should come, Ezek. xi. 16. He is a dwelling-place unto his church in all conditions, Psa. xc.1. xci.1, 2. a strength to the needy, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, a hiding place from the wind, a covert from the tempest, a chamber wherein to retire when indigna- tion is kindled, Isa. xxv. 4. xxvi. 20. xxxii. 2. Every history of God's power, every promise of his love, every observation and experience of his providence, every comfort in his word, the knowledge which we have of his name by faith, and the knowledge which we have of it by experience, are so many arguments to trust in him, and so many hiding places to fly unto him, against any trouble. " What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee," Psa. lvii. 3. " Why art thou cast down, O my soul ? still trust in God," Psa. xlii. 5. 11. He hath delivered, he doth deliver, he will de- liver, 2 Cor. i. 10. Many times the children of God are reduced to such extremities, that they have nothing to encourage themselves withal but their interest in him ; nothing to fly unto for hope but his great name made known unto them by faith in his promises, and by experience of his goodness, power, and pro- vidence. This was David's case at Ziklag, 1 Sam. xxx. 6. and Israel's at the Red Sea, Exod. xiv. 10. 13. and Jonah's in the belly of the fish, Jonah ii. 4. 7. and
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