1. The sovereignty and absolute dominion of God over all creatures is a singular encouragement to commit ourselves into his hands, and trust him above all, Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence,” Psal. lix. 9. If a man were in danger amidst a great army of rude and insolent soldiers, and were to put himself under the protection of any one, it would be his wisdom to choose to do it under the general, who had all the soldiers of his army at his beck. Christian, thy God, into whose hands thou committest thyself, is Lord-General of all the hosts and armies in heaven and earth; how safe art thou then in his hands!
2. The unsearchable and perfect wisdom of God is a mighty encouragement to commit ourselves into his hands; With him is plenteous redemption,” Psal. exxx. 7, 8, that is, Choice and variety of ways and methods to save his people. We are, but God never is, at a loss to find a door for our escape, The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation,’” 2 Pet. ii. 9.
3. The infinite tenderness and compassion of our God, is a sweet encouragement to resign and commit ourselves and all we have into his hands; his mercy is incomparably tender towards his people, infinitely beyond whatever any creature felt stirring within towards his own most beloved child, Isa. xlix. 15. This compassion of God engageth the two fore-mentioned attributes, namely, his power and wisdom for the preservation and relief of his people, as often as distresses befall them. Yea,
4. The very distresses his people are in do, as it were, awake the Almighty power of God for their defence and rescue; our distresses are not only proper seasons, but powerful motives to his saving power, For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up or left,” Deut. xxxii. 36. God makes it an argument to himself, and his people plead it as an argument with him, Be not far from me, for trouble is near, for there is none to help.”
5. We have already committed greater and weightier concernments into his hand than the dearest interest we have in this world; we have entrusted our souls with him, 1 Pet, iv. 19; 2 Tim. 1. 12. Well, therefore, may we commit the lesser, who have entrusted the greater with him. What are our lives, liberties, estates, and relations, com- RIGHTEOUS MAN’S REFUGE. AS pared with our souls, and the eternal safety and happiness of them!
6. The committing act of faith is the great and only expedient to procure and secure the peace and tranquillity of our minds, amidst all the distractions and troubles of the present world; the greatest part of our affliction and trouble in such days is from the working of our own thoughts; these torments from within are worse than any from without; and the resignation of all to God by faith is their best and only cure, Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established,” Prov. xvi. 3. A blessed calmness of mind, a sweet tranquillity and settlement of thoughts follow immediately hereupon, Psal. cxiv. 19. O then leave all with God, and quietly expect a comfortable issue: and for the better settlement and security of thy peace in times of distraction and trouble, I beseech thee, reader, carefully to watch and guard against these two evils:
Caution 1. Beware of infidelity or distrustfulness of God and his promises, which secretly lurks in thy heart, and is very apt to betray itself when great distresses and troubles befall thee. Thou wilt know it by such symptoms as these: 1. In an over-hasty and eager desire after present deliverance; The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail,” Isa, li. 14. The less faith, always the more impatience; and the more ability to believe, the more patience to wait. 2. It will discover itself in our readiness to close with, and catch at sinful mediums and methods of deliverance, Isa. xxx. 15, 16. And this is the handle of temptation, and occasion of apostasy. But he that believeth will not make haste,”
Isa. xxviii. 16. No more haste than good speed. 3. It will show itself in distracting cares and fears about events which will rack the mind with various and endless tortures.
Caution 2. Peware of dejection and despondency of mind in evil times; take heed of a poor low spirit that will presently sink and give up its hope upon every appearance and face of trouble; it is a promise made unto the righteous, He shall not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord,” Psal. exii. 7. The trusting of God fixes the heart, and the fixing of the heart fortifies it against fear.