fruit of His victory; and when once given, it is lasting as the hills, yea, more durable than the mountains. For "the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee."* *Isaiah liv. 10. XII. NEHEMIAH II. 20. THEN ANSWERED I THEM, AND SAID UNTO THEM, THE GOD OF THAT is no small aggravation of our trials, which friends will sometimes occasion us, by their discouragements and evil forebodings: when our hearts are full of hope, and we are, by God's grace, building on His faithfulness, confident and calmly waiting the fulfilment of His promises, it is a sore trial to hear from their lips, words which tend to damp those hopes and renew our fears. Discouragements and disappointments we may expect from outward circumstances, over which we can have no control, but to find these increased by those who bear the hallowed name of friend, is indeed an addition of fuel to the flames; not however, on the other hand, that I would wish them to be too sanguine in their encouragements, nor cause in us an excitement disproportionate to our reasonable expectations; this were going to the other extreme: but surely there is a happy medium, a coinciding with our hopes, rather than a cruel attempt to blast them, a participation of our faith rather than the desire to dissipate at once, the trust which we have been enabled to place in the mercy, guidance, and superintending care of our Heavenly Father. : He The case of Nehemiah, whose words I have quoted above, is not perhaps strictly analogous to the views which I have here expressed; it is not, however, the less worthy of our notice, because his determined reply is decidedly analogous. Let us briefly consider the circumstance which gave rise to Nehemiah's expression of faith and confidence. had received a command from God; and as a means to execute it, he had obtained from King Artaxerxes, assistance to rebuild the temple and the wall of Jerusalem while he and his companions were thus busied, certain men laughed them to scorn, and despised their labours; Nehemiah, strengthened and animated, because of "the hand of his God which was good upon him," answered them and said, "The God of heaven, He will prosper us." Nor was this all; the former opposition still attended him while preparing for his work; he met with still further scoffing, whilst, in continued dependance on the Lord's aid, he maintained his faith, and prosecuted his labours the same enemies publicly mocked and poured contempt upon their work, saying, "What do these feeble Jews? Will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish : "so we which are burned!"* Feeble Jews' they would have been, had they regarded these tauntings, when they had the Lord, strong and mighty, with them! Oh! mark well the consequent proceedings of this man of God; he rendered not railing for railing; he prayed, but did not cease; he prayed and continued in the work; mark also well the consequences; built the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof; for the people had a mind to work." Increased opposition did he still encounter from his enemies, and discouragement also from his own party,§ but all were ineffectual to damp his courage or weaken his confidence; he made his prayer unto God, as a first step, before he used any means; and having prayed, he set and appointed a watch against his foes; || he encouraged and animated his companions, exhorting them not to be afraid, but to "remember the Lord, which is great and terrible;" his stay, his consolation was, "our God shall fight for us."** In convincing language his conduct, courage, and piety exclaim, 'Yet neither thus dishearten'd nor dismay'd, The time prepar'd I waited.'†† The case of the patient man of Uz is perhaps more nearly allied to our present subject. He had indeed reason to complain of his unmerciful friends: surely none of us can expect to hear from the lips of any, Nehemiah iv. 2. § Ibid. iv. 10. + Ibid. iv. 6. || Ibid. iv. 9. ** Ibid. iv. 20. Ibid. iv. 7, 8, 11. ++ Milton. save of our most bitter enemies, such language and such rebukes as fell from the lips of his unkind counsellors. Well might he exclaim to them, in the anguish of his soul, "Miserable comforters are ye all;"* and well might he charge them, saying, "Ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value ; oh! that ye would altogether hold your peace, and it should be your wisdom."+ Now mark well the consequent proceeding of this man of God; in the one case he asserts, "my witness is in Heaven, and my record is on high; my friends scorn me, but mine eye poureth out tears unto God:" in the other, how great is his confidence, when he exclaims concerning God, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: behold now, I have ordered my cause, I know that I shall be justified."§ Mark well also, in this case, the consequence! The God of Job finally made these his friends submit themselves unto him, and He reproved them for their "folly," while He blessed Job by restoring to him double his former wealth and prosperity.|| Now these things were written, and are recorded, for our example and encouragement: let me then briefly recommend to you the faith, confidence, and perseverance of these men of God: I pray you therefore, "in the name of our God set up your banners;"¶ hold fast your hope and your trust; display the *Job xvi. 2. Ibid. xvi. 19, 20. + Ibid xiii. 4, 5. See Ibid. xlii. 7-12: and compare verse 12 with chap. i. 3. Psalm xx. 5. H. |