Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-03-27

1ne loioWlnB ID al tAtToct VI SCI
I mon preached at Bloomington on the At
of JAM, 1868, by Rev. S. r. HALL,
copy of which was requested for publica
ton by his congregation.
TExT.-Hope thou in God.-Psalm AZ: IL.
, God, in his divine economy, often see
fit to bring those whom he m cans t
teach their dependence, into straits wher
they must "walk by faith and not b,
sight" He constrains them TO look ava,
from mere means to him, whose powe
alone can render them aid. Such wa
the situation of the Psalmist when led t.
exclaim-"Why art thou cast down, o
my soul, and why art thou disquietet
within me Hope thou in God, for
shall yet praise him for the help of hi;
countenance )" q. e., for his smile and
approbation.) 30, my God, my soul is
cast down within me therefore will
remember thee from the land of Jordan
and of the Hermonites, from the Hill
Mizar." The meaning of the latter
phrase doubtless is, that when every
thing around him was dark, he had still
one unfailing resource. He bad often
remembered God in former trials, and
was comforted. He had recourse to the
same now. Though be had been driven
to the utmost borders of Canaan by the
prosecutions of Saul or Absolom's rebel
lion--sometimes to Jordan, and then to
the land of the Hermonites, or to the lit
tie hill Mizar,-yet in no place was he
shut out from communion with Cod
Wherever he was he still loved the
house, word and ordinances Of God
He believed that whatever his present
trouble, it would not last always but
that he should yet bask in the sunshine
of Gods favor, and praise him for the
health and light of his countenance.-
Then he would not be cast down-why
should he be now? for be had the
same unfailing ground of trust.
The doctrine derived from the text is,
Hope in God is the unfailing resource of
consolation to those who are his people /;
j. e., to those who truly thirst for him,
trust in, love and obey him.
To the proof of this doctrine, and its
calculation, l ask your attention. Gods
people are always bound to hope in him
LIST, Because he is abundantly able to
provide for all their necessities. The
people of God can never need what he
cannot bestow. His power lie unlimited,
his wisdom is infinite, He can, there
fore shield from all dangers, and supply
all their wants. Such was the expert
ence of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David,
Joshua, Daniel, Shadrach and his com
panions, and others in every past age.
I'd, God is not only able but willing to
be wall of defence around, and a glory
in the midst of his people. This is veri-
fed abundantly both by what he has
done, and what he has promised them
Hence,
3D., The doctrine is proved conclusive
ly by his positive promises to those that
obey him, honor him and keep his com
mands. The promises made to his peo-
pie, Deut. 20: la, are positive.
How striking is the language, "And it
shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken
unto the voice of the Lord thy
God, to observe and to do all his COM
which / command thee this
day, that the Lord thy God will set thee
On high above all the nations of the
earth ; and all these blessings shall come
On thee and overtake thee, if thou shalt
learken unto the voice of the Lord thy
God. Blessed shalt thou be in the CITY,
md blessed shalt thou be in the field
Blessed shall be the fruit Of thy body
ind the fruit ofthy ground, and the fruit {
VI thy cattle, the increase of thy kline, 9
md the floCks of thy sheep. Blessed c
ball be thy basket and thy store. Bles- T
ed shalt thou be when thou CONTEST in. q
nd blessed shalt thou be when thou 90
st out. The LORD shall cause thine en- 4
mics that rise up against thee TO be s.
mitten before thy face. They shall 6
ONE out against thee one way, and shall t.
ee before thee seven ways. The Lord
nall command the blessing upon thee in h
~ store houses and in all that thou set fc
st thy hand unto and he shall bless Of
lee in the land which the Lord thy h
iod giveth thee. The Lord shall es- W
Iblish thee a holy people unto himself, I
be hath sworn unto thee, i thou shalt al
eep the commandments of the Lord tby D
od and walk in his ways. And all peo- D,
q OF the earth shall see that thou art
lied by the name Of the Lord, and they
all be afraid of thee. And the Lord
all make thee plenteous in goods, in