SERMONS. 429 



tern : what is this but in effect to turn our backs 

 upon God, and to set up for ourselves upon our 

 own wretched stock, and implicitly at least to re- 

 nounce the shadow of his wings, and all the privi- 

 leges of it? PuUi 71011 prospiciimt, saith one: young 

 birds have no designs or forecasts of their own, 

 but are wholly under the dam's conduct. And if 

 we are allowed to have any ourselves, be they 

 never so deeply laid, or so wisely contrived ; so 

 skilfully managed, or so vigorously pursued ; we 

 must at last entirely submit, and sacrifice them 

 all to that sovereign wisdom and power, which 

 ruleth in the kingdoms of men, and orders them 

 in all things according to the good pleasure of his 

 will. 



To sum up, then, this whole great duty of affi- 

 ance in God, with all the parts and branches of 

 it; he trusts regularly in God, that trusts in no- 

 thing else, first : and yet, secondly, doth every 

 thing he can, or is obliged to do by his duty : and 

 thirdly, when he hath done all, sits down at last 

 under the shadow of God's wdngs, and waits the 

 success in faith and hope, with perfect resignation 

 to God's wise and just appointment in all things! 

 that is the first duty implied in the expression, a 

 pious trust, and confidence in God. The second 

 is an ardent and flaming devotion towards God, 

 and his holy worship and service in his temple : 

 Under the shadow of thy Wings will I make my re- 

 fuge; it is certainly an allusion to the Holy of 

 Holies, where was the Ark of the Covenant, the 



