end him, Hosea xiv. last verse. Yet for as equal and
straight as it is, many other transgressors shall fall therein; they
stumble even in the noon-day and highway, where no offence is. It is true,
often his own people stumble in it, as David, Psal. lxxiii, and xciv.
David's foot was slipping, yet a secret hold was by mercy. It often
requires a wise and prudent man to understand it, because his footsteps
are in the deep waters; Psal. lxxxvii. 19. His way is in the depths of the
sea, his paths in great waters, so that men must wait till the Lord
expound his own ways, till he come out of the waters, and make them a dry
plain. And this is our advantage; the word says, "He is near thee, in thy
mouth, and neither above, nor beneath in the depths, that thou needest
neither descend nor ascend to know it," Deut. xxx. 11-14. But his way is
in the depths, and his footsteps are not known, so that we ought to hold
us by the word till he expound his work. His word will teach us our duty,
and we may commit unto him his own way; the word is a commentary to
expound his ways. David lost the sight of God's footsteps and was like to
wander, till he came to the sanctuary, and this shined as a candle in a
dark place; he learned there to know the unknown footsteps and to follow
them. By all means embrace the word, and be satisfied with it, when ye do
not comprehend his work; it teaches as much in general, as may put us to
quietness; all his ways are judgment, just and true in all his ways is the
King of saints. If I do not comprehend how it is,--no wonder, for he makes
darkness his covering, he spreads over his most curious engines and pieces
of workmanship a vail of darkness for a season; and "who can behold him
when he hides himself?" says Job; and though he withdraw the covering, yet
what am I? "Who can by searching find out God?" If I shall examine his
way, what rule shall I take to try it by? If I measure by my shallow
capacity, or by my crooked way, shall I have any just account of it? Will
my arm measure the heavens as his doth? If I examine it, or try it by
himself, he is high as heaven and unsearchable. Therefore it becomes us to
hearken to his word, and believe its sentence of his work, when reason
cannot comprehend it.

One thing, if it were deeply engraven on our hearts, would be a principle,
of settling our spirits, in all the mysteries and riddles of
providence,--the knowledge and faith of his sovereignty, of his highness,
and of