SERMON II.

PIETY IN THE MORNING.

PSALM iii. 5.

"I laid me down and slept; I awaked: for the Lord sustained me."

HEAR the pious words of David, when he rose up in the morning, after the kind keeping of the night. With such words, rise every morning from your beds; thanking God that He kept you when you were lying, asleep, alone, and helpless in the night.

King David, though a king, and a very great king, was not able to keep himself safely for one single night. God made him see and feel that he could not on that night, from the sleep of which he arose singing this third psalm. He did not lodge that night on a

costly bed and in his own bed chamber in the king's palace, but in a tent, or under the open sky, surrounded by his few friends and his army who went not after his son Absalom in that general rebellion. And at no great disance was that terrible array of the "ten thousands of people, that had set themselves against him round about," who were saying of his soul, "there is no help for him in God."

As that morning light grew brighter and brighter, he saw more and more plainly, upon the near and distant hills, the thick armies of Absalom; and as that morning's sun arose, its light glared back on David's eye from ten thousand glittering spears.-

Then as as he rose, a deserted king; robbed of the hearts of all Israel, driven away from the city of David; then with serenity and thankfulness he said, "I laid me down and slept, I awaked, for the Lord sustained me." Then too he said in sight of hostile armies, on the morn of battle, "I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord--thy blessing is upon thy people."

I laid me down and slept. extremity, David could lie

Even in his last down and sleep,

confusion when he How could David

because he trusted in God. How calm and serene amidst surrounding danger!-how free from care and trouble in expectation of tomorrow's battle! How could David sleep after that day's terror and fled from Absalom his son? sleep when tortured with present calamity, and with the prospect of to-morrow's ruin? Oh, he had rolled his care and burden on the Lord, and with his heart at ease, he could lay him down and sleep, on the eve of battle, on the verge of ruin.

I awaked, for the Lord sustained me.

How helpless had he been in those hours of sleep. One man from the armies of Absalom, or one deceiver among his own followers, might have stood over his sleeping body, and with one blow have slain the Lord's anointed. It needed not that day's coming battle, to take away his kingdom or his life. In the stillness of that night, in the helplessness of his quiet slumbers, David's life and kingdom might have fallen by the hand of even feeble woman VOL. II.

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or a child. Or the chills and damps of that night might have brought upon his body an incurable disease. Or that blood which flowed and that heart which beat at God's command might have been told to rest. And that bright and balmy morn, which called forth David's song of praise, should have opened a day of triumph for rebellious Absalom and his rebellious army, as it should have been told that the Lord's anointed was dead. Yes -and before that day was over, it might have been sounded through the ranks of Absalom's army, and even from village to village, and from city to city, Absalom is king-Absalom is king- God save king Absalom !——

But he awoke. He lived through the sleep of that night of horror, and his wearied body found refreshment. When he opened his eyes upon the light, he felt strong and active, for the toils and dangers of that dreadful day, He awoke and "found himself still with God.” He awoke, for the Lord sustained him.

Yes the LORD sustained Him.-The array of these hostile armies, hastening to spill his blood-this fierce and foul attack from his

own beloved son-remind him of his helplessness he feels, more than when he rose in the palace and the delight of his kingdom, that his breath, and strength, and life are the gift of God." I awaked, for the LORD sustained me."

Because the Lord sustained him, therefore he said, v. 4-"I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about.”

By the mercy of that one night, David felt assured of the continued kindness of God.

He could not doubt his power. One night's protection from surrounding danger, assured him that his great protector was able to preserve him in the thickest dangers. He who ruled the darkness and the terrors of that one night, could rule the terrors of that awful day.

He could not doubt kis mercy. He trusted in God's mercy for the night, and he did not trust in vain; and now he trusted for the day in the same unbounded mercy. God watched his helpless body and held fast-bound the tens of thousands armed to destroy him.-The same kindness would not fail him in the coming dangers of the day of battle.