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from the body of the Psalm and the words following the text: "For the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty." Those that live in the darkness, of ignorance and error and in the works of darkness, are full of cruelty against the Church and people of God: and they are surrounded with them insomuch that the church is like a lily among thorns, or a sheep among wolves: What shall become of it? Why, here is a Covenant of defence, and of defending and protecting grace. saying, "Upon all the glory there shall be a defence," Therefore when enemies break down the carved wood with axes and hammers, ver. 7. when they are saying, "Let us destroy them together", ver. 8. yea, when it shall come to this, that a bloody sword that is raging abroad, shall come over to us, and foreign and domestic enemies, or both, shall devour and destroy, and, may be, "burn up all the Synagogues of God in the land," as it is ver. 8. and when we shall "not see our Signs, and there is no more any prophet, nor any among us that know the time how long," ver. 9. in all such cases, what course shall we take, but that of the Psalmist here? Lord, Have respect to the Covenant.
Are you concerned about inward enemies, spiritual enemies, and molested with the powers of darkness? Is your heart full of the habitation of cruelty, and fearfully inhabitated with cruel devils, cruel lusts, cruel corruptions, and master and conquer, and prevail against you, so as you may ly many a time wounded and dead at the enemies feet? O here is a Covenant of sin conquering grace, not only a Covenant of mercy to your souls, but of vengeance to your lusts, saying, "The day of vengeance is in
