Directions for Daily Communion with God (continued)
away, there shall no evil befall us. The inhabitant though he be far from well, yet shall not say I am sick, shall not complain of sickness, for the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity, ISA 33:24. Isaiah 33:24 (KJV) The pardon of sin has enough in it to balance all our griefs, and therefore to silence all our complaints: a man sick of the palsy, yet has reason to be easy, nay, and to be of good cheer, if Christ saith to him, thy sins are forgiven thee, and I am thy salvation.
4. If we have put ourselves under the divine protection for the ensuing night, we may then lay us down in peace. If by faith and prayer, we have run into the name of the Lord as our strong tower, have fled to take shelter under the shadow of his wings, and make the Lord our refuge and our habitation, we may then speak peace to ourselves, for God in his word speaks peace to us. If David has an eye to the cherubims, between which God is said to dwell, when he saith, PS 57:1. Psalm 57:1 (KJV) In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge; yet certainly he has an eye to the similitude Christ makes use of, of a hen gathering her chickens under her wings, when he saith, PS 91:4. Psalm 91:4 (KJV) He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust, and the chickens under the wings of the hen are not only safe, but warm and pleased.
5. If we have cast all our cares for the day following upon God, we may then lay us down in peace. Taking thought for the morrow is the great hinderance of our peace in the night; let us but learn to live without disquieting care, and to refer the issue of all events to that God who may and can do what he will, and will do what is best for those that love and fear him; Father, thy will be done, and then we make ourselves easy. Our Saviour presseth this very much upon his disciples, not to perplex themselves with thoughts what they shall eat, and what they shall drink, and wherewithal they shall be clothed, because their heavenly Father knows that they have need of these things, and will see that they be supplied. Let us therefore ease ourselves of this burthen, by casting it on him who careth for us, what need he care, and we care too?
III. Thirdly, Having laid ourselves down in peace, we must compose ourselves to sleep. I will lay me down and sleep. The love of sleep for sleeping sake, is the character of the sluggard, but as it is nature's physic for the recruiting of its weary powers, it is to be looked upon as a mercy