An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second,…

That is, God hath put such an instinct into the nature of all the creatures, as to provide for their own safety; The Eagle will dwell on the rock, she will, not venture herself every where. And according to the state and condition of creatures, such is the provision which they make for their safety (Psal. 104.18.) The high hills are a refuge for the wild Goat, and the stony rock for the Coney. The wild Goats have their refuge, and the Coneys have their refuge, and they are taught whither to fly from the face of danger. There is no creature but hath a refuge in time of danger, and therefore we commonly say, Times of danger discover our refuge.

Now if the Lord hath taught the fowls of the air, and the beasts of the earth to look to their own safety, to get to the rock, and the strong place; then doubtless, he hath taught his servants, all that are godly, to seek and hasten to a refuge, both for their spiritual and corporal safety. David often discovers his refuge in the Psalms (Psal. 18.2.) When at the first verse, he had in plain language called the Lord his strength, I will love thee, O Lord, my strength; he presently adds a number of metaphors, to shadow out the same thing, The Lord is my fortress, my rock, and my deliverer, my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. He calleth God his rock twice in that verse. God is not only a rock, but the only rock in which his faithful people find shelter. Moses said in his prayer (Psal. 90.1.) Lord thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Where do believers dwell? in God himself; as the dwelling of the Eagle is in the rock, so the dwelling of a believer is in God, his rock. They may be sure of safety who are so housed, who are housed in God (Psal. 91.1.) He that dwells in the secret places of the most high, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty: I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge, and my fortress, my God, in him will I trust. Thus, as the Lord hath taught the Eagle to look out a strong place for her self, so he hath taught his people; and it will be as much their wisdom, to learn of the Eagle to provide against danger, as to learn of the Ant to provide against hunger.