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First, Patriarchal success in their way, very surprising to others, and to themselves, Psal. cxxvi. i, 2. "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongues with singing; then laid they among the Heathen, the Lord hath done great things for them." When mountains of difficulties were in David's way to the kingdom, he threshed long at them, and they never appeared to give way: Nay, he was brought to say, "One day I shall perish by the hand of Saul." But see his surprising success at last, Psal. xviii. entitled, "A Psalm of David, in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul." Wherein, after recapitulating the various difficulties he had to encounter with, he particularly mentions the happy deliverance he met with, and the surprising manner of the same. Some mountains God's people are kept threshing at all their days, especially the mountain of corruption; and they never fall quite down till death. But, as a pledge for the time to come, God makes now and then some mountains to fall down before the worm Jacob, wherewith he is surprised and transported with wonder how it came to pass, Mark xvi. 4, 5. "And when they looked, they saw the stone was rolled away: and they were affrighted."
