November 16

"Thy hidden ones." Psalms 83:3.

This representation of God's people is worthy our notice. It may be taken two ways.

First, as referring to their safety. We often hide only to preserve. This is the meaning of the word in the parable, with regard to the discovery of the treasure in the field, "which, when a man hath found, he hideth it." His aim is not to conceal, but to secure; and the cause is put for the effect. Thus God's people are hidden. He hid Noah in the ark, and the waters that drowned the world could not find him. When his judgments were coming over the land, "Come, my people," said he, "enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thee also for a little season, until the indignation be overpast." Hence the promise, "Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues." Hence the confidence expressed by David: "In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion; in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me upon a rock." The Saviour could say, "In the shadow of his hand hath he hid me," and, "All the saints are in his hand." They are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation. For He himself is their "refuge," their "hiding-place." They are his "hidden ones."

Secondly, as intimating their concealment. This is not absolute, but it holds in various respects and degrees. It is true with regard to the nature of their spiritual life. Our life, says the apostle, is hid with Christ in God; and that he refers to its invisibleness, rather than to its safety, is obvious from the words following: "When He who is our life shall appear, we also shall appear with him in glory." The source, principles, and actings of this life are unintelligible to natural men, neither can they know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The heart of the believer only knows his own bitterness, and a stranger intermeddleth not with his joy. The manna upon which he feeds is hidden manna. And no one knoweth the new name in the white stone given him, but the receiver. His grief is too deep to be noisy. He sitteth alone and keeps silence. The stricken deer leaves the herd. Other warriors appeal to their senses, and get fame; but his conflicts are carried on within, visible to God only, and his laurels are all future. Others may give alms to be seen of men, but his left hand is not to know what his right hand doeth.

They are sometimes hidden by persecution. For though this does not prevent their being Christians, it hinders them from appearing as such, especially by secluding them from their social and public assemblies. This is not our case. Our teachers are not put into a corner. We can go to the house of God in company. We can feed in the ways, and our pasture is in all high places. But call to remembrance the former times, when they wandered in deserts, and in mountains and dens and caves of the earth, or were confined in prisons, or prayed and preached under the cover of night. But they were dear to God; they were his hidden ones.

They are sometimes hidden by the obscurity of their stations. Not many of the wise and mighty and noble are called, but when they are called, they are also exhibited. They are like cities set on hills, which cannot be hid. A little religion in high life goes a great way, and is much talked of, because it is so often a strange thing. But God hath chosen the poor of this world; and they are often rich in faith. Yet how is their moral wealth to be known? How few opportunities have they for religious display or exertion! There may be the principle of benevolence, where there is no ability to give. And the Lord seeth the heart, but men can only judge from actions. Many who are great in the sight of the Lord are living in cottages and hovels, and are scarcely known, unless to a few neighbors equally obscure.

They are sometimes hidden by their disposition. They are reserved, and shrink back from notice. They are timid and self-diffident. This restrains them in religious conversation, especially as it regards their own experience. This keeps them from making a profession of religion, and joining a Christian church. Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews. And Nicodemus, from the same cause, came to Jesus by night. They had difficulties in their situations, from which others were free. They ought to have overcome them; and so they did at last, but it was a day of small things with them at first. Others are circumstanced and tried in a similar way; and we must be patient towards all men.

They are sometimes hidden by their infirmities. We would not plead for sin, but grace may be found along with many imperfections. The possessors have what is essential to religion in them, but not every thing that is ornamental and lovely and of good report.

The same also will apply to errors. Here, again, we are far from undervaluing divine truth. It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace. But it is impossible for us to say how much ignorance, and how many mistakes may be found even in the Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile. How little did Peter know of the most important of all subjects, when our Saviour pronounced him blessed, and said he was a partaker of divine illumination. We extend this even to congregations and communities. There may be individuals in them wiser than their teachers, and no strangers to communion with the God of all grace. Who can entertain too bad an opinion of Popery? Yet we find a Nicol, a Pascal, a Fenelon in that most corrupt church. Where may not God have his hidden ones? Let us not judge of the real number of his people by things that do appear. While we ought to pray always, "The Lord add to his people, how many soever they be, a hundred-fold." It is not only candor, but truth, that tells us we may enlarge our hopes, while we ought to pray always. "Wot ye not what the Scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal."