Use 2d. See the vanity of the creature;; there are changes in every thing but in God; Ps. Ixii. 9., " Men of low degree are vanity, and men of higli degree are a lie." We look for more from the creature than God hath put into it. The world brings changes; the creHture hath two evils in it, — it j)romiseth more than we find, — and it fails us when wo most need it ; there is a failure /// omni. A man desires to have his, corn grinded, the water fails, and then his^ mill cannot go ; the mariner is for a voyage, the wind either doth not blow, or it is con- trary, and he cannot sail ; one depends up- on another for the payment of a promise,, and he fails, and is like a foot out of joint. Who would look for a fixed stability in the vain creature ! As if one should build houses on the sand, where the sea comes in and overflows. The creatuz'e is true to no- thing but deceit, and is constant only in its disappointments. It is no more wonder to see changes fall out here below, than to see the moon dressing itself in ji new shape and figure ; look to meet with changes in every thing but God.
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GOD'S UNCHANGEABLENESS.
Use Sd. Comfort to the godly : 1. In case of losses^ if an estate be almost boiled a- way to nothing, — if you lose dear friends by death, — here is a double eclipse; but this is the comfort, God is unchangeable ; I may lose these things, but I cannot lose mv God, he never dies. When the fig-tree, and olive-tree failed, yet God did not fail, Hab. iii. 18., " I will joy in the God of my .salvation." The flowers in the garden die, but a man's portion remains ; so out- ward things die and change, but, Ps. Ixxiii. 26., " God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever." — 2. In case of satlness of spirit, when God seems to cast off the soul in desertion, Cant. v. 6., " My BeloA'ed had withdrawn himself;" yet God is unchangeable. He is immutable in his love ; he may change his countenance, but not his heart, Jer. xxxi. 3., " I have loved thee witlj an everlasting love," — in Hebrew, gnolam, ' a love of eternity.' If once God's electing love riseth upon the soul, it never sets : Isa. liv. 10., " The mountains shall be removed, but my loving-kindness shall not depart from thee, neither the covenant of my peace be removed." God's love stands faster than the mountains ; God's love to Christ is unchangeable, and he will no more cease loving believers, than he will cease loving Christ.
Use ilh. Of exhortation. Get an inter- est in this unchangeable God, then thou art as a rock in the sea, immoveable in midst of all changes.
Quest. How shall I get a part in this un- changeable God?
Ans. By liaving a change wrought in thee : 1 Cor. vi. 11., " But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified." Whence we are changed, a tenehris ad Ivcem, — so changed, as if another soul did live in the same bo- dy; by this change we are interested in the unchangeable God. — Trust to this God only, who is unchangeable, Isa. ii. 22., ** Cease ve from men ;" leave trustinjr to the reed, but trust to ' the Rock of ages.' He that is by faith engarrisoned in God, is safe in all changes ; he is like a boat that is tied to an immoveable rock. He that trusts in God, trusts in that which cannot fail him ; he is unchangcal>Ie, Heb. xiii. 5., ** I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."
Health may leave us, — riches, friends may leave us, — but, saith God, ^ I'll not leave thee; my power sliall support thee; my Spirit shall sanctify thee; my mercy shall save thee : I will never leave thee.' O trust in this unchangeable God ! God is jealous of two things, of our love, and of our trust: He is jealous of our love, lest we love the creature more than him, there- fore he makes it prove bitter ; and of. our trust, lest we should place more confidence in it than in him, therefore he makes it proA'e unfaithful. Outward comforts are given us as baits by the way to refresh us, but not as crutches to lean on ; if Ave make the creature an idol, what we make our trust God makes our shame. O trust in the immortal God ! We, like Noah's dove, have no footing for our souls, till we get into the ark of God's unchangeableness, Ps. cxxv. 1., " They that trust in the Lord, shall be as mount Sion, which cannot be removed." — God is unchangeal)le is his de- cree ; what he hath decreed from eternity is unalterable, Isa. xlvi. 10., " My counsel shall stand." Argument, '1 hat God's eternal counsel or decree is immutable : if God changed his decree, it must be from some defect of wisdom or foresight in God, for that is the reason why men do change their purposes ; through a want of foresight, they see something after, which they did not see before ; but this cannot be the cause why God should alter his decree, because his knowledge is perfect, he sees all things in one entire prospect before him.
Obj. But is not God said to repent ? There seems to he a change in his decree, Jonah iii. 10., " The Lord repented of tlie evil that he said he U'oidd do nnto th(m.