S. The committing ourselves to God implies the resignation of our wills to the will of God, to be disposed of as seems good in his eyes : So David commits to God the event of that sad and doubt- ful providence, which made him fly for his life, from a strong con- spiracy, 2 Sam. XV. 25. " And the king said unto Zadok, Carry " back the ark of God into the city : if I shall find favour in the " eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew me both it " and his habitation : but, if he thus say, I have no delight in *' thee, behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good to *' him ;" q. d. Lord, the conspiracy against my life is strong, the danger great, the issue exceeding doubtful ; but I commit all into thy hand ; if David may be yet used in any farther service for his God, I shall see this city and thy lovely temple again; but if not, I lie at thy foot, to be disposed either for life or death, for the earthly or the heavenly Jerusalem, as seemeth best in thine eyes. This submission to Divine pleasure is included in the committing act of faith. Christian, what sayest thou to it ? Is thy will content to go back, that the will of God may come on, and take place of it? It may be thou canst refer a difficult case to God, provided he vnW determine and issue it according to thy desires ; but, in truth, that is no submission or resignation at all, but a sinful limiting of, and prescribing to God. It was an excellent reply that a choice Chris- tian once made to another, when a beloved and only child lay in a dangerous sickness at the point of death, a friend asked the mother, What would you now desire of God in reference to your child ? would you beg of him its life or its death, in this extremity that it is now in ? The mother answered, I refer that to the will of God. But, said her friend, if God would refer it to you, what would you chuse then ? Why truly, said she, if God would refer it to me, I would even refer it to God again. This is the true committing of ourselves and our troublesome concerns to the Lord.
4. The committing act of faith implies our renouncing and dis- claiming all confidence and trust in the arm of flesh, and an ex- pectation of relief from God only. If we commit ourselves to God, we must cease from man, Isa. ii. 22. To trust God in part, and the creature in part, is to set one foot upon a rock, and the other upon a quicksand. Those acts of faith that give the entire glory to God, give real relief and comfort to us.
2. Let us see what grounds and encouragements the people of God have to commit themselves and all the matters of their fears to God, and so to enjoy the peace and comfort of a resigned will ; and there are two sorts of encouragements before vou, let the case be
S94j a PIIACTICAL TREATISE OF FEAR.
as difficult and frightful as it will, you may find sufficient en- couragement in God, and somewhat from yourselves, viz. your relation to him, and experiences of him.
1. In God there is all that your hearts can desire to encourage you to trust him over all, and committ all into his hands. For,
1. He is able to help and relieve you : let the case be never so bad, yet " let Israel hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is plen- ** teous redemption,"" Psal. cxxx. 7, 8. Plenteous redemption, i. e. all the stores of power, choice of methods, plenty of means, abun- dance of ways to save his people, when they can see no way out of their troubles : therefore hope, Israel, in Jehovah.
2. As his |X)wer is almighty, so his wisdom is infinite and un- searchable ; " He is a God of judgment, blessed are all they that " wait for him,"" Isa. xxx. 18. When the apostle Peter had related the wonderful presei*\'ation of Noah in the deluge, and of Lot in Sodom, one in a general destruction of the world by water, and the other in the overthrow of those cities by fire ; he concludes, and so should we, " The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out '' of temptation," 2 Pet. ii. 9. Some men have much power, but little wisdom to manage it, others are wise and prudent, but want ability ; in God there is an infinite fulness of both.
S. His love to, and tenderness over his people, is transcendent and unparalleled : and this sets his ^visdom and power both at work for their good : hence it is, that his eyes of providence run con- tinually throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose hearts are perfect, i. e. upright towards him, 2 Chron. xvi. 9- Thus you see how he is every way fitted as a proper object of your trust.
2. Consider \\dth yourselves, and you shall find encouragements to commit all to God. For,
1. Vou are his children, and to whom should children commit themselves in dangers and feai's but to their own father ? Doubtless thou art our Father, saith the distressed church, Isa. Ixiii. 15, 16. yea, Christian, Thi/ Maker is thy husband, Isa. liv. 5. Is not that a sufficient ground to cast thyself upon him ? What ! a child not trust its own father ? a wife not commit herself to her own hus- band ?
2. You have trusted him with a far greater concern already than your estates, liberties, or lives^; you have committed your souls to him, and your eternal interests, 2 Tim. i. 12. Shall we commit the jewel, and dispute the cabinet ; trust him for heaven, and doubt him for earth ?
3. You have ever found him failhful in all that you trusted him with, all your experiences are so many good grounds of confidence,
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Psal. ix. 10. Well then, resolve to trust God over all, and quietly leave the disposal of every thing to him : he hath been with you in all former straits, wants, and fears, hitherto he hath helped you, and cannot he do so again, except you tell him how ? Oh ! trust in his wisdom, power, and love, and lean not to your own understand- ings. The fruit of resignation will be peace.
Rule 5. If ever you will get rid of your fears and distractions^ get your affections mortified to the worlds and to the inordinate and immoderate love of every eiijoyment in the world.