1. By the inward assurance of the Spirit increasing our faith.
2. By the outward performance of what is promised.
1. By the inward assurance of the Spirit, by which our faith is increased. Great is the weakness of our faith, as appears by our fears, doubts, distrusts ; so that we need to be assured more and more. We need say with tears, as he doth in the Gospel, Mark ix. 24, ' Lord, I believe ; help thou mine unbelief,' and to cry out with the apostles, ' Lord, increase our faith,' Luke xvii. 5. There is none believeth so but he may yet believe more. And in this sense the word is more established when we are confirmed in the belief of it, and look upon it as a sure ground for faith to rest upon.
2. By actual performance, when the promise is made good to us. Every event which falls out according to the word is a notable testi- mony of the truth of it, and a seal to confirm and strengthen our faith. Three ways may this be made good : — •
[1.] The making good of some promises at one time strengthens our faith in expecting the like favour at another. Christ was angry with his disciples for not remembering the miracle of the loaves, when they fell into a like strait again : Mat. xvi. 9, ' Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves?' &c. We are to seek upon every difficulty ; whereas former experience in the same kind should be a means of establishment to us : 2 Cor. i. 10, ' He hath delivered, and doth deliver ; in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.' In teach- ing a child to spell, we are angry if, when we have showed him a letter once, twice, and a third time, yet when he meets with it again still he misseth ; so God is angry with us when we have had experience of his word in this, that, and the other providence, yet still our doubts return upon us.
[2.] The accomplishment of one promise confirms another ; for God, that keepeth touch at one time, will do so at another : 2 Tim. iv. 17, ' I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion ; and the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and preserve me blameless unto his heavenly kingdom.' In such a strait God failed not, and surely he that hath been true hitherto will not fail at last.
[3.] When the word is performed in part, it assureth us of the per- formance of the whole ; it is an earnest given us of all the rest : 2 Cor. i. 10, ' For all the promises of God in him are Yea, and in him Amen.' A Christian hath a great many promises, and they are a-per- forming daily. God is delivering, comforting, protecting him, speak- ing peace to his conscience ; but the greater part are yet to be
400 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XLIII.
performed. Present experiences do assure us of what is to come. Thus, ' stablish thy word/ that is, make it good by the event, that I may learn to trust another time, either for the same or other promises, or accomplishment of thy whole word.
Doct. That it is a matter of great consequence to have the word of God established to us, or to be confirmed in a certain belief of his promises.
David asketh it here as a very necessary thing, ' Stablish thy word unto thy servant.' Give me, Lord, to look upon it as a stable and firm thing. This will appear if you consider the conveniency, necessity, utility, and profit of this establishment.
1. The conveniency and suitableness of it. It is very convenient that we should build strongly upon a strong foundation, that sure truths shall be entertained with a certain faith, and things taken as they are uttered. There is certitudo ohjecti, a certainty of the object itself; and certitudo suhjecti, the certainty of the subject, our being- persuaded of the certainty of it. The one warrants the other, and both are necessary to our comfort ; that is, as the word is certain in itself, so it should be certain to us. No matter how strong the found- ation be, if the building upon that foundation be weak, down it falleth. The word of God is stable in itself, but if we are not per- suaded it is so, we are soon shaken with temptations. To stay a ship from being tossed upon the rocks, it is necessary the anchor-hold be good itself, and be fastened upon somewhat that is firm ; therefore, Heb. vi. 18-20, the ajiostle speaks first of the stability of the ground, and then of the strength of the anchor. There is a firm rocky ground to build upon, the immutable promises of God ; and a solid strong anchor, which is our faith and affiance. As faith without the promises is nothing but groundless and fruitless conceit, so the promises yield us no comfort without faith. ' The promises are Yea and Amen in Christ,' 2 Cor. i. 20 ; and then presently, ' Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ is God.' It is not sufficient that the promises be established, but we must be established upon them. They are Yea and Amen in Christ ; but what is that to us ? God may lose the glory of his truth, and we the comfort, if we be not established.