2. That there is usually some time of delay between making the promise and fulfilling the promise ; for therefore God promiseth, because he meaneth to do us good, but not presently. And this delay is not for want of kindness, or out of any backwardness to our good ; for so it is said, he will not tarry : Hab. ii. 3, ' Though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry.' Nor out of ignor- ance, as not knowing the fittest time to help his people ; for his wait- ing is guided by judgment : Isa. xxx. 18, ' He waiteth that he may be gracious ; for he is a God of judgment ;' he will take hold of the fittest season or occasion. Not from forgetfuluess of his promise ; for ' he is ever mindful of his holy covenant,' Ps. cxi. 5. Kot from any mutability of nature or change of counsel ; for he is Jehovah, that changeth not: Mai. iii. 6, ' I am the Lord, I changenot ; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.' He hath a due foresight of all possible difficulties, and needeth not to alter his counsels. Not from irapotency and Aveakness, as if he could not execute what he had
22 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SkR. LV.
promised, as the sons of Zeruiali were too hard for David, 2 Sam. iii. 39 ; all things are at the heck and signification of his will. But (1.) Partly with respect to his own glor}', he will do things in their ])roper season : Eccles. iii. 11, ' Everything is beautiful in its time.' This is the wise providence of God in the government of the world, that every- thing is brought forth in its proper season, and in the time when it is most fit. God humbleth and God exalteth his people in due time : 1 Peter v. 6, ' Humble j'ourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.' So it is said of their enemies : Deut. xxxii. 35, ' Their foot shall slide in due time.' Summer and winter must succeed in their seasons. (2.) With respect to us, God will try our faith, wdiether we can stay on his word, and hug it, and embrace it, till the blessing come. As it is said of the patriarchs daTTaadfievot, Heb. xi. 13, ' They embraced the promises ;' Ps. Ivi. 4, ' In God I will praise his word ; I have put my trust in the Lord ; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.' During this time we may be exercised with divers troubles and difficulties, so that to appearance God seemeth to forget his promises; and this he doth —
[1.] Partly to try our faith to the utmost, to see if we can trust and depend upon God for things which we see not, nor are likely to see. Faith, in the general, is a dependence upon God for something that lieth out of sight. Now, wdien the object is not only out of sight, but all that is seen and felt seemeth to contradict our hopes, and God seemeth to put us off, and we meet with many a rebuke of our con- fidence, instead of an answer, as the woman of Canaan that came to Christ at first meeteth not with a wo]\l, — then his speech more dis- courageth than his silence : Mat. xv. 26, ' It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to the dogs.' She turneth this rebuke into an encouragement : ver. 27, ' Truth, Lord ! yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table;' ver. 28, 'Then Jesus answered and said unto her, 0 woman ! great is thy faith ; be it unto thee even as thou wilt.' Many times we come and pray for blessings promised, and the oracle is dumb and silent. Though God love the supplicant, yet he will not seem to take notice of his desires, but will humble him to the dust. Now, to pick an answer out of God's silence, and a gracious answer out of his rebukes, showeth great faith. Job saith, chap. xiii. 15, ' Though he slay me, yet I will trust in him.' Faith supports us under the greatest pressures ; when God seemeth to deal like an enemy, yet even then trusts in God as a friend, and that his dispensations will never give his word the lie.
[2.] To try our patience as well as our faith, God's dearest chil- dren are not admitted to the enjoyment of the mercies promised pre- sently : Heb. vi. 12, ' Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.' And Heb. x. 36, ' Ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye may receive the promise.' We must first do, and sometimes suffer, the will of God. The promises are to come, and at a great distance. ' And if we hope for that we see not,' and enjoy not, ' then do we with |)atience wait for it,^ Eom. viii. 25. But especially is patience tried when we meet with oppositions, difficulties, dangers, many things done, many things suffered, before we can attain what we hope for. Now.