VeR. 90.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 411
guilt of sin : 1 John i. 9, ' If we confess our sins, lie is faithful and just to foi-give us our sius, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' And the power of sin: 1 Thes. v. 24, 'Faithful is he who calleth you, who also will do it.' Supported in great distress: 1 Cor. x. 13, 'He will not sufier j'ou to be tempted above that you are able.' That we may be able to stand in the judgment: 1 Cor. i. 9, 'God is faithful, by whom ye are called into the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ.' Here is a Christians great security and support, God's faithfulness, testified by Christians now and in all ages, confessing they have found by their experience the word of God to be true ; for they have trans- mitted religion to us by their constant consent, and left it to us under a seal of God's faithfulness ; and therefore we should persevere in our duty to God.
Secondhj, As represented by an emblem. "We should consider it, for it is a help to frequent meditation, as being always before our eyes ; and they are without excuse who see not God in this thing ; every time we set foot on the ground we may remember the stability of God's promises. And it is also a confirmation of faith, thus : —
1. The stability of the earth is the effect of God's word, this is the true pillar upon which the earth standeth ; for ' he upholdeth all things by the word of his power : ' Ps. xxxiii. 9, ' For he spake, and it was done ; he commanded, and it stood fast.' Now his word of power lielpeth us to depend upon his word of promise. God, that doth what he pleaseth, never faileth in Avhat he promiseth. We see plainly that whatever standeth by God's will and word, cannot be brought to nought. Whence is it ? how came this world to have a being ? It is the work and product of that God whose word and promise we have in scripture. Certainly the power of this God cannot fail, it is as easy for him to do as to say.
2. Nothing appeareth whereon the globe of the earth and water should lean and rest : Job xxvi. 7, ' He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.' Now, that this vast and ponderous body should lean upon the fluid air as upon a firm foundation is matter of wonder. The question is put in the book of Job, chap, xxxviii. 6, ' Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who hath laid the corner-stone thereof ?' Yet firm it is, though it hang as a ball in the air. The globe of the earth is encom- passed with the regions of the air and the celestial spheres, and hath no visible support to sustain so heavy a body hanging in the midst of so vast an expansion ; yet God hath settled and established it so firm as if it rested on the most solid basis and foundation ; fitted so strange a place for it that, being a heavy body, one should think it would fall every moment ; yet which, whensoever we would imagine it, it must, contrary to the nature of such a body, fall upwards, and so can have no possible ruin but by falling into heaven. Now since his word beareth up such a weight, all the church's weight, and our own burden leaneth on the promise of God ; he can, by the power of his word, do the greatest things without visible means : Luke vii. 7, ' But say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.' Theretore his people may trust his providence ; he is able to support them in any distresses, when no way of help and relief appeareth.
412 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XCV.
3. The firmness and stability offereth itself to our tliouglits. The earth abideth in the same seat and condition wherein God left it, as long as the present course and order of nature is to continue : Ps. civ. 5, ' He halh laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved for ever.' God's truth is as immovable as the earth : Ps. cxvii. 2, ' The truth of the Lord endureth for ever." Surely, if the founda- tion of the earth abideth sure, the foundation of our salvation laid by Jesus Christ is much more sure : ' Heaven and earth shall pass away, but not one tittle of the word and law of God, till all be fulfilled,' Mat. V. 18. If the law given by Moses be so sure, much more the promises of salvation by Christ : 2 Cor. i. 20, ' For all the promises of God in him are yea and amen.'
4. The stability in the midst of changes : Eccles. i. 4, ' One genera- tion passeth away and another cometh, but the earth abideth for ever.' When man passeth away, the earth stayeth behind him, as a habi- tation for other comers, and abideth where it was, when the inhabitants go to and fro, and can enjoy it no more. All things in the world are subject to many revolutions, but God's truth is one and the same. The vicissitudes in the world do not derogate from his fidelity in the pro- mises ; he changeth all things, and is not changed. Though there be a new face of things in the world, yet we have a sure rule to walk by, and sure promises to build upon. And therefore, in all conditions, we should be the same to God, and there is no doubt but he will be the same to us.