[3.] Here is a power to which they are subject, ' For they are his servants ;' and be they never so averse and opposite to God, they can- not hinder his work, for he performeth what he will, and who can let ? Certainly what God hath engaged himself to do he will not fail to bring it to j)ass, to give grace at present and glory hereafter, Ps. Ixxxiv. 11. Look neither upon the weakness of the means, nor the greatness of the work, but the truth and power of him that promised.
3. Here is something offered to each apart, both to feed trust and dependence, and to engage to subjection and obedience.
First, For trust and dependence.
[1.] We see here that God is a great God, who taketh the care and charge upon him of the sustentation and government of all things to their proper ends and uses. How soon would the world fall into con- fusion and nothing without his power and care ! Now this should recommend him to our esteem and love. Oh, what a blessed thing is it to have an interest in this powerful and almighty God ! All his strength and power is engaged for the meanest and weakest of his children : 1 Peter i. 5, ' We are kept by the power of God to salva- tion ; ' and therefore we are bidden to be ' strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.' Surely they are blessed that have such a mighty God on their side, and engaged with them against their enemies : 1 John iv. 4, ' Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.' He can enable them to do their work, satisfy their desires, maintain them in the midst of opposition : John x. 29, ' My father, which gave them me, is greater than all.' Such is the efficacy of his
Ver. 91.] SERMONS UPON psal:m cxix. 419
providence, that he can subject all things to himself, make them ser- vants, to do what he would have them. Oh, how safe is a Christian in the love and covenant and arms of an almighty God, whom he hath made his refuge ! Our trials are many, and grace received is small in the best ; but our God is great ; he that made all things, and sustaineth all things, and governeth all things, and possesseth all things, is our God ; surely ' his gi-ace is sufficient for us,' 2 Cor. xii. 9, and his ever- lasting arms can bear us up : Deut. xxxiii. 27, ' The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms/ He can recover us from our h\h, and lift us over all our difficulties. If we could but rest upon his word and lean upon his power, why should we be discouraged? Oh, let us rejoice, then, not only in the goodness but greatness of that God whom we have chosen for our portion !
[2.] We see here that God is an unchangeable God in goodness : ' They continue this day according to thine ordinance.' The stability of his works showeth how stable the workman is. Heaven and earth continue by virtue of his word, that man may have the use and benefit of it from generation to generation, that the continual vicissitudes of day and night may be continued, that man may have light to his labour, and darkness drawn about him as a covering for his rest, and also that there might be a constant succession of summer and winter, to prepare and ripen the fruits of the earth, Xow, if God forsalvC not the world, will he forsake his people ? For the benefit of mankind he preserveth the courses of nature, and keepeth all things in theii" proper place, for their proper end and use ; and will he not keep one way with his children ? Shall there be a failure in the covenant, when there is not a failure in common providence ? as if he would satisfy the expectation of heathens, that look for a constant succession of day and night and summer and winter, and would not satisfy the expectation of his children, when they look for a blessed morning after a dark night of trouble and conflict, and the light of his countenance after the storms of temptation.
Secondly, For subjection, which I made to be double.
[1.] Submission to his disposing will. God's appointment giveth laws to all ; there is not the least thing done among us without his pre- science, providence, and wise disposal, to which all things in the world are subjected. The Lord's will and pleasure is the only rule of his ex- tending his omnipotency, and is the sovereign and absolute cause of all his working, for all is done in heaven or in earth according to his ordinance, and no creature can resist his will ; therefore let us submit to this will of God. If God take anything from us, let us bless the name of the Lord ; he doth but make use of his own : ' Itis the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good,' 1 Sam. iii. 18 ; it is none of ours, but God's, and let him do with his own as it pleaseth him. God is the disposer of man as well as other creatures, and must choose their con- dition, and determine of all events wherein they are concerned. We u.^ually dislike God's disposal of us, though it be so wise and gracious. But consider his sovereignty ; you cannot deliver yourselves from the will of God, and get the reins into your own hands. And alas ! Ave are unfit to be disposers either of the world or ourselves, as an idiot is to be the pilot of a ship : therefore let God govern all according to his own pleasure. Say, ' Lord, not my will, but thine be done.' We are safer by far in God's hands than our own.