Reason 3. Because God standeth much on the credit of his word. Heathens have acknowledged it to be the property of the gods, aXTjOeveLv kol evepyerelv ; certainly the true God hath showed himself to the world in nothing so much as doing good and keeping promise : Ps. cxxxviii. 2, ' Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name,' a-boveall that is famed or spoken or believed of God, this is most con- spicuous, as being ])unctual in keeping covenant and fulfilling pro- mises. God hath ever stood upon that, of being tender of the honour of his truth in the eye of the world : therefore we should build securely upon the word of his righteousness.
Use 1. To bless God that we are upon such sure terms. All people that know there is a God, wait for some good things from him ; but they are left to uncertain guesses, it may be they may have them, it may be not : but we have it under hand and seal, and have God's warrant for our hope, and so deal with God upon sure terms. Well may we take up David's song, ' In God I will praise his word, in the Lord I will praise his word,' Ps. Ivi. 10. It is twice repeated in that psalm: that is ground of rejoicing, that God will assure us aforehand what he will do for us. God might have dealt with man by way of dominion and command alone, without any signification of his good- ness, and left us to blind guesses. Promises are the eruptions and overflows of God's love, he cannot stay till accomplishment, but will tell us aforehand what he is about to do for us, that we may know how to look for it.
266 SEKMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SePv. CXXXV.
Use 2. To exhort us to rest contented witli God's word, and to take liis promises as sure <2;round of hope. I shall sliow you how you should count it a word of righteousness ; what is your duty ; and that first you are to delight in the promise, though the ])erformance be not yet, nor like to be for a good while : Heb. xi. 1 3, Treio-^eV re? koX aairaadfievoi, being persuaded of them, they embraced them. Oh ! how they hugged the promises at a distance, and said in their henrts, Oh, blessed j)ro- niise ! this will in time yield a Messiah : John viii. 56, ' Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and saw it, and Avas glad/ You hold the blessing by the root, this will in time yield deliverance, Heb. vi. 18 ; not only yield comfort, but prove comfortable : Ps. cxix. Ill, 'Thy testimonies I have taken for an heritage; for they are the rejoicing of my heart.^ For your duty —
2. You are to rest confident of the truth of what God hath pro- mised, and be assured that the performance will in time be : 7reLa-6evre<i, Heb. xi. 13. Faith is not a fallible conjecture, but a sure and certain grace : Rom. viii. 28, ' We know that all things shall work together for good to them that love God.' So Ps. cxl. 12, ' I know that God will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.' There is a firm persuasion ; I know I shall find this to be a truth. Men who are conscionable and faithful in keeping their word are believed ; yet, being men, they may lie : Rom. iii. 4, ' Let God be true, and every man a liar.' Every man is, or may be a liar, because of the mutableness of his nature ; from interest he will not lie, but he can lie. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater. Surely God cannot deceive, or be deceived. He never yet was worse than his word.
3. You are to take the naked promise for the ground of your hope, however it seem to be contradicted in the course of God's providence ; when it is neither performed, nor likely to be performed, it is his word you go by, whatsoever his dispensations be. Many times there are no apparent evidences of God's doing what he hath said, yea, strong pro- babilities to the contrary. It is said, Rom, iv. 18, ' That Abraham against hope believed in hope,' nrap eXiriha eV iXiriSt,. Abraham had the promise of a son, in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed ; but there was no appearance of this in nature, or natural hope of a child, both he and Sarah being old : yet he believed. It is an antanaclasis, an elegant figure, having the form of a contradiction he goeth upon God's naked word. Then faith standeth upon its owa basis and legs, which is not probabilities, but his word of promise. Everything is strongest upon its own basis, which God and nature have appointed. For as the earth hangeth on nothing in the midst of the air, but there is its place, faith is seated most firmly on the word of God, who is able to jierform what he saith.
4. This faith must conquer our fears and cares and troubles : Ps. cxii. 7, ' He shall not be afraid of evil tidings ; his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.' He must fix the heart without wavering : Ps. Ivi. 4, ' In God I will praise his word, in God have I put my trust : I will not fear what man can do unto me.' The force of faith is seen in calming our passions and sinful fears, which otherwise would weaken our reverence and respect to God.