3. Though they are forsaken for a while, yet not for ever : Isa. liv.
380 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CXLVI.
7. 8, * For a small moment have I forsaken thee, hut with great mercy will I gather thee. In a little wrath I have hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.'
Use. Do not say God is a hard master. When the compute is rightly made, and you trace his providence through all the passages of your lives, there is more good than evil. Jacob giveth an account of his life : Gen. xlviii. 15, 16, ' God, before whom my fathers Abra- ham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads.' So may others sa3^
Doct. 2. God's accustomed goodness and gracious dispensations to his people throughout all ages should encourage us in waiting upon him and praying to him.
This emboldeneth me, that all thy servants in all ages have found thee gracious and merciful unto them.
1. From God's unchangeableness. He will not leave his old wont ; he is where he was at first : Isa. lix. 1, ' Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that he cannot save ; neither his ear heav}^, that it cannot hear ; ' Mai. iii. 6, ' For I am the Lord, I change not ; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.' He is the same that ever he was.
2. All his people stand upon the same terms ; therefore what he will do for one, he will do for another. God's love is the same ; he is alike affected to all his children ; his saints now are as dear to him as ever: Ps. cxlix. 4, ' For the Lord taketh ])leasure in his people ; he will beautify the meek with salvation.' They have the same covenant, it is a common charter : Acts ii. 39, ' For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call' The same Redeemer : 1 Cor. i. 2, 'To them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs antl ours ;' Rom. iii. 22, ' Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe ; for there is no difference.' One hath not a more worthy Christ than another ; faith is as acceptable as ever : 2 Peter i. 1, ' To them that have obtained like precious faith.' They are interested in the same privi- leges, promises, gifts, and rewards.
Use 1. Examples and instances of God's mercy should confirm us. It is not agreeable to God's nature and practice to forsake his pco[)le, or to be deaf to their prayers : Ps. xxii. 4, 5, ' Our fathers trusted in thee, they trusted in thee, and thou didst deliver them ; they cried unto thee, and were delivered; they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.' None of his people ever sought him in vain. From the beginning of the world to this day, God liatli been gracious: Ps. ix. 10, 'For they that know thy name will put their trust in thee ; for thou. Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.' No age can give an instance to the contrary ; therefore mark the usual dealings of God with his children: What was said to them was for the establishment of our comfort and hope : Rom. iv. 23, 24, ' Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him, but for us also to whom it shall be im- puted, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the
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dead ;' compared with Gen. xv. 6, 'And lie believed in the Lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness.' God's word is a book of pre- cedents, as a painter's masterpiece is hung out to invite custom.
2. Let us be sure we be of this number. If there be conformity to them in affection, there will be in consolation ; if in grace, then in privileges : Ps. cxlv. 18-20, ' The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He shall fulfil the desire of them that fear him, he also will hear their cry, and will save them. The Lord preserveth all them that love him.'
Doct. 3. We should beg the favour of God's people.
Common things should not satisfy a child of God. He must have what is peculiar to the saints : Ps. cvi. 4, 5, ' Piemember me, 0 Lord, with the favour thou bearest unto thy people ; 0 visit me with thy salvation ; that I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.' Nothing will satisfy the people of God but his special love ; they have a new nature that must be pleased, a great, noble, and divine end to be pro- moted, which is to enjoy God ; the creatures serve not for that. Common men are put off with common mercies ; these they may have and perish.