Use. Oh ! study to be informed more and more of this great truth. Let us think of and often consider the unerring certainty of the scrip- tures. It is a truth not to be supposed and taken for granted, but known, that you may build sure. Man is apt to suspect evangelical truths, as being cross to his lusts and interests. You will find it of use, not only in great temptations, when we are apt to question all, Ps. lxxiii. 13, but in ordinary practice, in every prayer: Heb. x. 22, ' Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith.' It is not an assurance of our particular estate, or our title to eternal life, but a full assurance of the word and promise of God, that is neces- sarily required in every one that will draw nigh to God : ' Let us ask in faith, nothing doubting,' James i. 7, 8.
2. Do not content yourselves with a light credulity, but grow up to a full persuasion : 2 Tim. iii. 14, ' But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them ; ' and Col. ii. 2, ' That their hearts being com- forted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding;' not a fluctuating doubting knowledge,
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but a full persuasion of the truth of the gospel : Luke i. 4, ' That thou rnayest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed ; ' Col. i. 23, ' If thou continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel ; ' a rooted persuasion that it is the undoubted truth of God : the firmness of faith should answer the firmness of God's word. There are several degrees of assent, conjecture, opinion, weak faith, and receiving the word in much assurance, 1 Thes. i. 6. There is belief, confidence, assurance, and full assurance. Belief is grounded on God's word in general, and all the truths and propositions therein contained. Con- fidence, on the promise ; the one goeth before the other : fidelity is before dependence and belief ; for the promise is first a truth, and so to be considered, before it can be conceived under the formal notion of a promise. Full assurance is grounded on the fidelity and immut- ability of God ; no man believeth so far but he may believe more.
JDoct. 2. That experiences of former times should give us en- couragement to trust God for what is future. ' Thy testimonies I have known of old/ saith David.
So the children of God make use of them. See David's instance, 1 Sam. xvii. 36, ' Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them. Moreover David said, The Lord hath delivered me from the paw of the lion, and the paw of the bear, and he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.' Thus he argueth from former experience to future deliver- ance : I trust in the same God, who is able to give the same strength, and why should I not look for the same success ? So Jacob : Gen. xxxii. 10, 11, 'I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies, and of the truth thou hast showed to thy servant ; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands : deliver me, I pray thee, from the hands of my brother Esau.' So Ps. xxiii. 5, 6, ' Thou hast prepared a table for me in the presence of mine enemies : surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.' He hath been good to me, and if it be for his glory, he will be still good to me ; he hath been my God, and will be my God, and shall be my God for ever : 2 Cor. i. 10, ' Who hath delivered from so great a death, and doth deliver ; in whom we trust he will yet deliver us.' In all respects of time we stand in need of deliverance ; when one is past, another cometh ; there have been dangers, there are dangers, and there will be dangers ; but God hath, cloth, and will deliver. It is a trade God hath used, an art he is versed in, and never at a loss about. Our God is a God of salvation, and is excellent in working of it.
Eeasons of the point.
1. God's constancy and unchangeableness. God is the same, always like himself, for mercy, power, and truth ; he is never at a loss : what he hath done, he can do, and will do. I am, is God's name, not I have been, or shall be. His providence is new and fresh every morn- ing, Lam. iii. 23. God is but one God, Gal. iii. 20 ; always like himself. As he hath delivered, so he doth, and will : Isa. lix. 1. ' Behold the Lord's hand is not shortened that he cannot save, neither his ear heavy that he cannot hear.' No decay in him. When we give