[2.] They are sure as well as good.
(1.) As promises. A promise is more than a purpose, for it is a purpose not as conceived in the mind of a man, but declared to another to invite hope. It is more than a doctrine. A doctrine giveth notice of privileges, but a promise giveth us an interest in them. It is more than a revelation or prophecy. Scripture prophecies will be fulfilled because of God's veracity ; but scripture promises not only because of God's veracity, but also his fidelity and justice. There is a kind of righteousness in making good promises, because we give another a right and claim to the things promised by the promises we make to him. A promissory lie is worse than an assertory lie. A promise gives us a holdfast upon God, promillendo se fecit debitorem.
(2.) As the promises of God, who cannot lie and deceive the crea- tures : Heb. vi. 18, ' That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation.' And therefore by acting faith on these declarations of his will, we may have the accomplishment of them. None that ever depended on God's word were disappointed : Ps. xviii. 30, ' The word of the Lord is a tried word.' God was never yet found worse than his word ; he hath been tender of the credit of his word : Ps. cxxxviii. % ' Thou hast
284 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. CLXXXVII.
magnified thy word above all thy name.' Heathens have acknow- ledged that God hath never so much showed himself in the world, as in these two things a\r)6eveiv kcu euepyerelv, in doing good and keeping promise. Above all that is named and famed of God, this is most conspicuous.
Use. To exhort us in all our straits, dangers, and troubles, to be contented with his word, and to delight in the promise, as if it were performed. I shall here show you how we are to carry ourselves towards the promises.
1. You must rest confident of the truth of what God hath promised, and be assured that in time the performance will come to pass, as if you saw it with your eyes : Heb. xi. 13, ' They were persuaded of these things.' This is the assurance of faith spoken of, Heb. x. 22. I know I shall find this to be a truth. Men are conscionable and faithful in keeping their word ; much more God, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
2. You are to delight in the promise, though the performance be not yet, nor like to be for a good while ; neither performed, nor likely to be performed. Heb. xi. 13, they saw them afar off, and yet being persuaded of these things, they embraced them ; and John viii. 56, ' Abraham saw my day, and was glad.' You hold the blessing by the root, where you have the promise, Heb. vi. 18.
3. You are to take the naked promise for a ground of your hope, however it seem to be contradicted in the course of his providence. It is his word you are to go by, and stand by, and according to which you must interpret all his dispensations. It is said, Rom. iv. 18, that ' Abraham believed in hope against hope.' When faith dependeth upon God's naked word, then it standeth upon its own basis and proper legs. Everything is strongest in its props and pillars which God and nature hath appointed for it. He hangeth the earth upon nothing, in the midst of the air, but there is its place. So faith standeth fast upon his word, who is able to perform 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;' and Ps. lvi. 3, 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 sin- ful fears; or else it is but a notion, and our reverence and respect to God Avill be weakened by it.
5. When faith hath done its work in the quieting of our own hearts, you must glorify God in your carriage before others : John iii. 33, ■ Put to his seal that God is true ; ' that is, when we confirm others in the faith and belief of the promises, by our joy fulness in all conditions, patience and contentedness under the cross, diligence in holiness, hope and comfort in great straits. You shall see, Num. xx. 12, that God was angry with Moses and Aaron because ' they believed not, to sanc- tify him in the eyes of the children of Israel.' We are not only to believe in God ourselves, but to sanctify him in the eyes of others ; as the Thessalonians by receiving the word in much affliction, much assurance, and joy in the Holy Ghost, were examples to all that believed in Achaia, 1 Thes. i. 5-7. Thus we should do, but how few do thus
VER. 174.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 285