To clear it by instances. Sometimes the Lord swears ' by himself,' Jer. li. 14; sometimes 'by his holiness,' Amos iv. 2; and in other
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])laces ' by his excellency,' Amos vi. 8 ; and by his life, * As I live, saith the Lord.' Now in all these there is something answers the appeal ; as if the Lord should say to the creature, What do you think of me ? Can you think that I will deceive you ? As you esteem of me a living, holy, ex- cellent, glorious God, so surely will I perform all my promises. Then there is something answers to the execration or appeal to God as a judge, there is his honour laid at stake upon such an issue ; never count me a living, glorious, excellent God more. God draws an imprecation (let me speak it with reverence) upon himself, if I do not accomplish this for you. All the glory of his godhead is laid at pawn and pledge with the creature.
Application.
Use 1. Information.
1. We see the greatness of the condescension of God. Herein God considereth rather what is fit for our infirmity than his own glorious excellences. Such is the sovereign majesty of God, that it is enough for him to declare his mind to his creatures, to command what he would have done, and to forbid what he dislikes ; but he addeth a promise, and would indent with us in the solemn way of a covenant, as if we were altogether free before the contract. Now, as if his word were not enough (though it be enough ; he can as well deny his nature as his truth ; he can do all things, but he cannot lie) he addeth his oath. We take it ill to be forced to our oath. That God should engage himself at all is much, for he is debtor to no man. We account it a wrong to a friend to require a bond of him for the assuring of a free gift. God is willing to do anything, not only for our safety, but assurance, that the comfort might be more strong, and remain with us in life and death. It is not acceptable to God that we should always fluctuate, and be •upon terms of uncertainty, therefore he was pleased to yield thus far.
2. What reason we have to bind ourselves to God. There was no need on God's part why God should bind himself to us, but great need on our part why we should bind ourselves to God. We start aside like a deceitful bow, and therefore we should solemnly bind ourselves to God : Ps. cxix. 106, ' I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.' We need the strongest cords ; we have sometimes motions to good, but they die presently, and come to nothing Well, then, out of necessity, as well as out of gratitude, let our engage- ment in the covenant answer to the Lord's. Only take heed of resting in it, and take heed of breaking it. Take heed of resting in it ; remember Peter's confident promise would not bear him out ; a rash and pre- sumptuous confidence is soon disappointed What feathers are we, for all our vows and oaths, when the blast of a temptation is let loose upon us ! Take heed of breaking it ; remember Ananias, Acts v. God hath a double right ; an oath bindeth us more than a bare promise. Better never have sworn than not perform our vows.
3. You see the great wrong you do to God in giving so little credit to his promises. You make God a liar : 1 John v. 10, ' He that beiieveth not God hath made him a liar.' But John iii. 33, ' He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.' It is a great dishonour to God not to receive God's testimony ; you put the lie upon him, and so make him to be no God. You would not do
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SO to your equals. A lie is the greatest reproach , it rendereth a maa unfit for society and commerce. It is a fearful thing to make the God of truth a father of lies. AVhen God hath given his word, and oath, and seals, all this while shall he not be believed? God never gave us cause to distrust him, he never failed in one promise ; all that have had to do with him have found him a faithful God. Nebuchadnezzar doth him this honour and right after he had tasted of the whip, and was again restored to the use of reason : Dan, iv. 37, ' Now I Nebu- chadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth;' not only justice, but truth, not only as I deserved, but as he foretold. It is a shame that you have made no observations upon providence, that you may give it under hand and seal that God is true and faithful. God expecteth such a testimony from his people ; all that have long had to do with him have found him a true God both in a way of justice and mercy, that he ever stood to his word. God cannot lie : Titus i. 2, ' In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.' God can do all things that argue power and perfection of nature, but he cannot lie, for that argueth weakness and impotency: 2 Tim. ii. 13, 'If we believe not, yet he abideth faitlif ul ; he cannot deny himself ; ' he should then cease to be God. He is truth itself, the primitive and supreme truth, the original author of all truth. If he should not be true, who should be so?