(2.) To keep us upright in obedience, without warping and using any carnal shifts: Gen. xvii. 1, 'I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.' God alone is enough to you. The reason why we so often step out of the way is, because we do not believe God to be almighty, that he is more able to defend than man to hurt. Even God's own children may warp for want of a sound belief of this. Abraham saved himself by a lie, because he would not trust God with his preservation. Gen. xx. 11. Moses was backward to do the Lord's message, Exod. iv. 13, as if God could not bear him out before Pharaoh, and before the Egyptians. There was a promise Jacob should have the blessing, but Eebecca puts him upon using indirect means to obtain it, because she could not trust God's all-sufficiency to bring it about. He that will not trust God and rest upon his power cannot be long faithful to him ; because they think there is not enough in God, they will seek elsewhere. All sincerity ariseth from these two things (and until you get your hearts into this frame you never will be sincere), submitting all things to God's will, and resting upon God's power. How desperate soever the case be, this will relieve you, and keep you sincere and com- fortable., the Lord is a powerful God, and knows how to provide for his glory, and for your sustentation.
Now to quicken you thus to believe and improve the power of God, I will offer these considerations —
(1 ) Consider the amplitude of God's power, which is not to be measured by our scantling and model. We can do something, but God can do all things ; we must have matter prepared, but God works out of nothing; we do things difficultly, and must have time, but God can
50 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SeR. XV.
do all tilings in a moment ; lie needs no instruments or tools, no pattern or copy, but worketh all things according to the counsel of his will. We rust with age, and our strength is dried up, but ' the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save,' Isa. lix. 1. His strength is never wasted or dried up. When anything is to be done or expected from God, is it greater than making the world ? and God is wliere he was at first. Our knowledge of things is by effects, but God never had an effect adequate to his power ; he hath done great things, but he hatli power to do greater : Mai. ii. 15, ' And did not he make one ? yet had he the residue of the Spirit.' When he created the world, he had the residue of the Spirit, he could have made more worlds. All created effects are finite, and therefore not fully answerable to the force of the cause. Let us be still enlarging in our thoughts of God's power. This is a power that needeth not the concurrence of visible means, but can work without them ; yea, opposite power is no hindrance to God. Eubs are plain ground to him : Isa. xxvii. 4, ' Who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together.' What can briers and thorns do against a devour- ing flame ? they are fit fuel to increase the fire, but cannot hinder the burning. God works through all opposition: Isa. xliii. 13, 'I will work, and who shall let it.'
(2.) Consider this power is ready to be employed for our use, so far as it shall make for God's glory and our good. God is ours if we be in covenant with him ; and if so, all that is in God is ours also, quantus, quantus est. As great as he is, God makes over himself in covenant. I am yours, therefore al mightiness is yours, to be set a- work for you. And, as Aristotle said, rwv (fjiXcov iravra kolvu, all things are common between friends and confederates : 1 Kings xxii. 4, * Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.' Surely, being in covenant with God, it is a relation of friendship, and whatever is God's is ours ; and that is the reason of this expression, Eph. vi. 10, * Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.' In all our faintings and fears we should look upon God's almighty power as a guardian for our good. All that God hath is forthcoming for our use ; as all other things, so his almighty power and strength.
(3.) Whatever his will is, or whatever God hath determined to do concerning us, yet he would have us magnify his power, and with com- fort cast ourselves upon it : Isa. viii. 12, 13, ' Fear not their fear, nor be afraid ; sanctify the Lord of hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.' You should set power against power, that you may not be disma5'ed, Isa. 1. 10. It is not meant spiritually onl}'-, but also in temporal cases : ' Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.' You should comfort yourselves in the power and all-sufficiency of God.