2. I observe, that it is a capacious promise, applicable to several purposes. To Joshua, to embolden him against dangers; to Jacob, to make him patient under crosses; to Solomon, to quicken him against coldness in God's service ; to Israel, to hearten them against enemies ; to all believers, to support them under family wants and straits. One promise hath several uses ; it is good for wants, good for wars. This one promise well observed will teach us to live well and die wellj for still God is with us ; to live without carking, for then God js with us ; and to die without discomfort, for then we are with God. If one promise yield so much comfort, what will all ? it is kolvov larpetov, a common remedy for every disease. As the scripture saith in another case, ' Mark well her bulwarks, tell her towers.' There is no case to which God hath not spoken, no blessing but it is adopted into the covenant.
3. I observe, that it is a promise emphatically delivered.
[1.] For the matter, ' I will not leave thee, nor forsake thee ; ' that is, I will be so far from forsaking or casting thee off, that I will not so much as leave thee for a time. It is such another as that, Ps. cxxi. 4, ' Beliold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.' There is no time that his people are left to shift for themselves, but they are under the care of his providence continually.
[2.] For the form, 6v /aj; ere ava> oyS' ov fj,i] ere erKaraXiTCO. ' I will not not leave thee, neither not not forsake thee.' Five negatives. He will not, yea, he will not ; surely he will not forsake his servants, or neglect them, and withdraw his presence and providence from them.
[3.] For the duplication, ' I will not leave thee, nor forsake thee.' Josef)h told Pharaoh the dream was doubled, because it was established by God, Gen. xli. 32.
All this is to show how dull and stupid we are in conceiving of God's i)romises : ' 0 ye fools, and slow of heart to believe ! ' Luke xxiv. 21. We are backward to everything, but especially to faith, or de[)endence on God for something that lieth not in our own power. Before we are serious and put to trial, notliing seemeth more easy than dependence upon God ; but when it cometh to the push, it is evinced. Now it is God's condescension that he will press these things again and again, that we may not lose the comfort of the promise. The expres- sion is universal, to awaken our attention, to engage our hearts to believe that he will not forsake us in our straits.
4. I observe, that it is a promise that every one must particularly apply to his own case. God doth not say, ' I will not leave you, nor forsake you,' as speaking to his people collectively, but distributively,
446 SERMON UPON HEBREWS XIII. 5.
* thee ; ' and that not only to Joshua, but to Israel : Deut. xxxi. 6, 8-, 'Be strong, and of a good courage ; fear not, nor be afraid of them : for the Lord thy God he it is that doth go with thee ; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.' As in the decalogue, that every one might look upon himself as concerned, God speaketh in the singular number to every individual person, ' Thou shalt have no other gods ; ' so here, ' thou,' as if spoken to by name, Thou, Peter, Andrew, Thomas, ' I will not forsake thee.' Oh, that we had this spirit of application, and could read our names in Christ's testament ! Omnis operatio fit per contac- tum — The closer the touch upon our hearts, the greater the efficacy. Break out your own portion of the bread of life : Job v. 27, ' Lo 1 this, we have searched it, so it is ; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.' Christian ! how many promises dost thou know for thy good ? Canst thou say, Here is my portion; blessed be God for this comfortable promise to me ?
Doct. That God never utterly forsaketh or leaveth his people desti- tute to utter and insupportable difficulties. Why ?
1. The tenderness of his love will not permit it : Isa. xlix. 15, ' Caa a woman forget her sucking-child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb ? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.' There is no such affection as God hath to his children. The mother, if she leave her sucking-child, she doth not utterly forsake him, but runneth to the cry. So will God. He is unchangeable : Mai. iii. 6, ' I am the Lord ; I change not.' He is immutable in his grace, and constant in his promise as well as his being. He needs no after- thoughts ; his purpose of love stands firm ; he willeth a change, but changeth not his will. Though he uses various contrary means, yet his love altereth not, as our condition altereth. We are full of incon- stancy, but not he. Death doth not make void Christ's interest, nor cause his affection to cease when we are rotting in the grave. Where God has once fixed his dwelling-place, he will never leave it again : Ps. xxxvii. 28, ' The Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints.' By judgment is meant righteousness or holiness, the rule ; for conformity to the rule, that is the ground. His truth is plighted in his promises. God hath ever stood upon his credit, especially when his promise hath drawn forth the faith of his people : Ps. cxi. 5, ' God will ever be mindful of his covenant ; ' Ps. ix. 10, ' They that know thy name will put their trust in thee ; for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.' To disappoint a trust is accounted disingenuous among men. No age can give an instance of this in God.