The next thing, then, that we may observe is, that when we go out of ourselves, we must have somewhat to rely on, which is better than all things else. We lose not by the change ; but when we are stripped of ourselves, and of all earthly things, we have God to go to.
Doctrine. God is the object of trust.
God is the proper object of trust of the Christian soul. He is the object of trust, as well as the author of it. He is the cause and worker of it by » That is, ' without reason.'— G. t That is, ' outwar.l.'— G.
144 COMMENTARY ON
his Spirit, and lio is the ohjoct of it. If" we trust to other things, it must be as they are Clod's instruments, as they are (lod's means, liut if we trust anything, eitlier wealtli, or friends, or anything, to neglect the worship of God, or to please ourselves in it, to put our hands to ill courses, in confidence of the creature, in confidence of men, or anytliing else, to take any false cause in hand, this is to trust them above their respect. We must trust to them as instruments, as voluntary instruments, which God may use when he ploaseth, or not use when he pleaseth. When we use them otherwise, we forget their nature. Then we use them not as instru- ments, but as the chief. We forget the order.
God is the object of trust. We must rest on him for grace and glory ; for the best things, and for the things of this life, as far as they are good.
So far as we trust to anything else to move us to s(!curity, to rest in them, or to sin for them, it is a sinful trust. Other things we may trast ; but in the nature of vain instruments, changeable instruments, that God may alter and change. He that is rich to-day, may be poor to-morrow. He that hath a friend to-day, may have him taken away to-morrow. And so all outward things, they are changeable and mutal)le. But we may trust God all times alike. He is eternal. He is infinitely able, and infinitely wise, to know all our grievances. We may trust him with our souls, with our hearts. He is f\xithful, and loving, and eternal, as om- souls are. He gives eternity to the soul. Therefore at all times we may trust in him, in all places, everywhere. He knows our hearts, he knows our grievance everj'where. He hath all grounds of one that may be trusted to. He hath power and goodness, and mercy and wisdom. He is the object of trust.
But how considered, is he the object of trust, God out of Christ, Media- tor ?
Oh, no ! God in covenant with us in Christ, — he is the object of our trust, or else there is such a distance and contrariety between man's nature and God, that he is a ' consuming fire,' Heb. xii. 29. Since the fall from the covenant of works, we cannot be saved by that ; but he hath vouchsafed to be ours in a better covenant in Christ, in whom ' all the promises are yea and amen,' 2 Cor. i. 20. This good comes from God to us by Christ, Christ first receives it, and he derives* it to us, as our elder Brother, and as om' head. All the promises are made in him, and through him. He receives it for us. We receive it at the second hand. God hath filled him first. ' And of his fulness we receive grace for grace,' John i. 16.
' Without him we can do nothing,' John xv. 5. With him we can do all things. So we trust in God reconciled ; God made ours in the cove- nant of grace in Jesus Christ, who hath made our peace. Else God is a ' sealed fountain.' He is a fountain of good, but a sealed fountain. Christ hath opened this fountain. His love is open to Christ, and derived to Christ, in whom our flesh is. He is ' bone of ouj- bone, and flesh of our flesh,' Eph. V. 30, that we might be bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh by being united with him. So now we trust in him, as God, the Father of Christ, reconciled. 'I believe in God the Father Almighty,' as it is in the creed. God thus considered is the object of trust. There are two ojects of trust : God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; and Christ Mediator.
Use. If this be so, that God reconciled now is the object of trust, for all things that are good, not only for salvation, but for grace, and for all com- * That is, ' transmits.' — G.
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP, I, VER. 9. 145
forts, to bring us to heaven, then tre see the vanity of all other confidence u'hatsocrer, as I touched before.
And is it not a blessed thing that God will be trusted, that he hath made himself such a one as we may trust him ? Now blessed be God for Christ, that he having received satisfaction to his justice by him, he may be trusted, and desires that we should trust him ; that now in Christ he hath made himself a Father, that we should not fear him, nor run away from him. It is a great favour that God will be trusted of us, that he will honour us so much.