What makes a man faithful ? Trust to a man makes him faithful. So when God is honoured with our trusting of him, it makes him faithful. Let us therefore put in suit his promises of provision and protection every day in the way of our calling ; and for necessary grace and comfort, that he will not fail us in any necessary grace to bring us to heaven, considering that he hath tilled our nature with all grace in Christ.
4. Again, let us take this course, when we hear of rich and precious pro- mises that are made, labour to hum them. What ? shall we have an inheri- tance, a portion, and not labour to know it ? Let us labour to know all our portion, and to know it of those that search the word of God, to be glad to hear anything concerning the privileges and prerogatives of a Chris- tian. Those that dig the mines of the Scripture, which is the office of the ministers, let us labour to know all our privileges.
Let not Satan rob us of one privilege. Every promise is precious. They are rich promises. Yet they are no more than God thought necessaiy for us. He thought all little enough to stablish our faith. Let us not lose one. We cannot be without one. Let us labour to know them.
And when we know them, work them upon our hearts by meditation, and shame ourselves upon it : say, is it true, are these promises so ? Is it true that God hath revealed these things in his word ? To whom hath he made them ? to angels or to beasts ? No ! to men, to sinners, to men in the world to comfort them. They are their provision, their inheritance, as David saith, Ps. cxix. 57, 103, ' Thy word is my inheritance, and my portion ; they are sweeter than the honey and the honeycomb.' Are they so ? Do I be- lieve this, or do I not believe it ? Yes ! I do. If I do, can I believe them, and be so uncomfortable ? Let us shame ourselves. Do I believe the promises of life everlasting, the promises of perseverance, the promise that God will hide me in danger, that he will be my habitation and my hiding-place ? and do I look to unlawful means ? Do I live without God in the world, as if there were no promise ? What a shame is this ! There is a weakness in my faith certainly. When a branch withers, there is a
2 COBINTHIANS CHAP. I, \'ER, 20. 413
fault in the root. So there is a defect in the radical grace, that it draws not juice out of the promises as it should. There is a defect in my faith. Therefore I will look where the defect is, and strengthen my faith.
Thus we should shame ourselves. Can I hear these promises, and be no more joyful, and be no more affected ? Can I use indirect means, and yet believe that God is all-sufficient to me in the covenant ? Certainly I cannot.
Therefore let us come to the trial, to some few evidences, that a man doth believe in the promises.
He that believes the promises of God in Christ to be * yea and amen,' doubtless he will be affected, answerable to the things promised. Saith David, * Thy statutes they are the joy of my heart,' Ps. cxix. 11.
1. The promises uill be the joy and rejoicituj of our heart. He that can hear of promises, and not be affected, certainly he believes them not. When a man thinks of his inheritancee, and of his evidences, that they are clear, that he shall enjoy it without suit, or trouble, it comforts him, he cannot think of it without comfort. Cannot a man think of a little pelf of the earth without comfort, when he knows he hath assurance to it ? and shall we think of heaven and happiness, and not rejoice ? Will not these be the joy of a man's heart ? Certainly they will affect him. When good things are apprehended by faith, will they not work upon the affections ? Certainly they will.
2. Again, where the promises are believed, they will quicken, us to all cheerful obedience. Certainly, if God will assist me with strength and com- fort if I go on in his ways, and in the end of all give me life everlasting, this will quicken me to all obedience. Therefore those that go deadly and dully, as if they had no encouragement here, nor promise of glory after, they believe not the promises. For God doth not set us on work as Pharaoh set the children of Israel to make brick without straw ; but when he bids us do anything, he promiseth us grace, and gives us his Spirit, and after grace he gives glory. If men did believe this, ihey would go about God's work without dulness and staggering. So far as we are dull, and stagger in the work of God, so far our faith is weak in the promises of God.
3. Again, as they quicken in regard of comfort, so they purge in regard of holiness ; for they make men study mortification and sanctification, 2 Cor. vi. 18, and the beginning of the viith, ' Ha\dng these promises, let us purge ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfect sanctifica- tion in the fear of God.' ' Having these promises.' So that the promises, as they have a quickening, so they have a purging power ; and that upon sound reasoning. Doth God promise that he will be my Father, and I shall be his son ? and doth he promise me life everlasting ? and doth that estate require purity ? and no unclean thing shall come there ? Certainly these promises being apprehended by faith, as they have a quickening power to comfort, so they purge with holiness. We may not think to carry our filthiness to heaven. Doth the swearer think to carry his blasphemies thither ? Filthy persons and liars are banished thence : there is ' no unclean thing.' He that hath these promises purgeth himself, ' and perfecteth holiness in the fear of God.' ' He that hath this hope purifieth him- self, as he is pure,' 1 John iii. 3. So these promises affect, and quicken, and purge.