discouragement's eecoveet. 63
changes in thyself, why shouldst thou be discouraged or disquieted in any state whatsoever ? God is thine to do thee good.
Use 2. Again, Here is a ground of coynfort against all losses whatsoever. The world, and worldly men, may strip us of these earthly things, vex our bodies, and restrain our liberties, and take away outward things from us ; but this is our comfort, they cannot take our God from us, for this is an everlasting portion, my God, my help, my all- sufficiency. In truth, friends, means, and life itself may be taken away, yet God will never fail nor forsake us. We are here to-day, and gone to-morrow, and life is the longest thing we have, for we may out-live our riches and honours. But what then ? Ps. xc. 1, 2, it is said, ' Thou art an everlasting habitation, from everlasting to everlasting,' and we dwell in the fear of God. We had a being in thy love, 0 Lord, before ever we were born, and when we are dead, we are in thy love still. What a comfort is this to cause us to rest in our God, and that for ever ! But as for the wicked, it is not so with them ; their voice is, The ' PhiHstines are upon me, and God hath forsaken me,' 1 Sam. xxviii. 15. This is a fearful speech, and is, or shall be, the voice of every wicked man ere long. Now they ruffle it out,* and none so free from care and trouble as they ; but where is their comfort when their consciences shall be awakened ? Then their voice will be, Death and hell and all are upon me, and God hath forsaken me ; what shall become of me and mine ? But as for the children of God, let what will come upon them, yet God can command salvation, and he commands comfort to attend his people, for God is my God. I beseech you to enlarge these things in your own medi- tations, and do not disquiet yourselves, but believe in God for these things, and for your own happiness in heaven, and cast yourselves upon Christ for the pardon of sins in the first place; and then, * trust in God,' and nothing in all the world that comes between you and heaven but God will remove it, and bring you safe thither ; but, in this case, many doubts arise : 1. For perseverance.
Ohj. I may fall away for time to come.
Ans. I answer, That God, that hath begun this good work in me, will finish it in his due time, Philip, i. 6.
Ohj. Ay, but I am changeable.
Ans. It is true, but God is unchangeable ; thou mayest be off and on, but God is not so, for the ground of his love is always alike. Therefore fear nothing for the present nor for the time to come.
Ohj. Oh but I have a great charge, and these are hard and evil times.
Ans. God is thy God, and the God of thy seed, therefore labour to make this sure, that God is thy God, and in thus doing, thou providest for thy- self and thy posterity ; and when thou art dead and gone, then the living Father will be a God to;, thy posterity and children. Therefore I beseech you trust in God, wait upon him, and fear not the want of necessaries in this life. What foolish children are we, that think God will give us heaven when this Hfe is gone, and yet we fear he will not give us such things as shall maintain this life, while we are here employed in his service ! ' The heathen seek after all these things,' saith our Saviour, Mat. vi. 32 ; but ' it is your Father's pleasure to give you a kingdom,' Luke xii. 32.
Exhortation. Well, therefore, for provision and protection both in life
and death, trust in God for all, and all shall be well with us ; then wait
upon God. I beseech you make one thing sure, that is, make God to be
our God, by trusting in him, and walking worthy of him. And this one
* That is, are at ' the height of prosperity.' Of. Glossary, sub voce. — G.
64 DISCOURAGEMENT S RECOVERY.
care will free you of all other cares. This one study is better than all other studies ; for if we can make God our God, then we make all other things ours also. This requires more than ordinary of a Christian, to walk worthy of the Lord : ' Two cannot walk together if they be not agreed,' saith Solo- mon,* therefore this requires great mortification of soul, and much holiness, to walk with God. This world knows not what this is, to walk with God in the ways of heaven, where there is nothing but holiness. Therefore we must exercise our communion with God, by praying to him, and by hearing of him, and thinking upon his word and presence, and abstaining from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. We have an holy God, therefore we must labour for a good measure of holiness, if we will maintain communion with God. This should enforce us thus to stand for God and his truth, because he is our God. It is strange to see how men do not walk this way. They will part with anything, or do anything for their lust, but yet they will not endure to part with anything for God, and for the comfort of their souls. Well ! Christ stood for us unto the death, and gained us life, when it could not be had otherwise ; and are we too good to stand for a good cause ; nay, to die for the maintenance of God's cause ? What ! shall not we stand for God ? Yes ; for he is an ' hiding-place ' to us ; and if death come to us for this cause, he is life to us, and we have a being for ever in his love.