GOD THE SAINTS' ROCK. 247
before," saith God; " but now I reveal myself so, because I am come to give subsistence unto my promise." Thus God dealt with them, when he came to maintain his church, by gradual revelations. But now God reveals himself by his whole name ; and we may take what suits our distress, especially that which is comprehensive of all the rest, — " The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
(2.) God doth this by comparing himself to such creatures as act out of natural kindness : " Can a woman foi-get her sucking child ? Yet will I not forget."
Now, there are three reasons why it is necessary that faith, in an overwhelming condition, should have regard to the nature of God, and the essential properties of his nature, for its relief: — [1.] Because of the circumstances of our distresses ; [2.] Because of the nature of them ; and, [3.] Because of the nature of faith : —
[1 .] Because of the circumstances of our distress. There are three or four circumstances that may befall us in our distress, that faith itself can get no relief against them, but from the essential properties of the nature of God : —
1st. The first is, place. Believers may be brought into distress in all places of the world ; — in a lions' den, with Daniel, — in a dungeon with Jeremiah ; they may be banished to the ends of the earth, as John to Patmos ; or they may be driven into the wilderness, as the woman by the fury of the dragon. The whole church may be cast into places where no eye can see them, no hand relieve them, — where none knows whether they are among the living or the dead Now, what can give relief against this circumstance of distress which may befall the people of God I Nothing but what Jeremiah tells us, chap, xxiii. 23, " Am I a God at hand, and not a God afar off, to the ends of the earth?" Ps. cxxxix. 7, " 'Whither shall I flee from thy presence?' to the utmost ends of the earth?" It is all in vain : the essential omni- presence of God can alone relieve the souls of believers against this great circumstance of various places, whither they may be driven to suffer distresses and be overwhelmed with them. If the world could cast us out where God is not, and hath nothing to do, how would it triumph! It was a part of their bondage and great difficulty of old, that the solemn worship of God was confined to one certain country and place ; so that when the enemies of the church could cast them out from thence, they did, as it were, say unto them, " Go, serve other gods." God hath taken off that bondage; all the world can- not throw us out of a place where we cannot worship God. Where- ever there is a holy people, there is a holy land, and we can be driven to no place but God is there ; and if we should be compelled to leave our land, we have no ground to fear we shall leave our God behind us. God's essential omnipresence is a great relief against this cir-
248 GOD THE SAINTS' ROCK.
cumstance of distress, especially to souls that are cast out where no eye can pity them. Should they be cast into dungeons, as Jeremiah was, yet they can say, " God is here."
Idly. It is so likewise with respect to time. The sufferings of the Church of God are not tied up to one age or generation. " We can see some little comfort and relief that may befall us in our own days ; but what shall become of our posterity of future ages?" Why, God's immutability is the same throughout all generations; his " loving- kindness fails not," as the psalmist saith,— which is the only relief against this distress. Alas ! if a man should take a prospect of the interest of Christ at this day in the world, and consider the coming on of wickedness like a flood in all parts of the earth, he would be ready to think, " What will God do for his great name? what will become of the gospel of Christ in another age?" But God is the same through all times and ages.
3dly. There is relief to be found in God, and only in himself, in the loss of all, — when nothing remains. Should a man lose his lands, if his house remains he hath something to relieve him; he knows where to repose his head under his cares. But when all is gone, what can relieve him? Nothing but God and his all-sufficiency. This was Habakkuk's comfort if all should fail him. " Yet," saith he, " I will rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of my salvation."
^tlily. The last circumstance of distress is death. The way and manner whereby it may approach us, and how soon this will be, we know not. When all this state and frame of things shall vanish, and we prove to have an utter unconcernment in things below ; when the curtain shall be turned aside, and we shall look into another world ; the soul's relief lies in God's immutability, — that we shall find him the same to us in death as he was in life, and much more.