That is the first thing that will greatly refresh our souls under distresses, if we consider God's gracious condescension in taking us into covenant with him, upon the account of his greatness, his holi- ness, and his self-sufficiency; and it is an endearing condescension. " What am I," said Elisabeth, " that the mother of my Lord should come unto me V Much more may we say, " What are we, that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ should thus come unto us, to take us into covenant with himself?"
430 THE EVERLASTING COVENANT, ETC.
2. It will be a relief, if we consider God's all-sufficiency to satisfy our souls in every state and condition. This he made the ground of his covenant with Abraham, — " I am God Almighty." And if there be any want in God, we are freed from the terms of the cove- nant ; — that I may speak it to aggravate the sin of our instability, and the not taking up full satisfaction in him. " But is it so?" saith God, " Have I been a wilderness unto you, or a barren heath? as waters that fail ?" Have we, at any time in our own experience, failed of any thing all our life long hitherto? have we wanted any thiug ? Our want arises because we will not admit, we will not re- ceive; or we long after other things, which God is not pleased we should have. There is in God an all- sufficiency of grace and mercy to pardon us; there is an all-sufficiency of spiritual strength to sup- port us and carry us through all our difficulties; there is an all-suffi- ciency of goodness and beauty to satisfy us; and there is an all-suffi- ciency of power and glory to reward us.
(1.) There is in God, to meet with our wants, an all-sufficiency of grace and mercy to pardon us, Tit. hi. 3, 4, The apostle having made a description of what we were before our conversion to God, and notwithstanding all the paint we put upon ourselves, has given us a character as black as hell: " We ourselves were foolish, disobe- dient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another." How were we delivered ? " The kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared." God, who is rich in grace, of his mercy wherewith he loved us in Christ, not- withstanding that cursed condition of ours, pardons, sanctifies, and saves us. There is an all-sufficiency of grace and mercy in God, I say, to pardon us. Where is there a believer that cannot say, he has found God all-sufficient to pardon sin ?
(2.) There is an all-sufficiency of spiritual strength in God to sup- port us. Here lies our great strait and perplexity, — the experience of our own weakness, of the unspeakable variety of temptations where- with we are exercised, of oppositions that Ave meet withal, especially in such a time, wherein the floods lift up their voice, and rage. Who shall be able to go through all these difficulties, — these remaining trials, temptations, troubles of our pilgrimage? how shall we be able to withstand them? I know not how it is with others, but it is a wonder to myself that my soul is alive, considering what is come already: but " there is the residue of the Spirit with God." He tells you, Isa. xl. 28, to the end, that he Avill not faint in this work of giving out grace and spiritual strength, " He giveth power to the faint ; and to them that have no might he in crease th strength." He is able to carry us through all, and cause us to sing, because of his majesty, in the very fire.
THE MINISTRY THE GIFT OF CHRIST. 431
(3.) There is an all-sufficiency of goodness and beauty in God to satisfy our souls. We are scattering away our affections " upon every high hill, and under every green tree," Jer. ii. 20, — looking for, and seeking after satisfaction from, perishing things ; but we find them all vanity and vexation of spirit: they will appear so unto us. But, " How great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty!" Zech. ix. 17. 0 the excellency and desirableness of God, to satisfy and fill all the affections of our hearts, in every state and condition !
(4.) And lastly, there is an all-sufficiency in God to reward us when we shall be here no more. The lion lies at the door, — death is ready to seize upon us; — let our condition be what it will, we are entering into eternity : but God hath engaged himself by covenant to be our God; he hath promised to carry us through the dark shade, and to crown our souls with glory. " Be thou faithful unto death, and I will Q'ive thee a crown of life."
SERMON III.1
" Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." — Eph. iv. 8.
The design of these words is to show that the gift of the ministry, and of ministers, — of the office, and persons to discharge that office, — is an eminent fruit of the exaltation of Christ, and a great expression and pledge of his care and love towards his church; and that is my doctrine, which I shall speak unto from them.