But yet farther, that it may be evident, that from hence there can be no occasion of staggering, this God of truth, whose word is truth, hath in his infinite wisdom conde- scended to our weakness, and used all possible means to cause us to apprehend the truth of his promises. The Lord might have left us in the dark, to have gathered out his mind and will towards us from obscure expressions ; and knowing of what value his kindness is, it might justly be ex- pected that we should do so. Men in misery are glad to lay hold of the least word that drops from him, that can relieve them, and to take courage and advantage upon it. As the servants of Benhadad watched diligently, what would fall from the mouth of Ahab concerning their master, then in fear of death ; and when he had occasionally called him his brother, they presently laid hold of it, and cry, * Thy brother Benhadad ;' 1 Kings xx. 33. God might have left us, and yet have manifested much free grace, to have gathered up falling crumbs, or occasional droppings of mercy, and supply, that we should have rejoiced to have found out one word looking that way ; but to shut up all objections, and to stop for ever the mouth of unbelief, he hath not only spoken plainly, but hath condescended to use all the ways of confirming the truth of what he says and speaks, that ever were in use among the sons of men.
There be four ways, whereby men seek to obtain credit to what they speak, as an undoubted truth, that there may be no occasion of staggering.
[1.] By often averring and affirming of the same thing. When a man says the same thing again and again, it is a sign that he speaks the truth, or at least that he would be
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thought SO to do. Yea, if an honest man do clearly, fully, plainly, often engage himself to us in the same thing, we count it a vile jealousy not to believe the real truth of his intentions. Now the Lord in his promises often speaks the same things, he speaks once and twice. There is not any thing that he hath promised us, but he hath done it again and again. For instance, as if he should say, * I will be mer- ciful to your sins,' I pray believe me, for, ' I will pardon your iniquities,' yea, it shall be so, * I will blot out your transgres- sions as a cloud.'
There is not any want, whereunto we are liable, but thus he hath dealt concerning it. As his command is line upon line, so is his promise. And this is one way whereby God causeth the truth of his promises to appear. To take away all colour of staggering, he speaks once, yea twice, if we will hear.
[2.] The second way of confirming any truth, is by an oath. Though we fear the truth of some men in their asser- tions, yet when once they come to swear any thing in justice and judgment, there are very few so knovvnly profligate, and past all sense of God, but that their asseverations do gain credit, and pass for truth. Hence the apostle tells us, Heb. vi. 16. that ' an oath for confirmation is to men an end of all strife.' Though the truth be before ambiguous and doubtful, yet when any interposes with an oath, there is no more contest amongst men. That nothing may be want- ing to win our belief to the promises of God, he hath taken this course also, he hath sworn to their truth. Heb. vi. 13. * When God made promises to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater he sware by himself.' He confirms his promise by an oath. * O, faelices nos, quorum causa Deus jurat; 6 infselices, si nee juranti Deo credimus !' When Christ came, ' in whom all the promises of God are yea and amen,' to make sure work of the truth of them, he is con- firmed in his administrations by an oath. Heb. vii. 21. ' He was made a priest by an oath, by him that said. The Lord sware, and will not repent. Thou art a priest for ever.' Now, I pray, what is the cause of this great condescension in the God of heaven, to confirm that word, which in itself is truth, by an oath ? The apostle satisfies us as to the end aimed at, Heb. vi. 17, 18. This was, saith he, the aim of God
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herein, that his people seeing him engaged, by two such im- mutable things, as his promise and his oath, may be assured that there is an utter impossibility, that any one word of his should come short of its truth; or, that they firmly resting upon it should be deceived thereby. And this is a second way.
[3.] Another course, whereby men confirm the truth of what they speak, is by entering into covenant, to accom- plish what they have spoken. A covenant gives strength to the truth of any engagement. When a man hath but told you he will do such and such things for you, you are full of doubts and fears, that he may break with you ; but when he hath indented in a covenant, and you can shew it under his hand and seal, you look upon that, consider that, and are very secure. Even this way also hath the Lord taken to confirm and establish his truths and promises, that all doubtings and staggerings may be excluded, he hath wrap- ped them all up in a covenant, and brought himself into a federal engagement, that upon every occasion, and at every temptation, we may draw out his hand and seal, and say to Satan and our own false hearts ; See here, behold God en- gaged in covenant, to make good the word, wherein he hath caused me to put my trust ; and this is his property, that he is a God keeping covenant. So that having his promise re- doubled, and that confirmed by an oath, all sealed and made sure by an unchangeable covenant, what can we require more, to assure us of the truth of these things ? But yet farther ;