Use 3. We may likewise to the same purpose consider the promises of God, wherein both his love, and the excel- lency and suitableness of the Lord Jesus Christ are signally and eminently expressed. Many things to very good pur- pose are usually spoken of the promises, their nature, sta- bility, preciousness, efficacy, centring all in one covenant; their confirmation in Christ is usually insisted on, being those in particular which the soul in believing closes withal. I shall at present pitch on these two things.
(1.) The infinite condescension the Lord useth in them, for the obviating all the objections and fears of our unbe- lieving hearts.
(2.) The manifestation of his wisdom and love in suiting them to the most pressing wants, troubles, disquietments, and fears of our souls, that we must needs see his intend- ment in them to do us good.
(1.) The first of these might be evinced by sundry sorts of instances. I shall insist on one only, and that is the un- expected relief that is laid up in them for us, exhibiting grace and mercy, when any thing in the world might rather be looked for. This, with the use of it, I shall manifest by an induction of some particular promises which are gene- rally known to all.
Isa. xliii. 22- — 26. Here are persons guilty of sundry sin- ful follies. The Lord chargeth them home upon their con- sciences to their trouble and disquietment; he makes them go with wounds and blows upon that account. They had neglected his worship, and not called on his name. And whereas they could not utterly cast off all pert'ormance of duties, yet what they did abide in the performance of, was exceeding burdensome to them ; they were weary of it, yea, weary of God therein; and of all spiritual communion and converse with him: 'Thou hast been weary of me.' Their
' L'pon this head, in its several branches, sec his book, Of Communion "ilh God. Works, vol. x. p[). 72 — 96.
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convictions compelled them to do God some service; but it was, as we say, a death to them; they were weary of it; and most things, either as to the matter or manner that God required, they utterly neglected. What then says God of himself in reference to this state of theirs ? Notwithstanding- all my patience, ' thou hast made me weary of thee ;' like one that hath a hard service, that cannot abide in it; it is a bondage, says God, for me to have any thing to do with thee. Suppose we now a poor soul, fully convinced, that thus is the state and condition with him ; so powerful is his unbelief and corruption, that he is weary of God and his ways; it may be he would faintly have it otherwise, and therefore binds himself to the performance of duties, if so be that "God thereby may be flattered: but withal because of his innumerable follies, God also is weary of him ; that he can bear the bondage of him no longer; he is 'weary of serving.' What can such a one conclude with himself, but that everlasting separation from God, will be the close of this dispensation? He is weary of God, and God is weary of him ; surely then they must part, and that for ever. What remedy is there, or can there be? Poor soul lie down in darkness.
But see now what God says in this case, and what an unexpected condescension there is in the word of promise. Is it. Be gone? Take a bill of divorce? Take thine own course, and I will take mine against thee? No, says God, this is an estate and condition whereof ' I am weary,' and • thou art weary;' I am weary of thy multiplying the guilt of sin ; thou art wearied in serving the power of thy sin ; I will put an end to this state of things, we will have peace again between us : ' I will blot out thy sins, and remember thine iniquities no more: I, even I, will do it.' He redou- bles the word passionately, emphatically to call to mind who he is, with whom in this condition we have to do : * I, even I,' who am God and not man ; I whose thoughts are not as your thoughts; I who am great in mercy, and who will abundantly pardon; I will do it.
Yea, butsaith the poor convinced soul, I know no reason why thou shouldst do so, I cannot believe it ; for I know not upon what account I should be so dealt withal. Says God, I know foil well that there is nothing in thee, upon the
330 THE STRENGTH OF l-AITll.
account whereof I should thus deal with thee ; there is nothing in thee, but for what thou deservest to be everlast- ingly cut off; but quiet thy heart, I will do it ' for my own sake.' I have deeper engagements on my own account for this, than thou canst look into.
Doubtless such a word as this coming in, when God and the soul are at the point of giving over and parting fel- lowship ; when the soul is ready to do so indeed, and hath great cause to think that God will be first therein ; then, contrary to all expectation, and above all hopes, must needs constrain it to cry out, as Thomas upon sight of the wounds of Christ, * My Lord and my God.' Let the soul that cannot get itself unto any steadfastness in closing with Christ in the promises; that staggers, and is tossed to and fro, betueen hopes and fears, being filled with a sense of sin and unw'orthiness, dwell a while upon the consideration of this unexpected surprisal, and give up itself to the power of it.