Obs. VI. 5. Some concerns of the glory of God in the world may sus- pend the full and outward accomplishment of some promises for a sea- son. Thus there are many promises made to the church of deliverance out of afflictions and persecutions, and of the destruction of its ad- versaries. When such occasions do befall the church, it may and ought to plead these promises of God, for they are given and left unto it for that purpose. But yet it often falls out that the fulfil- ling of them is for a long time suspended. God hath other ends to accomplish by their sufferings than are yet brought about or effected. It is needful, it may be, that his grace should be glorified in their patience, and the truth of the gospel be confirmed by their suffer- ings, and a testimony be given to and against the world. It may be, also, that God hath so ordered things, that the straits and per- secutions of the church shall tend more to the furtherance of the gospel and the interest of Christ than its peace and tranquillity would do. And in such a season God hath furnished his people with other promises, which they ought to “mix with faith,” and which shall be accomplished. Such are those of his presence with them, abiding by them, owning and supporting of them, comforting them in their distresses, and of ordering all things to their good and satis- faction. Besides, they have relief and consolation in the goodness, faithfulness, and tenderness of God, in those other promises whose fulfilling and performance he hath reserved unto his own sove- reignty. Herein in all their tribulation do they rejoice, as Abraham
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did in his foresight of the day of Christ, then so many generations distant. And the consideration of these rules will evidence that neither the sons of men, nor any other troubling intervenings of pro- vidence, can any way shake the truth and stability of the promises of God. And we may hence learn,—
(1.) In any condition wherein we judge ourselves to be called to plead any promises of God, and to have an expectation of their accomplishment, not to make haste. This is the great rule given the church in reference unto the greatest promise that ever was given unto it, “ He that believeth shall not make haste,” Isa. xxviii. 16. A promise of the sending of Christ is given in the words fore- going: “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation.” This might well raise up a great expectation in the hearts of the people in their dis- tressed and troublous condition. But, alas! this was not actually ful- filled until many generations after. Here patience is required. “He that believeth shall not make haste;” that is, impatiently press after the future accomplishment of the promise, unto the neglect of present duties. So are we all apt to do. When our condition is grievous and burdensome, and there are promises on record of better things for them that fear God, we are apt to give place to impatient desires after them, unto the neglect of present duties. The same advice is given us in reference unto any providences of God wherein his church is concerned that fall under any promises. Such are those before men- tioned about Antichrist and his destruction; with respect unto them also we are to wait, and not make haste, Hab. ii. 3. We see how many occasions there may be of retarding the actual accomplish- ment of promises. Our wisdom and duty therefore is, to leave that unto his sovereign pleasure, and to live upon his truth, goodness, and faithfulness in them. They shall all be “ hastened in their ap- pointed time.” I could easily instance in evils great and fatal that would ensue on our miscarriage in this thing. I shall name that which is the greatest amongst them: This is that which puts men upon irregular ways to partake of the promise; which when they fail in, as God will blast such ways, they begin to question, yea, to dis- believe the promise itself.
(2.) Again; when the accomplishment of promises seemeth to be deferred, we are not to faint in our duty. The benefit and advantage which we have in and by the accomplishment of promises is not the sole end why they are given unto us of God; but he intends in and by their proposal unto us to try and exercise all our graces,—our faith, patience, obedience, and submission unto him. So he dealt with those Israelites in the wilderness, proposing unto them the pro- mise of entering into rest, he tried them how they would trust him, and cleave unto him, and fully follow after him. Failing herein,
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they came short of the promise. So God deals with us; he will exer- cise and prove us, whilst we are waiting for the actual perform- ance of the promise. Now, if we find this deferred beyond our hopes, and it may be our fears, and we do begin to faint, as though the promise itself did fail, it is the readiest way to cause us to come short of it. Something of this nature befell the father of the faith- ful himself. He had received the great promise, that “in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed.” Many years after this he was childless, until his own body was in a manner dead, and so was Sarah’s womb also. The hope that he had remaining was above hope, or all rational appearing grounds of it. This once put him so to it as that he cried, “ Lord Gop, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless?” All this while God was bringing him to his foot, train- ing him up to obedience, submission, and dependence upon himself. When, therefore, we consider of any promises of God, and do not find that we are actually possessed of the things promised, nor do know when we shall be so, our duty is to apply ourselves unto what in our present station is required of us. We may see and learn the love and goodness that is in every promise, what grace and kindness it proceeds from, what faithfulness it is accompanied withal; which is the sum of what the saints under the old testament had respect unto in the promise of the Messiah. Moreover, what God requires at our hands, what patience, waiting, submission, we must be searching into. These, I say, and the like, are our duties in this case; and not to faint, or charge the Lord unjustly, all whose ways are mercy and truth, and all whose promises are firm and steadfast.