oracles, and as the unbelief of men is so inveterate, we submit to the necessity, and proceed to shew that,
1. He will not lie —
[First, let us hear the testimonies of those who have tried him. Had ever any one more opportunities of proving his fidelity than Moses, Joshua, and Samuel ? Yet they all attest in the most solemn manner that he neither had deceived them in any thing, nor ever would"
Next, let us attend to God's own assertions and appeals0
Would he ever venture to speak thus strongly on his
own behalf, if his creatures could make good their accusations against him ?
Lastly, let us look to matter of fact. He threatened to punish the angels if they should prove disobedient : he de- nounced a curse on Adam if he should eat of the forbidden tree : he threatened to destroy the whole world with a deluge ; and to overwhelm Sodom and Gomorrha with fire and brim- stone ; and to scatter his once chosen people over the face of the whole earth. See now whether he has forborne to execute any of these threatenings. He also promised to send his only dear Son to die for sinners ; and to make him great among the Gentiles, while his own nation should almost univer- sally reject him. Have either of these promises been forgotten ? Or, if such promises, and such threatenings have received their accomplishment, is there any reason to doubt respecting any other that are yet unfulfilled ? Are not his past actions so many types and pledges of what he mil hereafter perform ??]
2. He cannot lie —
[Truth is as essential to the divine nature as goodness, wisdom, power, or any other attribute ; so that he can as easily cease to be good, or wise, or powerful, as he can suffer " one jot or tittle of his word to fail." If for one moment he could divest himself of truth, he would cease to be deserving of all confidence or affection. Let it only be said of any man, " He is great, and wise, and generous, but no dependence can be placed on his word," would he not on the whole be deemed a contemptible character? How then would Jehovah be de- graded, if any such infirmity could be laid to his charge?
It should seem that St. Paul was peculiarly solicitous to guard us against entertaining the smallest possible doubt of the divine veracity; for he abounds in expressions declarative of this perfection. "God," says he, "cannot lie*;" and again,
n Deut. xxxii. 4. Josh, xxiii. 14. 1 Sam. xv. 29.
0 Isai. v. 4. and xlix. 19.
p 2 Pet. h. 4 — 9. Jude, ver. 7. llpoKtivrat Stly/ia. i Tit. i. 2.