He will do it to the end of time — [The words before us are in the form of a promise : and we may rely upon them as sure and faithful. They shall be
fulfilled to us under temporal distresses l and under
spiritual trouble also will God surely remember them for our good. Where can we find a more disconsolate state than that depicted by the Prophet Isaiah ? Yet sooner will God work for us the most stupendous miracles than leave us destitute of the desired aidm — ]
The frequency of such interpositions leads me to point out,
s Heb. xii. 6. h Ps. vi. 1 — 7. and xxxviii. 1 — 8.
1 Ps. xxii. 1, 2. and xlii. 6, 7.
k Ps. lxxvii. 1 — 9. and lxxxviii. 14 — 16. and cii. 1—11.
1 Ps. xxxiii. 18, 19. m Isai. xli. 17, 18.
III. The reason why God permits such crises previous to the bestowment of his promised blessings — Amongst many other reasons, he does it,
1. For the making of us more sensible of our de- pendence upon him —
[Whilst, in theory, we acknowledge God as " the Author and Giver of all good," there is no sentiment further from our minds than this in practice. It is only in straits and difficul- ties that we think of looking unto God. But such atheism is most displeasing to the Governor of the universe : and on this account he suffers us to fall into divers temptations, that we may know from whence all our blessings have flowed, and on whose providence we depend. St. Paul assigns this as one very im- portant reason why God permitted such trials to come upon him in Asia, that he was driven to utter despair : " We were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life : but we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead ; who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver ; in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us11." And every affliction that brings us to a more simple life of faith on God, we may justly welcome as a blessing in disguise.]
2. For the magnifying the more his own glorious perfections —
[We scarcely notice God at all in his common mercies : it is only when we are delivered by some signal interposition of his providence or grace, that we become sensible of our ob- ligations to him. Then we say, The Lord hath done this: and we feel disposed, for a time at least, to give him the glory due unto his name. It was for this reason that Jesus came not to restore Lazarus, till he had been dead four days0. Under such circumstances we admire his goodness, and adore his love ; and confess him to be a faithful God, who has never failed in the execution of any promise to his believing people. The song of Moses is sung by us again: " Who is like unto thee, O Lord, amongst the gods ? Who is Hke thee, glorious in hobness, fearful in praises, doing wonders0?" Conviction flashes on our minds with tenfold energy ; and we exclaim with the convinced worshippers of Baal, " The Lord, he is the God! the Lord, he is the God ! "
3. For the rendering of his mercies more influential on our minds —
n 2 Cor. i. 8 — 10. ° John xi. 4, G, 15, 40. p Exod. xv. 11.