1. The grounds of their security —
[Believers, or unbelievers, we have no strength in our- selves : our strength is in God alone : and, if ever we be strong at all, it must "be in the Lord, and in the power of his might0." His power, as engaged for us, and his fidelity, as pledged to us, are the true, and proper, and only grounds of a sinner's hope. Let the promise which we are now considering be apprehended, and relied upon, and pleaded in faith and prayer, and we can have nothing to fear. " A very worm," so supported, shall " thresh the mountains p." " If God be for us, none can be against usq" ]
2. The reason of their falls —
[Notwithstanding what is spoken in the text, it is certain that many saints do fall, and that most grievously. But whence is this ? Is not God "able to make them standr?" or is He not "faithful who hath promiseds?" Know ye, Bre- thren, that the fault is not in God ; but in his people them- selves, who either become unwatchful, and are therefore left to reap the fruits of their heedlessness ; or indulge self-confidence, and are therefore given up for a season to betray their weak- ness and folly. To these causes must be traced the falls of David and of Peter. If God have engaged to " keep the feet of his saints*," he has not given them therefore a licence to rush into temptation, or to relax their vigilance, or to confide in themselves. His word is true : and he will fulfil it to all who plead it with him. But if we grow remiss and careless, he will leave us to " eat the fruit of our own ways, and to be filled with our own devices11." I will ask of any one that has been left to dishonour God, and to wound his own soul ; " Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the Lord, when he led thee by the wayx?" He has warned thee that it should be thus : " The Lord is with you, while ye be with him : if ye seek him, he will be found of you : but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you y."]
3. The extent of their privileges —
[Weak as we are, and in the midst of enemies, still he would have us "without carefulness." He has bidden us to " cast all our care on Him who careth for usz." He considers himself as dishonoured when we indulge any doubts or fears : " Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faitha?" "Why say est thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from
0 Eph. vi. 10. p Isai. xli. 14, 15. °- Rom. viii. 31.
r Rom. xiv. 4. s Heb. x. 23. ' 1 Sam. ii. 9.
u Prov. i. 31. x Jer. ii. 17. f 2 Chron. xv. 2.
z 1 Pet. v. 7. a Matt. viii. 26.