one thing that an immortal soul can need, which is not the
subject of an express promise in the word of God
Moreover, he permits his sinful creatures to como to him " as his remembrancers." By this very name are Ins suppliant people designated^; and every one of them is authorized to spread his promises before him, saying, " Remember thy word unto thy servant, wherein thou hast caused me to hopes ;" and " do unto me as thou hast said^" — — — ]
2. Our security for receiving —
[God is altogether immutable, both in his nature', and
in his word'^ " Sooner should heaven and earth pass
away, than one jot or tittle of his word should faiP." As for difficulties, we have nothing to do with them. Sarah sinned in suffering these to have the least influence upon her mind : for " Is any thing too hard for the Lord™ ?" Our confidence cannot possibly be too strong, when we have an express pro- mise to rely upon. We should have this as an abiding prin- ciple within us ; as a principle which no difficulties whatever should shake : " God is not a man, that he should lie ; neither the son of man, that he should repent : hath he said, and shall he not do it ? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good"?" Never did any one trust in the Lord, and find himself disappointed of his hope. As Joshua appealed to all Israel, so may we appeal to every believer in the universe : " Ye know, in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you : all are come to pass unto you ; and not one thing hath failed thereof"."]
From the example of David I will further point out,
II. Our duty in relation to them —
1. We must embrace them as made over to us in
Christ Jesus — ^-
[It is " in Christ alone that they are aU Yea, and AmenP :" and it is to those only who are in Christ by a living faith, that any of them are made. True, indeed, there are general promises given to those who come to Christ i; but we never have any part in them, till we actually perform the conditions on which alone they are vouchsafed. The Covenant of grace provides for us all that we can ever stand in need of. But
f Isai. Ixii. 6, 7. See the marginal version. e Ps. cxix. 49.
i» ver. 11,16. i Mai. iii. 6. Jam. i. 17. ^ Heb. vi. 17.
1 Matt. xxiv. 35. ^ Gen. xviii. 10 — 14. » Numb.xxiii. 19.
0 Josh, xxiii. 14. P 2 Cor. i. 20.
1 Matt. xi. 28. John vi. 37.