342 -PSA LM s, c 1 1 . 25 — 2 S. [405.
appointed season assumed our flesh at Bethlehem, was the eter- nal God; " his goings forth were of old, from everlasting ^"]
2. His immutability —
[The material creation is formed only as a theatre for the' display of the Creator's glory : and, wiien it shall have answered its destined end, it will be destroyed by fire§: the Creator will dissolve it with as much ease as a man " folds up a garment" for which he has no farther use. But the Lord Jesus Christ will exist for ever. As he is the eternal, so is he the immutable Jehovah: " He is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever*"."}
Not to dwell on a point which requires neither confirmation nor discussion : we proceed to mark more distinctly,
II. The aspect of those perfections on the welfare of the Church — •
In the verse before the text, the Psalmist may be speaking personally of himself, just as Hezekiah did when apprehensive of speedy dissolution ' : but in the close of the psalm he indisputably speaks of the Church : and represents as depending upon Christ, .
1 . The stability of the Church at large —
[The seed here mentioned are the Church of God, the com- pany of the faithful in every age"^. It might be supposed that these, surrounded as they are by enemies on every side, must be utterly destroyed: and, in fact, the Church has at times been re- duced so low, as scarcely to have, except in name, any existence upon earth. But our Lord has founded it upon a rock ; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Other things, how- ever stable in appearance, shall vanish away: but this shall stand for ever and ever\ The«different individuals are successively re- moved by death : but children shall be born to God through the instrumentality of his Gospel, and the Church " continue" to the end of time.]
2. The final salvation of every true Believer — '
[It is a miracle, considering what difficulties the Believed has to encounter, and how unable he is of himself to do even the least thing that is good, that any one should finally attain the promised inheritance. But Jesus lives, and therefore all who trust in him shall live also. In his word he is as immutable as
' Mic. v. 2. The same truth is generally supposed to be declared in Prov. viii. 22 — 31.
5 2 Pet. iii. 10, 12. '' Heb. xiii. 8. Isai. xsxviii. 10—14.
* Ps. kix. 36. • Isai. li. 6,
406.] DUTY OP PRAISING GOD POU HlS MERCIES. 343
in his essence : and " of that word not one jot or tittle shall ever fail." ** Never will he leave them ; never, never will he forsake them." " He is able to keep them from falling';" and, "Of those whom the Father has given him will he lose none."]
Improvement —
Is there amongst you any tempted soul?
[Methinks some may be in the state of the Psalmist, " eat- ing ashes like bread, and mingling their drink with tears "
But let not any one be so bowed down with his afflictions, as to say, " There is no hope." Whilst your Redeemer lives, you have a. sure refuge : and, whatever trials you may have to sustain, " his grace shall be sufficient for you" ]
To those who are mamtainmg their stedfastness in the Gospel —
[We would say. Remember to whom you are indebted for your stability: " He that hath wrought you to this self-same thing is God." O think, what had been your state times with- out number, if your Almighty Saviour had not interposed to rescue you from the jaws of that roaring lion that seeketh to
devour you and let all your confidence be in him
alone ]