^ Isai. xxvi. 12. VOL. V. U
of the godly; so exceeding cold are they, and unsuited to our state as redeemed sinners.
We need, therefore, the continuance of God's tender mercies to us yet daily, as much as ever we did in our carnal and unre- generate state.]
And what should we do, if God should withdraw his loving-kindness from us ?
[What would our " knowledge of God" avail us, or even our own " integrity ? " Satan prevailed over our first parents, even in Paradise : how, then, could we withstand his power, if God should deliver us up into his hands ? In point of knowledge and integrity, David was as eminent as any of the Scripture saints: yet you all know how he felt, when once he was left to the workings of his own heart. Hezekiah was perhaps not inferior to him: yet, when *' God left him, to try him, that he might see all that was in his heart," he also fell, and brought upon himself and his posterity the sorest judgments ''. Who then amongst us could hope to stand, if God should withhold his lo^dng-kindness from us, or suspend for a moment the communications of his grace ?
We need, then, all of us to entreat of God to " continue his loving-kindness to us," or, as it is translated in the margin of our Bibles, to " draw it out at letigth." You all know how a rope, or line, or thread, is formed, by adding fresh materials continually, till it shall have attained its destined length. In reference to this, the prophet represents the ungodly as " draioing out iniquity as cords of vanity, and sin as a cart- rope ^" that is, by constant additions even to their dying hour. And precisely thus we need, that God, who has begun a good work in us, should carry it on even to the end, by drawing out, and imparting to us, such communications of his grace as our necessities require, till we have attained that measure which in his eternal counsels he has ordained, and we be fully " meet for our Master's use."]
Seeing, then, that we all need this blessing, let me
shew you,
II. On what grounds all " who know God, and are upright before him," are authorized to expect it — The petition in my text was offered under a full assurance that it should be granted : for he had scarcely uttered it before he saw, by faith, the answer given : '* There," says he, " are the workers of ini- quity fallen ; they are cast down, and shall not be
c 2 Chroii. xxxii. 31.
'1 See Isai. v. 18. with Bishop Lowth's note upon it.
563.] god's continued carr implored. 291
able to stand." And we also may expect that it shall be answered to all who offer it in faith. We may expect God's continued care, since it is assured to us,
1 . By the promises of God —
[Numberless are the promises which God has made to us respecting the continuance of his love towards all whom, according to his sovereign will, he has chosen to be the objects of it. David, in another psalm, says, " The Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance *^." And again, " The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that fear him ; and his righteousness unto children's children, to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them^." In fact, the whole Scripture testifies that God will perfect that which concerneth his people^; and that, having loved them, he will love them to the end^. Taking, therefore, these promises, we may spread them before the Lord, in full assurance that they shall be fulfiUed ; and in the language of David may say to God, " Hear my prayer, O God ; give ear to my supplications : ifi thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness'!"]