[It was " but yesterday" that we grew up ; and to-morrow " our place will no more be found." If suffered to continue for a while, we are only ripening for the scythe ; but a burning sun, or blasting wind, may cut short our existence in an hourd. And when once the flower of the grass is withered, all remem- brance of it is gone : and so it is with us : we look gay and flourish for a little moment : and then pass away, and give place to other generations.]
But " the mercy of God towards his people is from everlasting to everlasting" —
[As to its origin, it existed from all eternity. It is not ex- cited in the bosom of our God by any thing that he sees in man : neither the misery of our fallen state, nor any goodness which we may be supposed to manifest, move him to exercise a disposition that was not antecedently conceived in his own mind. Both his determination to exercise mercy, and the objects towards whom it should be exercised, were from all eternity fixed in his own bosom e. His people are chosen by him, not because they are holy, or will be holy, but that they " may be holy, and with- out blame before him in love1." " He loved them with an ever- lasting love, and therefore with loving-kindness hath he drawn them g."
In its duration also it is everlasting. " If he have begun a good work in them, we may be confident that he will carry it oah." As, on the one hand, he will not depart from them, so, on the other hand, " he will put his fear in their hearts, that they may not depart from him1." If at any time they trans- gress against him, he will chastise them with the rod, till he has brought them back to himself: but " his loving-kindness will he not utterly take from themk:" for "his gifts and callings are without repentance1." In every age will he prove faithful to his promises, even " to all posterities for evermore."
This doctrine is thought by many to encourage a presump- tuous confidence, and a consequent neglect of holiness. But, if we only bear in mind the statement before given of the cha- racter of God's people, and our unequivocal declaration, that no person who does not answer to that character can have any scriptural hope of mercy, we shall see, that there is no occasion for jealousy on that head. The holiness of man is secured by the irreversible decree of Heaven, That the end shall be com- bined with the means ; and that every one whom God has or- dained unto life, shall be " made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light." We need not be afraid to give unto God all
d Jam. i. 10, 11. e Eph. iii. 11. 2 Tim. i. 9.
f Eph. i. 4—6. g Jer. xxxi. 3. h Phil. i. 6.
1 Jer. xxxii. 40. k Ps. lxxxix. 30—36. J Rom. xi. 29.