stop the breach at first ; for, if left a little time, it will widen, till it defies our utmost exertions. The present satisfaction, as well as the future salvation, of our souls depends on a stead- fast walk with God. Let vis then " hold fast the profession of our faith, and the practice of our duty, without wavering :" and " let us look to ourselves that we lose not the things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward"."]
" 2 John, ver. 8.
Prov. xiv. 26. In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence ; and his children shall have a place of refuge.
IN the Holy Scriptures there is often much con- tained in a small space. Hence we read them fre- quently without discerning one half of their beauty
and importance In the passage before us, we
have in a concentrated form the benefits arising from the fear of God. They are two :
I. Confidence —
Before we speak of the benefit itself, we must en- deavour to attain accurate views of that from which it flows. By " the fear of the Lord," I understand such a fear as brings us to his footstool ; and such a fear as stimulates us to an unreserved surrender of ourselves to him. It is clear that it must compre- hend these, and cannot possibly exist without them^
Now, wherever this is found, there is " a
strong confidence" of acceptance with God; a con- fidence founded,
\. On the general character of God —
[There is, in the mind of every one who has the least knowledge of God, a persuasion that " he delights in mercy :" and though this of itself is not sufficient to warrant a confidence of our acceptance with him, it is a strong confirmation of our confidence, when we have really come to him with a humble believing, and obediential fear ]
2. On the Scripture account of him, as revealed to us in Christ Jesus —
* Ps. cxii. 1.