but God himself promises that "your strength shall be accord- ing to your day." His very covenant with his people is, " He will put his fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from him*." This is a principle which cannot but operate, and cannot but be effectual for the mortification of all sin, and for the performance of all duty. See its operation in the Apostle Paul. Under trials as severe as man could well be called to endure, he said, " I know that this shall turn to my salvation, through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death "." Thus you may encounter all difficulties without fear; and, knowing in whom you have believed, may assure yourselves that no enemy whatever shall be able to prevail against you ^.]
Comfort in death ?
[This also is secured to you : " Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright ; for the end of that man is peace y." I say not that you shall have joy : for there may be in the very nature of your disorder much to prevent that buoyancy of mind which is a necessary attendant on joy : hni peace shall assuredly be your portion, if only you trust in God: for God has said, " I will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on me, because he trusteth in me ^"]
Glory in eternity ?
[This also shall be yours. Your expectations cannot be too enlarged, if you walk in the fear of God as you are here enjoined : " I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord; thoughts of good, and not of evil, to give you an expected end^. " And in this you differ widely from the sinner, who casts off" the fear of God. To persons of this latter description God says, " What fruit had ye then of those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now, being made free from sin, and become ser- vants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness and your end everlasting life ^."
Tell me now. Brethren, whether ye have not encourage- ment to fear the Lord ? and whether there be any
sinner in the universe whose portion can be compared with yours ? ]
Application —
t Jer. xxxii, 40. " Phil, i. 19, 20. "^ Horn. viii. 35 — 39.
y Ps. xxxvii. 37. ^ Isai. xxvi. 3. » Jer. xxix. 11.
^ Rom. vi. 21. 22.