[In the midst of health we promise ourselves years to come : but, when God withdraws our breath, we instantly return to our native dust. Some look more gay and possess more " goodliness" than others ; but they are only as the " flower of the field," which cannot survive the grass, and not unfrequently falls before it. In this view the inspired writers describe our state e; and both observation and experience attest the truth of their representations : we must all confess, in the language of the text, " Surely, the people is grass."]
But while every thing human is thus frail and transient, we have a firm foundation whereon to stand, namely, II. The immutability of God's blessed word —
The " word of God" here spoken of, may be under- stood as relating to Christ, who is often called by this name, and whose immutability is mentioned by the Psalmist in this very view f. But St. Peter informs us that the prophet spake of the Gospel-salvation g. Now
This " word" contains the most important and comfortable truths —
[There is no want, which it is not able to supply, no dis- order, for which it does not prescribe a remedy. It proclaims health to the sick, sight to the blind, liberty to the captives, and life to the dead. So extensive are its invitations and promises, that there is not a human being excluded from its provisions, nor is there any limit to the blessings which it will impart. It assures us, that sins of a crimson die may become white as snow ; that the most heavy-laden soul may obtain rest ; and that none, who come to Jesus, shall on any account be cast outh.]
Nor is it a small excellence in these truths, that they are as immutable as God himself —
[How vain were the attempts of men and devils to stop the progress of the Gospel, and to make void the declarations of God respecting it ! Equally vain shall be every endeavour to invalidate the promises which he has made to the believing penitent. Has he said, that " all manner of sin shall be for- given ; that he will cleanse us from all our filthiness and from all our idols ; and that, where he has begun the good work, he will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ?" We may rest
e Job xiv. 1, 2. Ps. xc. 3—6. Ps. ciii. 15, 16. f Ps. cii. 11, 12, 26, 27. s 1 Pet. i. 24, 25.
h Isai. i. 18. Matt. xi. 28. John vi. 37.