assured that he will fulfil his word : for " he is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man that he should repent." But it may be said, " Though God changeth not, yet we change, and therefore may forfeit our interest in the promises." True ; if God should leave us, we not only may, but most undoubtedly shall, both fall and perish. But God has said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee; so that we may adopt the confident declaration of St. Paul, " I know in whom I have believed, that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him." We must be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Then, though difficulties may arise, and appear for a while wholly insur- mountable, they shall surely be overcome : " Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain ; and we shall see the salvation of God."]
We may learn from hence,
1. The folly of seeking our rest in earthly things —
[The injunction given to the prophet to " cry," and to proclaim aloud that " all flesh is grass," and the frequent repe- tition of this comparison, are strong intimations of the extreme vanity of every thing here below. And who amongst us has not found that the enjoyments he fondly anticipated, have either eluded his grasp, or deceived his expectation ? What- ever then be our comforts in life, let us not set our hearts upon them, but " so use the world as not abusing it, knowing that the fashion thereof passeth away."]
2. The wisdom of embracing the Gospel-salvation —
[They who trust in the word of God are sure of never being disappointed. However high their expectations are raised, they shall never be ashamed. The stronger their faith, the more abiding will be their comfort. Besides, their enjoy- ments, instead of cloying, will become more and more delight- ful ; and, instead of bringing with them many inseparable ills, will produce nothing but good to their souls. But that which most of all must endear the Gospel to them is, that their hap- piness will then be consummated, when they, whose comforts were of an earthly nature, will want even a drop of water to cool their tongue. Let the word of God then be precious to our souls. Let Christ, as revealed in it, be the object of our faith, and hope, and love. Let us embrace the promises, assured that they shall all be fulfilled ; and let us tremble at the threatenings, knowing that they shall all be executed. Thus shall we be proof against the temptations of the world, and shall possess an eternity of glory, when the lovers of this present world will lie down in everlasting burnings.]
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