the offers of his Gospel s If he prune them as a vine,
it is to augment their fruitfulness*. If he refine them as with fire, it is to advance the purification of their souls". Thus he constrains them to acknowledge with the Psalmist x — .]
They indeed are often ready to doubt his love. But, III. His regards are permanent —
God did not forget his people when they were in Babylon, neither will he now " forsake" those who trust in him —
[He may appear for a season to have forsaken themy. They may be left to complain as though he had quite forgotten them2. But his having made them his people is a reason why he will not recede from his gracious purposes a. The Apostle was confident that God would complete his works of grace b.]
He will continue firm and unchangeable in his regards to them —
[The prophets declare this in the strongest terms0. St. Paul abundantly confirms their testimony d. He commends this truth to us as a ground of cheerful confidence in the most trying seasons e.]
Infer —
1. How careful should we be not to pass a hasty judgment on the Lord's dealings!
[We are too ready under trials to exclaim with Jacob f — . Yet the trials we complain of may be, as in his case, the neces- sary means of our preservation. It is the part of a believer to wait with patience for the issue g."]
2. How safely may we commit ourselves to God's
disposal !
[God alone knows what is best for us. He knows, too, how to accomplish his designs in the best manner. Let us therefore commit all our concerns to himh. Let us lie as clay in the potter's hands'. In whatever distress we be, let us follow the prophet's direction k — .]
s Gal. iii. 23, 24. l John xv. 2. u Mai. hi. 3.
x Ps. xcvii. 2. y Isai. liv. 7, 8. z Isai. xlix. 14 — 16.
a 1 Sam. xii. 22. b Phil. i. 6.
c Isai. liv. 9, 10. Jcr. xxxi. 37. and xxxii. 40.
A Rom. xi. 29. e Heb. xiii. 5, G. f Gen. xlii. 30.
g Isai. xxviii. 16. h Ps. xxxvii. 5. • Jer. xviii. 6.
k Isai. 1. 10.
930.1 god's CARE TOR HIS people.
157