To the spiritual Israel also he engages that he will keep them, even to the end —
[" His gifts and calling are without repentancef." "Where he has begun a good work, he will carry it on, and perfect it, unto the day of Christg." If " he has laid in our hearts the foundation of his spiritual temple, he will complete ith;" and " be the finisher of that faith of which he has been the author'." " His ways in this respect are not like the ways of men :" they, either from impotence or versatility, often relinquish their plans : he never does. In his own mind he considers the blessings which he bestows, not merely as a benefit conferred, but as a pledge of future blessings: " He will not forsake his people, because it hath pleased him to make them his people k." Hence we are justified in founding on the experience of past benefits an assured expectation of future: " Thou hast delivered my soul from death : Wilt thou not deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living1?" The very repetitions in our text strongly confirm this important truth: " Even to hoar hairs will I carry you : I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you." And to the same effect the Apostle Paul assuring us that God will
d Deut. xxii. 10—12.
e This is the import of " I am he." See Ps. cii. 27. f Rom. xi. 29. 8 Phil. i. 6. » Zech. iv. 9.
• Heb. xii. 2. k 1 Sam. xii. 22. > Ps. Ivi. 13.
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