trace all our inclination and ability for what is good to God, who, in the prosecution of his eternal purposes, imparts both the one and the other to our soulsk. Let us learn, then, to acknowledge him in all that we have received, and to look to him for all that we want. And let the hope, that there may yet be in his heart many undiscovered thoughts of peace towards us, stimulate us to fervent prayer, and diligent exer- tions.]
2. To awaken the secure —
[Some will pervert the truths of God, and say that their exertions are useless, if God have not thoughts of peace to- wards them ; and superfluous, if he have. But God's decrees are no rule of action for us, seeing that they are hidden from us : it is his precepts, which we are to regard ; and if we will not seek him according to his command, we can have no hope that we shall ever find him. Will any man then consign him- self deliberately to perdition, because he does not absolutely know that God has "ordained him unto life?" Should we not justly blame a man who made the uncertainty of life a reason for refusing bodily sustenance ? yet he would act as rationally as the other. Let this then be known ; the man that lives without God, will die without hope ; and, when he perishes, he must accuse, not the hidden purposes of God, but his own folly, sloth, and negligence.]
3. To comfort the feeble-minded —
[Some, who are diligent in the use of means, are apt to perplex themselves with doubts respecting the Divine decrees. But they have within themselves the very best answer to all their doubts : let them only ask themselves, Whence arose my desires after God ? Whence is it that I am enabled to seek him in any measure ? The snare will then instantly be broken : for, the aid they have already received from God, is a far better ground for concluding that he has designs of peace towards them, than any remaining imperfections can be, of his purpose to reject them. Only then wait upon God in prayer, and rest assured that a praying soul can never perish. Continue to ask, and you shall have ; for however secret his purposes may be, his promises are plain and sure : and he says, " Ye shall find me, when ye shall search for me with your whole heart."]
k See also Eph. i. 11. and Phil. ii. 13.
1065. J god's gracious designs towards his chosen. 187