attended to, we shall both raise in ourselves the most unwar- rantable expectations, and subject God himself to the imputa- tion of violating his own word.]
3. As to the use that is to be made of them when so applied —
[Doubtless they are intended to comfort and encourage the Lord's people, under all their trials. But they are not in- tended to supersede the exertions of any, or to foster in them any undue security. God will not work, but by means : and he expects us to use the means, as if we were labouring to accomplish every thing by our own unassisted efforts ; whilst yet we renounce all confidence in ourselves, and rely only upon him. Take, for instance, the promises in our text. Are we to hope that God will keep us as a peculiar people, unless we " come out from the world6," and endeavour to " keep our- selves unspotted from ith?" Or are we to assure ourselves that " God will not cast us off for all that we have done," if we never humble ourselves for our past sins, or endeavour to avoid sin in future ? The great use of the promises is, to con- vey to us those blessings which in ourselves we are unable to attain : and, if we improve them not for these ends, we do but deceive ourselves, and betray to ruin our own souls.]
Lay down, therefore, for yourselves the following rules :
1. Seek to gain Christ himself, as your portion —
[" The promise of life," and of every thing pertaining to it, " is in Christ Jesus V And if we apprehend him, we become possessed of every thing that is good, in title at least, if not in actual possession : for " all things are ours, if we are Christ's k." " In him all the promises of God are Yea, and in him Amen1," sure, irreversible, eternal. Our first object, therefore, must be to obtain an interest in Christ. And I can never too strongly inculcate this : for if, " instead of entering into the fold by the door, you climb up some other way," you will only deceive yourselves to your ruinm.]
2. Embrace his promises with humility —
[By humility, I do not mean a hesitation whether you shall rely upon them, or a doubting whether you are worthy to embrace them. Those are the actings, not of humility, but of pride and unbelief. For who in the whole universe is worthy ? Or what humility is there in questioning the truth of God ? It is, as unworthy, that you are to lay hold of them,
s 2 Cor. vi. 17. h Jam. i. 27. i 2 Tim. i. 1.
k 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23. ' 2 Cor. i. 20. m John x. 1, 9.