Hab. ii. 3. The vision is yet for an appointed time ; but at the end it shall speak, and not lie : though it tarry, wait for it ; because it will surely come ; it will not tarry.
AS there is no one so secure, but he may fall, so there is no one in so low and afflicted a condition, but God may have mercy in reserve for him. It has pleased God on many occasions to suffer his people to be reduced to the very last extremity before he interposed for them, in order that his interposition for them might be more visible, and might produce in their minds livelier sensations of joy and gratitude. The prophet, having foretold the total destruction of his country by the Chaldean armies, was greatly grieved at the prospect of such extensive and dreadful cala- mities. He looked therefore to God, to know whe- ther there were any alleviating circumstances which might console the people in their troubles ; and he was favoured with a vision of their future deliverance from Babylon ; and was ordered to write it down in terms so plain, that the most inattentive or superfi- cial observer could not but understand them : but as the promise had respect to a distant period of time, he was told to bid them wait for its accomplishment, in a full assurance that they should not ultimately be disappointed.
But we must not confine the promise to this sub- ject : for in the Epistle to the Hebrews this promise is quoted in a general manner, as applicable to all the distresses with which the Lord's people are tried a. The Lord himself stands engaged for their support and deliverance ; and he enjoins them to wait his ap- pointed time, in a certain expectation that he will in due season fulfil his word.
We propose then to shew,
I. The certainty of the promises —
a Heb. x. 37.