mouths of babes and sucklings" ?" And " does he not put his treasure into earthen vessels on purpose that the excellency of the power may be seen to be of Him" ?" See how he re- proved Jeremiah for his desponding thoughts ^i and be con- tent to be " weak, that his strength may be perfected in your
■weakness^"-" See how he reproved Peter also*; and
be careful how you admit a doubt. If you are doubting, he warns you plainly, that " you must not expect to receive any thing of the Lord'' :" but, if you will believe, according to your faith it shall be unto you'^ ]
° Ps. viii. 2. » 2 Cor. iv. 7- ' Jer. i. 6, 7.
» 2 Cor. xii. 9. " Matt. xiv. 30,31. " ver. 7.
« Matt. ix. 29.
Jam. i. 8. The double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.
IT is a generally-acknowledged truth, that the mind constitutes the man. In human friendships, an insincere profession of regard will not stand a severe trial ; but will fail us, when we most need a firm sup- port. In religion too, if the heart be not right with God, we shall neyer persevere amidst the difficulties and dangers with which we shall be encompassed. That our faith will be tried, is certain ; and that we shall need support from above, is certain : I may add too, that, if we be ** strong in faith, giving glory to God," we shall derive such aid from above, as shall carry us through all our temptations, how great soever they may be, and make us ** more than con- querors" over all our enemies. But, if we are of a doubtful mind, we shall never finally maintain our stedfastness; but shall draw back when dangers threaten us, and faint when trials come upon us ; for, ** the double-minded man is unstable in all his ways."
Let us endeavour, I. To ascertain the character here specified- —
The Apostle is speaking solely respecting confi- dence in God : to that therefore we shall confine
our