tion'^. God is a jealous God, and requires that Me should trust in him alone, and have no confidence whatever on an arm of flesh*.]
2. Whose confidence in God is not entire —
[Not only is there to be no reliance on the creature, but there should be no distrust of God. We should rely upon him without any doubt as to the issue of our confidence. ^\e should view every thing, even to the falling of a sparrow, as under his controul. We should feel that there is no power or counsel against him : and that for man to defeat his pur- poses, is utterly impossible. We should see, that, if we fi"ust in God, he will accomplish for us every thing that is good ; and the things which are not, shall as certainly exist, as if they were already in existence ^"
But this measure of faith is not in the double-minded man. He cannot so repose his confidence in God. He does not so realize the thought of God's universal agency, as to be able to commit every thing into his hands, and to " stand still in an assured expectation of seeing the salvation of God s." On the contrary, he is ever " limiting the Holy One of Israel :" and when successive trials arise, he overlooks his former delive- rances, and reiterates his wonted apprehensions ; like those who said, " He smote the stony rock indeed, that the waters gushed out ; but can he give bread also, or provide flesh for his people ^ ?"]
The character of the double-minded man will be more fully seen, whilst we proceed,
II, To mark his conduct —
" He is unstable in all his ways," and is ever liable to be turned from the truth — •
1 . In his principles —
[Not having such clear views of the covenant of Grace as to be able to lay hold of it, and confidently to expect all the blessings contained in it, he is ever open to the allurements of novelty, and ready, *' like a child, to be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and the cunning craftiness with which they lie in wait to deceive'." Matters which really are of doubtful disputation, possess In his mind an importance which docs not belong to them : and he will dwell on them, to the neglect of other things which are essen- tial to his salvation. Hence it is that heretics of every de- scription gain such influence : and hence it is that so many, " led away by the error of the wicked, fall from their own
stedfastncss."
^ Isai. XXX. 7, 15, 16. ' Jcr xvii. 5—8. ' Rom. iv, 17.
» K*^>d. xiv, 13, H. ^ r». Jxxviii. 19, 20, * Eph. iv, U,