he is not willing, to afford me the succour which I stand in need of. But of his ability how can I doubt, when I reflect on what he has already done for me, in quickening me when dead, and bringing me thus far on my journey heaven-ward ? Nor can I doubt of his willingness to help me, since the very first motions of my heart towards him were the gift of his sovereign grace, who " gave me both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Surely these thoughts must afford unspeak- able encouragement to the believer, under all the trials to which he can ever be exposed ; whilst, on the contrary, if he had only a created power whereon to rely, he must on many occasions sink into utter despondency.]
2. The mercies they have received are to them a pledge of future blessings —
[This necessarily arises from the thought of God's electing love. For, why did he ever choose us ? Was it to abandon us again ? Why did he ever quicken us ? Was it to give us over to death again ? Why did he ever translate us from the king- dom of darkness into the kingdom of his dear Son ? Was it that we might ultimately perish with an accumulated weight of condemnation ? He has told us, that the gift of "his Holy Spirit is an earnest of our heavenly inheritance." Now, an earnest is a part of a payment, and a pledge that the remain- der shall in due time be paid : and, consequently, the work of grace already wrought in the hearts of his people is a pledge that he will carry on and perfect it within them. For " he is a God that changeth not ; and therefore we neither are, nor shall be, consumed." " His gifts and calling are without repentance or change of mind, on his part." " Whom he loveth, he loveth to the end." And the consideration of this is a rich consolation to his believing people ; as he has said : God, " willing more abundantly to shew unto his people the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it with an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge, to lay hold on the hope set before us." Hence the believer may be confident that " God will not cast him off;" but that, whatever he may have to contend with, " nothing shall ever be permitted to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."]
But that this subject may not be made an occasion of any undue confidence,
1. Let us inquire whether we have ever expe- rienced this great change —
[It is evident there is a change to be experienced, which no created power can effect. Now then, I ask, Has any such