<i Isai. xliv. 20.
2 Cor. i. 20. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, ttnto the glory of God by us.
MANKIND in general discover much versatility in their spirit and conduct. They form purposes and rescind them according as they are influenced by carnal hopes or fears ; but the Gospel teaches us to lay our plans with wisdom, and to execute them with firmness. A light, fickle, wavering mind, if not in- compatible with, is at least unworthy of, the Christian character. St. Paul has been accused of " hghtness" for not paying his intended visit to Corinth. It is probable too (as appears by his apology) that his
enemies had thrown out insinuations against his doc- trine also, as though it could not be depended upon. He thought such charges extremely injurious to his person and ministry : he therefore first affirms that his doctrines had been uniform, and next appeals to God, that there had been the same uniformity in his con- duct also^ In speaking of his doctrine he digresses a little from his subject ; but, what he says of the promises, is worthy of peculiar attention. It suggests to us the following important observations :
I. All the promises of God are made to us in Christ
Jesus — God has '' given to us exceeding great and precious promises" —
[He has engaged to bestow all which can conduce to our temporal welfare : all too, which can promote our spiritual ad- vancement. To this he has added all the glory and felicity of heaven itself. Such are the benefits annexed by God himself to real godliness ^]
But all these are given to us only in Christ Jesus — [Man, the instant he had sinned, was exposed to the wrath of God ; nor could he any longer have a claim on the promises made to him in his state of innocence ; but Christ became the head and representative of God's elect : with him God was pleased to enter into covenant for us*^, and to give us a promise of eternal life i7i him^. Our original election of God, our adoption into his family, with every blessing consequent upon these, were confirmed to us in him^ : hence, in the text, it is twice said, that the promises are in him ; and, in another place, that they were made before the existence of any human being^: even when the covenant was apparently made with Abraham, Christ was the true seed in whom alone it was confirmed s.]
From this circumstance they derive all their sta- bility.
II. In him they are all firm and immutable —
The terms "Yea and Amen" import steadfastness and immutability. Now the promises cannot fail
^ ver. 23. He assures them that he had delayed his journey, not from fickleness of mind, but from tenderness to them.
b 1 Tim. iv. 8. ^ Heb. viii. 6. ^ 2 Tim. i. 1.
« Eph. i. 3—5. 11. f Tit. i. 2. s Gal. iii. 16, 17.