this''; and the weakest of his people may join in the Apostle's triumph*.]
This doctrine is far from being a matter of specu- lation only :
III. In their accomplishment God is glorified, and the ends of our ministry are answered —
The promises, as recorded in the Scriptures, are the foundation of our hopes : but it is by their accom- plishment alone that the effects attributed to them are produced. In that,
1. God is glorified —
[Every perfection of the Deity is interested in the accom- plishment of his word : the mercy and love of God have given us the promises: his truth and faithfulness are pledged to fulfil them : his almighty power is engaged to execute whatever his goodness has given us reason to expect. Were his promises to fail of accomplishment, these perfections would be all dis- honoured; but when they are fulfilled, these perfections are all glorified. Justice itself is made to harmonize with truth and mercy ^, and matter is furnished for endless praise and adoration.]
2. The ends of our ministry are answered —
[The great ends of our ministry are to convert, edify, and comfort immortal souls. In pursuance of these, we set before men those promises which are most suited to their respective conditions ; and assure them that their aflHance in those pro- mises shall bring them the blessings they desire. When there- fore the contrite are brought to experience rest in Jesus, when the afflicted are comforted, the backsliding reclaimed, or the wavering established, then the great ends of our ministry are so far answered with respect to them. The truth of God in his promises is then made to appear ; the benefits contained in them are enjoyed by our fellow-creatures; and our labours receive their richest recompence.]
Application —
[The Scripture speaks of some as " heirs of promise," and others as " strangers from the covenant of promise." Let us inquire to which of these characters we belong. Have we renounced every other hope, and rested simply on the promises made to us in Christ ? And are we living in the earnest ex-
z Matt, xviii. 14. Jer. xxxii. 38 — 41. a Rom. viii. 38, 39.
^ Ps. Ixxxv. 10.