We must also, under the most trying circumstances, main- tain an unshaken confidence in him, as able and willing to save. It was by this that Abraham " gave glory to God :" " He staggered not at the promises through unbelief, but was strong in faith1," believing, that if he should reduce his beloved Isaac to ashes, " God was able to raise him up againk,"and to accomplish all that he had spoken respecting him.
As for the offering of thanksgiving , that is the first and most obvious meaning of the Apostle in the text. We must not think of God merely as " able " to do such great things, but as willing also : and for the encouragement which this represen- tation of the Deity affords us, we must bless, and praise, and magnify his name. The words of the Psalmist are exactly suited to the occasion ; " Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things : and blessed be his glorious name for ever : and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and Amen1.]
2. How, and by whom, it should be offered —
8 Ps. lxxxix. G, 8. '1 Ps. lxxxi. 10. ! Rom. iv. 19—21.
k Hcb. xi. 17—19. l Ps. lxxii. 18, 19.
[It is " by Jesus Christ" alone that any blessings descend from God to us : and it is by him that all our services must ascend to him. However devout and excellent the offering be, it cannot come to God but by Jesus Christ. It neither has, nor can have, any merit in itself: it must derive all its value from the merit of his death, and the virtue of his inter- cession. This is the uniform testimony of the inspired writers m : and it is of infinite importance that we should be grounded in the knowledge of it.
But who are they that are to give him glory? The Apostle says, " To him be glory in the Church." He does not exclude the world, as though they had no reason to bless their God; but because he knew that they had no disposition to bless him. They do not pray to him : how then should they receive answers to prayer ? and how should they discover his ability to exceed our highest thoughts ? But the Church are " a peo- ple nigh unto God11:" they are in the habit of praying to him, and of receiving answers to their prayers : and they know, by sweet experience, his power and willingness to save °. They therefore are disposed to give him glory : and they would gladly spend eternity itselfp in advancing his honour, and singing his praise.
And is there one amongst you that does not add, " Amen?" If there be one such ungrateful wretch, let him know, that God is as " able to destroy as he is to save1*." But let us hope rather that all of you are now like-minded with the Apostle, and that you will go from this place to " praise the Lord, who hath dealt wondrously with your." Take then with you those delightful strains of David ; " Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord ; neither are any works like unto thy works: for thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone s."]
m Heb. xiii. 15. 1 Pet. ii. 5. n Ps. cxlviii. 14.
0 Ps. cxxvi. 3.
P etc 7rao-ac rac yeveac tov altivog rdv alu>vm> is inimitable : the force of it cannot be preserved in a translation.
a Jam. iv. 12. r Joel ii. 26. s Ps. lxxxvi. 8 — 10.