and stability1. The sun may occasionally be covered with a cloud ; yet shall it advance to its meridian height : and such shall be the path of all the servants of Godu : " they shall hold on their way, and their hands shall wax stronger and stronger x." This is the portion of them all without exception, for " it is not the will of our Father that one of his little ones should perish y."]
2. From the perfections of his nature —
[In speaking on this subject, we would proceed with great caution ; for we know not what will consist with his perfec- tions : and, if we should presume to speak dogmatically re- specting them, we should only betray our own weakness and folly. Yet methinks his wisdom affords us some ground of confidence : for, if he has created us anew, in order that we may shew forth the power of his grace, will he suffer his enemies so to counteract his purposes as to make us only occasions of greater dishonour to him ? If only a man should begin to construct a house and leave it unfinished, he would only ex- pose himself thereby to a greater measure of derision z : how then would Satan cast reflections on the Deity, if he should fail in accomplishing so great a work as man's salvation !
In like manner the goodness of God is some ground of hope and confidence. For God has surely never accomplished in us so good a work in order to leave us ultimately to perish under a more aggravated condemnation.
But in speaking of such things which infinitely exceed our comprehension, I can lay no stress on the conjectures of man ; nor can I give weight to any thing that does not proceed clearly and immediately from God himself. But in speaking of the truth of God, I feel that I stand on firm ground. God has entered into covenant with us ; and has confirmed that covenant with an oath : and has expressly declared that he did so confirm it, 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 usa." He is as unchangeable in his word as he is in his nature ; and " because he changeth not, therefore we are not consumed b." We, alas! are variable in the extreme; but "with him is no variableness neither shadow of turning0." Now if we look into his covenant we shall see that he gives all, and we receive alld: and that he engages, not only "not to depart from us, but to put his fear in our hearts that we may not depart from
1 Compare Luke xxii. 31 — 34. with 1 Pet. v. 8. " Prov. iv. 18. * Job xvii. 9. v Matt, xviii. 14.
* Luke xiv. 28, 29. * Heb. vi. 17, 18. b Mai. Hi. 6. c Jam. i. 17. «* Ezek. xxxvi. 25—27.
21f35.] A WORK OF GRACE. 5
him8." We may be sure therefore that he will not cast off his people, because it hath pleased him to make them his peopled If indeed he had chosen any of us because we were holy, or because he foresaw that we should be holy, he might abandon us as not answering his expectations. But he chose us that we might be holyg, and predestinated us to be conformed to the image of his Sonh: and therefore what he has undertaken we may be sure he will perform1. It is on this ground alone that we can account for St. Paul's confidence, in which every one in whom God has begun a good work is fully authorized to join.]
I beg leave now to add a word,
1. Of inquiry respecting the commencement of this work —
[I am fully aware that persons so blinded by self-love as we, are greatly in danger of forming too favourable a judgment of our state : and I must warn all of you that God will not be put off with such a feigned repentance as Ahab's, or such a partial reformation as Herod's, or such a hypocritical attach- ment as that of Judas. Examine then, I pray you, with all imaginable care, respecting the quality of your faith, and hope, and love. Is your faith operative in purifying your heart ? Is your love laborious in all kind offices, not to the bodies of men only, but to their souls ? And is your hope such as carries you forward through all difficulties towards the attainment of the heavenly prize ? Remember, it is no outward work that is here spoken of, but a work in us : and a work which nothing less than Omnipotence can effect. To deceive yourselves in relation to it, is vain, since you cannot deceive the heart- searching God. Be careful then to try your work, of what kind it is ; and be satisfied with nothing that does not evi- dently bear the divine stamp and character upon it.]