We are yet exposed to many trials, and to great dangers ; and shall be so, as long as we continue in the body. But " God will never leave us nor for- sake us." On the contrary, his past benefits are a pledge and earnest of future blessings, to the utmost extent of our necessities. He will, under all the cir- cumstances that can ever occur, impart to us,
1. Comfort —
[We carry about with us, aud shall to our dying hour be oppressed with, a body of sin and death ; such as made St. Paul himself to exclaim, "O wretched man that I am!"
Nor can we hope to be freed from the assaults of
Satan, even such as Paul complained of, when, with repeated cries, he implored the removal of " the thorn in his flesh," which so sorely pained him — — • — But the same " God who comforted him will comfort us with similar consolations ;" and, " if our afflictions abound as his did, will make our consolations to abound alsof." And so effectual shall these be, that we shall be enabled to " glory in our tribulations6," and even to " take pleasure in our infirmities and distresses11" ]
2. Stability —
[To serve the Lord with steadfastness and fidelity, in the midst of all the difficulties which we have to encounter, is no easy matter. But " God is able to hold us up : and we shall be upheld1," if we simply rely on him. Yes; " God is faithful to his promises ; and he will stablish us, and keep us from evilk ;" and enable us to maintain our integrity before him,
both in word and deed
And here let me observe, that it is not from " God the Father" only that we may hope to obtain these benefits, but from " the Lord Jesus Christ also, whom the Apostle fre- quently unites with the Father, as equally the object of our worship, the source of our blessings, the rock of our de- pendence1." If we "be strong, it must be in the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the power of his might"1." " His grace," under whatever circumstances, "shall be sufficient for us11:" and if we trust in him, we may confidently say, " I can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me0" — ]
Application —
In all your addresses, whether for yourselves or others, at the throne of grace, look to God,
f 2 Cor. i. 3—5. e Rom. v. 3. h 2 Cor. xii. 10. 1 Rom. xiv. 4. k Rom. iii.3. ' Eph.vi. 23. 1 Thess.iii.il. m Eph. vi. 10. n 2Cor.xii.9. ° Phil. iv. 13.