fear, and rest in perfect confidence, that " what he has promised, he is able also to perform6."
Now, then, see how suitable to us the Gospel is, in this point of view. It shews us where our hope is ; and that, as " Christ is able to keep us from fall- ing, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joyf," we have nothing to do, but to commit ourselves into his hands, and to " live the life which we now live in the flesh, simply by faith in the Son of God, who has loved us, and given himself for usg." And, if we only know and remember " in whom we have believed," we may be assured, that " he will keep that which we have com- mitted to him11," and " preserve us blameless unto his heavenly kingdom1."
If any suppose that such a confidence in Christ would supersede the necessity of holy fear and watch- fulness, I beg leave, once for all, to say, that, not- withstanding all that God has treasured up for us in Christ, we are still weak in ourselves, and to our latest hour " must we work out our salvation with fear and trembling V We are saved by faith, as far as it respects God ; but we are saved by fear, as far as it respects ourselves: and to every soul under heaven are those words addressed ; " Thou standest by faith : be not high-minded, but fear1."
II. The sufficiency of the Gospel comes now, in the second place, to be considered.
Truly, it is sufficient for every soul of man, even as the manna and the water were for the whole na- tion of Israel. For our comfort, for our sanctification, and for our complete salvation, it is perfectly suffi- cient. It is sufficient for our comfort. Suppose a man to be brought, by a view of his own sinfulness, to the very borders of despair; what can he need more, than to hear that God himself has undertaken his cause, and assumed his nature, and expiated his
e Rom. iv. 21. f Jude, ver. 24. e Gal. ii. 20.
h 2 Tim. i. 12. * 2 Tim. iv. 18. k Phil. ii. 12.
1 Rom. xi. 20.