But, whether believed or not, they shall all be fulfilled in their season —
[" Our unbelief will not make the truth of God of none effect''." Whatever he has spoken, he will surely execute ; as it is said, " God is not a man, that he should lie ; neither the son of man, that he should repent. Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good^?" Were he to reverse his word for us, he would cease to be a God of truth. He has pledged himself for the accomplish- ment of every word that he has spoken : and ** he cannot deny himself."
True it is, that he is not pleased with the weakness of his people's faith. He complained of it in Peter: "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" But he will not on this account neglect to fulfil to them his promises. He has engaged in behalf of those who die unto sin, that " his grace shall be sufficient for them^;" that "their strength shall be according to their day^;" and that " they shall be more than conquerors, through Him that loved them*^." Their doubts and fears will indeed distress their minds, and weaken their efforts, and subject them to many anxieties from which a stronger exercise of faith would have freed them : but still he will not cast them off because they are weak : " he will not break the bruised reed, or quench the smoking flax; but will bring forth judgment unto victory*^." And in the last day he will recompense into their bosom all that they have done or
X Rom. iii. 3. v Numb, xxiii. 19. ^ 2 Cor. xii. 9.
a Deut. xxiii. 25. ^ Rom. viii. 37. "= Matt. xii. 20.