for if God requke them, and will receive to mercy those only in whom these requisites can be found, it will be to no purpose to contend with him. Be wise in time : and so endeavour to approve yourselves to God now, that he may approve of you in the day of judgment.]
2. For your comfort and support — [The workings of unbelief have harassed many who were truly upright before God : and therefore we should not write bitter things against ourselves, merely because we possess not a full assurance of faith. David on some occasions was quite overwhelmed with doubts and fears. Hear his complaints : " Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more ? Is his mercy clean gone for ever ? Doth his promise fail for evermore ? Hath God forgotten to be gracious ? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?" But whence arose all this ? Had it any foundation in truth ? No : he imme- diately acknowledges, " This is mine infirmity \" So then do ye say, when doubts and fears assail your minds. Remember, God is a faithful God, and not one jot or tittle of his word shall ever fail. " Of those whom the Father gave to Jesus, he lost none'';" nor will he ever lose one : " not the smallest grain of true wheat shall ever fall upon the earth';" nor " shall one of God's little ones ever perish°\" Only commit yourselves to God, and leave the issue of events to him. Your part is to be seeking a conformity to Christ in his death and resurrection ; and his part is to carry on and perfect his work within you. Be ye intent on your part ; and leave His to him : and you shall be able at the last to say with Joshua, that " of all the good things which the Lord your God hath spoken concerning you, all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed"."]
i Ps, Ixxvii. 7 — 10, ^ John xvii. 12. ^ Amos ix. 9.
'" Matt, xviii. 14. " Josh, xxiii. 14.