cxix. 68. God being faithful in himself, all must needs be so that proceeds from him: whatsoever relation God takes upon himself he is faithful therein :-as he is a Creator, so he preserves and maintains his own work : as he is a Father, he is faithful in discharging that duty to the full, for his children's good: as he is our friend, he likewise performs all the duties of that relation. And why doth God stoop so low to take these relations upon himself, but only to show that he will certainly accomplish the same to the utmost: "All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth," Psalm xxv. 10. They are not only merciful and true, but mercy and truth itself. If he show himself to be a father, he is a true father, a true friend, a true Creator and protector. All other faithfulness is but a beam of that which is in God. Shall not he, then, be

things to be faithful?

most faithful, that makes other Now this faithfulness of God is a ground for our committing ourselves unto him, and surely we may trust him, whose word has been tried seven times in the fire, Psalm xii. 6. There is no dross in it; every word of God is a sure word, his truth is a "shield and buckler," Psalm xci. 4; we may well trust in it :-therefore, when you read of any singular promise in the New Testament, it is said, "This is a faithful saying," 1 Tim. i. 15; that is, this is such a word as we may trust to, it is the word of a faithful Creator. Considering then that God is so "faithful," every way in his promises, and in his deeds, let us make especial use of it-treasure up all the promises we can of the forgiveness of sins-of protection and preservation, that he will never leave us, but be our God unto death, Psalm xlviii. 14; and then consider, withal, that he is faithful in performing the same. When we are terrified by his majesty and justice, then think of his mercy and truth. The reason we should make so

much of the word of God is, that it is the word of Jehovah, the mighty Creator, who gives a being to all things, and can alone be Lord and master of his word. We know God's meaning no otherwise than by his word: till we come to the knowledge of vision in heaven, we must be satisfied with the knowledge of revelation in the word. In every promise of God's, single out that which best suits with thy present condition; if thou be in any great distress, think upon the almighty power of God. "Lord, thou hast made me of nothing, and canst deliver me out of this estate" say the word, and I shall be safe: behold I flee unto thee for succour." If thou be in any per

plexity for want of direction, and know not what to do, single out the attribute of God's wisdom, and desire him to teach thee the way that thou shouldest go. If thou be wronged, flee to his justice, and say, "Oh God, to whom vengeance belongeth, hear and help thy servant." Thou shalt always find in God something to support thy soul in the greatest extremity that can befal thee; for if there was not in God a fulness to supply every need that we are in, he were not to be worshipped, he were not to be trusted.

Man is lighter than vanity in the balance; every man is a liar, Psalm lviii. 3; that is, he is false, but God is essentially true, he cannot deceive and be God too; therefore, ever when thou art disappointed with men, retire to God and his promises, "which are yea and amen in Christ Jesus ;" build upon this, that the Lord will not be wanting in anything that may do thee good. With men there is a breach of covenant, nation with nation, and man with man; there is little trust to be placed in any. But in all confusions-HERE is comfort. He that is in Christ Jesus a new creature, may cast himself boldly into the arms of the Almighty, and go to

him in any distress, as to a faithful Creator, that will not forsake him.

Oh let us be ashamed that we should dishonor Him who is ready to pledge his faithfulness and truth for us : "if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive them;" faithful, because he has promised; just— the heavy debt having been paid by our surety, he will not demand the payment a second time; neither will he suffer his children "to be tempted above that they are able," 1 Cor. x. 13. When we perplex ourselves with doubts and unbelief, whether he will make good his promise or not, we disable His majesty, Mark vi. 5. Do we think God stands not upon his truth and faithfulness? Undoubtedly he does, and we cannot dishonor him more than to distrust him, especially in his evangelical promises; "We make him a liar," 1 John v. 10; and rob him of that he most glories in.

See the baseness of man's nature; he can trust the ground with sowing his seed, and yet he will not trust God, who made the earth faithful to bring forth fruit; we can trust a vain man, "whose breath is in his nostrils," and look for great matters at his hands, before an all-sufficient God that changeth not. Who makes the seas and the winds faithful, that they do not hurt us, but God? and yet we are ready to trust the wind and weather sooner than God. Let us then lament our want of faith, that having such an omnipotent and faithful Creator to rely upon, yet we cannot bring our hearts to trust him. The two main pillars of a Christian faith are

Let our estate be never so desperate, yet God is Creator still; let our sins and infirmities be never so great, yet

he hath power to heal them. Oh how should this cheer up our fainting souls, and support our drooping spirits in all our strivings and conflicts with sin and Satan, having such an almighty God to fly unto for succour. It is no small privilege for a Christian to have this free access to God in times of extremity-to know that he has "an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous," "who can be touched with the feeling of his infirmities, having been tempted like as he is, yet without sin." Be his state what it may, take it at the worst, in regard of sin and misery, yet we are his creatures still :"I am a sinful wretch, yet I am the workmanship of thy hands; thou hast framed me, and fashioned me, O God." Surely, had we faith, we would take hold by a little. The soul of man is like the vine, it winds about and fastens upon every little help. Oh! it is sweet reasoning thus to cling about God, and gather upon him by a special act of faith; for which purpose we should much eye the sweet invitations of the gospel, alluring us to accept of mercy and deliverance from sin and death-as,

come unto me all ye that are heavy laden," and so cast the guilt of our souls upon God, to pardon first, and then to sanctify and cleanse us, that we may no more "return to folly," Prov. xxvi. 11; but "that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness," Eph. iv. 1, 2. Learn, therefore, to know thyself to be in covenant with God, and, to trust him with all thou hast train up thyself in a continual dependance upon him. He that trusts God with his soul, will surely trust him every day in everything he hath or doth; he knows well that whatsoever he enjoys is not his own, but God's, and this stirs him up to commit all his ways and doings to His protection, esteeming nothing safe but what God keeps; he sees "it is not in man that

M

walketh to direct his steps," Jer. x. 23; and therefore, resigns up his estate-his credit-his calling-his family— whatever is near and dear to him to the blessed care and direction of the Almighty. There is much self-denial to be learned before we can go out of ourselves and commit all to God; before we can cast ourselves into his arms, and lay ourselves at his feet. Take heed of whatsoever hinders the committing our all unto God, and still remember that God reconciled in Christ is the best sanctuary to flee unto. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous," that is, he who is accepted in Christ, “runneth into it and is safe," Prov. xviii. 10. Beloved, God will be honored by our trusting him; and those that will be wiser than God must look for confusion in all their plans.

Moreover, christians should not outrun God's providence, and say what will become of me?-this trouble will overwhelm me-this affliction will surely destroy me: but wait upon Divine Providence, in the use of means, and then leave all to his disposal. Especially this is needful in the hour of death, or when some imminent danger approaches ; but then it will be hard work, except it be practised beforehand. Labour therefore, for an assurance of God's love betimes, get infallible evidences of your state in grace, that you are a renewed person, that you are born not only of water but of the spirit, that there is a thorough change wrought in your heart, that God has set a stamp upon you for his own. Then mayest thou cheerfully say, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit; I am thine, Lord, save me." Oh! the sweet tranquillity, the heaven upon earth, which those enjoy who have God for their God.

To encourage you the more to trust in God, observe the course of his dealing with you: "Lord, thou hast