For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him, Amen, unto the glory of God by us....2 Cor. i. 20. THROUGH the workings of our carnal frames, it is natural to us all to seek comfort from legal work, instead of gospel promises, When a poor sinner is taught by man to believe, "unless he performs the condition, he cannot receive the blessing of the promise:" from this mistaken notion he labours and toils for a season, but finding himself unable to reduce the doctrine to practice, he sits down in dejection, and gives up all hope of mercy in this way. This will always be the case where sincerity is not suffered to give way to self-deceit. But when the sun of righteousness ariseth with glory on the soul, these mists of ignorance flee away. When the free love of the everlasting covenant is made manifest to a sinner's heart, by the Spirit, he cries out in wonder and ecstacy, "This is all my salvation and all my desire." When by faith he beholds Jesus the surety of the covenant, sees all the promises of life and salvation center in him, Jesus becomes the hope of his soul, and the promise, the joy of his heart. Blessed be God for a precious Christ, precious promises, and precious faith. What could our God do more? What could he give more to his people than what he hath graciously done for them, and freely given to them? Disciple, wherefore dost thou doubt? Why art thou reading a gloomy lecture over thy fallen state? Why sitting with folded hands and dejected look, because thou feelest the corrupt workings of thy sinful flesh? What have thy legal thoughts brought forth but that black monster, UNBELIEF? This dares to gainsay the truths of God, deny his promises, set the Saviour at nought, and rob him of his glory, What! because thou canst not find nor feel any thing in thyself to deserve God's love, or for which he should make one promise of mercy, wilt thou therefore conclude against the greatness of his love and freeness of his promises? Yea, but it is for that very reason, because thou hast nothing in thyself but sin and misery, thy God will have all the glory of his own grace in saving thy soul, according to his promise in Christ Jesus. The Lamb, who spilt his blood for sin, who hath righteousness for the naked, and a tongue to plead the cause of the destitute, has all the promises in his hands, to bestow the blessing of them on his needy members. Therefore out of his fulness we receive, and grace for grace. So the Holy Spirit giveth us to believe and come to the inexhaustible fulness of Jesus for our every supply. Here we may fix our faith, and in the assurance of truth be confident we shall want nothing. For this very end is connected with our comfort, "the glory of Goð." Therefore every promise of grace here and glory hereafter are sure: YEA and AMEN, so be it: according to God's purpose and grace in Christ Jesus....2 Tim. i. 9. Fear not, thou worm Jacob....Isa. xli. 14. In the light of truth, and under the teaching of the Spirit, every believer in Jesus loses sight of the once fancied dignity of his human nature, and sinks in the view of himself to the meanest reptile. Probably the church, in Isaiah's days, had been considering her weak, helpless state; surrounded with trials and difficulties; exposed continually to the power of enemies on every side; in great danger of being trodden under feet and crushed to death; and had been laying her case before the Lord, confessing the words of David, “I am a worm, and no man."....Psalm xxii. 6. Well, the Lord condescends to reply to such humble souls in their own language. "Though thou art as mean in thine own eyes, and as as despicable in the sight of others as a poor, base, insignificant, crawling worm of the earth, yet thou art precious in my sight. Though thou hast no power in thyself to resist thine enemies, no strength to support thyself under thine afflictions and distresses, though satan threatens, troubles bow thee down, corruptions rage, and all the combined force of earth and hell is enraged against thee, yet FEAR NOT, thou worm, saith the Lord." Thou soldier of Jesus, "FEAR NOT," is the word of command from the captain of thy salvation. Scarce any phrase so frequently occurs in the word of God as this. Consider it as an antidote against all thy despondings, doubtings, and dejections. Thou canst never fall into any exercise, be under any temptation, be visited by any. affliction, come into any straits or difficulties, but what the power of God can support thee under, and bring thee safely through. Consult not human probability; judge not according to appearances; say not, 6 Worm as I am, I shall surely be crushed.' Nay, but is any thing too hard for God? He saith, "I will help thee;" I will succour; I will support thee; I will strengthen thee; my grace is sufficient for thee. Can a God of truth promise in vain? Will a God of love ever fail to assist? Doth not a God of wisdom know when to deliver? Suffice it, we have his promise. That engages his truth, and that demands our faith to honor him. But, "I am with thee," saith the Saviour. He is present; though perhaps thou thinkest otherwise, and feelest not his comfortable presence. Thy most secret sigh, as well as every distress, lies open to his view. The crafty designs of thy subtle foe, and all his vile stratagems, are without a covering before thy Lord. Terrify and distress thee he may, but prevail over thy soul he shall not! "For he that keepeth Israel, neither slumbereth nor sleepeth."....He is ever watchful to guard, and powerful to keep: and he hath given us this absolute promise," No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment, thou shalt condemn.".... Isa. liv. 17. VOL. I. If a man think himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself....Gal. vi. 3. THE leaven of Phariseeism, pride, self-righteousness, and selfsufficiency, is interwoven with our very nature. In the beginning that arch-deceiver, satan, poisoned the minds of our first parents with that corrupt doctrine, "Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." This infection hath tainted the whole human race: naturally every man deceiveth himself: he thinks himself to be that which in reality he is not. Hence is rooted enmity to the salvation of Jesus and the grace of the gospel: here man is nothing; here the creature is annihilated. As Paul saith of an "idol, it is nothing in the world:" so that idol, a man's self, is nothing, knows nothing, can do nothing in the great work of salvation. Fallen nature, with all its boasted goodness, affected piety, devout efforts, contributes nothing; for "all is of grace," rich, free, and sovereign grace. Man, with all his vaunted "knowledge of good and evil;" his free will to choose the good and refuse the evil, his rectitude to perform his duty and secure his salvation, by fulfilling terms and conditions of the gospel; all these are mere non-entities; lighter than vanity when weighed in the balance of the sanctuary. O believer, when thou thinkest thyself nothing, knowest nothing of thyself, then thou thinkest and knowest right. But when thou art led to think, "now I am something in myself; now I know something by myself; now I can do something of myself, to keep myself in the favor of God, and to be faithful to his grace," verily thou deceivest thyself. This is acting like the church of Galatia under spiritual witchcraft, "beginning in the Spirit, and ending in the flesh." This, in the strict and proper sense, is "FALLING FROM GRACE." So nature's pride exalts one's self, and censures other christians as carnal and unfaithful. This pride of the flesh opposeth our growth in grace, and is contrary to the humbling knowledge of Jesus Christ. To know the grace of God in truth, is to own its sovereign operations upon the soul, to be steady as the sun in its course, uncontroulable as the wind in its power, unfrustrable as the tide in its motion, and as unyielding to the power of nature and the will of man, as the proud waves of the great ocean. To "put on the Lord Jesus," is to "put off the old man with its deceitful lusts," and pride. To "rejoice in Christ Jesus," is to "have no confidence in the flesh." The Lord will " suffer no flesh to glory in his presence." "Let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord.".... Cor. i. 31. Happy for us, with Paul, "most gladly therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me,"....2 Cor. xii. 9. Be careful for nothing: but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God....Phil. iv. 6. ALL anxious cares which torture and distress the mind arise from unbelief; they are contrary to our profession, dishonorable to our God, and hurtful to the peace and comfort of our souls. Therefore they are forbid by the gospel of grace, in love to the children of God. But, believer, thou hast not so learned Christ as to pass away a life of careless indolence and thoughtless inactivity. No; vigilance, industry, and fervency of spirit, is a suitable frame ever to be found in. Not slothful in business, but fervent in Spirit, serving the Lord. Careful and diligent in the use of all means in thy power, both to procure the subsistence and welfare of thy body, as well as to keep up the liveliness and vigour of thy soul. Careful and diligent, yet without care that hath disquietude and distress. As to the things of this life, it is sufficient to answer all thy anxiety, and silence thy every fear and doubt; "your heavenly Father (saith Jesus) knoweth you have need of them." He feeds the birds. Will he suffer his babes to starve? Thou shalt have all things needful for life and godliness. If such a sinner as I may speak of himself, under worldly losses and disappointments I have thought, “Well, though I have not what I expected, I can very well go to heaven without it." This consideration, thanks to my dear Saviour, hath often brought a heaven of contentment to my soul, in a world of disappointment. As to spiritual blessings, "He that spared not his own Son, but freely gave him up a sacrifice for our sins; how shall he not with him also freely give us all things." The Father that hath "blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus," will hand them out to us by his holy Spirit in number, weight, and measure, just as his wisdom sees best; and it is our wisdom to be content and thankful. Here is encouragement for faith and prayer. And canst thou look within, without, around, above, and see no cause for thanksgiving and praise, O christian? Are not what thou hast in hand, and what thou hast in hope, the free-gifts of the grace of thy God? Call to mind his mercies to excite gratitude; reflect on his promises to quicken in prayer. Under all thy trials, distresses, sorrows, fears, doubts, and difficulties, here is sweet encouragement for thy soul; speak them out freely: make thy requests And what shall be the happy consequences? Hear and rejoice, thou shalt have more abundantly than either familiarly unto God. thou canst think of or ask for."....Eph. iii. 20. Christ ever lives to intercede Before his Father's face: Content, my soul, thy cause he'll plead, Nor doubt thy Father's grace. My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in thy weakness....2 Cor. xii. 9. SPIRITUAL Conflicts with the enemy of souls are the lot of all God's children. Holy Paul was under deep and afflicting distress of soul. Satan the adversary assaulted him very powerfully. He groaned under it; he frequently besought Jesus that this grievous and painful messenger of satan might be made to depart from him, and that his conflict might be at an end. O, what distressing exer cises God's children undergo from the enemy! The hearts of such only know the bitterness thereof. But is the captain of their salvation regardless of them? Is he deaf to their prayers when they call on him? No: he ever hears, he always answers in love. But did the Lord grant his dear servant's request? No; then the design of love would not have been answered. Paul was in danger of being "exalted above measure." This was to be prevented. He was “to glory in infirmities." This was to be effected. Satan's design was for his evil. Jesus makes it work for good. But that he might not faint in the combat, this comfortable answer is given, "My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Let it suffice, my love and favor is ever towards you; my almighty strength is engaged to preserve you. Though you are weakness itself to withstand such an enemy, yet my almighty strength shall uphold you; in this you shall conquer. Here is the strongest assurance for the confidence of faith, and the most solid ground for the rejoicing of hope. The grace and love of Jesus opposed to the malice and hatred of satan; the strength of Jehovah triumphing in, and made illustriously glorious through saints' weakness. O, what an ever-loving, all-sufficient, omnipotent Lord is Jehovah Jesus! The Lord whom thou servest, believer, knows thy every distress and conflict of soul. He will strengthen thee in, support thee under, and bring thee safe through and out of all thy exercises and troubles. Thou shalt lose nothing in the furnace but the dross of nature's pride and corruption, and the vanity of selfglorying, self-sufficiency, and self-righteousness. God by his Spirit will teach thee to profit in humility and self-diffidence, and to glory in and exalt the Lord Jesus more and more. Sweet and encouraging is that promise to God's church and people in general: strong and comforting as God's declaration to Paul, in particular: "Fear not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."....Isa. xli. 10. I can do all things, or can bear But if the Lord be once withdrawn, |