Numerous and invaluable are the promises which God has given for the support of his people. They are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus, and nothing unforeseen can occur to prevent their fulfilment. The time and manner, indeed, are circumstances which he reserves to himself; and often the promised mercy may be so long delayed, that we may think our prayers to be entirely forgotten: but if we have faith enough to wait the Lord's time, we shall admire the wisdom, and adore the grace, which by that very delay promoted our most valuable interest. Many, very many times, his bounty has exceeded his promise, and he has done abundantly above all that we could ask or conceive. But where is the sinner that dares charge the Redeemer with violating his engagements, or in the least circumstance failing of the exactest accomplishment? "Trust not in man,

whose breath is in his nostrils," is a caution founded on observation and experience, and on a perfect knowledge of human fickleness and fallacy. But it extends not to the man Christ Jesus, who is too nearly allied to the God of Truth, to make the supposition less than blasphemy itself. Many thousand years are passed, in which numerous promises have been made and fulfilled, and each age in succession after another, has confirmed the faithfulness of an unchangeable Saviour. I am persuaded that every Christian in this assembly will subscribe to this truth; and we have every reason to conclude that Jesus Christ, who is the same to-day as he was yesterday, will continue so for ever.

But I proceed to improve this important declaration of the Apostle.

Now the first and most obvious inference, and what I would mention with reverence and joy, is, that Jesus Christ is God over all, blessed for ever.

For to which of the angels said he, at any time, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; or, Thou, Lord, in the beginning, hast laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the works of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as a garment, and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail?" Dares any creature on earth, or in heaven, assume such ascriptions and titles of Godhead? Can any words be more expressive of the peculiar glories of Deity? Would Jehovah, so jealous of his honour, suffer any creature, however exalted, to arrogate the sacred and incommunicable name, I AM, without a discovery of his severest resentment? Alas! eternity and immutability, the characteristics of creatures! What creatures are they who are eternal and unchangeable? You will not ascribe these perfections to mere men ; and angels and archangels are too humble to accept of such lofty ascriptions. They veil their faces with their wings; and, prostrated before the throne of God, worship him that liveth for ever and ever. To be eternal and unchangeable, therefore, is the prerogative of God. We receive it, however strange, and to finite understanding incomprehensible, as a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ, our Emmanuel, is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; and that as such, he has not only the form of God, but may, without robbery, think himself equal with God. Yes, Christian, thy Maker is

thy husband; thy Saviour is thy God. You are too well acquainted with the scriptures, to render my quoting particular passages necessary; and your own experience confirms the indisputable right of Jesus to Deity. For could any but the ever-present God, have discovered your guilt and misery? Could any arm, but that of Omnipotence, have brought you salvation, and turned you from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God? Dares any creature say, or, at least, could he say with success, "Son, or daughter, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee?" Could any one, but he who searches the heart, and tries the reins of the children of men, have perceived the untold burden of your souls, and administered such suitable and seasonable relief? Would it ever have been represented as the chief felicity of heaven, to behold the glory of Jesus, if it had not been the glory of God? Let others be industrious in degrading and denying the Lord that bought them; rejoice in it, O my soul, and triumph in the glorious truth, that the Author of thy faith is the author of thy being; the Captain of thy salvation is the governor of the universe; and the foundation of thy hopes and happiness, is the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Secondly. The ground of the Christian's faith is firm and immoveable.

Were Christ Jesus such an one as ourselves, whose affections and promises are variable, it would not be strange, and hardly culpable, if we frequently suspected, and sometimes deserted him. For there are a thousand circumstances, in which, if we had not positive, unquestionable, and divine assurances to the

contrary, we should think ourselves abundantly justified in concluding, that the Lord had forgotten to be gracious. What other constructions could we put on those heavy losses and burdens, of which we hear the best Christians complain? Is there any thing in the trial of cruel mockings, and scourgings, and bonds, and imprisonments, that has the least appearance of love? Would any one think it desirable to be sawn asunder, to be tempted, to be slain with the sword, to wander about in sheeps' skins and goats' skins, and to be destitute, afflicted, tormented? Does it not seem extraordinary, and to us unaccountable, that when the blessed God has a host of angels, who are ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation, he should choose sickness, pain, and death, to be the messengers of his love to the children of men? Is it not hard, and, to unassisted and unenlightened nature, is it not impossible, to hear Death commissioned to seize a favourite child, or an affectionate parent, or the companion of our life, or the friend of our bosom; I say, is it not difficult to hear this, and say, "Good is the word of the Lord?" Nature may refuse, and often does refuse, to say it, but grace submits. Sense weeps, and murmurs, "All these things are against me." Faith dries up her tears, and says, "All is well." This is not because any affliction is joyous, but because the everlasting God is our refuge. "We glory in tribulation; not because there is any thing pleasurable in it, but because our divine Saviour has promised, that in him we shall have peace. We run with patience the race that is set before us; not because there are no difficulties and dangers in it, but because we look to Jesus, the author

and finisher of faith. The firm persuasion of this truth has carried men through the severest hardships and sufferings. Indeed, what is pain, what are dangers, what is death to a soul that is animated and supported by an ever-present, all-sufficient, and unchangeable Jesus? "Our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us," said the three children, when threatened with the burning fiery furnace. "I know whom I have believed," said Paul the aged; and we have the same ground for confidence as either of them. Our burdens, of which we so heavily complain; our losses, that we so pathetically mourn, have been common to all the people of God. In all ages of the world they have been exercised with them, and have been made more than conquerors through him who has loved them. As our sorrows, so are our consolations the same: they all spring from the same source, all run through the same channel, and are as animating and encouraging, as when they first flowed from the fountain. Like theirs, are the manner and measure of our afflictions; but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.

Thirdly. This subject affords us great comfort when we are deprived of pious ministers, friends, and relations.

We perhaps remember those whose death seemed to be an irreparable loss to the church and all their connexions. They, perhaps, possessed the most amiable character, and were extensively useful. They were zealously affected in the best of all causes; and appeared to have no other desire, but that Christ might be magnified in their life or their death. By the most prudent and affectionate instructions, and