uth! An
honest man's word is much, his oath is more. What shall his word be who is
a God of truth? Though all men should be liars, yet God is true. Ye who
have ventured your souls on his word, ye have an unspeakable advantage,
his truth endures for ever, and it is established in the heavens, the
ground of it is without beginning, the end of it without end. Ye are more
sure than the frame of heaven and earth, for all these shall wax old as a
garment. We speak of a naked word of truth, indeed it is no naked word
that is God's word. His works of providence, and his dispensation to you,
is a naked and bare foundation, nay, a sandy foundation, and ye who lean
so much to them, is it any wonder ye so often shake and waver? All other
grounds beside the word are uncertain, unstable, this only endures for
ever. The creature's goodness and perfection is but as the grass, and the
flower of the field. Venture not much on your dispositions and frames,
thou knowest not what a day may bring forth, but his truth is to all
generations, and it is well tried as gold seven times,--all generations
have tried it and found it better than pure gold. His dispensations are
arbitrary--no rule to you. He loveth to declare his sovereignty here and to
expatiate in the creature's sight beyond its conceiving, but he hath
limited himself in his word and come down to us, and laid bonds on
himself. Will he then untie them for us? Give him liberty where he loves
it, take him bound where be binds himself. How may God expostulate with
this generation, as those of little faith? "How long shall I be with you?"
saith Christ. How long will Christians tempt the Lord in seeking signs,
and will not rest upon his only word and promises? "O adulterous
generation, how long shall I be with you and ye will not believe?" Is it
not righteousness in him, either to give you no sign at all, or to give
you a sign darker than the thing itself, as he did to the Pharisees? Ye
will give credit to a man's word, and will ye not believe God's? An honest
man will get more trust of us, than the true and living God! Shall he not
be offended with this? We declare it unto you, that he is truth itself,
and will not fail in his promise, let that be your castle and refuge to
enter into. Mercy and truth are two sweet companions to go along with you
in your pilgrimage. David prayed for them Psal. lxi. 7. "O prepare thy
mercy and truth to preserve me." Who will not be safe within these
everlasti