1. The promises are a declaration of the Nature of God, especially of his Goodness, Grace and Love. God hath put an impression of all the glorious Excellencies of his nature on his Word, especially as he is in Christ, on the Word of the Gospel. There as in a Glass do we behold his Glory in the face of Jesus Christ. As his Commands express unto us his Holiness, his Threatenings, his Righteousness and Severity; so do his Promises, his Goodness, Grace, Love and Bounty. And in these things do we learn all that we truly and solidly know of God; that is, we know him in and by his Word. The soul therefore that in this condition is waiting on, or for God, considers the Representation which he makes of himself, and of his own nature in and by the promises, and receives supportment and encouragement in its duty. For if God teach us by the promises what he is, and what he will be unto us, we have firm ground to expect from him all fruits of Benignity, Kindness and Love. Let the soul frame in it self that Idea of God, which is exhibited in the Promises, and it will powerfully prevail with it to continue in an Expectation of his gracious returns; they all expressing Goodness, Love, Patience, Forbearance, Longsuffering, Pardoning Mercy, Grace, Bounty, with a full satisfactory reward. This is the beauty of the Lord mentioned with admiration by the Prophet; How great is his goodness! how great is his beauty! Zeph. 9. 17. Which is the great attractive of the soul to adhere constantly unto him. Whatever difficulties arise, whatever temptations interpose, or wearisomeness grows upon us in our straits, troubles, trials and desertions, let us not entertain such thoughts of God as our ⟨p. 399⟩own perplexed imaginations may be apt to suggest unto us. This would quickly cast us into a thousand impatiences, misgivings and miscarriages; but the remembrance of, and meditation on God in his promises as revealed by them, as expressed in them, is suited quite unto other ends and purposes. There appears, yea gloriously shines forth, that Love, that Wisdom, that Goodness, Tenderness and Grace, as cannot but encourage a believing soul to abide in waiting for him.
1. The promises are a declaration of the Nature of God, especially of his Goodness, Grace and Love. God hath put an impression of all the glorious Excellencies of his nature on his Word, especially as he is in Christ, on the Word of the Gospel. There as in a Glass do we behold his Glory in the face of Jesus Christ. As his Commands express unto us his Holiness, his Threatnings, his Righteousness and Severity; so do his Promises, his Goodness, Grace, Love and Bounty. And in these things do we learn all that we truly and solidly know of God; that is, we know him in and by his Word. The soul therefore that in this condition is waiting on, or for God, considers the Representation which he makes of himself, and of his own nature in and by the promises, and receives supportment and encouragement in its duty. For if God teach us by the promises what he is, and what he will be unto us, we have firm ground to expect from him all fruits of Benignity, Kindness and Love. Let the soul frame in it self that Idea of God, which is exhibited in the Promises, and it will powerfully prevail with it to continue in an Expectation of his gracious returns; they all expressing Goodness, Love, Patience, Forbearance, Longsuffering, Pardoning Mercy, Grace, Bounty, with a full satisfactory reward. This is the beauty of the Lord mentioned with admiration by the Prophet; How great is his goodness! how great is his beauty! Zeph. 9. 17. Which is the great attractive of the soul to adhere constantly unto him. Whatever difficulties arise, whatever temptations interpose, or wearisomeness grows upon us in our streights, troubles, trials and desertions, let us not entertain such thoughts of God as our ⟨p. 399⟩own perplexed imaginations may be apt to suggest unto us. This would quickly cast us into a thousand impatiencies, misgivings and miscarriages; but the remembrance of, and meditation on God in his promises as revealed by them, as expressed in them, is suited quite unto other ends and purposes. There appears, yea gloriously shines forth, that Love, that Wisdom, that Goodness, Tenderness and Grace, as cannot but encourage a believing soul to abide in waiting for him.
