A history of the work of redemption. Containing the outlines of a body of…

VIII. From what has been said, we may see the stability of God's mercy and faithfulness to his people; how he never forsakes his inheritance, and remembers his covenant to them throughout all generations. Now we may see what reason there was for the words of the text, "The moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool; but my righteousness shall endure for ever and ever, and my salvation from generation to generation." Now we may see abundant reason for that name of God which he reveals to Moses, Exod. iii.14. "And God said unto Moses, I am that I am:" i. e. I am the same that I was when I entered into covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and ever shall be the same: I shall keep covenant for ever: I am self-sufficient, all-sufficient, and immutable.

Now we may see the truth of that, Psal. xxxvi.5.6. "Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgements are a great deep." If we consider what has been said, we need not wonder that the Psalmist, in the 13•6• Psalm, so so often repeats this, For his mercy endureth for ever; as if he were in an ecstasy at the consideration of the perpetuity of God's mercy to his church, and delighted to think of it, and knew not how but continually to express it. Let us with like pleasure and joy celebrate the everlasting duration of Gods mercy and faithfulness to his church and people, and let us be comforted by it under the present dark circumstances of the church of God, and all the uproar and con•usions that are in the world; and all the threatenings of the church's enemies. Let us take encouragement earnestly to pray for those glorious things which God has promised to accomplish for his church.

Now we may see the truth of that,