2. It will support our faith. The reason of our diffidence of God in the
and end is the same; that God from whence they come, that Christ to which they tend, is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. What
God doth now, is but a copy of what he portrayed in his word as done in former ages; there are the same goodness, the same design in both. The births of providence are all of a like temper and disposition. We cannot miss of the understanding of them, if we compare them with the ancient copies; for God is in the generation of the righteous, the same God still. God is the same, his ends are the same, the events will be the same.
2. It will support our faith. The reason of our diffidence of God in the cause of the church, is the forgetfulness of his former appearances for her. Oh if we did remember his former goodness, we should not be so ready to doubt of his future care. This was the psalmist's care in his despondencies, and in his overwhelming troubles of spirit: Ps.
77:9, 'Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?' but, ver. 10, he concludes it his infirmity, and resolves upon a review of the records of God's ancient works for his people, 'and the years of the right hand of the Most High,' these times wherein he declared his power and his glory, and so proceeds to the top of all their deliverances, viz., that out of Egypt. Doth God's wisdom decay, or his power grow feeble? Is not his interest the same? Is he not a God still like himself? Is not his glory as dear to him as before? Hath he cast off his affection to his own name? Why should not he then do the same works, since he hath the same concern? God himself, to encourage us, calls them to our remembrance: Isa. 50:2, 'Is my hand shortened, that I cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I do dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness,' &c. Am not I the same
God that dried up the sea, that wrought those ancient wonders which amazed the world? What doth your distrust signify but the impair of my power? Rouse up yourselves to a consideration of them, and thence gather fresh supplies to strengthen you in your present dependence upon me! He puts us in mind of them, because we are apt to forget them. Gen. 15:6, when it is said Abraham 'believed in the Lord, and it was accounted to him for righteousness,' God