4. When we have these promises, let us labour to understand them
in your callings or straits, remember that promise made to Joshua, which is repeated in Hebrews 13, 'I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee,' verse 5: a promise which is five times renewed in Scripture.
And how much comfort is in that, that he will vouchsafe by his Spirit a gracious presence in all conditions whatsoever! And likewise that of David, Ps. 23:4, 'Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, yet will I fear no ill, for thou art with me.' It was a terrible supposition made, that 'though he should walk in the valley of the shadow of death, yet he would fear no evil.' These promises well digested, will arm the soul with confidence, that it shall be able to put any case of trouble; as in the 27th Psalm, 1–3, David puts cases, 'The Lord is my strength, the Lord is the light of my countenance, of whom shall I be afraid? Though thousands shall rise against me, yet in this I will be confident.' If our hearts be established by the word of God, settled in the truth of such promises by the Spirit of God, we may set God and his truth against all troubles that can arise from Satan, and hell, and the instruments of Satan, or our own hearts.
And, therefore, it is a great wrong to God, and his truth, if we know not our portion of comfort, and use it as occasion serves. More particulars I omit, leaving them to your own industry; the Scripture being full of them.
4. When we have these promises, let us labour to understand them thoroughly; to understand the grounds of our comfort in them, and to believe the truth of them, which are as true as God, who is truth itself. And then to love them, and digest them in our affections, and so make them our own, and then to walk in the strength and comfort of them.
5. Labour likewise to have them fresh in memory. It is a great defect of Christians, [that] they forget their consolation, as it is in the