IT is obvious he can save, for he is in the midst of them, and mighty. Here is nearness and power; he is therefore able to save to the uttermost, whatever be the heinousness of guilt, or the depravity of nature, or the extremity of danger, or the depth of distress.
But he will save ; he is inclined, he is engaged, he is bound by promise and oath and blood.
Neither does he repent of the obligation under which he has been pleased to bring himself: neither does he perform the work with reluctance : he will save, he will rejoice over them with joy.
Are they his vineyard? I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. Are they his sheep ? "The Lord shall save them in that day, as the flock of his people : neither shall the beast of the field devour them ; but they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods."
But what is this salvation? It does not exclude temporal preservation and deliverance. He knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation. If he does not find a way, he can easily make one. Thus he saved Joseph from prison, and David from the paw of the lion and the bear, and the uncircumcised Philistine, and Elijah from famine, and Jonah from the belly of hell.
We are not to look for miracles, but we may look for him who performed them, and who has said, I will be with thee in trouble. He has all events at his control; he is always the same : his hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither is his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. A distinction, however, is to be here observed. Temporal deliverances are promised conditionally. He could not have promised them otherwise. It would be rather a threatening than a promise, were he to engage to relieve and indulge you, whether it be good for you or evil. And it might be evil ; and though you may not be aware of it, he can foresee it, and will prevent it. He has therefore said, They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. As to your property, he can make a hedge about all that you have. As to your reputation, he can hide you in the secret of his pavilion from the strife of tongues. As to your body, he can keep all your bones so that not one of them shall be broken ; and if it be good for you, he will, he must do it. But if it should be otherwise, he will disappoint your wishes and hopes, and make the privation the privilege.
But as to the soul. Ah, what did you
mean when you first asked,
"What shall I do to be saved?" when you first prayed," Save me, and I shall be
saved?" You thought of nothing earthly then, but of redemption from the curse of
the law ; of deliverance from the powers of darkness ; of freedom from the sting
of death : of release from the dominion and being of sin. And it was said unto
you. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." And this
salvation is insured ; this salvation is begun. You are already Justified
by his blood, and saved from wrath through him. You are already renewed in the
spirit of your mind. You have already the earnest of your inheritance, and taste
some of the grapes of Eshcol. And as to the completion, now is your salvation
nearer than when you believed. The night is far spent : the day is at hand.
And what is every thing besides ? All well with the soul ; all well for eternity ; a smiling God ; an opening heaven !
"A hope so much divine
May trials well endure."
RETURN
TO REV. WILLIAM JAY'S HOMEPAGE
RETURN
TO REV. THOMAS BOSTON'S HOMEPAGE
