WAITING ON GOD. 417 in his word l And this the promise declares. Here he shall find hope, patience, faith, expectation, to be all in- creased, comforted, encouraged. Herein lies the duty and safety of any in their distresses. Men may bear the first impression of any trouble with the strength, cou- rage and resolution of their natural' spirits ; they may for a time. support themselves with former experiences, and other usual springs and means of.consolation; but if their wounds prove difficult to be cured, if they des- pise ordinary remedies, if their diseases are of long continuance, this is that to which they must betake themselves : they must search into the word of pro - mise, and learn to measure things, not according to the present state and apprehensions of their mind, but ac- cording to what God has declared concerning them. And there are great excellences in the promises, when hoped in or trusted in, that tend to the establishment of the soul in this duty of waiting on God. The Divine grace contained in the promises: the good will of God in Christ, for help, relief, satisfaction, pardon and salvation, is suited to all particular condi- tions and wants of the soul. As light arises from the sun, and is diffused in the beams thereof to the especial use of all creatures, enabled by a seeing faculty to snake use of it ; so cometh grace forth from the eter- nal good-will of God in Christ, and is diffused by the promises, with a blessed suitableness to the condition and wants of all believers. There can nothing fall out between God and any soul, but there is grace suited to it in one promise or another, as clearly and evidently as if it were given to the individual particularly and im- mediately. This they find by experience, who at any 1s
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