ON HOSEA XIV.- VERSES 3, 4. 137 the ground of David's, Jehoshaphat's, Daniel's trust in God, the word and promise which he had passed unto them, 1 Chron. xvii. 25, 27. 2 Chron. xx. 7, 8. Dan. ix. 2, 3. Truth and fidelity in the care to make these pro- mises good ; this is that which makes us so confidently trust in God's promises, because we know they are all yea and amen, that it is impossible for God to lie, or deceive, or for any to seek his face in vain, 2 Cor. i. 20. Josh. xxi. 45. Heb. vi. 18. Isa. xlv. 19. Power to give being and put into act whatsoever is thus promised. That which a man leans upon must have strength to bear the weight which is laid upon it. This is the great ground of our trusting in God at all times, even then when all other helps fail ; because he is I AM, who can create and give a being to every thing which he hath promised, because power be- longeth unto him, and in the Lord Jehovah is ever- lasting strength, and nothing is too hard, no help too great for him who made heaven and earth, and can command all the creatures which he made to serve those whom he is pleased to help, Psa. lxii. 8. 11. Exod. iii. 14. Isa. xxvi. 4. Gen. xviii. 14. Jer. xxxii. 17. Psa. cxxi. 2. Rom. v. 19. 21. Matt. viii. 2. Now whosoever seeks for any of these grounds of trust in idols shall be sure to fail of them. Knowledge they have none, Isa. xliv. 9. and therefore love they have none ; for how can that love any thing which knows nothing ? Truth they have none, neither of being in themselves, nor of promise to those that trust in them ; the very form of an idol is to be a lie, to stand for that which it is not, and to present that which it is most unlike, Isa. xliv. 20. xl. 18. Jer. x. 14 -16. and power they have none either to hear or save, Isa. xlv. 20. xlvi. 7. xli. 23, 24. 28, 29. And therefore iii 3
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