"My goodness," said the Psalmist, "extendeth not to Thee :" "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect," said the Apostle Paul, even at an advanced period of his bright career; and to condense every similar example into one broad universal precept, "When "When ye have done all that is commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants, we have done that which it was our duty to do." It is, accordingly, a most consolatory, a most cheering, a most delightful thought, that however we may change or fluctuate— faith now rising into glad assurance, now sinking into discouragement, disquietude, or almost dismay-grace is ever the same. What the Shepherd will do for "His own Name's sake" can never be left undone; for "Jesus Christ s Psalm xvi. 2. t * Phil, iii. 12, " W is the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever;" and "all the promises of God in Him are Yea, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God by us.' Even to the church of old, under the preparatory dispensation of symbols, and shadows, and sacrifices, the language which Jehovah designed to hold was identical with this" I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgression, for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."* And have we not the same assurances repeated and ratified; yea, enlarged also and strengthened in the Gospel? Unquestionably, it is for Christ's sake, not the believer's, that "all manner of sin and unrighteousness shall be forgiven unto men." It is for Christ's sake, not the believer's, that God will bestow every good and perfect gift. It is out w Heb. xiii. 8; 1 Cor. i. 20. * Isaiah xliii. 25. y Matt. xii. 31. of the riches of His grace in Christ Jesus that He will supply all His people's need. It is "His grace which reigns through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Well may the Apostle Paul say, therefore, "Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need," for Jesus ever liveth to make intercession, and in Him the Father is "ever well pleased." If Jesus, then, "is the Author and Finisher of our faith," the end cannot but be in accordance with the beginning; and what the beginning hath been, St. Paul has declared to the Ephesian Church: "God who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sin, hath quickened us together with z Rom. v. 21. b Heb. xiii. 3. Heb. iv. 16. Christ;" and again, "By grace are ye saved; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." Whatever, then, is for His Son's sake, is for His Name's sake, for His Name is magnified in His Son; and thus the rescued flock of Christ's fold, the church, have a twofold security for present guidance by His counsel, and future admission to His glory. "My sheep shall never perish, nor shall any be able to pluck them out of My hand:" and then He adds, as if to make assurance on a point of such unutterable moment doubly sure, "My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and none is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand!"e At length, then, we have traced the course of the believer to the point so expressively described by St. Paul, as с Eph. ii. 4, 5. d Eph. ii. 8. • John x. 29. "standing in grace, and rejoicing in hope of the glory of God." Grace, indeed, is the assurance of glory, as glory is the consummation of grace; and who can deny that this connection was clearly perceived by him who said, "Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsels, and afterwards receive me to glory?" The very fact, that "the Lord" will do all for His own Name's sake, of itself constitutes the assurance that nothing will be left undone and it is upon the very same consideration that St. Paul bases the confidence entertained by him on behalf of the Philippian Christians, that "He, who hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." As, in old time, Jehovah 66 wrought for His Name's sake, that it should not be polluted among the Gen f Rom. v. 2. h Phil. i. 6. H g Psalm lxxiii. 24. |