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GOD OUR BENEFACTOR
IN reading the epistles of St. Paul, we cannot but be struck with the devout and grateful manner in which he introduces, at all times, the mention of Jehovah’s name. He almost invariably combines with it some of those perfections which God has displayed in the Gospel of his Son; and expatiates upon them, either as the theme of his adoring gratitude, or as the foundation of all his hopes. And not unfrequently does he unite the Lord Jesus Christ with the Father, as equally entitled to our adoration with the Father himself, and equally deserving our entire confidence. In the passage before us, both these things are conspicuous: and, that we may bring them clearly before you, we shall endeavour to shew,
I. What a Benefactor we have—
Hear what “God, even our Father, has done for us”—
[Desperate, even as the state of the fallen angels, was the state of man, through the fall of Adam — — — But God, “who passed by the angels that sinned,” was pleased, of his unbounded mercy and grace, to make provision for the recovery of man, by the gift of his only-begotten Son, to die in his place and stead — — — In truth, “he loved us with an everlasting love [Note: Jer_31:3.];” and, in due season, called us, by his grace, to the knowledge of his dear Son, and enabled us to believe in him; and thus “gave us a good hope” of re-possessing the inheritance which we had forfeited [Note: 1Pe_1:3-4.] — — — O what “consolation” does this afford us! Verily, it is “strong consolation [Note: Heb_6:18.],” yea, and “everlasting consolation” too: for not only will it abide with us under all possible afflictions — — — but, when all the things of time and sense shall have passed away, and been utterly forgotten, it shall remain for ever, with unabated vigour, on our souls — — —]
But in all this “the Lord Jesus Christ himself has also borne his part”—
[He willingly undertook our cause; and never ceased from his labours, till he could say, “It is finished.” Truly he “loved us, and gave himself for us [Note: Gal_2:20.]:” and, by the operations of his grace upon our souls, and his promises that “none shall ever pluck us out of his hands,” he has “made us to abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost, and has filled us with all joy and peace in believing [Note: Rom_15:13.].” Whilst, therefore, we make our acknowledgments to God the Father, we must with equal gratitude trace all our blessings to his only dear Son, by whose transcendent merits alone, and through whose almighty agency, they all flow down unto us — — —]
In this intercessory prayer to our heavenly Benefactor, we see,
II. What benefits we may yet further hope for at his hands—
We are yet exposed to many trials, and to great dangers; and shall be so, as long as we continue in the body. But “God will never leave us nor forsake us.” On the contrary, his past benefits are a pledge and earnest of future blessings, to the utmost extent of our necessities. He will, under all the circumstances that can ever occur, impart to us,
1. Comfort—
[We carry about with us, and shall to our dying hour be oppressed with, a body of sin and death; such as made St. Paul himself to exclaim, “O wretched man that I am!” — — — Nor can we hope to be freed from the assaults of Satan, even such as Paul complained of, when, with repeated cries, he implored the removal of “the thorn in his flesh,” which so sorely pained him — — — But the same “God who comforted him will comfort us with similar consolations;” and, “if our afflictions abound as his did, will make our consolations to abound also [Note: 2Co_1:3-5.].” And so effectual shall these be, that we shall be enabled to “glory in our tribulations [Note: Rom_5:3.],” and even to “take pleasure in our infirmities and distresses [Note: 2Co_12:10.]” — — —]
2. Stability—
[To serve the Lord with steadfastness and fidelity, in the midst of all the difficulties which we have to encounter, is no easy matter. But “God is able to hold us up: and we shall be upheld [Note: Rom_14:4.],” if we simply rely on him. Yes; “God is faithful to his promises; and he will stablish us, and keep us from evil [Note: Rom_3:3.];” and enable us to maintain our integrity before him, both in word and deed — — —
And here let me observe, that it is not from “God the Father” only that we may hope to obtain these benefits, but from “the Lord Jesus Christ also, whom the Apostle frequently unites with the Father, as equally the object of our worship, the source of our blessings, the rock of our dependence [Note: Eph_6:23. 1Th_3:11.].” If we “be strong, it must be in the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the power of his might [Note: Eph_6:10.].” “His grace,” under whatever circumstances, “shall be sufficient for us [Note: 2Co_12:9.]:” and if we trust in him, we may confidently say, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me [Note: Php_4:13.]” — — —]
Application—
In all your addresses, whether for yourselves or others, at the throne of grace, look to God,
1. With adoring gratitude—
[It is not possible that you should be in any state, wherein this frame of mind is not called for — — — And think what boldness the recollection of God’s undeserved love and unbounded mercies will give you, in your addresses to him — — — Truly, if you had but the slightest sense of what God has already done for you, you could not but find your hearts enlarged towards him; and would “open your mouths wide,” whensoever you came into his presence — — —]
2. With humble confidence—
[See how God the Father, and God the Son, and I may add too, God the Holy Ghost, have concurred in all that has already been vouchsafed unto you. For, whether the Father or the Son confer the benefit, it is by the Holy Spirit that it is imparted to you — — — And with such benefactors, each pledged to the other, by an everlasting covenant, to bestow on you whatsoever shall most conduce to your welfare, what can you want? Verily, you shall want no manner of thing that is good. Only cast all your care on your reconciled God in Christ Jesus, and you shall find, to your comfort, that “he is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy [Note: Jude, ver. 24.].”]