Abraham, against hope believed in hope. Romans 4:21.
O my soul! thou having not, like Abraham, only one single but many thousand promises and patterns of faithful believers before thee, it is fit that thou shouldst strongly rely on the word in faith. And though the Lord delayeth his help, and the evil seemeth to grow worse and worse, be not weak, but rather strong, and rejoice. The most glorious promises of God are generally fulfilled in such a wondrous manner, that he steps forth to save us at a time when there is the least appearance of it, nay, the contrary of it. For in the greatest extremities, God is nearest with his help.
This method he chooses, that we may not trust upon any thing that we see or feel, as we are always apt to do, but only upon his bare word, which we can and must only depend upon in the hour of death.
How large the promise! how divine!
To Abraham and his seed;
I’ll be a God to thee and thine,
Supplying all their need.
The words of this extensive love
From age to age endure,
The angel of the covenant proves
And seals the blessing sure.
Our God! how faithful are his ways!
His love endures the same,
Nor from the promise of his grace
Blots out the sinner’s name.