September 6

"For He is faithful that promised."—HRS. x. 23.

THE promises of God are sure and infallible; not Yea and then Nay, one thing to-day and an opposite thing to-morrow; but always Yea. And "the Yea of heaven is Yea indeed"; it cannot direct astray or disappoint.

His very Names are promises. Jehovah - Rophi, Jehovah - Tsidkenu, Jehovah - Nissi, Jehovah - Jireh; Father, Saviour, Shepherd, Husband: what an evangel each of them contains!

His Dealings in History are promises. Sooner or later He has overthrown the evil; sooner or later He has diademed the right. He has satisfied the poor with good things, while He has sent the rich empty away. It calls loud to me to hope. It says, "What He was to others yesterday, He will be to you to-day."

The Doctrines of His Book are promises. Justification: that is an assurance of a spotless righteousness. Sanctification: that is an assurance of holiness without flaw. And so with all the rest. Every truth of the Bible is a well in the wilderness, and the well is deep.

And, in addition, there are those distinct and gracious Love-words which I call the promises. They light up the pages of Scripture as the stars light up the nightly sky—a countless host, an exceeding great army. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Verily, with such a God, and with Him all my own, I shall want for no good thing. Let me say good-bye to my faint-heartedness. I am impotent; but the fountains of my refreshment are in His great heart, and they are fountains of a perpetual youth.