The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-04
Promises, Human and Divine.

The great difference between prom
iSeS as made 10y man, and promises as
made by God, is, that man, as gen.
eral rule, falls below what he promises,
while God rises above his promises.
Not that, in the Divine Being. there
is any lack of fidelity to the exact
terms of his engagement, for wenever
think of charging this to any party
who does more than he promises.
Human promises are based upon hui
man integrity and capacity, and where
either fail the promises fail. A man
may possess integrity, and yet his
capacity may depend upon certain
contingencies which he can not
always cOntrol-cOntingencieS of
providence, contingencies based
upon other peoples promises, contin-
gencieS of health, and such like-all
these must cOnSpire in his favor with
more or less OF certainty to enable
him to redeem his engagements, and
failing in this, it would be both IN
charitable and unjust to charge him
with dishonesty. But where his Ca
pacity is equal to his promises, and he
then fails to redeem them, he loses
all claims to our confidence. But the
such contingencies. To integrity,
firm as the pillars of His throne, He
combines resources unlimited as the
universe, and these are the guarantee
that every jot and little of His plight
ed word shall be fulfilled, because
no language, that creatures can
understand, can bring out
the good things prepared for
them that love Him." With Him, the
margin is all on the side of mercy and
grace. so that at the time of fulfill
ment each will have infinite cause to
eXclaim with the queen of Sheba,
The half has not been toldp Think
of COMPRISING into the poor language
Of mOTtals, 1.-The unSearchable riches
of Christ" the Respondent glOrieS of
heaven, the accumulated wealth of
eternity embraced in the inheritance
of the saints in light" the ineffable
SplendorS of Godhead, what can hu-
man tongues do with subjects like
these? The language of another
world, and the capacities of disem-
bodied spirits are required for these
transcendent themes. Even the prom
iseS that are written down in the di-
vine book are so exceeding great
and precious" as to stagger the
faith of the most matured be-
lever. Their very magnitude
often amaZes usl But from our hap
Ply homes in our Fathers house, when
faith and hope shall have delivered us
up to the bright visions with which
they lured and cheered us on through
our earthly pilgrimage, with what
| adjoining wonder will we fall at the
| feet of Him that stitch upon the
| throne, and pour forth our raptureS
unto Him that is able to do exceed
ing abundantly above all that we ask
or think, according to the power that
worketh in us, unto Him be glory in
the church by Christ Jesus, through
out all ages, world without end.
Amenp
But then, what gives to these divine
| promises their most comforting as
well as SureSt significance is, that they
come to us baptized in the very blood
of Jesus Christ. They "are in him,
yea, and in him amen, to the glory of
| God the Father" That is, if we COM
prehend the force of the expression,
| they come to us confirmed by an
oath" from God the Father, and sealed
with the blood of Christ, his Son.
This is their browning excellence
Could Almightiness do more that 1--WE
might have strong consolation, who
have fled for refuge to lay hold of the
hope set before u.s." a "hope both sure
and steadfaSt ?" With such issue
ances, it would seem to be the very
madness of unbelief to doubt the least
promise that bears the signet of the
| atOnement. He who looks at these
promises through Calvary may plant
himself upon rock firm as the ever
lasting hillsl
1t only remains that we add, that
all these promises are placed in charge
of the Holy Spirit, as the executive
power of the Holy Trinity, for the USE
and benefit of all the heirs of saliva
ton. He shall take of mine" says
our adored Redeemer, 'and show il
unto you" By His quickening power
He first creates the spiritual desires
of the soul, and then presents these
promises to meet them. Thus, what
God the Father pledges by an oath
what God the Son ratifies by his OWL
precious blood, God the Spirit apple.
to "all who call upon the name of tn,
Lord" This is the anchor of our hope
and we may well join with an inspired
apostle in saying, it is ''both sure anC
steadfast," sure in its prospective fru
itions, steadfaSt as the pillars of hi
thronei