Trust in God

"Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them".

HOLY David spake these words in the name of the Jewish nation, looking back to their pious ancestors, through the several successive periods, in which they had existed as a people; and what he says concerning them is, that they "trusted in GOD". He then records the happy effect consequent thereupon "Thou didst deliver them": which deliverance GOD sometimes wrought out for them in the most signal manner; "riding in the heavens for their help, and in his excellency on the clouds".

THE inspired psalmist reminds the Jewish people, in his day, of this piety of their progenitors, and the good effect of it, that he might excite in them a becoming concern to make GOD the supreme object of their trust; encouraging them, in this way, to hope for deliverance, however pressing the difficulties might be they were under.

p. 6MY text, though thus primarily directed to the Jews to engage their trust in GOD, that they might obtain deliverance from evil, is yet applicable to other people, under like circumstances; and may obviously be accommodated to the people of GOD in this land. Perhaps, there are no people, now dwelling on the face of the earth, who may, with greater pertineney, adopt the language of king David, and say, "our fathers trusted in thee; they trusted, and thou didst deliver them".

I shall discourse to the words in this accommodated sense; taking occasion from them to speak of our pious ancestors as those who "trusted in GOD"; and then of the good effect of their so doing, in the "deliverances GOD wrought out for them". The way will then be clear to point out to us their posterity our duty in this day of trouble, and the good effect we may humbly look for from the faithful performance of it.

IT may with real truth be said of our pious progenitors, that they "trusted in GOD"; that is, that they made GOD the alone ultimate object of their dependence in every time of need. And this they did, not blindly, or groundlessly, as having no solid reason for their conduct; but from just conceptions of that wisdom, power, and goodness of GOD, which render him a being p. 7every way sutable to be intirely confided in. In this view of the all-sufficiency of GOD, they ever repaired to him as their strength and refuge, commiting themselves, and all their concerns, into his hands, and relying on him as their supreme help. Sensible of their own inability to provide for and protect themselves, and of the inability of all creatures without GOD, much more in opposition to him, they took off their dependence from every thing else, and placed it on him supremely and ultimately, as that glorious, and yet gracious, being, who alone was sufficient to be their guide, defence, and help, especially in their days of trouble.

p. 7THUS our fathers trusted in GOD; and some special properties of this their trust, are eminently worthy of notice.

IT was a trust accompanied with prayer. This is observed, in the verse immediately following my text, concerning the trust of the Jewish fathers. "They cried unto thee, and were delivered". They prayed, as well as trusted. They not only made GOD their dependance, but commited their case to him in humble, fervent supplications. In like manner, prayer to that glorious being who dwelleth on high, was ever p. 8a concomitant of that trust which the pious forefathers of the people of New England placed in GOD. They were eminently men of prayer; they prayed always; and their prayers were more abundant, and more importunate and incessant, when their circumstances made it proper to make GOD their special refuge in any times of more than ordinary difficulty and danger. They now besieged the throne of GOD, with their fervent cries, at once hoping in his mercy, and praying to him for the bestowment of it.

THEIR trust also was accompanied with humility, a becoming sense of their unworthiness, and the infinite condescention of GOD, that he should be willing to allow such sinful undeserving creatures to place their dependence on him for protection and help. They entertained in their minds exalted apprehensions of this favor of the "high and lofty one who inhabiteth eternity"; and as low ones of themselves, in consideration of their own comparative nothingness, much more of their sinfulness, whereby they had exposed themselves to the righteous resentments of heaven.

THEIR trust in GOD was likewise exercised with profound submission to his alwise pleasure, as to the time, manner, measure, p. 9and all the circumstances relative to the good they confided in him for. They were so resigned as to have no will of their own, in opposition to GOD's. That was the feeling of their hearts, as well as the language of their lips, in all times of danger and distress, whether personal or public, "let the Lord do to us as seemeth good to him". "Father, not as we will, but as thou wilt".

p. 9Again, THEIR trust in GOD was steadily and firmly fixed. Nothing was able to shake their confidence in the divine perfections, and promises, no difficulties in the course of providence, no discouragements, no dangers, no tryals however heavy and severe; but in the midst of all, and notwithstanding all, they had rest in their souls by resolutely cleaving to GOD as their ultimate hope and refuge. With holy Job they could say, "tho' he slay me, yet will I trust in him"; Yea, they could triumph in the language of the 46th Psalm, "GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, tho' the earth be removed, and the mountains be carried into the depth of the seas; tho' the waters thereof roar and are troubled; tho' the mountains shake with the swelling thereof".

Yet again, THEIR trust in GOD was accompained p. 10with their own endeavours, in the use of proper means, in order to the obtainment of needed salvation and deliverance: Otherwise, instead of placing a well grounded confidence in the divine all-sufficiency, they would have been chargeable with the weakness and folly of presuming upon the help of heaven. For it ought always to be remembered, tho' it is GOD ultimately who protects, helps, and saves; yet, he ordinarily does this by the intervention of second causes, adapted in their nature to the purpose. Our fathers, therefore, that they might not substitute presumption, in the room of a well-placed trust, joined with their dependance on GOD, tho' in absolute subordination to it, a due use of such means as he has been wont to accompany, or follow, with his blessing. Had they, in a time of danger, needlessly exposed themselves, or had they not taken such methods as were wise, fit and reasonable, in order to their own preservation and safety, they would in vain have trusted in GOD; as in this way only they might reasonably have expected his blessing.