Here we may take occasion to consider the blessings which are secured by the faithfulness of God, of which some respect mankind in general, and the blessings of common providence, _viz._ that the world should be preserved, and all flesh not perish out of it, from the deluge to Christ’s second coming; and that, during this time, the regular course of nature should not be altered, but _that seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, should not cease_, Gen. ix. 11. compared with chap. viii. 22. There are also promises made to the church in general, that it should have a being in the world, notwithstanding all the shocks of persecution, which it is exposed to; and, together with these, God has given the greatest security, that the ordinances of divine worship should be continued, and that, _in all places where he records his name, he will come to his people and bless them_, Exod. xx. 24. And to this we may add, that he has promised to increase and build up his church; and that to Shiloh, the great Redeemer, should the _gathering of the people be_, and that he would _multiply them, that they should not be few_, and also, _glorify them, that they should not be small_, Gen. xlix. 10. compared with Jer. xxx. 19. and that the glory should be of an increasing nature, especially that which it should arrive to in the latter ages of time, immediately before its exchanging this militant for a triumphant state in heaven. Moreover, there are many great and precious promises made to particular believers, which every one of them have a right to lay claim to, and are oftentimes enabled so to do, by faith, which depends entirely on this perfection: and these promises are such as respect the increase of grace; that they shall _go from strength to strength_, or that _they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength_, Psal. lxxxiv. 7. and Isa. xl. 31. and that they shall be recovered, after great backslidings, Psal. xxxvii. 14. Psal. lxxxix. 30-33. and be enabled to persevere in that grace, which is begun in them, till it is crowned with compleat victory, 2 Cor. xii. 9. Rom. xvi. 20. Job xvii. 9. 1 Cor. xv. 57. and also that they shall be made partakers of that inward peace and joy, which accompanies or flows from the truth of grace, Isa. xi. 1. chap. lvii. 19. chap. xxxii. 17. and that all this shall be attended with perfect blessedness in heaven at last, Psal. lxxiii. 24. 2 Tim. iv. 8. The scripture abounds with promises of the like nature, which are suited to every condition, and afford relief to God’s people, under all the difficulties they meet with in the world; the accomplishment whereof is made sure to them by this divine perfection.