The case is similar, with respect to the love of God: whoever, from a sense of the relationship which he is privileged to bear to the almighty and gracious Creator; whoever, from a contemplation of the high and holy perfections of the Godhead; whoever, from a perception of the divine goodness and mercy, does truly love the great and glorious Lord of all, will constantly delight to serve Him; sensible indeed of his manifold weaknesses and deficiencies, and thereby brought to grieve, and rendered the more fearful to offend; but still entertaining no doubt, that his services, imperfect and unworthy as they are, are accepted at the throne of grace, through the merits of his Redeemer, and as the fruit of faith in His prevailing name. For no earthly consideration would he exchange this heavenly joy and satisfaction; and no earthly event or dispensation, however afflicting, can drive him even to distrust, much less to despair. Though nature feels her bereavements and her troubles, his faith is strong; and it assures him, that the very chastisements of the Lord are inflicted in mercy. “Who,” says the Apostle, “shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” {148} In speaking, however, of the holy confidence, with which we are inspired by the sincere love of God, far would I be, as far as possible, from confounding it with that self-sufficient and presumptuous tone into which some persons have been unbecomingly betrayed, when describing their spiritual condition. Humility is the foundation of the Christian’s confidence: he trusts, only because he is “strong in the lord, and in the power of His might;” he is sufficient, only because “all his sufficiency is of God.” And the purer his love, and the higher his attainments, the more humbly and modestly does he speak of them: he talks not of certainty, “as if he had already attained,” but delights himself with “full assurance of faith,” {149a} with “full assurance of hope;” {149b} his is not an extravagant joy, proceeding from the arrogant assertion of an elective claim, but a holy tranquillity of soul, arising from faith in the Redeemer’s undeserved mercy; from unfeigned love to the most benevolent and perfect Being; and reposing itself upon the unchangeable promises of Jehovah.