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the Bible for the special benefit and encouragement of all who will use
them。
Yet promise lies at the bottom of nearly all the transactions of man
with man in the affairs of this life。 The vast majority of Adam's
children in every civilized country are acting every day on the faith
of promises。 The labourer on the land works hard from Monday morning to
Saturday night； because he believes that at the end of the week he
shall receive his promised wages。 The soldier enlists in the army； and
the sailor enters his name on the ship's books in the navy； in the full
confidence that those under whom they serve will at some future time
give them their promised pay。 The humblest maid…servant in a family
works on from day to day at her appointed duties； in the belief that
her mistress will give her the promised wages。 In the business of great
cities； among merchants； and bankers； and tradesmen； nothing could be
done without incessant faith in promises。 Every man of sense knows that
cheques and bills； and promissory notes； are the only means by which
the immense majority of mercantile affairs can possibly be carried on。
Men of business are pelled to act by faith and not by sight。 They
believe promises； and expect to be believed themselves。 In fact；
promises； and faith in promises； and actions springing from faith in
promises； are the back…bone of nine…tenths of all the dealings of man
with his fellow…men throughout Christendom。
Now promises； in like manner； in the religion of the Bible； are one
grand means by which God is pleased to approach the soul of man。 The
careful student of Scripture cannot fail to observe that God is
continually holding out inducements to man to listen to Him； obey Him；
and serve Him； and undertaking to do great things； if man will only
attend and believe。 In short； as St。 Peter says； 〃There are given to us
exceeding great and precious promises。〃 （2 Pet。 i。 4。） He who has
mercifully caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning has
shown His perfect knowledge of human nature； by spreading over the Book
a perfect wealth of promises； suitable to every kind of experience and
every condition of life。 He seems to say； 〃Would you know what I
undertake to do for you？ Do you want to hear my terms？ 〃〃Take up the
Bible and read。〃
But there is one grand difference between the promises of Adam's
children and the promises of God； which ought never to be forgotten。
The promises of man are not sure to be fulfilled。 With the best wishes
and intentions； he cannot always keep his word。 Disease and death may
step in like an armed man； and take away from this world him that
promises。 War； or pestilence； or famine； or failure of crops； or
hurricanes； may strip him of his property； and make it impossible for
him to fulfil his engagements。 The promises of God； on the contrary；
are certain to be kept。 He is Almighty： nothing can prevent His doing
what He has said。 He never changes： He is always 〃of one mind〃： and
with Him there is 〃no variableness or shadow of turning。〃 （Job xxiii。
13； James 1。 17。） He will always keep His word。 There is one thing
which； as a little girl once told her teacher； to her surprise； God
cannot do： 〃It is impossible for God to lie。〃 （Heb。 vi。 18。） The most
unlikely and improbable things； when God has once said He will do them；
have always e to pass。 The destruction of the old world by a flood；
and the preservation of Noah in the ark； the birth of Isaac； the
deliverance of Israel from Egypt； the raising of David to the throne of
Saul； the miraculous birth of Christ； the resurrection of Christ； the
scattering of the Jews all over the earth； and their continued
preservation as a distinct peoplewho could imagine events more
unlikely and improbable than these？ Yet God said they should be； and in
due time they all came to pass。 In truth； with God it is just as easy
to do a thing as to say it。 Whatever He promises； He is certain to
perform。
Concerning the variety and riches of Scripture promises； far more might
be said than it is possible to say in a short paper like this。 Their
name is legion。 The subject is almost inexhaustible。 There is hardly a
step in man's life； from childhood to old age； hardly any position in
which man can be placed； for which the Bible has not held out
encouragement to everyone who desires to do right in the sight of God。
There are 〃shalls〃 and 〃wills〃 in God's treasury for every condition。
About God's infinite mercy and passionabout His readiness to
receive all who repent and believeabout His willingness to forgive；
pardon； and absolve the chief of sinnersabout His power to change
hearts and alter our corrupt natureabout the encouragements to pray；
and hear the Gospel； and draw near to the throne of graceabout
strength for duty； fort in trouble； guidance in perplexity； help in
sickness； consolation in death； support under bereavement； happiness
beyond the grave； reward in gloryabout all these things there is an
abundant supply of promises in the Word。 No one can form an idea of its
abundance unless he carefully searches the Scriptures； keeping the
subject steadily in view。 If anyone doubts it； I can only say； 〃e
and see。〃 Like the Queen of Sheba at Solomon's Court； you will soon
say； 〃The half was not told me。〃 （1 Kings x。 7。）
The promise of our Lord Jesus Christ which heads this paper is somewhat
peculiar。 It is singularly rich in encouragement to all who feel
spiritual thirst； and e to Him for relief； and therefore it deserves
peculiar attention。 Most of our Lord's promises refer specially to the
benefit of the person to whom they are addressed。 The promise before us
takes a far wider range： it seems to refer to many others beside those
to whom He spoke。 For what says He？〃He that believeth on Me； as the
Scripture hath said〃 （and everywhere teaches）； 〃out of his belly shall
flow rivers of living water。 But this spake He of