There is not enough in this promise, I
find not enough in that promise, to quench the drought of my
thirsting soul. He that thirsteth aright, nothing but God can quench
his thirst. "My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God." Psalm
43:2; 63:1; 143:6. Well, what shall he done for this man? Will his
God humor him, and answer his desires? Mark what follows: "When the
poor and needy seek water, and there is none"--when all the promises
seem to be dry, and like clouds that return after the rain--"and
their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the
God of Israel will not forsake them." Aye, but, Lord, what wilt thou
do to quench their thirst? "I will open rivers," saith he, "in high
places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the
wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water."
Behold, here are rivers and fountains, a pool and springs, and all
to quench the thirst of them that thirst for God.
What greater argument to holiness, than to see the scriptures so
furnished with promises of grace and salvation by Christ, that a man
can hardly cast his eye into the Bible but he espies one or another
of them? Who would not live in such a house, or he a servant to such
a prince; who, besides his exceeding in good conditions, has gold
and silver as common in his palace as stones are by the highway
side?
It sometimes so falleth out, that the very promise we have thought
could not reach us to comfort us by any means, has at another time
swallowed us up with joy unspeakable: Christ the true prophet has
the right understanding of the word as an Advocate, has pleaded it
before God against Satan; and having overcome him at the common law,
he has sent to let us know it by his good Spirit, to our comfort and
the confusion of our enemies.
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