26 NOVEMBER
Strengthened and upheld
‘Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.’ Isaiah 41:10
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Haggai 2:1–9
Are you discouraged with the great difficulties of your Christian calling? See what the Lord says—I will bless thee. Though you can do nothing, yet if he helps, works in you and by you, you shall both do great things and also shall prevail. Are you afraid you shall not endure but give up at last? How can that be when the Lord has said, I will uphold thee? Sooner the stars shall fall to the earth, than you fall from your Christian course, if the Lord vouchsafes to uphold you. Farther, take notice of the manner in which the Lord strengthens, helps, upholds:
(i) with the right arm. This implies power (Psalm 89:13) and tenderness (Hosea 11:3; Deuteronomy 33).
(ii) of my righteousness. This shows the sure ground whereon our hopes are built. The righteousness of Christ as Mediator is the fountain of all our strength, sufficiency and comfort, so long as he continues the Righteous One. So long as his obedience unto death comes in remembrance, so long all these benefits shall be made over and continued to his people. It shows that his faithfulness and truth are engaged to make these things good to waiting souls. The word is gone out of his lips and his righteousness is bound for the performance.
FOR MEDITATION: This evening I preached a funeral sermon for my dearest earthly comfort, who was removed (I trust) to a better world, on the 15th inst., from Habakkuk 3:17–18. How can I sufficiently praise thee for the supports thou hast in mercy afforded me through the course of this long trial, so painful at times to the feelings of the flesh! Blessed be thy name, that I can now say from my heart, Thy will be done. My times and all my concerns are in thy hands. There I desire cheerfully to leave them. I would not form a wish, but to be and to do as thou wouldst have me.
Diary, Sunday 26 December 1790
[Newton’s wife died on 15 December 1790]
SERMON: ISAIAH 41:10 [4/5]
Milo 