YOU know our custom. We begin the year always with a motto. Ours for 1790 is, “Trust in Him at all times.” Our bodies, and souls, and families, the Church, the State, at home and abroad, call for much trust in God. The word trust means to lean upon anything which you think will support you; and you will do it with more or less confidence, as you are persuaded it is able to keep you from falling. This is a beautiful idea of faith, as it respects the word of God—our ground to lean upon.
It may be done safely, it may be done happily, at all times. No case of sin or misery so desperate, but the word reaches it with a promise; and faith mixed with the promise brings deliverance from all sin (Rom. viii. 1-3), from all misery. If it continues, it does good (Rom. viii. 28), and, in the best time, a happy issue. Oh, what a blessing is there in this passage! You have been tried lately in this fire, and you will again, and soon. Read it over and over, digest it; you will find it a sovereign cordial in an hour of need.
The weakest believer has an almighty arm to lean upon in every trial, trouble, or temptation. He cannot fall, unless his faith fails (Isa. xxvi. 1, 2; 2 Cor. xii. 7-10). Strong in faith, strong in all. Our Jesus is able to save to the uttermost: you may cast safely all your sins, and all your cares, upon God. His almighty power is with you and for you. He said once, and we find it true to this day, “Fear not; I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” Who can tell the full meaning of this promise? However, leaning upon it, we may go with confidence through all the troubles of life, yea, through the valley of the shadow of death, and fear no evil.
Oh, what a year would this be, if we could always bring these principles into practice, without doubt or wavering! For you see that in all cases, in all times, we are commanded to trust God in Christ, and in trusting we shall find, 1. Salvation; 2. The joys of it; and, 3. The security of it; the Lord’s strength
being our keeper, and our sure refuge in life and death from all possible evil. These are some of our encouragements to set out in this new year with fresh spirits, that we may hold out, and go on from faith to faith. There is no temptation, enemy, danger, or corruption which should stop us. Nay, these are so many motives for depending on God’s promised help; so that neither what we feel within, nor fear without, should make us withdraw our confidence.—W. Romaine.