Online Bible 1995 March/ROM-1025.iso/olb/gill/d_500.lzh/D_542.TXT

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542                                    OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN GOD.                                                          BOoK I.

have boldness and access with confidence b.y the faith of
him, Eph. iii. 12. through Christ the Mediator, and
faith in him, souls may come to God with great free-
dom and liberty, teal him all their mind, pour out
their souls before him; especially they can do that
when they are under the influences, and have the as-
sistance of his Spirit; for where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is liberty; otherwise there is a straithess of
soul, and saints are shut up that they cannot come
forth in the lively exercise of grace; but they may
come with boldness and intrepidity to the throne of
grace, and ask such things of God they stand in need
of.-mav look up and lift up their face, and shew their
countenance, as they are allowed, and indeed desired
to do; nay, they may have this co.fidence in God, that
if theft ask any thing according to his will he heareth
them, I John v. 14. all which arise from faith in the
person, blood, and righteousness of Christ: it is through
the blood of Christ saints have boldncss to enter into
the holiest of all, and in his righteousness to stand
before God with acceptance, and wait in faith for suc-
cess; and which holy boldness and confidence is con-
sistent with reverence of God and submission to his
will.
Fourthlff, Trust or confidence in God may be con-
sidered, as it has a connection with the grace of faith;
faith is sometimes expressed by it; Such trust or con-
fidence have we through Christ to God-ward, 2 Cor.
iii. 4. it is at least a fruit and effect of it, what fol-
lows upon it; for when the grace of faith is wrought
in the soul, it shews itself in trust and confidence in
God, even when it has not a full persuasion of inte-
rest in him; Though he slay me, yet will I trust in
Mm: some make it to be the form of faith, and of
the essence of it; and that faith in Christ consists of
these three parts, knowledge of him as a Saviour, as-
sent unto him as such, and trust in him, or a fiducial
application and appropriation of him as a man's own
Saviour; hence it is commonly said by some, tides est
fiducia; faith is confidence; it seems to be faith
greatly strengthened; a strong exercise of it; such
as in 2 Tim. i. 12. I know whom I have believed or
trusted; if not a plerophory, and full assurance of it;
and such a trust or confidence, which is so near akin
to faith, and as it should seem a strong act of it, is
what is to be treated of; and since it is so much spoken
of in scripture, and so much recommended, and such
instances of it, and so many happy consequences and
 effects of it, it deserves a distinct consideration.         Par-
 ticularly,
    lI.. The objects of it.
First, Negatively; what are not the objects of it,
and are dehorted from in scripture.-    1. Idols; trust
in which, and in things belonging to them, may be
called idolatrous and superstitious confidence; to have
other gods besides the Lord, as idols, to worship them,
and yield religious service to them. is contrary to the
first and second commands; and to trust in them is
the heighth of folly and vanity, Psalm cxv. 4--8.
Isa. xlii. 17. Such pray unto, serve and worship, and
trust in what can neither see them, nor hear them,
nor help, nor save them. And as vain and supersti-
tious is the trust and confidence of such, who place

it in religious buildings, in temples made with hands;
as the Jews, in the temple at Jerusalem; who, be-
cause it was called by the name of the Lord, trusted
in it, it being the place where ttiey met and worship-
ped, and in which they confided for present safety
and future happiness, Jer. vii. 4, 14. So the Gentiles
gloried in their temples; as in the temple offDiana,
at Ephesus; and of other idols in other places. Like-
wise all superstitious rites and ceremonies, which,
though they have been in use, now abrogated; yet, if
exercised, and especially trusted in, are condemned,
as trusting in the flesh; as circumcision, &c. among
the Jews; as well as a multitude of carnal and worldly
ordina-nces among the Gentiles, which had a sbew of
wisdom in will-worship.    2. Men; trust in whom
may be called human confidence; and which is not
to b..e. placed, no, not in the greatest of men, Psalm
cxvm. 8, 9. even not in whole nations, strong and
mighty. This was the sin of the Israelites, that they
trusted in the shadow of Egypt to shelter and skreen
them from their enemies, and which was vain and un-
profitable unto them; therefore, says the Lord, Trust
in the shadow of Egypt shall be your confusion, Isa. xxx.
2, 3. all outward means for safety in times of trouble
and danger are of no avail, and are false things to be
trusted in; Some trust in chariots, and seine in horses;
but we will remember the name of the Lord our God ,.
that is a strong tower, where is safety and security;
horses and armies, castles and fortresses, are vain
things for safety; nor are they to be trusted in, Psalm
xx. 7. and xxxiii. 16, 17. Prey..xxi. 3 t. and in some
cases the most intimate friends are not to be confided
in for secresy; Trust ye not in a friend ; put ye not
confidence in a guide, Mie. vii. 5. Neither are men to
be trusted in for the health of the body, any more
than for the protection of lives and properties; phy-
sicians may be made use of, but not to be confided in;
Asa's sin was, that he sought not to the Lord for the
cure of his bodily disease, but to the physic,7ans; only,
in them he put his confidence, to the neglect of the
great Physician of soul and body,
- -3. Self is another object not to be trusted in, on
more accounts than one; and trust in which may be
called self-confidence; as when men trust in their
wealth, and make gold their hope, and say to the fine
gold, Thou art my confidence; trust in uncertain
riches, and not in the living God; have no regard to
divine providence, anti a dependence on that; but
foolishly fancy they have goods laid up for many
years, and promise themselves great ease and plea-
sure; when that very night their souls may be required
of them; and so very true is that of the wise man;
He that trusteth in his riches shall f all, Prov. xi. 18.
see Jer. ix. 23. Nor should a man trust in his wis-
dom; since the way of man is not in himself; not
even in civil, as well as not in religious things: nor is
it in man that walketh to direct his steps; good is the
advice of Solomon, Trust in the Lord with all thine
heart, and lean not to thine own understanding, Prove
iii. 5. Nor should a man trust in his strength; not in
his natural strength, as Samson; nor in his moral
strength, to perform that which is morally good, to
do which he wants both knowledge and strength of