Vers. 13. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying vnto thee, Feare not, I will helpe thee.
THe Prophet shewed vs erewhile where∣upon we should build the confidence of our saluation, that we might continue safe a∣gainst all assaults; to wit, when we were cer∣tainly perswaded that God is our God. Now hee teacheth the same thing, but in other words; neither is the repetition superfluous: for we know how easilie the remembrance of this doctrine vanisheth away, albeit we haue it often repeated vnto vs. This promise there∣fore cannot be too much praised nor insisted vpon, seeing it doth so hardly take roote in our hearts. Let vs bee well assured then that wee shall find an vndoubted issue in all our perplexities, because the Lord will assist vs: as oft therefore as we shall be pressed vnder a∣nie dangerous assault, let vs learne to fix our eies vpon him.
Now when hee calles himselfe the Lord our God, it is not so much to set forth his power, as his goodnesse, which he will make vs feele. For what benefit should redound vnto vs from the knowledge of his power, if therewithall we were not well perswaded of his loue? At the onely hearing of his power we are asto∣nished; but when his goodnesse is preached with it, the very remembrance thereof suffi∣ceth to appease vs.
He speakes of taking by the hand, and of the voice againe; for it serues much to the com∣forting of our weake faith, to know what signes of loue God shewes vs, especially when the doctrine of faith is ioined thereunto, which assures vs of his perpetuall fauour. This clause therefore, saying vnto thee; hath great weight in it: for we must needs remaine alwaies in suspence,* 1.1 till we heare the voice of the Lord in his word. It is that alone which sufficeth to abolish all our feare, and to set vs at rest. Are we desirous then to haue our harts quieted, and to ouercome the many troubles which daily befall vs? Let vs hearken directly to the good word of God, and euer hold fast the comfort thereof in our hearts. For it is