compared with Wealth p. 489 490 491 619 It teaches many excellent Lessons p. 592 593 It deserves Love for the Author Matter Use p. 622 It 's a full Declaration of Gods mind p. 8 153 It 's a certain Declaration of his Mind and Will p. 8 It declares 1. what we must do 2. whether we do it or no 3. what we may expect from God p. 9 It is self-evidencing p. 9 It will excuse or accuse in the day of Judgment p. 6 It 's not only a Direction but an Injunction p. 24 349 It 's a Light by day a Lamp by night p. 687 688 why 689 It s a rule and an Instrument p 53 688 In it we are to consider 1. the Authority 2. the Ministry of it p. 488 892 It 's a Glass to shew us our spots and water to wash them away p. 54 Three main uses of the Word of God p. 491 It 's 1. the Sts. Direction 2. their Support 3. their Charter p. 97 491 619 866 867 It makes rich and happy p. 86 488 489 490 It is an Antidote against sin and a Cordial against sorrow p. 120 151 152 688 359 333 It is Comfort in two Respects p. 688 354 359 It is Bread and Water p. 124 126 How we are to be affected towards the Word p. 620 It is pure in many Respects 1. in it self 2. it makes the Soul pure and that 1. as 't is the appointed Instrument of the spirit 2. as 't is a proper Instrument for Purification 3. as it proposes Precepts Examples and other helps for Purity p. 857 858 It is Righteousness all Righteousness c. p. 1068 It ought to be our Meditation p. 576 It 's a Light proved from 1. the Autâ—…or 2. Instruments 3. the ends of it p. 690 691 It is our Comfort in the day of outward Trouble and inward Anguish It gives these Comforts 1. the Priviledges of the afflicted 2. the blessedness of another World acceptation with God p. 887 619 v. Commandements Believers may humbly challenge God upon his word p. 324 It may be hidden in two Respects 1. in respect of the outward Administration 2. in respect of the inward Influence and Efficacy p. 151 152 It is as good as Gods actual Performance or Deed p. 444 There are wonders in Gods word to be seen when God opens the Eye p. 112 880 881 882 What Gods opening the eyes contributes to the sight of them p. 112 Words idle words weigh heavy in Gods Ballance p. 39 Words are the Female Issue of the Soul Works the Male Issue p. 89 Works Covenants of Grace and Works wherein they agree and wherein they differ p. 906 907 908 909 Word of God upon the Soul may be mentioned before him and pleaded to him in Prayer and how p. 60 61 When God intends to work he sets Prayer on work p. 860 Work of God in what respects and sense ascribed to the Creature and why p. 751 God is always at work for us p. 340 World not our home not to be abused p. 117 It is preserved for the Elects sake p. 859 The spirit of this World p. 572 The spirit of God and the spirit of this World differ p. 478 Love of worldly things two great causes of it 1. A distrust of Gods Care 2. discontent with Gods allowance p. 255 present world p. 1089 Worship false worship severely punished p. 39 Worship of God his Interest therein p. 852 True Zeal appears for purity of Worship and against the corruption of it p. 852 Worship corrupted by Papists p. 205 206 False Worship makes men 1. subtle 2. cruel p. 739 Wounding and healing Gods Praerogative p. 511 Wrath of God They that walk closely with God are discharged from it p. 7 Y. YOkâ—… of Afflictions to be born from the youth p. 883 Young and raw Christians have much Zeal little Knowledge p. 452 Young Christians may have more true Wisdom than aged Persons p. 653 654 Young Men exhorted to beware of evil Company as the Pest and Bane of Youth p. 776 Young men not to be discouraged nor despised p. 654 655 Encouragement to Youth and to those that educate them p. 655 Youth regardless of serious work p. 52 God must be remembred in youth Reasons of it p. 52 53 Youth is tainted with sin p. 52 How a young man may cleanse his ways p. 55 Advantages of remembring God in Youth p. 397 Z. ZEal for false Worship quenches the fire of real Godliness p. 5 It is a high degree of Love It consumes the natural Spirits p. 849 Zeal great and pure becomes those that have any Affection for the ways and word of God p. 650 It is hottest in cold times p. 865 Zeal Spiritual and Carnal their differences Carnal Zeal is faulty in the 1. Cause 2. the Object 3. Measure p. 850 Zeal spiritual described 1. by its Causes 2. Object 3. Effects 4. usefulness to publick Reformation 5. use in private Christian Exercises p. 851 852 Blind Zeal a cause of Persecution p. 144 Iâ—… makes a man a prey for the Devil p. 685 Young Christians have much Zeal but little Knowledge p. 452 Zeal shews it self for purity of worship p. 852 Zeal now is less when there 's more light p. 657 Zion Mourners in Zion and Sinners in Zion p. 929 FINIS
increaseth vehemency in prayer p. 914 Oppression a great calamity p. 8â—…8 What it is 827 And to be deprecated by the people of God-827 921 When are we said to be left of God under the Oppression of wicked men p. 8â—…8 It is oftentimes masked with a Law p. 143 It is odious to God p. 827 828 Burdensome to men p. 827 828 Oppression of man a prejudice to our spiritual concerns God is concern'd to deliver us from them p. 925 Directions to the Oppressed what to do p. 923 924 Order of things in our care according to their worth 232. Ordinances God will be sought in them 12 Gods children long to see God in them p. 1090 They are made precious 1. From the necessity of them 2. Spiritual appetite and inward inclination to them 3. Experience p. 602 They are to be considered under a fourfold notion 1. As Duties 2. Priviledges 3. Means 4. Talents p. 905 They stir up desires after Heaven-1090 Origen's example who exhorted others to Martyrdom and yet in persecution was timorous and could not preach the Gospel p. 335 Original sin p. 52 53 It issues out first in evil thoughts p. 760 Other mens sins are bitterly to be mourned for p. 929 1. By all Christians as well as eminent Saints 2. By private Christians as well as those in publick places p. 929 Reproof to 1. Those that mourn not for their own sins Nor 2. own the dishonour cast on Gods Name p. 932 933 Overcoming Saints overcome one way sinners another 868 Outward senses set the inward on work 673 Outward things cannot make us blessed for 1. They want sincerity 2. Fulness 3. Eternity p. 73 How to know whether our care for the outward or inward man be greatest p. 180 Outward acts of duty commanded as well as the inward p. 160 Outward trouble may revive inward trouble p 884 Owned God will be owned the Author whoever is the instrument of prayer p. 514 Truth is sometimes not owned for want of liberty or courage p. 334 P. PAnting what p. 896 Pangs of love to God not sufficient 861. 676 677 Vid. Moods Papists who forbid the simple the use of the word confuted p. 895 Their Government Doctrine Worship corrupt p. 203 204 205 Pardon of sin the main matter of our comfort 592 No pardon for want of sincerity p. 903 Pardon granted in the Gospel 1. A pardon of course to some sins 2. A pardon upon repentance to all sins p. 1039 Pardon established in the New Covenant p. 1105 Partakers in sin partake of the punishment p. 806 Particular faith and hope p. 327 Partiality in obedience destroys our confidence in God p. 37 Partial Reformation will not serve p. 319 Paschalis the Martyr cites the Pope to appear before Christs Tribunal p. 38 Passions dim the eye of Reason p. 229 Passions are like wild horses p. 302 Passions cured by prayer 1. Fear 2. Sorrow 3. Anger 4. Impatience and despair p. 925 Passionate Expressions differ from serious desires 104 Saints lyable to various Passions p. 807 Passionateness of sin and passionateness of spiritual desire p. 900 Patience put to the utmost trial p. 143 Patron God is the Patron of his people but not of their sin p. 976 977 Paul Rom. 7. speaks as a converted person p. 47 Peace in abundance the priviledg of them that walk closely with God p. 7. 1026 Peace great peace the priviledg of them that keep and love God Law p. 1026 1027. Reasons Ibi. Peace of conscience the result of the rectitude of our actions p. 316 Peace of conscience fortifies against scandals p. 1033 Peace of conscience how it differs from joy in the Holy Ghost p. 316 Object How have they great peace that love Gods law when none are more troubled than they Answ. p. 1027 1028 Peace is either 1. External 2. Internal 3. Eternal p. 1021 Peace with Saints not only to be embraced when offered but pursued when rejected p. 528 Peculiar people peculiar favour peculiar spirits peculiar actings p. 607 608 Pelagius his Doctrine and subtilty p. 252 People of God in a special sense God has such a people grounds of Gods title to and interest in them p. 606 607 They may boldly commend their cause to God when the proud are vexations p. 522 Described by their principles p. 427. 607 Peremptoriness of Gods command to turn now as well as to turn at all p. 409 God is peremptory in the terms of Salvation p. 891 Perfection of the Creature cannot give 1. Rest to the soul 2. Nor procure acceptation with God 3. Nor stand us instead in troubles p. 614 615 Persecution whence 1. on Gods part 2. On the part of persecutors in whom 1. Blind zeal 2. Prejudices 3. Erroneous principles in Politicks cause persecution p. 144. Persecutors wickedness is some ground of confidence to the oppressed p. 946 Several pretences to justifie persecution p. 562 Persecution of Saints will undo any Nation p. 859 It s greater under the N. T. than the Old why 730 Permission of God in suffering maliciâ—…us enemies to draw â—…igh to his people p. 944 Perseverance in Ordinances a duty though we find not God in them at present p. 12. 88. 891 One great help to perseverance p. 459 Directions helps means for perseverance p. 211. 212. 343 Necessary to persevere in obedience p. 231. 339 Perswasion of Gods word slighted provoke him to use a more severe discipline p. 400 Philosophy not comparable to Christianity Pilgrims who are the true ones p. 117 Pilgrimage House of Pilgrimage what it is p. 354 Saints account the world their Pilgrimage-355 356 Pity to the sinner must be join'd with zeal against the sin p. 854 855 Pity of God engages him to do his people good in their distresses p. 822 Plainness of the Scriptures to private Christians 894 Reasons thereof p. 894 895 Plea with God twofold 1. A Law plea the merits of Christ 2. A Gospel plea sincerity p. 61 No plea allow'd that is contrary to free grace-p 848 Pleas of sinners for delaying repentance p. 406 407 Vid. Delays Plea from Gods mercy our relation 837. 846 937 No Pleading mercy while we go on in sin p. 845 God pleads the cause of his oppressed servants-p 972 how p. 973 974 975. why p. 976 977 Please God endeavour it in all things or nothing-p 35 It ought to be the end of our service p 851 It 's pleasing to God to hold out in trials p. 864 Pleasure in sin an excuse to delay repentance p. 406 It costs the sinner very dear p. 985 Pleasure not the happiness of the Rational Creature For 1 it cannot satisfie and that because of its 1. Imperfection 2. Uncertainty 3. Disproportion to the desire of man 2 Being inordinately loved it defiles 3 Being lost it encreases sorrow p. 3 Pleasures spiritual are 1. Substantial 2. Such as perfect the rational creature p. 313 Plottings against Gods people an ancient practice they arise from pride God forbids them and will
holy thoughts where they are sanctified and work the right way 1. They make us understand the Word more fully and clearly than before Vexatio dat intellectum qui tribulantur saith Luther Sacras Literas melius intelligunt securi fortunati eas legunt sicut Ovidii Carmen A full third part of the Scriptures are lost to the secure and fortunate 2. As they clear the sight so they purge the taste and give us a spiritual relish Carnal comforts cloy the spiritual appetite when they are removed from us then we taste heavenly things Psal. 94. 19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. 3. They quicken the heart to our duty and so make us more aweful and watchful Psal. 94. 12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest him out of thy law Psal. 119. 167. My soul hath kept thy testimonies and I love them exceedingly If God write his law upon our hearts by his stripes on our backs 't is a blessed effect our happiness is to be measured by our great end which is conformity to God and enjoyment of God and therefore it doth not consist in outward comforts riches honour health civil liberty and comfortable protection but acceptance with God and enjoyment of God Now as afflictions increase grace and holiness we are the more approved of God and enjoy more of God USE Let all our Troubles drive us then to the Word of God there we shall find 1. Grounds of comfort and support 2. Hopes of deliverance 3. Quickenings to duty which being concocted by serious thoughts and blessed to us by the Spirit of God will enable us to ride out the storm chearfully and allay our cares and fears and then we shall put our selves into the way wherein God hath engaged his protection and so shall not be afraid of what man can do unto us I now come to the 79th verse Let those that fear thee turn unto me and those that have known thy testimonies When troubled by the wicked he prayeth for the help and comfort of the godly there is an elegant Allusion between the two words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the proud be ashamed And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the godly be turned to me that is let them desert the society of these proud men and join to me In these words God's People are described by a double character 1. Those that fear thee 2. Those that have known thy testimonies David's Petition concerning those that they may turn to him I shall deliver the importance of these words in certain Propositions 1. Observe the Godly are described by two Properties the fear or worship of God and the knowledge of his Word These are Godly who fear to offend God and have the sound knowledge of his Will these are fittest for God's use in the general and for David's use in the particular condition in which he was For God's use Fear and knowledge do make up a godly man Knowledge without fear breedeth presumption and fear without knowledge breedeth superstition and blind Zeal as a blind Horse may be full of mettle but is ever and anon stumbling Knowledge must direct fear and fear must season knowledge then it is an happy mixture and composition Deum cognoscere colere to know God and worship him is the whole duty of man saith Lactantius When we know God's Testimonies so as to regard love and believe them and dare not dispense with our duty to him for all the world this is a good frame our knowledge and fear of God must be according to his Word And these were fittest for David's case fit comforters and strengthners of the Godly in persecution There are many whom we cannot exclude from all fear of God who yet know not his Testimonies run into Error darken and blemish a good cause but those that know and fear understand their duty and are loth to violate it with these should our Souls close Well then David doth in effect say Those whom thou hast joined to thy self let them join to me they will acknowledge the equity of that cause which God owneth and will converse with him whom thou disdainest not to take into favor because they reverence thy Providence and are taught out of thy Testimonies and so weighing the cause as well as regarding the event will be sooner won to the Truth when God sheweth mercy to his People other godly ones will be allured to join themselves to those whom they find to be so dear to God 2. Friendship and fellowship with such godly ones is a great blessing partly as it conduceth to mutual spiritual strength Rom. 1. 12. That I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me 'T is a comfort to see our Father's children wherever we come and to behold their Faith Zeal Self denial Mortification the Godly are a strength to one another in evil times Mal. 3. 16. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another There are many advantages attend the communion of Saints their very sight and presence is a confirmation to us many times that temptation befalleth us which befel Elias we think we are left alone 1 Kings 19. 10. That Godliness is gone out of the world To have company is an encouragement but we have not only company but help every one hath his peculiar gift to help others 1 Cor. 12. one hath quickness of parts but not so solid a judgment another is solid but not of so ready present and good utterance one is zealous but ungrounded another well-principled but timorous 1 Cor. 12. 21. The eye the knowing man cannot say to the hand the active man in God's cause I have no need of thee All have their use by mutual gifts and graces to profit one another as the curtains of the Tabernacle were coupled to one another by loops Exod. 26. 3. or as a body fitly joined and compacted by that which every joint supplieth Eph. 4. 16. Every Christian hath need of anothers help And partly as it conduceth more to publick safety and honour Philip. 1. 27 28. Only let your conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ that whether I come and see you or else be absent I may hear of your affairs that ye stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel And in nothing terrified by your adversaries which is to them an evident token of perdition but to you of salvation and that of God When the members are cut off the body is less powerful Acts 4. 33. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of our Lord Iesus When they were met with one heart And the Apostle prayeth Rom. 15. 5 6. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded one towards another according to Iesus Christ. That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorifie God even the
their power or change their hearts or determine their interests because the Omnisciency of God is a great Deep 't is a great relief to the soul to consider the several ways that God hath to right us either by changing the hearts of the Persecutors and Oppressors Acts 9. 31. Then had the Churches rest throughout all Iudea Galilee and Samaria and were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and the comforts of the Holy Ghost were multiplied They had nothing to do but to build up one another When was that when Paul was converted he was an active instrument against the Church and God turned his heart then had the Churches rest Or else the Lord may do it by determining their interests that they shall shew favour to his people though their hearts be not changed Prov. 16. 7. When a mans ways please the Lord he maketh his enemies to be at peace with him Enemies while enemies may be at peace with us please men and you cannot say God is your friend but please God and he maketh your enemies at peace with you There is much in the secret Chain of Providence Dan. 1. 9. Now the Lord brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the Prince of the Eunuchs What was that favour To wink at him for doing that which was contrary to the Law of their Religion Or else he can break the yoke by some apparent ruining Judgments by which he will defeat all their advantages either by power or law rescuing his people out of their hands Isai. 49. 24 25. Shall the prey be taken from the mighty or the lawful Captive delivered But thus saith the Lord The Captains of the mighty shall be taken away and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered He will contend with him that contendeth with thee and will save thy Children Whether they plead might or right when God goeth that way to work nothing shall lett no power shall be able to detain what God will have delivered and restored Or it may be by some secret ways God will bring on some Judgment Iob 20. 26. A fire not blown shall consume him that is the Oppressor a curse not invented by those he hath wronged or any man else but sent immediately by God It shall come no body knoweth how Therefore we should not be discouraged with unlikelihoods when we go to God who hath many ways which poor short-sighted Creatures cannot foresee Secondly He is ready The love which the Lord hath for his afflicted people will not suffer his Justice to be long at quiet That God is ready to help and deliver three things will evidence First 'T is his Nature to pity and shew mercy to the Oppressed and to revenge the Oppressor He pitieth the afflictions of them that suffer most justly and far beneath their desert from his own hand Iudg. 10. 16. And they put away the strange Gods from among them and served the Lord and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel And 2 Kings 14. 26. For the Lord saw the exceeding bitter affliction of Israel how much more will he pity them that are unworthily oppressed Isai. 63. 9. In all their afflictions he was afflicted Acts 7. 34. I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt and have heard their groaning c. And the Lords pitiful Nature doth incline him to deliver his people And when the oppressed cry I will hear them for I am gracious Exod. 22. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27. Secondly 'T is his usual practice and custome Psal. 103. 6. The Lord executeth judgment and righteousness for all that are oppressed If for all surely for his people He sits in Heaven on purpose to rectifie the disorders of men So Psal. 34. 19. Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivereth them out of them all God hath a Plaister for every wound Gods people plunge themselves into trouble and his mercy delivereth them out of it Thirdly 'T is his Office as Judge of the world Psal. 94. 2. Lift up thy self thou Iudg of the Earth render a reward to the proud Shall not the Iudg of the Earth do right Look upon him only in that Notion according to our natural Conceptions as the supreme Cause and Judg of all things Again his Office as Protector of his people he is in Covenant with them he is their Sun and Shield he is the refuge of the oppressed his peoples refuge in time of trouble Psal. 9. 9. When they have none else to fly to he will be their refuge Thirdly He will do it when 't is good and necessary For God hath made promises and repeated promises of deliverance and surely these are not in vain If God had spoken but once we had no reason to doubt but he telleth us over and over again we should cast our care upon him and referr all things to him without despondency and distraction of mind Psal. 9. 18. For the needy shall not always be forgotten the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever Use. Is instruction to teach us what to do when we are oppressed 1. Patience 'T is the lot of Gods Children to be often troubled by the world and hardly used Satan is the Ruler of the darkness of this World the blind carnal malicious superstitious part of the World and they cannot away with those that would overturn Satans Kingdome The good are fewest and therefore we must look to be opprest if there be any breathing time 't is a mercy 2 Tim. 3. 12. Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution Gal. 4. 29. For as he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit even so it is now and will be so we should want our way-mark without it 2. Let us be prepared to commend our Cause to God Psal. 10. 17 18. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear to judge the fatherless and the oppressed that the man of the earth may no more oppress God prepares the hearts of the humble How so The trouble continueth till we are sensible of the misery of the sin of the Cause Hos. 5. 15. I will go and return to my place till they acknowledge their offences and seek my face in their affliction they will seek me early 'T is a long time before men can be sensible of the hand of God upon them slight spirits are not grieved but Iull themselves asleep Ier. 5. 3. If they have a natural sense of the Judgment they have no sense of sin as the cause then they fly to humane help to be eased of the trouble Ier. 4. 14. Wash thy heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee When past humane help then seek the favour of God to take up the Controversie 2 Chron. 7. 14. When driven
will save thy Children And from the mouth of the wicked Psal. 5. 15. He saveth the poor from the sword and from their mouth and from the hand of the mighty From slanders that may endanger their Life and Credit So ver 21. Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the Tongue from their bitter reproaches Therefore commit your cause to God But then 1. Be sure that your Cause be good for God will not be the Patron of Sin unless he hath passed sentence for us in his Word it is boldness to appeal to him as Baalam that would hire God by sacrifices to Curse his People Hasty Appeals to God in our passion and revengeful humours are a great dishonour to him Sarah Appealed Gen. 15. 3. The Lord judge between me and thee And David Appealed 1 Sam. 24. 15. The Lord therefore be judge and judge between thee and me and see and plead my cause and deliver me out of thy hand But there was more of justice in Davids Appeal in the case between him and Saul than in Sarahs Appeal in the case between her and Abraham it would have been ill for her if God had taken her at her word it sheweth that even Gods Children are too apt to intitle him to their private passions 2. Let us be sure that there be no Controversie between God and our Persons when yet our Cause is good The Israelites had a good Cause Iudges 20. but there was once and again a great slaughter made of them before they had reconciled themselves to God There must be a good Conscience as well as a good Cause otherwise God will plead his Controversie against us before he will plead our Controversie against our Enemies Ier. 2. 35. yet thou sayest because I am innocent surely his anger will turn from me behold I will plead with thee because thou sayest I have not sinned Because we have a good Cause we think God hath no cause to be angry with us therefore he will first plead in Judgment against us So Hos. 12. 2. The Lord hath also a controversie with Iudah and will punish Iacob according to his wayes according to his doings will he recompence him Though God may approve what is right in Worship and Profession yet he will punish our shameful disorders and unanswerable walking in his People 3. Let us Pray in a right manner with Confidence with Earnestness 1. Confidence that God will plead our Cause when he seeth it good and for his own Glory whether there be any likelyhood of it yea or no for he hath promised to support the weak and humble and protect the innocent against their Oppressors Psal. 140. 12. I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted and the right of the poor God is party with you not against you and leave him to his own wayes and means Faith should support us when sense yieldeth little comfort and hope He knoweth how to justifie your Cause and deliver your Persons and you should know that he will do it and can do it though the way be not evident to you and God seem to sit still for a while 2. Earnestly Oh be not cold in the Churches suit if you be Sions Friends and are willing to take share and lot with Gods people awaken him by your incessant cryes Nay it is God's Cause Psal. 74. 22. Arise O Lord plead thine own cause remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee dayly The Godly are not maligned for their Sins but their Righteousness So Psal. 35. 23. Stir up thy self and awake to my Iudgment even unto my cause my God and my Lord. There is a long suit depending between the Church of God and her Enemies desire that God would determine it and declare what is Right and what is Wrong Secondly He beggeth God in the Text to Redeem or Deliver him the Word in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the usual word for Goel Redeemer the Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ransom me Here he craveth that as his Cause might be in safety so his Person Doctrine We may beg a Deliverance or a Release from our Troubles provided we do not beg it out of an impatiency of the Flesh but a desire of Gods Glory God delights to be imployed in this work what hath he been doing all along in all Ages of the World but delivering his People from those that oppressed them He delivered Iacob from the Fury of Esau Ioseph from the Malice of his Brethren Gen. 37. 21. And Reuben heard it and he delivered him out of their hands saying let us not kill him Daniel from the Lions Den Dan. 6. 22. My God hath sent his Angel and hath shut the Lions mouths that they have not hurt me forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me and also before thee O King have I done no hurt Peter from Prison Acts 12. 11. And when Peter was come to himself he said now I know of a surety that the Lord hath sent his Angel and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Iews And will not he do the like for his suffering Servants how came his hand to be out He delivered Israel out of Egypt out of Babylon he can do it again it doth not cost him much labour Psal. 68. 2. As smoke is driven away so drive them away as wax melteth before the fire so let the wicked perish at the presence of God Therefore refer your deliverance to God and when you are in a way of Duty be not thoughtful about it there is a price payed for it Christ redeemed us from Temporal Adversity so far as it may be a snare to us God hath his Times we may see it unless he hath a mind to sweep away the unthankful and froward generation that provoked him to so much Anger Numb 14. 22 23. Because all those men that have seen my glory and my miracles which I did in Egypt in the wilderness and have tempted me now these ten times and have not hearkned unto my voice surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their Fathers neither shall any of them that provoked me see it Ier. 29. 31 32. Thus saith the Lord concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you and I sent him not and he caused you to trust in a lye therefore thus saith the Lord behold I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his seed he shall not have a man to dwell among this people neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my People saith the Lord because he hath taught Rebellion against the Lord. It may be we may be more broken and afflicted first Deut. 32. 36. For the Lord shall judge his people and repent himself for his servants when he seeth that their power is gone and there is none shut up or left Oh let us desire to see the good of
God 3. We shall never have such great and large thoughts of Gods tender mercy as when they arise from our own Experience and particular Observation to know God by hear-say will not work upon you as when we have seen him our selves as they said unto the Woman Iohn 4. 42. Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world We do not speak or think of God with any Sense and Life Affection and Admiration till we have studied his Nature and observed his Wayes otherwise we speak by Rote when we praise him for his mercies and 't is but an empty Complement Psal. 103. 1 2 3. Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy name Bless the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his benefits whoforgiveth all thy iniquities and healeth all thy diseases c. 4. Then will our own Experience inform us of the greatness and tenderness of mercy when we are sensible of our sins and miseries when a man seeth his Sins great his Dangers great then he will see Gods mercies towards him great also Psal. 86. 13. For great is thy mercy towards me for thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell We do not know the greatness of the Pardon but by the greatness of the Debt nor the greatness of our Protection and Deliverance but by the greatness of the Danger God continueth trouble upon his People that they may be sensible of the sweetness of the mercy and his help in their Deliverance Rom. 5. 8. But herein God commended his love to us that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us 5. When our sense of sins and miseries hath most recommended mercy to us we should magnifie it both with respect to Supplication and Gratulation 1. With respect to Supplication when we are under Fears and Discouragements we should oppose and set these great and tender mercies in the Balance against our doubts and fears Our Sins are many our Troubles great yet let us not be discouraged from Praying and making our supplication to God for God will pardon a penitent People and help a sensible Supplicant The more sensible of our misery the fitter Objects for mercy What is it that troubleth us fear of not speeding with God in Prayer you hear how soon he Relenteth when you Relent and lye at his feet for to what use doth pardoning mercy serve but to incourage broken-hearted sinners We have heard that the Kings of Israel are merciful Kings Benhadad having lost the day and in great fear of losing his life with his Kingdom his Friends comforted him with the Fame they had heard of Israels Kings 1 Kings 20. 31. We know most certainly 't is hard to raise up truly poor down-lost sinners how presumptuous soever they have been before God would have these by all means to be incouraged So that though you have many Objections from your unworthiness the multitude and greatness of your sins or is it the power of men and difficulty of our deliverance Gods mercy is beyond the proportion of their Cruelty The more violent and ungodly our Oppressors are the more hope of Gods pity towards us Psal. 86. 14 15. O God the proud are risen against me and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul and have not set thee before them but thou O Lord art a God full of compassion and gracious long-suffering and plenteous in mercy and truth 2. Let us magnifie it as to Gratulation Gen. 32. 10. I am not worthy of all the mercy c. Less than the least of all thy mercies Let us consider our unworthiness that God may have all the Glory Use. II. Is to press us to be Merciful we should be like God let us put on Bowels of mercy Col. 3. 12. Put on therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercies kindness humbleness of mind meekness long-suffering Luke 6. 36. Be ye therefore merciful as your heavenly father also is merciful SERMON CLXXV PSALM CXIX VER 161. Princes have persecuted me without a cause but my heart standeth in awe of thy Word IN this Verse we have First Davids Temptation Secondly The Godly Frame of his Spirit First In Davids Temptation take notice of 1. The Nature of it 't was a Persecution 2. The Instruments of it Saul and the Chief men about him Princes 3. The Malice and Groundlesness of it without a Cause Secondly The Godly Frame of his Heart but my heart c. And there we have 1. The Seat of his Affection my heart 2. The Kind of the Affection standeth in awe 3. The Object of it the Word of God First With Davids Temptation I will not meddle any further than an Introduction or the necessity of an Exposition enforceth me a little to reflect upon And 1. From the Nature of it Persecution is one of the ordinary Trials of Gods Children As God Chasteneth them because they are no better Isa. 27. 9. so the World Persecuteth them because they are so good Iohn 15. 19. This ever hath been and ever will be the Lot of Gods Children while there are two seeds in the World Gen. 3. 15. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed And the Apostle saith Gal. 4. 29. But as then he that was born after the flesh â—…uted him that was born after the spirit so 't is now The first place speaketh of the Antipathy between the Church and it 's open Opposites the second was in Abrahams Family and 't is brought to Comfort the true Members of the Christian Church against those Persecutions which they sustained from the false Apostles and such as adhered to the Iewish Synagogue Isaac was begotten by the Power of Gods Spirit according to the Tenour of the Promise Ishmael by the ordinary strength of Nature a Figure of the Regenerate and Unregenerate Iohn 1. 13. Persecution is a thing common to the Church in all Ages then and now therefore as they grow worse let us grow better and let us be content to take the ordinary way by the Cross to come to the Crown 2. The Instruments of his Trouble were Saul and his Chief men about him The man of God had said Many are my Persecutors Verse 157. now he sheweth they were not mean ones and of the inferiour sort but such as by their Power were able to crush him such as by their place should be a Refuge to him I observe the Trial is the sorer when our trouble cometh not only from the basest of the People but from the Rulers themselves No doubt a great part of the People followed Saul in his persecuting of David yet the Nobles most troubled him In the Primitive times lapidibus nos invadit inimicum vulgus the base Rif-raffe were most ready to stone the Christians but this was meer Brutish Rage a
multitude though they have Power yet they have no Authority But when the Rulers were set against them and persecuted them with Edicts and Punishments then the greatest Havock was made of them To see Gods Ordinance abused maketh the Trial the more grievous The Godly should be defended by their Governours for therefore they are called the shields of the Earth Psal. 49. 9. But now when they persecute them for Righteousness sake 't is a sore but no strange Temptation They may do so partly out of Ignorance 1 Cor. 2. 8. Which none of the Princes of this world knew for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory And partly out of Prejudice and blind Zeal so the Corner-stone is refused by the Builders Psalm 118. 22. applyed to Christs Persecutors Acts 4. 11. The stone that was set at nought by you builders is become the head of the Corner And partly by the instigation of Evil Men. Wicked men labour to ingage those who are in power against the People of God and make them odious to them Prov. 29. 10. The bloud-thirsty hate the upright Flattery giveth the first onset to the work of Impiety Acts 24. 1 2 3. And partly because Riches and Power efferate men swell them with pride fill them with enmity against the ways of God Psal. 123. 4. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease and the contempt of the proud Well then let us not be dismayed though great men be prejudiced against us and we have powerful Enemies in Church and State Matth. 10. 17 18. But beware of men for they will deliver you up to the Counsels and they will scourge you in their Synagogues and ye shall be brought before Governours and Kings for my sake for a Testimony against them and the Gentiles Though we be persecuted with Censures Civil and Ecclesiastical and both Judicatures thunder against us Iohn 16. 1 2. These things have I told you that you should not be offended they shall put you out of the Synagogue Yea the time cometh when they that kill you think they do God good service 'T is a stumbling block to see Power which is of God bent against God and his Interest the Beast in the Revelations pushed with the Horns of the Lamb but Christ hath told us of these things before-hand that we should be fore-armed against them Christs Followers must not only look for injuries from wicked men in a tumultuous way but ordinarily carried by fixed Judicatures thrown out of the Church by Excommunication and out of the World by Death Let us Bless God that our Rulers deal more Christianly by us and let us not irritate them but shew all Love and Meekness and Obedience and let the mild Government of our Gracious Soveraign move us to pray to God for the Continuance of his Life and the Prosperity of his Affairs 't is but a necessary Gratitude that we should pay him for the Rest and Peace we enjoy under him 3. The Malice and Groundlesness of this Persecution without cause David did not suffer for his Deserts as an Evil doer he had done nothing disobediently against Sauls Authority when he had spared him in the Cave he giveth him an Ample Testimony 1 Sam. 24. 17. Thou art more righteous then I for thou hast rewarded me good but I have rewarded thee evil Again he had another Testimony when he surprized his Camp sleeping 1 Sam. 26. 21. Return my son David I will no more do thee harm because my soul was precious in thine eyes behold I have played the fool and have erred exceedingly Theodoret expoundeth this of the next Verse with application to these passages When David found Saul asleep he would not kill him and this was more Comfort to him than if he had slain and obtained all their Spoiles Observe we may the better represent our Case to God when we suffer without a Cause then our Sufferings are clean Sufferings more Comfortable to us and Honourable to God 'T was Daniels glory that they could find no occasion or fault against him but only in the matter of his God Dan. 6. 4 5. Blamless Carriage disappoints the Malice of wicked men or shameth them Cajus Sejus vir bonus nisi quod Christianus Now a pretended Crime doth not take away the glory from us Saul pretended that David was an Enemy to his Life and Crown but David declared the Contrary by Word and Deed he might have slain him twice Put to silence the ignorance of foolish men 1 Pet. 2. 15. There may be in Mans Court a Cause which before God is no just Cause as when we are punished for the breach of Law which is contrary to our Duty to God Psalm 94. 20. Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee which frameth mischief by a law Well then whatever we suffer let it be without a Cause there is cause enough on Gods part to afflict and strike us for our sins but on Mans part let us not procure Sufferings to ourselves by our Provocations We shall hereby have more peace in Sufferings and bring more honour to Religion 1 Peter 3. 17. For it is better if the will of God be so that ye suffer for well-doing then for evil-doing 1 Peter 4. 15 16. But let none of you suffer as a murtherer or a theif or as an evil-doer yet if any suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God in that behalf Surely Christs Cross is more comfortable than the Cross of Barabbas Secondly Let us come to his gracious frame of heart to stand in Awe of the Word but my heart standeth in awe of thy Word Doctrine 'T is a gracious frame of Heart to stand in Awe of the Word of God Gods People are often described by it Iob 13. 13. Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed but whoso feareth a commandment shall be rewarded There are many fear a Judgment when to visible appearance it is like to tread upon the heels of sin yea and some fear a Threatning at least when it is like to be accomplished but who fears a Commandment but a Gracious Heart this is reason enough to draw back if a Commandment stand in the way 't is more than if there was a Lion in the way or a band of Armed Enemies or an Angel with a drawn Sword such as stood in the way to stop Balaam they have a deep Reverence of Gods Authority and dare not break through when God by his Law hath fenced up their way So Isaiah 66. 2. To him will I look that is of a poor and contrite spirit and trembleth at my word A man that is affected according to his doom and sentence passed in the Word if the Word speaketh bitter things or the Word speaketh Peace accordingly the man is affected this is the Man that God will look at Ezra 9. 4. Then were assembled unto me every one that
them p. 185 Augustus Caesar his way to prevent hasty and rash judgment p. 410 Avoiding evil company not enough except we chuse good p. 777 Authority of God the Reason of our Obedience p. 23 24 Authority of God to be eyed in our Obedience and why p. 24 25. God urges his authority p. 26. 35 Authority and Power might and right in God p. 584 Authority of God speaking in his word p. 939-940 Awakening of holy desires means to obtain it p. 309 310 Awakening of Prayer by suspending mercy p 548. Awakening of God by Prayer p. 860 Awe standing in awe of Gods word a mark of Gods Children p. 997. VVhat is it to stand in awe VVhy we must stand in awe of Gods VVord p. 997 998 Awe of Gods word twofold p. 998 999. Reasons p. 1008 B. BAck-sliding Causes of it 1. From without 1. Errors 2. Persecutions 3. Scandals 2. From within 1. Ungrounded assent 2. Ungrounded Profession 3. Unmortifyed Lusts. 4. Easiness of temper 5. Self-confidence p. 343 Baites and Snares in all Conditions p. 780 Baptism the answer of a good Conscience p. 45 Begin with God early p. 763 Beginnings of sin to be suppressed p. 344 Begging grace to Obey a sign that the Commandement is not greivous but our lust p. 29 Behold A note 1. Of admiration 1. Demonstration p. 302 Beleivers only take Gods Testimonies for their heritage p. 743 Beleivers are Princes in disguise p. 743. They are Heirs of the World ibid. They have a Covenant right to all their outward mercies ibid. Beleiving with the whole heart what it is p. 15 Beleiving falls under a Command p. 24 Beleiving gives us hold of God p 544 Benefactor God is so 1. To all 2. To his own p. 569 Benefits of God are all for our profit and Gods glory p. 1093 Bent of the Heart p. 122. Vid. frame of the Heart Blamelessness required in those that reprove others p. 855 Blessed man his Characters 1. Keeping Gods Testimonys 2. Seeking God with the whole heart p 8 Blessed or Cursed whom Christ pronounces such in the last day p. 10 Blessedness the Aim of all rational Creatures Pagans Christians good men evil men p. 1. 224 Blessedness a true notion of it necessary to be got by all men p. 1. We may be right in the Doctrine when we are erroneous in the Practise of blessedness p. 3. Sincere Constant Uniform Obedience the way to blessedness p. 3 Blessedness lies in the enjoyment of God p. 69. Gods blessedness is in himself what it is p. 69 Blessedness in this life annext to sincere Obedience p. 7 Blessings spiritual flow from special love p. 42 Blessings to be expected according to the Tenor of the Covenant p. 788. 317 Blessings Temporal not absolutely to be expected p 317 Blessing God respects his benefits to us p. 42 Blessing God for mercy the way to have more p. 422 Blindness spiritual is natural to every man p. 110 It is worse then natural blindness ibid. It is our great misery p. 852 Blind obedience of Papists to their Superiours p 26 Blood and VVater how they bear Witness p. 9 Body God must be served with the soul as well as with the body Reasons p. 1043 1044 Boldness grounded in innocency p. 36. Boldness in Duties Distresses Death p. 36 Boldness in Confessing and Professing Gods ways an excellent gift of God p. 309. Causes of it p. 310 1. Faith 2. Love to God 3. Fear of God 4. A sense of the other World ibid Bond upon man to God threefold 1. Natural 2. Voluntary 3. Sacramental p. 701 Born again Vid. Regeneration Bountifulness of God to all his Creatures especially to his Saints p. 70 Bounty and Mercy of God a great encouragement to ask any spiritual gifts p. 437. How they differ ibid. Breast-plate of a Christian is Righteousness p. 818 Brethren love of the Brethren a duty p. 1032 Broken heart in confession of sin argues one right in the main p. 1106 Building on the Righteousness of Gods Word what p. 832 Reproof to them that do not build on Gods faithfulness p. 833 Business They that would be blessed must make it their business sincerely to seek after God p. 11 Business discovers the man p. 18. They are blessed that make it their business to avoid all sin ibid. Mark of one that makes Religion his business ibid In all business God must be sought to 1. For his leave 2. His Counsel 3. His blessing p. 58 Prayer is made our Business 1. When it is secret 2. Early 3. Vehement and earnest p. 921 C. CAll of God to be observed p. 412 Calling general and particular they help one another p. 847 Calumniatory discourses forbidden p. 1064 Calumnies against Religion will not long prevail with Rational men p. 339 Comforts against them p. 301 Cares of the World drive out duty p. 32 Carriage we must glorify God before others by it p. 1086 Carelessness in Prayer The Reasons of it p 900 901 Care ess walking Cured by Reproach p. 296 Casc of Conscience p 603. Two great Cases p. 222 Cases of Conscience about Confessing lesser Truths p. 1011 Case how its lawful to rejoyce in Gods Judgements p. 347 Carnal pleasures nothing to Spiritual p. 313 Carnal and spiritual sorrow their difference p. 177 Carnal love to spiritual things p. 863 Carnal Principles what they are p. 235 Carnal and spiritual hearts argue contrarily from one and the same principle p. 757 576 577 Carnal walking cured by Reproach p. 139 Carnal Compliance p. 542. 713. 774 Carnal fear and Carnal Policy p. 644 645 Carnal affections are heady and hasty p. 836 Cause A good Cause well managed may expect Gods protection p. 813. 818. Causeless persecution p. 996 Cause that comes in debate threefold 1. Inter hominem hominem 2. Inter hominem diabolum 3. Inter hominem Deum p. 972. 973. Caution to Magistrates p. 146 Cautions about speedy setting upon duty p. 411 412 Caution against murmuring under affliction p. 485 Against carnal fear and carnal policy p. 644 Caution needful that we be not carried away by example p. 866 Censures of the Church separate the dross from the Gold p. 804 Censuring cured by Reproach p. 139. 297 Censure of mens persons under Gods judgments evil p. 796 Change of exercise good not change of affection p. 95 Change of State may be without change of affection p. 156 Changes 1. In Mens affections 2. In Gods dispensations are ballanced by the Comforts of Gods unchangable Word p. 892 Changes are to be expected in our lives p. 3 Chastening whether in anger or no p. 486 Chearful service to God What it is p. 753 Charity to be maintained toward those that differ from us in lesser matters p. 200 Child of God known by two marks p. 870 Children of God such as fear God and hope in his Word p. 501 Vid. Heirs of Promise Children Why threatned in the second Commandment p. 852 Children desire things passionately and
deliver his people from them p. 560 561 562 Property of wicked men to be plotting mischief 738 Plotting mischief exceeding sinful on many accounts Ibid. Policy Civil policy is not opposed by Christs Kingdom and liberty of Gospel-worship p. 144 Popery three grand evils in it 1. Universal Soveraignty 2. Absolute Supremacy 3. Infallibility p. 203 204 Portion of believers is full lasting sure Sure because 1. Confirmed by Gods word and Oath 2. Cannot be wrested from them by violence 3. Shall not be wasted by their own prodigality p. 743 744 Portion of believers is not in this life p. 867 Portion a double notion of the word p. 381 God alone is the godly mans portion p. 382 383 384 385 386 387 388. Whether God be our portion p. 389 Power and faithfulness oft engaged for desence p. 790 Power of Gods word is wonderful in what respects p. 884 885 Power 1. Natural 2. Moral from God p 308 Power of God seen 1. In preserving his Saints in dangers 2. In over-ruling all accidents for their benefit p. 729. Seen in Providence p. 368 369 370 Practise the end of giving forth the word as a light 690 Practice the end of all teaching p. 231 Practice without it the hearing knowing liking of the word are nothing p. 10. 41. 318 319. 690 To approve love delight in commend c. Gods ways without practice profits nothing p. 318 219. 452. 690 691 Practical holiness the way to encrease in spiritual understanding p. 656. why Ibid. 657 Practical knowledg is 1. Directive 2. Perswasive p. 173 Prayer of faith is the voice of Gods Spirit p. 326 Prayer and faith must be conjoined p. 790. 904. 923 Faith set on work in prayer p. 317. 514 Prayer oftentimes a better Vindication of our innocency than an Apology p. 136 An excellent mean to persevere p. 789 790 It 's a duty proper to the best of Christians p. 535 It 's excellencies p. 12. Private and publick prayer p. 921 It supposes our impotency emptiness c. p. 29 It is an excellent remedy against pride p. 521 Prayer doubled argues great sense of sin and mercy p. 515 Prayers sluggish p. 29. 899. Prayer must be join'd with hearing p. 57. Vid. Sincere prayer With purposes of better obedience p. 919. Reasons Ibid. We must be the same out of prayer that we are in prayer p. 904. Vid. Business We must be more affectionate in prayer for Heavenly and spiritual than earthly things p. 904 Precepts must be turn'd into prayer p. 28 Fit matter for prayer p. 479 How we may know whether what we pray for come from the temper of the heart in four particulars p. 479 In what manner we are to pray p. 480. 909 923 What are the grounds of prayer p. 480 It must be continued under the sorest afflictions 716 Praise unseemly in a wicked mans mouth p. 43 Praise belongs to God especially for his loving-kindness p. 940 Praise and Blessing how they differ p. 70. 1014 Why we are so backward to praises p. 1019 Praise and faith live and die together p 420 Matter of praise p. 1016 1017 Praises continue in Heaven p. 42. 1014 Praising God a profitable duty p. 445. 1015 Praising God 1. The Nature 2. The Grounds 3. The Formality 4 The fruit of it p. 1014 1015. Motives to it p. 1015 We must not cease to praise God p. 1016 1017 1018 Precepts Gods precepts must be turned into prayer-28 Vid. Commandments Testimonies Statutes c. Precepts of God to chuse them implys 1. Deliberation 2. Esteem 3. Inclination 4. Resolution 5. Delight p. 1071 1072 Reasons why they are to be chosen p. 1073 Preachers Teachers c. are to preach Gods Word only and wholly p. 77 Predominant sin p. 19 Prodominant love to Gods Commandments p. 1048 1049 Prejudice against God removed by consideration of his Goodness p. 474 Prejudice one great cause of Persecution p. 144 Prejudices lye more directly against the means of Salvation than Salvation it self p. 2 Why men are prejudiced against Holiness p. 70 How to remove prejudices p. 304 Prejudices against Obedience answered by Gods Soveraignty p. 25 Prejudices cause discord amongst Gods people p. 528 They are a cause of error about the word p. 694 Prepared for all events and conditions wisdom p. 644 Prerogative of God to kill and make alive p. 1094 Present things not to be too mucâ—…â—…ored upon p. 546 Present state imperfect p. 1090 Preservation of life is to give 〈◊〉 our life twice over p. 1095 Presumption a rock to be shunned p. 47 48 It renders us incapable of grace and pardon p. 320 It forfeits Gods assisting grace p. 782 The discovery and cure of presumption p. 47 48 It 's a cause of error in judgment p. 694 Presence of God with us in our houses of clay and our Presence with God in the Mansions of glory the best comforts of a Christian p. 514 Pride makes Persecutors p. 517. 563 Discovery of Pride in three things 1. In envying those that are more excellent 2. In contending with Equals 3. In disdaining of Inferiors p. 520. 563 Cure of Pride by three things p. 521 Pride renders not to God according to his benetsfi p. 44 It is abated by the rigor of the first Covenant p. 15 Pride is either Moral or Spiritual p. 129 It is an enemy to knowledg p. 454 The worst sort of Pride to err wilfully from Gods Commandments p. 128 129 130 131 It opposes 1. The Authority 2. The power of God p. 130 It is discovered by impenitency and obstinacy p. 129 829 It is cured by reproach p. 138. 295 And by a sense of our own emptiness p. 243 Priests all Christians are Priests to God p. 721 722 723 Principal mercies promised absolutely others conditionally p. 510 Principles by which we are acted the most considerable thing in our actings p. 760. 791 Principles of Obedience true and false some rotten some less evil some tolerable some purely Evangelical p. 791 863 865 Principles evil 1. Example 2. Force from fear of God or men slavish 3. Bad Designes p. 1075 1076 Privilege and duty of the godly p. 918 919 837 Private prayer p. 921 Vid. Business Private spirit p. 9 Private Christians are to confer of not to preach Gods Word publickly p. 77 78 Whether they are to study Controversies and how far p. 196 Prize the Scriptures why p. 645 Profane persons who p. 1045 Profession of the truth twofold p. 306 Profession of Christianity upon terms of losses d. 415 It is necessary why in what manner how far p. 332 333 Profit by the word of God comes from the grace of God p. 72 And from owning the word as righteous and faithful p. 939 940 Progress of sin 303 Promises should be our delight before their accomplishment p. 081 Promises our encouragement in walking with God p. 6. 29 They go hand in hand with precepts p. 28. 742. 458. 338 They give more comforts than arguments drawn from