147.6 3. Instruction The meeke will hee guide in iudgement and the meeke will he teach his way Psal. 25.9 4. The inheritance of the whole earth this appeares both in the Old and New Testament Psal. 37.11 Mat 5.5 Such a man shall have the earth as an heyre he shall hold it by right of adoption as the word in the Originall signifieth 5. Blessednesse Mat. 5.5 Blessed are the meeke 12. Patience Promise 1. Of it Patience is a gift which GOD hath promised freely and liberally without grudging or upbraiding Iam. 1.5 If any of you lacke wisedome that is to beare the crosse let him aske it of GOD that giveth to all men liberally and up braideth not and it shal be given him Promises 2. To it The patient abiding of the righteous shall be gladnesse Prov. 10.28 Humble your selves under the mighty hand of GOD that is bow and buckle under it with meekenesse and silence that hee may exalt you in due time 1 Pet. 5.6 Yee have need of patience that after yee have done the will of GOD yee might receive the promise Heb. 10.36 Behold we count them happy which endure Jam. 5.11 To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seeke for glory and honour and immortality eternall life Rom. 2.7 13. Righteousnesse Promises To Righteousnesse 1. Generally Psal. 11.7 Pro. 11.3 4 5 6 18 19. 2. Particularly for the righteous person 1. Himselfe 2. His posterity Psal. 37.25 Psal. 112.2 Prov. 11.21 Himselfe 1. In this life He shall have 1. Peace and protection in time of danger Esay 32.17 Psal. 5.12 Prov. 12.21 deliverance out of danger Psal. 34.19 Psal. 125.3 Pro. 11.8 2. Provision in time of want Psal. 34.15 1 Pet. 3.12 Psal. 37.25 29. 3. Joy Psal. 68.3 Let the righteous be glad let them rejoyce before GOD yea let them exceedingly rejoyce 2. For his death the righteous hath hope in his death Pro. 14.32 3. After death the memory of the just is blessed Pro. 10.7 the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance Psal. 112.6 4. At the resurrection the righteous shall goe into life eternall Mat. 25.46 See 14. Chap. 43. 14. Vprightnesse Promises 1. Of Vprightnesse Hee shall put his law in thy minde and write it in thine heart Jer. 31.33 The truth dwelleth in us and shall be with us for ever 2 Epist. of Iohn 2. Promises 2. To Vprightnesse GOD rewards it with the blessines of this life and that which is to come hee will give them grace in this life and glory in the life to come Psal. 84.11 No good thing will bee withhoâ—d from them In this life GOD multiplieth his favours upon those who sâ—rve him in sincerity Psal. 73.1 Psal. 125.4 GOD hath promised to be good to them 1. In their habitations and families Pro. 14.11 2. In their children and posterity Psal. 112.2 3. In all the comforts of this life Psal. 84.11 4. In times of common calamity and combustion Psal. 37.19 Prov. 2.7 Psal. 112.4 11. 5. Peace joy and security are promised to it Hee that walketh uprightly walketh surely Pro. 10.9 2 Chron. 16.9 Psal. 97.11 Prov. 11.28 GOD performeth all his gracious promises upon this condition onely so hee promiseth unto the Kings of Israel and Iudah 1 King 2.4 9.4.5 that hee will confirme their Kingdome unto them and their posterity after them If they would walke before him in truth with all their heart and with all their soule therefore Hezekiah intreateth GOD to performe his promise unto him and his posterity grounding his faith on this seeing hee had walked c. Esay 38. 3. Psal. 145.18 He will save and deliver them from all perils and out of the hands of all their enemies Psal. 7.10 Prov. 11.6 which makes them bold and confident as Lions in peâ—illous times Pro. 28.1 6. Promotion Pro. 22.11 Hee that loveth purenesse of heart for the grace of his lips the King shall be his friend 7. GOD is delighted with it 1 Chron. 29.17 Pro. 12.22 Psal. 51.6 Psal. 11.7 By sincerity and truth wee come to be in league with GOD hee smites a covenant with us Gen. 17.1 2. 8. A peaceable end marke the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace Psal. 37.37 Three speciall blessings are promised them 1. Such shall never fall away nor loose GODS favour and grace Psal. 36.10 a Propheticall prayer hath the nature of a promise Psal. 112.6.2 Such shall have strength given them of GOD to endure any triall hee shall be pleased to bring them unto 2 Chron. 16.9.3 Such shall be sure to have a comfortable issue and a joyfull deliverance â—ut of all their tentations Psal. 37. 37. Psal. 97.11 Psal. 126.5 In the life to come GOD also crowneth the sincere and upright services of the faithfull with joy and happinesse Salomon saith Hee who walketh uprightly shall be saved Pro. 28.18 and David affirmeth that the upright is blâ—ssed and shall dwell in GODS presence Psal. 32.2 119.1 Psal. 15.2 our Saviour affirmeth that he shall be blessed in the vision and fruition of GOD Mat. 5.8 15. Peace Promises Of Peace of conscience Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you Iohn 14.27 Our Saviour 1. Challengeth peace to be his owne having dearely purchased it 2. His owne to give men may wish the peace of GOD or CHRIST but hee gives it as his owne 3. He sheweth that this peace cannot be else-where had not as the world giveth plainely distinguishing his peace from the worlds both in the gift and manner of giving The peace of GOD which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and mindes through CHRIST JESUS Phil. 4.7 It is called the Peace of GOD 1. Because it hath GOD for its Object it is a peace with GOD. 2. Because GOD by his Spirit is the Author of it it is peace from GOD and therefore said to be a fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 It is said to passe all understanding because 1. The understanding of maâ— cannot sufficiently conceive it 2. Mans understanding cannoâ— sufficiently esteeme or prize 〈◊〉 according to its worth shall keeâ— your hearts keepe as with guard or strong garrison thâ— same greeke word is used 2 Cor. 11.32 your hearts that is your will and affections and minds your intellectuall faculties your whole soules shall be kept in the knowledge and faith of CHRIST JESUS As many as walke according to this rule peace shall be upon them and mercy Gal. 6.16 By peace we are to understand outward peace as prosperity and good successe in all things wee goe about and peace with the creatures but the peace which is principally meant in this place is peace of conscience which is peace with GOD and our selves 16. Zeale The care of being Zealous 1. Hath a singular promise of the presence and communion of GOD in CHRIST Rev. 3.19 20. 2. Zeale makes all our
much more to all his people in all their necessities bodily or spirituall The like are those speeches that GOD will lighten our darkenesse he will keepe the feet of his Saints hee will not forsake them nor forget their complaint that they shall not be confounded in the time of trouble Hee will hide them in his pavillion Psal. 27.4 5. And cover them with his feathers Psal. 91.1 4. His Angels shall pitch their tents about them hee will set them up on high from such as rise against them he will heale their wounds Ier. 30.17 GOD sees our affliction and knowes it well Exod. 3.7 Hee heareth our sighs and remembring his Covenant helps us Exod. 2.23 24 25. All afflictions come from him the Almighty hath afflicted mee saith Naomi Ruth 1.21 it is often called the Chastening of the LORD When we are iudged saith the Apostle we are chastened of the LORD 1 Cor. 11.32 And the same GOD which imposed the affliction takes it away Deut. 32.39 1 Sam. 2.6 7. Iob 5.18 Vna eademque manus vulnus opemque tulit GOD will be the strength of the righteous in their trouble and their salvation out of trouble David had great proofe hereof and therfore after a mighty deliverance composed that excellent Ps. 34. See 7 17 19. verses I know the thoughts that I think towards you saith the LORD thoughts of peace to give you an expected end Ier. 29.11 Reioyce not saith the Church against me O mine enemy When I fall I shall arise when I sit in darkenesse the LORD shall be a light unto mee c. Micah 7.8 9. Light is sowne for the righteous and ioy for the upright in heart Psal. 97.11 The latter part of the verse expounds the former by light is meant joy and by righteous the upright in heart Ioy is sowne for these and as sure as an harvest followes a feeding so to these comfort followes mourning If wee sow in teares we shall reape in ioy I will be content saith D. Hall with a wet spring so I may be sure of a cleare and joyfull harvest Your sorrow shall be turned into ioy Ioh. 16.20 if CHRIST had onely promised that their sorrow should be mitigated or shortly ended it had beene a great comfort but this ministreth abundant consolation Never was Gold-smith more curious and precise to watch the very first season when the gold is throughly refined and fitted for use that he may take it out of the fornace then our gracious GOD waites in such cases with an holy longing that he may have mercy upon his children and deliver them He shall deliver thee in sixe troubles yea in seaven there shall no evill touch thee Ioh. 5.19 Many of the Learned say that here by sixe and seven the Spirit of GOD alludeth unto the daies of the LORDS worke in Creating the world and his resting on the seventh day that so must his servants labour under afflictions all the daies of their life and shall rest from those labours in the perpetuall Sabbath Rather sixe or seaven are to be understood indefinitely certaine numbers for uncertaine things seaven referred to humane evills importeth many Pro. 24.16 See Psal. 91.14 15. Pro. 11.8 Psal. 50.15 Psal. 149.4 1 Cor. 10.13 2 Cor. 4.8 The meditation of these gracious promises may comfort GODS people in trouble GOD assures me hee will lay no more upon me then I shall be able to beare either my burden shall be made lighter or my faith stronger We should goe to the LORD then in our afflictions and say LORD it is part of thy Covenant to deliver me from such a crosse and calamity LORD thou hast said that the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the Righteous that thou wilt afflict but in measure according to our strength and for our good O sanctifie thy hand unto me give me faith and patience to waite upon thee wisedome to make a good use of this chastizement let it purge mee from my drosse and breed the quiet fruit of righteousnesse The end of chastizement is amendment of life whence it receiveth the name of correction which signifieth to set right or streight Therefore we must first labour to finde out the sinne for which GOD correcteth us For which purpose let us remember that place Iob 36.9 If they be tyed with the cords of affliction then will I shew them their workes and their sins When we have found it out let us be humbled for it make our peace with GOD and reforme our selves Ioh. 5.14 and then we may expect comfort from GOD. This the LORD both promised and performed to Iob and in him to all that are afflicted Zophar telleth Iob that which GOD himselfe did make good at last If iniquit be in thine hand put it farre away and let not wickednesse dwell in thy tabernacles It must be the care of the afflicted to purge his hand and house of all manner of wickednesse and sin Then it followeth verse 15. Thou shalt lift up thy face without spot yea thou shalt be stedfast and not feare that is Thou shalt enjoy the comfortable assurance of the remission of thy sinnes and shalt rest perswaded that the staine thereof is quite done away before the LORD And for his outward estate hee addeth ver 16. Thou shalt forget thy misery He shall be quite freed from all the trouble of it Thou shalt remember it as waters that are past which cause the meddowes to be more fat and fertile then they would have beene ver 17. Thine age saith he shall be clearer than the noone day thou shalt shine forth and be as the morning The comfort of a sinner reformed by corrections shall be plentifull and excellent as the brightnesse of the noone-tide sun and withall constant durable and on the growing hand as the light of the morning Faith makes us depend on GODS promises in our afflictions and patiently expect the issue that he will give and that without prefixing any time for Hee that beleeveth doth not make hast Esay 28.16 or prescribing any meanes to him as faithfull Moses when he said Stand yee still and see the salvation of the LORD Exod. 14.13 Faith doth not limit GOD for the measure of affliction Iob saith He will trust in GOD though he kill him Job 13 1â— It was a grievous affliction for David to be driven out of his kingdome by his owne Sonne yet he saith in that slight If he say I have no delight in him behold here I am let him doe unto me as seemeth good in his eyes 2 Sam. 15.26 Therefore in all our afflictions let us set faith a worke for this stirres up prayer and prayer stirres up GOD and GOD stirres up all the creatures Faith gathereth one contrary out of another life out of death assurance of sweetest deliverances out of deepest distresses For the LORD shall iudge his people and repent himselfe for his servants
wâ—re to doe us good Psal. 34.8 Spes est expectasio eorum quae verè a Deo promissa fides credidit Calvin l. 3. Inslit C. 2. Sect. 42. Rom 8.25 Spet est virtus qua inclinamur ad expectationeÌ„ eorum quae Deus nobis promisit Psal. 39 7.33.22 119 16â— Dum spiro spâ—ro saith the Physitian Dum expiro spero saith the Divine Though hee slay me yet will I trust in him saith Iob 13.15 1 Pet. 1.13 Rom. 4 2â— 2 Tim. 2 13 Rom. 4.18 Acts 26 6. * Sence corrects imagination reason corrects sence but faiâ—h corrects both Psal. 33 21. 126 5 6 * This duty is often and earnestly inioyned â—sal 32. â— Phil. 4. 3â— Esay 12.2 3 Ier. 3â— 12 13 2â— 19.41.16.61 3. Hol. 12.9 Zach. 19. The upright love thee Cant. 1 4. Deut. 7.9 Iam 2 8. Prâ—mises to forgâ—vâ— of 〈◊〉 Saul was for the time mollâ—â—â—â—d when hee saw that David spared his life 1 Sam. 2â— â—6 17. Deut 6.1 2. 17 19. Psal. 102.15 Illumination of the understanding Psal. 11â— â—0 Pro 1.7 â— the amendment of a wicked life â—ro 10.27 1â— 27 15.16 Lukeâ— â—0 Eccles 8.12 Psal 112 1. Deut. 6.24 Esay 66.2 Psal 33.17 All kind of felicity is promised to it Psal 15 12 13 â—4 15. Psal 34 10. Esay 33 6. Ier 30.9 Esay 30.21 58.11 1 Ioh. 2.3 3.24 1 Tim. 4 8. God said to Adam in Paradise do this and live The Lord had Abraham goe out of his countrey promised upon his obedience to blesse him Gen. 12.1 â— 3. and to be his buckler and exceeding great reward Gen. 15.1 17.1 18.19 a Peace and â—ranquiâ—lity of minde are promiâ—ed to obedience b Psal. 8.13 1â— Deut. 10.13 1.36 Long life in manâ— of thoâ—e placeâ— is promised â—lso to obedience Deut. 30.20 Pro. 3.1 1 2â— 21. Psal. 81.13 14 16. 1 Ioh 3.22 Pro. 3.1 4. Deut. 11.17 1 Tim. 4.8 Psal. 19.2 Ezek. 18.9 Man taketh advantage from the delinquents confession confesse we sâ—y and be hanged But with God that may rather be a proverbe Confesse be saved Psal. 32.5 See Levit. 26 40 41 42. Ezek. 36.26 Non carnale sed carneum cor Not a fleshly but a fleshly heart Promises to true contrition or humiliation This sorrow shall not be everlasting but it shall end in comfort Luke 6 21. * Doler pâ—opter offâ—nsum Deum per nostra peccata See Ier. 21. The meeke shall increase their ioy in the Lord and the poore among men shall reioyce in the holy one of Israel Esay 29.19 See Esay 65 13 â—4 60.5 10 11 12.13 Psal. 10.5 Mat. 11.28 Ier. 31.18 19 20. Psal. 51.17 Esay 30.19 Zach. 8.19 2 Cor. 1.3 4 5. God will make himsâ—lâ—e marvellous in their deliverance when all other humane helpes and comfoâ—ts faile Esay â—3 18 9 20 21. Zach. 13.1 The second benefit this sorrow will bring is that it will make us capable of and able to thrive in every saving grace Such shall attaine to a cleare certaine and sanctified knowledge of the truth Such shall get power over their corruptions Eccles. 7.3 2 Chron. 32.26 Counterfeit humiliation hath beene effectuall for the turning away of Gods iudgements 2 Chron. 12.12 1 King 21.29 Ambrose said to Monica the mother of Austin when with many teaâ—es sâ—e bewailed her â—ons unconversion Fieri non potest ut 〈…〉 lâ—châ—yâ—arum pereaâ— It could not be that the Son of so many teares should perish Aug. Confess l. 3 c. 13. Esay 4 3 4. 27 9 Esay 11.6 Nothing cleaves more pertinaciously or is more inexpugnable then a strong lust As God of ten promised his people going to conquer the land of Canaan that no enemy should be able to stand against them Deut 7 24 11 2â—â— Iosh. 1.5 â—0 8 so he hath as certainely promised to the Elect victory over their enemies We should doe therefore as Iehosaphat did 2 Chro. 20.11 God hath promised to give grace sâ—fficient to them that aske it Ezek. 36.25 26. Zeph. 3.9 11. Eâ—ay 10.20 21 22. The like is Zach. 1 3. I will turne unto you in pardâ—n of sinne and delivery of them out of the scarcity and dangerous condition they were in into a better estate of peace and plenty and outward prosperity Esay 1.16 17 8 God will heare their prayers that turne unto him Iob â—2 27 1 King 8 48 49. 2 Chron. 7.14 See Esay 59.20 Ier. 4.1 3.1 Iob 33 27 28 29. Ezek 18 2â— 22 23 27 28 30 32. 33.12 14 15 19 Mat. 18.4 Wisedome is with the lowlâ— Pro. 11.3 God hath two thrones one in the highest heavens the other in the lowest heart Esay 6â— 2 God hath promised to water this grace with secret ioyes and easefull refreshings Esay 29 19. Mat. 11.29 Rev. 3.10 Heb. 12.9 Who through faith and patience inherit the promiseâ— Heb. 6.12 * Blessings indefinitely are upon the head of the righteous Pro. 10.6 See Psal. 58.11 Pro. 10.16 24 â—0 Psal. 92 12 Pro. 4.18 Esay 57.1 Pro. 11.3 5 6 11. Pro. 10 29. Pro. 4 2 11. 19.1 Job 8.6 20. Psal 61.10 Psal. â—7 18 Pro. 2.7 21. Pro. 11.3 6. See Esay 33.15 Pro. 10 Iâ—b 17.9 â—0 Psal â—5 and Psal 24 Pro 10 20. Pro. 11.20 Psal. 3. â— 4 8. Rom. 5.1 Ob. O but may a child of God say I have many and great afflictions in the world Sol. What â—hough in Christ thou maist have peace Ioh. 16.33 Ob. O but I cannot see which way I should have peace Sol. He will create peace Esay 57.19 Ob. O but the peace we have neither is nor here will be perfect Sol. Peace shall come Esay 57.21 Ob. O but am afraid least my peace with God breake and so hold not Sol. The mountaines may fall but Gods Covenant of peace shall not fall Esay 54.10 Mat. 28.20 Mat. 7.24 25. Rom 8 35 to the end 1 Ioh. 2 24. Ioh 6.47 2 Tim 4 18. Mat. 24.24 Mar. 13.13 Rev. 3.5 11 12 21. Hee that overcommeth shall inherit all things Rev 21.7 Rom. 27. Col. 1 1â— Heb 3 6. The righteous shall flourish like the Palme-tree ver 12. The Palme-tree never looseth his leafe or fruit saith Plinie Quentumun veveres non vâ—terascent â—unius Ezek. 47. â—2 The Apostle proveth that the 〈◊〉 and migh◠〈…〉 and pâ—aâ—sâ—d God 〈◊〉 Tâ—essâ—lonians that theâ— dâ—d grâ—w 2 â—hess â— The more we proceed in holinesse our salvation is still the nearer to us Rom 13.11 Ezek. 18 31 Ezek. 36.25 26. God acceâ—â—s â—is in their servâ—ces Exod. 19 5 6. God rewards his children for the good they doe even in this I for the least teare shed and woâ—d spoken in a good cause goes not without a reâ—ard Mat. 10. â—2 Iob 34.11 Ier. 32.18 Psal. 111.5 Ps. 105 42. Mal. 3.16 2 Chron. 15.7 Zach. 13.9 Every one should labour for more Spirit then speech in prayer Promises of audience in prayer See Psal. 18.3 20.6 Ioh 4
if not peace yet patience if not wealth yet contentment 3. With exception of the crosse and reservation of power to the promiser to chasten our misdemeanour Psal. 89.28 31 32. When we crave temporall benefits which GOD hath promised conditionally so farre forth as will stand with his glory and our spirituall good and everlasting salvation wee must beleeve that we shall obtaine them so farre forth as they will stand with these conditions Earthly and outward things are lawfully prayed for but ever â—um Conditione voluntatis with Condition of GODS good pleasure and liking Things Temporall which are promised with condition we are to pray for with condition of GODS will All outward things must be asked with this exception if it seeme good unto his Majesty which exception is proper to the fourth Petition We must aske these outward things not absolutely no further then they may stand with GODS glory Those things which belong to the kingdome of GOD are simply and primarily to be asked other things onely secundum quid and secondarily GODS promises of temporal blessings are Hypotheticae and goe with condition sometimes expressed sometimes suppressed which condition is as a sterne of a ship and turnes the promise another way Of the same opinion are Vrsin in his Catech. on the fourth Petition Piscator on 8. Mat. 2. Cameron Myrothee Evangel in Luke 5.12 Master Harris on the Beatitudes and Covenant Barlow on 2. of Tim. D. Preston in Saints daily Exercise and M. Goodwin in his returne of Prayer This is an undoubted truth that we must pray for heavenly things with a more ardent affection then for earthly Matth. 6.33 1. They comply with GODS nature and hee had rather be giving them 2. They are best for us and will doe us most good 2. GOD will not performe promises till by prayer they be sought for from him till in our humble desires wee declare that wee account his promises exceeding great and precious things The LORD had promised deliverance unto Israel yet saith the LORD For this I will be enquired of by the house of Israel to doe it for them Thus saith the LORD After seventy yeeres be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you and performe my good word towards you in causing you to returne to this place for I know the thoughts that I thinke towards you thoughts of peace and not of evill to give to you an expected end But how shall this excellent promise of GOD be effected It followes Then shall yee call upon me and yee shall goe and pray unto me and I will hearken unto you c. Godlinesse hath the promises of this life and that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.6 yet we doe not forbeare daily to say the LORDS Prayer that we may speede of both The Lord makes a promise of forgivenesse of sinnes I even I am hee that blotteth out thy transgression for mine owne â—ake and will not remember thy sinnes But for the execution of this promise GOD will be soâ—ght unto Put me in remembrance sâ—â—th he and set us pleaâ—e togâ—â—her Eâ—ay 43.25 26. 〈…〉 GOD to fuâ—fill his 〈◊〉 we testifie fâ—rst that they 〈◊〉 â—â—oâ—ises of mercy and not of â—ury or dâ—â—t secondly wee dâ—clare our â—eed and by consequence 〈◊〉 of them and deâ—endance upon them As Promiâ—â—s are the Rule of what we may pray â—or in â—aiâ—h so Prayer is the ground of what wee may expect with comfort CHAP. V. 5. The properties of them GODS Promises are 1. Free 2. Full. 3. Firme 1. GODS Promises are free and tranâ—ferred THey are not mâ—de for any 〈◊〉 that is in us buâ— proceed â—rom Gods freâ—â—om and benevolence â—orking mooâ—ed God out of himsâ—â—â—â— 1. Not 〈◊〉 Thâ— LORD did not â—et hâ—â— lovâ— upon you nor choose you because we were more in number then any other people or for any such like respects but because the LORD loved you That at first might seeme to be Idem per idem as we say a womans reason that the LORD should set his love on them because hee loved them but it excellently sets forth the ground of GODS love to rest altogether in himselfe and in his owne good pleasure 2. Not our beauty we were in our bloud when GOD set his love upon us and entred into Covenant with us 3. Not our righteousnesse Tit. 3.5 Not by workes of righteousnâ—sse which we have done but according to his mercy hee saved us There is nothing at all in us to move the LORD to promise any good to us as that first and great promise after Adam had sinned was from GODS free grace so are all other Evangelicall promises GOD never set the promises on sale or will ever sell his Sonne to any He gives him freely He stands not of desert We may buy of Him freely Esa. 55.1 2 3. Rev. 21.6 22.17 Ezek. 36.32 He loveth freely Hos. 14.7 and pardoneth sin freely Esay 43.25 1 Iohn 2.12 Election is of grace Rom. 11.5 Vocation is of grace 2 Tim. 1.9 Justification is freely by grace Rom. 3.24 Faith is of grace Ephes. 2.8 Eternall life and salvation is of grace Rom. 6.23 Luke 12.32 The Promises are free in ficri made onely out of grace but conditionall in facto esse performed and accomplished with dependance upon duties in us GOD is faithfull saith the Apostle who shall stablish you and keepe you from evill there is the promise and wee are confident that you will doe the things that wee command you there is the duty which the promise calls for When wee pray give us our daily bread by saying give us wee acknowledge that it is from GOD but when we call it ours we shew how GOD gives it namely in the use of the meanes For bread is ours not onely in the right of the promise I will not faile thee nor forsake thee but service and quiet working in an orderly calling The freenesse of GODS promises marvellously lifts up the head above water as the beggar saith the dole is free and why may not I get it as well as another O may some say but if I could pray and humble my selfe there were hope of mercy GOD gives his mercy freely he keepes open house he requires nothing of thee to procure it but he shewes mercy because hee will shew mercy See what he saith Esâ—y 43 24 25. Thou hast wearied mee saith he with thine iniquities and in the next verse I even I am he that blottâ—th out thy transâ—ressions for my owne sake even I excluding all mâ—anes for my owne names sake excluding all motive No unworâ—hinesse then should hinder us from beleeving the promises but rather they that have the most sense of their owne unworâ—hinesse have most incouragement to beleeve for that voice of CHRIST Come unto mee all yee that are weary c. serves not onely for our first conversion but in all
made promises to the publike assemblies of his speciall presence In this respect the Prophet calleth Sion the habitation of GODS house and the place where his honour dwelleth Psal. 26.8 Psalm 132.14 in this respect the place of GODS publike worship is called the face of GOD. The Synagogues were called the houses of GOD Psalm 83.12 This promise is also made to our Assemblies as well as theirs Matth. 18.20 Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them Rev. 2.1 CHRIST walkes in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks 3. GOD hath pâ—omised his speciall blessing to publike assemblies In all places where I record my name wâ—ll I come to thee and blesse thee Exod 20.24 GOD hath pâ—omised Temporall blessings to such as do love and frequent the Assemblies No good thing will he with-hold from them that walke uprightly Psalm 84.11 David makes this one reason of his love to GODS Tabernacles but the chiefe reason why he so esteemed them was this the LORD will give grace and glory and 133.3 For there in Sion the LORD appointed the blessing and life for ever The LORD shall blesse thee out of Sion Psalm 128.5 We shall be satisfied with the goodnesse of thy house even of thine holy Temple Ps 63 4. See Psalm 36.8 9. 92.13 14. 4. GOD will deliver the Church out of trouble Thou shalt see peace upon Israel Ps. 128.6 Thou shalt see the good of Hierusalem all the dayes of thy life verse 5. The LORD will not cast off his people nor forsake his inheritance Ps. 94.14 Thus saith the LORD after seventy yeares be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you and performe my good word towards you in causing you to returne to this place For I know the thoughts that I thinke towards you saith the LORD thoughts of peace to give you an expected end Jerem. 29.10 11. They shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig-tree and none shall make them afraid for the mouth of the LORD 〈◊〉 Hosts hath spoken it Many nations are gathered against thee but they know not the thoughts of the LORD For he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floore Micah 4.4 11 12. When thus it shall be in the middest of the Land amongst the people there shall be as the shaking of an Olive-tree and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done Esay 24.13 See Esay 61.10 Deut. 4.29 30. Jeremy 33.6 Jeremie 31.12 Esay 27.5 7 8 9. CHAP. II. Promises 1. Against the seductions of Antichrist 1. THE faithfull are of GOD and overcome Antichristian Seducers 1 Iohn 4.4 2. The Elect cannot be seduced Mat. 24.24 Promises 2. For the dâ—struction of Antichrist The ten hornes which thou sawest upon the beast these shall haâ—e the whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat hâ—â— flesh and shall burne her with fire Rev. 17.16 There is a promise that Babylon shall bee cast into the Sea as a milstone Rev. 18.21 And a mighty Angell tooke â—p a stone like a great mill-stone and cast it into the Sea saying thus with violence shall the great city Babylon be throwne downe and and shall be found no more at all Each word almost hath a gradation in that an Angell a strong Angell taketh a stone and a great stone even a mill-stone which he letteth not barely fall but casteth and with impetuous force thrusteth in the bottome of the Sea whence nothing ordinarily is recovered much lesse a mill-stone thrust from such a hand and with such force CHAP. III. Promises For calling the Jewes THere is a promise made of calling the Jewes unto CHRIST and causing them to turn from their transgressions The Redeemer shall come from Sion and unto them that returne from transgression in Jacob Esay 59.20 They shall be graffed in againe for GOD is able to graffe them in as it is written there shall come out of Sion a deliverer and shall turne away ungodlinesse from Jacob Rom. 11.23 26. Before the second comming of CHRIST the Jews shall be converted and become a most famous Church againe and they shall be the meanes of the salvation of all the Elect that shall remaine to be converted among the Gentiles as the Apostle plainly teacheth there 25 26. verses I would not Brethren that yee should be ignorant of this mystery that blindnesse in part is happened to Israel untill the fullnesse of the Gentiles be come in and so all Israel shall bee saved In Hosea there are most sweet and comfortable promises to the Jewes 1. Of delivering them out of misery and making them to flourish againe comparing their wretched estate to death and their delivery to a resurrection Hos. 13.14 2. A promise of their repentance and turning unto GOD Hos. 14.2 3. 3. Of the forgivenesse of sinnes peace reconciliation verse 4. 4. Of a glorious Church 5 6 7 8. verses These promises which GOD hath made unto that nation that he will call them and make them his people againe should provoke us to pray for them as they did for us Cant. 8.8 CHAP. IV. Promises For bringing in the Gentiles THus saith the Lord Behold I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles and set up my standard i.e. the Gospell to the people and they shall bring their sonnes in their armes and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders and Kings shall be thy nursing Fathers and Queenes thy nursing Mothers that is GOD will stirre up the Princes of the Earth to be a protection to it and to shrow'd it under the wings of their authority The Apostle Iohn speaking of the new Jerusalem saith the Kings of the earth shall bring their glory to it Rev. 21.24 Other sheepe I have saith our Saviour meaning the Gentiles not yet called which are not of this fold them also must I bring and they shall heare my voyce and there shall be one fold and one shepheard Joh. 10.16 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light and Kings to the brightnesse of thy rising The aboundance of the Sea shall be converted unâ—o thee the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee Who are these that fly as a cloud and as the doves to their windowes they are the words of the Church wondering as it were at the sight of such a propagation as a cloude and Doves it is a prophesie of the Gentiles converted they fly as a cloud that is most swiftly and shall in such fâ—ocks come into the Church as if a whole flight of Doves driven by some hawke or tempest should scoure into the Columbary and rush into the windows The Prophet Esay almost in every Chapter speaketh of the vocation of the Gentiles as the 2. 9. the 11. the 18. the 42. and 45. See 49. Chap. 12. and Chap. 54.1 And Chap. 65.1 Amos 9.11 12. Ephes. 2.12 19. John 12.32 CHAP. V. Promises To Magistrates THe LORD