will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness And Isa 43. 2 5. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee fear not for I am wiâ—h thee So Hag. 2 4 5. Hence the Psalmist saith Though I walk in the valley â—f the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me namely I will fear no evil of or concerning thee I will not be jealous of my Shepherd and so I will fear no evil no adversity whatsoever for thou art with me to uphold and strengthen me with strength in my soul Psal 23. 4. 138. 3. This comforted the Prophet when in great affliction and inderision daily I heard the defaming of many fear on every side report say they and we will report all my familiars watched for my halting peradventure he will be inticed and we shall prevail against him and we shall take our revenge on him By the way they signifie that unless they could intice him or turn him aside they could not take their revenge on him but saith he the Lord is with me therefore my persecuters shall stumble and they shall not prevail Jer. 20. 10 11. And so He will preserve their souls from the design of Satan and his instruments that nothing shall be able to separate them from the love of God in Christ that love him and keep his word Rom. 8. 35 39. he will not deliver them unto the will of their enemies Psal 41. 2. He is faithful who will establish them and keep them from evil 2 Thes 3. 3. He will not suffer the feet of those that trust in him to be moved he that keepeth them will not slâ—mber behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep the Lord is their keeper the Sun shall not smite them by day the Lord shall preserve them from all evil he shall preserve their souls c. Psal 121. 97. 10. 1 Sam. 2. 9. My sheep saith our Saviour hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand c. Joh. 10. 27 30. Oh! what incouragement is given us herein to trust in him and not be afraid not to fear any of those things we may suffer but though bryars and thorns be with us and we dwell among Scorpions and our souls are among Lions and Wolves even amongst them that are set on fire whose teeth are spears and arrows and their tongue a sharp sword yet to walk in the strength of the Lord God and to make mention of his righteousness even of his only Yea He will cause all things to work together for good to them that love God who are the called according to purpose so as that in all the tribulations he is ordering they shall be mâ—râ— than conquerours through him that hath loved them and given himself for them Rom. 8. 28 37. and they shall be gainers by their losses and have occasion with thankfulness to acknowledge that it was good for them that they were afflicted Psal 119. 62 71. for his end in ordering the afflictions of the Gospel is for their profit that they might be partakers of his holiness Heb. 12. 10 11. he is refining them but not with silver he is chusing them in the furnace of affliction Isa 48. 10. Zech. 13. 9. Every branch in the true vine the Husbandman purgeth continually that it may bring forth more fruit Joh. 15. 2. and by all tribulations he is preparing them for glory and more glory for them Our light afflictions which are but for a moment work for us a far more exceeding eternal weight of glory while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen saith the Apostle for which cause they fainted not 2 Cor. 4. 16. 18. yea death is theirs and to die gain and the Lord knoweth how even by this means to deliver the godly out of temptation 1 Cor. 3. 22. Phil. 1. 21. 2 Pet. 2. 9. and their manifold temptations the tryal of their faith through which now for a season when need is they are in heaviness shall be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 6 7. And now in the multitude of their troubles and thoughts within them his comforts shall delight their souls Psal 94. 19. He is the God of all comfort who comforteth them in all their tribulations and as the sufferings of Christ abound in them so their consolation also aboundeth by Christ He is one who comforts them that are cast down and restoreth comfort to the conâ—â—ite one and his mourners by creating the fruit of his lips in his Gospel peace peace unto them 2 Cor. 1. 3 5 7 7. 5. Isa 57. 18 19. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Christ because the Lord hath anointed him to preach good tydiâ—gâ— to the meek To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion to gâ—ve unto them beauty for ashes the oyl of joy for mourning c. Isa 61. 1 3. He will then especially and abundantly cause them to prove the sufficiency of his gracâ— 2 Cor. 12. 7 10. that having access by faith into that groce wherein they stand even that grace that while we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly they may rejoyce in tribulations also Rom. 5. 2 3 6. Jam. 1. 2 5. He will give unto them his good Spirit to bring to remembrance the sayings of Christ to glorifie him and enamour their hearts on him and to teach them all things and so to be a spirit of grace and supplication unto them to teach them how to pour out their hearts unto him in what manner and for what things and in what incouragement Joh. 14. 27. 16. 13 14. Likewise the Spirit also heâ—peth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we oâ—ght but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be â—ttered Rom. 8. 26 27. and so to teach them how to answer adversaries and opposers This is the promise which our Saviour promised his Disciples when he sent them forth as Lambs in the midst of Wolves to preserve them from carefulness and thoughtfulness what to answer But when saith he they deliver you up take no thought how or what ye shall speak either as to the manner or matter for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak for it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your father which speaketh in you Maâ— 10. 16 20. And hence our â—aviour admonisheth them to settle it in their â—eaâ—ts not to mediâ—are before what they shall answer for he assuâ—es them in so doing he will
Lord though their spirits are made perfect as before yet there is some fruit of sin upon them but then he will cast all their sins into the depth of the Sea their sins and their iniquities he will remember no more Act. 3. 19. Heb. 10. 16 17. Mic. 7. 19. Jer. 50. 19 20. And this further appears in that they shall be raised out of and delivered for ever From death and all its fruits this was the wages of sin Rom. 6. 23. By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin Rom. 5. 12 14. And now the body is dead because of sin Rom. 8. 10. And it is appointed to man the whole kind once to dye though all shall not sleep in death yea the bodies of those just men generally whose spirits are made perfect sleep in the dust they are prisoners though prisoners of hope and so they are in the graves But he will open their graves and cause them to come ouâ— of their graves and their bodies shall be fashioned into the likeness of Christ's glorious body Phil. 3. 20. Now they are corruptible have the seeds of corruption and principles of mortality they are perishing decaying bodies and we may with him say to corruption Thou art my father and to the worm thou art my mother and my sister Job 17. 14. We must needs all dye and those that sleep in death their bodies return to dust but they shall be raised incorruptible no more to return to corruption this corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mottal immortality That which is now dishonourable and of which we are ashamed for sin brought in shame and therefore need cloathing and covering that the shame of our nakedness appear not and which is sown in dishonour a vile loathsom carcass shall be raised in glory even with the glory of the Lord upon it Mat. 13. 43. They shall no more need this vile cloathing but they shall then be cloathed with the garments of salvation and covered with the robe of righteousness That which is now weak at best and subject to many infirmities weaknesses and sicknesses destitute of that health and strength at first created in and so sown in weakness no life no strength in it to move it self and even like the beasts for that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts even one thing befalleth them as the one dyeth so dyeth the other c. Eccl. 3. 19. shall be raised in power be strong and freed from all weakness and diseases That which is now a natural body which we received by natural propagation and was here nourished with natural meat and drink by the word of God and is sown a natural body shall be raised a spiritual body they shall be the sons of God then as to their bodies being the children of the resurrection and then they shall hunger no more nor thirst any more they shall be so spiritualized that they shall be like to and equal with the Angels not hindered by any obstacles they shall bear the image of the heavenly and so they will be more excellent than man in his first creation and now freed from all sickness pain and grief these inhabitants shall no more say they are sick for their sins shall be forgiven them 1 Cor. 15. 43 49. Luk. 20. 35 36. Isa 49. 10. 33. 24. Rev. 21. 3. Christ shall then present them to himself a glorious Church not having wrinkle no fruit or remembrance of affliction or grief upon them Eph. 5. 27. Job 16. 8. but the glory of the Lord shall be seen upon them then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15. 53 55. they shall be freed and delivered for ever from the first death and shall be freed and delivered for ever from the first death and shall not go into the second blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power Rev. 20. 6. they shall not be condemned with the world in that everlasting fire which was not at first prepared for mankind but for the Devil and his angels into which all that have been incensed against and continued disobedient to Jesus Christ shall be cast he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death Rev. 2. 11. Then they shall be delivered and saved from all their enemies and from all their deceits and troubles God shall redeem their souls from deceit and violence Psal 72. 14. From deceit God shall then bruise Satan under their feet as he is already bruised under the feet of the Captain of our salvation for during the thousand years reign of Christ and his Saints he shall be bound so as not to deceive the Nations all that time and when the thousand years are expired he shall be loosed a little season out of his prison and shall go out to deceive the Nations he shall not then have liberty given him to deceive the Camp of the Saints much less the beloved City and presently after he shall be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone Rev. 20. 1 3 7 10. into the holy City new Jerusalem shall in no wise enter any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or a lye Rev. 21. 27. 22. 15. Now they have temptations from Satan and men though yet in hearing Christ's voice and following him none shall pluck them out of his hands neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers not things present nor things to come c. shall be able to separate them that love God from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus Joh. 10. 27 29. Rom. 8. 38 39. but yet Satan is trying and indeavouring all means to corrupt from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus and by â—etting slip the things heard and listening to Satan it 's possible that a man may be intangled and overcome there being sin in believers also that is alwayes working deceitfully as appears by the many admonitions given to believers and jealeusies of the Apostles concerning them and some instances in Scripture recorded c. 1 Thess 3. 5. Gal. 1. 6 7. 5. 3 5. 6. 1. 2 Cor. 11. 1 3. Heb. 2. 1 3. 4. 1. 10. 23 29. but then as they have no sin within them so none without them that shall tempt them any more And herein their condition is more excellent than was Adam's and mankind's in him in the first Creation for though then God made man upright yet there was a tempter permitted to tempt him and through his subtilty did beguil him he not keeping in believing mindfulness the word of God but listening to the lye of the serpent And then they shall be delivered from violence also he will give to them then rest from all their troubles when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flâ—ming fire taking vengeance on them that
of heaven to the other Mat. 8. 11. 24 31. he will then bring the seed of Israel from the East and gather them from the West and will say to the North give up and to the South keep not back bring my sons from far and my daughters from the ends of the earth every one that is called by my name c. Isa 43 5 6 7. Now they are scattered sometimes through persecutions and severed one from another through the fear of the wrath reproaches threats and oppressions of men and so chased from place to place when God gives permission unto men Act. 8. 1. Jam. 1. 1. So those Worthies of whom the world was not worthy wandred in deserts and in mountains and in dens and in caves of the earth Heb. 11. 36 38. and it is appointed to them that if they will live godly in Christ Jesus they shall suffer persecuâ—ion Act. 14. 22. 2 Tim. 3. 12. but then the extortioner shall cease and the oppressors be consumed out of the Land Isa 16. 4 5. the destructions of the enemy shall come to a perpetual end and their shepherd will seek his sheep that have been scattered deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day and feed them in a good pasture and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be Ezek. 34. 11 15. he will seek up that which was lost and bring again that which was driven away c. and they shall dwell safely and none shall make them afraid ver 15 28. Now they are separated one from another and severed by death many are taken out of the Land of the living the godly man ceaseth and the faithful fail from among the children of men and many times they are cut off untimely and this is a great wo and affliction to the survivers of that body and a great judgment to the children of men how insensible soever they are of it Psal 12. 1. Mic. 7. 1 2. for then they can be of no more personal usefulness to men they are then ignorant of us but then death as with respect to them shall be swallowed up into victory then shall be compleatly fulfilled what the High-Priest spake not of himself but by way of Prophecy for then shall be gathered together in one the children of God that now are scattered abroad Joh. 11. 51 52. Zech. 14. 4. Oh! how delightful and comfortable will this be to be alwayes with the Lord and one with another and no more for ever to be separated and in this blessed congregation and assembly of the righteous the sinners shall not stand Psal 1. 5. Ezek. 13. 9. 4. In this congregation and gathering together of the righteous unto the Lord and one to another they shall behold the Lord yea this is the end why Jesus Christ wills they should be with him where he is that they may behold his glory Joh. 17. 24. they shall see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads Rev. 22. 4. how refreshing and desirable was it to Moses to see his back parts so as at the sight thereof he made haste and prayed that he would go amongst them and take them for his inheritance Exod. 33. 22. 34. 8 9. and how comfortable was the hope of this to Job that his Redeemer should stand at the latter day upon the earth and that he should see him for himself and his eyes should behold him Oh! this was a great comfort to him in his affliction when God's hand was turned against him and his acquaintance were estranged from him his kinsfolk failed him and his familiâ—r friends had forgotten him c. Job 19. 6 27. Now while they see him by faith believing they rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 8. But oh how infinitely satisfying will it be then to see him as he is in whose presence is fulness of joy and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore they shall then be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of his house and he shall make them drink of the rivers of his pleasures for with him is the fountain of life and in his light they shall see light when they awake they shall be satisfied with God's likeness or image even with Jesus Christ who is the image of the invisible God Psal 16. 11. 36. 8 9. 17. 15. Now through that sight they have of him by faith their souls are satisfied as with marrow and fatness Psal 63. 3 6. they are assured by faith of the truth and goodness of what is reported and set in hope before them and of the faithfulness of him that hath promised to perform all his good Word and have such a view of the desirableness and compleat contentment there is in these things as that iâ— crucifies their affections to the world and prevails with them to confess themselves strangers and pilgrims on the earth and to declare plainly they are seeking another Countrey and a better and more induring substance this preserves them from gadding about and prevails with them to sit down under Christ's shadow with great delight and his fruit is sweet to their taste buâ— yet they are hungring and thirsting after a full injoyment of what they now see darkly they are even sick of love till their desire comes and â—e accomplished and even longing and in heart breathing for his appearance Oh! when wilt thou come to visit me Oh! that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion As the Hart panteth after the water brooks so their soul pants after God their souls thirst for God for the living God Oh! when shall we come and appear before God And thus they are looking for with expectation and hasting from all things reproved and discovered to be evil deadly and unprofitable unto the coming of the day of God but when the desire cometh it will be a tree of life when the desire is accomplished it will be sweet to the soul Prov. 13. 12 19. the compleat injoyment will compleatly satisfie and abundantly delight them so as they shall hunger no more nor thirst any more 5. As the effect and consequent of seeing him they shall be perfectly made like him so the Apostle signifies 1 Joh. 3. 2. It doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Now in this day the seeing and beholding him as he hath revealed himself doth transform them in a first fruits in beholding him with open face as in a glass they are changed into the same image from glory to glory as by the spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. 18. but when they shall behold him as he is they shall be compleatly changed into his likeness And so They shall then be made like him in knowledge though still he hath the preheminence in all things he being God-man and worthy is