Professors and Confessors of the Truth lay â—ormant in Wood-stacks Hay-stacks and the â—ike till the fury of the persecution was over and gone much like those Primitive Worthies who were constrained to depart the society of men â—nd live like beasts in Wildernesses wandring â—bout in sheep-skins and goat-skins being destiâ—ute afflicted tormented in Desarts Mountains Dens and Caves of the Earth of whom the World was not worthy Under the greatest rage â—nd sorest oppressions of the Church by Antiâ—hrist and his followers God alwayes had a few Names reserved who bowed not the knee to his â—dolatrous Worships and Inventions Secondly By abating the natural force and â—nnate violence of destructive evils As God sometimes alters the course of nature in order to his Enemies ruine makes waters ascend and lick up â—he old World fire descend on Sodom the Earth open her mouth and swallow up Korah Dathan â—nd Abiram the Earth disclose her blood and â—omit it up no more covering her slain so otherwhile in order to his peoples preservation When Pharaoh and his Egyptian Host had intangled Israel as in a net so as to avoid them they were forced to take the Red Sea which as to all humane expectation must have sunk and drowned them God makes it but a Ferry for them to swim over or shallow Foord to wade through and so pass on their Journey to Canaan When Jonah was swallowed up of the Whale whose â—owels in all probability would have been his Tombe to interr him God gives him a Vomit and makes him disgorge his bait and instead of a Grave to bury him he becomes only his Womb to keep him alive and deliver him safe on shoar The three Children who were by Nebuchadnezzars decree and order cast into the fiery Furnace in which none could imagine but they must be burnt to ashes God makes it a Sun only to refresh and comfort them instead of a flame to consume them Not one hair of their heads was sindged nor their Garments changed neither did the smell of the Fire rest upon them Dan. 3.25 The very hairs of their head were indeed numbred When Daniel by Darius's Commandment was thrown into the bottom of the Den of Lions whose ravenous and devouring nature one would have thought with their greedy and whetted stomacks should have opened their gaping mouths wide to receive so welcom a morsel an Angel muzzles them that he became not a prey to those masterless Creatures to which his accusers became their Sacrifice and crusht between their cruel grinders before they could once open their own mouths for Mercy These noble Worthies had those Promises fulfilled in the Letter When thou walkest through the Fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee Isa 43.2 Thou shalt tread upon the Lion and Adder the young Lion and Dragon shalt thou trample under thy feet The Apostles Text hath here its full and clear Comment Heir 11.33 By Faith they stopt the Mouths of Lions and quenched the violence of Fire When Evils and Enemies like so many Leviathans rush upon Gods people he sometimes puts a bridle in their jaws and an hook in their nostrils and they become to them but so much painted Fire or as dead Lions that cannot hurt them God can bridle the natural force of Fire Seas Beasts or ought that intends â—urt to his People Thirdly By preventing and disappointing the flesigns of wickedness against them The God of â—y Mercy shall prevent me saith David Psal 59.10 by the early Influences of his own Mercy and timely discovery of his Enemies mischief God let 's not the weapons formed against his prosper but causeth the wickedness of the wicked to come on their own head and their violent dealing upon their own pate And when they themselves do not Gods People do escape â—he intended destruction God gives warnings and Items to his before the World can shoot off their murdering pieces against them He either fastens strong instincts and impressions of imminent danger or gives them timely notices and significations which are as so many hands in the way to direct them their passage or way of escape As sometimes he hides a Moses from Pharaohs â—ruelty by the hand of the Midwives and secures the Spies in peace by the hand of a Rahab Hebr. 11.31 33. so sometimes advertiseth a David by Jonathans Arrows which though inarticulately yet speak significantly his concernment to make haste from Sauls rage And Elijah by a Messenger to flee from Jezabels fury and run for his life 1 Sam. 20. 1 King 19. Whem Achitophel had contrived Davids ruine Hushai gives him Intelligence 2 Sam. 17.16 When Haman had conspired Mordecai's and the Jews total extirpation and fatal destruction God in his wise Providence so ordered the Decree about it as there was upon a Twelve-months space between it and the Execution so as respite was given for flight and evasion and also for application to the Persian King for its Reversion In which space such effectual means was used as the ruine intended against the Jews light on the head of the Enemy and Haman changed with Mordecai his advancement in Court for that on a Gibbet which he had prepared for him Esth 7. ult and cap. 8.15 When Paul was apprehended by the Jews and the sacrificing knife of death putting to his throat the chief Captains Advent in the Interim occasions his rescue and reprieve from their purposed Execution Act. 21.32 And so again when more than forty Blood-hounds waited for his precious life longing like so many Leeches to suck out his heart-blood having bound themselves in a desperate and devellish Oath or banned themselves into an Obligation to make him their Sacrifice his Sisters son certifies the Centurion who carries him away by force out of their hands upon the young mans information so that though in very great danger of his life he escaped safe Act. 23.20 It 's storied of Austin when at a certain time the Donatists had conspired to butcher him in his journey home Gods Providence directs him a contrary way and he who once in a Sermon by the loss of his matter won a Soul now in his travail by going out of his way saved his life The People of God many times when under fears of surprizal or treading upon the very brink and precipice of danger in the way of their duty have been snatcht out of the mouth of the Lion and when even turning to destruction have been remanded back with a Return ye children of men Fourthly By diverting evil men in their furious executions As no plot of darkness so deep but God gives his people some light of it even when the train be laid and there wants nothing but Give Fire So no resolution so firm or fixed but he can put a stop to it God can cut off even the Spirit of Lions and make the heart of an Egyptian tremble at the shaking of a leaf dispirit and discourage wicked men in their
assurance of divine maintenance under all humane malevolence First he promises him inward heartning but if his spirits should fail then he will second him in the conflict and should he not come off conqueror yet he shall never be overthrown for at least he will uphold him Nay he will not only secure him from succumbency but confer upon him victory he shall not only escape breaking and crushing by the mountains but shall himself thresh them and of a crawling worm come off a victorious Prince vers 14 15. God will not only help his people against the impostures of their own hearts and Satans malignancy but also the worlds violence His promise runs That his arm shall strengthen him and his hand be established with him The enemy shall not exact upon him nor the son of wickedness affl 〈◊〉 him Psal 89.21 22. This David in his own person found blessed and frequent experience of while he professeth Psal 18.17 18 19. God to be his stay his deliverer and lifâ—er up of his head under great dangers and many enemies And hope hereof was the ground of Christs triumph even assurance of his Fathers assistance Isa 50.7 9. For the Lord God will help me therefore shall I not be confounded Behold the Lord God will help me who is he that shall condemn me No matter what were his enemies while God was his friend or who his accusers while he was his Advocate God is a sure hiding-place an home an harbour a refuge a shield a protection a sanctuary an high Tower to his yea a strong hold in the time of trouble and when their City shall be taken they may betake themselves and fly to him as their impregnable Casile They are called expresly his hidden ones Psal 83.3 not only in point of worth and excellency but also for â—secresie and security He is to them a shadow from the heat and a refuge from the storm Isa 25.4 And what was said of Christ is made good to them Isa 49.2 In the shadow of his hand hath he hid me In the shaâ—e of his hand are they preserved against all the scorchings of the hottest burning Sun of divine wrath or humane malice and their souls skreened by their Saviours Righteousness against the one and his fatherly providence from the other Yea under the shadow of his divine or those Cherubims wings of special protection may they as the chickens do under the wings of the damm on the Kites approach hide themselves securely till the dint of every calamity be over-past As the sweet singer of Israel tunes melodiously Psal 57.1 God is to his people both a pillar of cloud and of fire one to refocillate and refresh them and the other to preserve and defend them in their journey to Heaven through the wilderness of this world as Travellers are by it against wild beasts Yea a wall of fire round about them a wall to keep in their persons and of fire to keep out their enemies And in case they be yet so desperate as to venture on them he yet beares them up on Eagles wings far above out of their reach or sight Exod. 19.2 His providence is to them an incompassing hedge so that if there be not that Intus that must destroy them as the voice told Phocas when close barred up in his Masters Palace they cannot but be safe The eyes of the Lord run to and fro the whole Earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him and what need they fear shipwrack as that Philosopher once said when under fears of drowning he lookt up to Heaven in a bright starry night and beheld those twinkling luminaries bespangling and imbroidering that heavenly Canopy over his head while they have so many eyes of Providence about them The Keeper of Israel is always waking though Enemies be great and mighty many and numerous yea neer at hand they may sleep sweetly and comfortably as Alexander once did when in great danger of an approaching adversary because Parmenio his chief and vigilant Captain watched or rather as David did when compassed about with an Army of ten thousands at least in imagination being then also hemmed in and inclosed by divine protection God is a defence to his Peoples glory against all that rise up against them Psal 32.7 What sweetness and safety doth holy David engage to his own heart in confidence of divine safeguard Psal 31.20 Thou shalt hide me in the secret of thy presence from the pride of Man Thou shalt keep them secretly in a Pavilion from the strife of tongues God is his Peoples Asylum from the heat both of hand and tongue-persecution by their adversaries Now God helps his People against their outward Enemies divers wayes Either First By preparing for them places of recess where the Enemy cannot finde them Thus God secured Elijah from Ahabs fury when he sent an Inquisition after him throughout the whole Land of Israel 1 King 18.10 He returns with a Non inventus and like one that seeks a Needle in a bottle of Hay bestowed his labour in vain Thus the Lord in a persecuting time hid an hundred of his Prophets by the hand of Obadiah Thus under Sauls violent rage against innocent David which made him pursue him as a Partridge on the Mountains God provided places of retirement for him sometimes in a Cave sometimes in a Rock or strong hold now in the Wilderness now at Naioth and anon in the Land of the Philistines erewhile in this cre-while in that place so as he was kept out of the reach of his rage and escaped the violence of his intended fury and malice against him He was as a man upon the top of an high Mountain out of the reach of gun-shot or any danger but what might come from Heaven or as one upon the top of an high Rock in the midst of the Sea able to sing to triumph to out-brave and bid defiance to all the raging surges and tempâ—stuous billows that beat against him to which himself also alludes Psalm 61.2 When my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the rock which is higher than I. Thus God protected Jeremiah the Prophet and Baruch the Scribe Jerem. 36.26 so as the Kings Serjeants dare not arrest him When Herod sought Christs life and would have become Murderer of him who came to be his Saviour an Angel of the Lord comes and gives his Parents private intelligence about the Tyrants bloody intentions and advertiseth them to go into Egypt which was made his Harbour and Receptacle till he was dead and gone and so he kept out of his Clutches and escaped his barbarous and bloody hands Math. 2.13 Thus the Woman a type of the Church had a priviledg'd place assign'd her and prepared of God for her in the Wilderness whether she was to flee and be fed there a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes Revelat. 12.6 Thus in the Ten Persecutions and the late Marian dayes many
multiplication without it For man lives not by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God Matth. 4. He fills his peoples hearts with food and gladness He can carse much while the meat is in sinners mouths he can send leanness into their souls and they may eat but not have enough drink but not be filled be clothed but not be warm So he can bless a little Daniel's pulse he can render more nourishing than the Kings dainties Though the staff of bread be broken in pieces yet he can renew it or at least deal graciously with the soul so as it shall say I have enough Nimis avarus animus cui non sufficit Deus Bernard The experience of this was that gave the Church such a large festival of joy in a fasting-day Hab. 3.17 Although the Fig-tree shall not blossom neither shall fruit be in the Vines the labour of the Olive shall fail and the fields shall yield no meat the flock shall be cut off in the fold and there shall be no herd in the stalls yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation And as in the want of necessary competencies for outward and bodily sustenance so in the loss of worldly conveniencies God is his peoples helper He recompenseth them an hundred-fold what they lose in temporals they gain in spirituals and when bereaved of all this world can afford can yet cry out we have enough all in our God Though they be as having nothing yet they possess all things and retain their heirship while they appear to the world to have lost their Sonship Yea in the utmost misgivings of their souls when not only their enjoyments but even their expectancies are thrown over-board and set all on float their hope perisht from the Lord yet his compassions bear them up Lam. 3.21 And when with Jonah they apprehend themselves cast out of his sight yet can they look towards his holy Temple Jonah 2.4 Yea secondly As under the frustration of expected comforts so under the feeling of unexpected crosses and afflictions is God their help God is never far from his people when trouble is near When men draw back he draws most near and misery advanceth forward he never goes away and leaves them naked combatants with it If outward mercies fail he will give contentation under the want of them or better mercies instead of them exchanges the gold of Heaven for this earthly dross Though others have the portions they have with Isaac the Inheritance and the men of the world gifts with Jehoram they have the Kingdom and change of worldly comforts for the hopes of future glory and a double portion of the gifts and graces of his Spirit is no robbery or injury Yea he often bestows better in kind as well as value as he gives them himself who is better than many wives children estates for when all these die he yet lives so he raiseth up other comforts to sweeten their crosses when he takes away one mercy sends another in the stead If David loseth his child which surviving had been a standing monument of his shame he shall have a Solomon that shall be to him a Crown of Glory in his stead So if outward afflictions approach he will finde out a way of deliverance 1 Pet. 2.9 The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of all temptations Troubles rush in upon us suddenly oftentimes and we know not which way we come into them but God makes our way out of them He opens for us a back-door of escape when there appears of it no humane probability Many a time did he deliver them saith the Psalmist of Israel Psal 106.42 They cried unto the Lord and he delivered them out of their distresses Under soul-conflicts when they have even concluded their case desperate God hath come in with his salvation When Hezekiah saies He is cut off and shall never more see the Lord in the Land of the Living so that his soul was in great bitterness in love to his soul his God delivers him from the pit of corruption Isa 38.17 When the soul is reduced to such extremities as it knows not what to do how any longer to hope but draws up desperate conclusions against mercy and saies The Lord will be gracious no more he hath in anger shut up his tender mercies I shall surely fall by the strength of this corruption that temptation As Mris. Honywood said As sure as this Glass breaks I shall be damned The soul lookt for comfort from Ordinances and Promises expected help from faithful Ministers and fellow-Christians but findes none to save none to comfort even then he findes out some Messenger an Interpreter one among a thousand to shew to man his uprightness then he is gracious and delivers him from going down to the pit he delights in the Almighty and lifts up his face to God Job cap. 22. and cap. 33. And so under outward calamities which come so suddenly and violently as there seems no way of rescue or resistance but a man cries out with David He shall must one day fall by the hand of Saul by the power of this or the other affliction yet God delivers out of the mouths of these ravening Lions as he did him Psal 31.22 I said in mine haste I am cut off from before thine eyes nevertheless thou heardst the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee Though he were even at deaths door at the graves mouth God brought up his soul from the grave and kept him alive that he went not down into the pit The sorrows of death compassed him and the pains of Hell got hold upon him and he said in his haste all were lyars the Prophet Samuel and all yet at length God gave him such experience of his salvation as he could not contain but cries out Thou hast delivered my soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling It 's Gods usual method to work by contraries and as he disappoints sinners in the height of their hopes and confidences so he relieves his Saints in the lowest ebbs of their diffidencies and despondencies he casts them down when advanced on the highest pinnacle of undeserved and abused mercy and lifts his own up when plunged into the most deep and intricate labyrinths of affliction and misery And that is the last particular in this first branch of the Proposition In what respects God is an help to his people The second follows How or after what sort and manner he gives them help Take it briefly in these following particulars which will enhance the excellency of divine help First He helps suddenly and unexpectedly when his people little dream of it least of all look for it and expect it Psal 126.1 When the Lord turned again the captivity of Sion we were like them that dream The deliverance was so great as it seems incredible too good news to be true Wicked
the people thus bespeaks them there hath not failed one word of all his good promise 1 King 8.56 All his Promises are Yea and Amen made in Christ and confirmed and made good by him Now the Promises of mercy are sure footing for our faith and serve highly to fix and establish our hope I had perished saith David in mine affliction but that thy word was my hope Psal 119. This gave him comfort So as he professeth at the 114 verse Thou art my hiding-place and my shield I hope in thy word And so emphatically again Psal 130.5 I wait for the Lord my soul doth wait And in his word do I hope The Promises are as so many Magazines for relief Mines for supply Springs for consolation Breasts for refreshment They are as the clefts of the Rock and secret places of the stairs for the souls security and protection They are as an anchor of hope sure and stedfast as the Apostle elegantly calls them Heb. 6.19 which if well fastened the ship is sure so that neither wind or wave can move it There cannot be more venom in a judgement than there is balm in a Promise This was that bare up Davids soul and Christ too whom he typifies even Gods Promise of not leaving his soul in Hell nor suffering his holy one to see corruption Act. 13.35 This upheld Jonas's spirit from sinking under all his temptations and distractions and his faith and hope from drowning even when his body was swallowed up he did not throw all over-board but yet lookt towards his holy Temple Jonah 2.4 To which the Promises were peculiarly made Though the gate of mercy seemed shut all hopes of pardon cut off mountains of opposition stood in the way of his faith yet he looks up and by faith over-looks all faith in the Promise made him row against winde and tide and bear against all the difficulties and disasters of providence and hope not only against reason but sense too and believe over not bare difficulties but seeming impossibilities also When David was driven out of all hopes of the Kingdom so as peremptorily to conclude he was cast out of Gods sight should fall by the hand of Saul and all God had said was but a story and his Prophet Samuel a tale a lie he recovers himself from under all these wrestlings and animates his soul by the remembrance of the Promise I had fainted but that I believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living Though God does not alwaies fulfill his threatnings but revokes them on repentance wherefore the Jews counted not him a false Prophet that foretold Judgements though they came not to pass yet he alwaies fulfils his Promises to them that fear him and hope in his mercy This staid Abrahams faith therefore under all apparent contradictions Rom. 4.21 He that promised would perform Fifthly Exemplaria Providentiae The experiments of his Providence are another sure ground and bottom of hope Experience is the breeder of Hope Rom. 5.4 They which have tried God cannot but trust â—iâ—n For the Lord will not forsake his People This was the ground of Davids confidence 1 Sam. 13.37 when he went out against huge Goliah The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the Lion and out of the paw of the Bear he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine one deliverance assures another And it is no less the Argument of his Prayer in several Psalms Psal 27.9 Thou hast been my help leave me not neither forsake me O God of my salvation Thou hast O Lord taken the care of me hitherto expose me not now as a destitute Oâ—phan to the wide world Psal 31 2 3. Be thou my strong rock for thou art my rock and my fortresâ— Psal 42.8 9. All thy waves and billows are gone over me yet the Lord will command his loving-kindness in the day-time I will say unto God my rock when he was almost sunk even about drowning he catcheth hold on the bough of former experience seasonably and opportunely and so saves himself So Psal 71.5 9. Thou art my hope from my youth cast me not off in the time of my old age So vers 17 19. Thou hast taught me O God from my youth now also when I am old and gray-headed O God forsake me not There 's his Prayer and see how his Faith gets up and rises still higher and higher from hope to assurance verse 20. Thou which bast shewed me great and sore troubles shalt quicken me again and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the Earth And as he ends the Psalm so he begins it Verse 1 2 3. In thee O Lord I put my trust let me never be put to confusion be thou my strong rock and habitation for thou art my rock and my fortresse When the Out-works are taken then he retreats to the principal Fort when a Christians present evidences are darkened or hopes discouraged he may and ought to fly to the experience of Gods former gracious dealings and comfortable manifestations to look back to the days of old and years of ancient times and call to remembrance his former Songs under his present sufferings These will bear him up as in the dayes of old upon Eagles wings I was under such a temptation but the Lord strengthened me under such an affliction but God delivered me Thus David Psal 28.7 The Lord is my strength and my shield my heart trusted in him and I am helped He goes to God by a Periphrasis Psal 17.7 Shew thy marvelous loving-kindness O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee And thus the Church Psal 22. and 44. Our Fathers trusted in thee We have heard what thou didst for our Fathers in the dayes of old And shall not the Fathers unto the Children praise thy truth So Psal 115.12 The Lord hath been mindfull of us he will bless us S. Psal 74.12 God is my King of old Thou didst divide the Sea by thy strength thou brakest the heads of the Dragons in the waters Thou brakest the heads of Leviathan in pieces Awake awake put on strength O arm of the Lord Art not thou it that hath cut Rahab and wounded the Dragon It 's all along observable how the Church and People of God have stood upon this Giants shoulder of former experience in their pleadings and wrestlings with him for future mercies And in an especial manner those two solemn and signal deliverances out of Egypt and from the red Sea as God makes them a constant argument for obedience to him so do they of confidence upon him And thus the Church in the Lamentations in the saddest dumps of her affliction recurrs to her experience Lam. 3.26 It 's good a man should both quietly hope and wait for the salvation of the Lord. Thus the Apostle argues against wants and necessities Hebr. 13.5 from the Promise And against dangers from the experiments of
Help and â—nd so as the God of Jacob. First then observe Gods influence and communication to his he is their Help or their Salvation as the word imports He is indeed a common help an help to all he bears up the Pillars of the Earth and upholds the reeling World and its Inhabitants from â—inking and perishing Psal 75.3 The eyes of all things wait upon him who is the great Almoner the grand and bountifull Benefactor of Heaven and Earth all live upon the universal Ordinary of his infinite bounty and are fed at his Providential Table and none go tristes ab illo sad from his presence that come to him and call upon him He helps the wicked sometimes against the wicked yea the wicked against the godly when they rebell against him or run away from him But yet in a peculiar manner he is their help a Saint hath him by way of propriety his help He is their help and their shield Psal 115.9 10 11. O Israel trust thou in the Lord he is their help and their shield O house of Aaron trust in the Lord. Ye that fear the Lord trust in the Lord he is their help and their shield Whether the Church of God in general considered or its particular members they stand obliged to trusâ— in him whether they be placed in higher sphears of excellency or in a lower Orb of activity for different degrees as to worldly conditions make no alteration in his paternal Indulgences and Fatherly dispensations He is styled the Rock of Israel 2 Sam. 23.1 and the strength of Israel 1 Sam. 15.29 David speaks singularly and by way of appropriation Psal 54.4 Behold God is my helper he becomes a suitor and supplicant to him upon the accompt of his choice of his wayes Psal 119.173 Let thine hand help me God is to his People a shade for delight and solace while they fit under the shadow of his wings and his Banner over them is Love and a Shield to them for defence to ward off all blows of affliction and stroaks of Calamity while under his Feathers their Souls do trust Which point being a necessary Preface and preliminary Introduction to that which follows as laying a just foundation for the Happiness asserted in the Text I shall not pass without consideration of but open what is material therein in a fivefold Postulatum Three of which Queries will satisfie the Explication thereof and the two latter fall in its practical improvement and Application First In what respects may God be styled an help his people Secondly After what way and manner doth he â—lp them Thirdly Vpon what accompt or for what reaâ—s doth he help them Fourthly At what special times and seasons doth most afford his help Fifthly Vpon what terms and conditions may vine help be expected First How or in what regard may God be acpunted an Help There are four things imply'd in the notion 〈◊〉 an Help all which agree to Gods influence 〈◊〉 his People wherein he appears so and where 〈◊〉 it will be demonstrated that he is properly â—eir help Supply of wants and indigencies â—ccour and relief under burthens and extremiâ—es Aid and assistance against enemies and adâ—ersaries Redress of failures and disappointâ—ents First God is their Help in respect of supply and â—ovision Thus the Rich helps the Poor by supâ—ying his wants out of his fulness and a man â—elps his Friend by taking care to provide for â—s necessities The Lord thus helps his people â—e is not a barren Wilderness nor a land of â—rought or darkness to them but he deals graâ—ously with them and they have enough The â—ord is the portion of their Inheritance he mainâ—ineth their lot The lines are fallen to them in pleaâ—nt places and they have a goodly heritage Upon â—his accompt he is said to be their Sun where â—e is said to be their Shield Psal 84.10 a Sun for consolation as well as a Shield for protection We finde the Apostle drawing up this Conclusion of Faith from the Promise Heb. 13.6 So that we may boldly say The Lord is my Helper He supplyes all their spiritual wants by influence of the Promises and all their temporal by the influences of his Providence Godliness hath the Promise both of this and the next life According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness the Apostle hath it 2 Pet. 1.3 He gives both Grace and Glory gives pardon of sin peace of Conscience sense of his love and assurance of his favour the Spirit of adoption a new heart and a right spirit holiness both habitual and actual in the root and blossom Grace peace comfort quickning strength establishment perfection are all his Legacies freely bestowed and gifts abundantly multiplyed on the heads and hearts of his people through Jesus Christ To the ignorant Soul he communicates saving knowledge to the unbelieving faith to the graceless true piety and godliness He sends light to them which are in darkness life to them which labour under deadness liberty to them which are captive and inslaved by sin and Satan He cloaths the naked soul with the honourable robe of justification and enriches the poor Conscience with the fine Gold of Sanctification The treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge are his free grant as well as the garments of Salvation Every good and perfect gift is a ray and emanation from him the Father of lights and fountain of life and happiness He draws the beautifull features of Grace on Souls which naturally are no other than Monsters of deformity and imperfection and pours â—n the wine of spiritual consolations into the hearts of solitary and distressed Pilgrims in this â—alley of tears so as passing through the valley of Baca they dig up fountains still When the poor and needy seek water and there is none and their â—ongue faileth for thirst he opens Rivers in high plaâ—es and Fountains in the midst of the Valleys Isa 41.17 18. And he feeds the hungry and perishing with that heavenly and delicious Manna which is able to nourish up their Souls to a blessed Eternity David most elegantly under the notion of a Pastor expresseth the sufficiency of divine reâ—ief Psal 23.2 He maketh me lie down in green Pastures he leadeth me besides the still waters As a Shepherd feeds guides comforts and defends his Flock so doth God his People allowing them a sufficient Viaticum untill thy come to the Supper of the Lamb Yea such is the exuberancy of his goodness as he supplys all their wants according to the riches of his glory in Christ Phil. 4.19 Neither doth he give them only the upper but as Caleb did his Daughter also the nether Springs As he gives them a double portion a Benjamins Mess in spiritual blessings so he is no Niggard to them in temporal conveniencies and accommodations but while he gives them himself for their portion he gives them these for their passage He hath entayled by way of
Covenant on them the Corn Wine and Oyl anoynts their steps with Butter and Honey feeds them with the finest of the Wheat and lets them drink the purest blood of the Grape yea satisfies them as with Honey out of the rock He spreads their Tables out of his fulness and overflows their Cups with his goodness and allows them not only for necessity but also for delight and satisfaction Thus Moses of old with purest strains of eloquence describes his depasture of Israel Deut. 32.13 14. His have from him all things plentifully to enjoy and alwayes ad sanitatem though not ad voluntatem a competency to sustain their natures though not a superfluity to maintain their lusts and pamper their more sensual affections The Lions of the World may suffer hunger but Gods Lambs shall want no good thing insomuch that David dare give it forth for an experience and undoubted Observation Psal 37.25 I never saw the righteous forsaken nor their seed begging bread The mercies of the Throne are theirs and no less those of the Footstool the benedictions of Gods heart and eke of his hand their portion And if God condescends so low as to feed the Ravens and cloath the Lillies of the Field how much more will this great Paterfamilias of Heaven and Earth take care of his own Family If he be the Saviour of all men much more of them that believe And having right in the promise of superadding all things to them while seekers of the Kingdom of Heaven how shall they be denyed possession yea having given them Christ and himself how shall he forbear to give them all things For all is theirs seeing they are his and they may cry out with holy Athanasius Deus meus omnia our God and our all Though having nothing they possess all things seeing they possess him who possesseth all things Such is Gods singular care and providence over them that he blesseth their modicum while he curseth the worldlings abundance and while extravagant man diminisheth and makes a little of much the omniprovident God multiplies and makes much of his peoples little as appears in Jacobs ingenuous acknowledgement Genes 33.11 of Gods raising him even from a staff and a Scrip a men low and beggerly conditiâ—n and enlarging him into two bands Yea if further supplies be cut off and recrâ—its fail he husbands for them the old stoâ—k so as it serves their journey through the Wilderness of this World as he did Israels in the Desart whose Cloaths waxed not old on their backs nor their Shooes on their feet Nay when reduced to greatest straits so as there seems no way of escape from perishing rather than want relief he will work a miracle of which kind of operation we have many remarkable instances upon Record both in sacred and civil story but these two may content us to evidence its certainty even the multiplication of the Widows Oyl to so strange a measure as to serve not only for the maintâ—nance of her Family but also the payment of her debts and satisfaction of all her Creditors 2 King 4.7 and the incredible and miraculous increase of an handfull of Meal and a little Oyl in a Cruse beyond their natural vertue so as to become a sufficient store under several years famine 1 King 17.14 In famine God redeems his people from death and when all other Provisions fail he can rain down upon their Tents Bread from Heaven as he did on Israel no less than forty years together That 's the first God helps his people by supplying their wants and necessities Secondly An help imports defence and protection against enemies and assailants Thus a man who becomes a second to another foiled and worsted by reason of his impotency and infirmity one that stands by another against his adversary to defend his right and cause an Advocate that maintains the suit of his Client a Prince that relieves his oppressed subjects auxiliary forces that recruit afresh a besieged City or beaten Army may be stiled helpers to them And such is God to his chosen He that is the great Atlas who bears up the Pillars of the Earth upholds them under all the crushings of humane violence he keepeth the feet of his Saints that they are not moved 1 Sam. 2.9 This Moses most lively expresseth in that rapsodical benediction of Israel Deut. 33.29 Happy art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O people saved by the Lord the shield of thy help and who is the sword of thy excellency a sword for assault a shield and buckler for defence Solomon takes it as an answer of his solemn prayer even while he is preferring it That God will maintain the cause of his people at all times as the matter shall require 1 King 8.59 Upon this account we finde David in this Book of Psalms oft solliciting God for help urging him to preserve save defend and deliver him Psalm 22.11 Psal 70.1 5. Psal 109.26 c. And as praying so praising him for his help Psal 118.13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall but the Lord helped me Saul and his Courtiers bore against him but God was a sure stud and pillar to his soul that shored him up and underpropt him against all their rage and malice Upon this account it is that we finde help and refuge in a conjunction Psal 46.1 God is our refuge and strength a present help in trouble And in this sense God is his peoples help upon a more publick and also a more private account First He is the help of his Church in the general and that two manner of waies He helps them first immediately without the intervention of second causes Deut. 33.26 There is none like unto the God of Jesurun who rideth upon the Heaven in thy help and in his excellency on the sky The eternal God is thy Refuge and underneath are the everlasting Arms and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee and shall say Destroy them God sometimes goes on foot in the use of instruments and way of means for the salvation of his people but here he comes riding as it were on horse-back in a more sudden and immediate manner leaping over the Hills and skipping over the Mountains Sometimes he works deliverance but sometimes only commands it Thou art our King O God saith the Psalmist command thou deliverances for Jacob Psal 44.4 He unbares his own Arm he puts on righteousness as a breast-plate and clothes himself with zeal as a cloak and when he sees that there is no man and wonders that there is no intercessor his Arm brings salvation and his righteousness sustains him Isa 63.5 and the appearances and outgoings of his providence are so signal and conspicuous as digitus Dei the finger of Heaven appears and every spectator must say This is the Lords doing Hos 1.7 I will have mercy on the house of Judah and save them by the Lord their God and will not
fail with creature-reliances then saith David Whom have I in Heaven but thee my flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Psal 73.26 So again he professeth Psal 142.4 5. I looked on my right hand and beheld but there was no man that would know me refuge failed me no man cared for my soul I cried unto thee O Lord I said Thou art my refuge and my portion in the Land of the living Though all means failed he knew God would never forsake him When the streams were dried up he goes to the fountain Do persons fail God is an help under their disappointment Psal 27.20 When my Father and my Mother forsake me God will take me up Though he were cast out as an expâ—sititious child to the wide world God will as he did for Moses take care of and make provision for him God saies to his people as Peter once to Christ and pertorms it infinitely better Though all forsake thee yet will not I I will die with thee rather than deny thee Paul saies of himself 2 Tim. 4.16 At my first answer no man stood with me but all men forsock me All greedy of priviledges backward to sufferings for the Gospel men are eager to be ring-leaders when profession is in its flourish but â—â—inch back and draw the neck out of the collar when it comes to persecution Like ill-made cloth that shrinks with the wetting Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthened me God came near when man stood aloof off and at the greatest distance When men friends and relations turn the back and run away from us then God stands at our back and draws closer to us That 's the disserence between God and creatures They in the halcyon daies of prosperity will complement us into an opinion of their respect and kindness even as the shadow follows the Sun so do they wait on those to whom they are pretenders Donec eris foelix but few are born for a day of adversity and will girt themselves like the Travelers coat closer and unite firmer to our interest in a day of misery and infelicity But God on the other side seems to neglect his people under their fulness of worldly fruitions and satisfactions they never enjoy less oâ— God in the heart than when they have most of the world in their hand but when afflictions come then he indulgeth his most kind and frequent visits to them and bestows his choicest presents upon them The world deals with her favourites as Orpah with Nacmi follows her till hardship and difficulty presents it self and then with a flattering salute takes her leave of them but God with his followers as Ruth with her Mother cleaves and clings to them under all crosses and changes follows them not only usque ad aras but through the water the fire through reproaches plunders imprisonments exiles death it self Though 〈◊〉 walk through the valley of the shadow of death thoâ— art with me saith David Psal 23.4 Jobs friends and kinsfolks stand aloof off his sore his breath was strange to his wife he was the butt of his friends persecution but still his Redeemer stayes with him Though all the company be gone the Physician and Nurse abide still with the Patient David becomes a reproach to his neighbours and a sear to his acquaintance his very look was so ghastly as frighted them no sooner they saw him but they fled from him they forgat him as a dead man out of mind he was as well as sight He looked for some to take pity but there was none and for comforters but there was none he was like a Pellican in the wilderness an Owl in the desart and a Sparrow on the house top brought to a solitary forsaken forlorn condition yet when all other friends and lovers absented his God was still with him his face shined upon him he heard his poor and despised not his prisoner he looked down on him from the height of his Sanctuary had respect to his groaning and regard to the prayer of the destitute Whom the world turns off God commonly receives whom they cast out of their company he entertains in his ever-blessed communions Isa 66.5 When sin sayes Ego inficiam I 'le defile you Satan ego interficiam I 'le destroy you the world ego deficiam I 'le fail you he saith ego reficiam I 'le refresh you When they know not whither to go he hath for his the words of eternal life Job 6.68 When creatures prove all like so many broken Reeds not only deceiving but afflicting him that leans on them He is the staff of Jacob and the hope of Israel upon whom whosoever lean'd was never ashamed Do the things of the world fail he helps under their disappointment All outward things are of a defectible nature they perish with the using uncertainty is stampt upon the best of them and their fashion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deceives and passeth away 1 Joh. 2.17 But the Word of God indures for ever He that seeks sufficiency or satisfaction in the world seeks the living amongst the dead God never made it for enjoyment but only for use Such expectations raise it beyond its natural vertue and innate efficacy And when we look for more God may justly let us finde less than it may otherwise afford us And sometimes God on purpose breaks the staff of creature-comforts to learn us sole dâ—pendance on himself As is reported of William the Conquerour when he first came over into this our Island he burnt all his ships thereby to render to his souldiers the thoughts of a return desperate God will have his have no other strings to the bow of their trust but his majesty and mercy And as we alwaies finde in the world less than we expected so in God more than we could reasonably hope He makes good to the enjoyer what he promised to the expectant and is better to his people not only than their fears but their desires and hopes He never leaves his people desolate though for a time he may make them disconsolate In all straights he hath a reserve and exigencies a supply and succour Under spiritual disappointments the want of Ordinances and necessary means of Grace he can prepare a table in the wilderness He fed Israel with Manna there forty years together He hath promised to be a little Sanctuary to his people Ezek. 11.16 for retirement and also for refreshment He affords the gracious soul sweet repasts by the manifestations of his presence as he did David when banisht from his inheritance by the Sons of violence Under outward disappointments and want of creature-accommodations he can make a sufficient provision When Elijah is ready to famish he can make a Raven to undertake his Catership and when he sits solitary under a Juniper-tree hand him a collation by an Angel as his Servitor And a modicum with his blessing is better than the greatest
deliverances for Jacob. Yea this is a firm coâ—clusion of her faith Isa 33.22 The Lord is oâ— Judge our Law-giver our King he will save 〈◊〉 They are stiled his portion and heritage Isa 54 1â— Deut. 32.9 As he is their so they his portioâ— and he will not suffer that to be wasted and eâ—bezelled His Jewels in comparison of whom aâ— the world besides are but as so much lumbeâ— Mal. 3.17 He will not admit their spoil oâ— plunder His Turtle Psal 74.19 which hath aâ—waies a sympathy with its mates affliction Hiâ— beloved favourites for whom he hath a choicâ— respect and endeared affection in whom hâ— takes singular delight and complacency Psaâ— 18.19 and 60.5 Their heart is set on God and his heart on them and because he loveth them he compasseth them with favour as with a shield Psal 5.12 The apple of his eye Zach. 2.8 Now as the eye is the tenderest part of the body so is the apple of the eye They are his hidden ones for privacy and value worth and excellency more excellent than their neighbours the least meanest of them more worth than all the world a people of whom the world is not worthy Heb. 11.38 His precious ones Isa 43.4 In comparison of whom all other are but vile in his account His holy ones Psal 86.2 which he will not suffer the world to prophane His chosen ones or the people of his choice The Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself and Israel for his peculiar Treasure Psal 135.4 His redeemed ones or the people of his purchase Isa 43.3 which he will in no wise lose either by fraud or violence his Garden or Paradise wherein he delights Isa 58.18 His Vineyard which he both â—â—ters and watches every moment Isa 27.3 〈◊〉 a word his Jacob and Israel against whom â—â—ere is no inchantment or divination Numb 13. â—nd the work of his hands which he will in â—o case forsake Psal 138. ult And concerning â—hich he will not only be intreated but also comâ—anded Isa 45.11 There is a mutual interest â—â—d propriety between God and his People God â—â—th made over himself to them in the Covenant 〈◊〉 Grace and they have reobliged themselves to 〈◊〉 They are said to have surrendred or given â—o themselves to the Lord 2 Cor. 8.5 He shall â—â—â—se our inheritance for us saith the Psalmist â—sal 47.4 They have a stock of prayers going â—â—th God and he hath a stock of mercy and â—ory going with them Their interests are so â—â—ited and twisted together as they cannot be â—â—vered His cause is concern'd in his People â—â—d his own honour highly ingaged upon their â—ccount yea the vindication of all his Attriâ—utes his Power Wisdom Holiness Mercy and Goodness Truth and Faithfulness is obliged in â—heir sublevation which else would be wholly â—â—â—t and utterly impaired in the world They â—re so linked in an holy league and sacred conâ—â—deracy with him That it 's observable in â—heir addresses to him in prayer against their â—nemies they level them as against Gods interest and not their own and all they need request is only that God may be glorified So Daâ—id Psal 83.2 Lo thine enemies make a tumult and they that hate thee have lift up the head He doubts not to call his Gods enemies And so Asa in his solemn supplications put up to God oâ— the approach of that innumerable host against him 2 Chron. 14.11 O Lord saith he thou art 〈◊〉 God let not man prevail against thee Not us buâ— thee As Gods glory is bound up in the samâ— bundle with his Peoples eternal so is it also witâ— their temporal salvation Secondly In respect of the manifold Promise and Engagements he hath made to them Goâ— hath ingaged for their security and bounâ—â— himself for their protection as well as thâ— provision so far as is necessary They are stiled The People of his Covenant Psal 111.12 And thâ— stipulation is mutual They are in covenanâ— with God obliged to his service and devoted tâ— his fear O Lord truly I am thy Servant I aâ— thy Servant saith David Psal 116.16 They are engaged to walk in his waies and to be founâ— faithful And God is a God in covenant witâ— them and as they never leave him so will he never leave them in their enemies hand Psal 37.33 As they defend his glory so will he their intereâ—â— and cause If God be a God keeping Covenant even with them while in lesser things they some times break with him Psal 89 34. Much more will he keep Covenant with them while aâ— they fear him Though salvation be far from thâ— wicked his salvation is with them that fear him And as they are included in a general Covenant so have they entailed upon them many graciouâ— promises of special protection He hath said He will never leave nor forsake them Heb. 13.5 The same promise he made to all Israel Deut. 31.8 and made good to Joshua in person he also accomplisheth to all Believers He will not forâ—â—ke his People or cast off his Inheritance He will have compassion on his dwelling-place he will comfort Sion and chuse Jerusalem They have Gods promise for help and deliverance in the day of trouble Psal 50.15 which is good security They are under a reserved promise under the Judgements of Sword Famine or Pestilence Amos 9.8 Isa 33. Psal 91.10 Which kind of promises though not absolute engagements yet are seasonable directions and comfortable incouragements 〈◊〉 times of calamity and affliction They are alwaies prisoners of hope for by the blood of the Covenant God will send them out of the pit wherein there is no water Zach. 9.11 Covenants of old were confirmed by Sacrifices Psal 50.5 Jer. 34. Et caesa jungebant faedera porca Virgil The Lord Jesus Christ by the blood of his Covenant hath bought outward and common as well as saving and eternal mercies for his People Thirdly In regard of those conditions of obtaining Divine Help which are ever found in them They are under a fitness and aptitude of disposition to receive it There are four conditions or qualifications especially which make them meet for this divine influence which are to be found in them The first is of Humility or spiritual Poverty Psal 34.8 The Lord is nigh to them that are of a broken heart and saveth them that be of a contrite spirit He beholds the proud afar off as scorning his tuition but he graciously beholds the humble Isa 66.2 In him the fatherless finde mercy A Father of the fatherless and Judge of the Widow is he out of his holy habitation Psal 68.5 6. The Lord helpeth those that are cast down The Lion puts as it were into his bosome those that bow before him or he down at his feet but tears in pieces them that run away from him or bid resistance to him so generous and noble is his nature and disposition satis est prostrasse And so doâ—s the Lion of the Tribe of Judah he
Israel he hath no other string to the bow of his trust but God alone he expects help no where but from Heaven Thou art my hope saith Jeremiah in the day of evil Jer. 17.17 God is by right the confidence of the ends of the earth but by act the sole dependance of his People They trust in him at all times and pour forth their hearts before him Even under the most dismaying providences which strike amazement into others hearts and dejection into their countenances yea set the world into an uproar and combustion under his skirt do their souls trust Fourthly Waiting and attendance upon him Gods People are attendants at the Court of Heaven alwaies waiting at the elbow of the Almighty As they are a praying so a waiting people when they have sent out the Dove of prayer they wait for her return with an Olive-branch in her mouth when they have sent forth the ship of supplication they stand like Merchants on the shore expecting her return full fraught with heavenly treasure They wait upon the God of Jacob and look toward him They hearken and hear what God speaks having spoken attend the Eccho and dispatcht their letters look for an answer Now eye hath not seen no ear heard nor can the heart of man conceive what God hath prepared for them that wait for him Isa 64. God waits to be gracious to them that wait for hun Isa 30.18 Such as wait on him with submission and resignation to his will and pleasure due respect to his glory and patient resolution till he shews mercy shall never lose their labour When Davids eyes attend his God as the eyes of a Servant look to the hand of his Master and a Maiden to the hand of her Mistress he is sure of receiving some gift of mercy from hun Psal 123.2 When his soul waits for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning the San of divine goodness will certainly rise break forth and shine upon him Psal 130.6 God inclines to the soul that waits patiently for him none ever waited on him in vain Saints alwaies get something by praying but by waiting they gain double The still child shall have two breads When the Church resolves once to wait God soon resolves she shall wait no longer but of an expectant makes her an enjoyer Micah 7.7 9. The Prince soon gives ear to the Favourite who continues to give him attendance and the Advocate delaies not to plead the Clients Cause who will not away from his Chamber door but determines to ply him with his over-eager sollicitations yea the longer it be before the ship of faith and prayer returns when it once comes home it is the more richly laden and brings him a double venture The Church found it so when she came home top and top-gallant with her sails of triumph Isa 25.9 Lo this is our God we have waited for him and he will save us This is the Lord we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation The needy shall not alwaies be forgotten nor the expectation of the poor perish for ever Fourthly In respect of that incouragement in his service which he would have his receive from him even against the wicked who do not serve him The Lord takes part with his People and helps them against the world that hate both him and them Psal 118.11 When most the object of mens envy and malignity they have most of Gods love and affection when out-casts to their Brethren they are received into their Fathers arms God would have the wicked discouraged in their way of rebellion and his People incouraged in the way of duty And by this they know he favours them because their enemies do not triumph over them Psal 41.11 Did not God take in with his People and stand by them the uncircumcised would triumph and the Saints be dis-spirited and despondent he assigns this therefore as the reason why he would not contend for ever with them lest their adversaries should carry it strangely Deut. 32.27 and their spirits fall into a desperate succumbency Isa 57.16 Now when he pours contempt on their haughtiness and advances the poor on high from affliction the righteous rejoyce and all iniquity stops her mouth Psal 107.42 On which very account David solicits help Psal 109.26 27 29. that his adversaries might be cloathed with shame and cover themselves with their own confusion as with a Mantle while the righteous are glad in the Lord and trust in him and all the upright in heart do glory The Master sometimes siniles on the diligâ—nt and faithfull Servant as to encourage him in his duty so to discourage the negligent in his laziness and the Prince shines on his Subject as to countenance him in his loyalty and allegiance so to dishearten the Traitor in his Treason and Rebellion Fifthly In regard of that just return and due improvement of his help which he receives from them They are those alone who will praise and magnifie extoll and lift up the Name of the God of Jacob. Being their strength he becomes their Song and their Praise Hear holy Jeremiah proclaiming him upon this Experience Jer. 17.14 O Lord my strength and my fortress and my refuge in the day of affliction And so our David before him Psal 18.1 O Lord my rock my strength my fortress and my deliverer my God my Buckler the horn of my salvation and my high Tower And Moses before them both Exod. 15.2 When the Egyptians were drowned and Israel preserved he cants forth a most heavenly Doxology The Lord is my strength and song and he is become my salvation he is my God and I will prepare him an babitation my Fathers God and I will exalt him What the Saints win by prayer they alwayes wear by Thankfulness what they receive in Mercy they return in Duty Where there is gratiarum decursus there is also gratiarum recursus Let favour be shewed to the wicked and he will deal injustly The shines of Mercy which draw out the fragrancy of the Saints graces raise but a greater stench from the dunghill of his corruptions They sacrifice to their own Nets and say their own arm hath saved them But the Church gives other language Psal 44.3 Thy right hand and thine arm and the light of thy countenance because thou hadst a favour to them Let God grant the Jews deliverance from the yoke of cruel and bloody Masters and give them free entertainment in his Service they will wear the Livery of Joy and Gladness and with their best Ornament of a gratefull Affection celebrate to future Posterity the Anniversary Solemnity of this good day of their deliverance As Gods People go to him alone and offer a sin-offering in the day of their misery and calamity so they return to him only with a Peace-offering in the day of their mercy and comfort They give unto the Lord the glory due to his Name and what they
God and while engaged in that aspect he resolutely and confidently opposeth his manutenence to all humane helps within view considered And if we take notice of it in that opposition or contradiction to those objects wherein wicked men usually place their happiness it will suggest to us these two Observations First The excellency of God is much illustrated by the consideration of the vanity of the creature These are Chrystal-glasses which set one against another reflect a mutual light one to the other The Word of God is a true prospective at the one end whereof if we look we shall see the world as a little mole-hill at the other God as a vast and great mountain Indeed the glass of created perfections represents God as the Moon doâ—â— the Sun when they stand in conjunction with and subordination to him his invisible glory and excellency is legible in the book of the Creatures but they do but darken his beauty when standing in opposition against him And so do'â— he theirs The greater light extinguishes the less Lord how soon did those joyes vanish when thou did iâ— once enter into my Soul who art clearer than the Sun and purer than the Light it self saith Austin The black-spots of Creature-deficiency set off the white colours of divine pâ—rfection with a most orient and beautifull lustre As the sight of our sin appears most full in the glass of his purity and Holiness so that of our Vanity in the glass of his Fulness and of our misery in that of his glory and happiness Gods fulness and our emptiness mutually illustrate one another Secondly If we observe the words as brought in by way of opposition or comparison so they speak an excellency in the enjoyment of God above all Creatures and a felicity in his Help above all humane help First Here is imply'd a comparison between God himself and the Creature even the best of them and so the Psalmist speaks him a God which hath a prelation and preheminence to all Creatures in their highest attainment and most glorious advances The Souls happiness in the enjoyment of God is superexcellent and transcendent to what is to be found and had in the Creature The Saints enjoying God are more happy blessed far above wicked men who only enjoy the World The one bears no proportion to the other We find David making out the comparison between the Portions of his hand and the Vision of his Face Psal 4.7 Psal 17.14 15. and how do's that cast the ballance without all contradiction Lord lift up the light of thy Countenance Thou hast put more gladness into my heart As for me I will behold thy face in righteousness The Kings favour is to be preferred beyond his gifts Chrysantas's Kiss exceeds Artabarus's golden Wedge Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth saith the Spouse his love is better than Wine Cant. 1.2 Cursed is he saith that noble Convert who preferrs not an hours communion with God before all the treasures of the World When as once Charles the fifth by his Herauld defied the King of France under his multiplied titles Emperour of Germany King of Castile Leon Arragon and Naples Arch-duke of Austria c. Francis the First returns his challenge only with the repetition of France as oft as might answer his petty Principalities intimating that one France was more valuable than them all And do's not David oppose his Interest in God to all the World when he had taken a full survey of all its glittering glory and bravery even to envy Whom have I in Heaven but thee God was beyond and infinitely better than Relations Estates Friends Pleasures Honours Life Earth yea Heaven it self than all in his refined and raised apprehensions Mallem in Gehenna esse cum te quam in Coelo sine te Luther saith And indeed God alone is a real solid and substantial good in respect of whom all other are but false counterfeit and deceitfull Imaginaria in saeculo nihil veri saith Tertullian The World it self is like some persons in it empty shallow-brain'd men of a flashy vapouring temper the less ye know of them the more ye value and esteem them acquaintance with them breeds slight and contempt of them But the more we search into God in whom there is a reall and infinite worth the more excellency our Souls find in him who is that Puteus inexhaustus never to be drawn dry by his Creatures and in the Conclusion we must say not the one half hath been found by us It 's with the World as with a Picture the greater distance we stand from it the better it looks but the nigher we draw to God as to a beautifull face and native Complexion the more delectable and desireable aspect There 's alwayes upon tryal less in the World but more in God than we could expect and look for God is a pure and refined good from all the dross and dreggs of imperfection and corruption which adheres to or inheres in all Creatures He is a full and satisfying good the ultimate perfection to which all Creatures tend and wherein all desires centre and find content and satisfaction Shew us the Father and it sufficeth Nimis avarus animus cui unicus non sufficit Deus Bernard The Sun refreshes without the Stars illumination Had a man all the World in hand his heart would not be at rest but like the Needle toucht with the Load-stone which is always moving towards the north point would be inclining to God the first good and utmost end The enjoyment of God fills up all the chinks of a reasonable Soul and satisfies him alone in all wants straits exigencies and extremities though he hath nothing of the Creature but notwithstanding the greatest confluence or influence of worldly comforts and Creature accommodations which God never made or intended for the Souls satisfaction in the midst of its sufficiency it is in straits and tantalizeth under its greatest fulness All its fruition is but a golden dream of a Feast by one rockt asleep on the bed of security and self-deceit which to him once awakened to right apprehensions soon vanisheth and determines in a reall hunger Many have been surfeited by the world but none sufficed had too much to do their Souls good but who almost ever said I have enough To conclude this and dwell no longer on this first branch of the Text God is in a word a durable and lasting yea an everlasting good an enduring substance a portion to his for ever Creature-comforts are colours meerly waterish which a little shower alters but divine consolations as colours laid in Oyl which the greatest storm will not wear off or fetch out Creatures are all standing Ponds or crackt Cisterns soon dryed up but God an ever-running and flowing Fountain in whom there is as the Father speaks serenitas sine nube satietas sine labe felicitas sine fine Clearness without cloud fulness without want felicity without