were mighty and the people of God thought it impossible that they should be redeemed out of Captivitie God taketh a resemblance from the worke of Creation and applyes it to the worke of their redemption that as he stretched out the heavens alone and spread abroad the earth by himselfe so by himselfe alone he would worke out salvation for his people So Isai 59.16 Isai 59.16 God speaketh like a man that looketh that others should come and helpe him but none came therefore his owne arme brought salvation and sustained his people Israel The Lord alone will be a sufficient blessing to his people Hence Isai 45.7 Isai 45.7 The Lord saith that he formes light and creates darknesse he makes peace and creates evill Sometimes God so creates evill that if it be asked whence it comes or what is the originall of it we must answer as Isai 47.11 we cannot tell whence it cometh but onely from the Lords immediate hand The Lord makes it evident that it cometh from him that men are forced to say as Jehoram 2 Kings 6.33 2 King 6.33 This evill is of the Lord or as the Magicians Exod. 8.19 This is no other but the finger of God So on the contrary the Lord so workes from himselfe in the communicating of his goodnesse and mercy to his people that they may see and plainly perceive that it is the immediate hand of God that hath wrought all This may be made manifest both first in the want of outward meanes and secondly in the injoyment of them First In the want of meanes here God steps in and makes a supply and becomes all things unto his people sometimes God withholds from his people the meanes of life and yet they live that it may appeare that our life is not in the meanes but in God that he is our life and the length of our dayes as Deut. 30.20 Deut. 30.20 And that in him we live and move and have our being Acts 17. Thus Moses when he had neither bread nor water for fortie dayes yet he lived and was as strong as though he had daily eaten his appointed food So also was it with Elijah and our Saviour Christ Mat. 4.2 So also with the people of Israel God suffered them to be hungry and yet they did not famish that it might appeare that man lives not by bread onely but by every word of God Deut. 8.3 Hence is that in Isai 41.17 18.20 Isai 41.17 18.20 The Lord will open rivers in the high places and fountaines in the valleyes for the poore and needy c. And for what end will the Lord doe this that they may know and consider that the hand of the Lord hath done this c. Thus was the Lord good to the Israelites in the wildernesse he was all things to them First they had no setled habitation but the Lord was an habitation unto them Psal 90.1 Psal 90.1 Againe they had no ordinary bread for fortie yeares together and yet they were preserved alive that they might know that the Lord was the God of their welfare as Moses saith Deut. 29.6 Deut. 29.6 Againe they had no meanes of renewing their cloathing and yet they wanted not as Deut. 29.5 Their cloathes waxed not old upon them nor their shooes upon their feet Againe they were often to journey and travell by night as well as by day and they knew not one foot of the way they should goe therefore the Lord himselfe was a guide unto them He went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud and in a pillar of fire by night Exod. 13.21 Exod. 13.21 Therein the Lord fulfilled that which he speakes Isai 48.17 Isai 48.17 I the Lord thy redeemer lead thee in the way wherein thou shouldest goe Hence is that in Deut. 32.10.12 The Lord alone led him and there was no strange God with him He alone provided for them he alone fed them he alone conducted them he alone did all for them As it is thus in temporall benefits so also in spirituall blessings the Lord is from himselfe all in all unto his people In Ezek. 11.16 Ezek. 11.16 the Lord tells them that he would carry them into captivitie and now lest they should be discouraged for want of the Temple and Ordinances therefore the Lord promises that he will be a Sanctuary unto them he will supply unto them the want of publique ordinances from himselfe Hence is that in Isai 54.17 Isai 54.17 it is said that they shall be taught of God and Rom. 8.26 Rom. 8.26 that the spirit helpes the infirmities of Gods people when the servants of God would pray but they cannot the Spirit himselfe maketh up their wants and fills their hearts with groanes which pierce the heavens So when they are to speake before the adversaries of Gods truth and they know not how to answer then the Lord puts an answer into their mouthes as Mat. 10.20 Mat. 10.20 So also in the preaching of the Word the Lord himselfe puts words into the mouthes of his servants that whereas they may say as Moses Exod. 4.10 I am of a stammering tongue and cannot speake or as Jer. cap. 1.6 I am a childe c. yet the Lord is a mouth unto them and they speake words not which mans wisdome teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth 1 Cor. 2.13 1 Cor. 2.13 that they which heare them are forced to say God is in you of a truth So also in the comfort and peace that God giveth unto his servants he giveth it not as the world giveth by abundance of earthly comforts and outward prosperitie but when all things threaten trouble yet then he gives peace from himselfe Joh. 14.27 Joh. 14.27 Secondly Consider how God is all to his people from himselfe even in the possession enjoyment of his good blessings sometimes the Lord continues to us the meanes of life and yet so workes and orders all that the benefit and blessing is evidently seene to come not from them but from the Lord alone And this he maketh to appeare divers wayes First Sometimes God lets us enjoy the creature and yet wee want the blessing for a season till he command a blessing to come Sometimes we have raine but not the raine of blessing yet afterwards he causeth it to come in mercy and to become a blessing The Sunne shineth in the firmament but we want the heat of it the warmth and quickning power of it is withheld to let us see that it is not the Sunne but the Lord by which we doe enjoy the blessing We cast our seed into the ground but it doth not prosper afterward it growes and flourisheth Sometimes we carry out much and bring in little what is the reason It is to let us see the truth of that 1 Cor. 3.7 1 Cor. 3.7 that it is the Lord which giveth the increase Sometimes we carry out little and bring in
the Lords part but through our sinfull breaking with him Israel hath sinned wee have sinned and therefore it is that we are fallen and come down so low Secondly Are we in want and doe we desire to enjoy a sufficiency of these outward blessings would we be set in a way in which wee may be sure to be provided for we have the way here set before us we heare that these blessings are promised in Gods Covenant The promising of them is one branch of that Covenant which the Lord makes with his people The way then is this First to enter into a Covenant with God and then to walk in Covenant with him as becomes his people 1. Enter into Covenant with him Art thou in hunger nakednesse or if not in such extremities yet wantest thou those things which thy condition stands in need of It may be thou art a stranger to the Covenant betwixt God and his people and hast lived an alien from God Thou hast with the Prodigall forsaken thy Fathers house departed away from God living viciously and sinfully and therefore the Lord hath brought thee to the same condition as the Prodigall was brought unto in these thy necessities doe thou then as the Prodigall did when he was in necessity and knew not what to doe he then bethinks himselfe In my Fathers house saith he there is bread enough but I am ready to perish for hunger I will therefore arise and goe to my Father and humble my selfe unto him desiring to be as one of his hired servants Think with thy selfe what provision the Lord makes for those that are of his houshold his children and servants have bread enough Arise therefore out of thy sin by repentance goe unto him and sue to be taken into his family and to be one of his servants and then will the Father call for roabs to cover thy nakednesse and bring out the fatted calfe to satisfie thy hunger thou shalt be fed with food convenient for thee Thy bread shall not faile and thy water shall be sure Though he suffer aliens to want yet his family shall bee provided for but then remember this withall to walk in Covenant with God walk as becomes one of the family of heaven and of the houshold of God be faithfull and diligent in his service have a care of his honour doe nothing to blemish his name bee carefull to please him in all things be zealous for his glory Be thankfull that he hath taken thee to bee one of his Be faithfull in thy particular calling as therein serving the Lord and not to serve thine own turn Study to bee usefull and serviceable to others of Gods servants which are of the same houshold of faith with thee and in this way of the Covenant look for and expect the blessing of it Doe good saith the Prophet and thou shalt be fed assuredly Psal 37.3 If yee be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good things of the land Isai 1.19 and if at any time thou be put to straights and wants doe as Jacob did put God in minde of his Covenant and promise Lord thou saidst saith Jacob that thou wouldest doe me good Lord say thou thou hast said thou wilt care for me and provide things needfull for thy servants and therefore though I be not worthy of the least of all thy mercies not worthy to be fed with the crums which fall from thy childrens table yet because thou hast said that thou wilt satiate thy people with thy goodnesse make good thy word which thou hast spoken Let thy mercy come unto me as I trust in thee Thus doe and then lay thy life upon it thou shalt not want Bread shall be given thee and thy waters shall not faile thou shalt have thy daily portion provided for thee Though thou hast not much laid up in store for many yeares or dayes yet thou shalt have thine Omer day by day And as those in Nehem. 11.23 12.47 they had by the Kings appointment every day a set portion so shalt thou have thy daily allowance daily bread with all such other things as concern this present life II. As in the want so in the enjoyment of outward good things the former consideration gives us direction also doe we enjoy them hath God made good his promise unto us have we a portion convenient for us Then 1. Learn hereby to acknowledge God in these gifts of his goodnesse and grace towards us see his hand in them and know that it is he that gives us all things to enjoy 1 Tim. 6.18 say not it is our own hand that hath done this Though these outward things be but the blessings of the left hand the lesser blessings of the Covenant yet the Lord would be acknowledged even in these This is one reason why the Lord promiseth these things to us in his Covenant that we might learn thereby to acknowledge that they come not unto us by chance or fortune as Heathens thought calling them therefore Bona Fortunae nor yet as carnall Christians think by our own providence or wisedome but look at them as blessings comming from the Lord himselfe This lesson the Lord teacheth us Deut. 8.17 18. Say not it is mine own hand which hath prepared me this abundance but it is the Lord which gives thee power to get substance c. and when we are wanting in acknowledging his hand in them the Lord complaines of our neglect as we may see in Hos 2.8 shee did not know that I gave her her corne and wine and oyle and multiplyed her silver and gold c. And thence it is as I think though others interpret the place otherwise that in Iob 31.27 where Iob speaks of his great substance and riches hee saith his mouth did not kisse his hand That is he did not applaud himselfe nor did he ascribe it to his own handy works Some other would have said this hand hath done it as Isai 10.13 which had been a kissing of his hand and an honouring of himselfe and not a giving glory to God But Job abhorred this so should we let us in our heart acknowledge that it is not our own hand but the Lord which hath given us all our abundance of good things In them see his bounty towards us As he hath let the streame of his bounty run forth towards us so should wee run back and acknowledge the bountifulnesse of the Lord for the wheat and for the wine which he hath given us Ier. 31.12 Should God withhold his hand we might labour long enough and put all our gettings into a broken bag Hag. 1. The race is not alwayes to the swift nor the battle to the strong nor riches to men of understanding and of strength but the Lord gives to every one as pleaseth him And as we should see Gods bounty towards us in these so wee should see his Grace also in them Look at them as blessings of Grace which are communicated to us by
at their coming out of Babylon Indeed some mixture there was of other people among the Jewes as is gathered Nehe. 13.3 and out of Ezra But that mixture was plainly condemned as sinfull and the Jewes were commanded to separate themselves from them But this gathering of the Nations unto them is here promised as a blessing But admit there was there some gathering and addition of other people unto them which was not sinfull some becoming Proselytes yet this was so little a scattering that it cannot be called a gathering of all Nations unto them for there is as much said before these times as this comes unto in Exod. 12.38 At their going out of Aegypt there was then a mixt multitude of other people and yet this was not the time of gathering the Nations to the Jewes but a time of separating the Jewes from other Nations as therefore no man will say that there was at their coming out of Aegypt an addition of all Nations unto them though they had then a mixt company joyning unto them so neither at this time of their returne from Babylon Nay if we consider the times before this Prophecy was uttered I suppose there were such a multitude of strangers joyned to the Jewes as was not to be found at this time of their returne from Babylon for wee read that in Solomons time there were found an hundred three fifty thousand and upwards as is expressed in 2 Chron. 2.17 Yet all this number was not a gathering of all Nations unto them Ob. Though this Prophecy was not fulfilled at their returne from Babylon yet it was â—ulfilled in the times of Christ and of the Apostles so that we need not extend it to the times yet to come Answ I grant it was in a gracious measure fulfilled then and yet so as to run along to have its full and finall accomplishment in the calling home of the Jewes First In the dayes of Christ some few of the Jewish Nation were converted to the faith though few yet some were and so there were some of the Gentiles also As those wise-men Mat. 2. the Centurion Mat. 8. the Syrophenician woman Mat. 15. a little number of both Secondly Afterwards when the Gospel was preached by the Apostles they preached first to the Jewes and many of them believed three thousand in Acts 2.41 and afterwards in Acts 5. five thousand and in Acts 21.20 Thou seest how many thousand Jewes believe Now mark a little answerable increase in the conversion of the Gentiles also As the sound of the Gospel went all over the world so the successe was answerable Rom. 10.18 Rom. 1.13 Rom. 15.19 so that there were many Churches of the Gentiles as is evident in the new Testament Thirdly But yet further as there shall be a more full degree of calling home the Jewes then was in either of the times mentioned before and they shall come in in more abundance Rom. 11.12 both Judah and Israel being called so shall the Gentiles come in in more plenty then hitherto And in this the Apostle is cleare and full in Rom. 11.12 where speaking of the calling of the Jewes he saith That if their fall was the riches of the Gentiles how much more shall their abundance be That is their calling which shall be in great abundance so that then most properly is the time wherein the Nations shall be gathered to Jerusalem namely when the multitude of the Jewes shall be called and all Nations then added unto them A third reason to prove this Prophecy not to be accomplished in their returne from Babylon is from the 17th verse also where the promise is that after the returne here spoken of they shall not walke after the stubbornnesse of their evill heart any more But if this be applyed to their returne out of Babylon wee may then say this promise was not fulfilled for certainly they never shewed more obstinacy and stubbornnesse then since that time as is evident in their malicious wickednesse against Christ in the dayes of his flesh So that it cannot be referred to those times but if wee refer this promise to the time of their last conversion it shall then be fulfilled because from that time they shall never any more turne away from God but shall continue faithfull with him for ever as is clearly promised to them in Esay 59.20 21. compared with Rom. 11. 26. This place then in Jer. 3.16 17 18. shews thus much that the promise being made to Judah and Israel together the accomplishment thereof was not at their returne from Babylon but is to be accomplished in their conversion to the faith of Christ Another place to confirme the same rule before named may be that in the Prophet Ezek. 37.16 17. And so to the end of the Chapter joyning together Judah and Israel resembled by the two stickes in his hand to be one people under one King But I will not stâ—y on this The summe is the promise here in my Text being made to Judah and Israel both therefore this prophecy belongs to the times yet to come when both of them shall be turned to the Lord. And this is the second Reason A third Reason is from the enemy spoken of to be destroyed by Judah and Ephraim together ver 13. When I have raised up thy sonnes O Sion against thy sonnes O Graecia meaning that God would by the strength of Judah and Ephraim together beate to powder the Prince of Grecia But who is he Some refer this to the successours of Alexander the mightie Prince of Graecia called the Goat Dan. 8.5 that ran over all with such speed and swiftnesse But thiâ— exposition cannot stand First Because these successours of Alexander did mightily afflict the Jewes but the Jewes were not made such a Gyants sword as to prevaile against them Secondly Because this conquering the Prince of Graecia followes the coming of Christ whereas those successours of Alexander that troubled the Jewes were long before Thirdly It cannot that I know be shewed that Ephraim or the ten Tribes had any thing to doe with these forces that were guided by the successours of Alexander as themselves also doe confesse that refer the story to those times and therefore to make their interpretation stand they take Ephraim and Judah for synonymaes for one and the same people which is contrary to all Scripture they being ever taken as two people ever since the division under Rehoboam onely at their calling home then they shall be reunited againe Therefore though I dare not be peremptory in such particulars yet with leave and submission to better light I suppose this Prince of Graecia is the great Turke which is Lord of Graecia at this day against whom Judah and Ephraim shall have a glorious victory and shall subdue this proud enemy Upon these grounds I conceive the Prophecy is to be referred to those times to come I will not omit what I conceive lies in that word also in my Text which
of God and have such promises made unto them What shall we doe to helpe forward their calling and conversion Quest Take away as much as in us lyes the stumbling block which Ans 1 hinders their coming in and these blockes are two First The one is the Idolatry of Christian Churches especially that of Rome whiles we doe any thing to uphold these Idolatries we doe put the stumbling block before them to hinder them but take away these stones and blockes which they stumble at and then their way will be more easie and plaine Secondly The other is the carnalnesse and licentiousnesse of the lives of Christians this is a great stumbling blocke unto them remove this from before them let them see a spirit of grace shining upon us and appearing in our lives and then we shall make plaine the way of the Lord for them to returne to Sion see Esay 57.14 Intreat the Lord for them that he would visit them in due time be we their remembrancers before the Lord they have long lyen in the dungeon as Esa 42.22 and been made a prey of and there hath been none to say restore let us therefore speake unto God in their behalfe and say Lord restore thy ancient people bring them back to the fellowship of thy Church take to you the words of Micah Chap. 7.14 Feed thy people with thy rod and the flock of thine inheritance in the middest of Carmell let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in old time commend their estate unto God and the rather should we doe this Because 1. They prayed for us when we were no people that we might be the people of God Psal 67.1 2. When the salvation of God was revealed to them they prayed that it might be revealed unto us Wee have a little sister said they Cant. 8.8 They took thought for us we being then that little sister and so let us doe for them 2. It is from them that the meanes of salvation is come to us the Law is called their Law Joh. 10.34 It was given as an inheritance to the children of Israel Deut. 33.4 And the spirituall things of the Gospel are called their spirituall things Rom. 15.27 And thence is that in Esa 2.3 The Law shall goe forth of Sion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem yea and of them came Christ concerning the flesh Rom. 9. All the meanes of grace and salvation are theirs first and from them they come unto us and thence it is that Christ himselfe tells us That salvation is of the Jewes Joh. 4.22 Wee owe them this therefore as a requitall unto them 3. Consider a further good that shall come unto our selves by their calling unto Christ there shall be an increase of blessing coming to our selves Great light shall be manifested and knowledge shall increase Esa 24. ult The light of the Sunne and of the Moone shall be darkned by the light which shall come from that Church the light of the Jewish Church which was but as the light of the Moone and the light of the Gentile Churches which is as the Sunne shall both be dim in comparison of the light which shall be in that Church when the glory of the Lord is risen upon them See Esa 60.1.2 which speakes of the estate of the Jewish Church after their calling as appeares by that which goes before Chap. 59. end Many of those dark Prophecies which now lye hid in obscuritie shall then be brought to light the accomplishment of them will then give us the interpretation 4. Admit we neither had received benefit from them hitherto nor could expect any further blessing hereafter yet consider the glory which shall then come to Christ by their coming in the glory of his kingdome shall be enlarged Jerusalem shall be a throne of glory to him Jer. 3.17 then shall the Lord be glorified in them all the house of Israel shall glory in the Lord Esa 45.25 and shall draw others of the Gentiles unto them 5. If there were neither good to our selves nor glory to Christ by their calling yet even pitie and compassion should move us consider who they are even the children of Abraham our father and Sarah our mother they are our brethren and our flesh and how should it pitie us to see the children of our father in the dungeon and prison-pit Oh pray for them that the blessing of Abraham their father may come upon them For consolation to such parents as have entered into a Covenant Vse 2 with the Lord and have in truth given up themselves unto him to be his people they may be assured that the vertue the blessing and efficacy of the Covenant shall never be disanulled but it shall goe on to you and your children for ever by your Covenant you have such hold of God that you may be assured he will be a God not to you onely but to a thousand generations after you not but that there may be an interruption for a time but the strength of the Covenant will take hold againe so as there shall not faile but some of your seed shall stand before the Lord to serve him for ever This you see fulfilled in the people of the Jewes though there hath been a breaking off for a time yet the Covenant will bring them in againe and Gods Covenant is the same with you as it was with Abraham and therefore looke what mercy Abrahams seed have belonging to them the same doth belong to yours also therefore give up your selves unto God make a Covenant with him and this your Covenant shall draw in your children to partake of the blessing and grace of the Covenant with you even to many generations never to be broken off Vse 3 It may also serve for a consolation unto such children as are descended from parents that have been in Covenant with God they may goe to God and plead the Covenant of their fathers and hope to be received to favour The people of Israel in their distresses ordinarily used to plead the Covenant which God had made with Abraham Isaac and Jacob as Exod. 32.13 Deut. 9.26 27. If you have had godly parents though you have walked frowardly against God yet cast not away all hope but remember the Covenant the Lord hath made with thy fathers and entreat that it may be extended unto thee The Lord himselfe lays this foundation of comfort for such children Esa 51.1 2. Looke unto the rocke whence yee are hewen consider Abraham your father q. d. Consider what mercy I shewed unto him and the same mercy expect for your selves the oyle that is powred out upon the head will run downe to the rest of the members Thus we have heard the scope of these words as they respect the Jewes in particular to whom they were first spoken let us now a little further consider of them as they concerne our selves What was spoken of them is appliable to all that are in the same estate with them
of Noah for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more goe over the earth so have I sworr that I would not be angry with thee The mountaines shall remove and the hills shall fall down but my mercy shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my peace fall away saith the Lord that hath compassion on thee Plentifull is the Scripture in such promises as these In Hos 2.19 20. I will marry thee unto my selfe c when the Lord marrieth us to himselfe he doth it with a purpose to be ours for ever whom God loves once with this conjugall love hee loves them for ever unto the end Ioh. 13.2 And thence it is that those that are truly regenerate and sanctified are compared to Mount Sion which cannot be removed Psal 125.1 And to a tree planted by the river of water which continually flourisheth and withers not c. Psal 1.3 and to an house built upon a Rock Matth. 7. And hence is that glorious triumph of the Apostle setting all contrary power at a defiance Who shall separate us from the love of God c. Rom. 8.33 Neither heigth nor depth nor things present nor things to come shall ever separate us from the love of God wherewith he hath loved us in Christ Jesus and in 2 Tim. 4.8 Hence forth is laid up for me a crown of righteousnes And thence was that confident speech of the Prophet in Psal 73. Thou wilt guide me by thy counsell and afterward bring me to glory This benefit the Lord will fulfill unto his people when he hath begun the work of his Grace he will finish it unto the day of Christ Phil. 1.6 he will shew himselfe to be both the author and finisher of our salvation Hâ—b 12. Arminians and Papists which reach a falling away from Grace know not the difference between the Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace Their Doctrine of the Apostacy of the Saints that those that are adopted sanctified and planted into Christ may fall away and perish is a doctrine contrary to the whole tenour of the Covenant of Grace injurious unto God and uncomfortable unto the Saints It is true that there is a kinde of seeming holinesse which may be lost a forme of godlinesse which may vanish and come to nought Heb. 6.4 6. 10.29 It s true also that Gods own people called and chosen may much damp quench the Grace of God which is in them and may shew much infirmity in particular falls which they are subject unto being sometimes so farre left unto themselves as we see in David and Solomon Peter c. Acts of grace may be interrupted in them for a season sense of it may be much lessened power of it weakned the degree of it abated but the habit cannot be utterly lost the life of it never goes out a man may be in a swoun and yet his life be in him still The certainty of the Saints perseverance is built upon these foundations 1. God is able to stablish them and therefore they shall be established He is able to keep us Iude 24. He is able to make us stand Rom. 16.25 and therefore we shall never be removed nor overthrown Object But this is a weak argument to reason from Gods power to his will Answ Then the Apostle himselfe argues weakly in Rom. 14.4 where speaking of the weak believer hee saith that such an one shall bee established and how proves he that because God is able to make him stand This is the Apostles Argument Indeed its true God will not doe all things which he can doe he can out of the stones and rocks raise up children unto Abraham but he neither doth it nor will doe it But though God will not doe all things which he can yet he will doe all things which he hath promised to doe Now this is Gods promise as we have seen before that he will preserve his people and therefore if he can doe it surely he will doe it because he hath promised it And hence it is that in Ioh. 10.28 29. Christ argues from the power of God doth by that argument prove the undoubted salvation of those that believe namely because God is in power greater then all and none is able to pull them out of his hand Indeed till we have a promise there is no arguing from Gods power no man can groundedly argue that God will out of stones raise up children to Abraham because he never promised it but when we have the promise then we may reason from his power And thus did Abraham reason I shall have a Sonne saith Abraham because though my body bee as good as dead yet God is able to doe it The argument was good because God had before promised to doe it So in the case in hand God hath said that he will keep us to his heavenly Kingdome and therefore if he can doe it he will doe it he hath engaged all his power and goodnesse to be for our salvation God is ours his power is ours to stablish and strengthen us that we fall not yea here are two immutable things to support us the power and will of God These two are as the two pillars before Salomons Temple Jachin and Boaz Boaz signifying in him is strength and Iachim he will stablish these two pillars stand together to establish all those that are ready to fall if there be strength in him he would have us to know that he will put it forth for our establishment that we might bee supported by his power his power and will stand together to support us 2. All the gifts of God which accompany salvation are given without repentance Rom. 11.29 Hos 13.14 God never repents him of the Grace he hath shewed to his people that he knew before Hence is that in 2 Sam. 7.14 when God promiseth to David that he would take of his seed and set upon his Throne after him and then saith the Lord I will be his Father and he shall bee my Sonne and my mercy will I not take away from him as I took a from Saul to teach us when hee hath once brought us into the state of Adoption to be his sonnes he will never cease to follow us with Fatherly love he will never take away his Fatherly mercy from us adde hereto that in Isai 46.3.4 and Mal. 3.6 3. It would shake the foundation of Gods election if those that are once sanctified should fall away and perish for those onely whom he knew before those onely doth he sanctifie If he hath in mercy drawn us unto himselfe it s a sign he hath loved us from everlasting Ier. 31.3 our calling and sanctification is according to his purpose Rom. 8.28.30 2 Tim. 1.9 Those that are sanctified justified and called are all first chosen And thence faith is called the faith of Gods elect Tit. 1. and those that are sanctified are said to be chosen unto it Eph. 1.3
pray for but God doth promise to us these outward things therefore we may pray for them Christ also hath taught us the same Matth. 6. and it s our duty to doe it thereby to testifie our dependence upon God our heavenly Father for the supply of all our necessities and in so doing wee give glory to God as acknowledging that every good gift must come from him James 1.17 3. Whereas some of Gods servants are possessed with doubts concerning their estate before God as fearing that they are not the Lords people because they are suffered to prosper so much in outward things this point may serve to remove that scruple because these outward blessings are blessings of grace to the people of God and therefore may well stand with a gracious estate If we endeavour to walk before God in truth and uprightnesse striving to keep a pure conscience in all things towards God and man then for any one to say I feare I am none of Gods people because I prosper in the world is all one as if he should say I feare the Lord intends me no good because he makes good unto me the blessings which he hath promised in his Covenant Vse 3. For direction 1. In the want of these outward blessings 2. In the enjoyment of them First In the want of them and here consider 1. The cause whence it is that we are deprived of them 2. What to doe to get them supplyed I. As for the cause of our wants what shall we say is God unfaithfull doth his promise faile is he unmindfull of his Covenant if not then think what is the cause of these wants which lie upon us c. In Iosh 7. when Ioshua saw the people flie before their enemies which seemed contrary to the promise of God the Lord having before promised to Joshuah that not a man should stand before him all the dayes of his life Joshuah falls on his face before God and begins to expostulate with him why he had brought them thither to destroy them But mark the Lords Answer Get thee up saith the Lord to Ioshuah why lyest thou upon thy face Israel hath sinned and therefore they cannot stand before their enemies Ioshuah not knowing nor considering the sinne of the people hee wonders at their overthrow as if the Lord had not been mindfull of his promise he having promised that not a man should be able to stand before them But the Lord tells Ioshuah Nay saith the Lord It is not I that have failed in my Covenant towards you but you have broâ—en Covenant with me Israel hath sinned and transgressed my Covenant and therefore it is that they cannot stand before their enemies So we when we feele our selves pressed with wants and necessities we are apt to think that Gods falls short of his promise towards us He hath promised sufficiency of all good things to his servants but we see not his promise made good unto us we suffer wants And now we are ready to aske why hath the Lord brought us hither into this wildernesse to destroy us But let us know it is not the Lord which hath broken promise with us but we have sinned and broken Covenant with him There is amongst us an accursed thing which till it be cast out of the campe of Israel we shall not stand before our necessities but they will prevaile against us as an armed man They are our iniquities which have turned away these things and our sins have hindred good things from us Jer. 5.25 Our own wayes and doings have procured these things unto us we may thank our selves if we be cut short in the things we would have Let God be true and every man a lyar Let him be acknowledged faithfull in his promise but we have dealt treacherously against him we have sinned and there is the true cause of our misery 1. We have amongst us Achans sinne I saw and coveted saith he we have amongst us worldlinesse and coveteousnesse which hath seised upon us and hath eaten up our hearts The rust hereof hath consumed the good that was in us we pretended to come hither for ordinances but now ordinances are light matters with us and we are turned after the prey Had any other people that professed themselves to be of the world and for the world had they thus walked the Lord would have said of them they are gone thither for the worlds goods and let them take their fill of it let them have what they goe for But as for us the Lord will not suffer us so If he see us forsaking the substance the true treasure to runne after these shadows they shall flie from us the more that we pursue them till we turn againe unto the Lord and then though we follow not them yet they shall follow us and shall pursue us and overtake us as Moses speaks Deut. 28.2 As now we are pressed with wants so then we shall be laden with benefits Psal 68. 2. We have amongst us excesse and pride of life pride in apparell daintiness in dyet and that in those who in times past would have been glad to have been satisfied with bread this is the sinne of the lowest of our people 3. Another sort are idle and walk inordinately not labouring at all but live unprofitably going from house to house They cannot put their hand to works 4. We have abundance of oppression and injustice in our dealings with breach of Covenants and promises there is want of truth and justice it is almost departed from our streets The Lord may now complaine of us as sometimes he did before of Israel I looked for judgement but behold oppression for righteousnesse but behold a crying Isai 5.7 and this sin will make a fire which is not blown by man to kindle of it selfe to consume us Job 20.19 26. 5. By these our sinnes we have brought a reproach upon the Gospel the glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ which should have been glorified by us So long as the Gospel held its credit amongst us so long the Lord also manifested his marvellous goodnesse towards us upholding us also and keeping us from those wants which now we feele But when the credit of the Gospel began to suffer by us we began to suffer with it also receiving therein a just recompence of our evill as was meet 6. There is amongst us a straight-heartednesse and close-handednesse towards the Lord in not ministring to the things which concern his worship the least portion is enough and the worst is good enough for those things that concern his honour This is a sinne which the Lord hath ever been wont to punish with scarcity as we may see in Hag. 1. Mal. 3.9 10. Prov. 20.25 These are the Achans which have robbed us of our silver and gold these sinnes have spoyled us of our substance and where the e things are found it is no marvell though we complaine of wants yet not through breach of Covenant on