to give you an inheritance amongst all them that are sanctified HVmane Histories have been valued at such an high price that they have been dedicated to the most honourable persons as worthy of their serious perusual Plinies natural History to Vespatian Our English History to King James the small Treatise which Paulus Jovius wrote De Rebus Turcicis unto the great and mighty Emperour Charls the fifth scarce any National piece but its presented into the hands of the Prince Surely Divine Histories then such as this Treatise The Acts of the Apostles which contain the Heroick acts of the Lords worthies in their combats with and conquests over not onely men and the world but sin and Satan deserve the eye and ear and hearts of a Noble Theophilus of great and small of all men whatsoever The former part of the new Testament contains the great mistery of Christ the Head of his Church This book of the Acts contains the glorious History the Church the body of Christ In the beginning of the book some particulars are mentioned of all the Apostles to Chap. 13. but it treats most largely of Pauls trials and travails in regard that as his conversion was most miraculous so his conversation was most illustrious In this twentieth Chapter we have this famous Apostle in his fourth peregrination arriving at Miletus a City upon the borders of Jonia and Caesaria close by the shore of the Egean Sea and sending thence for and speaking to the Ephesian Elders In his speech we may observe these four parts First His Vindication of himself Ministers are bound not onely to look to their Consciences but also to their Credits Naturalists tell us if the Load-stone be rub'd with Garlick it loseth its vertue When the name of a Minister is contemptible his Doctrine will be the less acceptable The Apostle vindicateth himself 1. As to the Integrity of his life ye know from the first day that I came into Asia after what manner I have been with you at all seasons serving the Lord with all humility and with many tears verse 18. and 19. 'T is excellent when the Pastor can appeal to the consciences of his people for the purity of his conversation Holy Ministers are called Angels Rev. 2. but unholy ones are degenerated into Devils have I not chosen you twelve and one of you is a Devil 2. As to his fidelity in his Doctrine And how I have kept back nothing that was profitable unto you but have shewed you and have taught you publiquely and from house to house vers 20. The Steward is faithful who distributeth to every person under his charge their proper and peculiar portion Melch. Ad. The symbole of Wolfius will become every Preacher Pietate labore By a sacred life and sedulous labour he will best declare his love to his people Ministers must be stars by the influence of their lips feeding by the regular motion of their lives confirming and by the light of both directing many Paul magnified his Office why should others debase it Secondly His Exortation to them As he taught them before by his pattern so now by his Precepts take heed to the flocks over which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers vers 28. Take heed that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Toti sitis addicti totis animis ad hereatis let all your care and study be for your own and peoples welfare and prosperity like good Shepheards work and watch night and day for the good of your sheep This counsel the Apostle urgeth upon a threefold ground 1. From the person who committed to them this charge take heed to the flocks over which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers It concerns you to be true to your trust when t is committed to you by the Spirit of God That unfaithfulness which is but felony against the charge of a subject may be Treason when 't is against the Charge of a Soveraign O 't is ill trifling with the most high Gods trust 2. From the price paid for them To feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his blood verse 28. Things of the greatest cost call for our greatest care souls are infinitely precious and therefore deserve our utmost pains If God thought them worth his blood we may well esteem them worth our tears and sweat 3. From the Peril their flock was in verse 29 30 31. For I know that after my departing shall greivous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw Disciples after them therefore watch c. If Wolves will watch to devour shepheards must watch to defend the sheep Those Commanders who are intrusted with a Garrison when they are sure to have their quarters beaten up had need to be ever upon their guard Thirdly His Prediction of his future sufferings 1. Propounded And now behold I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem not knowing what shall befal me there saving that the holy Ghost witnesseth that in every City bonds and afflictions abide me verse 22 23. Christians of all men must bear their Crosses Ministers of all Christians must look to undergo miserie And the more good a Minister hath the more evil he must expect The fuller the Tree is laden the more cudgels will be thrown at it the most fruitful meadows hear oftenest in the year of the Syth Pious and laborious Paul was the chief Butt against which men and Devils shot 2. Amplified From the liberty it thereby denyed them of ever seeing Paul again And now behold I know that ye all amongst whom I have gone Preaching the Kingdom of God shall see my face no more verse 25. Sad news to honest hearts upon a double ground partly their lack of him he had told them of Wolves entering in among them now at such a time for the flock to be without a guide when the storm arose for the Vessell to be without a Pilot when the Souldiers were to engage in hot service with enemies for their expert Commander to be wanting must needs be woful That the Nurse should be taken away before the children could go alone did much affect and afflict their spirits Partly their love to him As Paul was a Religious person and as he was probably their spiritual parent who had begotten them brought them up in the nurture of the Lord and upon all occasions advised and assisted them they could not but love him in an high degree and therefore much lament his loss Fourthly His Valediction to those Ephesian Elders in the words of the Text And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance amongst all them which are sanctified verse 32. before he had given them a command from God and now he commends them to God The words contain the legacy which Paul bequeaths to his Christian friends
allurements It s rich Wine is apt to intoxicate our brains and make us stumble We are apt to fall on the left hand by its affrightments as the silver of its comforts fouls our fingers so the fire of its cross is apt to black and defile us Those that travail in rugged ways and on stony lanes often fall but God is able to keep you from falling If God keep his hold of you there is no fear but ye will keep your feet and your ground too We are kept by his power through faith unto salvation His power and his love are the Eagles Wings upon which the Saints are carried out of Egypt through the Wilderness and safely conveyed to Canaan He can keep you from falling two ways 1. He can deny temptations to you if he see they will be too hard for you All have not the same faith therefore all are not tryed in the same fire He may give a strong purge or vomit to a strong man but wil not to a babe in grace He knoweth whether the Armour will bow and if it will he can prevent the bullet He is acquainted with the hardiest Souldiers in his Army and them he will call to the hardest service Rev. 3.10 When the weather is very bad he will not venture his sickly child abroad 2. He can enable you to foyl the tempter Little David in his strength can conquer great Goliah he kept Josephs soul from being so much as sienged miraculously as the three Childrens bodies by that great fire which his Mistris made to have burnt him Though the Saint like Daniel be cast for his conscience into a Den there to fight with and in danger to be devoured by Lyon-like lusts he can bring him out as safe and as whole as he was cast in The Gold-smith would not venture his gold in the fire if he knew it would be consumed by it Man is no match for Devils but God over matcheth them Preservation from sin these two ways Austin acknowledgeth with much affection Lord saith he when I had an heart to sin thou didest keep off the temptation and when I had a temptation to sin thou didst keep off my heart If your hearts be as dry as tinder he can hinder Satan from striking fire if he suffer the tempter to strike fire he can make the tinder wet and hinder it from taking As he is able to defend you from what is hurtful so to releive you with what is needful Si Esuris panis tibi est si sitis â—qua tibi est â—i intenibris â—umen est c Aug. Tract â—n Johan As the fire both purifieth the air and warmeth them that sit about it he knoweth that ye are indigent and have nothing of your own to live upon but he can send you in such dayly supplies as may afford you an honourable subsistence I have read of one that feasted the vast Army of Xerxes Gods estate is infinite and therefore will bear a liberal provision for all his Children I know you desire proficiency of grace and perfection in glory above all the World He can build you up in grace he can cause all grace to abound If this Sun draw nigh to you the fruits of the spirit will ripen apace This well of Salvation can fill every vessel of your hearts be they never so wide he can make the babe of grace to grow till he become a young man a strong man and a Father If the Nurse be taken from the Child and the breasts be denyed it of which it used to suck w th so much delight he can make it thrive as well with the spoon in the want of pure publique ordinances he can be a little sanctuary to his Saints He often sendeth them a warm bit up to their Chambers when they cannot come down and feed with the rest of the family He can give you an inheritance that fades not away he can conduct you through all your hardships and crown you at last with heaven where ye shall be kept both from sin and suffering and freed not only from foyls but also from fighting where the love of God shall never be questioned nor his providence quarrelled where ye shall never offend others with your purity nor have cause to defend your selves from their injuries where all tears shall be wiped from your eyes and sorrow and sighing shall flee away Where persecutors cease from troubling and the weary are at rest Where your names shall be fully vindicated your infirmities be wholly banished your graces be perfected and your souls infinitely blessed being locked up in the bosom of Christ and lodged in the imbraces of God for ever and ever 2. He is the most Loving Friend Some have power to do their neighbours a courtesie but tell us they owe them not so much good will God as he hath power enough to enable him so he hath love enough to move him to do his people good Jonathan ventured far for Davids safety and the reason was for he loved him as his own soul They who have Gods heart are sure of his helping hand He chuseth his love and then loves his choyce he had precious thoughts of them before they had any thoughts of themselves God loves his people as they are his Eternal choice the Mother loves the childe whom she carried nine moneths in her womb O how then doth God love his people whom he carried in the womb of his purpose from all eternity He loves them as they are his own picture as they are like him in grace and holiness Men have loved others the more for resembling them in sin so did Heliogabalus his children God loves his children the more for resembling him in sanctity Grace is lovely God cannot but love his Saints because he loves himself he loves them as they are his Sons purchase They which were so dearly bought are not easily loathed Jacob was exceeding tender of Benjamin though he could as occasion required expose the ten Patriarchs to all weathers yet by his good will the wind must not blow upon Benjamin if Benjamin miscarry he dieth with him And what is the reason of this extaordiry affection possibly this Benjamin was the childe of his beloved Rachel Benjamin was dearly bought he cost the life of his dear wife So God loves his Saints with a singular love because they are the children of his dear Son the travel of his soul His beloved Son had many a sharp throw and many a bitter pang before he could bring them forth nay they cost him his very life He loves them above all the world besides All others are dross they are his gold This whole World was set up as a tent for them to lodge in for the time of their pilgrimage and when they shall be removed to their fathers house this tent will presently be taken down If all the wheat were but gathered into the heavenly Garner the chaff would not be an hour out of
THE Pastors Farevvell AND VVish of VVelfare TO HIS PEOPLE OR A Valedictory Sermon By GEORGE SWINNOCK M. A. Preacher of the Gospel late at Great-Kimbel in the County of Bucks Oportet ut praedicatores sint fortes in praeceptis compatientes infirmis in exhortationibus blandi Greg. in Job Mor. 30. Finally Brethren farewel Be perfect be of good comfort be of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you 2 Cor. 13.11 LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Three Crowns in the lower end of Cheap-side over against the great Conduit 1662. TO His Honoured and Courteous Friend Mistris Mary Beresford VVife of the VVorshipful Iohn Beresford Esq THere are two things which I have always judged chiefly requisite in a Pastor as he standeth related to his people viz. Labour and Love The former is a work of the Head the latter of the Heart faithful labour will speak his love and sincere love will sweeten his labour Labour without love is unacceptable to God as a sweet perfume without fire it cannot send forth its pleasant fragrant savour Love without labour is unprofitable to men like Rachel its beautiful but barren both together as soul and body are the essential parts of a man are the whole of a Minister Whether to my power I discharged my trust or no in these partitulars whilest the Divine providence continued me in your Parish I must leave to his judgement whose eyes behold and whose eye-lid try the Children of men nay whether I did not many times so labour as to prejudice my own body that I might serve and profit others souls but sure I am when I left you I could not better manifest my love to you then by commending you to him who will never leave nor forsake his people It s the saying of Euripides That a faithful friend in adversity is better then a calm Sea to a weather beaten Mariner Indeed the world is full of false lovers who use their friends as we do candles burn them to the snuff and when all their substance is wasted trample them under their feet and light others but God to his chosen is as the Ivy clasping about a wall which will as soon dye as desert it Extreamity doth but fasten a trusty friend whilst he as a well wrought Vault is the stronger by how much more weight he beareth Though many men are as ponds dry in the heat of Summer when there is most need of them yet the blessed God dealeth not so with his Saints but his help is nearest when their hardships are greatest When they walk in the valley of the shadow of death he is with them How great a happiness it is to be under the favour and influence of this God can never be fully known on this side Heaven The Prince of Orange had a mirror say some which perfectly represented the beauty of the naturat Sun But this Sun of Righteousness is ever in a great degree Eclipsed to us who dwell in this lower World Here we know but in part Pompey who presumed to enter the holiest of all when he came out was asked what he saw he answered that the house was fall of a cloud Indeed He maketh darkness his secret place and yet is pleased to let so much of his glory and goodness be seen in the glass of his word as may cause us to admire and affect him and also assure us that he is the chiefest good Somwhat of that felicity which floweth from his favour you will find in some measure discovered in the ensuing discourse which I present to you as a small acknowledgement of my great ingagements to you Lycurgus the Lacedemonian Law-giver made no Law against ingratitude as thinking it impossible for any man to degenerate so much as to be unthankful I esteem it my duty to retain the former favours in memory which I and mine have received from your self and my Honoured friend your Husband and I know not better how to testifie my gratitude then by endeavouring to my power your everlasting welfare and that you may come to your graves in a full age as a shock of corn in its season It s a mercy to be full of days a far greater mercy to be full of grace but to be full of days and full of grace is one of the most blessed beautiful sights in this World I hope you are passed from death to life because you love the brethren but your Age calleth upon you to ensure your effectual calling The truth is death borders upon our births and our Coffins hang over our Cradles but though according to the saying of Epaminondas we may salute young persons with Good-morrow or welcome into the World yet we must salute old persons with Good-night for they are leaving the world The nearer it is tonight the harder we should work when we know if our work be not done in this day of life we are undone for ever Natural motions are swiftest at last The stream of grace must run with greatest speed when its emptying it self into the Ocean of glory The good Lord enable you to be more and more upright and abundant in well doing and so bless your whole Family with his fear and favour that when Death shall break it up ye may be preferred from his lower house of prayer to his upper house of praise where is fulness of joy and where are pleasures for evermore Which is the desire of Your Servant in the blessed Saviour George Swinnock There is extant of this Reverend Authors these six other Treatises all sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the lower end of Cheapside The Christian-mans Calling or a Treatise of making Religion ones Business wherein the Nature and Necessity of it is discovered as also the Christian directed how he may perform it in Religious Duties Natural Actions his particular Vocation his Family Directions and his own Recreation to be read in Families for their Instruction and Edification The first Part. The Door of Salvation opened by the Key of Regeneration or a Treatise containing the Nature Necessity Marks and means of Regeneration as also the duty of the Regenerate Heaven and Hell Epitomized or the true Christian characterized The beauty of Magistracy in an Exposition of the 82 Psalm where is set forth the necessity Utility Dignity Duty and Morality of Magistrates The fading of the flesh and the flourishing of faith or one cast for eternity with the only way to throw it well There is in the press the Second Part of that practical Piece of Divinity entituled The Christian-mans Calling Containing Directions for our dealings with all men carriage in all conditions whether in prosperity or adversity in all companies good or bad in solitariness on the week day from morning to night in visiting the sick upon a dying bed ACTS 20.32 And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and
hath his Factors in all parts of the world trading for him at the throne of Grace That the Gospel is the word of Gods Grace And to Observ 4 the word of his Grace The word Grace is taken in Scripture 1. For favour or good will Grace be with you And so Col. 1.2 Grace be unto you 2. For the effects and fruits thereof Jude v. 4. Turning the grace of God into lasciviousness The Gospel in both respects is fitly termed the Word of his Grace 1. Because it containeth the Infinite grace and favour of the most high God to Sinners The Law speaks in effect mans bottomless misery but the Gospel speaks Gods boundless mercy the Law is a Court of Justice but the Gospel a Throne of Grace Grace sits as Commander in cheif in the Gospel and as Ahashuerus to Hester holdeth out the golden Scepter of Mercy for poor condemned persons to touch with the hand of faith and live The sum of the Gospel is comprehended in a song of that Angelical Quire Glory to God in the highest peace on earth and good will towards men the substance and body of Gods love to man was never dissected and laid open to the view of mortals till the Gospel was preached Before it ran as a river under ground but in the Gospel it bursts forth and sheweth it self to refresh us with its pleasant streams the Law is as it were a warrant under heavens hand and seal for mans execution but the Gospel like the Dove comes flying swiftly to prevent it with the Olive branch of peace and pardon in its mouth Ephes 1.5 2 Tim. 1.9 Rom 3.24 1 Pet. 3.7 Chusing-grace Calling-grace Justifying-grace and Glorifying-grace are all discovered in the Gospel and therefore it may well be called the word of his grace 2. Because the Gospel is the effect and fruit of Gods grace or good will to men Philosophers observe that dew never falleth in stormy tempestuous weather the dropping of the dew of the Gospel on parched scorched hearts is a sign and fruit of serene calm heavens that our parts of the world like Gideons fleece should be wet with this dew when other parts are dry this is meerly from Grace I have caused it to rain on one City and not upon another Amos 4.7 this rain of the Gospel which cooleth heat melloweth the hearts and cleanseth the unholy goeth by Coasts Psa 147.19 20. 3. Because the Gospel is the usual means of begeting grace As Manna fell about the Isrealites tents with the dew so grace is distilled and dropt down with the Gospel Many of the Jews heard the thunders of Sinai the threatnings of the Law and were not moved but the Baptist wins their children with the songs of Sion the promises of the Gospel Received ye the Spirit by the preaching of the law or the hearing of faith The ice which is hardened by the cold is melted with the Sun When the murderers of our Saviour heard the Gospel they were pricked to the heart Acts 2.37 The hard flint is broken upon the soft pillow That the Gospel is effectual not onely for conversion Observ 5 but also for edification Which is able to build you up The Gospel doth not only bring forth souls to Christ but likewise build up souls in Christ the natural childe is nourished when in the world by the same seed by a further concoction turned into milk by which it was conceived in the womb the spiritual child is begotten by the Gospel I have begotten you through my Gospel and built up by the same 1 Pet. 2.2 As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby That the word of Gods grace can carry men to glory Observ 6 And to give you an inheritance It doth like Moses lead the Saints out of Egypt deliver him from bondage to his lusts conduct him through the Wilderness of the World and also like Joshua bring him into Canaan the land of promise It s called the grace of God which bringeth salvation Tit. 2.11 It bringeth salvation to man and it bringeth man to salvation Obser 7 That Heaven is an inheritance And to give you an inheritance An inheritance is an estate left or given by the Father to his Son and heir Saints are all Gods Sons and his Sons are all first born and so Heirs Gods natural Son is his natural Heir but his adopted Sons are his adopted Heirs and so have an inheritance given them by their Father Others have inheritances by their births Saints have theirs by their new births Their inheritance is incomparable it s the same which the natural Heir hath joynt heirs with Christ Earthly possessions are to it less then nothing Their right to it is indefeasible An inheritance reserved for us in Heaven 1 Pet. 1.3 they can never be deprived of it either by others cruelty nor their own carelesness for t is in Gods keeping reserved for us Obser 8 That the inheritance of Heaven is onely for them that are Holy Among all them that are sanctified None but the Children of God such as are born again are heirs of this inheritance All that are saved must be sanctified The inheritance is undefiled and so must all the inhabitants be If a carnal unsanctified person ever enter into that Royal Pallace he must first make the Gospel a Lye Rev. 2â— ult and God a Lyer And into it can in no wise enter any thing that is defiled or unclean All that are there are admitted into Gods immediate service and will so great a King be served in unclean vessels dirty feet are not for Royal presence Chambers The Doctrine which I intend to prosecute and which will include the substance of the verse is this The Doctrine That the greatest good a Pastor can do for his Brethren whom he must leave is to commend them to God And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace I shall speak principally to the fountain of their being and bliss their recommendation to God and in the close of the Sermon briefly touch the Channel of the Gospel which he hath cut out as the means of conveying his blessings to the Children of men I say again That its the duty and the greatest good a Minister can do for his friends whom he must leave to commend them to God The Apostle had a great love to and tender respect for the Brethren but how doth he manifest it by commending them to God That its the practice duty and greatest kindness of Chistians to commit their friends to God is visible in the Scriptures Paul and Barnabas when they came to Derbe commended the Brethren to the Lord on whom they beleived Acts 14.23 But especially when Parents leave their Children they commit them to the care of some faithful person When Old Jacob was to dye he commends his Children to the living God Gen. 48.15 16. and 49. before Moses left the
the unquenchable fire He loves them as his own Son Joh. 17.26 27. Who can tell the love God bears to his Son the same love he bears to his Saints His name is love his nature is love his Son is the token of his love his Spirit is the earnest of his love the Gospel his love letter Hence it is that they are so happy who are committed to Gods keeping because he is so loving a Guardian All the while that his people suffer he doth sympathize and he will support them As a tender father he proportions the burden to the strength of his childrens back He doth like a Lutanist to use Chrysostoms similitude who will not let the strings of his Instrument be too slack lest they mar the musick nor suffer them to be too hard screwed up lest they break He who taught the Husbandman to use several instruments for the threshing of several sorts of grain and not to turn the cart wheel about upon the Cummin Isa 28.25 will certainly himself not suffer his people to be afflicted aboue what they are able 2 Cor. 10.13 His love will set all his other Attributes at work for his peoples good His Wisdom will contrive his Power will act and his Faithfulness will perform whatsoever he promiseth for the comfort of his Church and all because he loveth them What would not David have done for Absolom whom he affecteth so dearly when Absolom rebelled against him and sought his life his heart relented towards Absolom out of love What a charge doth he give his Captains concerning him Deal gently for my sake with the young-man even with Absolom What will not God do for his chosen whom he loveth when they wander and run from him he followeth after and wooeth them For the iniquity of his covetousness I was wroth and smote him I hid me and was wroth and he went on frowardly in the way of his own heart Mark Here is a childe in a great crime his Father corrects him and instead of kissing the rod he kicks at the hand that holds it He went on frowardly in the way of his own heart Well what is the fruit of this frowardness you might expect greater severity upon such contumacy surely if few stripes will do no good many must be laid on or if the rod will not do the ax might be used But lo what love doth I have seen his ways and will heal him I will lead him also and restore comforts to him and to his mourners Isa 57.17 18 19. Well though he be undutiful yet he is my child I will throw away my rods and draw him with the cords of love though he freez under the nipping frosts yet he will thaw under my warm beams 13. He is the most Faithful friend He is constant in his love Some are able and loving also for a time but their love like a candle though it burn a little in a closs room and calm weather is easily blown out by a stormy wind If a Christian be called to the cross he is like the Deer that is shot by the herd pushed out of their company but God is a lasting yea an everlasting friend his love like the Sun can never be abated much less extinguished by the greatest tempest but is always going forth in its full strength A brother is born for adversity A friend loveth at all times Prov. 17.16 Such a friend is God who when few men will never fails to appear for his suffering servants 2 Tim. 4.16 17. Basil ventured very far for a persecuted friend and being blamed for it answered Ego aliter amare non didici I have learned not to love otherwise The Antients pictured friendship in the shape of a fair young man bare headed with his breast open meanly apparelled with this inscription on his cloaths To live and to dye with you and this on his Forehead Summer and Winter and with this on his heart Prope longè far and near God is such a friend as will never disown or deny his people In the furnace the three children shall have his presence where ever he is absent When men are mutable and appear as Tertullian saith of the Peacock all in changeable colours use their friends as we do Sun-dials look no longer on them nor regard them then the Sun shineth on them God is a faithful creator 1. Pet. 4.19 will be sure to mind the house that he hath built and that most of all when it s out of repair and ready to fall Bucholcerus upon his friends going to Court to teach the Prince Electors children told him I will give you one piece of counsel which may do you good whilst you live His friend hearkned to him I commend saith he to you the faith of Devils Take heed whom you trust Indeed there are many men like ponds clear at the top and mud at the bottom fair in their tongues but foul in their hearts The greatest mens words are often like dead mens shoes he may go barefoot that trusteth to them But O what a faithful friend is God who never faileth his he is such a Physician as will be sure to visit his Patients often when sick although he may pass by their doors when they be well He is faithful to his promise his Word is the truth Col. 1.5 His Church is the Pillar of truth not to bear it up but to hold it out 1 Tim. 3. his Sacraments the seals of truth he himself is the Lord God of truth Psal 34.5 Who feares to be deceived when truth promiseth He keeps his promise to a word Quis falli tâ—… m at cum promittâ—t veritas Aug. confes lib. 11. cap. 1. Ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls that there hath not one good thing failed of all that the Lord promiseth Josh 23.14 The birth of the promise will answer their conception and they bring forth in full feature and glory God is usually better but never in the least worse then his word In sacra scriptura non solum bonitas est quod praecipitur faelicitas quod promittitur sed etiam veritas quod dicitur Hugo His promise is equivalent to possession He keeps touch with his people in the time of performance to a day The self same day Israel marched out of Egypt Ex. 2.4 The four hundred and thirty years were that very day expired nay to a night Dan. 5.30 In that night was Belshazer the King of the Chaldeans slain When the big-bellied promise had gone its full time the seventy years being then expired it could not stay till morning for its delivery but fell in labour that very night and was safe delivered The promises are the flowers of which the cordial Julips are made which refresh you in fainting hours but as Gods love is the root upon which they grow so his faithfulness is the hand that must bring them to you T is your happiness that your riches lye