or no stead Though they use the precepts of the Word as a lamp to guide their feet yet they stumble though they use the promises as a staffe to support them yet they fall though they beg and pray for strength yet they are feeble to what end therefore should they be much in the use of such helps as they cannot finde either to relieve them or better them Such expostulations and complaints I shall onely answer with a suitable story related in the lives of the ancient Fathers which is this One of the fraternity came to the old Father and complained Father I do often desire of the ancient Fathers some instructions for the good of my soule and whatsoever they tell me I forget all The old man had two empty vessels and bid him bring the one and poure water into it and wash it cleane and then poure out the water and set it up clean in its place Which when the young man had accordingly done he demanded Which now of the two vessels is the more cleane The young man answered That into which I poured water and washed it Then replied the old Father So is the soul which oftentimes heareth Gods Word though it remember not what it hath heard yet it is more cleansed from sin then that soul that never comes to heare And so may I say to them that complaine they ruminate often upon the promises in their thoughts pleade them in their prayers read them in the Word but yet finde no benefit or fruit from them that in so doing they are not onely more holy and free from lusts then others who neglect them but far better then otherwise themselves would be should they not be imployed in such spiritual and blessed services CHAP. VIII Containes five other positive Rules for the right application of the Promises SECT 1. Rule 6. Continue in a holy waiting upon God THe sixth Rule or direction is to abide and continue in a holy waiting upon God untill he who is the maker of the promises become the fulfiller of them Our eyes wait upon the Lord our God saith the Psalmist untill that he have mercy upon us Ps 123. 2. Some promises are like unto the Almond-tree which putteth out upon the first approach of the spring and bringeth forth an early fruit they are not long pleaded ere they be fulfilled and have their blessings like ripe fruit to drop into the mouth of the eater Others are like to the Mulberry-tree which is slow and backward in the imparting of its sap unto the branches they are long before they bud forth into any appearances which may discover any step and progresse to be made in order to their future accomplishment so that they who are the inheriters of them though they need not to fear their failing the appointed time yet they need patience to expect and waite their fulfilling The great promise which God made to Abraham of multiplying his seed like the stars of heaven Gen. 15. 5. did for two hundred and fifteen years continue its motion like to a slow-paced planet having in all that tract of time gone little of that course which it was to finish for Abraham was seventy five years old when the promise was made and an hundred years old when Isaac who was the first blossome of that promise was born Isaac was threescore yeares old before Jacob was borne Jacob was an hundred and thirty yeares old when he went into Egypt and then there were no more then seventy souls that had issued from the loynes of Abraham But yet in the latter two hundred and fifteen years When the time of the promise drew nigh which God had sworne to Abraham the people grew and multiplied in Egypt Act. 7. 17. They that were but seventy at their going into Egypt were at their coming forth six hundred thousand three thousand five hundred and fifty the males onely being numbred from twenty years old and upward besides the tribe of Levi which was forbidden to be counted Num. 1. 46 47. Seeing therefore that there is oft-times a long intervall between the seed-time and the harvest of the promise between its making and its fulfilling it is necessary for beleevers to waite upon God who is optimus opportunitatis arbiter one that can best date and time his own promises and to expect with patience the appointed time of the promise which at the end shall speak and not lie Though it tarry waite for it Hab. 2. 3. Now if you aske what waiting is It is not any particular grace as varnish is not a particular colour but it is the companion well-nigh of all graces and therefore in Scripture we shall finde it to be joyned to the chief of graces so as by its conjunction with them to adde a perfection and lustre to them It is joyned with faith Isa 28. 16. He that beleeveth shall not make haste With hope Lam. 3. 26. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. With patience Jam. 5. 7. The husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it With submission and contentment Isal 37. 7. Rest in the Lord or be silent to the Lord and wait patiently for him With perseverance Hos 12. 6. Keep mercy and judgement and wait on thy God continually All these graces thus coupled with waiting is a beleever to exercise in his pleading before God the performance of any promise and to take heed that he let not his faith to end in diffidence his hope to languish into despaire his submission and patience to turne into murmurings his perseverance to expire in backsliding and to say as that wicked King This evil is of the Lord why should I wait upon him any longer 2 King 6. 33. A good heart though it will not let God wait long no not at all for its obedience yet it will wait as long as God sees good for his promise saying only with David Remember the word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope Psal 119. 49. SECT 2. Rule 7. Make choice of some special promises to resort to in extremity The seventh direction is To single and cull out of the many promises which God hath made for pardon holinesse protection provision some one or two of every kind which we may resort unto with speed in any extremity Weak and infirme persons besides the many Physical herbs distilled waters magisterial powders costly electuaries with which their closets are plentifully furnished have usually some peculiar cordial which in the day they carry about them and at night set at their beds head to prevent and repell fainting sits so should beleevers besides those promises of all sorts with which they are to store themselves have in a constant readinesse some few special promises which upon every occasion that may befall them they may quickly have recourse unto both for support and comfort And here though I shall
not prescribe and limit any in their choise but leave them to the free use of such Scriptures and promises as themselves by experience have found to be full of life and sweetnesse yet it will not be amisse to recommend the use of some few eminent promises of divers kinds out of the full store-house of the Word which may serve as so many meet cordials to revive the spirit of drooping Christians amidst the several kindes of necessities that may afflict them Are any burthened with the guilt of sinne so as that their soule draweth nigh unto the pit of despaire What more joyful tidings can ever their eares heare then a proclamation of free mercy made by the Lord himselfe unto beleeving and repenting sinners What more glorious and blessed sight can their eyes ever behold then the Name of God written in sundry of his choice attributes as in so many golden letters for them to read The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodnesse and truth keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sinne Exod. 34. 6 7. He is the Lord who only hath jus vitae necis the absolute power of life and death in his hands but he is the Lord God merciful who far more willingly scattereth his pardons in forgiving then executeth his justice in condemning like the Bee that gathers honey with delight but stings not once unless she be much provoked He is gracious not incited to mercy by deserts in the object but moved by goodnesse in himself his love springs not from delight in our beauty but from pitty to our deformity He is long-suffering bearing with patience renued and often repeated injuries which he might by power revenge upon him who is the doer He is abundant in goodnesse grace overfloweth more in him then sinne can do in any Sin in the creature is but a vicious quality but goodnesse in him is his nature He is abundant in truth as he is good in making the promises so is he true in performing them when men deale unfaithfully with him he breaks not his Covenant with them He keeps mercy for thousands former ages have not exhausted the treasures of his mercy so as that succeeding generations can finde none there are still fresh reserves of mercy and that not for a few but for thousands He forgives iniquity transgression and sinne not pence but talents are forgiven by him not sinnes of the least sise are onely pardoned but sinnes of the greatest dimensions And as this promise in which the Name of God is so richly described doth fully answer the hesitancies doubts and perplexities of such who fear their iniquities for number to be so many for aggravation to be so great as that sometimes they question Can God pardon sometimes Will he ever shew mercy to such a wretched Prodigal So likewise may that blessed promise made unto beleevers Hos 14. 5 6 7. exceedingly support such who mourne under their want of holinesse and complaine of the weaknesse of their grace fearing that the little which they have attained unto goes rather backwards then forwards God himself having promised that he will be as a dew unto them which shall make them to put forth in all kindes of growth They shall grow as the lilly and cast forth their roots as Lebanon their branches shall spread and their beauty shall be as the Olive-tree they shall revive as the corne and grow as the vine What more comprehensive summary can there be either of Gods goodnesse or of a beleevers desires then there is in this one promise wherin he hath promised to make them grow in beauty like the lilly in stability like the Cedar in usefulnesse like the Olive whose fruit serves both for light and nourishment in spreading like the vine and in their encrease like the corne God himselfe being both the planter and waterer of all their graces To them who are full of fears through the approach of dangers which they have no hope to avoid or power to overcome How full of encouragement and comfort is that promise of protection and safety When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee Isa 43. 2. Water and fire are two evils in which none can be with their nearest friends without perishing with them Who can save a Jonah when cast into a boisterous sea but God And who can walk in the fiery furnace with the three children and not be consumed but the Son of God In the prison one friend may be with another in banishment he may accompany him in the battel he may stand by him and assist him but in the swelling waters and in the devouring flames none can be a reliefe to any but God and he hath promised to beleevers to be with them in the midst of both these that so in the greatest extremities which can befall them they may fully rest assured that nothing can separate God from them but that he will either give them deliverance from troubles or support them under troubles Martyres non â—ripuit sed nunquid descruit saith Austin He did not take the Martyrs out of the flames but did he forsake them in the flames Lastly to them the meannesse of whose condition may seeme to expose them above others to hunger cold nakednesse evils that make life it self far more bitter then death how full of divine sweetnesse is that blessed promise of provision The young lions do lack and suffer hunger but they that seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing Psal 34. 10. The Septuagint renders it the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the great wealthy men of the earth who like beasts of prey live upon spoile and rapine who think that in the hardest times that can come they shall be eaten up last they shall be bitten with hunger and perish by famine when they who fear the Lord shall be in want of nothing The widows little barrel of meale in the famine yielded a better supply then Ahab his storehouse and granary her cruse had oile in it when his Olive-yards had none Oh! how securely and contentedly then may a beleever who acts his faith in such promises lay himself down in the bosome of the Almighty in the worst of all his extremities not much unlike the infant that sleeps in the armes of his tender mother with the breast in his mouth from which as soon as ever it wakes it draws a fresh supply that satisfies its hunger and prevents its unquietnesse SECT 3. Rule 8. Consider of the examples to whom promises have been fulfilled The eighth direction is in the making use of any promise to parallel our condition with such examples which may be unto us as so many clear instances of the goodnesse and faithfulnesse of God in his giving unto others the same or
part of man and by its creation fitted for communion with an infinite good When saith Plutarch did Epicurus cry out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have fed with so much joy and delight as Archimedes in his Mathematical contemplations did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have found And when did both they or the whole sect of Epicures and Philosophers in the enjoyment of their sensual and intellectual pleasures crie out with such strong ravishments of soul they had either fed or found as a beleever doth when he hath tasted and found the goodnesse of God in one promise Listen but a little and you shall heare in how loud and patheticall a tone David expresseth himself when he had but tasted these divine consolations Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Psal 73. 25 26. And Bellarmine tels of a pious old man that was wont to rise from prayer with these words alwayes in his mouth Claudimini oculi mei claudimini nihil enim pulchrius jam videbitis Be shut be shut O mine eyes for now ye shall never see any thing more desirable 3. Sure Thirdly the comforts of the promises are abiding and sure mercies Act. 13. 34. such which are the crystal streames of a living fountaine and not the impure overflowings of an unruly torrent which sometimes with its swellings puts the traveller in feare of his life and at other times shames his expectations of being refreshed by it Job 6. 15. Geographers in their description of America report that in Peru there is a river called the Diurnal or day-river because it runs with a great current in the day but is wholly drie at night which is occasioned as they say by the heat of the sun that in the day-time melts the snow that lies on the mountaines thereabouts but when the Sunne goes down and the cold night approacheth the snow congealeth which only fed it and the channel is quite dried up Not much unlike this river are all wordly contentments which are onely day-comforts but not night-comforts In the sun-shine of peace and prosperity they flow with some pleasing streames but in the night season of affliction they vanish and come to nothing Then the rich man as Cyprian saith vigilat in plumâ suspirat licèt bibat gemmas lyes restlesse upon a bed of downe and fetcheth deep groans though he drink pearles and Saphires But it is farre otherwise with the promises whose streames of comfort in the time of trouble do usually run most plentifully and refresh most powerfully the weary and afflicted soul so as to preserve it from dying and fainting away under the pressure of any evil This was it which made Hezekiah under a sentence of death to revive and to cry out O Lord by these things men live and in all these things is the life of my spirit Isa 38. 16. But if at any time these divine consolations do runne in a more shallow and spare channel and vary from their wonted fulnesse yet do they never prove like waters that faile or streames that are quite dried up A beleever may at sometime be drawn low but he can never be drawn drie while Christ is a full fountaine faith will never be an empty conduit-pipe His comforts may be like the Widows oyle in the cruse where onely a little remaines 1 King 17. 12. but never like the water in Hagars bottle that was quite spent Gen. 21. 15. The widow thought her store of meale and oyle to be brought to so low an ebbe as that it would serve but for one cake which two sticks would be fuel enough to bake and then both she and her son must expect to die but then the Lord did put forth his power though not in making the oile and meale to overflow to the feeding of others therewith but in keeping it from wasting so as to be a constant supply unto her and the Prophets necessities in the extremity of the famine The like apprehensions have the dear and beloved ones of God frequently in their afflictions and temptations which befall them they think they have scarce faith enough to last one day more scarce strength enough for one prayer more scarce courage enough for one conflict more and then they and their hopes must die and give up the ghost for ever But in the midst of all these feares and misgivings which arise from their hearts there issueth out such a measure of comfort from the promises which if it gives not deliverance from their temptations doth effect their preservation in them if it overflow not to make them glad it failes not to make them patient and to wait till God send forth judgement unto victory Mat. 12. 20. 4. Universal Fourthly the comforts of the promises are universal such as agree with every estate and suite every malady they are the strong mans meate and the sick mans cordial the condemned sinners pardon and the justified persons evidence but the best of the worlds comforts are only applicable to some particular conditions and serve as salves for some few sores Riches are a remedy against the pressing evils of want and poverty but they cannot purchase ease to the pained Armour of proof is a defence against the sword and bullet but can no way serve to keep off the stings of piercing cares oiles and balsames are useful for bruises and broken bones but they are needlesse to an hungry man that seeks not after medicines but food As the hurting power in creatures is stinted and bounded fire can burne but not drown water can drown but not wound serpents and vipers can put forth a poisonful sting but cannot like beasts of prey teare and rend in pieces so the faculty of doing good which is in any creature is confined to a narrow scantling and reacheth no further then the supply of some particular defect but the comforts and vertue of the promises are in their operations and efficacy of an unlimited extent they flow immediately from the Father of mercies and God of all comfort 2 Cor. 1. 3. and are therefore meet to revive and establish how disconsolate in any kinde whatsoever the condition of a beleever be In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul saith holy David Psal 94. 19. When disquieting thoughts did swarme within his breast as thick as motes in the Sun-beames and did continually ascend like sparkes from a flaming furnace which the Crown upon his head could not charme which the Scepter in his hand could not allay which the delights and pleasures of his Court could not sweeten then did the comforts of God in his promises as so many fresh springs in the midst of all his estuations both glad and calme his unquiet and perplexed spirit One sunne when overcast with thick clouds which threaten to blot it out of
its orbe doth then enlighten the earth farre more then multitudes of stars that shine bright in the clearest night and so one promise in armies of changes that befall beleevers fills their souls with more serenity and peace then the confluence of all outward contentments can produce under one small and petty crosse A Christian many times walkes more chearfully under sore fiery trials then others in the sun-shine of worldly prosperity The three children walkt to and fro with more joy in the furnace then Nebuchadnezzar in his stately Palace CHAP. VI. Containing positive rules directing to the right use of the promises HAving shew'd what a promise is and the sundry respects wherein the promises of the Gospel are precious by way of eminency and excesse I passe on to the third general head which is made up of several rules and directions that concern the due application of them which are by so much the more necessary by how much the promises above all other parts of the sacred Oracles of God are most apt to be deeply injured by the two sinful extremes of distrust and presumption The infirme beleever whose jealousies and misgivings are too strong for his faith puts away from him the consolations of the promises as small and looks upon them as cordials not strong enough to heale and remove his distempers The over-secure and self-confident person placeth his fond presumptions in the roome of Gods promise and thereby drawes as certaine a ruine upon himselfe as he who ventures to go over a deep river without any other bridge then what his shadow makes I shall therefore branch the rules which concerne the right use of them into rules positive and cautionary the one pointing out several duties which every one must exercise himselfe in that would willingly reape any real fruit and advantage from the promises the other forewarning the many errours and mistakes which are as stones of stumbling to weak Christians or as stones that lye upon the mouth of the wells of salvation which must be removed before the water of comfort can be drawn from them I shall begin with the positive rules which are many SECT 1. Eye God in the promises First in the applying of any promise fix the eye of your faith upon God and Christ in it Promises are not the primary object of faith but the secondary or they are rather the meanes by which we believe then the things on which we are to rest As in the Sacraments the elements of bread and wine serve as outward signes to bring Christ and a beleever together but that which faith closeth with and feedeth upon is Christ in the Ordinance and not the naked elements themselves So the promises are instrumental in the coming of Christ and the soul together they are the warrant by which faith is imboldned to come to him and to take hold of him but the union which faith makes is not between a beleever and the promise but between a beleever and Christ And therefore those Divines who in their Catechetical Systems have made the formal object of faith to be the promise rather then the person of Christ have failed in their expressions if not in their intentions and have spoken rather popularly then accurately For the object of faith is not ens complexum an Evangelical maxim or proposition but ens incomplexum the person of Christ as the whole current of Scripture-expressions do abundantly testifie wherein faith is described by receiving of Christ Joh. 1. 12. by beleeving on him Joh. 3. 16. by coming to him Joh. 6. 36. As we cannot come to Christ without the aide of a promise so may we not rest in the promise without closing with Christ The promises they are but as the field and Christ is the hidden pearle which is to be sought in them they are as the golden candlesticks and he is both as the Olive-tree which drops fatnesse into them and as the light which shines in them they are as the Alabaster-box and he is as the precious spicknard which sends forth the delightful savour they are as the the golden pot and he is the Mannah which is treasured and laid up in them they are as the glasse and he is the beautifull face which is to be seen in them We all beholding with open face as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. 18. But in looking unto God and Christ in the promise let the eye of faith be directed especially to these foure attributes and perfections of God the freenesse of his grace in making them the absolutenesse of his power to effect them the unhangeablenesse of his counsel not to revoke or disannull the least iota of them the greatnesse of his wisdome to performe all which he hath spoken in the best season and joynt of time These are foure such pillars upon which faith may safely leane and which the strength of the most violent temptations can never shake much lesse overturne as Sampson did the pillars of the house against which he leaned Judg. 16. 30. SECT 2. Eye free grace First view with the eye of faith the freenesse of Gods grace in making so many rich promises they are all patents of grace not bills of debt expressions of love not rewards of services gifts not wages He that made many out of mercy might without the least umbrage of injustice have made none Though his truth do tie him to the performance of them yet his love and mercy onely did move him to the making of them his promise hath made him a debtour but free grace made him a promiser And here the assertion of the School may be judged sound Divina voluntas licèt simpiciter libera sit ad extra ex suppositione tamen unius actus liberi potest necessitari ad alterum Though the will of God be most entirely free in all his manifestations towards the creature yet upon the voluntary and free precedency of one supposed act we may justly conceive him to be necessarily obliged to a second Thus God was most absolutely free in the making of his promises but having made them he is necessitated to the fulfilling of them by his truth According to that of the Apostle Tit. 1. 2. God who cannot lie hath promised before the world began And that of the Prophet Thou wilt performe the truth to Jacob and the mercy to Abraham Mich. 7. 20. The making of the promise unto Abraham was free mercy the fulfilling of it to Jacob was justice and truth This direction touching the freenesse of Gods grace in the promises is exceeding usefull to succour and relieve the perplexing fears of the weak and tempted Christian who though he have eyes to see the unspeakable worth and excellencie of the promises yet hath not the confidence to put forth the hand of faith and to apply them to his necessities He wants forgivenesse of sinnes but doubts the promise
the promises to be effectual unto us both for support and comfort He alone it is who is the mighty worker of that noble and divine grace of saving faith by which beleevers are enabled to lay hold of the promises and by them of Christ in whom they all meet as so many lines in their common centre He it is who opens the eyes of the understanding and fills the heart with an heavenly light by which the worth and preciousnesse of those things which are given of God in the promises are judged and discerned He it is who brings to our remembrance the faithful sayings of the Gospel and makes them to be as words spoken in season to him that is weary He it is who teacheth beleevers to plead the promises in their supplications unto God and when they know not what to pray for as they ought maketh request for them with groanings that cannot be uttered He it is who by way of obsignation doth seal and ratifie the promises unto the faithful and that in a peculiar and transcendent manner In the assurance and security which is given for outward things we only have the wax sealed with the impression and sculpture of the seale the signet sealing is not at all looked after if the one be safe it matters not though the other be lost But in the confirmation of the promises beleevers do possesse both they have the holy Spirit who is as the seale sealing and the graces of the Spirit which are as the seal sealed and printed upon their hearts The Spirit by his special testimony doth assure them of the certainty of their salvation and seale them up unto it acording to that of Paul Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit it self beareth witnesse with our spirits that we are the children of God and heires with Christ The graces of the Spirit which are his lively image and impresse upon their soules do also evidence and confirme the same thing according to that of the Apostle Hereby we know that we are passed from death unto life because we love the brethren 1 Joh. 3. 14. It is therefore a direction of great importance unto all who would gladly reap profit and advantage from the promises to keep firme and to strengthen their communion with the Spirit who is the only Counsellour to instruct them how to manage the promises to the best improvement of them the most powerful Advocate to furnish them with arguments to plead at the throne of grace their right unto them and their interest in them the most effectual Comforter to support their hearts with confidence to fill them with joy while they waite upon God for the performance of his promises unto them If he be grieved by our carelesse demeanour towards him it is not any promise that can make us glad if he be provoked to withdraw and suspend his light there are no irradiations from the promises that can free us from the darknesse of desertion if he be made to turne our enemy by voluntary defections from him none of the promises can speak peace unto us How vaine and ungrounded then are the presumptions of those who build their hopes of heaven and salvation upon the promises of mercy yet neglect all communion with the Spirit of holinesse Who rest in the testimony of their own spirit misguided by false rules and cheated by Satans subtilties look not at all after the testimony and witnesse of the Spirit without whom all the promises of the Gospel are but as deeds and instruments with Labels hanging at them without seales to confirme them which do not operate or convey any thing of right unto those that are possessed of them SECT 5. Rule 10. Be truly thankful for the least dawnings of mercie The tenth direction in the right use of the promises no lesse weighty then any is To be truly thankful for the least dawnings of mercy for the smalest pledge and earnest of comfort which the promises at any time do afford unto us The Angel rebuked and reproached those who despised the day of small things Zach. 4. 10. who with mournfull eyes with unbeleeving and misgiving hearts did look upon the poor and meane beginnings of the rebuilding of the Temple as such which were altogether unlikely to terminate in a glorious structure and to have the top-stone thereof laid with shoutings and acclamations of joy And no lesse are those Christians to be reproved who esteem any of the consolations of God to be small who if they be not at first filled with the spiritual suavities of the promises take little or no notice of the support and sustentation which they receive daily from them who if they presently enjoy not what they hastily desire can neither thankfully accept of any pledges of mercy which God hath freely vouchsafed them nor patiently waite for the sure performance of the promises which he hath made them It is the usual method of God to fulfill his promises by certaine steps and degrees to make his salvation to break forth like the morning which begins in an imperfect twilight but ceaseth not till it grow up into a bright day The first glimmerings of peace and comfort which spring from the promises are accompanied with great mixtures of darknesse but yet they are of a growing and prevailing nature and therefore are not to be despised but to be thankfully acknowledged and rejoyced in as the happy earnests of an ensuing day in which the soul is as full of spiritual serenity and joy as the firmament is of light when the Sunne is in its verticall point In the bestowing of his favours God deales with beleevers as Boaz did with Ruth he first gave her a liberty to gleane in his fields then invited her to eat bread at his table and to dip her morsel in the vineger and lastly gave himself So God first in a sparing manner and at some distance makes a discovery of his love and good will unto them then in a more familiar and friendly way he encourageth them by his promises to draw neere unto him and to taste how good the Lord is to those that fear him And then as the complement of all he gives his Spirit into their bosomes to assure them of his love and their interest in whatever might make them perfectly happy After that ye beleeved ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise saith the Apostle Ephes 1. 13. But the ready and speedy way to obtaine all this is to be truly thankful for the least appearance of mercy that shines forth from the promises and to count it worthy of all acceptation to receive it with such joy as the morning was wont to be anciently saluted when the people went out and cried 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Welcome such light To such God speakes as our Saviour did to Nathanael Joh. 1. 50. Because I said unto thee I saw thee under the fig-tree believest thou thou shalt see greater things then these Art thou