of the Bush had called to Moses He said in the seventh Verse I have surely seen the Affliction of my People in Egypt Hence observe That God takes notice of his Peoples Affliction yea special notice I have surely seen saith God Oh suffering Souls your Consolations are not small the Eyes of Heaven are upon you and your sufferings the Eye of Love and the Eye of Pity is not onely President over you but Present with you be you never so remote or obscure in Suffering that Eye of Divine Majesty that runs to and fro throughout the whole Earth will be first on you I have saith God surely seen the Affliction of my People in Egypt This is a sweet Word of God My People though Afflicted yet Mine though Oppressed and Hated yet My People It 's not their Sufferings their Miseries their Afflictions that can un-people them that can break that great cord of Union and Relation between God and his People My People though Oppressed and Persecuted yet My People They are never the more Unlovely in my Eyes never the more Uncomely though they are trampled upon as dirt and made as the off-scouring of the World yet I am not ashamed to own them I am not ashamed to acknowledge them to be My People and therefore I will own them and stand by them They are indeed by their Oppressors and Persecutors having the rod of the wicked over them making surrows upon them represented very Unlovely very Uncomely very Despicable and Contemptible yet nevertheless there is not a tittle of my Affection and Love that I bear to them abated or diminished they are My People yea and in Egypt God doth not onely own his People in the worst of Conditions but in the worst of Places also And therefore he saith I have surely seen the Affliction of my People in Egypt Egypt was called The House of Bondage The Nation of their Oppression The Land wherein they were Slaves and Strangers Yet there God owns them My People in Egypt It is not Places that makes God at all Disaffected with his People though they be thrown into Newgate or elsewhere the shamfullest of Goals by his cruelty whose tender mercies are no better nor nothing else yet there will God own them the loathsomest Dungeons shall not at all keep God from Communion with his People He will own them though in Egyt and saith God I know their Sorrows Know their Sorrows he doth and will he not remedie it Yea surely As if the Lord should say I am acquainted with all their Griefs I am concerned in all their sufferings Oh Christians believe this Truth That God sees all the Afflictions of his People and knows their Sorrows God sees for this end and knows for this end that he might the better communicate seasonable good to his People And in Verse 10. saith God Come now therefore that thou mayest bring the Children of Israel out of Egypt Come now saith God now is my Time now is my Opportunity now is my fit Season to Deliver My People God's Time of working Deliverance for his People is when they are in the midst of the greatest straits and sufferings Now the Lord is imploying and sending Moses with a Message both to Pharaoh and to his People Moses very much opposeth it and with the Lord pleads two things 1. His own Unworthiness Who am I saith he that I should go to Pharaoh that I should be imployed in the service of the great God of Heaven The Lord takes off this Objection by Answering I will be with thee The Worthiness of Gods assisting Presence will far surmount and exceed Moses his Unworthiness One thing here you have worth observing and that is That it is not the Meanness Lowness Unworthiness simply considered of poor creatures that doth exclude or exempt them from Gods service or acceptance but sin will hinder from both A Second thing that Moses pleads against his being imployed is Ignorance of Gods Name He did not know what Name of God he should carry to his poor suffering People This God answers and declares and so I come to my Text. I AM THAT I AM I AM hath sent unto them this is my Name for Ever and my memorial unto all generations In which Words you have Three things 1. A Description or Discovery of the Name of God I AM THAT I AM or what I ever was 2. The Perpetuity and Continuance of His Name This is my Name for EVER 3. The use of it to his People This is my Memorial unto all generations From the Occasion of the Words you have this Observation That God Proportions out Sutable and Seasonable Mercies and Comforts to his Peoples State and Condition You may see that this Truth ariseth naturally from the occasion of these Words if you consider that these were a People under great Promises from the Lord and also from Men under great Sufferings and Oppressions Now to this Afflicted Oppressed People God sends this Message this errand I AM THAT I AM No Name of God had been so Sutable so Seasonable as this I AM the same that ever I was I shall shew anon in due place how Seasonable how Sutable this Name of God is to his Suffering People If God had sent to his People his Name Jah or Jehovah it had been something but it had not been so seasonable as I AM. God usually stays and delays Deliverance that it may come most Seasonable and Sutable to his Peoples Conditions Why must they be four hundred years in Affliction May not two hundred years serve No at the end of four hundred years is Gods time for Deliverance then will his Mercies come most Seasonable And truly this I am perswaded is the very Reason why God seems to keep away deliverance from his People they are not yet come to the greatest of straits the Mercy will not come so Seasonable and Sutable as God would have it I might be large upon this Point but I shall not at this time though it is a Truth of great concernment I shall only prove it with an Instance or two with some Reasons and then proceed to what remains which is much upon my heart See Gen. 21. from vers 15. to 21. Poor Agar was in great distress she and the Babe was like to perish for want of water she was in the greatest of Straits gave her self and babe over for death past all hope of life Oh then was Gods time then was his time to appear and that with a Sutable and Seasonabe Mercy to her State and Condition and pray What was that Her condition was such that she had like to have died with Drought want of Drink for she was in a Remote and barren Wilderness behold God communicates to her a Well of Water From hence see That God proportions out Seasonable and Sutable Mercies Comforts to his Peoples Wants Necessities From this Remarkable instance in Agar you have many considerable things 1. That
Gods People in their greatest Straits and Wants make their recourse by Prayer to God this good Agar did The times of tribulation ought especially then to be the times of supplication Christs Suffering hour was his praying hour Times of Afflictions puts Saints upon Petitions at the Throne of Grace 2. Strange and unexpected ways and means of Deliverance hath God for his People This is a glorious Truth but I must but name it Little did poor Agar think to find Supplies in the Wilderness no visible means attainable 3. Observe That there are such Bowels of Mercy and Love in God towards his that he usually yea frequently not onely grants their Desires but gives them more yea over and above Poor Agar begs a little Water of God to preserve the life of her and her little babe and lo God gives her a Well of Water So Solomon asked for Wisdome God did not onely give him That but Riches and Honour also I must proceed A Second notable Instance you have is concerning Sampson Judg. 15.18 19. He having a very great thirst like to die the Lord in a miraculous maner preserved him and communicated a Sutable Mercy to him and gave him Water out of the Jaw-bone of an Ass One thing here I shall mind unto you that is Sometimes I have marvelled at the exceeding Drought and Thirst that came upon Sampson immediately after the Deliverance obtained by the help of the Lord against his Enemies I suppose that his great Thirst came not by reason of his great Fighting He might be thirsty but not upon that account unto death considering the Lord helped him But now for him to be by thirst near death there lies something in it and therefore I humbly judge that this thirst was sent as a Judgement from the Lord and that upon two accounts 1. His too much Vaunting Applauding and Praising of himself for this Victory See his high proud Words With the Jaw of an Ass have I slain a thousand men 2. Not returning the Praise and Honour to whom it was due and therefore the Lord might be angry displeased with him to shew him his own weakness frailty and infirmity that he might not glory in himself but to see that without the Lords assistance he was but a dead man therefore I conceive this thirst came And then betook himself to prayer and though after mercy received he was unmindful of his duty yet now his great wants and straits make him mind his duty and help and when Sampson had tasted of Gods anger then you shall have him acknowledge God having a hand in the Deliverance but not before So likewise the Prophet having fled into the Wilderness being driven to great wants the Lord administred food to him by Ravens and so the Lord communicated Sutable Comforts to his Servant I might name many more but I would hasten and briefly now give you the Reasons of it I shall at present name but two Why God proportions out Sutable Mercies to his Peoples Conditions The First is To enlarge their Experiences of Him Not a Sutable Mercy or Comfort comes to us from God but it is to stock us with Experience for Experience of God's goodness is of great use to a dependance on God Secondly It is To heighten our Praises to Him that we may much be carried forth in new Songs of Praises to the Lord. A word of Use to this and so proceed and come to the thing I aim at Seeing God doth proportion out Sutable Comforts to his Peoples Conditions then be Exhorted To walk Sutable to such a God as this is be perswaded to walk answerable to a God of such Sutable Comforts and seasonable Mercies Oh the Sutable Comforts that his poor Servants have enjoyed in their Bonds and Sufferings that when all the World shall frown then to have the God of Heaven smile that when the World strips us of all outward Injoyments then to have them made up with inward and special Injoyments when the men of the World put a bitter cup into our hands then for our Father to sweeten it for us when we hear the worst news from Earth we can then have the best news from Heaven Oh this is Seasonable and Sutable Comfort It 's true we want our Liberties but yet we have the blessed Liberty of the Sons of God It 's true we are in Bonds under Restraint Oh but yet our souls are not in bonds our Consciences are not captivated to sins and lusts it 's true we are in the hands of cruel and unreasonable men but yet we are in the hands of a faithful Creator Fellow-sufferers consider it and believe it you that experience Gods goodness in Sutable Comforts to you know that he expects that it should work rare effects in you and produce eminent and sutable walkings towards him Thus much for the first thing being occasional from the Words I shall now come to the chief thing I aime at I AM THAT I AM this is my Name for Ever and my Memorial unto all Generations The Doctrine Conclusion or wholsome Truth which arises from these Words is this That the great and serious Consideration of Gods Name I AM being the same to his People in all ages is of mighty use and benefit to Comfort and Consolate the hearts and spirits of his People in the midst of all their Troubles and Sufferings This is a great and weighty Truth and there lieth much sap and marrow in it and therefore I do earnestly desire that it may dwell in the hearts of all the Suffering sons of Sion this day and this Truth I judge ariseth naturally from the Words for in the Doctrine you may observe these several Branches 1. That Gods Name is I AM. 2. That it is so for EVER to his People 3. That the serious consideration thereof is of use to Comfort and Consolate the People of God in their Sufferings Now consider well the Text and you shall find this Truth couched in it And consider the Persons to whom it was communicated being the People of the Lord under great Sufferings and Troubles and you may plainly perceive that the great aime and designe of God here is that his People through a serious Consideration of his Name I AM THAT I AM should be much consolated and refreshed in the midst of their Troubles and Sufferings In the managing of this weighty Truth I shall lay down Four Things I. Prove it to you and shew you what is Gods Name and how it endures for Ever II. Declare how and wherein Gods Name I AM is the same to his People in all ages and shew you that this Truth is of mighty use and benefit to bear up their hearts in Suffering III. Give you the Reasons of this Truth which are very considerable Why the Lords Name I AM THAT I AM is his Name for EVER and continued to his People to all Generations IV. Give you the wholsome and seasonable Uses and Conclusions
of this Subject I. What Gods Name is and the Duration of it This Name of God I AM THAT I AM is wrapt and bound up in His most glorious Attributes See that notable Text in Exod. 34.5 6. And proclaimed the Name of the Lord Now what was the Name of the Lord See and you shall find it declared and held forth in His Attributes The Lord the Lord God Long-suffering Merciful and Gracious Here is the Mercy of God keeping Mercy for thousands for giving iniquity transgression and sin Here is the Faithfulness of God and by no means clearing the guilty Here is the Justice of God Now that the Name of God endures see Psal 102.26 27. They shall perish but thou shalt endure thou art the same and thy years shall have no end Here you see that this God who hath declared himself I AM is of continuance he endures he is the same and changes not Oh it 's a blessed thing to consider that God is now the same that ever he was His Name is I AM and this is his Name for Ever Psal 72.17 His Name shall endure for Ever His Name shall be continued as long as the Sun and Men shall be blessed in him Oh this Name of God I AM is the Name that shall continue and endure and whereby men shall be blessed Mal. 3.6 For I am the Lord I change not From hence you may see the nature of Gods Name to his People He is the same and changes not Psal 135.3 Thy Name O Lord endureth for ever and thy Memorial O Lord unto all generations From hence you may observe the sweet harmony and joynt-agreement the Spirit of God hath here with my Text the self same language expressed But Secondly take notice with what Zeal and Affection and Cordial desire the Prophet Declares the Name of the Lord. Oh Lord saith he thy Name endures for ever and when he speakeh of Gods Mememorial O Lord saith he it endures to all generations he fals as is were into admiration of the Name of God The next Verse declares part of Gods Name First His Faithfulness He will judge His People or plead for them Secondly His Mercy And He will repent Himself concerning His servants and that is in keeping back the intended evil and giving them the promised good One text more and then I have done with this Isaiah 63.15 16. The People and Church of God at that time as it is now were in a very miserable and deplorable state as may be discerned by their expressions in their requests Look down from Heaven and behold from the habitation of Thy Holiness and Glory And the Church seems to remind the Lord of some remisness in some things as if God had been wanting to some of his distressed People and so had forsaken them and therefore in vehement sorrow saith Where is Thy zeal Thy strength the sounding of Thy bowels and of Thy mercies are they restrained As if this poor People should say Ah Lord Our Condition is sad our State miserable and Thou seemest to be a stranger Where is Thy zeal Thy affection to Us How doth that seem to decline and decay Where is Thy strength that should be most helpful to us now Oh where is the sounding of Thy bowels and mercies where is that yearning of bowels that sympathizing that compassionate melting commiserating of thy Peoples miseries Ah Lord say they are they restrained are they bound up art Thou grown obdurate against Thy poor People Now do but observe what Arguments this poor afflicted People use and from thence draws comfort First The Interest they had in God Donbtless say they without all doubt Thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us and thou art our Father though Israel acknowledge us not From hence you may observe three Things 1. That Saints in the greatest of miseries have an eye to the Interest they have in God 2. Interest in God is of great support to Saints in times of greatest straits This hath born up the Spirit of Gods People in their trials and sufferings what if all the men of the World were mine enemies and all the malice and envy of men my accusers and all the devils my tormentors yet if God be my Father if I have an Interest in Him I have all unspeakable Help Relief and Support 3. The certain assured knowledge of the Interest in God affords great Comfort Satisfaction and Contentment to such though others know it not or be ignorant of it Though Abraham be ignorant of us yet thou art our Father A Second Argument that these People sucked Comfort from was the remembrance of Gods Name and therefore saith Thy Name is from Everlasting as if the Church should say though I am afflicted and suffer yet the Name of my God remains yea it is from everlasting Hence observe That Gods everlasting Name afords lasting comfort to his People The third Argument was the Relation they had to God and that is in the last Verse We are Thine Thy peculiar People in Covenant with Thee and Thou never rulest over the heathen Thou never hadst that rule and reign in their hearts and consciences as thou didst over and in us and we are called by Thy Name we do represent Thee to the World Thus much shall suffice for the first thing premised Now I come to the Second thing proposed and that was to Declare how or wherein Gods Name I AM is the same to his People in all ages and that this Truth is of such weight and concernment that it 's able to comfort and consolate the hearts and spirits of Gods People in the midst of their troubles and sufferings In the proof of this I shall indeavour to shew wherein Gods Name is the same to his People And first as touching Gods Power His power and strength is very great that let the troubles be never so many and never so great yet Gods Power is as great yea greater We will first consult with some Scriptures that speakes aloud to this Truth and then apply it Nahum 1.3 The Lord is great in Power Oh believe this Truth and it will administer comforts in your Straits Are your sufferings great remember The Lord is great in Power Deut. 9.29 Speaking of the Children of Israel saith Thou broughtest them out by thy mighty Power as God hath Mighty Power so it is ingaged for the good of His People Luke 9.43 And they were all amazed at the mighty Power of God Gods Power is so Mighty that it amazes the very Adversaries of his People Psal 147.5 Great is our Lord and of great Power We have a peculiar Relation to Him that hath this great Power He is our Lord Gen. 17.1 I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect God hath here declared himself to be the Almighty God the Alsufficient God able to answer and supply all wants and necessities as if God should say to Abraham Walk thou before me and
be thou perfect Now lest he should object and say Ah Lord They that do walk perfectly before thee will meet with many troubles be exposed to many hardships and losses well saith God matter it not I am the Almighty God the Alsufficient God Let the Troubles of his People be never so great yet the Lord is Almighty great in Power and strength Now seriously consider this first thing as part of the Name of God remember Gods Name I AM He is the same now as ever he was as Powerful as ever as Strong as ever as Mighty as ever This is his Name for Ever and his Memorial unto all generations Oh suffering Christians give me leave to tell you that your Fathers Power is your greatest Pillar of support in times of difficulties See that pretious Text in 2 Chron. 16.9 The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of those whose hearts are perfect towards him From hence note That there is Mighty Power and strength in God handed forth and exercised for the good of his People This truth really believed how mightily would it caution the Lords People to take heed of fears and to live above them One word of Use and I conclude this Oh let us sing Songs of praise of our Gods Power it is true Gods Power is matter of fear and terror to the wicked but its matter of comfort and joy to the Saints Psal 59.16 I will sing of thy Power when the soul is in great troubles and sufferings and consider what God is what his Name is that he is the Mighty Powerful God and then consider that he is the same His Name is I AM that the poor soul is ready to sing forth of Gods Power Believe it fellow Christians you are in the hand of God Deut. 33.3 Observe all his Saints are in his hand not some but all oh you be safe enough there is none can pluck you out of your fathers hand and besides he hath all Power in his hand 2 Chron. 19.6 Oh then my dear Brethren be not hopeless for God leaves you not helpless What can harm you you have the Power of God to arm you then labour to undergo all here for you shall not onely be delivered from all but be conquerors over all This is the first thing A Second thing relating to Gods Name wherein he is the same now as ever and that is his Wisdom He is as Wise now as ever and as Prudent in managing his Peoples concernments as ever Oh the great Wisdom of our God in ordering our affaires it 's matter of great Comfort and Consolation But first we will see what the Scripture saith concerning Our Gods Wisdom Rom. 16.27 To God onely Wise be glory As God is Wise so He is onely Wise none like Him 1 Tim. 1.17 To the onely Wise God be glory Col. 2.3 In whom are hid all the treasures of VVisdom and Knowledge In our God are treasures of Wisdom Consider this dear friends is there any Trouble or Calamity befalls you that you know not how to come out of it or be rid of it well remember that your God hath Treasures of VVisdom and Knowledge Isa 40.28 There is no searching of the Lords Understanding it is so deep and large and therefore though that cannot be searched yet it can search all things God is the alone and onely VVise God now in 1 Cor. 1.25 there is a saying something strange that the Apostle speaks and some would be apt to conclude that it was something contradictory to what hath been said his words are that the foolishness of God is wiser then men intimating as if there were some Foolishness in God the Apostle doth not speak nor intend it in the least but he was speaking of upbraiding mens wisdom that to such the foolishness of God was wiser he doth not say the foolishness in God but of God but had allusion to the Saints whom as foolish things of God were chosen to confound the Wise Now God is so perfect in Wisdom that the very Angels he chargeth with folly and it 's said of the Lords Understanding that it is Infinite Now consider this seriously God is great in Wisdom and as he was always so he is now I AM THAT I AM that is His Name for Ever a Wise God that by his wise disposing of things can make all things work for good and can turn all your troubles and sufferings to the best advantage or profit that you shall reap the fruit thereof with great gain and increase He by His Wisdom can order the Saints troubles and sufferings to be further footings to glory and happiness that by his Wisdom can allure His People into the Wilderness and there speak comfortably to them Now what a comfort is it to consider that our Gods Name is I AM still the same to His People as ever He was A word to Apply this Is our God onely and alone Wise Then let us leave all our Concernments and affairs to his dispose Our Father knows what is best for us and what will conduce to our good and His glory Well to proceed to the Third thing and that is the Faithfulness of God Gods Faithfulness is of mighty weight and concernment that His Name is I AM the Faithful God as Faithful now as ever Gods Faithfulness consists chiefly in fulfilling and performing and making good all Promises and Prophesies See the voice of the Scripture concerning this Truth Deut. 7.8 9. But because the Lord God loved you here was the Mercy of God and because He would keep the Oath which he sware unto your Fathers here was the Faithfulness of God the Lord hath brought you out with a Mighty hand here is the Power of God and redeemed you from the house of bondmen and out of the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt here is declared the Justice of God Thus consider see and observe here you have His Name which he sent by Moses to his People I AM THAT I AM this is my Name for Ever See what the Lord saith further in the ninth Verse Know therefore that the Lord thy God He is God What God A Faithful God which keepeth Covenant and Mercy with those that love Him and keep His Commandments to a thousand generations The Lord is not onely exactly compleatly and perfectly Faithful but he is mighty large in his Faithfulness the extent of it reacheth to a thousand Generations Here the Lord includes and intends all his People that are or ever will be in the VVorld One Generation continues about a hundred years if not more Now it s not reasonable to imagine that there would be from that time these words were spoken to the end of the World a thousand Generations Onely this Scripture shews the large extent of the Faithfulness of God it reaches all Saints in all Ages even to a thousand Generations if it be possible there may be
in the dispensing of his Comforts to his People yet He is as full and as rich now as ever His Name is I AM this is His Name for Ever God hath choice and variety of Comforts which he communicates as he sees most necessary I hope by this time that God hath taught his People by experience that there is no comfort in outward injoyments creatures nor relations but onely in their Lord God that they may delight themselves in His Comforts and not in borrowed feigned perishing Comforts Hence see There is no reason why Saints should be sorrowful or cast down there is bread enough in their Fathers house He is the God of all Comforts His Name is I AM. A little to Apply this and so proceed Hence see your Priviledges Excellency and Prerogative that this God that I have been treating of whose Name is I AM is your God poor suffering Sions God Oh Sion though now miserable yet thy condition thy state so good so glorious that the state of Potentates is not fit to be compared with it thy bonds and iron chains are of far greater value than Crowns Diadems there is not a step of Misery or Suffering that doth befal Sion upon Jehovah's account but it conduces a footstep to its further happiness and glory And all this because this God whose Name is I AM is theirs though Sions foes which are many and mighty may bereave her of all comfortable things here yet this God of Comforts they cannot take away 2. Take heed my Brethren and fellow Citizens of Glory of sinning and offending such such a God as this is be careful of grieving of Him lest He withdraw himself and hide his face from you Oh remember and fear that sad Lamentation in Lamentation 1.16 This Church of God had very much sinned against the God of Comforts See vers 8. Jerusalem hath grievously sinned but see the sad complaint she makes vers 16. For these things I weep mine eye mine eye runneth down with water Why what was the matter that this Church doth so sorrow and lament Mark because the Comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me Oh let their fals be your warnings But Thirdly consider if God be so to his People now as I have declared and continues his Name I AM to them in an afflicted state suffering state low and miserable state Oh do but consider and that with astonishment what will he do for them and be to them when they are in a glorified state perfected state Doth he do thus to them now they are uncomely now they wear raggs now they are the off-scouring now they have their imperfections and failings towards Him Oh oh what will his Name I AM be to them then when they shall be very comely when they shall shine as the Sun be equal with Angels full of holiness and perfection Consider this and stand in admiration If God afords a mighty presence to a burning Bush to a suffering creature oh what will he do to a glorified Saint Thus much for the Second thing Now the Third thing proposed was The Reasons and Grounds why the Lord continues his Name I AM the same to his People First That they might not be destroyed nor consumed Gods unchangableness to us is the cause of our not changing from our condition to worse See Mal. 3.6 I am the Lord I change not therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed as if the Lord should say I am the Lord I AM THAT I AM this is my Name for Ever I change not for this cause my People are not consumed Ah my friends if God were changable as man and as mutable as man where should we have been at this time how soon would our condition be far worse then it is Really if God should not continue his Name to his People I AM His Power His Faithfulness His Wisdom His Comforts their state would be very miserable But Secondly Why this Name of God is continued for ever to his People It is to engage them to Him to draw up the hearts and affections of His People close to Him If any Truth is of an ingaging nature this is it engages the Saints in their whole man for God their life and all for God yea and that in the worst of times If the very Name of God be engaged for me there is all the Reason why my All should be engaged for God And therefore Christians look to it that wherein you come short in this particular you come short in answering the end of Gods Name to you I must but name the Reasons of this Truth because of time Thirdly to shew Why God continues his Name for Ever because that there is none like him nor none to be compared to him he is indeed the chiefest of ten thousand there is no King like Him nor no Potentate like Him a man may be in their favours to day and at a little displeasing of them be turned out to morrow but it s not so with our God whose Name is I AM its not a small matter that moves Him to take hold of Judgement He is said to be slow to anger though its true a small matter moves Him to Mercy and when His People do sin against him yet he is loath to use the rod if Mercy may prevaile yea He waits to be gratious there is no Fathers nor Husbands like to our God for they are momentary and perish but our God endures and his Name to all Generations This being seriously considered is it not reasonable to leave and forsake all to cleave to this God What have we to do to own or stand by any earthly Monarch but onely that Monarch KING JESUS Who in Scripture is declared to be The onely Potentate and all near and dear Relations are to be forsaken when they come in competition with our God But Fourthly Because of the near Relation between God and his People He therefore continues his Name to them God is related to his People not onely as a Father and they his Children but He as their Bridegroom and Husband and they His Wife and Spouse and so from that near Relation to them he reserves entire affection for them But Fifthly Why God continues his Name for Ever to his People Because of the great need and necessity His People stand in of him whilst His People are here they are subject to wants and necessities both to the outward and inward man and therefore the Lord continues his Name But Lastly Because of the sweet Promises of the Lord to his People See the 28. Matth. 18 20. All Power in Heaven and Earth is mine and lo I am with you to the end of the World This I AM hath promised to be with them to the end of the World and therefore continues his Name to them for ever Now I shall come to the last thing I proposed and that was The wholsome Uses and Conclusions of this Truth which are ten
First is Gods Name I AM. Is He the same to his People now that Ever He was doth he not change Then let His People be exhorted in the fear of the Lord to be alwayes the same to the Lord as they have professed and not change in their love and service to Him Oh my friends this that I speak is but your reasonable service God is unchangable to you be you so to him though not in the quantity of it yet in the quality of it the Lord is as Powerful for you now as Ever Oh be you so to Him lay out all your strength and might for him the Lord is as Wise now to order things for your good as ever be you therefore Wise for Him let your care and prudence be to please Him and your wisdom to walk so that he may be honoured the Lord is as Faithful for you now as ever be you therefore Faithful for Him and manifest your Faithfulness 1. In a due observance of all his known Commands 2. In a circumspect Walking before Him 3. In a faithful Testimony against the Abomination of the Day 4. In a close and full Following of the Lord through all Trials and Sufferings Consider that precious Scripture Heb. 10.32 But call to remembrance the former days in which after ye were illuminated ye endured a great fight of Afflictions How seasonable might this word of Alarm be given to the Churches of Christ in these Isles how are they degenerated how have they declined and turned their backs upon the great and holy Commands of God that at the Command of a mortal man omit and lay aside the Worship and Service of God It 's my earnest desire that the Lord would rouse and waken his poor shattered and decayed Churches that they may remember from whence they are fallen and repent and remember their former days the days of Liberty and freedom wherein they were very zealous and couragious for God and made solemn Promises and Engagements what they would do and be for God in an evil day Let all the Lords People seriously consider and examine Oh be exhorted to be as zealous for God now as ever be as faithful for Him now as ever seeing Gods Name is the same now as Ever A Second Conclusion of this point is Is Gods Name I AM the same to his People as ever Then This Doctrine speakes terror to the wicked Gods enemies and that upon two accounts 1. This God is none of theirs they have no Interest in His Name and all that I have spoken they are not at all concerned in it its true Gods Name is pretious but its onely to his People the dearly beloved of his Soul 2. This speaks terror to the wicked in that as God is not theirs so he is their enemy their foe His Power His Wisdom His Faithfulness His Justice is all engaged against them God is not become their enemy upon the account of the first mans transgressions for all that is pardoned justified and acquitted and reconciled God stands an enemy to men now by reason of their actual sins their rebellion against God opposing his ways hating his People A Third Conclusion of this truth is Is Gods Name I AM Is He the same to his People now as ever and that for ever Then let this teach us to live by faith to look now on invisibles to live no more by sence but to act faith in a high measure for Gods Name is I AM Rom. 1.28 There are Three principal Things in living by Faith 1. You answer the work of the day the very work of this day calls loudly to Saints for a living by Faith the very dealings and dispensations of God intend no less then a living by Faith Did ever poor Sion see such a day as this They who are awakned and right sensible know my meaning It 's not for you Christians now to live by sence but to look up higher 2. Your living by Faith makes you more singular and peculiar in your life than others this will eminently distinguish the sincere from the hypocrite the precious from the vile If the carnal and lukewarm professor live by sence let not the Spiritual Christian do so Oh you must live more singular than others for to you this Name of God I AM is for ever 3. Living by Faith frees you from fears I never wonder that men are so full of fears they live so much by sence 2 Cor. 5.7 We walk by Faith and not by sight It 's the living too much upon sight and sence that produceth fears but the living by Faith doth prevent fears and doubts See 2 Cor. 4.16 The Apostle is declaring there that notwithstanding all their troubles and trials yet they fainted not they were not possessed with fears And what was the reason of it pray see vers 18. While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things that are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal Hence see the reason and ground why these pretious souls did not fear nor faint in their trials they lived by Faith and not by sence and this is a great cause and ground of fears and doubts this day in the hearts of many of the Lords People They look upon seen things things that are they see and behold great men are against them the Nobles the Gerals the Mayors the Army is against them they look and see themselves all weak and impotent most of them in strong Prisons I but this was not the Primitive Saints practice for they did look not at things seen for saith the Apostle they are temporal all perishing Kings are temporal Generals Mayors and Armies are temporal and perishing Well saith the Apostle We look at things which are not seen and that looking was by Faith and the things not seen were the great King of kings the Lord of hosts all the powerful and mighty Angels and the like And this was Eternal God Eternal His Name Eternal his Power and Faithfulness Eternal A Fourth Conclusion from these Words is Seeing Gods Name is I AM the same that ever he was to his People Then Take heed of casting dirt on the Name of God be careful of villifying of it It 's very sad to consider that many professing themselves Children of God should be instrumental to help the blaspheming of Gods Name Oh that this precious Name should be blemished by any of His People Rom. 2.24 For the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you They were the cause How tender are men of their own Name and Reputation how much more then should they be of Gods Oh me thinks how sad is it to consider that the wicked daily reproach Gods Name and villifie it and yet for his own Children to add and help to it Jam. 2.7 The Apostle calls it A worthy Name which men blaspheme And believe it of all things God takes it most
heinously from his People He expects little else from his Enemies but far better from his People To receive a wound from a dear friend pierces inward And one thing you may observe by the way That God deales more speedily and severely with his People for occasioning his Names blaspheming than with the wicked Witness David and others A Fifth Conclusion of this Point Seeing Gods Name is I AM the same to his People for Ever Then Endeavour to hold fast the Name of God Let there be a close keeping of it not onely hold it but hold it fast See Revel 2.13 The great Praise and Commendation of this People was in that They held fast the Name of God and did not deny his Faith but their greater glory and excellency was They held fast his Name in bad times and bad places Thou dwellest saith God where Satan dwelleth where Satans seat is and there yea in that place thou heldest fast my Name And besides thou heldest fast my Name in a very bad time even in those days wherein Antipas My faithful Martyr was slain It was a great day of trial and trouble a day of much Persecution yet in such a day as this did these souls hold fast the Name of God And concerning Antipas you have Two things remarkable from the Lords mouth First that of all his virtues and graces which were many God commends and takes notice chiefly of his Faithfulness Antipas my Faithful servant Oh God chiefly eyes principally minds and eminently will reward His Peoples Faithfulness towards Him Antipas being a great Pillar in the Church abounds in many vertues his love to God to his People to the souls of men his Faith Meekness Prayer and Sincerity Oh but Perseverance crowns all it 's Faithfulness that Gods heart is much affected with But Secondly The Lord calls Antipas his faithful Martyr My Martyr though it 's possible he died as an Evil-doer as an Heretick and Blasphemous Heresie It 's no matter how men put him to death how men called him God owns and calls him His Martyr This should encourage Saints not to matter how ignominiously and shamefully they suffer stigmatized with dreadful Names yet God speaks otherwise His thoughts are not as mens thoughts Now in Three Things the Lords People may be said to hold fast His Name 1. By a holy and reverend esteem thereof there should be reverence to it 2. By a heavenly and special walking sutable to it to the honour and praise thereof 3. By not counting any thing dear to it our own Names and Lives meet to be given up for it A Sixth Conclusion of this Subject is Is Gods Name I AM to his People the same for Ever Oh then Praise and Prize this God let your hearts be drawn forth in Praising of Him Here is matter and ground of Praise for His People to all generations Psal 68.4 Sing unto God sing Praises to his Name And Psal 96.8 Give unto the Lord the glory due to his Name Praises are due to the Name of God Oh therefore Praise this Name of God And that upon a Fourfold account 1. He is yours peculiarly you have a peculiar Interest and right to him 2. He is yours freely the Interest you have in him came freely to you though dear to Christ 3. He is wholly yours you have a whole God and a whole Christ nor a part Every particular and individual Saint in the World can say properly and truly I have a God I have a Father 4. He is Eternally yours Oh this is the chiefest of all and therefore Prize the Lord. A Seventh Conclusion from this Truth that seeing Gods Name is I AM the same now as ever Be perswaded then to suffer and dye for His Name I am verily perswaded that had we a right sence and feeling of this Name of God to us we should be mightily drawn forth with the Apostle Paul not onely to suffer bonds but to die for His Name And truly God is not wanting but will do great things for those that Suffer for his Name See Psal 119.132 David Beggs That the Lord would do for him as He used to do for those that loved his Name Implying the Lord did wonderfully for them And what greater love can be manifested to Gods Name than suffering or dying for it The Eight Conclusion from this Point is God's Name I AM Is he the same to his People now as ever Then let this serve to quiet still and satisfie the Spirits of God's People in the midst of Troubles of the Lords Dispensation and of the Worlds Destraction Oh this Precious Cordial I AM the same God rightly believed and rightly applied is able to make a Calm in the greatest Storm to afford Peace in the midst of Trouble it 's the true Balm for every disquieted and dejected Mind See that precious Text Psal 46.10 speaking before of great Troubles in the World great Destractions and strange Dispensations he comes in the 10. vers and speaks to the People of God Be still do not you be troubled be not you cast down nor disquieted but know that I am God What God a powerful God a wise God a faithful God the God of Comforts I AM THAT I AM This is my Name for Ever and my Memorial unto all Generations The Ninth Conclusion I draw from this Truth That seeing Gods Name is I AM the same that ever He was Then let your spiritual Wisdom be improved in turning bad Sights into good Signs Do you see dark and dismal Sights Oh remember God's Name and make good Signs of them Do you see the Sun stand still Remember it was for the Deliverance of God's People by the hand of Joshua Doth the Dyal of Ahaz go backward fifteen degrees Oh remember it was a Sign to adde fifteen Years to the life of good Hezekiah Oh improve God's Dispensations by acting Faith in the Remembrance of his Name and all sad Sights that may be presented to your view be as Tokens of future good Signs Luke 21.28 When these things come to passe the verses before-going shew what things they were Well what must we do when they come to passe then do you look up and lift up your heads for your Redemption draweth nigh The worst of Dispensations affords matter of Consolation for Gods People and the Reason lyes here their God is I AM. The Tenth and last Conclusion of this Subject Let all the Sons and Daughters of Sion be intreated to let this Truth briefly touched upon dwell in their souls and sink deep in your hearts and minds when you are compassed about with greater Troubles with greater Fears with greater Tryals and Sufferings than now you have Oh fix your heart and eye upon this Truth know that the Lord is God His Name is I AM That is His Name for Ever and His Memorial to all Generations To Conclude Lay up in your hearts these Scriptures Prov. 18.10 Psal 20.7 Psal 124.8 And the Lord give you understanding and blessing in these things THE END