Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	dead_a	faith_n	life_n	2,818	5	5.3918	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66610	Totum hominis, or, The whole duty of a Christian, consisting in faith and good life abridged in certain sermons expounding Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians, Epist. 2, Chap. 1, Vers. 11, 12 / by the late reverend and worthy Mr. Samuel Wales ...	Wales, Samuel.; Wharton, Philip Wharton, Baron, 1613-1696.; Wharton, Thomas, Sir.	1681 (1681)	Wing W296; ESTC R41158	76,673	232

consequently the greater faith the more peace holiness strength comfort in afflictions who seeth not how needful it is that every Christian do chiefly and above all things desire the accomplishment of saith This discovers Vse 1 and reproves a great fault in some Christians who travel and take pains to increase knowledge sorrow for sin zeal to subdue and root out hypocrisie evil thoughts and lusts while the care of growing in Faith lies neglected or is superficially prosecuted fecondarily attended Alas do you not see my brethren I speak to such whom this point concerns that this is to begin at a wrong end as if a man should take Physick or apply Medicines for Stomach Eyes Legs Armes and be careless of the Vital Parts as the Heart and Liver or look well to the branches of a Plant and neglect the root Assure your selves the hand of Satan is in this matter who like a most subtil enemy when he cannot keep you now quickned with the life of God from seeking grace and working that which is good labors that you may seek and work preposterously and so without success or comfort doing any thing rather than that which chiefly and above all things should be done Wherefore Secondly Vse 2 let my counsel be acceptable to you as you labor to excel in every gvace so bend and apply your principal endeavours hither that you may flourish and a bound in this Cardinal Grace this Queen-Mother of graces which gives life to all other vertues and duties if ever you have tasted the sweetness and known the worth of Faith stir up your selves with an holy contention to aspire after a plenitude of Faith Why are we so shaken and disquieted when troubles yea rumors of troubles come so faint-hearted or dead in afflictions so oppressed sometimes with fears or fruitless pensiveness so burthned or distracted with want of this or that earthly blessing so weak in love to God in resisting our lusts in holy duties Why is there not as indeed there should such a light of heavenly joy and sanctity in our lives as might make the men of the world stand wondring at the glory of Christianity is it not want of this great faith this strong faith the Scripture commends Let us trace our own hearts and search the matter impartially and we shall find it to be so We all desire strong bodies strong houses firm evidences and Writings for money or land and shall we content our selues with a weak and wavering faith which will be dasht out of countenance with every doubt not labour for that stedfast and grounded assurance which will minister strong consolation It s a shame for us to be babes in faith who have so long enjoyed the means of faith We are now nearer our salvation than when we first believed and therefore should lay faster hold upon eternal life Little do we know what need we shall have of the strongest saith before we die Suppose we should be freed from outward trials the Devil will sift and winnow us and when that time comes the best of us shall find all the faith we have gotten little enough Besides oh the benefit of a manly and grown faith It s the crown and glory of a Christianity before Men and Angels it brings a man to know and enjoy a Heaven upon earth works for him wonderful things and incredible to reason fills the heart with such triumphant and glorious joy in tribulations as prophane men in all their wealth and prosperity never feel nor can possibly attain makes him conquer by suffering Wouldst thou gladly be broken-hearted humble patient heavenly minded Let faith have her perfect work and thou shalt be all these and more Gods yoke shall be sweet and easie to thee thy corruptions like Davids enemies shall fall under thy feet thou shalt chase and put to flight armies of temptations and lead about the roaring Lion in Triumph thou shalt behold God more neer and see him more clearly than many others when thou art weak thou shalt be strong when thou art poor thou shalt abound in darkness thou shalt see light and in the shadow of death find life eternal What could we want if we wanted not Faith how happy might we be if we were rich in Faith My exhortation therefore and earnest suit unto all Gods people is and shall be that they would not only strive to ferret insidelity out of their hearts and confirm Faith but seek and reach after the most excellent and eminent degree of Faith a powerful and victorious Faith carrying them far above the World in all conditions and labour by often chewing particular promises and meditation of their glorious hopes by praying earnestly with the Apostles Lord increase our faith by constant hanging upon the breasts of the Ministry coming to the word of faith with an eager appetite receiving it with application by keeping in memory and revolving the experience they have had of Gods Faithfulness and Mercy by fellowship with strong and experienced Christians exercising Faith in all occurrents and such like holy meanes labor I sy that the small grain of Faith which God hath sown in the soil of their Souls may grow up to a tall Tree whose height reacheth unto Heaven full of fair leaves nnd savoury Fruits yielding shade and shelter to many Blessed is he that heareth and keepeth for he provideth well for his Soul he shall sing when others sorrow stand when others stagger or fall the Lord shall reveal to him the abundance of peace and truth The Lord give us understanding in all things and perswade our hearts to the things which belong to our peace Thirdly I gather hence Vse 3 that Gods word doth warrant Christians to prize prefer respect Faith before all other Gifts which I note to let you see a difference betwixt Apostolical and Apostatical doctrine the spirit of Paul and the spirit of Papists for they depress the dignity of saith and extol charity and the works of charity far above it They teach that the Scripture when it hath to deal with men faithful and regenerate calls not for faith any longer but urgeth good workes they teach that true righteousness consisteth principally in charity that charity onely is the forme and Queen of vertues even of faith as if one should say the form of justice is temperance an habit distinct from it or motion the form of the spirits in our bodies prosound learning indeed by some of their own men disliked they teach that faith doth out only dispose us unto justification make us meet to receive grace and obtain Christs merits but charity alone sufficeth it to justification charity will purge away sin and deliver from the guilt of death eternal Who can endure to see the Daughter lift up above the Mother to hear the hand honoured above the heart But that such Divinity should come from Papists we shall think it less strange if we do but remember two things 1. That the Roman Synagogue

when his many mighty ugly sins discourage and terrifie him to cleave still to the free and everlasting goodness of God acknowledging the Bords mercies infinitely to surpass his iniquities Thus Faith gives the whole praise of mans salvation to the grace of God 2. Faith believes God upon his bare word if God have revealed or promised this or that though all the world say it cannot be though reason cannot comprehend how or why it should be though many reasons appear why it should not be beleeved none at all why it should but this that God hath spoken faith will still all contrary surmises and subscribe to Gods testimony as more stable and stedfast than the foundation of the earth Thus faith highly honours Gods truth 3. Faith proclaims God to be able to effect whatsoever he hath promised and believeth that though a thousand difficulties stand in the way the overcoming of which flesh and blood judgeth not only a thing improbable but impossible it 's as sure as if it were done already Rom. 4.20 21. Thus it gives glory to the power of God 4. Faith causeth a man denying and renouncing his own judgment wisdom will as foolishness to bless God as well when he denies or takes away as when he gives as well for the worst as the best and to rest perswaded that the worst estate is the best for him when God is the Author of it that poverty is better than abundance when God will have him poor restraint than liberty when God will have him restrained c. that it 's greatest gain to lose all things for Christ that God loves in smiting heals by wounding exalts by humbling thorow the gates of death brings unto life Thus faith extols the wisdom of God 5. Faith makes man justifie God in all his decrees judgements dealings subscribe to the equity of them all even when he conceives not of them adore the unsearchableness of them reverently submit unto them yea when they thwart his desires pronouncing approving all his ways to be pure and righteous when he neither seeth nor asketh any reason thereof but Gods will Is not this a great honour which faith gives to Gods righteousness 6. It beholds him that is invisible every where present perswaded that he seeth and knoweth all things and so glorifieth him in respect of his omnipresence In a word that I be not too long in multiplying particulars Faith if I may so speak gives unto God his whole Divinity and of all graces most sanctifies his Name by acknowledging and confirming as it were by seal all those excellent properties and perfections which the Scripture ascribeth to him Indeed other graces also as love fear joy and the rest do honour God nor do I mean to rob them of their due praises but neither primarily for the cause and foundation of all that honour is in faith nor yet in such ample and full manner as faith Seeing then nothing is so glorious to God as Faith and consequently the more faith any man hath the more he glorifies God doth it not stand every Christian in hand above all graces to labour for perfection of Faith Secondly Reason 2 No Grace is more useful more profitable to man than Faith whether we consider life spiritual or natural For spiritual life 1. Faith espouseth and conjoyneth man to the Son of God in whom he findeth and obtaineth the dignity or prerogative of Son-ship and justification of life which things the better they are known the more they are felt and sealed up in the Soul by believing the more is the heart refreshed with unspeakable comforts 2. Faith purifieth and sanctifieth because 1. Being a gift of an holy and heavenly nature descending from above it will oppose and fight against corruption as light expels darkness heat cold and antidote poison 2. Laying hold on Christ it draweth and deriveth from him the Fountain Vertue and Power whereby corruption is mastered and mortified as a leaden pipe brings water from the spring wherein vessels are washed and cleansed 3. Faith is the mother and root of all other holy graces in a Christian and therefore as faith increaseth the rest will increase the more perfect that Faith grows the nearer the perfection is the whole cluster of heavenly gifts in the children of God the more a man knows and believes the love of God to him the more fervently he will love God the more reverently he will fear him burn with zeal of his glory patiently hope earnestly desire to be with him in heaven and so of the rest 3. Faith strengthens 1. To obey God in leading an holy life in performing all duties and doing all the good works he requireth of his people so as they may please him in all things 2. To fight against and foil all spiritual enmity faith makes a poor soul able to resist the Devil a spirit of exceeding great power to stand fast when he is buffeted by Satans suggestions which Adam in innocency could not do and to overcome whatsoever is evil in the world faith either wards off the blows or so heals the wounds received in this battel that the soul becomes more sound and healthful than before the Apostle therefore to the Ephesians arming and training the spiritual souldier bids him Above all take the shield of faith Hence it is that this grace is of all others most assaulted by the Prince of darkness 3. To persevere and continue in the way of salvation to the end because it doth seat and keep believers in the impregnable fort of Gods faithfulness and tower of his Almighty power wherein the gates of hell cannot prevail against them In a word what is said of Sampsons locks may be said of faith a Christians strength lies in it yet not simply and for it self but because it lays hold upon Christ the rock of Israel who strengthens his Members to do all things Secondly for natural life 1. Faith procureth temporal good things For God who is faithful hath promised to them that fear him and will subject themselves to his government following him wholly like Caleb even outward and temporal benefits so far as they may be good for them and not prejudicial to their spiritual prosperity or soul-thriving now a Christian by believing and suing to God in prayer of faith obtaineth them and so findeth relief and supply of temporal wants 2. Faith makes evils tolerable sweeteneth crosses enables to endure afflictions by assuring the believer that in them God offers himself as a Father will moderate the stroke minister sufficient strength give an happy issue turn them to his good by setting before his eyes such a Crown such a weight of Glory with which the light and momentany sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared Now to knit up this reason if there be such necessity and use of Faith for Justification Sanctification corroboration in holy obedience and in the spiritual warfare sustentation and consolation in afflictions and

is just such a Church as a Carcase is a Man and therefore it was meet she should neglect that grace which is the spring and soul of all piety justice charity What 's fitter for a dead Church maintaining a dead Christ a dead Cross a dead Word dead Sacraments dead Prayer a dead Ministery than a dead justice 2. That the Popish Faith is nothing else but an assent to all such things as the Church propoundeth out of the word written or unwritten which themselves being witnesses many Catholicks have who are notorious Sinners Murtherers Fornicators Thieves Drunkards such a faith I am sure may be in the Devil and therefore good reason they should commend any thing before it If it be objected Object that our Apostle expresly affirmeth love to be greater than faith or hope I answer Answ his meaning is that love is more excellent not simply and absolurely but in some respectonly that is in regard of the manner of working extent and use towards others for the work of Faith is secret in the heart invisible the work of love manifests to others sensible Faith respects God onely Love stretcheth her Armes both to God and Man Faith is profitable only to him that hath it but Loue studys the Edification of the Church and spurs forward to labor the good of the Members thereof both in Soul and Body which seems by the Context to be the very thing the Apostle intends unless you will expound it thus as some have done that in the life to come there shall be far more frequent constant and illustrious use and exercise of Love because the glorified Saints shall not be troubled in Heaven about holding Faith and Hope as they are in this World but wholly taken up with loving God hauing no other work and imployment during all eternity but to solace and delight themselves in the fruition of his glorious Presence and the society of the blessed Angels We come now to the last instruction which is this The perfecting of faith and all other Gifts in the Elect Doct. 3 is a work of Gods Almighty power The Power of God accomplisheth the Belief as every other grace of the Godly I join together the general and special from both the clauses which might be handled distinctly Hence is that of the Apostle Ro. 15.13 The God of hope fill you with all peace in believing that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.3 So elsewhere His divine power giveth us all things pertaining to godliness The truth is God himself must either do it by his own strong hand and mighty arm or it will never be done For First Reas 1 There is no other cause able to produce this effect the means without Gods blessing and spirit breathing in them are but a dead sound and can do nothing both the Ministers labours and the success of them are from Gods efficacy Man himself though indued with faith cannot believe when and so much as he pleaseth it s not in his own power to rest so firmly and stedfastly upon Gods promises as he desireth and therefore cannot perfect his own faith Alas how should he when he cannot make one hair white or black command one ounce of bodily health at his pleasure or add one cubit to his stature Secondly Reas 2 The enemies which oppose the growth of faith and holiness are such as cannot be vanquished but by the power of the Omnipotent Creator natural ignorance and infidelity degrees of spiritual death cannot be expelled but by the Author of life those potent and subtil spiritual Wickednesses cannot be mastered but by him that is strongest able to tread down Satan under our feet First Vse 1 Then it follows hence that much more the beginning and first working of Faith is from Gods powerful efficacy or effectual power For its a greater work to give than to conserve life to kindle or produce fire where none was than to keep it burning when it is kindled If that which is less viz. the consummating of faith much more that which is greater the begetting or infusing of faith must be attributed to the power of God which meets with the Arminians teaching that God doth not by his Almighty Power bring men to believe but only allure perswade excite leaving it still in their power whether they will believe or no. But the Prophet Esay makes the revelation of Gods Arm to be the efficient cause of the belief of the Gospel and our Apostle ascribes the believing of the Ephesians to the same mighty power of God by which he raised Christ Jesus from the dead It were well therefore they would change their minds or correct their Bibles Secondly Vse 2 This may comfort believers against fear of losing or salling from faith The great God who is strong in power who created all these things bringeth out their host by number and calleth all by their names by the greatness of his might who can do what he will and hinder what he pleaseth who never fainteth nor is weary hath undertaken to finish their faith by that effectual working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself As soon shall God fail as the Faith of the Elect utterly fail till the Almighty be overcome they can never perish Thirdly Vse 3 Believers who complain of weakness of faith are here taught to follow the Lord with importunate and earnest requests that he would by his out-stretched Arm uphold them in believing to the end and accomplish their faith by the same power whereby he first brought them to Faith Do we sometimes feel our selves so near swouning that we are ready with David to cry out My flesh and my heart faileth me let us cry unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of Faith Heb. 12.2 that he would strengthen us and perfect that which he hath wrought in us Let us look up unto him Joel 3.16 Ps 68.35 who is the strength of the children of Israel who gives strength to his people power to them that are faint and to them that have no might increaseth strength let us lay hold upon his strength who is the God of all Power the rock of our hearts and of our faith the worker of all our works in us and for us who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us to him be glory for ever and ever Amen Fourthly It seemes to me Vse 4 we may rightly conclude from this point that Faith shall not cease in the life to come For that which God will accomplish shall not be abolished else God should perfect and accomplish a most excellent Habit in vain and to no purpose which standeth not with his Wisdom Because the assertion may seem strange and new though indeed it hath worthy Authors these reasons may further confirm it 1. Were it not harsh and absurd to say the glorified Saints have

outward man in themselves or others ever to be exercised in one good work or other in a word when they endeavour seriously that their practise may answer their teaching and profession They dishonour it by barrenness fruitlesness careless neglect of good works when they place religion only or principally in knowing or talking profess piety but express it not in their practise or do not constantly shew forth mercy and equity in all their actions so that the very wicked can tax them for the want of these things 5. They honour it by bridling and moderating affections manifesting Christian meekness when occasions of being provoked are offered equanimity confidence and joy in God when he takes away good things or brings evil upon them They dishonour it by suffering passions now stirred by some adverse and ingrateful occurrences to overflow the banks and break out into unseemly excess when they can keep no mean or measure in their anger are fearful above measure altogether heartless at the approaching of danger grieve immoderately for losses and crosses For worldlings seeing the children of God so impotent impatient timorous dejected think within themselves surely there is no such joy in these mens religion no such power in faith as Preachers would perswade us 6. They honour it by union and harmony of hearts and tongues when they sweetly conspire and are knit together in judgement and affection as the boards and curtains of the Sanctuary by rings and tenons minding speaking the same thing walking by the same rule They blemish it by mutual jars vvars dissentions especially in matters of Religion 7. Lastly they honour it by constancy in religion vvhen they are called to suffer great things for it holding on in the way of life when showres of persecution falling threaten to drown them willing and chearful forgoing the dearest things for the Gospel They dishonour it by spiritual cowardife and apostasie starting back from the truth because of the Cross shrinking away from the love profession practice of godliness lest they should be troubled and persecuted This makes men think Religion is worth nothing for which they that know and have professed it will lose nothing this makes men say these love the world and the things of the world as well as others for they will yield to any thing rather than part with living liberty life This instruction thus confirmed and opened ferveth first to reprove many that desire to be counted and called Christians but answer not their stile Some notwithstanding all our preaching are unexpert in the word of righteousness in the art of godliness grow not in knowledge but stand at a stay like dwarfes and dwel perpetualiy upon that a. b. c. of Religion which they learned long ago Some of good age and long standing have begun to totter and turn after seducing spirits which promise to open unto them a new way that they may find rest and peace to their souls wherein they may walk without a Conscience Some for fear of worldly troubles let good causes fall to the ground But above all others this point thunders against those who by their disordered lives bring shame not only upon themselves but upon Christianity in general It s to be lamented that some by idleness in their callings pride unthriftiness undutifulness to Governours unfaithfulness in dealings slipperiness in promises rigor in standing upon and prosecuting their own right to the utmost discords and such like gross faults appearing in their lives give the wicked occasion of condemning our whole brotherhood 1 Pet. 2.17 and make Religion ashamed that ever she knew them yea blush and hide her face if they do but look at her or challenge any acquaintance with her And do we serve our Religion thus Beloved in which we hope to be saved Do we look she should comfort us plead for us lead us to heavenly glory and yet we deal with her as Judas did with Jesus that is daily deliver her up to be mocked scourged crucified pierced by the spears and arrows of ungodly mens venomous tongues Do we not fear lest if we continue to be a shame to our fathers house exposing it to infamy and obloquie in the world we be cast out at length as bastards and bond slaves lest if we be a shame to the Gospel the Author of the Gospel be ashamed of us in that great day Secondly Vse 2 all that call upon the Name of Christ and are called after his Name must hence be spurred and stirred up to answer their calling especially by an holy and unblameable life Brethren let us study every man in his place to be an ornament and credit to Religion Whatsoever things tend to the honouring of our holy profession let us think on them and do them embrace and follow after them whatsoever things we know or justly suspect will disparage and bring an aspersion upon our calling avoid abhor them Away with the works of darkness let them not be seen among us they are most unseemly unseasonable in Christians What a shame is it that those who are called to so great and glorious things should live like the base scullions of the Devil ought we not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of our enemies that we may give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully Let us oh let us strive to be such manner of persons for holy conversation and godliness that our very lives may proclaim to all men tha● our hearts hopes countrey portion is above not in this world that in our words and works wicked Men may smell the fragransie and behold the majesty and glory of Religion to their astonishment and be compelled to say these are kindly Christians indeed worthy the Name they bear the seed which the Lord hath blessed Esa 61.9 Consider I pray you for I would gladly strike this nail a little further 1. That profession separated from sutable practice is a great Enemy of Christs Kingdom Unreformed Protestants must be content to be ranked among adversaries as well as Turks and Pagans and its hard to tell which is most dangerous For 1. these fight only from without the City of God and who can look for any better from them who profess hatred and enmity against the Church Those living within the bounds and bowels of the Church put weapons into the hand both of forrain and domestick loes secretly encourage strengthen arm them against Religion while they seem to be Friends 2. Neither should external enemies have any power to hurt the Church if the sins of those that are in the Church did not provoke the Lord to become her Enemy to pull down her wall and give her into the hands of the uncircumcised 3. The bad lives of Christians are a great hindrance of the Churches increase For when the Men of the world see them as earthly midded as covetous as contentious and in a word in many things as blame worthy as themselves they

unworthy to be called or accounted our brethren in Christ who hearing of our afflictions would not afford us the help of their prayers Now this is a rule in the royal Law urged also by Christ himself whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them and that which is now their lot may be ours e're long we are subject to the same things they suffer Suppose we were out of all reach of gun-shot yet we are commanded to put our selves in their room and to be affected towards them as if their case were ours as if their afflictions were our own proper burden First then Vse 1 what manner of Christians are those who if they pray at all pray only for themselves many alas too many are of this mind may but they sit and walk in the warm Sun of prosperity sleep in a whole skin line themselves well with wordly wealth suck in the commodities of a fruitful and peaceable land let who will take thought for distressed Churches distressed Christians they will leave that to them who have little else to do To apply this somewhat more particularly We cannot be ignorant how diverse as dear to God as the best of us are at this day afflicted some pinched and pressed with penury some imprisoned some banished We have heard with our ears our neighbours have told us how some are spoiled of their goods houses children synagogues liberty of worshipping God purely their temple-songs turned into howlings some kept in sore bondage by hard cruel Lords mourning continually and drinking their own tears in abundance by reason of the oppression of the enemy and the avenger some given to be meat to the sword of the furious and sulphurous sons of Babylon who now is grieved for these breaches of Ioseph who lays them to heart the telling or hearing of these things may prove a pang of pity in us for the present but who cries earnestly to God for them who can say his soul bleeds in secret for Zions wounds and thirsts after the peace of her children as if they were his own natural parents and brethren that their miseries lie heavy upon his spirit that he bears them in his heart when he comes to God in prayer give me the man give me the man that I may pronounce him the blessed of the Lord yea one of 10000 who cannot take and find that contentment which otherwise he might and could in his own good fare quiet habitation commodious lodging sweet children to whom the best outward comforts are less pleasant and often sawced with sorrowful sighs because it goes not well with the people and Saints of the Most high Well we may here learn to judge of our selves if our houses our hearts afford no prayers for poor afflicted Christians Zeph. 3.18 if we be not sorrowful for the solemn assembly if the reproach of it be not a burden to us we are as far from a truly Christian disposition as they that are furthest dead lumps in the womb of the Church void of the spirit of Christ unworthy to be reckoned in the mystical body of Christ Secondly Vse 2 let us therefore make conscience of this duty let us never cease to commend unto the Lord his afflicted flock his peeled and persecuted people We ought to lay down our lives for them if God should call us thereunto and shall we be backward to lend them our prayers Is it likely we would spend our blood to do them good for whom we will not spend a few tears a little breath a few hearty desires and affectionate suits which we may do without hurt If the Jews in captivity must pray for the peace of heathenish Babylon how much more should the Israel of God for Jerusalem the City of God Is not the Christian Church the Spouse of Christ If we can see Christs own Spouse despightfully used trampled upon wounded and not be troubled not speak a good word for her how dare we say the love of Christ dwelleth in us The Lord no dobut hath just reasons within himself why as yet he sendeth not inlargement and deliverance to his Church but this freeth not them from blame who seeming and calling themselves the Churches chidren pray not at all or very coldly for the prosperity of their mother Nay I will say boldly this denying to help the Church against the enemy though they never conspired with the enemy makes them guilty in Gods sight of the Churches desolation as sure as he that looks on while a true man is rob'd and murthered and calls not for aid is accessary to the murther Wherefore let us now begin if hitherto we have been supine and careless and continue to be importunate petitioners for the faithful in misery oh let us double our importunity if it be possible giving the Lord no rest till he arise have mercy on Zion and stablish Jerusalem till he tread down her enemies as straw is trodden for the dunghil and raise up Carpenters which may fray and cast down the horns that have scattered Judah Zech. 1.21 that there may be no more a pricking briar to the house of Israel nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them that they may be no more a prey to the heathen but dwell safely and none may make them afraid Let us often set before our eyes their rueful condition think how many good things they want which we enjoy and how little worthy we are to enjoy what they want labour to be affected with a tender sense of their miseries that our hearts melting in compassion may send forth many zealous prayers the fruit and benefit whereof they whom we never knew never saw shall undoubtedly feel and reap in one kind or other The fourth point in order Interpretation is the ob●ect of Paul's invocation the Author of the blessings which are afterwards begged thus discribed our God that is the true God who generally is the God of the whole world The Lord of all the earth Zeck 6.5 the God of the Spirits of all flesh peculiarly of his own people Whence let us observe omitting all others only this Instruction The Lord is in special sort the God of the faithful Doctrine The godly and true believers have God to be theirs in a special manner He is my God my Fathers God Exod. 15.2 saith Moses this God is our God for ever and ever saith the Psalmist O Lord thou art my God saith the Prophet in the name of the Church The Lord my God shall come saith Zachary My God shall supply all your needs saith the Apostle And many such places there are through out the Scriptures For First Reason 1 he hath selected them out of the world and separated them from other people to be his peculiar people and embraceth them with such a love as he extendeth not to all Secondly Reason 2 he hath confirmed them to himself by making with them a

covenant of life and peace wherein he promised to be a Father and Husband to them removing evils conferring all good things in this and the future life So much is comprised in these few words I will be their God Thirdly Reason 3 they chuse and avouch him to be their God to whom they give themselves and yeild all hearty and willing service duty and obedience as becomes good children and subjects First Vse 1 this serves to controll the sawciness and presumption of wicked men who being the seed of the old serpent and children of the wicked one will needs usurp and intrude into the proper right of the righteous that is challenge God to be their God their Father It can hardly be told how dishonourable intollerable a wrong these men offer to the Lord they most indignly debase his excellent Majesty making him a favourer Patron father of naughtiness the companion of Satan which is most vile impiety yea blasphemy should a known strumpet still in all places be calling the King her Husband would it not be counted impudency worthy to be severely punished by the judges Let such hear the Lord himself if yet they will believe him forbidding him to be so bold with his Name What hast thou to do to take my Covenant in thy mouth Yea plainly telling tthem to their faces they are not his people not under mercy that he is not their God It 's true even the vilest men in the world have relation to him and dependence on him as a Creator and Conserver but no man can truly call God his by Covenant till he find in himself 1. A sweet mourning in secret for that he hath done him so much wrong and still can serve him no better 2. A sensibleness of his dishonour 3. An earnest striving to give God his heart in all worship Secondly Vse 2 this Doctrine nay comfort the Godly Fear not nor be dismayed thou faithful Christian if he be thy God who is the God of salvation and justifier of repentant sinners thou canst not be condemned if he be thine who is greater than all sin shall not hurt thee nor Satan pluck thee out of his hands If God be thine he will keep and care for thee thou art sure of consolation in calamity Esa 43.2 3. preservation in perils supply of all wants his wisdome shall be thy watch his providence thy portion his power thy pillar sustaining thee in heaviest afflictions If God be thine his promises are thine all those Texts which declare what God is or will be to his are as surely thine as if thy name were expressed in them his Christ is thine his kingdome is thine all are thine If friends fail as the brooks in summer kinsfolks grow unkind and old acquaintance stand afar off like strangers if parents or dear yoke-fellows take their leave and drop down into the dust of death if earthly stays and comforts like riches in Solomon take themselves to their wings and fly away grieve not thou as others that have no hope but sing and exult in spirit seeing God who is instead of all things remaineth thy God for ever and ever Rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous and be thankful for your happiness for blessed are the people whose God is Jehovah This is indeed true felicity to him that hath God for his God no good shall be wanting no evil mortal nothing can make him miserable Thirdly Vse 3 the faithful are here instructed 1. To rest on the Lord with full confidence of heart to appropriate him particularly to themselves boldly to challenge an interest in him When God hath pleased of his rich grace to become mine giving himself to me how can it be presumption to make claim to him as mine and say as holy ones have ever said The Lord is my God from this hold which indeed is the foundation of all our comfort the Devil and the Pope would drive us but we must maintain our title and never suffer our selves to be beaten from it especialy in the evil day in distresses and agonies of conscience imitating our Lord and Master who when his Fathers hand so pressed him that to his own feeling he had forsaken him yet cryed My God my God why hast thou sorsaken me 2. To go boldly to him in praier seeking and asking of him all things needful speak to him with confidence of acceptance and audience if he be our God he will deny us nothing Should we fear being welcome to our own I am the Lord their God and will hear them saith God in the Prophet Zachary 3. With erect and undismayed spirits to profess and confess his name before the sons of men If we call him ours and here the Apostle tells us he is not ashamed to be so called Heb. 11 2● shall we be ashamed of him deny him in the world if we do are we not well worthy to have our liveries taken from us and to be turned out of his service or discarded in the day of his glorious appearing 4. To be careful of honouring pleasing obeying him Ye shall do my judgements saith the Lord to the people in Leviticus and keep mine ordinances to walk therein Why I am the Lord your God Levit. 18.4 We will serve the Lord for he is our God Josh 24.18 say the people in Joshua For shame never profess thy self to be Gods never call God thine while thou makest no conscience of obeying him Art thou a willing servant of sin more ready to do what thy lusts lead unto than what God commands Sin is thy God Dost thou bestow upon the world the profits and pleasures of it that love fear joy delight strength time which God challengeth and the godly consecrate to him The world is thy God Are thy waies such as agree far better with the will of the Devil than with the holy will of God Dost thou not take far more care and pains for fulfilling the mind of the flesh and Satan than doing what God requireth and accepteth The Devil is thy God See now thou hast chosen and made strange gods to thy self other Lords have dominion over thee the God that formeth thee hast thou rejected for no man can serve two masters Lastly Vse 4 hence the Sons of men are admonished to take heed of persecuting that is wronging the godly by word or work for they belong to one that is higher than the highest the mighty maker of all things is their master and hath undertaken to be their Protector he that toucheth them toucheth the Lord who hath linked himself to them in an eternal league of amity If God be theirs he will certainly take their parts declare himself an enemy of their enemies smite the proudest that afflict them Make God thy Foe draw him into the Field against thee and see how thou speedest The last and largest branch of our general division now followeth Resolution which is the matter of the Apostles prayer