these thoughs are also deare unto me as the issues of mine owne love This text speaks thus much even the blessed language of the tender bowels of God towards his own it holds forth mâ—â—â— sweetly the tender thoughts 〈◊〉 the mercifull God towards hiâ— people in evill times here are the thoughts of God set out to open view in a most lovely way they are set out to life and bespangled with most rare and precious Iewels God hath thoughts thoughs of his owne thoughts that he knowes thoughts towards his people that way their faces looke thoughts of peace not of troubles thoughts to give not to take away thoughts to give out a full good mercy full big enough for their expectation thoughts of seasonable speedy and welcome mercy to give his an expected end These words we might branch forth particularly and then see what fruit every branch would beare but we will not take them in sunder that which we will do is to gather thus much in the grosse as the maine that lyes in the text under which most of the particulars will kindly come in and it is thus much That our God Doct. even when his people be in an evill condition under sore pressures hath precious purposes full of mercy and good towards them busie and thinking thoughts to give out that deliverance and Salvation his people stand in need of or thus Our God hath his thoughts of mercy for vessels of mercy vnder misery Micah 4.9 13. when Zion was in Pangs and cryed out when Israel was in Babylon when she dwelt in the fields when she was in the enemies hand when many nations were gathered against her to undo her and longed to see her defiled that their eye might looke upon Zion God pesently comes in and gives a cooler to the malicious flame of the enemy but they know not the thoughts of the Lord neither understand they his councell those poore creatures bloody enemies to Gods People they knew not how God did think did devise or purpose either for his people oâ— against them what his intentions were and his purposes in letting them run on in their malice against his they lookt not at they knew not at what God did drive in all their projects against Zion this wholly takes them up how to vndâ— Zion how to trample her in the dirt but this takes up Gods thoughts how to deliver to save his and to pay them When a poore soule is in Spirituall distresses and cannot be perswaded that God will pardon him and yet he forsakes his wicked way and his vnrighteous thoughts either concerning his owne righteousnes as if that would stead him for his justification or concerning the righteousnes of Christ as if either it could not be his or being his it could not bee enough Isa 55.7 8 9. and returnes to the Lord and resolves to get the Mercy of God in Christ for a pardon But yet still he is beaten backe and knockt down with unbeâ—eeving thoughts and harpes upon this string I cannot thinke I shall be pardoned it will not enter into my heart yet it will not sound well with me Oh saies God of such a one My thoughts are not like that mans thoughts He thinkes he shall not be pardoned my purpose is he shall His thoughts are it is impossible mine are it is easie for me not onely to pardon but abundantly to parden to multibly pardon his thoughts bee â—ow and base concerning me mine be high and such as become my selfe such as sutes with the very nature of a mercifull God How can God speake more in a few words to shew what his thoughts be towards a distressed conscience How does God strive with a poore sinne to bring him out of the snare 1. He tels him that he think thoughts against his thoughts and beyond the poor creature apprehension 2 He tells the poore broke heart what his whole minde is and what he conceives toward him in his owne bowels 3 He tells him he must noâ— compare his thoughts witâ— Gods being there is no proportion betwixt them and withal swetly imployes that he takes 〈◊〉 as an infinite disparagement 〈◊〉 put his bowels and his thought in the same ballance with manâ— as is if there were no such difference but they might be we weighed together 4 He tells him in and by aâ— this the sweetnesse of his own purposes the graciousnesse of hâ— owne bowels the unspeakeable tendernesse of his heart that cannot looke on and see a pooâ— soule miserable and yet say nothing or do nothing but he must he will come in for the rescue God here speakes of his thoughts so highly to kill the thoughts of a poore creature which were ready to kill him the wound was made is kept fore and widened by mans owne thoughts God comes with his thougts to heale him â—e sets thoughts against thoughts to set man free God â—ere hath a great disease in hand when hee brings in his owne thoughts and purposes for a â—ure of it and yet this will our God do this secret concerning his owne good pleasure will God make knowne rather then see a broken-hearted sinner perish or passe his dayes without the secret or sollid comfort of the Almighty Hence the faithfull soule is a proclaiming this so freely after hee was brought out of an horrible pit after his feet were set upon a Rocke when his soule was strengthened Psal 40. and his goings established Psal 40.2 5. many sayes he and he spakes it as one wonderfully admiring it O Lord my God are thy wonderfull workeâ— which thou hast don and thy thoughts which are to us ward they cannot be reckned up iâ— order to thee if I would declare and speak of them they aâ—â— more then can be numbred aâ— if the soule should say what purposes of good hadst thou towards us when we were in the mire and clay how many thoughts of Good and how fruitfull and effectuall have thoâ—â— thoughts been which have brought out so many wonder full workes for our peace fâ—â— our comfort for our salvation Oh those thoughts of God 〈◊〉 these the poore soule eyes 〈◊〉 these take up the heart of a beleever how precious are thy thoughts unto me O God how great is the sum of them if I would count them they are more in number then the sand Davids soule did most highly honour these thoughts of God Psal 139.17.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Precious Glorious Oh they were most honourable and glorious in his eyes of great value very sumptuous and stately he lookes upon them with more admiration then ever the disciples did vpon the building of the temple they cry master what Godly stones be here David cryes O how precious are thy thought O God vnto me there were three things especially that made David so wonder at these thoughts 1 In that they were so precious in themselves 2 So many in their number the graines of sand upon the Sea-shore
unto I can not onely enquire after the Consultations and the determinations of my owne bowels but I can and do most fully know what I have there set downe to a tittle the same Lord that searched Davids heart Psal 139.1 2 3. and knew it and that so that he understood all his thoughts afarre off and was acquainted perfectly with all his wayes hee is ignorant of none of his owne waies the Lord writes not in this booke of remembrance such strange Characters Mal. 31.16 that he cannot understand himselfe that he cannot read them when hee comes to look them over God is light and he that is light it selfe what can bee darke to him Thirdly I know my thoughts that is I look over them all I perâ—se every leaf of this book every word tittle syllable of this writing I lay not this booke of mine by me I let it not ly and gather dust I am still a reading still cying what I have purposed what I have promised to do for my people Fourthly I know my thoughts that is I acknowledge my thoughts are towards you I prove and try them anâ— still I so confesse yea am glad that this is my minde it is unchangeable it is one and thâ— same towards you yoâ—â— thoughts are so foolish so variable you are of so many minds that you doe not know you own minds but I know my thoughts they are united they run one way you may be disstracted in your thoughts I cannot in mine you may bee deceived in yours I cannot bee 〈◊〉 in mine 4. The fourth thing is what the thoughts of God pitch upon as they be towards and looâ— towards his people this the spirit of God sets downe in four heads 1 They are thoughts of peace 2 They are purely and onely so not of evill that is not of such an evill that is opposed to peace not of the evill of trouble war misery and therefore are all peace 3 They are bountifull thoughts thoughts to give and therefore are both loving and enriching 4 They are bountifull to satisfaction satisfying thoughts thoughts to give an end and a most welcome one too an end and expectation too sayes the Text that is such an end that shall answer all their longings and expectations of good their desire shall come as well as an end shall come and when that comes t is as a tree of life for sweetnesse to the tast Pro. 13.1 for beauty to the eye for joy to the heart for life to the spirit O how sweet ly God doth breath out mercy Here his very thoughts be as it were turned into peace here be no thoghts of evill trouble paine misery not of evill saies God what then These thoughts of mine saies God are all for mercy they have no mixture of evill in them I am all upon giving good upon answering prayers fulfilling desires sending deliverances to my people here is nothing sounded out but the language of mercy never did the bowels of God appear more fruitfull more render or make a greater shew then now Our God is now in a few words teaching his people the fulnesse the tendernesse of his owne bowels he calls to the pit to them and tells such poore soules now deep in distresse what he thinkes towards them that they might both mortifie thier own thoughts and know how to look upon Gods You thinke sayes God but you doe but thinke so thoughts of trouble of paine of punishment Oh say you wee shall never see good day more Object nothing but sorrow may we looke for we are in so that wee shall never get out we think it impossible to be delivered Yea Answ but you deceive your selves sayes God I have thoughts of peace towards you Yea Object but thou hast had thoughts of evill heretofore and we still lye under the smart of the fruits of those thoughts Yea Answ but I have laid downe these thoughts sayes God they are come to an end and I have taken up thoughts of peace towards you Yea but we lack so much Object our wants be unspeakable our pressures exceeding burdensome and unlesse this and that evill be removed and our wants supplyed we shall still be in paine Answ I will give you sayes God doe you want this want that to make you prosperous and your condition comfortable leâ— not that cast you downe yoâ— shall have from me from my fulnesse and would you have this and that evill removed 〈◊〉 shall be done they shal not trouble you long Yea Object but we have large expectations wide desires What if you have Answ yet I can I wil satisfie you sayes the Lord you shall have your expection to the full I wil fill you though your mouthes be opened wide Yea Object but we have expected 〈◊〉 great while already and no good comes we have looked for lighâ— and behold darknesse for peace and behold trouble Why yet tarry sayes God Answ will come in its appointed time you shall have your end and expectation too my thoughts oâ— peace will speak at last nay they will speake by working by bringing forth peace unto you Let a poore soule raise up carnall Objections as fast as it can for its owne disconlation why here is answer enough to stop their mouthes water enough to quench their fire vertue enough to take away their stings and reason enough to silence all of them the very language of these expressions of the love of God it carryes this voyce in it be silent Zac. 2.13 O all flesh before the Lord What can flesh and bloud speake but here it is answered and its mouth stopt let us take asunder the particuler expressions wherin God sets forth the beauty the sweetnesse of these thoughts of his and wee shall the more clearly see which way these thoughts tend and what God himselfe intends to doe for his owne people First sayes God they bee thoughts of peace he that said before hee knew his owne thoughts now hee shewes that hee would have his people to know them and for the unfolding of his owne thoughts for the revealing and laying open of his owne bosome hee calls them thoughts of peace Here two things must be enquired into First what is meant by peace Secondly what by thoughts of peace Phil. 4.7 for the first peace is a sweet word and a sweater thing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it comes from God t is the peace of God it is more sweet excellent and glorious then mans mind can reach to it is above the minde above the capacity of any man It hath more in it then the largest understanding can behold the word used by the Apostle notes a having more when a man hath gone farthest when he hath apprehended most still he comes short in knowing what this peace is it denotes all the blessings God gives to his people Hee will blesse his people with peace sayes the
God so the Sun will not be darkned he that is light it selfe will not Eze. 2 33.11 cannot be blinded he that is a most glorious Soveraigne will not be bafled he cryes to you 1 Sam. 24.25.26.27 why will ye dy why do not you answer him and say Lord give us to live why do not you melt in your hearts and with teares say is this thy voice O our Father what hast thou so much mercy such multitudes of bowels dost thou cry after us why will ye dy when we chose such a death our selves oh thou hast rewarded us good whereas we have rewarded thee evill thou hast shewed us this day in this voice of mercy in these thoughts of mercy how well thou dealest with all thine and willest to save those who have kild themselves can God say more then to cry returne returne my thoughts are towards you come to me my mercies shall be all yours ah poore soules you have destroyed your selves yet there is helpe in me for destroyed creatures you have kild your selves yet there is life in me for dead creatures you have damned your selves yet there is salvation in me for such damned creatures as you are you have sinned and so have infinitly displeased me yet there is mercy enough in me to reconcile you to me say you bring sin yet I can take it away say you multiply sin yet I can tell how to multiply pardon and so to forgive you all Isa 55.7 as well as some is not this Gods voice does not God say thus much in effect by this gracious voice if I did intend that sin should still part betwixt you and me why do I call upon you why do I proclaime this great mercy to you my heart sais Christ cannot rest till those I dyed for enjoy the fruit of my death my love sayeâ— Father will not keep in towards those I have purposed love unto they shall have it sayes God I will be their God I will be their portion I will become their saviour Oh that sinners had eares to heare his voice Oh that they had such hearts in them that would beleeve that would make them restles under all their false gods and fly to the true 2. This truth calls upon unbeleevers to come off from glorying over the people of God when they are brought into a low condition by tyranny oppression or any sad hand of rebuke from God it is usuall with the world then to trample upon the servants of Christ when they be afflicted ones they will persecute where God smites they will grieve those whom God wounds The Church in Micah was no sooner down but the world was glad therefore she thus gives the enemy a faire warning she thus puts in a prohibition Rejoyce not over me O mine enemy Micah 7.8 When I fall I shall rise agine when I sit in darknesse the Lord will bee a light unto me Shee speaks of rising again on purpose to make her enemy to know that he should fall and never rise which was not her case nor never should shee grants she sits in the darke but denies that this will be her condition still the Lord will be a light unto me She grants the worst and beleeves the best T is as much as if she should say O mine enemie doe I fall Oh what a fall wilt thou have then Does judgement begin at me what then will thy end bee When I sit in the darke I have the Lord to be a light to me but what Lord hast thou to bring thee into light He that will raise me will judge thee he that will be a light to me for my comfort will be a terror to thee for thy condemnation Shee thus replies for herself against the ungodly giving them to know of her rise and recovery as well as fall and cleerly intimating their fall without recovery their darknesse without light their judgement without mercy which shall fall upon them and grinde them to powder take heed then yee Wicked ones tell not the people of God they be out-casts who seeks after them who cares for them they be now downe they shall never up more now they be in miseries there is an end of them they shall never rise againe What cannot God 's Ionahs live under the waves and in the Whales belly What must his Daniels needs be broken in pieces because they be in the Lyons den shall an Iron furnace in Egypt consume all the Israel of God or shall an oppressig Babylon still keepe them under hatches What is there no sun rising there is no deliverance comming Be there no thoughts of peace in the heart of the great God toward his Yes yes yee fooles and blinde why then do you thus push with your hornes Why then do ye thus pride up your selves like Moab and exalt your selves against those whom God will exalt Ier. 48.26 27. you will have for your pride one day divine justice will see you paid hear what it is make ye him drunken for he magnified himselfe against the Lord c. For was not Israel a derision to thee Was he found among theeves thou didst use him as if hee had been so even the very est villaine upon earth since thou spakest of him thou skippest for joy Oh how glad was Moab that Israel was broken Israels affliction was her melody But Moab shall be broken for it the horne of Moab where with he pusht the people of God so is cut off and his arme is broken saith the Lord ye spirituall Philistines ye may sport your selves with the sorrowes of Gods deer ones it may be your mirth cannot go well forward 25. v. till a blinded imprisoned Sampson is sent for in but what will you gaine unlesse it be ruine to your selves the losse of your own soules of your own lives and all that is truly good 3. This truth may serve to call them in from persecution from pursuing their bloody thoughts aginst the Saints why boastest thou thy selfe in mischiefe O mighty man sayes David to bloody Doeg the goodnes of God endureth continually Psal 54.1 Doeg thought hee had done such a chare when hee had told Saul where Dauid was Oh how he boasted Oh how fast he went on in pursuing him in his mischievous waies but David both heartens himself checks his enemy with this the goodnesse of God endureth continually do what thou canst thou hast not thou canst not part either God from his goodnesse or his goodnesse from me or from his people this will endure this will last when thy arrowes be all spent when thy breath is gone when thy life is lost and thou art drinking the very gall of thy most deserved portion t is as much as if David should say to Doeg O thou enemie how art thou besotted that thinkest thy waies will prosper thy vaine heart perswades thee thus thou sayst in thy self now I shall have my lust and my will I