his Word and Spirit so to be diligent to hear and learn of him that being therein drawn we may come to and believe on him who cannot of our selves come to him nor have any way to be the Sons of God in truth but in and by him received and believed on as the Apostle James also instructs us when having said Of his own good will begot he us by the word of truth that we might be a kinde of first-fruits of his creatures to him James 1.18 19. Then he addes Let every one be swift to hear slow to speak and slow to wrath namely that so he also may be begotten of him to like priviledges In Gods drawing us then with the cords of love and bands of a man take heed of breaking his bands and casting his cords from us of closing the eye and stopping the ear and hardening the heart lest we should see with the eye and hear with the ear and be converted and Christ should heal us and advance us to so high favour and dignity and so we deprive our selves thereof but hear we his voice while its called to day and yield we to his drawings of us to believe in him obey we and follow we after the Holy Spirit sent forth in his Name with his Word and Doctrine to us to convince us of sin and glorifie him to us that in obeying his voice we may be led to him and knowing his name through his light and teaching we may by his renewing quickning vertue be framed and strengthned to believe in him John 6 45. and so being born of Water and of the Spirit may be made the Sons of God in him Phil. 9.10 John 3.3 3. Yea what ground of content with our conditions may we here see being brought into Christ and made thee Sons of God by faith in him what cause or ground is there for such to envy or murmur at others for being high born rich honourable or mighty in this world what 's all the dignity and happiness of the greatest Princes Children or of the wealthiest and most potent Monarchs in comparison of the happiness of those that have God for their Father and can truly say they are born of him How poor and sorry shadows are all titles excellencies and enjoyments to what this dignity admits to and to the substance that is therein should a Princes Son envy another because he is Son to the Mayor of some decayed Corporation or because he wears a few glittering brazen Buttons or silken Ribbands when he happily hath none such but hath that that is ten thousand times more precious on him Nay not only no ground to envy sinners but none to envy any other Sons of God or any of our Brethren for what have they right to but we have also the same having one Father and one infinite Inheritance in and with him all in common though we have not the same stature the same employments the same garb yet we have the same rich powerful and loving Father that is an impartial lover of his Children and designs to make them all his children in sharing his Inheritance amongst them or rather making each of them heirs of the whole ground here is of love rightly considered but of envy and fretting for the Fathers now smiling upon one rather then upon another none 4. Yea what folly and madness must they needs be guilty of that having in and through Christ way made and advantage afforded for attaining this dignity either take up so much content in being the children of some mortal rich or great ones or in having such earthy estates pleasures or fading enjoyments or else are so taken up with care to get and keep some earthy worldly things that will not either satisfie or save them that they utterly neglect and trample under feet like Swine or very luke-warmly and coldly seek after and so miss for want of more hearty seeking such a pearl of so infinite value as this is as if there were more in being the Sons or Daughters of Gentlemen Knights or Princes or more in a few perishing riches deceitful pleasures or empty titles or honours then in being the Sons of the highest and having his favour and affection placed for ever on us Sure this is great folly and madness and yet through the deceits of Sin and Satan it is most common 5. And how might it provoke such as are the Sons of God to cleave to and tarry at home as it were with him and to that purpose to beware of accompanying themselves with the world or being unequally yoaked and bound up with them lest they draw them into disobedience and rebellion and so to deprive themselves of the love and friendship of so high a Father and provoke his anger and displeasure against them but rather take the Apostles counsel and keep to it to Come out from amongst the world and be separate to God in Christ and not touch the unclean things the unclean principles or practices of the world that so God may receive them more and more as his and be their Father and they may be to him as Sons and Daughters Yea as obedient children not to fashion themselves to the lusts of their former ignorance but as he that hath called us is holy to be holy in all manner of conversation 2 Corinth 6.14 17 18. 1 Pet. 1.14 15 16 17. 6. And it may provoke them to behave themselves as the Sons of God and so 1. To be followers of God as dear children imitating him in love mercy and goodness as Ephes 4.32 and 5.1 2. Seeking to honour God as their Father in word and conversation Malachy 1.6 3. And to that end to live chearfully in God not giving way to or sinking under cares and fears c. Phil. 4 4 5 6. 1 Pet. 5.7 Luke 12.32 4. Loving their Brethren as Sons of God also with them Ephes 5.1 2. 5. Putting on and wearing such apparel as becomes such high born persons Putting on as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercy meekness humbleness of minde c. Col. 3.9 10 11 12 13. 6. Living above the world and the things of it yea contemning such worldly lusts and delights as far below them 1 Pet. 2 11. Tit. 2.11 12. And great is the advantage of being obedient children to God and not running from him but living as his children with him as follows CHAP. VI. The second Branch opened and applied THOV art ever with me They that are obedient to God and Christ and depart not away through pride and folly from him have the advantage of being ever with him For God doth not as other Fathers sometimes do send away his Children to live from him they that forsake not him shall not be forsaken or thrust away by him They that come unto Christ and so unto God in Christ he will in no wise cast them away or lose them John 6.33 and 18.9 Other Fathers that have divers Children
little aside and it will let us return again where as when it hath once got us out of the way it leads us into a Wildernessâ— where we lose our selves and can finde no way out how desperate a thing is it to believe the deceits of sin or of a deceitful heart then which there is nothing so deceitful or more desperately wicked in the world It will bid us put but a little from the shoar and when it hath got us off makes us launch out into the deep It carries the heart as with a storm into the Ocean whence it returns not again but by the belly of Hell like Jonas if ever it return how many sinners flatter themselves in their own eyes till they fall into the deep sleeps of sin and awake not out of them but in death either temporal or eternal O what Wine or Woman what sport or Pastime what Honour or Advancement nay what Crown or Kingdom is that that can be worthy of the loss of so great a happiness as is that of the obedient Children in Christ or of the incurring of such a portion as endless yea or but as the danger of endless destruction What folly and madness is it to exchange an infinite Birth-right for a mess of Pottage and beside that loss to incur the punishment of a perpetual dungeon with all the exquisitest torments can can be thought on Use 2. Therefore also it speaks admonition to us all to take heed of departing from the Lord yea it is to all a warning to take heed and stand in awe and not to sin though more especially to such as have tasted the graciousness of the Lord and been in any measure brought to him not to revolt and depart from him again All that are far from God shall perish and needs they must because they are far from him that is the fountain of all good life and safety but God destroyes all them that go a whoring from him Psal 73.27 They shall not only perish as out of necessity as being without that that should keep them alive but God himself also will set himself against them to heap upon them what makes for their destruction I will heap mischiefs upon them I will spend mine arrows upon them saith he Deut. 32.23 Oh therefore take we heed of an evil heart of unbelief of departing from the living God for not only there is nothing like him we can go after from him if we turn aside from him we must needs go after vain things and things that cannot profit because they are vain 1 Sam. 12.21 but also if any man draw back Gods Soul shall have no pleasure in him which is but a figurative expression of more meant then said as namely that he will with-draw from him and be angry with him It is good for us to hold us fast by God and that we may do so its good and needful 1. To take diligent heed to his word and testimony minding meditating and yielding up our selves to the obedience of the truth and grace discovered therein and the wholesome counsels and commands therein and there-from given for by what means shall a young man cleanse his way but by taking heed thereto according to Gods word and what way is there to be kept from sinning against or departing from God like the hiding his word in our hearts as David sayes he did Psal 119.9 11. Blessed is the man that makes the word of the Lord his delight and therein meditates day and night for he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers side not to be blown away with any winde of Doctrine or temptation as the chaffe in the floor as ungodly men Psal 1.3 4. We Ought therefore to give earnest heed to the things which have been spoken to us in the Gospel lest at any time we let them slip Keep wisdom and her instructions and she and they will keep us Hebrews 2.1 Prov. 4.6 2. To walk in company with and in the love of our brethren those that are wise for that 's the way to be wise Prov. 13.20 Two are better than one in many respects either to hold one the other up from falling or help one the other up when fallen Eccles 4.9 10. And a three-fold cord is not easily broken There 's warmth in such fellowship Did not our hearts burn within us while walking together Christ joynâ—d himself and communed with us Luke 24. â—2 There God commands the blessing and life for evermore where brethren dwell together in unity Psal 133. So we may exhort one another to love and good works yea daily while it s called to day to the preventing our hearts being hardened through the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3.12 13. and 10.24 3. To watch and pray that we enter not into temptation Watching and taking heed to the word of God and in the light thereof against Satan and what would draw us from God and praying and crying mightily to God for our selves and one another that he would shew us his way lead us in his path and guide us and uphold us that we fall not yea to hold us up in our goings that we may be safe as knowing that we need his guidance and support at all times and that of our selves we are good for nothing Matth. 26.41 Psal 25.4 5. and 27.13 14. and 119.116 117. 4. To beware of all such things as might undo us and with-draw us from God as to say as of all sin in general so particularly 1. Of sinful porings upon our own weaknesses unworthiness inabilities to do or suffer with a neglect of the Grace given us in Jesus Christ for our helpfulness every way Take heed of an evil heart of unbelief but casting away the weights that press us down and the sin that easily besets us let us run with patience the race set before us looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of the faith Heb. 3 12. and 12.1.12 2. Of knowing our selves in any of our receipts gifts attainments and so of being puffed up with pride to be high minded and to think to live of our selves and not upon and by the Faith of Jesus Christ Pride goes before destruction and a haughty minde before a fall Prov. 16.17 18. Be not high minded but fear Rom. 11.20 21. The desire of a portion in himself and his conceit of living upon that portion received was the fall of the Prodigal that brought this death and loss upon him Luke 15.11 12. 3. Of false Prophets who would draw us from Christ into our selves or after the world and flesh from walking in the narrow way of truth to wander in the broad way of sin and errour Matth. 7.13 15. Cease to hear the instruction that causeth to erre from the words of knowledge and go from the presence of a foolish man when thou perceivest not in him the lip of knowledge Prov. 14.7 and â—9 27 4. Of the inticements of sinners and of worldly carnal persons
with thank fulness as in Psal 66.1 98 4. 100. 117 Peter the Apostle of the Circumcision tells us the same that God is not willing that any perish but that all should come to repentance and therefore is patient towards us and his long-suffering is to be accounted salvation as be saith Paul also writes as indeed he doth in Rom. 2.4 5. in whose writings he saith are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable namely in the mystery of Christ wrest to their own destruction 2 Pet. 3 9 15 16. now what might those things more likely be then those in which he seems to the unskillful to say that God would have some to perish and that his long-suffering is out of a purpose to destroy them which thou that pleadest so as before is said and such as thou art evidently wrest by your inferences to your destruction Better it is to believe the plain sayings of those holy men which they have delivered as the sum of the doctrine committed to them to be declared by them in all the world as the Apostle Paul expresly says of those passages above recited in 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. that they are the testimony whereunto he was ordained an Herald or Preacher and an Apostle a Teacher of the Gentiles not in equivocation and deceit for verily God sent not his servants into the world to deceive men with lies but in faith and verity ver 7 judging those understandings of or inferences and doctrines from any other sayings of Scripture about abstruser things that clash with those plain sayings to be mistakes than to lean to such understandings or inferences against them Mind also what our Saviour replyed to one that asked him if there were but few that should be saved and obey his counsel thereupon bidding him to strive to enter the strait gate before it was shut as the next verse implies Luc. 13.24 25. He taught him not to believe according to thy reasonings that either he must be pulled in strive he never so much against it or else there was no admittance for him but all his strivings to enter would be lost labour to him Our Saviour calls all the ends of the earth to look up to him and be saved he being a just God and a Saviour that hath not said to the house of Israel and by consequence to no body else that they should seek his face in vain but he speaks in righteousness and declares right things Isa 45.19 21 22. whosoever comes to him he saith he will in no wise cast them out he coming down from heaven to do his Fathers will and that is that every one that seeth or beholds the Son and believes in him should have everlasting life Joh. 6.37 38 40. Ask therefore and thou shalt receive seek and thou shalt find knock and it shall be opened to thee for he saith not some only that are elected to it but every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeks finds and and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Mat 7.7 8. cease thy reasonings then and instead thereof Incline thine ear and come unto Christ hear and thy soul shall live Isa 55.2 3. Assure thy self God is no respecter of persons if thou hearing consent and obey thou shalt eat the good things of the promised inheritance but if thou persist in thy disobedience thou shalt be destroyed for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Isa 1.19 20. and let this suffice to those thy reasonings But 2. If thou adde and say some that believe the Doctrine I herein preach take liberty therefrom to sin and may as well as from the other principles for if Christ dyed for all then must all be eternally saved and having liberty to turn to Christ when they will given them through Christ they may be bold to sin still till they please to turn I say breifly 1. That men may and will take liberty too often to sin where none is given them many do abuse Gods goodness and truth to their own destruction and yet his truth and goodness are blameless therein for its usually by believing some lye which they adde to his truth and for which he will reprove them Prov. 30.6 and so thou here addest falshoods to his truth For 2. Neither do the Scriptures nor I nor any that hold closely to them teach thee that all that Christ dyed for must and shall therefore be saved eternally but on the contrary they say that some deny the Lord that bought them as thou dost while thâ—u deniest to believe in and live to him and bring upon themselves swift destruction 2 Pet. 2.1 and that those that Christ dyed for may stumble and turn from him and in so doing may be destroyed and perish Rom. 14.15 1 Cor. 8.11 and upon that account they warn believers to take heed of offending their weak brethren Christ having dyed for all that they that live might live to him will therefore adjudge to a terrible destruction such as refuse to live to him chusing to live to themselves and to their sins 2 Cor. 5.10 11 14 15. 3. Nor do they assert that any man that refuses to turn at Christs calls at the present have liberty given them by him to turn when they will every obstinate holding fast of sin and refusing to turn when he gives liberty in his calls by his grace without which and further than that effects it none have any liberty at all to any thing that is spiritually good forfeits the liberty given and God may should he be severe to take the forfeiture as sometimes he doth upon that account withdraw it and swear in his wrath that men not entring his rest when by his grace they might they shall not enter it afterward if they would Num. 14.22 23 40 41 42. and that making excuses when he calls them and they might come they shall not afterward taste of his Supper to which he call'd them Luc. 14.18 19 24. Every act of willful sinning hardens the heart and grieves Gods spirit and provokes him to depart and cease striving with or drawing a man and if God cease drawing no man can come to Christ without his drawing Therefore take heed of provoking him thereto by such thy murmurings Joh. 6.43 44. Yet a little while the light is with thee walk while thou hast the light least darkness come upon thee and then thou walk thou knowest not whither Joh. 12.35 no man hath power over the spirit either his own to live as long as he list or Gods that it shall work with him as long as he please close with him therefore while it s yet a day of salvation Eccles 8.8 2 Cor. 6.1 2. One thing more I have to warn thee of and I shall conclude namely that thou abuse not any passage in this following Treatise about Gods goodness to great sinners or suddain receiving or comforting any such upon their repentance either to
they in him as they are his and he Gods In him we are compleat Col. 2.9 10. And 3. In and through Christ in our persons in title and interest by promise as Abraham Isaack and Jacob did the Land of Canaan while yet they had it not in possession for Israel did not take away wrongfully the Land of Canaan from the Inhabitants they claimed but their own by the gift of him who is the Lord of all the earth and had sworn to give it them and so the Fathers that are said to dye in faith not having received the promises Heb. 11.13 are yet said to have received them Heb. 6.14 that is as to promise or covenant and the title that gave them thereto Thence too the believers are said to be heirs according to promise Gal. 3.29 4. In hope and expectation that being justified by faith ye might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life which God that cannot lye hath promised before the world began Tit. 3.7 and 1.2 5. In usefulness and benefit all things working together for good to them that love him that are the called of God according to purpose Rom. 8.28 And so they that overcome and keep Christs words and keep with God are heirs of all things All that I have is thine Let us take a brief view or survey of their riches 1. God is theirs and all that he is not that he can be comprehended of and by them seeing he comprehends them and all things and is himself incomprehensible but by himself but he is their God their Father their Portion and Inheritance as to be worshipped and acknowledged by them so to inrich save and satisfie them The portion of Jacob is not like unto them he is the former of all things the Lord of Hosts is his name Jer. 10.16 and the Lord is my portion saith my soul therefore will I hope in him Lam. 3.24 I go to my God and your God my Father and your Father saith Christ John 20.17 an infinite portion for in having him we have infinite Wisdom to order and dispose of all things for us and our benefit and of us also for our own greatest happiness and to advise counsel and direct us in all our difficulties infinite power to effect and bring about what in the counsel of his will or wisdom he sees good to be effected and to prevent and hinder remove or destroy what he sees destructive to us infinite strength to bear up all things for us and us in all cases and to strengthen us in all services and sufferings infinite duration to continue and lengthen out our happiness for ever that we may never be deprived of it but enjoy it to eternity infinite goodness to lead him to exercise all his other attributes for our infinite and everlasting advantage infinite truth and holiness to perform all his words and promises to us c. and all this for us in and through Christ Jesus 2. Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3.23 and he is theirs and all his infinite fulness I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine saith the Spouse Cant. 2.18 and 6.3 He that hath the Son hath life and he that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ that is that continueth in the belief and obedience of it He hath both the Father and the Son 1 John 5.11.2 2 John 9. and it s in having Christ that any man hath God his God and portion and hath all his fulness for him for he that transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God and it s in him he hath all things who hath and abideth in him even unsearchable riches in him infinite wisdom to order and manage all things with God for us and from God to over and about us and to direct and guide us in all conditions In him righteousness infinite and everlasting for presenting us just and acceptable in the sight of God and in him all the promises of God are yea and Amen affirmed and confirmed true and certain 2 Cor. 1.19 20. Isa 45.23 24. In him holiness infinitely for us and therein dedication to God and renewing into his image and likeness grace to make us holy and renew us and so to make us also Gods Inheritance his chosen generation Royal Priesthood Holy Nation peculiar people In him Redemption even forgiveness of sins through or in his blood Eph. 1.7 Col. 1.14 even infinite plenteousness of Redemption for redeeming us from all iniquities Psal 130.7 8. and so from all troubles miseries bondages death the fruits of sin lying upon us Psal 25.22 Yea even from bodily death and Grave yea from hell and destruction Rom. 8.23 Hosea 13.14 John 11.25 26. in him son-ship heir-ship title to the Inheritance John 1.12 Gal. 3.26 27. Yea in a word This is the record God hath given of his Son that God hath given us eternal life and this life is in his Son he that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life 1 John 5.11 12. 3. God hath an infinitely Holy Spirit which he hath put upon Christ to bring forth Judgement to the Gentiles and this he also gives in and through Christ to them that obey him Acts 5.32 to help their infirmities teach and lead them into the knowledge of Christ glorifying him to them and so into all truth to bring his words to remembrance justifie them in their Consciences sanctifie and wash them in the Blood and Name of Jesus comfort them in their exercises tribulations and temptations be a Spirit of Holiness to and in them leading them in the way of and framing and quickning them to holiness teaching them to pray and groan after God and his Grace and Mercy in Christ for their helpfulness In a word to inhabit and dwell in them through the Word or Faith of Christ and be in them as a spring of living Waters springing up unto everlasting life and gifting them for usefulness to others and so to be as rivers of living waters flowing out of their bellies or inward man to seal them up also to the day of redemption and be to them the anointing and furnisher for Gods Service the earnest of conductor to and raiser up of their dead bodies to the enjoyment of the Inheritance Rom. 8.14.26 27. John 16.14 15. and 14.16 17 26. 1 Cor. 6.11 Isa 11.2 Gal. 5.16 Psal 143.10 and 119.37 and 51.10 11. Zech. 12.10 Eph. 2.22 and 5.18 19. with Col. 3.16 1 Cor. 12.7 John 4.14 and 7.37 38 39. 2 Cor. 1.21 22. Ephes 1 14. and 4.30 4. God hath an innumerable company of Angels to minister to him Dan. 7.10 11. and these are in and with Christ the Believers and Obeyers of him Pitching their tents about those that fear him to deliver and save them Psal 34.7 Bearing them up in their hands and keeping them in all their wayes Psal 91.11 12. Sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation Heb. 1.14 Inâ—iâ—â—â—ing the
Throne of God the Camp or Congregation of the Saints as attendants about them Rev. 5.11 and 7.11 bearing the souls of the just when taken hence into rest and peace as in Luke 16.22 c. 5. God hath many servants on the earth furnished with spiritual gifts for profiting the body of Christ as Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers these are all theirs that obey and abide with him Let no man glory in man for all things are yours whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas not you theirs but they yours 1 Cor. 3.21 Son of man saith God to Ezekiel as both the Hebrew Greek and Latine read it I have given thee to the house of Israel for a watchman c. not them to thee to use as thou pleasest and to exercise Lordship over them but thee to them Ezek. 3.17 and and so the Apostle We preach not our selves but Jesus Christ the Lord and our selves your servants for Jesus sake 2 Cor. 4.5 and he ascended up on high and gave gifts to men and he gave some Apostles some Prophets c. for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body Christ c. Eph. 4.8.11 12. 6. God hath the world as his the frame and fabrick of it and the Government orders dignities and fulness of it This is theirs also All things are yours the world 1 Cor. 3.21 22. The heavens and heavenly influences and Inhabitants He rides on the heavens for Israels help Deut. 33.26 27. their motions and influences the light warmth and influences of the Sun Moon and other Stars the Clouds and their shadow from the Heat the Rain c. and whatever passeth through the air animate or inanimate as also the Air it self they are all for the benefit of Gods obedient Children amongst and with more special eye to them then to other men for their nourishment maintenance refreshing chearing and sometimes for the exercise of their faith patience the Spirit of Prayer c. Psal 74.12 16 17. and 89.12 13 14 15. Deut. 33.27 28. Judges 5.20 Josh 10.11 14. Zech. 19.1 2. the earth and its fulness the Sea and all therein affords them supplies and God out of them and by them Gives meat to them that fear him and will ever be mindeful of his Covenant Psal 111.4 5. besides the manifold occasions that they afford them to admire and bless the Lord as manifestations of his Glory Power Wisdom Providence Mercy Justice Truth c. in his providential ordering of them and their several Hosts Psal 19.1 2 6. and 65.6 7 8. and 104. and 148. and manifold lessons and instructions that they teach and suggest occasionally to us Job 5.8 9 and 12.7 8. Matth. 6.26 27 29 30. Prov. 6.7 8. and 30.24 25 c. And then the orders of the world the Magistrates Kings and Governors and Authorities c. They are the Ministers of God saith the Apostle to thee for good not for mischief and harm Rom. 13.3 4. if thou doest well to protect thee that thou mayest live a peaceable and quiet life in godliness and honesty 1 Tim. 2.2 and if they do otherwise yet it s for good to thee to exercise thy faith and patience and quicken thee up to more mindefulness of the way to the heavenly inheritance and make thee cry more earnestly Arise O God judge thou the earth for thou shalt inherit all Nations Rev. 13.5 6.10 Psal 82.8 and whether they preserve thee from being broken or scower and make thee look brighter thou hast no dammage but benefit by them and so for all other things of the world Believers are the seed of Abraham and heirs and blessed with him and he was heir of the world Rom. 4.13 7. Life is Gods to give and dispose of this is the Believers too he is an heir of life and of the grace of life 1 Pet. 3 8. Spiritual life is his to enjoy and serve God and Christ in and with yea and eternal life is his inheritance nay but this life is his too and not he its as a servant to this life but it is a servant to him to afford him time and opportunity to do his Fathers work in that he may receive the fuller reward and to give him leasure to renew the spiritual things that by any means decay in him that he may come to his Grave as a shock of Corn fully ripe Job 5.26 Psal 39.13 Psal 6.4 5. and 30 9. and 115.17 18. Isa 38.19 John â— 4 Eccles 9.10 and 12.1 8. Yea Death is Gods too in his hand to dispose and it s his Saints too not they its not its Vassals and Captives but it s theirs and for their good sometimes to cut off and destroy their enemies that molest them 1 Sam. 26.10 Isa 51.7.8 15. Sometimes to take themselves from evil men and things and give them rest and peace from their troubles Isa 57.1.2 Rev. 14.13 and the more to exercise their faith in God for the performance of his promises when they see death seems to cut them off and put them out of all possibility of attainment Ezek. 37.11 12. John 11.25 16 40. Rev. 13.9 10. and to give them more experience of Gods power and glory in the Resurrection Ezek. 37.11 13. John 11.4 40. 9. Things present are theirs Whatever God doth and orders now in this present world or time his mercies theirs to incourage them to hope in him his judgements theirs to make them fear and stand in awe of him prosperity their 's to give them advantage to serve God with more chearfulness and adversity theirs to exercise their faith and patience and give them the more experience of Gods care of and faithfulness to them and the sufficiency of his Grace for them yea the very falls of others are theirs to awaken and admonish them to more watchfulness over themselves and others and to exercise charity in pittying them and seeking their recovery Yea all his wayes are mercy and truth to them that love God and keep his testimonies Psal 25.10 10. Things to come as they are Gods in his hand to produce and distribute according to his pleasure so they are theirs in and through Christ for their good both as now proposed in the word of God the everlasting rewards of righteousness to allure incourage and confirm them in the wayes of the Lord to seek and press after him and keep his wayes in the love and obedience of him Heb. 10.35 36 37 and 12.1 2 3. and the unspeakable terrors of the Lord and destruction of the wicked to stir them up to more watchfulness and care lest they should sin against him and depart from him they are but as armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left 2 Cor. 6.7 and 5.1 10 11. and the revelations and accomplishments of them in the time to come The joy glory and happiness to come is theirs to reward and satisfie them the woe and vengeance