Promises for the Saint's Support in Times of Trouble and Persecution
TTiat God hath freely loved his elect in Christ Jesus.
will be gracious to whom I will be gracious: and I will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
•*I even I, am he that blotted out thy transgressions for mine own sake.
‘I have blotted out as a thick cloud thjf transgressions.
“I will heal their backslidings; I will love them freely*’
Tlud God hath given Christ to death for his
decL
•*I will put enmity between thee and the woman: it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.e
afaa. xKx, 22, 23. bExod. xxxiii, 19. Isa. xliii, 25. xUv, 22. Hos. xiv, 4. cQen. iii, 15. Isa. liii, ilQ>12.
««But he was wounded for our transgressions.
When he shall make his soul an offering for sin. —
“He was numbered with the transgressors, and he bear the sins of many.
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sin. »” TJiatwe arefredy justified by Jesus Christ
“So by the obedience of one, many shall be made righteous.**
“And are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus.
«*By his knowledge shall my righteous
servant justify many.”
Tltat’ God hath made a covenant with his children to be their God.
“I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee in their generations, for an everlasting covenant; to be a God unto thee and thy seed after thee.
“I will walkambng you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
“With great and eternal mercies will I gather thee.
“I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
«Dan. ix, 24. bRom. v, 19. iii, 24. Isa. Kii, 11. c Gen. xrii, 7. Lev. xxvi, 12. Isa. lir, 7, 8. Jer. xxix, S3.
*♦! will say unto them, Thou art my peopfe: and they shall say, Thou art my God,^ ‘^
Thai God unit call his children to the knowledge of his truth,
*’The meek will, he teach his ways.**
“I will instruct thee, and teach thee in all the way that thou shalt go.
“And thy children shall be taught of the Lord.
For they shall all know roe, from the least of them to the greatest, saith the Lord.
“I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, and leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go’.’’
That God unit give his Spirit unto his childrene
**I will pour out my Spirit upon you.«
<’I will pour water upon him that is thirsty.
**I will put my Spirit within you.
•’I will pour out ray Spirit upon all flesh.
“I will pour upon the house of David the fepirit.
•*I will pray unto the Father, and he shall give you even the Spirit of truth.’^
That God will came his children to trust in
him by faith.
aHosii,23. frPsalmxxv,9. xxxii, 8. Isa. liv, 13. Jer. xxxi, 34. Isa. xlviii, 17. cprov. i 23. Isa.iliv, 3. Ezek. xxxvi, 27. Joel ii, 28. Zach, xii, lU. John xiv, 16» 17.
^’Manj shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.*^
<<Under his wings shalt thou trust.
<<0n mj arms shall they trust.
*’The just shall live bj his faith.
“They shall trust in the name of the
Lord.
*<In his name shall. the Gentiles trust.’’
That God will give his children a humble and
broken heart,
“I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and I will give them a heart of flesh.t*
••I will pour on them the Spirit of supplication, and they shall mourn for him as one moumeth for his only son.
“Every mountain and hill shall be brought low.
“The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart.’’
That Ood?8 children shall have power to mortify and overcome sin.
“For sin shall not have dominion oveif you; for ye are not under the law, but un* der grace.
“iwill sprinkle clean wiater upon you, and ye shall be cleansed from all your filthiness.
“He will subdue our iniquities.
•Psalm zl, 3. xci, 4. Isa. li, 5. Hab. ii, 4. Zeph. u, 12. Mat xii* 2h i>£2ek. si, 19 Zach. xii, 10. Luke ill, 5. Deu zxz, 6. c Rom. vi» 14* Ezek. vuvif 25. Mic. viif 19, John zv, 2.; “••Every branch that beareth fruit he ptir* geth it’*
TTuU the children of God shall live a Iwly and sanctified life.
<^He shall be like a tree that bringeth forth fruit in his season.
^^I will put mj law into their inward parts. The scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
*’For their sakes sanctify 1 myself, that they may be sanctified through the truth.
^<In holiness and righteousness ail the days of our lives.
The Lord of peace sanctify you throughout
“Faithful is he that hath promised you”
Thai they love God.
«I will circumcise thy hearty and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. *»”
That God will give his children hearts to delight in all his holy otdinances.
«With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought; they shall enter into the king’s palace.<^
•Psalm i, 3. Jer. xxxi, S3. Hos. xiv, 7. John xxiL 19. Luke i, 7S. Thes. v, 23, 24. Deut MX. 6. cpsalm xlv. 15. Isa. xii. 3. xxr, 6. lvi. 7. Ixzi. 12, 13, 14. Zach. xUi» 19.
•^Therefore with j.oy shall they draw waters out of the wells of salvation.
“And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat tilings.
•*Even them will I bring to my holy moun-. tain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer.
*’Ye shall be borne upon her sides and be dandled upon her knees.
**So will I comfort you, and ye shall be comforted.
“And when you see this, your hearts
shall rejoice.
<^The fast of the tenth month shall be unto the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts.’*
That God unll give his children fuarts to lear and serve him*
‘^Thev shsll sanctify my name, and sanetify the holiness of Jacob, and shall fear the Grod of Israel*
“They shall serve the Lord their God, and David their kin.
That we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear in holiness and rightousness beforje him. all the days of our life
Isa. xxix. 23. Jer. xxx» 9. Luke i. 7 As
7%a, God will give his children hearts to seek him by prayer,
^*He shall call upon me, and I will hear him.*
“Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall pray unto me, and I will hear you.
And ye shall seek me and find me: search forme with all your hearts.
‘^I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication.”
7%at God mU hear the prayers of his children,
**Call upon me in the day of trouble, and 1 will deliver thee.*>
*^He shall call upon me, and I will answer him.
“He will hear their cry, and will save them.
Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer.
Before they call, I will answer; and while the? are speaking, I will hear.
<*He shall seek me and shall find me; when you shall seek, I will be found of you.
Ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.
“Psalm xci, 15. Jer. xxix. 12, 13. Zach. xii. 10. Psalm 1, 15. xci. 15. cxlv, 19. Isa. lviii, d. lxv. 24. Jer. xjdx» 13> 14. John xv, 7. Mat. xii. 7. xxi, 22.
<*Ask, and it shall be given yov; seek,, and ye shall find.
**VVhat8oever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive,**
That we may persevere in grace.
They shall bnng forth fruit in their old age.**
*^His leaf shall not wither.
*’The Lord shall ^ide thee continuall y, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered den, and like a spring whose waters fail not.*’
That God unU we unto hU children the good things of this life.
*^But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.*»
<*There is no want to them that fear hire.
<^They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thine,
“No good thing shall he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Thai God will guide his children by ?tis special proviaence in all their ways,
^*I will not leave thee nor forsake thee»«
‘<Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble for the Lord shall be tby confidence*
*’He will give hia angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
•*’i’he Lofd shall preserve thy going-out and thy coming-in.
* *And even to your old age, I am He; and even to hoary hairs will I carry you.’’
T^hot God tmll bless those whO( are diligent in their calling.
*«The Lord will command the blessing upon thee in all thou settest thy hand unto
“Thou shalt eat the labour of thy hand; happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
**The hand of the diligent maketh rich.
“He that tilleth his land, shall be satisfied with bread.”
That God tvill bless those that keep his sabbaths.
“Blessed is the man that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it.^
“If thou turn away thy foot from the sab* bath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day, and call the sabbath a delight;
“Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord, and 1 will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father.
“Then this city shall remain for ever.’*
*Deut. xxviii, 8. Psalm cxxviii, 2. Prov. x, 4. xii, tl. bUa. lyi, 2. Isa. kin. 13, 14 Jer. xviip 24,25.
That God will reward those that are JruitfiU
in good “works,
<*He hath given to the poor, his righteousness endureth for ever.”
“The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth, shall be watered also him* self.
“Honour the Lord with thj substance, and with the first-fruits of thine increase:
“So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst with new wine.
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
“He that giveth to the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eye shall have many a curse.
“Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.
^’Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
“Whosoever shall give to drink* unto one of these little ones, a cup of cold water, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
“Then shall the king say to them on his right hand, Come ye blesaed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.^^
TTiai we shall receive good by the society &f
the faithful.
‘*Hc that walketh with wise men, shall be wise.*
••Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened and heard it; and a boc»k of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his name.
“Arid they shall be mine, saith the Lord God of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels: and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am 1 in the midst of them,”
That God tmll keep afflictions from his children, as it may be for their good.
“The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil.b
“The Lord shall preserve thy going-out and thy coming-in, from this time forth and for evermore.
•*He shall cover thee with his feathers, and ander his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
**There shall no evil befal thee, neither shall any plague come near thy dwelling.
“As the mountains are about Jerusalem, 80 is the Lord about his people for ever.’^
»Ph)T. xiii, 20. Mai. iii, 16, 17. Mat. xviii, 20. Psalm cxxi, 7, 8. xci, 4, 10. cxxv, 2.
That otherwise, God will be with, preserve, and keep his ehilirm in afflictions, that they hurt them not
“ln all their afflictions he wasafflictedf and the angel ot his presence saved them. In his love, and in his pity, he redeemed them; and he bare them and carried them the days of old.”
^^Thej shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. He is their strength in the time of trouble. The Lord shall help and deliver them from the wicked, and save them because they trust in him.
“Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the rieht hand of my righteousness.
‘’Fear not, thou worm Jacob, I will help thee, saith the Lord God, and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel.
“When thou passest through the water, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, that they shall not overflow thee. When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; neither shall the flames kindle upon thee.”
That Ood will deliver his children out <f afflictions in his due time.
‘^*He shall deliver thee from the snare of
alsa. IxiU. 9. Pgalm xsxvii. 9, 39, 40. loa. xlit 10, 14. xBj, 2.
ai3
fhe fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver ‘him, and honour him.»
**Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all.
*Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee.
**I will restore health unto thee, I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord.
“I will deliver thee in that day, and thou shalt not fall by the sword.”
TTiat God will sanctify all afflictions for the good of his people,
**1 will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away the dross, and take away all thy tin.**
“By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit, to take away his sin.
**And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge and make them white.
^’Many sha)l be purified, and made white, and tried.
“And [ will bring the third part through the fire; and I will refine them as silver is refined, and I will try them as gold is tried; they shall call on my name, and I will hear them.’’
7hat God in his own tifne will subdue alt the enemies of his church..
“I will subdue all thy enemies,.”
*’I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks,
“Therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou earnest.
“For the arms of the wicked shall bebroken*
*•! am against thee O Gog; and I will turn thee back.
And then shall that wicked be revealedr whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.
“And the ten horns, — these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate, and naked; and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
^*1 will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and I will cause thy arraws to fall out of thy right hand.”
That th children of God shall die hcqtpUy.
*’They shall come to the grave in a MX
age, like as a shock of corn cometh in his season* b
“He shall go in peace, they shall rest in
«1 Chron. xvii. 10. Isa. x. 12. Isa. xxxviii, 29, Psalm xxxvii, 17. Ezek. xxxix. 1, 2. 2Thes. ii,8. Rev. xvii, 16. Ezek. xxxix, 3. »>Job v, 26. Isa. Irii, 2. Psalm xxxvii, 37.
their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.
“Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.” That the just shall be raised unto eternal life.
•*I will ransom them from the power of the grave, I will redeem them from death; O death, 1 will be thy plague; 0 grave, I will be thy destruction. *
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth, shall awake to everlasting life, and some to shame.
“All that are in the graves shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life.
l will raise him up at the last day.
‘*He that raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise us up also by Jesus.
‘* When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.’*
That God will reward the labours of th righteous in the life to come.
“Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is yaur reward in heaven.**
Whosoever shall forsake houses, or brethren or sisters, or father or mother, or wife or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, he shall receive a hundred fold more, and shall inherit everlasting life.
*Ho9. xui, 14. Dan. xii, 2. John ▼,28, 29. vi,40. 2 Cor. iv, 14 Col. iii, 4. b Atat v, 12. xix, 29. Kv, 34, Luke xiv, 14. Rev. xxi, r.
**Come, ye blessed of my Father, ioherit the kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the world.
‘’Thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
“He that overcometh, shall inherit all things.”
Tlmt God will make good and petform all that he hath promised.
<^lnd I ‘Will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father. *’’
“Know therefore that the Lord thy God, — he is God, the faithful Grod which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him.
‘’Blessed be the Lord that hath given rest unto his people: there hath not failed one word of all his good promises which he promised.
*<My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
“Thus saith the Lord, If you can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, that there should not be day and night in their season then may also my covenant by broken*
“For all the promises of God in him are YEA, and in him aken.^
*^Give me understanding and I shall keep thy law; yea, I will observe it with my whole heart:
•♦Deal with thy servant according to thy tinercies, and teach me thy statutes.
“How sweet are thy words quto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my’ mouth.
“What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards meP
“Consider how I love thy precepts; quicken me, O Lord, according to thy loving-kindness.
“With my whole heart have I sought thee; 0 let me not wander from thy commandments.
“For ever, O Lord, thyjword is settled in heaven; thy taithfalness is unto all generations.” ’
“Plead my cause and deliver me; quicken me according to thy word.
“Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven and in earth.
‘Make me to understand the way of thy precept so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
“Remember thy word unto thy servants upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
‘« Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high? *
“Incline my heart unto thy testipiony, and not unto covetousness.
. ^’When my spirit was overwhelmed wiftin me, thou knewest my paths.
**My soul is continually in my hand* yet * do I not forget thy 1a w.,
^’Stablish thy word unto thy servant, wha is devoted to tn; fear,’* THE
AUTHOR’S POSTSCRIPTS
THESE promises I have observed: inan- mre there are o most excellent use; but’ because they need opening for the under standing oi them, I iKrould not set them down; lest through the shallowness of my Ymdertanding I should wrong the precious*. promises. But I picked out the most plain,. and those that were of continual use for soul and body, which I have, found much good by... The promises are our legacies bequeath’- ed to us in the will ol’ our Eather.and we are to claim them i& we stand in need of any of them. And as God would not have his.chiU dren wronged in that which is bequeathed - to them in the will of their Father, much less will he withhold that whiqh. his Son hath bequeathed to us in bis lat >(rill, which he sealed with his blood... Theretbre let ussue for them; for He saith he will be sought. to to perform them to us. And when thou appliest any promise, seek untathe cpndition,. and labour to keep it, and doubt not of the
Krformance of what is promised; for he is th able and faithful who hath promised
AN AFF£0TI0NATE ’
ADDBESS TO COMMUNICANTS.
NoWt dearly beloved hnthren*
THIS holj sacrament is appointed as a sealing ordinance between Chnst and you. The covenants are made the terms are agreed to on both sides;-*-God is willing to be yours to all intents and purposes, your refuge your rest and your guide. While Christ has it, you shall jnever want; and, what God is to him, that he (in .your order will be to yon. You again (through grace) are willing to be his: — his in his own way, and on his own terms; willing to serve him; willing to b betrothed to him, and to be commanded by him, to use his remedies, to foUoVir his counsels, and to acquiesce in him as your blessedness; thus all are agreed; the articles are drawn; the covenants both on God’s part and yours, are ready written; and here you may come to put all past controversy, and mutually to sell and subscribe. O happj and blessed meeting! Christians, do tiot forget your errand; remember where yw are, and what are you come for; and know that you are upon the most solemn transaction that ever passed between the Creator and creature
It 18 .God’s admirable condescension thiat he will be tied to us, and enter into bonds tous» to bless us and reward U8;and, because our faith in weak, he hath brought his surety with him, the Lord Jesus Chnst, who is a surety on bis part, as well as ours, to un* dertake for his fulfilin his promises. And lie hath brought the visible signs and pledges bj which all shall be firmly passed and nt” tified before your eyes. •♦This is the new testament in my blood,” (Luke xxii. 20.) written in mg bhod, ratified in my blood. Oh, Sirs, this is that which Ood doth here reach forth unto you with his own hand this day!*-~the new testament in Christ’s blood! Christians, prepare your ears, and rouse up your faith, ana now believe and hear some of the blessed articles of that covenant that God doth here sign and seal to you. I shall mention only nine, which I advise you to lay next your hearts, while you have a day to live, and you shall find the virtue of these cordials stroQgand operative in all conditions* Art. I. That he vnll fulfil to you the place of all relations, (2 Cor. vi, 18.) “I will be a Father to you, you shall be my sons and daughters.*’ Whatever children may ex** pect from a fher, that you may look for from me: I will find ye meat: be not thoughtful, I know that ye have need of all these things. {Mai. vi. 32.) You shall be clothed out of my wardrobe, (Mat. vi. 30.) and wear my livery; -uid when you have need ef correc*
•iion, 1 will remember tp do it in mefcy, and you shall find, that, as a man chastenetii his son, s,o the Lord your God chasteneth yoa* (DeiU, viii. 5»)
**I will be a husband to you, and will betroth you to me for ever. You shall not need to fear; your Maker is so: I will give you my choice love, I will give you ray heart.
“I will be a Lord and Sovereign to you: “The Lord is your judge the Lord is your lawgiver, the Lord is your kingy Fear not the unrighteousness of men. I will judge. your cause, I will defend your rights; you shall not stand or fall at man’s bar; you shall not be cast at their votes: Let them curse, I will bless: Let them condemn I will justify. Who shall accuse when I shall acquit? Who shall lay any thing to your chargCf when I do discharge your When you cdme upon your trial for your life, to have your eternal state decideci, you shall see your friend, your father, on the bench; and you shall surely stand in judgement, and be found at the right hand, among the sheep, and hear the King say, <^Come, ye blessed.’”
“I will be a shepherd to you., Fear no evil, for I am with ye; You shall not want, for I will feed ye; i ou shall not wander to be lost, for I will restore ye; I will cause you to lie down in green pastures, and lead ye beside the still waters. If my officers be careless I will do it myself. ^’As for jou, O my flock, thus saith the Lord God,
I will jud|« between cattle and cattle: I will “feed my lock, saith the Lord God, and “cause uiem to lie down I will seek that which was lost, and brin again that which was driven away, and bind up that which was broken, and strengthen that which is sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and will feed them with Judgment.”
I will be a physician to you, I will heal your backslidings, and cure all your diseases; fear not; never did soul miscarry that left itself in my hands, and would but follow my prescription,’’
Well, tins is one of the articles that God here sealeth to,^^-that he will be to you in the place of all relations: Silence, thou quarrelling unbelief: Methinks I hear thy whispers, that this is too good to be true; that it were presumption in us to count upon all this. <*What! shall they, that must say to corruption; Thou art my fathe^ be able to say to the incorruptable Uod, TThou art my father? Shall they, that must say to the worm, Thou art my mother and my sisterhe able to say to the Angels of liht, Fe are my fellow servants smd to the £.ing of glory, Thou art my brother and kinsman? Shall Majesty espouse himself to misery, and the worms-meat be married to immortality and life? How can these thin be?
Nay but, O heart of unbelief, what art thou tnat fepliest against God? Dost thou, underslypretencootnumility, argue with thy
Maker, and call veracity into doubt? Is not this his word, his promise, his covenant? lnd is there not his sealP Why then dost thou doubt, O thou of little faith?
Art. II, That he will entitle you to all the divine perfections, {Gen* xvii. f.) I, will be a God to thee.’ Mark, God gives away himself, and he gives his son to you, (/«a. xlii. 6.) ‘I will give thee for a covenant of the people.’ This is the church’s triumph, {h(u ix. 6.) Unto us a son is given.’ And he gives his spirit to you, (John xiv. 16.) He shall give you another cotnforter.’ Ana believers acknowledge the receipt,^ (I Cor* ii. 12.) •We have received the spirit which is of God.’
Thus you see all the persons of the Godhead are made over to you, and so are all the perfections of the God head and so the covenant runs, (Gen. xvii. 1.) ‘I am the Almighty God, ^{or the all-sufficient God,) walk berore me and be thou perfect; these are the terms between God and a believer * — <Be thou upright before me, and I will be all-sufficient to thee,’ the all-sufficiency lot God is the comprehe<;^sion of all his perfections. Truth without power, or power without wisdom, or both without goodnesSi would, not be all-sufficiency: All-sufficencr takes in all that is in God, (if we may spe of God’s most simple essence accordinjg ip the shallow reach of our present capaCfltyy) jea, it comprehends infinitely more twn be said or thought. /Why now, this is the covenant of grace which God establishes with you this day, — that he will be a God all stttecient to you*
Christians; rouse up your f&ith, now appropriate and apply the promises, now belie e strongly and steadfastly; and believing will fill you with joy. unspeakable and full of dry. I do not wonder if your faith be put to itj in 80 eat and’, high a mystery, to draw nigh to infinite Majesty and consideringly and without resistance to say, “Thou art mine and all thou -hast 5^’ this is no easy thing. But thou mayest not dare to doubt it. Canst thou question him who is the truth? €!an. the strength <)f Israel lie, or in his word deceive thee?- But the soul is ready to reply* Oh! the thing is too high and great for me to presume to believe! and is ready, with Peter astonished, to cry out, Depart, Lord, for J am a sinful man*
But why d6in thy hand tremble, and thy hisart fail thee, and thy- feet (with Peter’s when walking on the water,) begin to sink?. What dost thou stick at? Is it at the truth of the promises? iVo, saith he trembling soul, but sure so much can never belong to me so sinful I anafraid it is not mme!-^ Why, .what saith the promise?. *«Only be upriffht.’* What, though. thou. hast a hundred failings? Yet thy neart is upright,*, the bent of thy heart is mainly for God and hbliiieasf jthouinakestjconseienceof all sin,;.
£0/ little as well as great, secret as well as open, and dost not deliberately allow thy* self in any: Thou dost, in the settled frame of thy heart, prefer the pleasing God, and Yalue his favour- and fellowship, above all worldly good, therefore thou art, upright; these marks are infallible. What! dost tnon object thy failings? Art thou under a covenant of works? Do ye think God now stands upon perfection? Certainly not in an abso* lute sense, for that would presuppose infallibility in man. But perfection of love he does require. The covenant is plain: God contendeth for uprightness, and God hath wrought in thee that condition that he requires of thee. What can ba plainer? Wilt thou suffer the devil and unbelief to catch the bread out of thy hand, when God tells thee it is thine? Wilt thou be against thyself, and refuse thine own peade, when- God is come to seal thee up to the day of redemption? This is that which the Lord hre seals to thee, — f that he will be a God all -sufficient to thee. O believe, and be thankful, and rejoice in thy own blessedness. 04iappy, thrice happy soul, to om the living God thus sigieth and sealeth, and assigns over all infinite perfections, as its everlasting possession.
Art. III. That be uill discharge you from oil your debti. (Beb:vn. 10.12.) This is the covenant — “I will benerciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities win remember no more.’* (ha. i. 18.J * Though jour sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Believesi thou this? Come near, beloved christian, approach be* lievingly, and here thou shalt see the Lord crossing out all thy debts, taking away the hand-writing that is against thee, dieclaring ’ that he hath received a ransom, and he is * satisfied, contented, and paid. 0 happy i man, that shalt leave all th sins behind thee! Why, this is the very thing the faith- ’ ful God doth here seal unto thee. Thy pardon is written in his most sacred blood, which is here shed for the remission of sins; so that thou mavest triumph with the apos* tie, “Who is he that condemneth? It is I Christ that died.”
Art. IV. That htwUl save you from all your enemiea. Not from the combat, but from the conquest; the victory shall be sure, so far as God is engaged. So the covenant runs in its first discovery, that ^A« aeed o/* the woman shall break the serpents keaa, though Jie should bruise his fie J^ ^Gert.iii. 15.) By the seed of the tiwmon understand, not Christ only; but all believers. By the serpent understand not satan only, but all his ptirty the ungodly persecuting worlds which are his children and all our tyrannous lusts, which are his brood-, his works. By his bnming aur heel understand his molest fng and wourhding ofusy but not mortally. By our breaking has Aeatf» understand the
Mai and find victory which we shall mo certainly obtain over him and Ha party at last.
Christians! what should we fear? “Death?” The covenant here sealed makes over death as a lesacj to yon; and behold, it brings the head of your conquered enemy in a charger. (1 Cor. ii 23.) <<Death is yo rs.” O blessed and most; grateful present! — “Satan?” The covenant assures you Ood will bruise him under yovr feet shortly. (Rom xvi. 20.) — ‘The .world?’’ Be of good cheer, Christiiath overcome the world. {John xvi. S3.) — ^’Hell?” There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. {Rom. viii. 1.^*- ‘’Sin?” This is indeed to be dreaded, but with a watchful and cautious fear, not with a fainting, discouraging fear: “Sin shall not have dominion over youl” {Rom. vi. 13. 14.) «<Christ was manifested to take away our sins.” <^For this purpose the Son pf God ws manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
Christians, here now is meat for ypur faith: What! do all these holy pronises nothing move you, or carry little savour or relish with them? What! shall the Almighty God give it to thee, under his own hand, that thou art a free man and thou make little account of it? Shall he gve thee thy protection, and thou lav it by as an useless paper that signifieth little? Oh, Sirs! when your hearts are ready to faint, because of ‘the sons 6f Anak that be in the way; when you see the black-guard gaping upon you» and the king of terrors levelling at you, ana a wicked world armed with rage against you, and full of malice, and the thieves and conspirators in thy bosom watching their opportunity to betray all to them; yet let not this discourage you. These were enough indeed to make a considering man’s heart to melt and die within him; but that the cove* Dant of grace yields such ample relief against Oh be ever mindful ot the covenant! Remember what has passed this day between the living God and your souls. Watch, 0 christian, and stand fast; acquit thee like a man. The conquest is sure: Who would not fiht with courage that hath assurance of the victorj?
Art. V. That he vntl bffrimd you in all conditions. He will be a fast friend to you in every change and turn all things to your good, and when you are ready to say unbelievingly, with Jacob, ^AU these things are against me’ (“Gen. xiii. 36.J ^If he brings you into the wilderness, there he will speak comfortably unto you. In the fire and the water he will be with you. *” He will be a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress: a refuge from the storm, and a shadow from the heat, when the blait of the terrible one is as a storm against the walL’
BeloYed, here the Lord is come to seal all these promises to you.. 0 go home and bless jourseWes in the sweet security of your state God hath promised you, that, whatever condition you be in, you shall hare succour and support from mm» and enjoy his presence witn you» and see his finger, in all your troubles, sweetlj turning all fdr the best. Go av^Jt and live like believers; be not afraid of sufferings, but shew that y<m. believe what God hath promised, — that affliction shall not hurt you. The next time any trouble comes upon you, remember what a promise €N>d hath passed upon you this day, and wait on him believingl for the happy issue and event of every trial that shall befal you.
Art. y I. TTial he tmll take upon him the care of all your concemmmti. ‘You must be careful in nothing.. He eateth for you. Take no thought utrhat ye shall eat or drink, neither be of doubtful mind, but rather seek ye the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto yoa.^ Come ye to tins holy otinance in any distress or trouble? Me thinks yu should go from it as Hannah, and your countenance be no more sad: God shall Hiuntber your hairs,^’ and take care that nothing be lost He will take care of your names, and ‘bring forth your righteousness as the lit’ He will take care of ytmr substaneef ‘he will give meat to them that fear him» and be
-ever mindful of his covenant:’ Of your seed, for he will be a God to them, and will entail the blessing on them. He commands that your widows and fatherless children should oe left on him. He is, by covenant, to look after their concerns: you need not be solicitous; he is tender of you. when he seems most to negVect you; as Moses’s sister, that was secretly watching behind the bush, and wishingly looking on, to see what was done to the child; though to the finders, it seemed exposed to famine and death in the flags.
Art. VII. That he will give you or be himself to you instead of, all contort. *He will be a sun and a shield, and give grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold, from them that walk uprightly?’ (Psa. lxxxiv. 11.) Oh the treasure that is in these words, / am thy shield and exceeding great reward! ’ will undertake both for thy protection and provision: When evil assails thee, I will be a shield to thee; when any good is wanting, I will be a supply; thou shalt have children, or 1 will be better to thee than ten children; thou shalt have riches, or I will be thy store; thou shalt have friends, if best for thee, or else I will be thy comforter, in the solitude, thy counsellor in thy distress. My secrets, my ears, alid my. doors, shall be ever open to thee.’ (Mark x. SO.)
He shall receive a hundredfold in this time: though he have not the things them* selves,, yet he shall have all theses andi more than all, in me; I will be house». Mend, and father, to Mm, all in one. ‘If you should have a hundred candles burning m the room, and should put out every one, and open, the window,, and let in the sun,, this would be better than the hundred lights that were put out; so here, though thou< shouldest be called on to forsake all, it will: be but as letting the cistern run, and opening the fountain.
Art. VilL That he wUl maintain you att Jfour days in his seiice, ‘He will oe your guide even unto death,’ (Psa. xlvii. 14.j. Christian, whilst thou hast a day to live, God will stand by thee: he tvUl never leave thee nor forsake thee. (Heb. xiii. 5.) Sure hj, goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your lives. (Psa. xxiii. 6.X nd the Lord will never turn away from you to do you good. (Jer. xxxii. 40./ ^O happy covenant that the Lord sealeth to you!
Art. IXc TTiat when you come of age, lie mil give the kingdom to you.- God saith to the* believer here, Thine is the kingdom;, whatever is promised in the covenant is« sealed in the sacrament. .(Luke xii. 32.’^ It is your Fiithers good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke xii. 29.) I appoint unto you a kingdom. Mark the promise pregnant with a kingdom; it is no less than« a crown, a kingdom, that is here delivered to you. (Luke xix. l.) JL certain nobkauoki went ini afar country, to receive to Mntsdf a kingdom, and to return: This is the business jrou are come hither for, to receive to yourselves a kingdom, and so to return* Oh! methinks, you should forget the ground you go upon, as you are going home to think what you have received here.. Methinks you should go forth as Uaman from the banquet, joyful and with a glad heart* Sirs, do ypu know what you are doingP AVhy the Lord doth by these signs give you the kingdom; as a man, by delivering to you a turfor a key, gives possession of a house or land.
Brethren, have you ever read of the king* dom of joy, of the crovm of life, of the robes of righteousness, of the throne of glory? Why, all the6e God here makes over to you. I tell you. Sirs, these are not big words, nor cunningly-devised fables; God Almighty is here come to certify you of the reality of his promises. As sure as you now sit oQ your seats, you shall shortly sit on your thrones. As sure as you are now clothed with flesh, so surely shall you be clothed with glory. Are you sure you are now on earth? So surely shall you be shortly in heaven; the Lord intendeth you but for a very little while in this lower region 5 you must dwell above. Where Christ is, there must you be also* As sure as you now see a crucified Christ, so surely shall you see a glorified Christ The Lord Jestt« doth anticlpate hi8 sentence here, and calls to yon, his guests, “Come, ye blessed, inherit the kingdom. Take the writings, ho)d the seals, here are the conveyances of the kingdom; the donation is sure and full, unaiterai)le, irrevocable.”
Christians, do you believe? If you do, methinks you should be ravished; methinks you should be filled with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. But do you stagger at the promise through unbelief? Do you say, •’Oh, it is too much and too great!” Why, how can this be? What! too great for God to make good! Thou darest not think so. ‘’But it is too great for me to count upon,” Why, but man, dost thou not bear upon thee the mark of the Lord Jesus? Whose image and superscription is this? Doth not your very heart prize Christ above all the world? Hast thou not made ap deliberate choice of him, for thy head and husband? Hast thou not enterea into a solemn contract with him, to be his for all times and conditions, and to love, honour, and obey him, before all others, to thy death? And doth not thy heart stand to all its choice? Hast thou not taken him, with his yoke and with his cross? And dost thou not, in thy practice, first seek the kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof? And hast thou not chosen the way of the kingdom? Art thou not in love with holiness, and desirest grace more than gold? Dost thou not prefer
a holy, spiritual life, before all the granileui* of the world, and pleasure of the flesh? And all this, not only for a fit, or flash, but in the sett fed frame and disposition of thy heart? Surely thou must wrong God and thyself, if thou deemest it to be thus with thee. Why, these are the marks of the Lord Jesus upon thee, the sure marks. Fear not, these cannot deceive theej they evidence that thou art born of God, that thou art a son, and so an heir, and therefore nicest lay claim to the inheritance.
Comethen, beloved christian, be of sood comfort, why shoaldest thou doubt? Thou hast the mark of the sheep, and therefore thy portion shall be at the right hand, and thy sentence among the blessed. Well, then, receive this holy sacrament as the pledge of all this. Go home and look over all these blessed promises, and count them thine. Do not read them, (as too often heretofore,) as if they did not concern thee. Remember what God hath here promiseri under hand and seal to thee; and let not all be left behind thee, when thou goest henc^, but let the remembrance, the sweet and fruit of them, abide upon thee while thou hast a day to live. Never forget what the Lord bath here spoken to thy soul. Make more of the promises than er in thy life before; bless thyself in them; remember how the Lord delivered thee the promises; kow ha sealed to the several articles: how ke sprinkled the blood apon the book of t&e covenant, and gave it thee, and said, ‘’This is the new testament in my blood!? Oh! live henceforth a life of joy and faith,, as a maa that is elevated above the world. Do not live at the old dull and slothful ratei carry it as a believer; and, in a word, walk as one that doth indeed take all for truth that the Lord Jesus hath spoken to thee this day* Let that of the Apostle be a close to all, (£• CoTm y. 1.) ‘Having therefore, the promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness, both of flesh and spirit, per* fecting holiness in the fear of God!”