Of Grace
If thou doubt of salvation.
^*GoD so loved the worlds that he gave his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish but have everlasting life.*
‘*He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that hath sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life.
*<If any man keep my saying, he shall never see death.<^
“He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever believeth in me, shall never see death.^”
If thou doubt that thou shalt perish and not be savied, apply, “He that believeth in Christ shall not perish, but shall have everlasting life, and shall not come into con<- demnation.” Labour to believe these promises, for that is required of thee for the obtaining of what is promised.
aJobn iii, 16. bjohn v» 24. c John viii 15. dJohi
21,25.
If tfnne heart be as a loildemess, barren of
good.
“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them: and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose; it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing.* ‘’
This promise is made to the church, and every member of it may apply it to themselves* Therefore? when thou feelest thine heart as a desert wilderness and waste ground, void of good, full of briers and thorns of sin, then Know thou shalt not only bring forth sweet smelling graces, like roses, but also all abundance of*tnem.
**The righteous shall flourish as a branch.^ The soul of the diligent shall be made fat.<^
*^I will be as the dew to Israel; he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots like Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and hit) smell as Lebanon.^ ‘’
If we want means to make us fruitful, apply, *’The Lord will be as the dew to Israel.^’
When we desire to flourish and grow la grate, apply, “He shall grow as the lily; bis brancnes shall spread.”
If thou wouldest shine forth in the beauty ef holiness, apply, ^^Uis beauty shall be as
Hos. ziy, 5, 6.
fhe olive-tree, and as the lilieat” whose glory is greater than Solomon’s in all his royalty.
If thou wouldest have thy graces send forth a sweet smell, apply, <<His smell shall be as Lebanon.” If thou fearest the continuance of this estajte, apply) ‘’He shall fasten his roots as theixees of Lebanon.’^
It matters not how great our barrenness be, when God will be a dew to us. It will auickly make us fruitful; we shall bring forth fruits dorious to the sight as the lily, and as the oTive-tree; and the scent of our graces shall be a sweet-smelling savour as the trees of Lebanon. Therefore, thQugh thou feelest thy heart yet barren, and thou hast used means long, and yet art not fruitful, still use the means and believe; for therein did Abraham glorify God, that he believed above hope that Sarah should have a son, whose womb was barren,’and by years past child-bearing. So though thine heart remain barren in thine own feeling, after Ions use of means, yet still follow seeking in fte means, and believe; for we have as sure promises, and as faithful a performer as Abraham had, Jesus Christ, yesterday, to-day, and the same for ever. <’He that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow nyers of water of life.4
John vii,
Jf thou wantest holiness,
**You shall be a holy nation.*
“And the Lord shall establish thee a holy people unto himself. *>”
The Lord will make thee holy; therefore .neither sin. nor satan, nor wicked men, can hinder thy holiness. For he that maketh thee holy, is stronger than all, and doeth what he will.
“The God of peace shall ‘Sanctify you throughout, in spirit, soul, and body. Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it° When thou canst not offer up any sacrifice.
When thou canst not oft’er up any sacrifice to God, of prayer or praise, or thyself in ^crifice, apply, “Ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests. ^’^ God promiseth that Vft shall be priests; that is, such as shall offer up sacrince unto him, for that was the priest’s office. Therefore, when thou findest thyself ijnable to pray* or praise the Lord, or to offer up thyself to God, soul and body, strive in faith, grounded on the promises. He which commanded, hath also Eromised to make us able to do it for heath said, we shall be priests.
‘*In every place incense shall be offered to aiy name, and a pure offering: ®” which
is spoken of the believiDS Gentiles; therefore thou being one of them, shall be able to offer up pure offerings.
When thou feelest but Utile grace.
When thou feelest but little grace, knowledge, faith, love, repentance, all very little, apply, “Though thy beginning be small yet thy latter end shall greatly increase.* ‘’
“Whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and he shall have abundance” Therefore let not thy small beginnings discourage thee; but if thou canst prove thou hast some grace, then join faith and diligence together, and they will quickly make thee nch.
When all thy graces are weak.
,When thott findest all thy graces rery weak, and thou hast no strength to perform any spiritual duty, either prayer, or fasting, or any other duty; then apply, “The Lord will give strength unto his people.*
“He ^veth power to the faint, and to them which have no might he increaseth strength. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not ftint.*”
When thou feelest thyself faint, stay
<iia. x 29, 3L
thyself with this promise, “He gives
strength to him that fainteth.”
Wnen thou feelest no power, apply, “To him that hath no strength he inereaseth pato er.’’ If thou hast lost thy power; then stay thyself with this, “They shall renew their itrength.^^
If thou art ready to give over through weariness, then gather strength from this, “They shall run and no he weary, and walk and not be faint,
And if thou findest not these promises performed unto thee, either thou endea* ▼ourest not to keep the conditions, or else thou art negligent in searching out the promises, or cold in sueing for them. The Lord will be sought to for the performance.
“I am thy God I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the riht hand of my righteousness. * Trust thou m the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.^”
To know there is strength in the Lord, is no comfort, unless we know it shall be for us. Therefore since it is pven for a comf(M*t, it must include this promise. Thus the Lord’s strength for evermore shall be employed for our good. Therefore when we want for either soul or body, we must fix our confidence in Him who will not fail ut if we seek unto him*
•lM.sU,10.biMux9mi4. fFhen thy heart is dried far want of grace.
When thou feelest thy heart dried up for want of race, that thou canst not send forth any water of g;race in thy thoughts, words, or works, apply, **I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, end flood* upon the dry
fround.a The Lord shall satisfy thy soul in rought, and make fat thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of waters, whose waters fail nol.*»
**He shall be as a tree planted by the waters, that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not sec when heat cometh: but her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yieldlflg fruit.*^
“Their soul shall be as a watered garden.**
“God giveth grace unto the humble.*
“In the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert; and the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of waters, ^’ that is* the most barren heart sl||ll abound with grace, according to this promise, **Out of ttieir bellies shall flow rivers of the waters of life.^
When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongues fail for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, 1 the God
*l8ai. xliv, 3. b Isa. lviii, 11. «Jer. xvii, 8. 4Jer. zxzi, 12. QJames ir, 6. ‘Imi. xxxy, 6« 7. gjobn vi^38.
of Israel will not forsake them; I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry lantl springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the eedar, the shittah-tree, and mjrtle, and the olive-tree; I will set in the desert the -fir-tree, and the pine, and the box- tree toeether.*” So, now though thou feeleftt thj heart barren, know that God will be the gardener to thy barren heart, to make |>ools, and plant pleasant, grapes of graces; therefore seeing he taketh upon himself the work, fear not the badness of the ground, for he will make it good as a fruitful garden.
If thou wantest the Spirit of God..
‘I will put my spirit’ within youp If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your childreli; how much, more snail your Heavenly Father give. the Holy Spirit to them that ask kim!<^
**I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, your old men shall dream dreamsp and your young men shall see visions.^ And also upon the servants, and upon the handmaids, in those days will I pour out my Spirit. *
**And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may
“J abide with you for ever; ercii the Spirit of truth: He dwelleth with you, and shaill be in you. I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you.*”
When thou canrt not pray thyself, stay thyself on these prayers, that Christ hath prayitd to the Father to give the Spirit, and he was heard in all he prajed for; therefore thou mayest claim it, though thy prayers be but weak.
Jf looMnson Gods love, thou eamtnot love Crod aain. When thou lookestu’pon the great love of God unto thee, and canst not find thine heart enlarged in loving God aitf, apply this promise, ‘’I will circutncise thine heart, that thou mayest love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.* ‘*
ff thou canst not bring thine heart to delight
in the Lord*
“Thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and
glory in the Holy One of Israel.*^
*<In thy name shall they rejoice all the day; and in thy righteousness shall they be
“For then shall thou have thy delist in the Almighty.®
“For our heart shall rejoice in him, be’ cause we have trusted in Bi» holy’name.^ ^’
^ohto adv, 16, 17, 18. Deut rtt, 6. Isa. xi, 16. dpsalm Izxzix, 16. •Job xxii, 26. ‘Psalm xxziii,21.
When thou geest cause of rejoicing in the Lord, and yet canst not move thine af* fections, apply, “They shall rejoice in him.^^
If, through many troubles and temptations, thou findest thy-ioys often interrupted, apply, *<They shall rejoice corUirmal’ ly in thy name.’*
]ff thou feeleat not the fear of God in thine
hert.
*•! will put my fear in their hearts.* ‘* If we would have a reverent fear of God when we perform any holy duty, or at other times as tnou feelest thy need, uree the Lord with this his promise, for he delights to be sued to upon nis promise, by his servants; “I will yet for this be enqtdred by the house of Israel, to do it for them.^” If thine heart will not praise the Lord*
“This people have I formed f6r myself, they shall shew forth my praise.®
“Ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied* and praise the nam of the Lord your God.*’’
“They shall praise the Lord that seek him.*”
When thou seest what great tilings God* hath done for thee, and findest not thyself able to set fordi Ids praise Vft* ‘^Thej shall set forth mj praise.
Uer. xxzii,40. b£zek. xxxvi, 37. «Isa. zfiu, 21. djodlii, 26. ePManiizii>36.
f H4
AVhen thou fiodest thj ungratefal heart ’ not affected with the mercies thou enjojest, and they stir thee not ap to praise the Lord, applj, “He shall eat and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord.”
thou waniest wisdom.
When thou seest thy want of wtsdoai makes thee not walk like a Christian, so unblaraeable as thou ouehtest, applj» ‘*If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.*
When thou findest, thou wntest wisdom to improve thine afflictions to the best advanta, or for the ordering of* thy actions occasions, androurse of life, to 6od’s glory, and the good of others and thyself, then fail not to ask wisdom and doubt not of the obtaining it
If thou const not understand Gods voice*
When thou canst not understand the voice of Grod, in his word of works, not knowing what to learn by them, apply, “i’he ears or the deaf shall be- unstopped;>> “that is, those that were deaf, not understanding anything, shall be made to hear, that is, to understand. “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold, them also I must brings and
*James ip 5. ^Isau xxxv* 5.
they shall hear my voice. «” Which is a promise to the Gentiles, that they shall understand the voice of God.
If thou canst not see into the mysteries of
the gospel,
“The eyes of the blind shall be opened.** “He shall open the eyes of the blind.® “He hath sent me to recover sight to the blind.d
These places tell what Christ will do to his people, therefipre we need not fear our disease, seeing Cnrist is our physician. It every creaturfe do that for whicn it was ordained, then He will surely do that which he was sent to do of the Father, — “to give sight to the blind.”
If thou seest a good way and hast no power
to walk in it.
When thou seest a good way and hast no power to walk in it, or art to perform any duty, ordinary or extraordinary, and feelest no strength to walk in that way, apply, “And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ve sfiaU keep my judgments and do them.®”
When thou lookest at the greatness of the duty which God commands, look also at
John X, 16. Isa. xxxv, 5. cLuk zlii, 7. d Luke iv, 18. e £zek. xxxrif 27^ the largeness of his promises, for the keeping of them, and then thoa wilt not be discouraged at it. What matters it what h commands, seeing we have his promise?
If on fearest the strictness of thj ways, that thou shattnotbe able to walk in them, though thou step into then sometimes, stenglJben thj faith in this promise, “l will give thee m J Spirit to cause thee to walk in my ways.” Can sin, or satan, thn resist? May, surely, the Spirit is. stronger; and greater is Be that is in us, tluai those that are against us.
And when we see great duties which God commands, and fear we shall want strength to do them, apply. He hath said, “You saalt keep my judgments and do them*
••They shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not be faint: »’^ that is, those which of themselves could not step one step, shall be able to run swiftly in the ways of ©od.
thou wmUest memory 1o remember tht
word of God,
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name. He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whataoever I have said unto you, <»”
•tta. xl, SI, )> John xiv» 20y PFhen thou seeai thine own ignorance.
When thou seest thine ignorance, and fearest thou shaltnotbe able to glorify God as thou mightest if thou hadst more knowledge, stir up thyself to desire, and appl,. “Thus saith the Lord, I will put my law m theirinward parts,,and write it in their heartsjk and the J shall all know me, saith the Lord,, from the greatest to the least.
“Thou shalt know the Lord.^ I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I wDl make know a my words unto you.**
“The meek will he guide in judgment,. and the meek will he teach his way. What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shalk he teach in the way that he shall choose. The secret of the Lord is with thijm that feact him and he will shew them lm covenant
“If thou seekest her as silver, and search for her as treasures, then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and. equity, yea «Yery good path.® Discretion shall preserve thee,, unaerstanding shall keep tnee» to deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; who leave the path of apright” ness, to walk in the ways of darkness. The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the. Lord.’
a Jer. xxsd,. 33, 34. Hoa. 2, 20. •^Prov. i 23. a Pb»1. xxv 9, 12, 14L Prov. ii, 4^9,11. X2^15, f Isa. zi, 9« “These that seek me early shall find me.” The fool shall not err.*» If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. The eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.^ TK^ heart also ot the rash shall understand knowledge,”
When thou thinkest of the great mystery of God manifest in the flesh, and of one divine essence, and three persons, and seest thy own inability to conceive of this great God, apply, **They shall all know the Lord; the heart of the fool shall understand.^^
When we fear God will not reveal his
will to us, apply, “I will joowr out my mind
to you. He will teach the humble his ways;
r he will teach him the way he shall choose.”
If thou fearest that, though God reveal
I his will, yet thy ignorance is such, as thou
’ shalt not be able to understand it, apply,
**I will cause you to understand. Thou shalt
understand jwdment, righteousness, equity,
and every good path.”
If thou tearest men will draw thee away to error, apply, “Counsel shall preserve thee, and understanding shall keep theet and deliver thee from the evU way, and from the man that speaketh froward things, and from them that leave the ways of righteousness,
‘* Prov. viii, 17. Isa. xxxv, 8. c John viij If.
Im. xzxii, 3, 4.
to walk iiv the ways of darkness. The fooi ahaU not err: he shall know the doctrine whether jit be of God,”
Jf thou desirest grace, and thy desires are
not satisfied.
‘’Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart.*
“He will fulfil the desires of them that fear him.^
<<Open th J mouth wide and I will fill it.<^
‘’Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.^
“The desire of the righteous shall be granted.”*
Dost thou desire grace? Fearest thou God will not grant thy desire? Apply, “He bhall give thee thy hearths desire; he will fulfil thy desireJ^ v
Fearest thou, that if he give grace, it will be but a little? Apply, “Open thy mouth wide, and I wiUfiUit. Thou ahalt be filU ed.” “Blessed are all they which wait for him. He will certainly have mercy upon thee, at the voice of thy cry; when he heareth, he will answer.”
When thou beginnest to faint with wait* ing, applj, “He will certainly have tnercy upon thee.”
If thy heart he dead, and wUl not itir to Ood
or goodness* •*Your heart shall live for ever.* ^<Reep sound wisdom and discretion; so «hall thejr be life unto thy 8oulp I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, ana to revive the heart of the contrite ones.®
“Seek the Lord, and je shall live,”** When thou fearest thou shalt never overcome the deadness of thy heart, apply, *«your hearts shall liffeJ^^
When thou hast got some life, and fearest the losing of it, apply, **Yovir Marts shall Uvefor everJ^
If thou Nearest falling away and beginnest
to decline. ^’Christ shall also confirm you unto the end that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.* I have set the liord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.’ The Lord upholdeth all that fall; and raiseth up all those that are bowed down.v The righteous shali’fiottrish like the palm-tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebaopn* They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.^ ^<And he shall be like a tree planted by
the rivers of water, that biingeth forth his fruit ia his season; his leaf also shall not wither.* He shall strengthen thine heart.** Thou shalt be steadfast, thine age shall be clearer than the noon-day; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.® They that love the Lord, shall be as the sun when he goeth forth in his misht.^
Now we see that nothing; can hinder the san in nis might, but it chaseth away the darkness and clouds before it, and ceaseth not till be has run his race: So shall the child of God, for the Lord hath said it; we need not doubt of it.
If thou fearest thine own weakness, and the power of temptation, with the subtilty of satan, apply. That Ood hose power and wisdom OTer-reacheth all other, hath said, “He will confirm you to the end. He shall establish thine hearty thy leaf shall not fade.” Art thou hard pursued by sin and satan? Apply, That GodVhose power and wisdom over-reacheth all, — -He nath said, “He will establish thee.”
If thou be ready to fall and fan, apply, <*The Lord upholdeth all them that fall, and iiftcth up all them that are ready to fall: tnou shalt not slide,^^
If thou fearest that though thou be kept from sin, yet thy graces shall decay, apply,
Psalm i, 3. PsdliU xxxi, 24. c Jobxii 15, 17-
Judg. V, 31.
<*The righteous shall jflouriih as a palm-tree, and shall grow as a cedar in Lebanon. Thej shall bring forth fruit in their old age; they shall be fat and nourishing: thon shalt bring forth fruit in season; thou shalt be stable: thine age shall appear more clear than noon -day; thou shsAtihine as the morning.”
thou art falten, tmd fear the Lord will, leave thee so.
*’Cast thy burden upon th Lora, and he shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.*
“Though he shall fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand* For the Lord loveth judgment and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever.^
“I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.”^’
When thou art fallen and feelest a great load of sin or misery upon thee, and no power to unload thyself; thy graces so weak that they will not help thee, and therefore thou thinkest thy state desperate, APplyp ‘’Though he fall, he shall not be catojffthr the Lord putteth under his hand.” Therefore« though sin and misery be ever so heavy, to press thee down, yet the powerful hand of God, when thou art at the lowest, being under thee shall easily lift Uiee
•Paalm Iv, Psalm jxxvn, 24, 28. cJ^^ upc thou hast his promise, ^’He will not suffer thee to Jail for ever.
TFhen thou fearest the Lord hath forsaken thee, and will not return again.
‘’For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with fifreat mercies will I gather thee, tn a littfe wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee» saith the Lord th j Redeemer. For this is as the waters of Noah unto met for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth; so have 1 sworn that I would nut be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills shall be moved; but my Kindness shall not depart from thee; neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on the6.»
“I will establish my covenant betwixt thee and me, an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee.*>
‘<I Will be with thee, I will not fail thee, neither forsake thee;, tear not, neither be dismayed. ‘^
‘I will not forsake my people.^
The liord is with you» while you be with
*’J
hsu Ev. Ty 8, 9,. 10* * ©fen. xvii, T. «D«utksxzi» 8. d 1 KinfA vi» 13» Z Chron. xv. 2..
**Behold, God will not cast awaj a perfect man.’
^’Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any.*»
“I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. I will even oetroth thee unto me in faithful ness.”<^
ffhen thou feelest thy vileneas, andfearesi the Lord wili loath theejor it.
“My soul shall not abhor you
“I will love them freely, for mine anger is turned away from theni.”
•*I will love thee/
“He that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father; and I will love him, and manifest myself unto him; my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him,«
^•I will rejoice over them to do them good.”^
When thou seest a multitude of sins, so that thou seemest most loathsome, apply, “My soul shall not loath youJ^
Vvhen thou seest nothing in thyself that should move him to love thee, but all to the contrary, apply, **I will love them freely.’*
«Job viii, 30. )» Job xxxyi, 5. cHos. ii, 19, 20. ^l,evit xxvi. 11. «Hos. xiv, 4. fDeut vii, 13. fjohnxiv, 21, 2y Jer. xxsi), 41.
If thou fearest thy many sins will cause the Lord not to delight in thee, app]y» “1 will delight in thee.’’
If thou fearest thy sin will cause the Lord to hide himself from thee, apply, “l will shew my own self unto him.”
TFhenthoufeelest thy spiritual poverty*
‘’Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”.
<«To him will I look, saith the Lord, that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my words.”^
When thou feelest thy sins many and thy graces are few, and therefore fearest that, such a miserable creature as thou art, shall not inherit heaven, apply, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaveft.”
If thou fearest the Lord will not look upon thee, apply, “To him will I look, saith the Lord, that is of a contrite spirilP
When thou art in a straits
When thou art in a strait, either in some truth, or something that is to be done, and thou knowest not what to choose, apply, “Htm shall he teach in the way that he snail ehouse; his soul shall dwell at ease.?
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths:*’ Commit thy
dProv. iii, 6. works unto the Lord, and thj thoagkts shall be established.*
^’And thine ear shall hear a word behind thee» saying, This U the way, walk ye in U, when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left>.
“The Lord shall ^ide thee continually.
•*I will direct their work in truth.*
“l will cause them to walk by the rivers of water in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble«”«
When thou doubtest of some truth, apply, ‘<He shall teach him the way that he shall choose, his soul shall dwell at easie. Thine ears shall hear a voice behind thee, saying, Tide is the way, walk in it i will direct thy way in truth.”
When thou art thinking what course to take, and fearest thou shalt not know what the Lord would have thee to do, apply, *’Thy thoughts shall be directed, he shmdired thy ways.*’
When thou fearest thy weakness will at some times carry thee astray, apply,. “The Lord will euide thee continually the Lord will lead thee in a straight way, that thou shalt not stumble.”
Jf thou fearest satan will came thee to faU, and art troubled unth his temptations. “Ue shall bruise his head:i”^ — Therefore
fear not, for Christ hath overthrown all his power and subtiltj, that he cannot do us ADj harm.
“Surelj he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler. He shall cover thee with his feathers; and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thj shield and buckler.*
“The God of peace shall bruise satan under jour feet shortly.”^
Doth satan press thee with strong temptations, and fearest thou his power? Apply, “Lit shu bruise his head. He will cover thee under his wings, and thou shalt be safe under his feathers; his strength shall be thy buckler.”
Fearest thou his subtilty? Apply, “He shall deliver thee from the snare of thefowU er, and bruise his head,^^ wherein lie all his powers and plots.
If thou canst not profit by the word of God, or by his works of mercy, or afflictions.
**1 am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee to the way that thou shouldest go.<^
“The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.”<i
This is a promise that the Gentiles shall
/« pMlm xci» 3, 4. i){om. xvi. 20r «Isa; xlriii. If. <tHatxzi|43.
bring forth the fruit of the gospel; therefore every believing Gentile may apply it. If thou findest thyself unlike Goda people either in heart or life. ‘*I will give them one heart and one
wav«”*
When thou seest thine heart not like the people of God, either in liieir affection to God, or his people, or ordinances, or in their sorrowing for sin, apply, “I will give them 9ne heart?^
When thou seest thy life and conversation not so holy as the people of God, apply, “I will give them omway.”^^ If thou wouidest have Gods blessing rest
upon thee.
“The Lord will bless the righteous.*
•’I will bless thee.«
“Thy blessing is upon thy people.**
“He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.®
“The Lord will bless us, he will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great. “^ ff thou wouidest be a blessing in thy place*
H will bless thee, and thou shalt be a blessing.^’ I will make them about my hill a blessing.^*
Jer. xxxii, 39. b Psalm V, 12. c Deut vii, 13- d Psalm iii, 8. ePsalm xxiv, 5. Psalm cxv$ *2» 13. s Gen. xii, 2. Ezek. xhqv, 26.
If thou separatest thyself from the tvicked in their corrupt worship and manners, ‘*! will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people: Wherefore come out from among them; and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thins; and I will receive you, and I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be mj sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.*