The Anchor of Hope for Gods Tossed Ones, Sermon (1 of 3)

The Anchor of Hope for Gods Tossed Ones · Sermon (1 of 3)

p. 1Mercies-Thoughts, For the Veſſels of Mercy under Miſery.

JEREM. 29.11.

For I know the thoughts that I thinke towards you, ſaith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evill, to give you an expected end.

THe words are a peece of a Letter ſent from Jeruſalem, by the Prophet Ieremiah, to the Jewes, both Elders, Prieſts and Prophets, all captivated in Babylon: the ſame God, that to fallen man vouchſafed to ſend p. 2his ſcriptures, he is pleaſed now by his Prophet to ſend a Letter to his poore fallen, broken, people of the Jewes: he that permitted them to bee in the darkneſſe of Captivity, could not endure to ſee them in the darkneſſe of ſin: they ſhall have light ſent after them, though they were removed out of Canaan; our God may as ſoon ceaſe to love himſelf, as ceaſe to bring forth love tokens from himſelfe, to, and for his people, though in ſad afflictions: His people were now in Babylon, yet they ſhall be differenced from the Heathens of Babylon. They may live together in the ſame place, they ſhall not enjoy the ſame mercy: God will have the deſolate Jewes written to, whilſt the flouriſhing Babylonians ſhall be overlookt: Gods people when they be at worſt, at loweſt, enjoy ſuch priviledges, as the Wicked Babylonians when they bee at higheſt ſhall not ſo much as taſt of. Our God p. 3is love, but tis to his own:1 Iohn. 4.16. Deus noſter in relatione ad fideles eſt mer… charitas, ſic enim intelligenda eſt illa Phraſis, & non de Deo abſolute conſiderato. Ameſ. de Conſ. caſ.1 John 4:16 towards the world of the wicked …e is a conſuming fire.

This letter was occaſioned by …he dreames, and the lyes of the …lſe prophets, who ſpeaking to …is captivated people, did goe …bout to deceive them in re…ect of the continuance of their Captivity, they prophecie lies, …d dreame dreames in the …ame of the Lord, telling them …ey ſhould not be long in Babylon: This is cleered: Firſt by …e very voice of the falſe pro…hets, which was this, within …wo full yeers (ſaies Hananiah …penly, and it was the vote of all …he other falſe Prophets) Sayes …e Lord of Hoſts the God of …ſrael, will I bring again into this … lace all the veſſels of the Lords Houſe &c. for I will break the …oke of the King of Babylon, Ier. … 8 1.5.

Secondly, tis cleered, that this was the drift of the falſe prophets by Ierimiahs owne letter, p. 4that he ſends to them: and that theſe particulars touching th… letter will eaſily diſcover. Firſt the prophets Charge to th… Iews in Babylon of building houſes and dwelling in them;Ier. 29.4, 8.Jer 29:4Jer 29:8 o… planting gardens and eating th… fruit of them: of taking wive… and begetting ſons and daughters: of taking wives to their ſons: of giving their daughters t… husbands, that they may beaſons, and daughters: of ſeeking the peace of the City, when they were captives; and praying for it, in all which he give them to know, that their captivity ſhould not be ſo ſo ſoon ended, but it ſhould laſt long and they tooke it ſo,28. v. for thus i… their writing back to the people and prieſts at Ieruſalem they teſtifie that Ieremia had ſe… unto them in Babylon, ſaying the captivitie was long, build y… houſes, &c. Oh this ſtung them that the prophet Ieremiah ſhould flatly contradict their falſe prophets; p. 5that hee ſhould cry down, what they cryed up; and and ſo give them the lye:

Secondly, the Prophets caution,8. and 9. he gives them warning (from the mouth of the Lord) ſaying let not your prophets and your diviners (they bee yours, they be none of mine, ſayes God) that be in the midſt of you, deceive you, &c. for they propheſie fa…ſly unto you in my name: I have not ſent them ſaith the Lord: no diſciaifie, them, he tels them, by this, thus much plainely, they do not ſay as I ſay; they be of another mind, concerning your captivitie, then I am.

10Thirdly, the reaſon brought in, in the 10: verſe. for to prove theſe propheſied falſely, and that they did deceive the people: for thus ſaith the Lord (whatever your Dreamers ſay) after 70. yeares be accompliſht in Babylon, I will viſit you and perform, my good word towards you: he p. 6ſaies not after two yeares, but after 70. wherein the Lord proclaimes thus much, that their falſe prophets knew not his mind, ſpoke not his will, declared not his Meſſage, but all was from their owne hearts.

Fourthly,Ier. 25.30.Jer 25:30 becauſe Ieremiah muſt be reproved, ſtockt, and impriſoned for ſending ſuch a meſſage to them in Babylon, this is Shemajabs will, and the reſt in captivitie, ſent in writing to the people and prieſts at Ieruſalem, eſpecially to Zephaniah the prieſt. Truth will not down with them that are given to lyes: this is an hard ſaying,Iohn 6.60 Doctrina vora eſt carni a mara aegrè que digeritur.John 6:60 who can hear it: twas ſpoken of his doctrine, who ſpake, as never man ſpake.

By this time we may eaſily ſee what put Ieremiah upon writing to the Iews in Babylon: their Prophets deceived them concerning the time of their Captivitie, and hee writes to undeceive them againe, (if it were poſſible) p. 7true Prophets will take any paines, uſe any good meanes, to preſerve a people from erring or to recall them from their wandrings; Ieremiahs zeal will not let him reſt to ſee a people (though now in Babylon) to miſ-carry.

Firſt, obſerve; Theſe falſe Prophets deceived them before they were in captivitie and now they do no better: times and troubles will not mend falſe Prophets, they can finde the way to lye in Babylon as well as in Judaea Coelu… non animum mutant. They are in another Country, but not of another minde: Surely theſe were reſolved concerning lying, as he was concerning Philoſophying,foreign. who ſaid he would never ceaſe as long as he lived.

2 Iſrael was now in captivitie, yet he was ready to be carried away from God ſtill: nay more, they themſelvs cauſed the dreams of the falſe Pr…phets to be dreamed, as its ſaid, verſ. 8. Corrupt p. 8man can eaſily be naught be deceived, be carried away from God, yea run after lyes even under the afflicting hand o… God.

3 Theſe falſe Prophets ha… cauſed them to erre, and ſo lea… them into captivitie; yet they have not done Iſrael harm enough; they will ſpoyl them farther in their afflictions: Satans inſtruments are ever working, till they have fully and utterly caſt away a people: they will not leave their work a… halves; and ſhould Gods inſtruments do ſo then?

4 Theſe falſe prophets could no… but ſee (one would think) tha… they had ſpoken lyes, in ſpeaking of peace, before the warre, th… judgement, the captivitie cam… to this people: the Lord had by his divine hand of juſtice give… them the lye; yet theſe will o… in their lying trade; and put o… a bold and impudent face on i… too: the Divell himſelf may … p. 9ſoon put off himſelf, his lying nature, and lye not; as corrupt man can (of himſelf) ceaſe from …hat ſin: even in this regard they may be well ſtiled foreign, Di…els they are,2 Tim. 3.3.2 Tim 3:3 not onelyonly in their falſeneſſe of accuſing, but of deceiving and lying.

5 Theſe falſe Prophets, no que…tion, were in ſome danger of …oſing their lives, when the Enemy came ſo terribly againſt Je…uſalem; yet they are preſerved …hilſt better then themſelves are …aken off: God hath his own …imes for the judging of Wicked …en: they ſhall eſcape and live, …ill he ſees them fully ripe for …udgement, and then wo unto …hem: theſe ſhall dye in Babylon, …hough they fall not in Judaea: …heſe are not ſo much preſerved, …s reſerved.

6 Iſrael had ſuffered much by …earkening to theſe falſe Prophets: Gods judgements were …ut, they were now in captivitie; yet theſe falſe Prophets are p. 10ſtill loved, and the people are eager to follow them: Ungodly men once bewitched by fal… Prophets, they will after them though they drink nothing but dammage by them: they will ſtick to them, though they dy… with them, and by them, by their poyſon, dreams, deceits.

The occaſion of the words i… cleer, and being ſo, it gives ligh… enough to the drift of the ſpiri… it ſhews what is aimed at in th… Text, and in 4. verſes more … namely from the 10. to the 15.

Firſt, the Spirit of God by Ieremiah goes about to pro… their Prophets Lyars, of whom they ſaid the Lord had raiſed them up Prophets in Babylo… and that in a glorying way too verſ. 15. However an ungodly ſeduced people will highly advance and fooliſhly ex…oll their ſeducers; yet God hee give them their own, and will diſown thoſe of whom they blindly brag that God had ſent them p. 11God loves not that falſe Prophets ſhould get them a name by falſe titles, or win authority from the hearts of others by …are pretence, of Gods ſending them.

2 For the Comforting of …hoſe, that were willing to hear…en to God, who, when they …ad heard all theſe falſe Prophets with one conſent, even …fter two yeares, the yoke of …he King of Babilon ſhould be …roken, and the Captivity over, were ready to enquire with the …ood King, (as being altogether unſatiſfied, and not perwaded, that what they ſpake was truth) is their not a Pro…het more? Ieremiah he comes …, and tels theſe, that this is the Word of the Lord, after 70 years … not after two, or a few, that …as falſe) be accompliſht, at Ba…lon he would viſit them, and …erforme his good word toward …em, and cauſe them to returne … Jeruſalem: and was not this p. 12a ſweet word too? the Lord himſelfe tels them their captiv… ſhall end, though he is determined for a longer time then t… falſe Prophets talkt off.

Theſe five verſes point … theſe four ſpeciall things: whe… in we may ſee the very ſ… ſtance and marrow of them.

1 That God would not ce… tainly put an end to their C… tivity, after ſeventie yeares … would viſit them to purpo… he would ſo come, that th… captivity ſhould not ſtay: … would draw out his good w… of deliverance into act, and … promiſe ſhould fall into a ble… Performance.

2 The proof of this endi… of their captivity, in this … verſe, and it is drawn fr… Gods thoughts and determi… tions to doe ſuch a thing for … people, he hath pitcht upon … and who can alter him?

3 The meanes which … will have his people vſe, to … p. 13delivered by: the inſtances in one, and that is prayer, earneſt praier, continued prayer, prayer, that ſhould hold out, till the thing prayed for be obtained: then (ſayes God in the 12.13 verſ. ſhall ye call upon me, and ye ſhall go and pray unto mee, and ye ſhall ſeek me, and ſearch for me, with all your heart: then, that is, when this 70 yeares be even out, and the time of the fulfilling of the promiſe drawes …igh, this ſhall be a praying time with them: now their hearts ſhall be hot for deliverance, …ow their ſpirit ſhall hunger to be out of captivity, more then ordinary: now they ſhall call upon God, nay they ſhall take paines to do it, they ſhall go and …ray, they ſhall flocke together to pray, they ſhall go to heaven by faith, and pray as they that are both reſtleſſe without this mercy, and alſo confident that God would give …t them: nay they ſhall ſeeke, p. 14and ſearch after God, with … their hearts: none but God w… ſerve their turne now: they wi… have none of Idols: they wi… not ſeeke themſelves moſt i… their prayers, but God mo… they will now ſearch after Pr… miſes and Gods time (as Dan… did in this caſe Cap. 9. beg… their hearts now begin to e… quire after God, and to ask where is he? How may we fi… him? what is it, the parts b… twixt us and him? now th… ſearch after him for communi… with him and bleſſed enjo… ment of him: here is prayer, a… diligence, and ſelf deniall, a… love and confidence, and co… ſtancy of Spirit towards G… all meeting in one, all togeth… in theſe poor ſouls, now t… time of their delivery drew … neer: the moſt wiſe God th… fits his meanes, his ends m… ſweetly together, he makes th… to be when he ſtirres in th… hearts at his ſeaſon, and ro… p. 15…owſes up a dull people, to looke …fter him, for their promiſed de…iverance: when the ſpirituall …nd bleſſed meanes of the Saints …eliverances are once ſet on foot …y the Spirit of God, in the …eart of his people, inſomuch …hat faith goes out much and prayer is held up without ceaſ…ng, and there is great ſearch a… …er God, know ye that their di…iverance is very neer it is even …t the dores: the Jews Captivity …aſts not, it is ſoon off when once they do thus beſtir themſelves at Gods throne, miſery …anot ſtand up long againſt prayers, it will vaniſh like a miſt …efore the Sun: Then, and not …ill then will deliverance appeare, then and no longer, will God ſtay, but Salvation ſhall …ome unto them.

4. The prevailing of this meanes, it ſhall do the deed: God will anſwer them, his loving …eart will pittie them, his Gra…ious hand will worke for them: p. 16this the ſpirit delivers in th… 12.13, and 14. verſes, and h… ſpeakes it thrice for failing, h… will be ſure to ſpeake full in th… thing: I will hearken unto you (ſayes God) now they ſhall have the liſtning ear of God… he heares and obſerves now… what they ſay, as one glad t… heare them make ſuch requeſt… to him: they ſhall finde me (ſai… God) I will not hide my ſelf… from them now: they ſhall find… me in my mercy, finde me in … might, finde me in my wiſdome finde mein my countenance, the… ſhall finde me to be for the… to ſave, to comfort them: I wi… be found of you, ſaith the Lord and will turne away your Captivity, &c. This is a finding indeed, to ſome purpoſe: now th… Lord would bee ſeen in anſwering them, they ſhould find him, and he would be found … them: that is, look wherein and for what, they did ſeeke … to p. 17him, God would anſwere them, and ſay, behold, here am I; what is your requeſt, it ſhall be granted? You ſhall have to the full what you beg for, and ſo deſire to have: however heretofore I have hid my face from you, now I intend to appere for you: you ſhall ſee me again to your joy, you ſhall finde mee again to your full content: What can God ſay more? how can he ſpeak ſweeter and more to the heart of his people then thus.

In this verſe the Lord brings proofe of what he had ſpoken before, concerning his recovering Iſrael out of Captivitie at the 70. yeares end: wherein we may ſee the Lord guiding of his Saints even to know the great deep of his own purpoſe, as touching their comming out of Babilon: his purpoſe indeed was revealed in his promiſe, made in the former verſe, but this will not ſuffice the Lord to ſay, I will viſit you, I will cauſe you to return p. 18to this place; but he will give in ground for it: for I know the thoughts that I think towards you, &c. We ſeldome read of a promiſe thus backt: uſually God delivers his promiſes without ſuch a bottome as this: when God told Abraham he would be his God, and the God of his ſeed:Gen. 17 7, 8.Gen 17:7Gen 17:8 he gives no ſuch reaſon there as this; he does not ſay for I know my thoughts towards thee Abraham: I remember not in all the Scripture the like inſtance, that God ſhould give a reaſon, and ſuch a reaſon as this, why he would viſit his people with love, with ſalvation. Certainly there is ſomewhat in it more then ordinary, it is not becauſe Gods bare word of promiſe is not ſufficient for the faith of his people: neither is it becauſe God would now cheriſh or ſatisfie any curioſitie o… niceneſſe, that might be in the hearts of his people, touching prying into his own ſecrets … p. 19but God does this moſt freely and lovingly; tis his mercy to his people, that makes him give in this over-plus to his promiſe, and heaps up to them this great meaſure, good, preſſed down, and running over into their boſoms. The Lord does this,

1 Becauſe he would the more affront, beat down, and ſhew himſelf openly and directly againſt thoſe lying Prophets, who did belye the Lord, and tell the people, that this was not Gods minde, that they ſhould ſtay ſo long in captivitie, but the Lords thoughts, his minde was for two yeares only: tis for more (ſayes God) I know my thoughts, they do not: believe me, not them.

2 Becauſe he would the more aſcertain the thing in the eyes and to the hearts of his people, he brings in an evidence moſt cleer, and that which none elſe was able to produce: my thoughts have pitcht upon your releaſe, your deliverance, this I am ſure p. 20of, ſayes God, for I know the… do not doubt my people of you returning back, becauſe you a… to abide in Babylon ſo long, an… to build and plant there, at ſu… a time I will viſit you, beleeve i… I have already concluded upon it, my thoughts are immovable ſet upon your releaſe; therefore what ever mountaines be in the way, beleeve, they ſhall be di… down, rather then their ſtanding ſhall hinder the accompliſhment of my will in this thing: G… ſhewes them here not onelyonly … promiſe of ſalvation under h… broad Seal (thus ſaith the Lord but he ſhewes them his very heart and minde, even the very originall and root of the thing and ſayes, thus the Lord think… thus he purpoſes towards you did God ever lay open his heart his counſels more? Did he eve… more ſweetly go to work, t… prop up the weak faith of hi… people, or to ſtop the mouthe… of his Enemies, that they might p. 21be ſilent, and leave objecting.

1 Sayes God, you ſhall come out then, for my thoughts are already pitcht upon it, my purpoſes are for it, and who can alter them?

2 You ſhall come out then, ſayes God, for my thoughts be towards you, they be loving, they be full of mercy, they be not againſt you for evill, they be for you for good: I love your ſouls, your perſons, your bodies, your peace; you have my thoughts, my intentions, my conſiderations at worke for you.

3 Sayes God, you ſhall come out then, for my thoughts bee peaceable and bountifull thoughts, thoughts of peace, thoughts to give, and to give you an accepted end: They be not thoughts of will, of paine, of trouble, of adverſity: I thinke not how to do you an ill turne, how to watch over you for evill; but how to give, and to give you p. 22ſomewhat that ſhall be worth receiving, an happy end of your troubles: to give you that which you ſo much, ſo earneſtly expect, an end, and epxectation, both a… once: you ſhall have ſuch an end, as you deſire, expect, wiſh for… waite for.

4 You ſhall come out the… ſaies God, for I know my thoughts are thus towards you: thus peaceable, thus mercifull, thus bountifuull, thus to give, thus to reward, thus to let you have double, twice as much mercy as ever you had: the thoughts I have towards you I can eaſily underſtand, clearly ſee, quickly read them every one: tis impoſſible for meeither to be unacquainted with my owne vowes, with the holy movings of my owne minde; or not to approve of my owne thoughts: I cannot either be ignorant of them, or deceived by them: you men think you know not what ſometimes, your thoughts bee gone from p. 23you as Nebuchdnezzars dreame was gone from him, hee could not tell it, no more can ye many times, but I know every thought of my heart, every motion of my minde? My thoughts (ſaies God) as they be neither vaine, nor light in themſelves, ſo they bee not darke to me: I fully know who I pitch upon, to what end, upon what grounds: they be not thoughts againſt, my will, ſuch as I cannot conſent to: the Motions of my heart, as they are guided by the perfection of my Wiſedome, ſo are they filled with the ſtrength of my affection, of my love: I know my thoughts towards you: I love you, therefore do I mule, caſt in minde, purpoſe for your good: and theſe purpoſes, theſe thoughs are alſo deare unto me, as the iſſues of mine owne love.

This text ſpeaks thus much, even the bleſſed language of the tender bowels of God towards p. 24his own, it holds forth m… ſweetly the tender thoughts … the mercifull God towards hi… people in evill times: here are the thoughts of God, ſet out to open view, in a moſt lovely way, they are ſet out to life, and beſpangled with moſt rare and precious Iewels. God hath thoughts, thoughs of his owne thoughts, that he knowes, thoughts towards his people, that way their faces looke, thoughts of peace, not of troubles: thoughts to give, not to take away: thoughts to give out a full good, mercy, full big enough for their expectation: thoughts of ſeaſonable, ſpeedy, and welcome mercy, to give his an expected end.

Theſe words we might branch forth particularly, and then, ſee what fruit every branch would beare: but we will not take them in ſunder: that which we will do, is, to gather thus much in the groſſe, as the maine p. 25that lyes in the text, under which moſt of the particulars will kindly come in, and it is thus much.

That our God,Doct. even when his people be in an evill condition under ſore preſſures, hath precious purpoſes full of mercy and good towards them, buſie and thinking thoughts to give out that deliverance and Salvation, his people ſtand in need of: or thus: Our God hath his thoughts of mercy for veſſels of mercy vnderunder miſery;Micah. 4.9, 13.Mic 4:9Mic 4:13 when Zion was in Pangs and cryed out, when Iſrael was in Babylon, when ſhe dwelt in the fields when ſhe was in the enemies hand, when many nations were gathered againſt her to undo her, and longed to ſee her defiled that their eye might looke upon Zion: God peſently comes in and gives a cooler to the malicious flame of the enemy: but they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither underſtand p. 26they his councell: thoſe poore creatures bloody enemies to Gods People, they knew not how God did think, did deviſe or purpoſe, either for his people o… againſt them: what his intentions were, and his purpoſes in letting them run on in their malice againſt his, they lookt not at; they knew not at what God did drive in all their projects againſt Zion: this wholly takes them up, how to vnd… Zion, how to trample her in the dirt: but this takes up Gods thoughts, how to deliver, to ſave his, and to pay them.

When a poore ſoule is in Spirituall diſtreſſes, and cannot be perſwaded that God will pardon him, and yet he forſakes his wicked way, and his vnrighteous thoughts (either concerning his owne righteouſnes, as if that would ſtead him for his juſtification: or concerning the righteouſnes of Chriſt, as if either it could not be his, or being p. 27his it could not bee enough,Iſa. 55.7, 8, 9.Isa 55:7Isa 55:8Isa 55:9 and returnes to the Lord, and reſolves to get the Mercy of God in Chriſt for a pardon; But yet ſtill he is beaten backe, and knockt down with unbe…eeving thoughts, and harpes upon this ſtring, I cannot thinke I ſhall be pardoned: it will not enter into my heart yet, it will not ſound well with me: Oh ſaies God of ſuch a one, My thoughts are not like that mans thoughts: He thinkes he ſhall not be pardoned, my purpoſe is, he ſhall: His thoughts are, it is impoſſible, mine are; it is eaſie for me, not onelyonly to pardon, but abundantly to parden, to multibly pardon: his thoughts bee …ow, and baſe, concerning me: mine be high, and ſuch as become my ſelfe, ſuch as ſutes with the very nature of a mercifull God: How can God ſpeake more in a few words, to ſhew what his thoughts be towards a diſtreſſed conſcience? How does p. 28God ſtrive with a poore ſinne to bring him out of the ſnare?

1. He tels him, that he think thoughts againſt his thoughts and beyond the poor creature apprehenſion.

2 He tells the poore broke heart what his whole minde is and what he conceives toward him in his owne bowels.

3 He tells him he muſt no… compare his thoughts, wit… Gods, being there is no proportion betwixt them; and withal ſwetly imployes, that he takes … as an infinite diſparagement, … put his bowels and his thought in the ſame ballance with man… as is if there were no ſuch difference, but they might be we weighed together.

4 He tells him in and by a… this, the ſweetneſſe of his own purpoſes, the graciouſneſſe of h… owne bowels, the unſpeakeable tenderneſſe of his heart, that cannot looke on and ſee a poo… ſoule miſerable, and yet ſay nothing, or do nothing; but he p. 29muſt, he will come in for the reſcue; God here ſpeakes of his thoughts ſo highly, to kill the thoughts of a poore creature, which were ready to kill him: the wound was made, is kept fore and widened, by mans owne thoughts: God comes with his thougts, to heale him: …e ſets thoughts againſt thoughts, to ſet man free: God …ere hath a great diſeaſe in hand, when hee brings in his owne thoughts and purpoſes, for a …ure of it: and yet this will our God do, this ſecret concerning his owne good pleaſure will God make knowne, rather then ſee a broken-hearted ſinner periſh, or paſſe his dayes without the ſecret or ſollid comfort of the Almighty. Hence the faithfull ſoule is a proclaiming this ſo freely, after hee was brought out of an horrible pit, after his feet were ſet upon a Rocke, when his ſoule was ſtrengthened,Pſal. 40.Ps 40 and his goings p. 30eſtabliſhed:Pſal. 40.2, 5.Ps 40:2Ps 40:5 many (ſayes he, and he ſpakes it, as one wonderfully admiring it) O Lord my God are thy wonderfull worke… which thou haſt don, and thy thoughts which are to us ward, they cannot be reckned up i… order to thee: if I would declare and ſpeak of them, they a… more then can be numbred, a… if the ſoule ſhould ſay, what purpoſes of good hadſt thou towards us, when we were in the mire and clay? how many thoughts of Good: and how fruitfull and effectuall have tho… thoughts been, which have brought out ſo many wonder full workes, for our peace, f… our comfort, for our ſalvation. Oh thoſe thoughts of God … theſe the poore ſoule eyes … theſe take up the heart of a beleever: how precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God: how great is the ſum of them? if I would count them, they are more in number then the ſand: p. 13Davids ſoule did moſt highly honour theſe thoughts of God:Pſal. 139.17.18. foreign Precious GloriousPs 139:17Ps 139:18 Oh they were moſt honourable and glorious in his eyes: of great value, very ſumptuous and ſtately; he lookes upon them with more admiration then ever the diſciples did vponupon the building of the temple: they cry maſter, what Godly ſtones be here? David cryes, O how precious are thy thought O God vntounto me? there were three things eſpecially that made David ſo wonder at theſe thoughts.

1 In that they were ſo precious in themſelves:

2 So many in their number, the graines of ſand upon the Sea-ſhore, were not ſo many, and all theſe ſo precious too:

3 In that all theſe many precious thoughts of God were ſo to him towards him, and for him: there was not one thought amongſt all theſe numerous, yea numerable thoughts of God that was againſt him, that was p. 32for his hurt, of which David could ſay, he was the worſe f… all theſe thoughts, thine in Davids eye, are pleaſant to David heart, and all bring profit in … Davids ſpirit. David could … could not expreſſe what the were to him: what they did f… him; and therefore he deliver it thus, How precious are t… thoughts.

In the farther handling of the truth, for the better order, … the more fruit, we muſt explain the termes in the Text.

2 Bring in the argument rationally to prove the conclu… on or Doctrine obſerved.

3 Gather up the ſpeciall Uſe that ariſe thence for our ſpirit… learning, and bleſſed advantage.

Firſt, for the termes in … Text: thoſe that are to be … foulded are theſe foure.

In the laying open of all theſe wee ſhall ſee the goodlineſſe, the glory of all theſe thoughts of our God, how pretious they are, as being Gods owne thoughts, as being thoughts towards Gods owne people alone: as being ſo known and approved of by God himſelf, that cannot be deceived, that tryes out upon mans thoughts …ow vaine they bee: Precious p. 34thoughts, as bearing for… ſuch precious fruit of peace, … bountie, of ſatisfaction unto h… poore ſervants, ſo that they ſha… ſay, they have enough by th… time God hath brought for… all his thoughts of mercy, and put them forth into act fo… them.

For the firſt terme, what do… God meane, when he ſayes, th… thoughts I thinke: how is God ſaid to thinke thoughts? T… this we anſwer,

Firſt, we muſt not imagi… God thinkes thoughts as m… does: For,

1. The thoughts of man … ſucceſcive, he being a finite creature, he thinkes of one thing after another, ſo as he hath ne… thoughts come into his hea… that he never had before, and … thoughts increaſe daily: God thinkes not ſo, all his thought are at once, they receive no addition by time, or by the appre… henſions of new objects, or … p. 35any occaſion whatever. Gods thoughts were ever as full as they be now, were ever the ſame and will be ſo ſtill without any …teration.

Secondly, mans thoughts be …allow:1 Cor. 2.10. foreign. The profundities, heighths, depths.1 Cor 2:10 he cannot reach high …ings: there be deep things of …od that he cannot dive into: … an cannot think what glory …: what it is to be in heaven: …hat it is to ſee God face to …ce: there be deep things of the …oſpel which teaches the onelyonly …ay to glory which are hidden … him: he cannot tell how to …d out this narrow way that …ds to life, he thinks any way …ll ſerve as well as this, and …at there be more wayes then …e, to be ſaved by, more doors …en one to glory: he thinks a …ty will ſave him, or ſome …tward priviledge will ſtead …m, or ſome morall acts of …uity or mercy will do the …ed. There be deep things of …n that he cannot behold: another p. 36mans thoughts are hidden to him, another mans hear is as a deep Well to him, he cannot reach the bottome, there … the depths of Satan:Rom. 2.24. foreign. Rev. 12.9.Rom 2:24Rev 12:9 theſe, ma… cannot diſcern; with theſe … can deceive the whole wor… he can lead men aſtray, a… they not aware of it: he c… turn himſelf into an Angel … light, and go for one too in t… worlds eye. Mans thoughts … ſoon overmatcht, even as t… eye is quickly dazled, beat… out, and blinded, by any int… looking upon the cleare a… bright body of the Sun: God thoughts can never be ſo: … Spirit ſearcheth all things,1 Cor. 2.10.1 Cor 2:10 y… the deep things of God: th… depths, that be depths, beyond all depths, in compariſon … which no other deſerves … name of a depth, theſe the … rit ſearcheth: therefore obſe… the Apoſtles gradation: he ſe… cheth all things, yea more th… all things that are or be d… p. 37here below, more then what Satan, ſin, the world, or the heart of man can do, more then all theſe depths: he ſearcheth the deep things of God, he hath ſuch a reach with him: as this …he ſpirits eye hath every thing above and below in view: that which is darke cannot be hid from him, nor that which is moſt bright cannot dazzle him

Thirdly, mans thoughts be …ain, fooliſh, frothy, the Lord …nows they be ſo: Gods thoughts be moſt pure, holy,Pſa. 139.17.Ps 139:17 …iſe, heavenly, glorious. David …ould ſay of theſe, how precious …e they? they are thoughts, like …e pure ſtreams of the fountain …f life, thoughts that ariſe from …e purity and holineſſe of the nature of God, full of beauty, …ey ſhine with God, as it were: …ans thoughts be all vain, and …nking, as coming from the …ttenneſſe of his own ſinfull …eart, the Lord ſaid he ſaw that …hat ever went out of the heart p. 38of man,Gen. 6.5. foreignGen 6:5 all the imaginations purpoſes, and deſires of the thoughts of his heart, they we… onelyonly evill, and every day ſo… he had never a good day: theſe evill thoughts were not like th… tertian or quartan ague, that comes now and then, and leave… well dayes betwixt: but like a… ill and poyſoned fountain tha… ſends forth her ſtreams continually: mans thoughts are not good now and then, and il no… and then, but they be ill, an… onelyonly ill: vain, and onelyonly vai… fooliſh, and never wiſe, the thoughts of man are ſo vile, and the thoughts of God are as glorious.

4. Mans thoughts they b… temporall: man thinks not before he is, before he lives, before he acts underſtanding:Pſal. 146.4.Ps 146:4 and his thoughts periſh when he die… the thoughts of Gods heart and from eternity to eternity: from Generation to Generation: the Counſell of the Lord ſtandeth p. 39for ever:Pſa. 33.11.Ps 33:11 the thoughts of his heart to all Generations: to generation and generation (as the Hebrew hath it) never was there a Generation in the world, but Gods thoughts were either for, or againſt the men of that Generation, and ſtill all his thoughts and his Counſels ſtood: they took place, what ever was thrown down: they ſtood, what ever fell.

Secondly, theſe thoughts that God hath towards his people, what are they, but the eternall movings of Gods mind towards and for the good of his people? To clear them yet more what they be, conſider theſe five things touching theſe thoughts of God:

1. Conſider the bottome of them: this we ſhall find to be the infinitely loving, gracious, and tender bowels of God: thoſe are they that work upon God, and make him caſt in his mind, what to do for his people, p. 40whom he ſo loves: had our God no bowels of love towards his, he would think no thoughts towards them.

2. The bleſſed iſſue of theſe movings of Gods minde: and theſe are his wiſe, ſtrong, gracious, immoveable purpoſes and decrees of God, what he will moſt certainly do for his people.

3. The fruits of theſe movings and purpoſes of God: theſe are his heavenly care, his holy plots, his bleſſed deviſes, his divine inventions: how, by what way and means to do his people good:1 Pet. 5.7.1 Pet 5:7 he careth for you (ſaies Peter) and with ſuch a care that is full and alſufficient, ſo that his children need not, muſt not take up ſome, and leave the reſt to him: but they muſt caſt all their care upon him:2 Theſſ. 3.16.2 Thess 3:16 God gives peace to his people by all meanes, who is himſelf the Lord and Prince of peace.

p. 413.Deut. 32.20.Deut 32:20 He finds his people when they be in a wilderneſſe: he ſees them, in all their deſolate conditions: their broken wals,Iſa. 49.16.Isa 49:16 their crackt eſtates, their broken power, is continually before their God.

4. He leads them, he takes his people by the hand in the wilderneſſe,Deut. 32.20.Deut 32:20 he will not ſuffer them to wander out of the way in their ſtraits: theſe ſhall be taught by him, whileſt they are chaſtiſed by him: theſe are bettered, whileſt they are ſcourged.

5. He compaſſes them about, to be a ſure defence to them, he keeps them, and that in his own hand, and ſo, as the apple of his own eye.

Fourthly, there are the ſweet companions of theſe bleſſed thoughts of God towards his: As,

1. The admirable delight God takes in theſe thoughts of p. 42his, and in the exerciſe of them: the Lord had a delight in thy fathers,Deut. 20.15.Deut 20:15 to love them (ſaies Moſes to Iſrael) he took pleaſure in loving Iſrael: in beſtowing his own mercy, he himſelf taſted as much ſweetneſſe in giving, as they in receiving: if they delighted in enjoying Gods love (as wel they might) ſo did God himſelf in giving out his love; the Nurſe that gives out the milk to the childe upon the breaſt, ſhe finds pleaſure as well as the child nouriſhment. MercieMercy pleaſes him (ſaies Micah) he wils, deſires, mercy, grace; he longs (as it were) to ſhew his bounty;Micah. 7.18. foreign Ipſe eſt volens de amans deſiderans benignitatem, miſericordiam, gratiam. Iſa. 30.18.Mic 7:18Isa 30:18 he waits to be gracious (ſaies Iſaiah) that Phraſe implies and couches in it. 1. Gods infinite deſire to be gracious: 2. His moſt perfect wiſedome, ſo as, he will not beſtow his love out of ſeaſon; he will ſtay, till he may beſt do it: he will wait for the beſt opportunitie in his eye.

p. 432. As there is a bleſſed delight going along with theſe thoughts of God towards his, ſo there is a moſt wiſe, ſetled, and firm conſtancy in theſe thoughts of God towards his people: he is of one mind (ſaies Job) who can turn him? God is not as the ſon of man, that he ſhould repent,Numb. 23.19. Job. 17.7, 11.Num 23:19Job 17:7Job 17:11 (ſaies Balaam) Job complains, that al his thoughts were as a ſhadow; and that his purpoſes were broken off, even the thoughts of his heart: Gods thoughts be ſo far from being as a ſhadow, that they have not ſo much as a ſhadow of turning in them, who can breake off Gods purpoſes? who can unſettle theſe thoughts of God? who can part or divide betwixt theſe thoughts of God, and the people of God? who ſhall ſeparate from the love of God (ſaith the Apoſtle) and may it not as well be askt, who ſhall ſeparate from Gods purpoſes of love? not man, nor devil; not any ſin, nor p. 44any unworthineſſe, in the people of God. The very nature of the bleſſed God muſt be deſtroyed, the very fountain of love dried, the moſt quick and the tender bowels of his grace deadned, before theſe purpoſes of God can be made unconſtant that there ſhould be yea, and nay with them, that they ſhould be for and againſt in a ſhort ſpace; the Apoſtle will not ſuffer this imputation to be ca… upon him,2 Cor. 1.17.2 Cor 1:17 that the things h… did purpoſe, he purpoſ'd according to the fleſh, that with him there ſhould be yea, yea, and nay, nay: that he ſhould be (p… and con) as we uſe to ſay: and will our God endure, that thi… ſhould lie upon him, that the… is yea and nay in his purpoſes no, no: Gods purpoſes hold o… and ſtand, and never vary, bu… ſtill ſhew the unchangeablene… of that nature, from whence they flow.

3. There are glorious aime p. 45of God, mixt as it were with theſe thoughts of God towards his. As, 1. To make himſelf a glorious name by them: when he lead his people out of Egypt, compaſt them about in the wilderneſſe, brought them into Canaan, the Spirit teſtifies, twas to make himſelf a glorious name, a name of ornament, a name that might become God himſelf,Iſai. 63.14. foreign Nomen ornatus, gloriae, decoris.Isa 63:14 a name of glory (faies the text) a name that might proclaim God to be the higheſt, the greateſt, the wiſeſt, the fulleſt of mercy.

2. To give his people reſt: the Spirit of the Lord cauſed Iſrael to reſt (ſaies the ſame Prophet in the ſame place) twas a bleſſed reſt indeed which the Spirit of God cauſed: Iſrael was in many troubles, he went thorow many brakes, but at laſt the Spirit of God ſet him down, placed him, and planted him in that land of reſt All indeed was not over in a moment, Iſrael p. 46muſt be in a waſting and howling wilderneſſe for a time: and all this while the Spirit lead him, and his purpoſes were that Iſrael ſhould reſt; let his people but follow him, he will cauſe Iſrael to reſt at laſt: he will prepare a Land for him roome for him, a ſeat for him an happy poſſeſſion of the Land of Canaan, and there he ſhall feed and reſt. Gods thought reſt not in pitching upon half mercies: tis Iſraels reſt his thoughts reach unto: and what God determined, he effected by a mighty hand, and when he ſaw his time, he gave Iſrael to ſit down, and enjoy that good Land of reſt, purpoſed and promiſed long before.

Fifthly, the declaration and manifeſtation of theſe thoughts of God in their viſible fruits: When Gods thoughts come abroad, as it were, when they ſhine forth in the eye of the world, when Gods decree, p. 47bring forth, when that which lay in the womb of his purpoſes is born, there is a time, and a ſet time too, when the Lords decree brings forth (as the Prophet Zephaniah tels us;Zeph. 2.2.Zeph 2:2 & thereupon calls upon the people of God to gather themſelves together, to ſeek meekneſſe and righteouſneſſe, ere the decree brings forth, ere the day of the Lords anger come upon them: Theſe two the Prophet makes to be one, the comming of the day of Gods anger, and the bringing forth of the Decree: For, as ſoon as the decree of juſtice comes forth, the day of anger is broke, it appeares: ſo his purpoſes and thoughts of anger towards the wicked, makes anger at length to goe forth; theſe ſend forth his wrath in ſtrokes, terrible woundings, deadly conſumings: Theſe thoughts of wrath, break forth in the face of God by frowns, in the hand of God by p. 48blowes. Moreover, this execution of his thoughts of juſtices holds proportion with his Decree, is all out as full as his thoughts were: every blow he determins to ſtrike, hewil ſtrike, he wil not ſpare them a jot: The anger of the Lord (ſayes Jer.) ſhall not return till he hath executed, Jer. 23.20.Jer 23:20and till he hath performed the thoughts of his heart. In theſe Divine purpoſes, God doth, as it were, ſecretly bind himſelfe, promiſe to himſelf, to his own juſtice, ſo much ſatisfaction upon thoſe that provoke it, according as it requires: now God performing this to the full, and the anger of the Lord will not return till it hath executed thus far: he will never call back his anger from the purſuit of ſuch, untill it hath purſued them long enough, far enough. So his purpoſes of good towards his people, they bring forth as plentifully: look what our God promiſes to his own grace, to his own bowels, p. 49that he will perform to the full: look what good he purpoſes concerning his people, that, to a grain, they ſhall have from his gracious hand: he works freely in a way of mercy, till he hath performed the thoughts of his heart, that is, all his thoughts towards them, till there be a thought of God towards them, but beares his fruit, and brings it forth to them, and for them, till it be ſeen that there is not a thought of God barren towards them: never ſhall the purpoſes and thoughts of God return, till all this bee done. The thoughts of God are like Solomons Flock of Sheep,Sol. Song 4.2.Song 4:2 every one bears twins, and none is barren among them: Our God who hates barren thoughts in his people, will not, cannot have them in his own heart: his purpoſes will all out in their time, and his hand will perform what he hath pitcht upon p. 50in his own thoughts: if his thoughts be for deliverance of his people, delivered they ſhall be, what ever oppoſes, theſe purpoſes of God will carry it away, theſe will beare all down before them, and make a plain way even amongſt mountains, for their due and glorious performance.

The ſecond term to be unfolded, is to have the next place, and it is this, [The thoughts I think towards you] wherein this queſtion muſt be reſolved, How and why the thoughts of God are ſaid to be towards his people. For ſatisfaction in this thing, know firſt, the Spirit of God means that they were thoughts of love, of mercy, of peace, of good, as he expreſſes afterwards: In Scripture ſenſe, this word [towards] when it is referred to Gods will, mind, thoughts,Jer. 15.1.Jer 15:1 it alwayes notes mercy: as in that place, If Moſes p. 51and Samuel (ſayes God) ſtood before me, yet my mind could not be towards this people: that is, I could not love them, I could not accept of them, I could not forbear them, I could not hold an hand of Juſtice from them: And the word (againſt) joyned with Gods face, or will, notes divine juſtice: as in that place,Pſa. 34.16.Ps 34:16 The face of the Lord is againſt them that doe evill, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth: the meaning is, theſe evill doers ſhall have and ſee and feele the terrible face of Gods juſtice: God will appear to them as one againſt them, as an enemy, and as an enemy moſt juſtly enraged by their ſin, whoſe very nature puts him upon their deſtruction: Our God is a conſuming fire: Heb. 12.29.Heb 12:29'Tis more then to ſay, Our God conſumes and devours up the wicked: For it notes this, that …he very nature of God is a conſumer of his enemies, he is …he fire himſelfe. When the merciemercy p. 52of God is expreſt in the higheſt ſtrain, it is ſaid, God i… Love: he is Mercy it ſelf as we… as hath mercy: 'Tis infinitly more then to ſay, he doth love So here, to ſay God is a conſuming fire, is infinitely mor… then to ſay, God doth conſume ſo much is the face of the Lor… againſt his enemies, that hi… very nature is againſt them and their conſumption ſhall be ſuch as the very juſt nature … God ſhall lay upon them.

Secondly, the Spirit mea… ſuch thoughts as were toward none but his: theſe alo… had the ſmiling face of the thoughts, they were not towards wicked men at all: th… adequate and ful object of the… thoughts were the people … God: 'Tis as much as if Go… ſhould ſay, towards you … people, my redeemed ones.

Thirdly, ſuch thoughts … naturally and moſt freely d… ſtream towards his: God w… p. 53not compelled by any cauſe out of himſelf: who did ever move God, or counſell him, or bid him think ſuch thoughts towards his: he ſets his owne thoughts to work by his own nature. This is for the (How) …ow for the (Why) the thoughts of God are ſaid to be towards his.

Firſt, becauſe every thought of Gods heart is full of good will towards his: it is for their …dvantage, for their profit: it …arries in it a full bleſſing: it is …ke the Cluſter of Grapes in Eſay, Iſa. 65.8.Isa 65:8…here is new wine in it: new wine found in it, new wine …ound to be good too: a bleſ…ing was in it: So we may ſay …f every thought of God towards his people, there is wine, …ew wine, and ſuch new wine … hath a bleſſing in it: oh, it …es down ſweetly! it feeds,Sol. Song 7.9.Song 7:9 …criſhes, makes glad the ſoule … a poore creature: Theſe …oughts being towards them, p. 54they are then for their proſperity, their peace, their ſanctification, their ſalvation: the… are towards them for their exaltation, deliverance, and conſolation: Who can name th… bleſſing that theſe bring not i… when they come & viſit a po… ſoul? who ever was in that ev… condition, ſtrait temptation… that was not delivered in enjoying the bleſſed fruits of the… thoughts? Theſe they co… cloathed with ſalvation:Luke 2.14.Luke 2:14 the… tune out the Angels ſong in t… eares of Gods people, Glory … God in the higheſt, on earth pea… good will towards men: the bleſſ… expreſſions of theſe though… what do they prove leſſe to h… then mercies, embraceme… on every ſide? The Lord thi… a man good, thinks a man a … leever, thinks him a penite… thinks him yeelding and ob… dient: for when he manife… his thoughts of good to hi… the man is a new creature, he… p. 55thus, he is all this, and more then this. A man in a ſinfull condition he hath an ill eye towards himſelf, ill thoughts againſt his own ſoule in all he does: he is a ſelf-deſtroyer,Pſal. 85.8.Ps 85:8 theſe are the fruits of his owne thoughts: but Gods thoughts they are all for good, for life, for peace to a poore ſoule: Hee that ſpeaks peace to his people, purpoſes peace firſt, thinks thoughts of peace towards his before: Gods good pleaſure of his will which he purpoſes in himſelf,Eph. 1.9.Eph 1:9 goes before the ſaving revelation of the myſtery of his will to his.

Secondly, his thoughts may well be ſaid to be towards them, becauſe they tend ſo much to advance and honour them: My heart (ſayes Deborah) … towards the Governours of Iſrael, Judg. 5.9.Judg 5:9that offered themſelves willingly among the people: as if ſhe had ſaid, Oh! how I love and honour ſuch? Oh my heart is p. 56much taken with them! Oh… what commendations do the… deſerve? Oh theſe be nob… Governours indeed! So wh… God ſayes, My thoughts are towards my people, it is as muc… as if he ſhould ſay, Theſe a… they that I intend to honou… yea, delight to honour: if a… my purpoſes of good will do i… they ſhall have it: if all … mercifull thoughts will … them up, they ſhall be advanced: Now they are baſe, mea… in captivity under the hands … their cruell enemies, but I wi… ſet them aloft again: … thoughts run for their recovery, for the regaining of their name, for to make them … name, and a praiſe: they ſhal… be the head, and not the taile: … have ſet my heart upon them … deliver, redeem them, crow… them.

Thirdly, becauſe in theſ… thoughts of God, there was … mixture of the evill of puniſhment, p. 57they were onelyonly, they were purely for good: thoughts not of evill, not of afflictions, (ſayes the Text) theſe thoughts were wholly made up of mer…y: they be all towards you, (ſayes God) none againſt you.

Fourthly, becauſe theſe lo…ing thoughts of God, were …eer the birth: when few years (viz. 70.) were over, they would break forth and ſhine, and ſcat…er away the darkneſſe of their condition: theſe thoughts were comming directly towards …hem, and that apace too.

Fifthly, becauſe all theſe thoughts of God towards his, were united (as it were) for …his one thing, even to deliver …hem: Gods thoughts were not divided, they did not ſet themſelves one againſt another: ſome thoughts were not for them, and ſome againſt them; …ut all went this one way, and not with a major vote, but with p. 58a generall one, cried up the proſperity of Gods people: they all agreed in one (nemine contradicente) as we uſe to ſay, not a thought gainſaying.

Sixthly, becauſe all theſe thoughts of God towards hi… people, continue ſo: they remain freſh and ſtrong and lively in the breaſt of God: theſe are not like Ephraims goodneſſe which was like the mornin… deaw: theſe paſſe not away, b… they abide in Gods heart, ti… they bring forth their good… My thoughts towards yo… that is, ſo, as that they will never turn their faces from you: ſhall think ſtill towards you, til… I work fully according to my own thought, according to th… purpoſe of my own will: they be ſo towards you, that the… will come to you in the fulneſ… of their bleſſings: my heart i… ſo on you, that I ſhall not re… till I am at work for you.

Seventhly, becauſe in theſ… p. 59thoughts God aimed at this, what mercy to give them: he (that by his owne perfect wiſdome, knew moſt exactly, the fitteſt mercy to beſtowed) now ſayes, my thoughts are towards you: as if he ſhould ſay, I am thinking, yea I have already in my thought what mercy, what kinde of mercies, how many mercies, and at what ſeaſon, I ſhall beſtow them: I will fit you with right mercies, helpe you with ſaving mercies: come to you with ſeaſonable mercies: fill you with …atisfactorie mercies.

8. Becauſe that in all theſe …houghts, God next unto him-…imſelfe aymed at them, at their …ood: God thought what mer…y to give, but that was not all, …or the main of all: my thoughts (ſayes God) be towards, you: …he thing I ayme at is, that you …ay be bleſſed, that you may be …riched, that you may be com…rted: you are in my thoughts, p. 60in my eye, above, more, then all the gifts I give: tis for your ſakes I thinke thus: my thoughts are towards you: Hee that thinkes what to give to one he loves, his thoughts bee not ſo much towards the gift, as towards the perſon to whom he intends to give, and for whoſe ſake he hath ſuch thought-contrivings: ſo God he thinks indeed what to do for his own people, but hi… thoughts be alone towards theſe for whom he ſo thinks, upon thi… on the thoughts of God center, and they reſt not, thy are not towards any bleſſing, ſo as to wa… thoſe whom he loves to bleſſe.

Thirdly, for the unfolding … the next terme: I know th… thoughts I thinke towards you the Spirit of God in this Phra… ſpeaks much, & moſt excellently for the conſolation of his ſervants, to make them aſſured, th… this was his determination, th… theſe were his thoughts indee… towards them: for I know th… p. 61thoughts I thinke towards, you: That is,

1. No man can tell my thoughts, but my ſelfe: Who can ſearch into my decerees, my …urpoſes? Cheere up your ſelves my people, your owne hearts may riſe, and tell you, this is …ot, this cannot be Gods minde, Gods thoughts towards you: do …ot you ſee the ſad preſſures you …re under? the cloud over you is …arke, and when is the ſtorme …ke to blow over? Well, well, (ſayes God) comfort your ſelves …oore hearts: fleſh and blood …nowes not my thoughts: Cor…uption is none of my Counſel…urs, is not acquainted with my …inde: a fleſhly minde is with…ut light, it underſtands not my …ounſell: it is enough for you; …hat I know my owne thoughts …wards you: tell your corruptions, ye take too much upon …ou: cheere up your ſelves my people: your enemies may in…t over you, as a loſt, an undone p. 62people, and run to gaze upon your miſery with joy, yea, to ſharpen their eyes upon you, as ſuch as bleſſe themſelves in your ſorrowes: they may thinke we… ſhall now have our will upon them, now wee ſhall have o… luſts ſatisfyed,Micah. 4.12.Mic 4:12 and our mali… pleaſed: no (ſaies God) th… ſhall not: feare not my people … they know not the thoughts … the Lord, they underſtand n… his Counſell: theſe ſpeake without book: they utter the dream and deceits of their own hearts I ſent them not: they are no… of my privie Counſell: I inte… not as as they: I thinke not … they: my thoughts are of another nature, run or other end… to other purpoſes: and I wi… make way, and worke for … owne ends; to ſhape thing… perſons and actions to my ow… minde.

Secondly, I know … thoughts: that is, I underſtand my ſelf, my ſecrets, and all … p. 63waies perfectly: I can read in this ſecret book of my Counſels, which is ſealed up, and to deep for finite creatures to reach unto: I can, not onelyonly enquire after the Conſultations, and the determinations of my owne bowels; but I can, and do moſt fully know what I have there ſet downe to a tittle: the ſame Lord that ſearched Davids heart,Pſal. 139.1, 2, 3.Ps 139:1Ps 139:2Ps 139:3 and knew it, and that ſo, that he underſtood all his thoughts afarre off, and was acquainted perfectly with all his wayes; hee is ignorant of none of his owne waies: the Lord writes not in this booke of remembrance ſuch ſtrange Characters,Mal. 31.16. that he cannot underſtand himſelfe, that he cannot read them, when hee comes to look them over: God is light, and he that is light it ſelfe, what can bee darke to him.

Thirdly, I know my thoughts, that is, I look over them: all I per…ſe every leaf of this book, every p. 64word, tittle, ſyllable of this writing: I lay not this booke of mine by me: I let it not ly, and gather duſt: I am ſtill a reading ſtill cying, what I have purpoſed, what I have promiſed to do for my people.

Fourthly, I know my thoughts: that is, I acknowledge my thoughts are towards you: I prove and try them, an… ſtill I ſo confeſſe, yea am glad, that this is my minde: it is unchangeable, it is one and th… ſame towards you: yo… thoughts are ſo fooliſh, ſo variable, you are of ſo many minds that you doe not know you own minds: but I know my thoughts, they are united, they run one way: you may be diſſtracted in your thoughts, I cannot in mine: you may bee deceived in yours, I cannot bee … in mine.

4. The fourth, thing is what the thoughts of God pitch upon, as they be towards, and loo… p. 65towards his people: this the ſpirit of God ſets downe in four heads.