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

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

p. 1332. This truth calls upon unbeleevers to come off from glorying over the people of God, when they are brought into a low condition by tyranny, oppreſſion, or any ſad hand of rebuke from God: it is uſuall with the world, then to trample upon the ſervants of Chriſt when they be afflicted ones: they will perſecute where God ſmites, they will grieve thoſe whom God wounds: The Church (in Micah) was no ſooner down, but the world was glad, therefore ſhe thus gives the enemy a faire warning, ſhe thus puts in a p. 134prohibition, Rejoyce not over me, O mine enemy, Micah. 7.8.Mic 7:8When I fall, I ſhall riſe agine, when I ſit in darkneſſe the Lord will bee a light unto me: Shee ſpeaks of riſing again on purpoſe to make her enemy to know, that he ſhould fall, and never riſe, which was not her caſe, nor never ſhould; ſhee grants ſhe ſits in the darke, but denies that this will be her condition ſtill, the Lord will be a light unto me: She grants the worſt, and beleeves the beſt: Tis as much as if ſhe ſhould ſay, O mine enemie doe I fall, Oh what a fall wilt thou have then? Does judgement begin at me, what then will thy end bee? When I ſit in the darke I have the Lord to be a light to me, but what Lord haſt thou to bring thee into light? He that will raiſe me, will judge thee: he that will be a light to me for my comfort, will be a terror to thee for thy condemnation: Shee thus replies for herſelf againſt the ungodly, giving them to know of her riſe and recovery, as well as p. 135fall; and cleerly intimating their fall without recovery, their darkneſſe without light, their judgement without mercy, which ſhall fall upon them, and grinde them to powder: take heed then yee Wicked ones, tell not the people of God, they be out-caſts, who ſeeks after them, who cares for them? they be now downe, they ſhall never up more, now they be in miſeries, there is an end of them, they ſhall never riſe againe: What, cannot Gods Ionahs live under the waves, and in the Whales belly? What, muſt his Daniels needs be broken in pieces becauſe they be in the Lyons den? ſhall an Iron furnace in Egypt conſume all the Iſrael of God? or ſhall an oppreſſig Babylon ſtill keepe them under hatches? What, is there no ſun riſing? there is no deliverance comming? Be there no thoughts of peace in the heart of the great God toward his? Yes, yes, yee fooles and blinde, why then do p. 136you thus puſh with your hornes? Why then do ye thus pride up your ſelves (like Moab) and exalt your ſelves againſt thoſe whom God will exalt?Ier. 48.26, 27.Jer 48:26Jer 48:27 you will have for your pride one day, divine juſtice will ſee you paid: hear what it is: make ye him drunken for he magnified himſelfe againſt the Lord, &c. For was not Iſrael a deriſion to thee? Was he found among theeves? thou didſt uſe him as if hee had been ſo, (even the very eſt villaine upon earth) ſince thou ſpakeſt of him thou skippeſt for joy: Oh how glad was Moab that Iſrael was broken, Iſraels affliction, was her melody; But Moab ſhall be broken for it: the horne of Moab (where with he puſht the people of God ſo) is cut off, and his arme is broken, ſaith the Lord: ye ſpirituall Philiſtines, ye may ſport your ſelves with the ſorrowes of Gods deer ones, it may be your mirth cannot go well forward,25. v. till a blinded, p. 137impriſoned Sampſon is ſent for in, but what will you gaine, unleſſe it be ruine to your ſelves, the loſſe of your own ſoules, of your own lives, and all that is truly good.

3. This truth may ſerve to call them in from perſecution, from purſuing their bloody thoughts aginſt the Saints: why boaſteſt thou thy ſelfe in miſchiefe O mighty man (ſayes David to bloody Doeg) the goodnes of God endureth continually:Pſal. 54.1Ps 54:1 Doeg thought hee had done ſuch a chare when hee had told Saul where Dauid was, Oh how he boaſted! Oh how faſt he went on in purſuing him in his miſchievous waies! but David both heartens himſelf, & checks his enemy, with this, the goodneſſe of God endureth continually: do what thou canſt, thou haſt not, thou canſt not part either God from his goodneſſe, or his goodneſſe from me, or from his people: this will endure, p. 138this will laſt, when thy arrowes be all ſpent, when thy breath is gone, when thy life is loſt, and thou art drinking the very gall of thy moſt deſerved portion: tis as much as if David ſhould ſay to Doeg, O thou enemie how art thou beſotted that thinkeſt thy waies will proſper: thy vaine heart perſwades thee, & thus thou ſayſt in thy ſelf, now I ſhall have my luſt and my will, I ſhall get the upper hand: Now now I ſhall ſee David & his fellowe stumble ſhortly: now Saul will meet with him, and he ſhall never eſcape his hands yea but (ſaies David) the goodneſſe of God endures: thou forgetteſt thy ſelfe Doeg: our God hath purpoſes of love, hee hath fruits of love: his goodneſſe endures; in it ſelfe it is ſo conſtant, that it is unchangeable: it endures in regard of Gods owne people, tis made over to them, God himſelf hath made it ſure to them, tis ſo his, that tis theirs too in way of title, and they may challenge p. 139challenge the fruits and manifeſtations of it in Jeſus Chriſt: do not thou think Doeg, that there is no more ado but kill and ſlay Saints at thy pleaſure (what ever God hath permitted thee to do hitherto) the goodneſſe of God endures, it is not as yet come to an end towards the Saints not never will: thou deceiveſt thy ſelf, yet God is good to Iſrael; he is good to David, he is good to all Anointed ones: thus David cooles perſecuting Doeg: and certainly, if thoſe that are thus bad againſt God and his people, could, were able, or would ſee God thus good unchangeably in himſelf, relatively towards his people, they would have little heart to perſecute: it is a fond conceipt of having the fill of their own deſires upon the people of God, that fluſhes wicked men ſo, that puts ſuch wicked motions in life againſt the Saints: it is a vain hope of ſucceſſe that claps them on the back, and p. 140bids them go on, and be deſperately reſolute.

Secondly, let the Saints know, here is a glaſſe for them to ſee many precious duties in.

1 Ye that believe, ye that by faith are brought home to Jeſus Chriſt, and have the bleſſed fruits of theſe thoughts of his love powred out upon you, fall a wondring, let it work you to admiration, and to bleſſed acknowledgements: ſuch a view ſhould you take of the ſweet wayes of Gods love towards you: think not with your ſelves we have mercies, and there is an end: Saints muſt not make ſuch ſinfull ſtops: you muſt go abroad to ſee mercy, and neither houſe up, nor hood-wink your ſelves.

1 Does not God minde you when you are in your greate… ſtraits, under the heavieſt clouds. He hath an ear to hear your groaning, when oppreſſion hath a… hand to make you groan: Iſra… p. 141though diſ-reſpected in Egypt, yet hath reſpect in heaven; when Saints have the harſheſt, vileſt, bloudieſt uſage from a proud Pharaoh, they ſhall have tender mercy from their God: God that heard the voice of a periſhing Iſhmael, Gen. 21.17.Gen 21:17the bond-womans ſonne, will much more hear the voice of a living and a faithfull Iſaac the ſonne of the free-woman: when tyrants be trampling Saints under feet, and writing their names in the duſt, yet then are they graven upon the palmes of Gods hands, and their broken walles, their broken conditions,Iſa 49.16.Isa 49:16 are continually before him: there was never a time as long as time hath been; never a ſtrait, as many as Saints have had, wherein God hath forgotten them: God ever yet walkt with his children, though in the fiery furnace: he will be where they be when they be where he would have them to be: he will be with his mercy and his grace, p. 142where they be in their ſorrows, and in their troubles: God hath many thoughts, and all precious thoughts of love towards them, what, do you thinke that God minds not his Saints in England, that could not, that would not, that was not unmindfull of his Saints in Egypt? do you thinke, that theſe onelyonly are forgotten, or in this age alone God puts his people out of his mind? or do you thinke that God minds not the degree of their ſufferings, how far they be gone, how low they be brought, the depth of their miſeries; or the height of their extremities, or the rage of their adverſaries? or will God now content himſelfe with an everly looke upon his peoples caſe, with a caſt of an eye, with a glaunce onelyonly towards them? no, no: he hath them alwaies in his heart, upon his breaſt, he hath them alwaies in his eye, he hath them alwaies graven upon his hand: behold and wonder at p. 143ſuch love: and yet this is not all:

In the 2. place, he is a forecaſting God for them, he purpoſes deliverances long before [even from all eternity] his thoughts be a contriving (as it were) the time, the beſt time: the way, the ſweeteſt way: the end, the happyeſt end: the mercy, the greateſt mercy for his owne people to have: in this way he is now walking with his people in this land: his thoughts have been long at worke upon theſe things, and now is our God a bringing forth his owne purpoſes to light, a ſhewing his owne thoughts, now he is a telling his Saints in England that he is a God that can love, can contrive, can take care for his people, can tell how to ſend them good, to give them mercy, to worke for their liberties, for their peace: bleſſe our God ye Saints: cauſe the voice of his praiſe to be heard: publiſh and ſay, Who may be compared p. 144to our God? he alone is excellent in his thoughts, in his purpoſes, in his bowels, in his workings: there is none marvelous but him: there is none like unto him:

And therefore yet more in the third place; theſe thoughts of our God, are they no full of wonders? do they not deſerve to be ſought out of all his Saints: ſee into this love that paſſes knowledge, that is ſo above the reach of the minds eye; ſee into the length and depth of this mercy of our God, which is ſo unfadomable: theſe purpoſes, theſe thoughts, they are the bleſſed iſſues of Gods own heart towards his: they are thoſe pure and living ſtreams, ſweetly and immediately flowing from the fountain of life it ſelf: and how can mercy be deeper ſet, then in the very nature, in the very heart of God? and can theſe be any other then mercies of a full length? how can they have leſſe p. 145then an infinite, an eternall reach with them? are theſe like to end that had never any beginning in the thoughts of God? ſhall man give a meaſure, or time put a period to ſuch a love? no, no: this mercy endures for ever and ever, and here is ground enough for Saints to praiſe; yea, to call upon others too, and ſay: O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever: yea to ſpeak it over and over as David did:Pſal. 136.1, 2, 3.26. verſes.Ps 136:1Ps 136:2Ps 136:3Ps 136:26 who plyes this thing ſo that he doubles and trebbles it, yea four times he makes mention of it in that one Pſalm: oh this pleads ſtrongly for thanks, it cries mightily for an high ſtrain of praiſe: his mercy enduring for ever, the Lords eternity of mercy puts on Saints hearts, ſets them upon this heavenly tune; O give thanks unto the Lord.

In the 4. and laſt place ſee, is not our God waiting to be gracious? is he not watching over p. 146his people for good, even to beſtow good?Iſa. 30.18.Isa 30:18 he will not let one ſeaſon paſſe: every mercy he gives ſhall have his own time: SALOMON tels us, man knows not his time, and therefore it is ſo ill with him: but God perfectly knows his time, and therefore it ſhall be well for thoſe that fear God: we thinke, O if we had Peace now! O if we had a Reformation now! O how ſeaſonable would it be? O if God would now ſend fire from heaven and conſume his enemies! O if he would now put in the ſharp ſhekel of his juſtice and reap them down! how well would it be with us? But ſtay, be not too haſty: God knowes his time better then thou: wilt thou inſtruct God? art thou wiſer then him? does not he know when to let out his love, when to bring forth his purpoſes, his thoughts? may not God ſay to thee, haſt thou known my minde? canſt thou inſtruct me? p. 147I tell thee God will not ſtay one hour too long, or come one hour too ſoon with any mercy:Pſal. 1Ps 1 he will take his own (now) now will I ariſe (ſayes God) when it may be the poor oppreſſed ones thought God exceeding long ere he aroſe, and were ready to ſay God hath forgotten us, and ſo to caſt away their confidence: God hath his (now) hundreds of yeares ſomtimes, after the beginnings of waitings, expectations and cryes of his owne people: Iſrael groanes in Egypt hundreds of yeares ere Gods (now) comes, and yet it was not too late; it was ſoon enough; it was the beſt ſeaſon of all: never then begrudge God his owne time; admire him rather for his own unfadomable depth of wiſdome, that ſo cleerly ſhines forth in the very time hee chuſes, to bring forth his owne thoughts of love in: be wiſe therefore ye Saints of the moſt high, bleſſe God abundantly in that he will go his p. 148owne way: in that he cannot, he will not learne any thing of any man: he would have men learne… all from him, and reaſon good: away then with thoſe thoughts, now, it is too late: all is paſt recovery: if God would have diſpatcht the work in ſuch an year, in ſuch a month, we might have been reformed; but now our caſe is deſperate, now our ſtrength is ſhut up and gone: and what then? Is not this the… time that the Lord ſayes he will judge his people in, and repent himſelf for his ſervants: When he ſees this that they have no… no hand,Deut. 32.36.Deut 32:36 no power, no ſtrength left, but all is ſhut up and gone, when they are quite ſpent, and are (as it were) breathing ou… their laſt breath; Now (ſayes God) it repents me for my ſervants: I can forbear no longer: I cannot ſee them in all this miſery, and hold my peace: I cannot ſee them thus farre gone, an… with-hold my help: I cannot p. 149ſee them dying, and not revive them: I cannot ſee them loſt, and not recover them: I cannot ſee them in the fire, and not pluck them out: God will never loſe one of his own opportunities, wherein he may work for the glorifying of himſelfe and the comfort of his: O that Saints would ſee who is their beſt friend! he that is your Father knowes not onelyonly how, and why, to let bleſſings fall from him; but when too: Let him …ull the time, he will come when it is beſt: beſt, for his own glorious name: beſt for your own precious comforts.

Secondly, Saints, ſee your ſtay, your truſt, your Rock, tis the Lord Iehovah in whoſe heart are theſe thoughts of louelove towards his: he is the Rock,Deu. 32.4.Deut 32:4 his worke is perfect (ſayes Moſes) and what are his thoughts purpoſes, and decrees then? are no… theſe perfect according to which the Lords worke is framed? when p. 150the Lord ſaves, he ſaves perfectly, he compleats his Salvation ſo, that he brings it up to a full worke: he leaves not his worke in the midſt at the halfe: all his wayes are judgement, that is more then in judgement: they are judgement it ſelf, they carry in them ſuch a clear light, ſuch excellency of order; ſuch beauty and ſutableneſſe to the hand that workes them, there is ſuch a fulneſſe of an infinite God upon them,Rev. 21.25.Rev 21:25 that (as it is ſaid of the new Jeruſalem) there is no night there: man when he workes his workes are imperfect like himſelfe, they fall from his hands halfe ſhaped or ſhapeleſſe: and no marvell, for his very thoughts as well as his life, are dying things: they can dy, they can periſh, even under his hands ere he can finiſh and accomplſh them:Pſa. 146.4Ps 146:4 they breath out their laſt, and ſo not onelyonly the worke underhand is left and fallen, but even forgotten too: mans very p. 151thoughts te…ding to it are all dea… and gone: there is no truſt …herefore in man (ſayes the Pro…he… becauſe his breath goeth …orth, &c. his bodie dies, and …is thoughts dye too (he means …is thoughts of love, his advanc…ng & friend-pleaſing thoughts, …nd contrivances) theſe periſh there is not one of them to be …een: they are all winged by …eath, they are fled and gone: …ut, is it thus with our God? do …is thoughts periſh? is all daſht …nd gone in a moment, what God hath been thinking to all …ternity? Man indeed in one day …y one ſtroke of death looſes all …is contriving thoughts about …e world, that have been work…ng and plotting many yeeres before: but our God will ever …old up, & on his own thoughts: …hee will not loſe one of theſe. Hee who will not loſe one of …is owne Sheep, but mercy ſhall go for…b from his bowels to ſave him: will not loſe one of his p. 152owne thoughts, but power ſhall go forth from himſelfe to proclaime them what they be: he… will never leave remembring … his till he hath fulfilld the good pleaſure of his goodneſſe towards them: till he hath brough… all his thoughts of mercy int… acts, and ſo made his worke perfect: He is a Rocke indeed to bottome upon, whoſe worke i… thus perfect, whoſe wa…es ar… thus full of judgement: judgement is before him (ſayes Eli… to Iob) therefore truſt thou i… him:Iob 35.14Job 35:14 (as if he ſhould have ſaid) God knowes moſt perfectly what he does, in what way h… goes, how to quit a ſoule, or how to condemne it: there is n… blinding of God, no daubing up of his eyes, no darkneſſe to him but all is light before him: therefore truſt in him, refer thy ſelf… to his mercy, let him honour that upon thee: Truſt in him, he will do thee, no wrong, judgement i… before him: he is a God of truth… p. 153there is no iniquity in him. he … a God of mercy, there is no …ppreſſion in any of his waies, …e is without iniquity, juſt and …ight is he: O the bleſſed, the …trong ingagements that lye up… beleevers to ſettle here! to …ttome and build upon this …ock, to get above themſelves, …p to a God in Chriſt: Nay be…old yet more, if there is ground …ough of a (therefore truſt in him) becauſe judgement is before him; what ground is this …en, and how much faith doth …his call for at our hands, in that mercy is before him; his thoughts of love are ever comming into his minde, and he is ever mindfull of his Covenant, that his Love and Grace hath made: He ſayes to a poore beleever, O what ſhall I doe unto thee? What ſhall I do for thee? What is thy deſire, what is thy requeſt; it ſhall be granted? what is thy need, it ſhall be ſuplied? Solomon tells us that the heart of p. 154an husband doth ſafely truſt in … vertuous wife,Pro. 31.11.12, 26.Prov 31:11Prov 31:12Prov 31:26 for ſhee will d… him good and not evill and in her tongue is the law of kindneſſe: and is this enough for ſuch a truſt? O then! may we no… much more ſay, the heart of a beleever may, muſt and doth truſt ſafely in God thorow Chriſt … The heart of God is an heart o… kindneſſe, as well as in his tongue is the law of kindneſſe … What hath not God? What i… there not in God? to allure the ſoule to repoſe it ſelfe in him, to be his diſciple, to lye in his boſome, to leane upon his ſhoulders, to lye downe full of joy in his love? a poore ſoule that hath ſuch an husband as Chriſt is, may well (ſhee hath ground enough) may without danger (there is ſafety enough) truſt in him for all good, for all bleſſed diſpenſations of his Grace and power to enhappy it: if the Husband may well truſt, a vertuous wife with family affaieres, how much more p. 155may the beleeving ſoule truſt Chriſt with all ſpirituall affaires: let that God, that Saviour, (will the beleeving ſoule ſay) be my truſt, who purpoſes ſuch love, ſuch mercy to my ſoule in evill times; who is a Winters ſun to my frozen heart, and a bleſſed ſpringing ſhower to my chapt earth: I will truſt him with my conſcience: truſt him with my family: truſt him with my name: truſt him with my eſtate: truſt him with a Kingdome: truſt him with glory, yea both mine and his own too: he will not faile me, that never failed any: he will not deceive me that cannot deceive one: hee hath thoughts of peace towards me in all my ſufferings: he hath a gracious end for me out of all my ſufferings: the Lord my God hath a fullneſſe of good for mee, as well as I abſolute need of his good: and he knowes his owne thoughts of love, better, infinitely better, then I the great want p. 156of his love: whither ſhould my ſoule betake her ſelfe! but to this ſhelter: upon this ground I ſhall have firme footing: upon this Rocke I ſhall have good building: in this boſome I ſhall have glorious refreſhings: under this ſhade I ſhall be received: by this hand I ſhall be delivered: O how excellent is that of David, who ſpeakes experimentally too (for how did hee ſtand vnremoved againſt all Sauls, Pſal 125.1.Ps 125:1and Sata… batteries) they that truſt in the Lord ſhall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever, a beleever i… not removed, nay cannot (and it is more) for Mount Zion cannot, and ſuch a one is like this mount: thoſe that beleeve they be like not the world (alas, that changes every monethmonth (with the moone) it hath many new faces, ſtrange changes:1 Iohn. 2.17.1 John 2:17 alas, that paſſes away) but like mount Zion: and what enemy ſo much as ever ſhooke this, much leſſe removed p. 157it: beleevers they are like this …ount: they abide as long as the …ove of God himſelfe abides, and …ey are as firme as the ſtrength … this love can make them: …erefore tis that David puts a …etterneſſe upon this truſting in …e Lord, and tells us tis better …en truſting in men; yea then …o put confidence in Princes,Pſal. 118.8.Ps 118:8 (a …ing ſo excellent, ſo precious, … practiſed in and by the word) …nd yet that is as high as our …uſt can go, if it be placed in the world: what power is above …inces power, yea the conjoyned power of all the Princes of …he world together? and yet all …his makes no rock at all: it is …ut as an heape of ſand, there is …o building upon it in any caſe: truſting in God is better: it is a wiſe and a ſure way whatever the cauſe bee: a man would thinke, if it were unſafe in any caſe, it were ſo in this: when a poore Soule walks in darkneſſe, and hath no light: is full of terrors, p. 158and hath no Comforter… is in great ſtraits of of ſpirit, and hath no eaſe: is full of trouble… within, and hath no peace: thi… poore creature thinkes his caſe i… deſperate,Iſa 50.10.Isa 50:10 and that he is a lo… man: this is a ſtrait: this is an… headlong condition indeed: ye… (ſayes the Prophet) let that ma… truſt in the name of the Lord: let that poore ſoule ſtay upon hi… God: as deſperate as his caſe ſeemes to be; though in his own eye he is a damned man; though in the worlds eye, he is irrecoverable; yet (ſayes he) truſting i… the Lord, Staying upon his God will perfectly cure that man: he ſhall not miſcarry in this caſe (as deadly, as it ſhewes to be) if h… can caſt himſelfe upon his God… his God hath thought of peace… promiſes of peace, a covenant … peace, blood of peace for him: God will raiſe up that ſoul; ſhin… into that ſoule: be a light to that ſoule: a Prince of peace, a father of mercy, and God of all comforts p. 159to him, and whenſoever God does this, hee does more, …en if hee ſhould remove our word, our miſeries, our troubles, …nd make all at peace in the Kingdome: O that God would …ay the hearts of Chriſti…ns here!Sol. Song. 2.14.Song 2:14 O that they were how in the clefts of this Rocke (like Chriſts Dove) was there …ver a better time to reſt in God …hen now? O let the name of …he Lord be precious to you! do not only try now, or taſte what …one, how good God is; but be …onfident what hee will bee to you: can your caſe be worſe then to be killed, yea that God himſelf ſhould doe it, an that in anger too (as one would thinke) yet Iob will truſt in him:Iob. 13.15.Job 13:15 hee cannot truſt in a living God, that cannot truſt in a killing God; Iob had ſo learned a God in Chriſt: and great cauſe he had, for where he loves, nothing can remove his Love: he will have thoughts of peace, and hee will p. 160have a deſire to the worke of hi… hands,Iob 14.15Job 14:15 and who ſhall let him … the Enemie would, he ſhall not … What ſhall be able to ſeparat… from this love, or ſo much as give a ſtop or check to the working of it.

Vſe. 3 Thirdly, Saints, uſe your skill here are the wels of ſalvation draw out waters: here are the bleſſed breaſts of Conſolation… ſuck at them, draw hard, milke… out and be delighted with the abundance of Chriſts glorious mercyes,Iſa. 12.3.Isa 12:3 God, even our God he hath mercifull purpoſes, he hath thoughts of peace towards you… beleevers, behold your Father clothed with his owne bowels, putting on his whole nature of love, conceiving for you, decreeing for you, and reaching out mercy with both hands (as it were) to you: what muſt you do? lo here is for you: tis no time to ſit ſtill: you muſt be doing: your worke is before your eyes: draw out now, theſe waterpots p. 161be full to the bri, and full of excellent wine too: ſay what ſhould hinder us, that we ſhould not have the fruit of theſe mercifull thoughts of our God in theſe dayes? ſhall we ſtarve when there is bread to be had? ſhall we have this rock before us, and not ſuck any honey out of it? when Ioab perceived that the heart of David was toward rebellious and baniſhed Abſalom; marke, how he layes his trayne; how he plots, and projects to fetch out Davids heart, to bring it above ground,2. Sam. 142 Sam 14 to make Davids ſoul (that longed to go forth to Abſalom) to go forth indeed: he fetches a wiſe woman from Tekoa, and ſhe muſt inſinuate her ſelfe, and mask over the matter with darke ſayings, to get within David, and perſawade him to fetch home his baniſhed: and for this end, ſhe hath her leſſon from him; he puts words into her mouth, and all to fetch about the thing by ſuch a forme p. 162of ſpeech as was like to be moſt prevailing: beleevers ſee a pattern for your ſelves in this caſe: God he longs, and his Soule goes forth by longing, to his people, in their miſeries, in their troubles, in their baniſhments, in this rageing time of the ſword; his Soule is grieved for their affliction, Davids Ioabs, the Lords annointed are to take ſpeciall notice of this: they are to ſend their Tekoas to their David, to uſe Gods owne inſtituted meanes, to draw out theſe bowels of God, to make theſe thoughts viſible, and to come abroad, did not once David long to fetch home his baniſhed, and we not long to have theſe longings forth: let not God, let not Chriſt have cauſe to ſay (as he ſomtimes ſpake in the caſe of his ſufferings) he looked,Iſa. 62.5. and 64.7.Isa 62:5Isa 64:7 and there was none to help; he wondred that there was none to uphold: what none to ſtir in ſuch a caſe? what none to ſtir up himſelfe to p. 163take hold of Chriſt? what none to draw out the love of God in Chriſt towards his people? what none to powre out their hearts, none to utter words before God, none to fetch this thing about, by the wiſdome of the Spirit? where are our bowels of mercies which he (that hath put on ſuch bowels himſelf towards us) cals us to put on? what ſhall we ſee a bleſſed treaſury of divine love, and never go to the doore or uſe the key to open it? oh draw out Gods Soule, Chriſts heart unto thee! get out theſe purpoſes of love, that they may come abroad, that they may dwell in thy heart, and in the Saints more plentifully: O yet enough to make thy Soule an habitation for thee to dwell in! tis the ſureſt, the gloriouſeſt habitation in the whole world! o if divine love, be a roof ouer thee, and a dwelling place for thee, who can enter in at theſe doores to harme thee? who can curſe thee into wo, or thee p. 164from weale, from bleſſedneſſe? who can caſt thee out of thy houſe, when thou dwelleſt in God? who can keepe thee from thy treaſure of riches,Iſa. 58.10Isa 58:10 of honour, of Comfort and peace, when the purpoſes of thy God run for thy enjoyment of them all? ſome truths, and ſome neceſſities beſpeaks us to draw out our ſouls towards others: this truth beſpeaks our graces, our care, labour, endeavour, to draw out Gods heart to us: when we do the firſt we ſee and heare the needs of others; when we do the latter, then God will ſee and heare, and his thoughts will act forth to the greateſt advantage for us: let beleevers therefore put forth themſelves and their graces for this purpoſe to draw out more of God of Chriſt, they ſhall be ſatisfied, the purpoſes of Gods louelove will come, and ſhine, and ſhine forth too: ſee then beleevers your worke in a ſtorme: what excellent handed creatures, p. 165how uſefull in trying times you ſhoul be: how you ſhould put on to worke to doe, that the thoughts of God towards you, may not only come to the birth, but may be borne, appeare, and come abroad: and the better to guide you, hearken to a few rules in this caſe which are the very high roade, the ſtraite way to from out theſe thoughts of love draw our God.

Firſt, longing ſoules after this mercifull appearing of God unto his, theſe will never miſcarry:Pſal. 107.9. Pſal. 141.19.Ps 107:9Ps 141:19 the Lord will ſatisfie the deſire of every longing ſoule. God intends not that his Saints ſpirituall longings ſhall kill them: he intends ſatifaction, not confuſion to them: he that gives theſe deſires, will fulfill them: when the waies of a ſoule, is the way of Gods feare, that way cannot do leſſe then proſper, where God is Alpha, he will be Omega: where he begins, he will end: where he workes to deſire, there hee will p. 166ſatisfie to delight:1 Chron. 11.17, 18.1 Chr 11:171 Chr 11:18 When David longed for water from the wel of Bethlehem, and ſaid, Oh that one would give me to drinke of it! His friends would rather venture their owne lives, then hee ſhould not have his deſire: they put their lives in jeopardie, they breake thorow the hoſt of the Philiſtins, and fetch him water, not regarding their owne lives to ſupply him: Oh what will our God do, (may we well think to give) in the deſires of his longing ſervants? ſurely he will break thorow all, to give them of the waters of the well of life: He will breake thorow the Hoſt of their unworthineſſe, through their enemies, through their luſts, through their unthankfulneſſe, to fill them with good, to give them his refreſhings: it is not a Philiſtine ſhall ſtand in his way of mercy to his people: nor yet whole hoſts of them: Who art thou O great Mountaine ſaies God in this caſe, when he intends p. 167to reforme his people and to ſatifie them: in this caſe,Zech. 4.7.Zech 4:7 when any thing comes in the way to withſtand him, who art (ſayes God) thou great Moun-great Mountain of unbeliefe, thou great Mountaine of pride, thou great Mountaine of impatiencie? before my people you ſhall become a plaine; you ſhall downe: you ſhall be ſubdued. I will fulfill the deſires of my people: I will repleniſh every hungry ſoul: I will ſatiate every weary ſoule: this is my will,Ier. 31.25.Jer 31:25 and this ſhall be done: Beleevers, long not ſo for peace,Pſa. 101.2.Ps 101:2 as for the God of peace: ſay with holy David: Oh, when will hee come unto us? Oh when will his thoughts of mercy bee brought forth? you may have peace with a Plague: plenty with a Plague; you may have outward mercies ſauced (as the Iſraelites quailes were) with vengeance: but you cannot have your God with a plague: you p. 168cannot have his face ſhining with ſuch darkneſſe clouding: one miſery may ſad, and another (it may be a farre worſe) may begin, which may include in it a ſeven-times more, in reſpect of ſorrow and burden: but if wee long for the appearing of theſe mercifull thoughts of God, and they come; there will be no ſuch after claps: no ſuch degrees or ſucceſſions of evill: but this will be a ſight worth ſeeing: this will be good worth enjoying: this will be rich mercy where ever it comes. Oh let it never be ſaid, if we had longed for the gracious commings of our God, they had been ours: our God would have come, and would not have kept ſilence: the Goſpell would have come, and would not have been ſtopt: a Reformation would have come, and that a pure one too: Peace would have come, and a ſweet one too: let not our God long to have us thus to p. 169long, and yet have cauſe to complain, and ſay, oh that mine had hearkened! oh that mine had longed. What ſhall wee not thus love when we may ſatisfie Gods deſire by our longing, and enjoy all the good we can deſire too? The hungry after Chriſt ſhall bee ſatisfied: he fils the hungry with good things (ſayes Mary) they ſhall have enough,Luk. 1.53Luke 1:53 for they ſhall be filled, and that not with winde neither but but with good things: ſhe ſpeaks this by bleſſed experience too: God had filled her hungry ſoul with infinite good: inſomuch that ſhe proclaimes for joy, the uſuall and moſt gracious dealing of God with all that be his; and tels us God fils them with good that be hungry: and what do theſe hunger after? Surely for the comming of Chriſt: their deſires cried: oh when ſhall our Saviour come? when ſhall he be born? when ſhall we ſee the conſolation of Iſrael? And did p. 170theſe long in vaine? did they hunger without filling? were they empty without ſatisfaction? No, no, he that ſends the rich empty away, will not ſend the poor in ſpirit empty away: ſuch as are full in themſelves, ſuch as have no ſuch hungring in them, they ſhall not be filled with Meſſes from the Lords own Table, they ſhall be turned off with a (go to the Gods whom ye have ſerved) let them fill you, that have had you: you like none of my dainties, and you ſhall taſte none of my ſupper: but to the hungry (ſayes God) come ye ſhall finde food: come ye ſhall finde reſt: you ſhall have your laps full, your bellies full, your ſouls full, from the fulneſſe of Jeſus Chriſt: Chriſt loves to powre his water upon dry ground, to ſowe his ſeed upon good ground, to come where he is wiſht for, where hee is earneſtly deſired; when the ſouls cry is, oh when will Chriſt p. 171come? he will quickly anſwer him and ſay, ſo I come:Iſa. 58.9.Isa 58:9 behold here am I: poor ſoules you ſhall have what you long for, what you are ſo earneſt for at my hands: O thou longing ſoul, be it unto thee according to thy longing: this thou wouldeſt have, this thou ſhalt have, even my ſalvation: it is none of Gods wayes to ſend empty ſoules, empty away, either from his preſence, from his hand, or from his dores: their longings be his, therefore his ſatisfying mercies ſhall be theirs: Gods promiſe to ſuch a ſoul is, open thy mouth full wide, and I will fill it: let it be never ſo wide opened, God knowes what he can do: it is not out of his teach: it is in his power: it is his will: it is his love: it is his minde to fulfill ſuch a ſoul.

Secondly, ye that would draw waters out of theſe wels of ſalvation, ye that would have theſe mercifull meanings of our p. 172God for your ſelves and his, look to it that you ſtrongly expect the appearance of theſe thoughts of his love: oh let your expectations be true, earneſt, large: the Meſſias, the Lords Chriſt, was long expected ere he was exhibited: and more mighty then ordinary were the expectations of the faithfull, when the time drew nigh: their hearts were much more carried out after the conſolation of Iſrael:Lu. 2.25. Simeons heart was not onelyonly hot in devotion, but in expectation too: and there were ſo many that looked for redemption of Jeruſalem in Iſrael, that they made up (an all them) for Anna the Propheteſſe ſpake of Chriſt (when he was brought to be preſented to the Lord in the Temple) to all them that looked for redemption in Iſrael: Chriſt he was the deſire of all nations,Hag. 2.7. Zach. 9.1.Hag 2:7Zech 9:1 as well as the Saviour of all that did ſo deſire him: the eyes of all the true Iſraelites p. 173were waiting eys this way: they their eys were toward the Lord: and it was to behold their King comming unto them: and it was not long after that God ſaid to the daughter of Zion, behold thy King commeth: within the compaſſe of 8. verſes God gives him in to her; ſo ſucceſſefull, ſo proſperous doth this way prove to the Saints of God: when does God in the way of his ordinary providence give unto his creatures? when doth he open his hand to them for their ſatisfaction, but even then, when the eyes of all things wait upon him?Pſal. 145.15, 16. and 40.1.Ps 145:15Ps 145:16Ps 40:1 when had Daivd his God ſo inclined to him, as to heare his cry, but when he waited patiently for the Lord? when Davids ſoule was ſo ſtrongly ſet upon the gracions anſwer that he ſhould have from God, that he can wait in waiting, dwell upon the duty, double his patience, and never look off from the God he cried to, he ſhall quickly p. 174have the deliverance he cried for & be brought ſweetly out of the miery clay, his feet ſhall be ſet upon a rock, and his goings ordered: as he was ever looking towards the Lord, to give him the thing he wanted: to deliver him from the thing he felt or feared; ſo his God came accordingly: our God not onelyonly towards his, purpoſes an end, but an expectation too (as it is in the Text) an end in reſpect of their miſeries: an expectation in reſpect of faith and his promiſes: it is as much, as if God ſhould ſay, I will then put an end to all the afflictions of my people: I will then give deliverances, peace, and all good, when my peoples expectations are ſtrong for it: when they ſo expect, then I will do: when I give peace it ſhall be an expected peace: when I give good, it ſhall be an expected good: when I give an end, it ſhall be an expected end: our God intends to have his mercy p. 175welcome when it comes; and therfore he will make the hearts of Believers work after it, look for it, ſettle upon it, ere it comes: our God intends to have his given, to be kept on foot, to have ſome ſpringing of that he hath already ſown, ere the remainder of mercy laid up in his promiſes ſhall come: he will ſee how his children will trade with that ſtock alroady given, ere he will truſt them with more: he that knowes when is his ſeaſon to give out his mercy, will never beſtow it, till he can ſay, now it is ſeaſonable: now is the right time: now behold, the cry of the children of Iſrael is come unto me, &c. come now therefore, and I will ſend thee unto Pharaoh, Exod. 3.9.10.Exod 3:9Exod 3:10that thou mayeſt bring forth my people out of Egypt: See God hath his now, ere the cry of the Iſraelites comes to him: his now, ere he hears their cry: his now, ere he comes down to deliver: his now, ere p. 176he ſends Moſes to Pharoah upon this errand of deliverance: and this his now was not, till they had been under the Egyptian ſlavery many years: till all their male children had the black doom of death upon them: till their ſighes and groanes broke forth into cries, and their cryes came up to God, which did therfore aſcend ſo high, becauſe they were mixt with ſo much faith & expectation, which ſpake thus much in Gods eares, that ſurely he that dwels in heaven, and was their God, would ſee their oppreſſions with a pitying eye, would hear their groanes with a mercifull heart, and come down with his love, and with his power, for to deliver them.

Thirdly, Chriſtians live by faith: put forth, and that to the life, this living grace: take need of deſpiſing promiſes, of ſtaggering at, or of being beaten back from theſe ſweet words and precious things of God, made and p. 177ratified, given and performed to us in JESUS CHRIST: hath our GOD ſaid it, and will he not do it? hath he ſpoken any thing that he will let fall, and not bring to paſſe? What, are Iehovahs words but as winde? ſee to it that nothing beat you off from beleeving in Gods purpoſes, in his thoughts, ſo ſweetly revealed in his promiſes for you, and to you: if you will have God, (Now) come for deliverance, for Salvation, let God have his (Now) for beleeving: our Gods voyce is (Now) if ye can beleeve; (Now) if ye canreſt upon me;Heb. 3.7.Heb 3:7 To day if ye heare my voice of mercy, ye ſhall enter into my reſt: the Iſraelites were brought into Canaan by faith, and unbeliefe ſhut the doore againſt thouſands of them, that they could never enter in: if we ſtand and ſay,Heb. 19. v. there be Gyants in the way to our peace: there be ſons of Anack: there be walls: there be Wars: there bee Enemies p. 178open and ſecret, betwixt us and our good: us and our Goſpel: us and our peace: if wee ſuffer our ſelves to backſlide from Chriſt (the Captaine of our Salvation) to fly off from promiſes, to ſinke with diſcouragements, and to cry out in the midſt we are all undone: we are paſt cure: we can never be reformed: We can never have a right, a bleſſed peace: what is this, but to ſay, with the unbeleeving Iſraelites, we ſhall never bee able to overcome the Gyants, to climbe up the walls, to poſſeſſe Canaan, and ſome indeed to ſhut the door of hope againſt our ſelves, turne the fruitfull Valley of Achor (which the Lord would give us into the ſtony and barren wilderneſſe of of our own unbeleefe? What is this but to ſtop up all, that might never enter in nor enjoy what God purpoſes for, and promiſes to theſe that doe beleeve? Chriſtians, if we can beleeve, we may conclude all things are poſſible; p. 179let us not clip our owne wings, our wings of Faith eſpecially,Iſa. 40.41.Isa 40:41 how ſhall we fly then? How ſhall we mount up as Eagles then, far above all below things, to Jeſus Chriſt? How ſhall we be ſetled then, nay how ſhall we chuſe but hover & flutter up and down, upon the earth of our own hearts, and of the times? Chriſtians, ſee to it, unbeliefe is a bloody thing: it knits more, it kills worſe then any ſword: unbeliefe is the greateſt plunderer: it takes a way all: it leaves nothing, no not a promiſe of mercy, nor a God that promiſes it: do you not thinke the ſword kills enough? do you not thinke the enemies of Chriſt plunder enough waſte enough? Oh be not ſelf deſtoyers by ſelfe-unbelieefe! Our greateſt danger lyes here: if ever we miſcary; if ever we be ſhut out of Canaan; if ever we be cut off and periſh; the enemie and adverſarie is this Wicked Haman: this accurſed unbeliefe: it ſels us and all we have, firſt over to p. 180ſin, and then to miſery: it makes a forfeiture of all we have into the hands juſtice, yee and keeps off all good that is comming into our hands: Oh beleeve and and we ſhall proſper! beleeve, and the ſtreame will bee turned: God will bee found: Iſrael will be ſaved: the Canaanites will be bread for us, & God himſelf will be a portion for us: we are now like to gaine much, or loſe much: if faith turne the Scales wee are made; if unbeliefe turne the Scales, we are deſtroyed. Our God is now laying a foundation for many generations, a foundation of ſuch good, that not only his ſervants in this preſent age, but the children that are yet unborne might bleſſe him for theſe beginnings of ſuch love, for the firſt ſtone laid in our daies: Oh! let not us remove ſuch a foundation, let us not roll away this ſtone with the accurſed hands of unbeleefe: What, ſhall we cloud the Sun from our ſelves, that it may not ſhine upon p. 181us? Shall wee blaſt the bloſſomes and buds of mercy by the Eaſt-winde of our unbeleefe? ſhall we blow away the ſweet ſhowers of bleſſing, with the rough winde of our own luſts? God forbid: beleevers this is all the burden the Spirit of God puts upon you: that which ye have (who have Chriſt, graces, light promiſes) hold faſt till Chriſt comes: the zeale you have for the Lord God of Hoſts, for Chriſt the Captain of Salvation and the King of Saints, againſt Rome, againſt ſin, againſt the times, hold faſt, the faith and confidence you have in Chriſt, in his promiſes, hold faſt: the title you have to Chriſt to all good in him, hold faſt: leave not a promiſe, no not the leaſt title in a promiſe of a thouſand worlds: deale with theſe (as Iob reſolved and did with his integrity) hold them faſt till ye dye: let no enemie remove you from theſe; hold theſe, when ye cannot hold your eſtates: when p. 182you muſt leave creatures, reſolve upon it to keep theſe: let not fears affright thee, or allurements entice thee to withdraw thy ſelfe, and to returne from following after theſe: but ſay to promiſes (yea to Chriſt, who ſpeaks in, and by them, to thee) as Ruth ſaid to Naomi: Ruth. 1.16Ruth 1:16where thou goeſt I will goe: and where thou lodgeſt, I will lodge: I will be where Chriſt is: I will live, where Chriſt lives: I will walke where he walkes: I will dwell were he dwels: Nothing ſhall perſwade mee to returne from following after thee: from reſting upon thy word: I wil not live in the hopes of men: I will not live in the ſucceſſe of our Armies: I will not live in the overthrow of the Enemies: theſe things may alter, and the ſcales may ſoon turne: but I will live in the love, and in the light of my God: this turnes not: this is unchangeable: Oh! who but he is bleſſed, who truſts in the Lord, and whoſe hope the Lord p. 183is? Oh beleevers! Would you be planted by the waters of mercy? would you proſper? Would you ſpread out your viols by the River of his love? would you be ſtill greene, would you be fruitfull, and not ceaſe bearing? would you looke well, & thrive in theſe yeers of drought?Ier. 17.7, 8.Jer 17:7Jer 17:8 Why truſt in Iehovah: he can and will do all this, yea all things for you: well might the Apoſtle ſay,Heb. 10.38.Heb 10:38 the juſt ſhall live by faith: and put a (Now) to it too: for it was in ſuch a (Now) in ſuch a time wherein reproaches, afflictions, and perſecutions were ſo rife, ſo hot againſt the Saints: Twas in ſuch a (Now) wherein the ſaints were ſpoiled of their goods: twas in ſuch a (now) wherein they were in a very fiery tryall, and endured a great fight of afflictions, and wherein in all points (the Apoſtle ſaw) they had more then ordinary need of patience: Now (ſayes hee) when even all things are at ſuch a ſad point, thus p. 184deſperate: Now, when the world is thus mad, thus up in armes againſt the people of God: Now live by faith, this can live, and never better then now: Now this grace drives an excellent trade: now it hath a time of it: faith is up when other things be downe: it lifts up the head, is greene and flouriſhes even in the dead of Winter: Beleevers ſee to it; as you have need of patience to bear your burdens; ſo you have need of faith to fetch off your burdens: beleeve, and you ſhall ſee ſun-ſhine thorow the clouds: liberties, thorow troubles: light thorow darkneſſe: peace, thorow war: the Goſpel, thorow Rome: unitie thorow diviſions: amity, thorow envie: and an happie reformation, thorow an unhappie confuſion; if your faith fail not, God will be with you, he will not faile: bleſſings will come, they will not faile: Curſes will bee removed, they ſhall not ſtay.

p. 185Fourtly, and laſtly you muſt wreſtle, and with a prevailing wreſtling too, ere theſe thoughts of good of peace be like to come forth to you: God purpoſed to deliver Iacob from his brother Eſau that hee ſhould ſmile upon upon him, rather then rage,Gen. 32.9, &c. Hoſ. 12.4.Gen 32:9Hos 12:4 and ſmite the mother with the children; but Iacob muſt pray, and with God for it firſt: hee muſt weep and make ſupplication; he pleads the Covenant God made with his fathers, Abraham and Iſaac, and ſay the God of my father Abraham, & the God of my father Iſaac: he pleads the Commiſſion he had from God to returne to his Countrey, and to his kindred; he pleads that God had ſaid, if hee did returne he would deale well with him; yea more, thon ſaidſt, I will ſurely do thee good, and make thy ſeed as the ſand of the Sea, which cannot be numbred for multitude; and now my brother Eſau is comming, and I feare him leaſt he p. 186will come and ſmite me, and the Mother with the children;12. v. Iacob by his faith pitching upon the word of Gods promiſe wreſtles hard for deliverance: and ere he hath done, he hath a new name given him, and that ſo ſignificant as tells him, that as a Prince he hath power with God and with men and hath prevailed: and upon this as God gives, Iacob a new name,28. v. ſo Iacob gives the place a new name, and calls it it Peniel (the very face of God) for (ſaies he) I have ſeen God face to face, 30. v.and my life is preferved: Now Iacoh hath ſuch an anſwer; that he can ſay, he hath ſeen God: as well as that he hath ſought God: and that his life is preſerved though he hath ſo ſeen GOD, and that it ſhall bee preſerved when ever he ſees his brother Eſau: From the ſight of his God he ſaw preſervation, and did abſolutely conclude upon a ſweet deliverance from his brothers rage:Gen. 33.4.Gen 33:4 Therefore when Eſau mets Iacob in ſuch a way of love, when hee runs to meet him: p. 187when hee embraces him; falls on his necke and kiſſes him:10. v. Oh (ſaies JACOB) I bave ſeen thy face as though I had ſeen the face of God; and thou waſt pleaſed with me: (as if he ſhould ſay) I read thus much concerning thy kindneſſe to me, when I ſaw my God face to face: and now in this thy brotherly carriage I am put in minde of the fountaine and bottome of it: tis not thy nature brother Eſau: tis the face of my God towards mee: I have prevailed with God: and he hath prevailed over thee: thy countenance was clouded, and thy heart enraged: but the face of my God ſhining upon mee hath changed the fierceneſſe of thy countenace againſt mee: and turned it ſo, as thou art pleaſed with mee; Beleevers know if ye can and doe wreſtle as Iacob, you ſhall prevaile as hee: this you ſhall bee ſure of, to ſee Eſaues, as if ye had ſeen the face of GOD: this you ſhall bee ſure of, to ſee p. 188the face of God in the ſword, in the war: in all the troubles that befall us, and this will ſweeten all, and give you to ſee your ſelves, as more then conquerors, thorough him that loves you. Daniel ſets his face to the Lord God,Dan. 9.3.Dan 9:3 to ſeek by prayer and ſupplication, to have theſe thoughts of God, of good, drawn out to the poor captivated Jewes: he goes to it with faſting and ſackcloth and aſhes, to get off the deſolations of Jeruſalem. Believers, know not God will be ſought to, enquired, and looked after: if you expect an expected end; know alſo the Lord expects the meanes tending thereunto: what, have you no teares, no groanes, no prayers to preſent the Lord withall? Have you no fire upon the Altars of your hearts for Chriſt,Rev. 8.5.Rev 8:5 and againſt ſin? how ſhould Chriſt come then, and fill his cenſer, and caſt it into the earth, and ſo cauſe voices, and thundrings, and lightnings, and p. 189an earthquake, that may ſhake, remove and deſtroy all his Enemies? Stand, ye Saints,Jer 6.16.Jer 6:16 and ſee, and ask, which is the good old way, and walk therein, and yee ſhall finde reſt for your ſouls: this hath been that good, that old way of drawing out purpoſes of love towards his people: believers, know, ye muſt threſh ere the end and expectation will come:Mic. 4.13.Mic 4:13 the daughter of Zion muſt not now be delicate: ſhee muſt plow, and ſow, and breake the clods, and expect with patience the former and the latter rain, and gather in her crop, & threſh too when ſhee hath done: and all this too, ere the end and expectation can, or will come: ye muſt wreſtle, ye muſt ſtrive, it will not be elſe: oh be content, to be in many labours; in many agonyes, to travail with Zion: be content to endure hardneſſe: much more to be oft with God: to be earneſt with him: he hath bowels to pity: he hath an eye p. 190to ſee: he hath an hand to help: and therefore will have an ear to heare: hath our God given into our hands the bleſſed key of his owne treaſury of love, and will you hide it, or pack it up rather then open the doore with it? what ſhall God, the ſame God, (who by his grace and Spirit makes the prayers, and makes them ſo prevailing, and perfectly knowes that hidden ſtrength of the prayers of faith) ſhall he come and tell us they prevaile, and prevaile much (and that in the loweſt and ſaddeſt ſtate of the Saints too) and ſhall we lay them aſide? what, do we looke, that either a Goſpel reformation, or a mercifull peace ſhould be ſo given to us, as to be put into our mouthes, whilſt we are prayerleſſe, ſleeping, ſlothfull? have we wreſtled againſt God, like froward ones, and ſhall we not wreſtle with God, like believers? have we given our hearts, our hands, our help, to p. 191make a land naked and waſte,Col 3.12.Col 3:12 and ſhall we looke after no covering, no clothing, no mercy for it? oh, put on bowels of mercy, and as the Elect of God too: naturall compaſſions, or ſome piece of Spirituall mercyes let not them ſerve your turne; but put on bowels in a way of love and tenderneſſe; as you have put on Chriſt in a way of faith:Phil. 2.1.Phil 2:1 if there be any conſolation (yea ſalvation which is the cauſe of it) in Chriſt; if there be any comfort in love; if there be any fellowſhip of the ſpirit; if there be any bowels and mercies; fulfill the joy of Gods people: anſwer their expectations: ſet in to GOD for them: (yea for your ſelves) in theſe needfull times: On let not a Land ſink, becaſue you will not pray: becauſe your hearts ſink from God! Oh let not Amalek prevail, becauſe you will not hold up your hand! Oh let not the Goliahs ſtill boaſt, dare, p. 192and defie, becauſe there be no Davids to go forth againſt them! Why may not the prayers of Faith ſave a ſick Land, a dying, a bleeding Kingdome, from the hurtfull ſword? Why may not God accept of teares in Chriſt, the powrings out of the ſoul in him?Job. 22.30.Job 22:30 Why may not the innocent (ſo are beleevers lookt upon in Chriſt) deliver the Iſland? Who knowes what a ſpirit of grace, and ſupplication can do, may do? He is faithfull that hath promiſed, he will do what ever he hath ſaid: the Lord make his people earneſt in pleading, and faithfull in applying his promiſes, faithfull in ſuing to his throne by inſtant and inceſſant prayers: in working up and winding up their hearts to a ſtrong, a patient, a joyfull dependance on him; and then if we periſh we periſh; we may then loſe all loſe-able things with comfort: and finde all ſaving and eternall things in God: oh thou p. 193beleeving ſoul, do but thinke what ſolid conſolation thou ſhalt reapt; when thou canſt call the ſalvation of God (Naphtali) my wraſtling: when the ſoul can call the downfall of Idolatry; my wraſtling: a right Reformation; my wraſtling: an happy execution; my wraſtling: a putting up of the ſword, and the commings in of a ſweet peace; my wraſtling: and can ſay concerning Gods deliverances, his ſalvations (as Rachel ſaid ſometimes in another caſe) with great wraſtlings have I wraſtled with my God, and I have prevailed: for this, and for that, and the other mercy I prayed:1 Sam. 1.20.1 Sam 1:20 and the Lord hath given me my petitions which I asked of him. Oh it will exceedingly rejoyce the heart of a Believer! to ſee all his mercies: and all the faithfull ones mereies too, to be as (ſo many Samuels) ſo many things asked of God; as well as given of him: Chriſtians let me beſpeak you with the p. 194words of the Prophet,Iſa 62.6, 7.Isa 62:6Isa 62:7 and lay it cloſe with the Lords own charge upon you. Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not ſilence, and give him no reſt, till he eſtabliſh (for that our God will do) and till he make Ieruſalem a praiſe (though now it is made a prey) in the whole earth: You are not to keep ſilence now: you are not to ſit ſtill, ſullen, caſt down, or diſquieted: you are not now to faint, but to beſtir your ſelves, to work that God may work: you cannot build Jeruſalem, or eſtabliſh it when it is built, or make it famous, make a praiſe whilſt it ſtands: it is not in your power; but you know a God that can: you love a God that can: up to him then: wraſtle, ſtrive to enter into his bowels of love; get but him to work: get but his right hand to ſave: get but the arm of his ſtrength, of his ſalvation to be made bare for us, and we ſhall be ſaved: Zion ſhall be comforted, and all p. 195her Enemies troden down as the mire of the ſtreet.

Vſe 4 In the laſt place, this truth ſhines bright, and reaches farre in way of conſolation and divine encouragement for and to the Saints: it comes full of ſweet joy and ſpirituall ſolace to the hearts of Believers, in theſe trying and troublous times: it anſwers many a ſighing groaning burthened Saint (as the Lord anſwered the Angel (that is Chriſt) that talked with Zechariah) with good words and comfortable words:Zech. 1.13Zech 1:13 we now have our eares fild with ſad complaints: and how uſually and freely, do men take on for their loſſes? Thus it is with me (ſayes one) and thus it is with me (ſayes another) call not me (Naomi) call not me pleaſant, but call me Mara; for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me: I was full,Ruth 1.20Ruth 1:20 but now I am empty: I was worth ſo much within theſe few dayes, but now I have loſt all; oh the Lord hath p. 196teſtified againſt me! oh the Almighty hath afflicted me! well grant all this, let there be even flouds of miſery abroad; ſay, mans day of darkneſſe is begun; what then, is there no hope, no Saviour?Pſal. 39.7.Ps 39:7 may not the Saints turn themſelves towards God, and ſay Lord our hope is even in thee? what do we wait for? what is all our hope, beſides this hope? ſtates, names, friends, an arm of fleſh, carnal contrivances, worldly dependencies, are they not all Spiders webs? are they not ſuddenly and eaſily ſwept down? Truly our hope is in thee: in thy love: in thy fulneſſe: in thy thoughts: in thy bleſſed purpoſes: here we can read peace in trouble: good, in evill, both things, and times: light in darkneſſe: comfort in ſorrowes: Oh let us rejoyce in theſe thoughts of our God: rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous: and well they may, is there not cauſe? look not upon God through the falſe glaſſe of p. 197the times: look not upon this Sun, as in an Eclipſe: he is ri…ing, he is ſhining: he is warming thoſe ſouls he looks and darts upon: who can make void, who can empty out Gods purpoſes of …ove: who can turn the courſe of the ſtream of his mercy? who can hinder God in the bringing forth of his own thoughts in his own time? who can make God either ignorant of what he knowes, or forgetfull of what he ſtill remembers? he that knowes the thoughts of peace he hath towards his people: knowes alſo his people (all his ſheep) for whom he hath theſe thoughts of his peace: rejoyce in it ye Saints! it is a portion, a glorious and full one too; a portion peculiar to your ſelves; there is not one ſhall ſhare with you, but he that is like you; a childe of this father as well as your ſelves: Rejoyce in it, ye Saints, it is as certain as God is; he hath as certainly ſuch thoughts towards p. 198you, as he is love and hath the nature of a God in himſelf. Rejoyce ye righteous; ye know not how ſoon theſe thoughts of peace may appear above ground; they have been ſown long; yea and they will never dye under the clod; they have been in the breaſt of God from all eternity; Here is light ſowen for the righteous, and do they not begin to peep forth? do you ſee no blade, no ſigne of ſuch mercifull thoughts abroad now? may we not track the footſteps of theſe thoughts all along; through a Parliament in their proceedings; through an Army, in their fightings; through Chriſt his Meſſengers and Members, in their Liberties? Stand up then by faith; lift up your hearts in the midſt of troubles; if wrath be begun, yet mercy is begun too; if wrath be gone forth, yet thoughts of peace are abroad too: do not ſay I am under temptations, I have loſt my friends, and my meanes, p. 199have me excuſed, I cannot rejoyce:

Obj. Who will excuſe thee?

Anſw. I know none, but I know who will accuſe thee, even this truth will, if thou do not rejoyce.

Obj. Yea, but Rome hath ſuch bloudy thoughts, her inſtruments are now abroad, and they are for warre, plundering, ſpoiling, and cruelty.

Anſw. What then, look up to heaven, here be thoughts of mercy; here is a pitying Chriſt, whileſt below here is a raging Antichriſt: and although he may be permitted to make a ſea of bloud in the earth; yet God hath a ſea of mercy in heaven, to drown all the miſeries and ſins of his ſervants in.

Obj. Yea, but I do not know what I may ſuffer.

Anſw. What, ſuppoſe the worſt: can theſe part betwixt thy God and thee? canſt thou ſuffer the loſſe of him, or of the p. 200thoughts of his mercy? no, no… who ſhall ſeperate, in this caſe… is the bold challenge of all be… lievers?Rom. 8.35Rom 8:35 why then guird up th… loynes of thy mynd: there i… hope and help enough: thou an… more happy then the world ca… make thee: and thou ſhalt neve… be miſerable, let the world d… what it can to make thee ſo… there is grace to be revealed and brought to every believer by the hand and at the comming of Jeſus Chriſt:1 Pet. 1.13.1 Pet 1:13 this is enough to keepe you above water, whatever your preſent condition be there be thoughts of peace, and of mercy, the Lord make thy heart cloſe with himſelfe; theſe will be brought out for the enriching and thy comfort in this day, and thy day, of his redemption. Suck in then thy own conſolation thou believing ſoule, and rejoyce in the Lord, whilſt thou art ſad and troubled in a ſinfull and perplexed Kingdome: and ſay in the Spirit, p. 201well all this ſtorm will be over the Saints ſhall triumph: Ieſus Chriſt ſhall be on the throne: his enemies ſhall be diſthroned and fall: for God hath thoughts of peace towards his people: he knowes them all, and will bring them out, for he waits to be gracious: in the fulneſſe of time then there will be a fulneſſe of mercy: and in the meane time here remaines a reſt for the people of God to enter into: a bleſſed Sanctuary of mercifull thoughts in the boſome of our God, for the ſuccour of faithfull ones: here take up thy reſt, enter in, dwell, and delight for evermore.

FINIS.

End of the text · John Wells, The Anchor of Hope for Gods Tossed Ones (1645)