A TREATISE Of the DIVINE PROMISES. In five Books. In the first, A general description of their nature, kinds, excellency, right, use, properties, and the persons to whom they belong. In the four last, A declaration of the Covenant itself, the bundle and Body of all the Promises, and the Special Promises likewise, which concern a man's self, or others, both Temporal, Spiritual and Eternal. By EDWARD LEGH, Master of Arts of Magdalen Hall in Oxford. Godliness hath the Promises of the life that now is and of that which is to come, 1 Tim. 4 8. Whereby are given unto us exceeding Great and Precious Promises, that by these ye might be made partakers of the Divine nature, 2 Pet. 1.4. Having therefore these Promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and Spirit, perfecting Holiness in the fear of GOD, 2 Cor 7.1. The second Impression corrected and enlarged by the Author. London Printed by George Miller, and are to be sold by Thomas Vnderhill at the Maidenhead in the Poultry, MDCXLI. TO THE RELIGIOUS, VIRTUOUS AND Every way Accomplished Lady, ●nd his much honoured good Mother, the Lady RU●H'● CUDAM●●E. N●●le Lady, and my worthy Mother; THERE are two chief reasons why I dedicated this Treatise of the Promises unto your Ladyship First the excellency of the subject, with which I know you are much affected, 〈◊〉 My near relation and engagement unto yourself. I deemed none fit to patronise such a work, but some noble Theophilus, or Elect Lady; and to have sought a remoter Friend having one so near and proper, might have been construed folly. I wish the Book may give content unto yourself, and others of God's people, and then I doubt not, but the dedication of it unto a Christian, and such * As Paula & Marcelia were to Jerome, so is your Ladyship to those judicious persons, which resort unto you, a great Questionist, & they to whom you propound your doubts do tam proficere quam prodesse, as well benefit by you, as benefit you. a Christian, will be approved. The knowledge of the Promises is necessary for Christians, who do, or aught to live by faith, and therefore this Treatise (I conceive) may be generally useful unto them both for the right performance of holy duties, the exercise of divine graces, and likewise to uphold the soul in all manner of distresses. 1 It will be very useful for the right performance of any good duty. What better motive to and help for prayer, hearing, Quis virtutē amp●ectitur iosam, praemisi tollas, In●ë Sat. 10. He that believes not the judgements will never stick to do any evil, he that believes not the Promises will never be forward to do any good reading, meditation, conference, etc. then to call to mind God's gracious promises which he hath made to assist us in those services, and to accept them rightly performed? but because I handle this point in the Treatise itself, mentioning the special promises made to particular duties, I will here proceed after another manner, and show, how there are Promises in Scripture for every Commandment. For the first Commandment How many Promises are made to the true knowledge of God, Psalm 91.14. to the true acknowledgement of God, Pro 6.3. to the love of God, Pro. 8.17. john 14.23. Cor. 8.3. john 16.27. to confidence in God, Ps. 125.1. jer. 177, 8. Ps. 55.22. Esay 40.31 Rom. 5.5. Ps. 100L. 5, 6, 7. Esay ●6. 3. to the Fear of God, Ps. 33.18. Ps 115.13. Ps. 111.5. Lu●●. 50. ●ro. 1.7. Pro. ●9. 10, 11. Pro. 14.27. & 15 33. Pro 22 4 Ps 111.10. Pro. 10.27. For the second, there is a promise annexed unto it, Exo ●0. 6. Deut. 5.10. and others likewise made in Scripture to all holy duties, as Iam: 4.8. &. Isa: 12.3. and specially to prayer, Rome 8.16. Iam: 1.5. Reading, Pro: 1.23. Fasting Ma● 6.18. Conference, Ma●. 3 16 17. Meditation, Ps: ●. 2. For the 3 Commandment, there are many promises made to those, who glorify Gods name, Ps. 50.23. Mat: 10.32 & 5.11. & 12.37. For the 4 Commandment, See, Lev: 26.2, 3, 4. Esa 56.2 3, 4 5, 6, 7. Eze: ●0 12, 20. Esa 58.13, 14. jer. 17.24, 25, 26 For the 5 Commandment, there is an express promise in it to that special duty it enjoineth, Exo: 20.12. & in other places of Scripture, there are promises to such as being elders in years give good example to their youngers, and are teachers of good things, Esa 65.20, 22. job 25.26, to good Princes, Prov: 20, 28 & 29.19. 1 King. 2, 1, 2, 3, 4. Deu: 17.19, 20. to good Ministers, 1 Pet. 5, 2, 3, 4, to the husband that is loving and kind to his wife, Pro. 3●. 10, 1●, 12. to the wife that is loving & reverend to her husband, and wife and careful in the education of her children, Pro 31.28, 29, 31. 1 Tim: 2.15 to good Masters, Pro. 5.33. Deu. 5, 18, Ephes. 5.8, 9 to good Parents, Pro. 10.1. & 23 24, 25. to obedient children, Eph; 6.3. Gen: 9.27. of spiritual things, Col. 3.20 Ps, 117 8. Ier: 35.19. Pro: 1.9. & 6 23 24. to Subjects, jer. 29.7. Rom. 8 13.3, 5. Pet. 2.15. to Servants Pro. 17.2. Col. 3.24. Eph. 6.8. to those which do honour the faithful Ministers of God's word, john 13 20. Mat. 10.41 to those that honour their Elders in years, 1 Pet. 5.5. Luke 1●. 1. For the 6. Commandment, there are many promises in Scripture made unto those, who shall seek to preserve the life of their neighbour, 1 john 4 12. Mat. 6.14. Mat. 25.40. Pro. 25.21, 22. Mat 5▪ 7, 9 Pr. 14.29. & 16. 3●. jam. 1.4. Psalm 25.9. Proverbes 1●. 20. Ps. 133.1. Luke 6.35, 37 Pro. 29.7, 22. & 21.3, 21. Esa 3. ●. 1●. Eccl. 10.4. & also to the meek Mat. 5.5. Psa. 37.11. to the gentle, and such as forgive offences, Mat. 6.14, 15 Luke 6.27. to those that are of a peaceable and quiet spirit, desirous of peace, 1 Pet 3.10, 11, 22. Pr. 20.22, to the peacemakers, Mat. 5.9. Pro 12.20 to the merciful, Mat. 5.7, 2 34. to those that are kind to their enemies, Luke 6.35. For the 7 Commandment, Chastity is a fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5.22. and there are promises to it, 1 Cor. 6.19 Eze. 18.6, 9 For the 8 Commandment, See Heb. 13.16. Mat. 5.7. Deu. 5.10. & 24. 1●, 13, 19 Esay 58.8. Eze. 18. ●. Pro. 11.26. & 19.17. Pro. 21. ●, 21. & 22 9 & 28.27. Ps. 14.5. Ps. 116.6 Mat. 6.4. & 10 42. Lu. 6.38 & 11.41. & 14.14. & 18.22. 2 Cor. 9.10. Pr. ●. 10. God promiseth a temporal and eternal benediction to those that are righteous & bountiful to the ●core, Ps. 1●. 5. & 112.9. There are promises also to righteousness, or just dealing, Mat. 6.33. Pro. 10. & 1● 1. Pro ●8. ●0. to the public Magistrate ●hat dealeth justly in judgement, Pro. 16.12. & 25.5. & 15.27. & 28.16. to the private person that dealeth justly, Deut. 25.15. to him that being just useth diligence in his calling, Pro. 10.4. & 12.24. For the 9 Commandment, See 1 Pet. 3.10. Lu. 6.37. Gen 1●. 3. Pro. ●3. 2. & 18.20. & 20.15.22. most ample goods are promised to those that speak the truth from the heart, Ps. 15.9. Pro. 12.19 23. For the 10 Commandment, See 2 Pet. 1.4. Mat. 5.8. jam 4.5.6. 2 Cor. 1●. 9. Pro. 22.5, 11. Ps. 24.4, 5. & 3. ●. Pro! 14. 2●. Thus graciously doth God deal with his people, he might out of his absolute sovereignty over us, command only, and we were bound then to obey; but he is pleased (the better to quicken us to obedience) to annex these gracious promises, to his righteous Commandments, and those that truly perform the duty which he commands, shall undoubtedly receive the mercy, which he promiseth. Secondly, this Treatise of the Promises, may be useful (I suppose) for the quickening and exercising all holy graces. How doth the sound knowledge and frequent meditation of God's sweet and precious Promises, strengthen Faith, quicken hope, in flame zeal, confirm patience, and foster all the graces of God's Spirit? When we stagger through unbelif, and are tempted to doubt of any thing, if we would have recourse to the promises, they would uphold us▪ as for example, if this cogitation should arise in me, certainly if I do not as the world doth, I shall lose my credit, and never come to any wealth, or estate like others, by & by I should remember what is written touching this matter, Sam. 3. ●0. Mat. 6.33. and then consider the generality ●nd certainty of these & other promises, and that would settle the soul. Lastly, against all troubles ●nward, outward, painful, sinful, of soul, body, good name, state, Faith in God's promises is a sovereign Antidote; this is my comfort in my affliction (saith David) thy word (that is, thy promise made unto me in thy Word) hath quickened me, Ps. 119.50. He telleth not what kind of trouble he was in; in any trouble whatsoever, he received singular comfort by meditation in the Promises: by God's promises, adversity, sickness, poverty & death of Friends are sweetened, we are upholden by them in time of temptation, and in the pangs of death, receive consolation: Against all Evil that may assail us, 3 things there are that we may with joy behold in the promise; 1 Protection, 2 Restitution, 3 Deliverance. Doth the Lord permit us to temptation? his grace is sufficient to support us, 2 Cor. 12 9 doth he suffer us to be overcome in temptation? yet promiseth he restitution, by a new act of grace, raising us, and at length to set us out of the reach of all temptations. In the defects of good things, and the small measures thereof, we may draw comfort likewise from the promises. God promiseth, ● Preservation, 2 Growth, 3 Perfection, of ●●ace and glory. If we enjoy a●y good grace of God, though minever so weak measure; first ●e assures us, that little is a ●ledge of more, 2 Cor. 1.22, ●econdly, even that little, he ●ill enable to get final victory, Rev. 3.8. and will perfect ●t to the day of the Lord Ie●us, Phil. 1.6. and after this ●ife make us pure as he is ●ure, perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. Thus we see what Balme●her ●her is in Gilead, what sweetness in God's promises; they are ●he Christians aqua vitae, to ●evive him, when he is ready ●o swoon; in all or in any estate be may extract abundance of comfort from that thrice precious promise, Ps. 84.11. and those three heavenly conduits of sweetest consolation, Rome 8.18, 28, 32. and if one or a few verses afford so much comfort, what cordial sweetness and refreshing may a Christian suck, out of all those wells and breasts of consolation and Salvation? Indeed the Faithful can never want grounds of comfort. First GOD the Father is the GOD of all consolation, Esa. 12.3. comforting them in all their troubles, Esay 66.11. 2 Cor. 3.4. Secondly, CHRIST is the Fountain of comfort, ver 5, Thirdly, the HOLY GHOST 〈◊〉 the Comforter of all the faithful, ●oh. 14.16, 20. & 15 ●6. 7, 1 Fourthly, all the Scripture makes for their comfort, ●o. 1●. 4. The whole Gospel is a plentiful Storehouse of Comfort, called 1 Good or gladsome tidings Esay 9.3. ●2. ● and a good word, Heb. 6.5. because it cheereth the heart, as good news doth him that is in heaviness▪ 2 The Gospel of Peace, Rom. 10.15. Eph 6.15. because it pacifieth a troubled conscience: but the very pith, marrow and quintessence of all true consolation is contained in the Evangelicall promises, Psal 119.92. Thus assuring myself, that your Lady ship will often peruse this book, wishing tha● your Soul may daily prospe● by it, and that the LORD woul● now fill you with all joy an● peace in believing these promises, 3 Ep of john 2. Rom. ●5. 1▪ and hereafter crown you with all happiness in the full fruition of the things promised, I rest, Your obliged Son and Servant, EDWARD LEGH To the Christian Reader. REader, as I desire thy Good by this Treatise, so let me crave thy favourable acceptance of ●y honest intentions. This Golden Mine, and Rich Treasure of the promises, hath not yet been fully o●ened and displayed unto the world. Some that have written of Faith have handled some of the Divine Promises, and other little Treatises there are (I confess) already extant concerning this very argument. far be it from me (who have made use of them all, and many other worthy Writers for the compiling of this Treatise) to disparage the meanest of them, who have written any thing of so excellent a Subject. But I dare appeal to those who are judicious, and have read the Treatises out in that kind, whether any or all of them have either yet methodically ranged, or fully handled all the special Promises, both of which I have at least endeavoured to accomplish. I speak not this (as I said afore) to derogate fro● them, nor yet to arrogate an● thing to myself, but rather to gi●● satisfaction unto such who will b● ready to pretend, that others ha●● written of this Subject, and therefore this work of mine is needless. The Proverb saith▪ Store 〈◊〉 no sore, and I think there is n● great cause to complain of satie●ty in this kind. Besides, I handl● both the Covenant and Special● Promises together, whereas those who write professedly of the Covenant, say but little of the Promises, and those who expressly trea● of the Promises, say but little or nothing of the Covenant. Furthermore, my method di●fers much from theirs, that have laboured in this kind; for they commonly in handling the Promises, allege such and such Scriptures generally & in the lump. But I have in many of the graces, and most of the duties, set down Promises, both of and to, as Promises, 1. Of the grace. 2. Unto it. Promises 1. To enable to the duty. 2. Also to accept and reward it: and I have often particularised the things promised; by ●anking and marshalling them in●o their several Heads, and shew●ng distinctly the special Rewards whither Temporal, Spiritual, or Eternal of such or such a grace, or duty. My chiefest motive and inducement to publish this Work, next unto the promoting of God's glory, was the benefit of Christians, which fruit of my labours I have already promised to myself, having both read Exhortations in books to the performance of such a work, & heard complaints from Christians, of the want of such a work. If any should demand, cui bono, for what use may such a Treatise serve, or what profit can redound to Christians by it? I may answer with the Apostle, and say of it, as he doth of Circumcision, much every way. Rom. 3.12 But I forbear to exemplify, or instance the particulars, since I have done it already in the former Epistle, & the work itself will sufficiently show it. O but may some say, this work would well have become an experienced Divine furnished with rich abilities of learning and piety: all that I grant, and had it been done by such a one, I should both have spared my own pains, & made use of his most willingly. But since that is rather to be desired, then yet to be expected, I (who abound with leisure) was willing to make this essay, both that I might employ my own * Pudeat illos (saith Tully) qui ita in studijs se abdiderunt, ut ad vitam communem nullum fructum proferre possint. Paulum sepultae distat inertiae C●lata virtus. Hor l. 4. Carm. odd 9 Trisle mortalitatis privilegium est, etc. Euphormio. Talon, & gratify the desires of Christians. For their saks (though I must expect several censures, according to the variety of men's humours) am I willing confer aliquid in publicum, to cast in my mite into the common treasury. If thou findest faults & Errata in the book, let love cover them, for to err (as the Satirist saith) is the sad privilege of mortality, & he (of all men) erreth most, who challengeth a privilege from error. Thus praying to the Lord, that thou mayst reap much good from these Promises, and promising to myself no little comfort from thy prayers, I rest Thy true Christian Friend and hearty wellwisher, EDWARD LEGH. A Table of the Promises, as they are dispersed in the several Books of Scripture. Gen. ca Ver. 3 15. Cap. 6. vers. 18. 8 22. 9 2, 9, 11, 13, 15 16, 27. 12 2, 3 13 15, 16, 17. 16 10, 12. 17 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 16, ●0. 21. 18 10, 14 18. 21 12, 13. 22 17 18. 26 3, 4, 24. 28 13, 14, 15. 31 3. 35 1●, 12. 46 3, 4. 48 19, 21. 49 10: 25. 50. 24. Exodus. Cap. 3. 12, 21. 4 12. 6 6, 7, 8. 8 22. 12 13, 23. 14 13. 15 26. 19 5, 6. 20 6, ●2, 24. 23 ●0, 22, 23, 35, 6, 27. 28 38. 29 45, 46. 30 6. 32 10, 13. 33 2, 14, 19 34 6, 7, 24. Leviticus. Cap. Verse. 1. 4. 18. 5. 20. 24. 25. 13, 18, 19, 21. 26. 4. to 13, 42, 44, 45. Numbers. Chapter. Verse. 6. 27. 11. 17. 15. 25, 26, 28. 18. 5. 20. 8. 21. 8. 23. 19, 21, 23. 24. 7, 9, 17. 25. 12, 13. 32. 22. 35. 34. Deuteronomy. Cap. Verse 2. 25. 3. 2, 21, 22, 28. 4. 1, 10, 29, 30 31, 40. 5. 10, 29, 33. 6. 2, 3, 18. 7. 6, 9, 12, 13, 1● 15, 16, 19 ●● 24. 8. 1. 9 3, 14. 10 9 11 8, 9, 12, 14, 1● 21, 23, 24, 2● 27, 31. 12 7, 12, 18, 2● 28. 13 11. 14 2, 29. 15 4, 6, 18. 16 15, 20. 18 15, 18. 19 13. 20 1, 4. 21 8. 22 7. 23 14, 20. 24 19 25 15. 26 18, 19 28 1. to 14. 29 9 30 3 to 10, 16, 20 31 6, 8, 23. 32 9, 30. 33 11, 29. joshua. Cap. Verse. 1. 5, 7, 8, 9 6. 17. 10 8. judges. Cap. Verse 6 16. 7 7. 13 3, 5. 20 28. 1 Samuel Chapter. Verse 2 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, & 30. 9 16. 10 6. 12 14, 22. 2 Samuel Chapter. Verse 7 10, 12, 13, 14 15, 16. 22 31. 1 Kings. Chap. Verse 2. 3, 4. 3 14. 6 12, 13. 8 23. 9 3, 5. 11 38. 17 14. 20 13. 21 29. 2 Kings. Chap. Verse 4. 16. 7 1. 10 30. 17 39 19 30, 31, 34. 20 5, 6. 21 7, 8. 22 20. 1 Chronicles. Cap. Ver. 17. 9, 10, 11 12, 13, 14. 22 9, 10, 13. 28 6, 7, 8, 9, 20. 2 Chronicles. Chap. Ver. 1. 12. 7 14, 15, 16, 18 16 9 19 11. 20 17, 20. 30 9 34 28. Ezra. Cap. Vers. 8. 22. 9 12. Nehemiah. Cap. Ver. 1. 5, 9 9 29. job. Cap. 5. 11, 15, to 27. 8 6, 7. 11 15. to 20. 17 9 22 21, 23. to the end. 33 25, 26, 28, 34 1. 36 7, 9, 10, 11. Psalms. Psal. Verse 1. 1, 3, 6. 2 2, 8, 12. 3 8. 4 3. 5. 11, 12. 9 ver. 8, 9, 18. 10 14. 11 7. 12 5, 6, 7. 15 2, 3, 4, 5. 16 11. 17 7. 18 2, 30. 19 7. to 12. 22 26, 27, 30. 23 1, 4. 24 4, 5. 25 3, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14. 27 1, 3, 5, 10, 14. 28 8. 29 11. 30 5. 31 19, 20, 23, 24 32 1, 2, 6, 7, 10. 33 12, 18, 19 34 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, & 17. to 21. 35 10, 27. 36 8, ●. 37 3. to 7, 9, 11, 16, to 20. & from 22, to 30 31, 33, 34, 37, 39, 40. 40 3, 4, 16. 41 1, 2, 3. 45 15. 46 1, to 5, 7.11. 47 3, 4. 48 14. 50 15, 23. 51 17. 52 6. 55 22. 56 8. 58 10. ●2 2, 6, 7. 64 10. 65 4. 66 4. 67 6, 7. 68 3, 13. 69 32, 33, 35, 36. 70 4. 72 5. to 9, 11.15, 17. 73 24. 75 10. 76 9 81 10, 13. to 〈◊〉 16. 84 4, 5, 7, 11, 1● 85 8, 9, 12, 13. 86 5. 87 2. 89 4, 15, 16, 2● 24, 26, 2● 29, 33, 34. ●● 37. 91 1, ●, to 7, 1● to 16. 92 12, to 14. 94 12. to 15. 96 13. 97 10, 11. 98 9 1●2 15. to the 18 20. 103 3, 8, to 13, 17 18. 106 3. 107 9, 36, 38. 110 2, 3. 111 5, 10. 112 1, to 4, 6, to 9 113 7, 8, 9 115 9 to 11, 13. 116 15. 117 2. 118 5. 119 1●, 49, 71, 130, 165 121 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. 122 6. 125 1, 2.3. 126 5, 6. 127 3, 5. 128 1, to the end. 130 4, 8. 132 11, to 19 135 4. 137 8, ●. 138 6, 7. 140 12, 13. 144 15. 145 8, 9, 13, 18, 19, 20. 146 5, 7, 8.9. 147 2, 3, 6, 11, 19 149 4. Proverbs Chap. Vers. 1. 7, 23, ●3 2 4, ●, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 21. 3 2, 4, 10, 12, 13 1●, to 18, 22 to 26, 33, to 35▪ 4 6, 8, 9, 13, 18▪ 22. 6 ●2, 24. 7 5. 8 17, to 19.21 34, 35. 9 8, 9, 10. 10 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 16, 17, 22, 24 27, to 30. 11 3, to 6, 8, 9, 18 to 22, 26, 27, ●8, 30, 31. 12 3, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 19, to 22, 24, 27, ●8. 13 2, 4▪ 6, 13, 15, 18, 20, 21, 25. 14 11, 22, 26, 34. 15 6, 8, 16, 29, 33. 16 3, 7, 8, 13, ●0. 17 2. 18 10, ●2, 20. 19 16, 17, ●3. 20 7, 28. 21 21. 22 4, 5, 9, 15, ●9. 23 13, 14, 24. 24 14, 25. 27 18. ●8 10, 13, 14, ●8, to 10, ●3, 25, to 27. 29 17, 18, ●3, 25. 30 5. Ecclesiastes. Chapt. Verse 8. 12. 11 1. Esay Chapt. Verse 1. 18, 19 2 2, 3, 4. 3 10. 4 2, 5, 6. 6 13. 7 14. 9 3, 6, 7. 10 20. 11 1, 2, 4, 6, to 10 12, 13. 12 3. 14 1, 2, 3. 17 2, 6, 7, 8. 19 17, 22, 24. 22 22, 23. 24 13. 25 4, 6, 8, 9 26. 3, 9, 12. 27 3, 5, 6, 8, 9 28 5, 12. 29 ●8, 19, 23, 24. 30 18. to the 27, 9 31 7. 32 1, 2, 3, 4, 17, ●8. 33 6, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 4. 35 1, ●, 4, to the end. 37 31, 32. 38 5, 6. 40 1, to 5, ●0, 11, 29, 31. 41 ●0, to the 14, ●6, to the 19, 25. 42 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 16. 43 1, to the 5, 25. 44 3, to 5, 22. 45. 17, 24, 25, 46 4, 10, 13. 48 9, 17, 18, 19 49 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 22, 23, 25, 26. 50 10. 51 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13. 52 1, 6, 10, 12, 13. 53 5, ●1, 12. 54 3, 4, 5, 7. to the end. 55 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, to 13. 56 2, 5, to 8. 57 ●, 13 15, 16, 18, 19 58 8. to 15, 59 19, 20, ●1. 60 2, to 9, and 1●, to the 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. 61 1, to 4, & 6. to the end. 62 2, to 4, 11. 63 9 64 4. 65 1, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17, to the end. 66 2, 5, 11, to 14, 18, to 20, 22. jeremy. cap. Verse. 1 8, 19 3 1, 12, 15, 17, 18. 4 1, 2, 14. 6 3, 16. 7 3, 7, 23. 11 4, 5. 12 14, to 16. 15 11, 19, to 21. 17 ●, 8, 24. to 16. 18. 8. 22 4. 23 4, 5, 6, 22. 24 6, 7. 26 13. 27 22. 29 10, 11, to th● 14. 30 3, 8, to 11 and16, to 22. 31 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, to 14, 20, 23, 24, 27, 28, 31, 33 34. 32 37, to 43, 44. 33 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, to the 18. an● 21. 34 5. 35 19 38 20, 24. 39 18. 42 10, 11, 12. 45. 5. 46 27, 8. 50 4, 5, 34. Lamentations. chapter. Verse 3 25, 31, 32, 33. Ezekiel. cap. Verse 6 8. 9 4. 11 16, to the 20. 12 16, 28. 14 22. ● 16 60, to 62. 17 23. 18 9, 21, 22, 27, 28, 30. 20 11, 13, 21, 40, 41, 43. 28 25, 26. 29 13, 14, 21. 33 11, 15, 16, 19 34 11, to the 16, and 22, to 31. 36 24, to 32, 33, 34. 37 21, to the end. 39 25. 44 28. Daniel. chapter Verse 11 35. 12 1, 2, 3, 4, 10-12. Hoseah. Chapter. Verse 1 7. 2 14, 15, 16, 18, to the end. 3 5. 6 1, 2, 3. 10 12. 11 8, to 11. 12 9 13 14. 14 3, to the end. joel Chapter Verse 2 13, 14, 18, to 30, 32. 3 2, 7, 16, 20. Amos. Chapter, Verse 3 7, 12. 5 4, 6, 14, 15. 9 13, 14, 15. jonah. Chapter. Verse 3 9 Micah. Chapter Verse 2 7. 4 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 12. 7 8, 9, 18, to the 20. Nahum. Chapter Verse. 1 7, 12, 13. Habbak. Chapter Verse. 2 3, 4, ●4. 3 17, 18, 19 Zephany. Chapter Verse. 2 3, 7, 9 3 9; 12, 13, 16, to the end. Haggai. Cap. Verse 2. 4, 7, 9, 19, 23. Zacharie Chapter. Verse 1 3▪ 14, 16, 17. 2 5, 8, 10, 11. 3 8. 4 7. 6 12, 13, 15. 8 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 21▪, 22. 9 9, 10, 16. 10 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12. 12 8, 10. 13 1, 2, 7, 9 14 8, 9, 11.21. Malachi. Chapter Verse 1 11. 3 1, 3, 4.7, 10, to 12, 16, to the 18. 4 2, 3, 5, 6. Matthew. Chapter Verse 1 21. 3 12. 5 3, to 13. 6 4, 6, 14, 18, 30, 32, 33. 7 7, 8, 11, 21, 24. 8 11. 9 13. 10 19, 22, 30, 32, 39, 40, to 42. 11 6, 28, ●9. 12 18, to 21, 31, 32, 50. 13 30, 41, 43, 49. 15 24. 16 18, 19, 25, 28. 17 11, 20. 18 4, 5, 10, 11, 14, 18, 20. 19 14, 17, 21, 28, to 30. 20 4, 7, 6. 21 21, 22, 43. 23 12. 24 13, 14, 22, 24, 30, 31, 35, 46, and 47. 25 21, 23, 29, 31, to 34, 40, 46. 26 13, 26, 28. 28 20. Mark. Chapter. Verse 1 8. 2 17. 3 28, ●5. 4 11, 25. 8 35. 9 1, 23, 31, 37, 41. 10 14, 21, 29, 30, 31. 11 23, 24, 25. 13 13, 22, 26, 27, 31. 16 16, 17, 18. Luke. Chapter. Verse 1 13, to 17, 3, 32, 35, 50, 53, 74, to 77, 79. 2. 10, 11, 26 3 5, 6, 16. 4 18. 5 32. 6 20, to 23, 35, 37, 38, 47, 48. 7 23. 8 10, 21, 50 9 24, 27, 48. 10 16, 19, 28, 42. 11 9, 10, 13, 28, 41. 12 7, 8, 10, 12, 28, ●0, 31, 32, 33, 37, 38, 43, 44. 13 29, 30. 14 11, 14. 15 7, 10. 16 9 17 33. 18 7, 8, 14, 16, 22 27, 30, 33. 19 10, 26. 21. 15, 18, 27, 28, 33. 2● 19, 28, to 30, 32. 23 43. john. Chapter. Verse, 1 16, 17, 29, 50, 51. 3 15, to 18, 36. 4 14, 23. 5 20, 4, 25, 28, 29. 6 27, 35, 37, 39, 40, 44, 45, 47, 51, 54, to 58. 7 17, 38. 8 31, 3●, 36, 51, 52. 9 31. 10 9, 10, 14, 16, 27, 28, 29. 11 25, 26. 12. 25, 26, 32, 46, 47. 13 1, 17, 20, 32, 35. 14 2, 3, 6, 12, 13, 14, 16, to 21, 23, 26, 27. 15 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, ●1 14, 16, 26. 16 7, 13, to 16, 20, 22, to 25, 27, 33. 17 ●, 3, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, ●6. 20 23, 29, 31. Acts cap. Verse 1. 5, 8, 11. 2 17, 8, 21, 38, 39 3 19, 22, 25, 26. 7 34, 37. 9 16. 10 35, 43. 11 14, 16. 13 26, 34, 38, 39 15 16. 16 31. 17 31. 18 10. 20 32. Romans. Chapter. Verse 1 16, 17. 2 6, 7, 10. 3 24, 25. 4 7, 8, 16, 25. 5 19, 20. 6 14, 23. 8 1, 11, 13, 16. to 18, 26, 28, to 35, 37, to 39 9 4, 12, 15, 1● 33. 10 4, 5, 9, ●● 13. 11 23, to ●7, 29 32. 12 20. 13 3, 4. 14 17, ●8. 15 4, 12. 16 ●0. 1 Corinthians. Chapter Verse 1 8, 30. 2 9 3 8, 14, 22. 4 5, 17. 6 2, 3. 8 3. 10 13. 11 31, 32. 15 22, 58. 2 Corinthians. Chapter Verse 1 4, 5, 7, 10, 20, 22. 6 16, to 18. 7 10. 8 9, 12. 9 6, 7. Galatians. Chapter Verse 3 8, 16, 26, 29. 4 4, 5, 6, 7. 5 16. 6 4, 8, 16, Ephesians. Chapter Verse 1 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 22. 2 5, 7, 8, 14, 17. 4 8, 30. 6 2, 3, 8, 13. Philippians. Chapter Verse 1 6, ●9. 2 13. 3 21. 4 7, 9, 19 Colossians. Chapter, Verse 1 13, 14, 20, 21. 2 13, 14, 15. 3 4, 20, 24. 1 Thessalonians. Chapter Verse 4 16, 17. 5 24. 2 Thessalonians. Chapter. Verse. 1 7, 10. 2 8. 3 3. 1 Timothy. Chapter. Verse 1 15. 2 4, 15. 4 8, 16. 6 6, 19 2 Timothy. Chapter. Verse 2 11, 12, 19 3 15, 16, 17. 4 8. Titus' Chapter. Verse 2 13, 14. Hebrews. Chapter. Verse. 1 14. 2 14, 15, 17. 5 9 6 10, 12, 14, 18, 19 7 25. 8 8, 10, 11, 12. 9 14, 26, 28. 10 16, 17, 30, 37 38. 11 6. 12 6, 10, 11. 13 5, 16. james. Chapter. Verse. 1 2.5, 12, 17, 21, 25. 2 5. 3 18. 4 6, ●, 8, 10. 5 15, 16, 20. 1 Peter. Chapter. Verse. 1 3, 4, 5, 25. 2 5, 9, 19, 20. 3 4, 12, 14. 4 13, 14. 5 4, 5, 6, 7. 2 Peter. Chapter. Verse 1 4, 8, 11, 2 9 3 9, 13. 1 Epistle of john. Chapter. Verse 1 4, 7, 9 2 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 24, 25, 27 28. 3 1, 2, 9, 14, 22, 24. 4 7, 9, 17. 5 4, 12, to 14, 16, 18. Revelations. Chapter. Verse 1 3, 5. 2 1, 7, 10, 11, 17, 23, 26, 27 28. 3 4, 5, 9, 10, 1●, 19, 20, 21. 4 1. 7 16, 17. 8 3, 4. 13 8, 14 13. 15 4. 16 15. 17 14, 16. 18 8, 21. 19 9 20 6. 21 3, 4, 6, 7, 24, 26. 22, 4, 5, 7, 14, 17, 20. FINIS. The Table of the first book. In this first book six things concerning the promises in general, are handled 1. The nature of the promises where 1. The wo●d i● op●ned according to the expres●ion● of it in language's, and acceptions of i● an Scripture. 2. T●e thing desired in general 〈◊〉 distinguished into ● C●vill. 2. R●ligions. ●. Divine, whic● d●vine promi●e●. are 1 Defined. 2 Diff●●enc●● from a 1. Purpo●● Threatening. ●. Comm●nd. 3. described to be the 1 Groūd●● ou● 〈◊〉 2 〈◊〉 out fa●● 2. The kinds of them. The Promises are 1. ●eg●llor evangelicall. 2 General or particular. ● Principal or less principal. 4 D●r●ct or by consequent. ●●bsolute o● conditional, 6. Pertaining to 1 Thi● life 1 Tempor●● ● Spiritu● ● The life to come. Eternal. 3. The excellency of them. 4. The right use of them. 1. In general, we must labour. 1. To be acquainted with them. ● Faithfully to remember them. ●. Wisely and fitly to apply them. by 1 Fixed meditation. 1 Marking the promise 2 Musing of it 3 M●king i● familiar to ●s 2 Fervent prayer, where of l●ving by faith. 2 Special r●les directing u● now to use them. 1 General promises are particularly, and particulars generally appliable. 2 Promises are subordinated and performed with dependence. 3. The experience of GOD in his promises confirmeth faith and nourisheth hope. 1 Experiments God hat● given us in others. ● Experience of his merc● in ourselves. 4. God's promises to us must be the rule of our prayers to him. 1. The ground for what, and rule how w● m●st pray. ●. God will not perform promise● till by prayer they be sought fo●. 5 The properties of them. God's promises are 1. Free. 2. Full in respect of 1. Persons. 2. Things. 3. Firm & faithful yet 1 God give● not ●hr●ie● the t●ing p●omise● but sometimes that which it equivalent or better, nor to the same parties, but to them o● their posterity. 2 The time of accomplishing them is uncertain. 6. The persons to whom the promises belong. 1. C●rist as the head. 2 His members. A TREATISE OF THE Divine PROMISES. The first Book. Book 1. CHAP. 1. 1. The Nature of the Promises. THERE are three things to be known in the Word: 1. Precepts or Commandments, because, they teach obedience. 2. threatenings, because they restrain disobedience. 3. Promises, because they serve to confirm us in our Obedience. Perkins on 2. Hab. 4. Faith in the Commandments (saith Dike) breeds obedience, in the threatenings fear, in the Promises Comfort. The Greek words for Promise in the New Testament are, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, which is tendered in the English a Message, 1 joh. 1.5 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nuncius, but most Usually a Promise, Ephes. 3.6. 1 joh 7.25. and often in the Galatians, it signifieth gratu●●am ultrenamque promissionem, a free and willing Promise, as both Budeus and Beza have observed, & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, 2 Pet ... 4. w●ich properly signifieth a Public Promise made is foro, before many, ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est, nunciare, edicere. The Latin, 1. Promissien● & promissi● (whence comes the french word promise, and the english promise) à pro & nutto, praemittitur enim promissiorei praesiandae. 2. Pollicuum or pollicitatio, which also signifieth a free Promise it cometh of polliceor, and that of porro & liceor. Pollicem●● spout, promittimus rogati, saith Ser●ius on Virg. 3. Sponsi●, from Spondere, quasi sponte dicere, saith Scaliger. Illyric. clav. Script. Promise is oftentimes used in the New Testament both in the Singul●r, and Plural number, especially in Rom. 4.16. Gal 3. ●8 As often as S. Paul compares the Law with the Promise, he makes a comparison between the Law and Gospel Illyric. ubi Supra. S. Paul's Epistles: it signifieth by an excellency the Gospel itself, or the promise of giving the Messiah, and free reconciliation with GOD by Him. It is called by a Synecdoche (saith Polanus) the Word, Psal. 56.4, 10. In GOD will I praise his Word, that is, his promise, saith junius; and sometimes it is taken by a Metonymy (as Beza and Piscator have observed) for the good things promised, Promissio interdum idem vales quod res promissa Piscator. Act. 1.33, 18, 19 & 7.17. & 26.7. Gal. 3.14. the promise of the Spirit, for the Spirit promised, Acts 1.4. wait for the promise of the Father, that is, the good promised, viz. the HOLY GHOST. You are sealed with the Spirit of Promise, Ephes. 1.13. that is, with the Spirit promised. So Gal. 3.22. That the promise by faith of JESUS CHRIST, that is, the thing promised, remission of sin and life everlasting. Heb. 10.36. Ye have need of patience, that ye might receive the promise, that is, eternal glory promised. Heb. 6.12. Who through faith and patience inherit the promises, that is, See Heb. 9.15. & 11.9, 17, 3●, 39 life promised by a Metonymy, 2 Tim. 1.1. It is called the Promise of Life, for life promised. A Promise is a revelation of some such truth, The definition of a Promise in general. as shall be beneficial to me in particular. The truth of such a promise consists in the certainty of performance, the goodness of it in the quality of the thing promised. Promise is 1. A word, passed from man to man, for performance of some lawful things; as in contracts, bargains, marriages, and other affairs of common life. This is a civil promise: Such a one Laban made to jacob, for giving his daughter, David to jonathan. 2. Our word passed and given unto GOD, for some duty which we will do unto his honour, Psal. 66.13, 14. I will pay thee my vows which my lips have promised Num. 30.2. He shall not break his promise. This is a religious or holy Promise, called a vow in Scripture. 3. The Word of God given unto men, for the performance of some good, or for removing some evil, Spiritual or Bodily, Psal. 119.103. How sweet are thy promises unto my mouth? and verses 38, 49. This is a divine Promise. Of these I purpose to treat: & the divine Promises are thus defined. The Promises are declarations of GOD'S favour towards Man, and of his providence over him for his good. Or thus. The Promises are all those declarations of GOD'S will, Promissio Dei est denunciatio suturorum honorum nobis dandorum, u● ex ea consolationem habeamus, & siducia nos●ra in V●um confirmetur. Polanus. wherein he signifieth in the Gospel, what good He will freely bestow. I shall define them in this manner. The Promises are outward declarations of GOD'S will concerning good to be received, and evil to be removed; I call them outward declarations, to distinguish them from inward purposes, concerning good, to distinguish them from threatenings, which are also declarations of GOD'S will, but for evil to be inflicted, concerning good to be received, etc. to distinguish them from commands, which declare GOD'S will for good, but that of duty to be done to him, not of mercy to be received from him. The Promises of the word are as so, many Legacies bequeathed us by our Heavenly Father, and by His Son JESUS CHRIST, in His last Will and Testament. The Promises are the grounds of our Hope, and the objects of our Faith. 1. The grounds of our Hope, Faith and Hope agree in their ground. both of them are grounded on God's promises; but Fides credit promissioni divinae, spes patienter expectat praestationem promissionis, saith Polanus. Faith believes the truth of GOD'S promises: Hope waiteth till GOD manifest and accomplish His truth. Remember thy Word (i.e. the promise of mercy and grace) unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope, Psal. 119.49. & 81. verse, I hope in thy Word: Therefore Hope is termed the hope of the Gospel, Coloss. 1.23. that is, an hope which waiteth for those things which in the Gospel are promised. This was the ground of Simeons' hope, Luke 2.25. We have no reason to hope for any thing which is not promised, or upon any other condition, then as promised. The Apostle useth this argument, why we should not cast away our confidence or slacken our hope, because there is a Promise, Heb. 10.35, 36. which is a f●rme foundation for our Confidence to rest upon: So Abraham is said Rom. 4.18. to have believed against hope (of sense and reason) under hope (of GOD'S Word) for the ground of that hope is added, according to that which was spoken (to that word of promise) so shall thy seed be, and elsewhere, to Look for a City that hath foundations, that is, Heb. 11.10. (as one expounds it) a City which was built upon the immutable stability of GOD'S oath and promises. These Promises are of all needful things in the world, both Spiritual and Temporal; of assistance under all crosses and of deliverance from them, and at length of eternal glory and happiness in Heaven, which (because it is furthest off, and includeth in it, an accomplishment of all other promises) is the most proper object of Hope, in which respect the Scripture doth thus entitle it, hope of salvation, 1 Thess. 5.8. hope of eternal life, Tit. 3.7. hope of glory, Rom. 5.2. At this Cape of good hope arrives every good Christian, every true Israelite. The rest are either hopeless, being Aliens from the Covenant of promise, Praesumendo sperant, & sperando pereunt. or over-hoping, without evidence and due qualification fond expecting the promise. 2. The Promises are the objects of our Faith, Heb 11.11. and also the foundation of it: whatsoever is promised, may and must be believed; and whatsoever is believed without a promise, is rather presumed. The Gospel is called the Word of Faith, Rom. 10.18. the Ephesians believed after that they heard the Gospel, Premissiones vocantur obiectum fidei per melonymiam adiu●cti. The object of faith is Christ, or the Gospel and the promises thereof. The order wherein faith lays hold upon the promises. joh. 3.16. Ephes. 1.13. The object of true faith is 1. Principal, the promise of salvation by CHRIST, this is the main promise. So GOD loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, to the end, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. 2. All inferior Promises annexed thereunto, of Temporal blessings, as food, raiment, health, peace, liberty, deliverance in temptations, safety in dangers, etc. these depend, upon the main promise of CHRIST, so far forth as they are for our good: for in CHRIST all the promises of GOD (whether they concern life eternal or this temporal life) are yea and Amen, that is, ● Cor. 1.20. sure and certain to GOD'S children. True Faith first of all directly and plainly fasteneth itself on the main promise of GOD in CHRIST, but after and with this on all other promises that concern soul or body. The Heart that saith by faith, GOD will pardon my sin, and save my soul, will say also by the same faith, GOD will give me food and raiment, and all things sufficient for this life, Rom. 4.18. Abraham by the same faith, whereby he was justified, believed GOD'S promise, that he should have a Son in his old age: and Noah believed GOD'S promise of his preservation in the Ark, by the same faith whereby He was made Heir of righteousness. First faith apprehends mercy in CHRIST, and then providence for this life. Object. Justifying Faith believes the Creation and all other holy truths, Heb. 11. besides the Promises; therefore the promises are not the only object of Faith. Answ. But not employing herself about them, as her special object, but presupposing them as necessary Antecedents. Object. Justifying Faith believes other promises, besides that of CHRIST and salvation by Him, as concerning strength in tentations, moderation of afflictions, comforts of this life. Answ. True, but as Appendants and Appurtenances to the main and principal Promise: for in CHRIST, that is, the Fundamental Promise, concerning CHRIST, All, that is, the other depending Promises, are yea and Amen. The proper and peculiar object then of Justifying faith, is the Evangelicall promise: other things are believed, some as necessary Antecedents, some as necessary Consequents of this. But Faith finds life and salvation, neither in the histories of the Creation, nor in the Legal Commandments, threatenings, promises, but only in the Covenant of Grace. CHAP. 11. 2. The Kind's of them. SOme divide them thus: The Promises are either General or Particular, Real or Personal, Conditional or Free, Temporal or Eternal. Others thus: They are either Spiritual or Temporal, concerning this life or the life to come, of things simply necessary to salvation, or of things good in themselves, but not always good for us. The Promises are either Legal or Evangelicall, General or Particular, Principal or less Principal, Direct or by Consequent, Absolute or Conditional, Temporal, Spiritual, or Eternal. There are Promises * The Promises of the Law are directed and made to the person of every man; particularly those of the Gospel are first directed and made to Christ, and then by consequent to them that are by faith engrafted into him. Perk Legal and Evangelicall. Legal are made on condition of works, as the perfect keeping of the Law, which none since Adam, save CHRIST, can lay claim to, Deut. 7.12. jer. 7.3, 23. These should be uneffectuall, if CHRIST had not for us fulfilled that righteousness whereupon they hang, Gal. 2.16. Evangelicall are made on condition of believing and repenting, The Evangelicall Promise is called the promise of Grace; because it is freely given, and freely performed, and the Promise of the Spirit, Gal. 3.14. because the Spirit is bo●h the Author and applier of it 2 Cor. 7.10. john 3.15. These are made to the worker, not for the merit of his work, but for CHRIST'S merit, in which both his person and work are accepted. Legal Promises or sentences, may be found in the New Testament, as Rom. 2.8, 9 to the 13, Rom. 10.5. Gal. 3.10, 12. and Evangelicall promises of grace may be found in the Old Testament, as Psal. 32.1, 2. jer. 31.31, 32. Both these are either General or indefinite, propounded to all, Promissiones Evangelij praestantiores Legalibus dicuntur, primò quia conditio Legis est, Hoc fac & vive●, id quod simpliciter imp●ssibile est, quando lex nos invenit peccatores, nec ullum relinquit ●oenitentiae locum, quod facit Evangelium. Deinde verò promissiones Evangelij habent comitem essi aciam Spiritus Sancti a●ul elector, promissiones Legales apud neminem. Tertio promissio Evangelij complectitur donum perseverantiae. Promissio Legis minimè. Quartò promissiones Legis sum obscurae, Evangelij sole meridiano clariores. Quintò promissiones Legale● pertinent ad solos judaeos, promissiones Evangelij indiscriminatim ad omnes. Denique, promissio Legis est ●ossessio terrae Chanaan, sen vita beata in illius possessione. Promissio Evangelij est vita beata in coelis de genda. Cameron. Exodus 20.6. john 3.16, 17, 18. Or Particular, directed to some kind of persons, few or one, Exod. 20.12. Matth. 9.2. Numb. 25.12, 13. There are Promises Principal, and less Principal. 1. Principal, as righteousness, remission of sins. 2. Less Principal, deliverance in afflictions, safety in dangers, health, wealth. There are direct or express Promises, and Promises by consequent. Direct, as that which was made to Abraham of a Son, Gen. 18. to Paul, that not one in the ship should lose his life, Acts 27. What he promises to any, he promiseth to all in an equal estate. Promises are implied by consequence, either in the examples or prayers of faithful Saints. 1. In their examples, by those blessings which they have enjoyed: GOD'S giving it to one, is a promising it to all. Thus doth S. james urge that end which GOD gave to jobs troubles, jam. 5.11. as a ground of our faith, to make us wait for a like deliverance in troubles, S. Paul assures us, that for this cause GOD comforted him in his tribulation, that he might be able to comfort them which were in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith he was comforted of GOD, 2 Cor. 1.4. Whatsoever things were written (whether precepts, promises, threatenings, or examples) are written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope, Rom. 15.4. 2. In their prayers, by those things which they prayed for in faith and obtained. The Faithful calling upon GOD, and GOD'S gracious hearing of them, are as much as a promise, that GOD in such and such things will hear us calling upon him. David made this a ground of his faith, Psal. 22.4, 5. There are Promises Absolute, and Conditional. 1. Absolute, That there shall be no waters of a flood to destroy all flesh, Gen. 9 11, 15. which GOD hath simply determined to accomplish even as they are propounded, as before CHRIST was manifested in the flesh, the promise of the Messiah, Esay 7.14. and of calling the Gentiles, Esay 42.1. since that time the promise of calling the Jews, Rom. 11.26. and of CHRIST'S second coming in glory, Matth. 24.30. 2. Conditional, which are no further promised, than GOD in wisdom seeth to be most meet for his own glory and his children's a Psal. 84.11. No goo● thing doth he withhold, Psal. 34. ●. They shall want ●othing (that is good) They are good in themselves, not always good for us. good. Thus are promised: 1. All temporal blessings, which * Luk. 16.20 Lazarus wanted. 2. Freedom from all crosses and b The evil of troubles shall not ●urt them, job 5.19. Psal. 23.4. joh. 17.15. troubles, job and other Saints had their part in many of them. 3. Freedom from all c The godly shall be delivered from the evil of temptation and persecution So that promise, Rev. 3 10. is to be understood. Po●an. Syntag. temptations, CHRIST himself was tempted. 4. Less principal graces, the common gifts of the Spirit: these are distributed severally, 1 Cor. 12.8. 5. The measure of sanctifying graces, some Saints have a greater measure of grace, and some a less. Some Promises are in divers respects both Absolute and Conditional, as that Exod. 3.17. of bringing the Israelites into the land of Canaan: for in respect of the people of Israel, it was absolute, and at length really accomplished; but if we consider all the particular Israelites, it had an implicit condition, viz. if they were obedient to GOD. Lastly, the Promises are either such as pertain unto this life, or the life to come. The Promises pertaining unto this life, are either Spiritual concerning the soul, such are the promises of GOD'S graces; or Temporal, concerning the body, as health, wealth. The Promises appertaining unto the life to come, are eternal life, the crown of glory, which concern both soul and body. These I shall handle fully afterward. CHAP. III. 3. The Excellency of them. THe Promises of GOD are a Rich Mine of Spiritual and Heavenly treasures; they are a garden of most precious flowers, of medicinable herbs, they are as the Pool of Bethesda, for all diseases, for all sorts of persons, and at all times. They are called the unsearchable riches of CHRIST, The Lord calleth them the bands of love, Host 11.4. Ephes. 3.6, 8. to assure us, that he is a very rich man that hath his heart stored with the promises of GOD well applied. One styles them, pabulum fidei, the food of faith. As ●aith is the life of the Soul, so GOD'S promise is the life of Faith. They are the inheritance of GOD'S people. David did so account of them (Thy promises have I claimed as mine heritage for ever, for they are the joy of my heart) Psal. 119.111. and all the people of GOD are Heirs of all his Promises, Rom. 9.8. The very keeping of the Records of these Promises was a great Prerogative to the * To them pertained the promises made to the patriarchs touching the Messias. Rome 9.4. Perkins. The promises which were of two sorts, either temporal, as touching the inheritance of the land of Canaan, or Spiritual of the Messiah, Gryneus: Both Legal promises and Evangelicall Pet Ma●t. Pareus Bo●h ●f this l●fe and the next Pelican These promises first belonged to them, and upon their rejecting they were fulfilled upon the Gentiles, ●s●nder. Jews, Rom. 3.2. and it is accounted a singular happiness for the Gentiles, that they may now partake of these Promises, Ephes. 3.6. The Apostle Peter saith, that they are Exceeding great and precious promises, 2 Pet. 1.4. which GOD hath given to us. They are most great and precious: for quantity, Great, exceeding great; for quality, Good, exceeding good. Precious: 1. In respect of the Author of them, GOD; He is said in Scripture to be the giver of them, Rom. 1.2. 1 Tim. 1.1. Tit. 1.2. 2. The ground of them, JESUS CHRIST, for whose sake we obtain them, and the price he paid to purchase them for us, his a Fortas●is epithe●um [pretiopa] nonnullum respectum habit ad prenus sanguinis Christi, & meritorum eius. Lorinus in locum. precious blood, 1 Pet. 1.19. 3. The manner, how they are given, freely; the fountain from which they spring is the precious loving b Quaelibet divinae promissio est dilectionis Dei erga nos testimonium. Calv. l. 3. justit. c. 2. kindness of GOD, Psal. 36.7. 4. The means whereby they are apprehended, that precious grace of faith, 2 Pet. 1.1. 5. The great and inestimable profit flowing from them, and the end why they are bestowed upon us, that we might be partakers of the c Excellentian promissionum inde ostendit, quòd nos tandem effician● naturae Divinae consortes. Calvin on this place of S. Peter. Divine nature, that is, of the graces of the HOLY GHOST. 6. d Piscator in locum. If the promise● be so sweet, what sweetness shall we find in the performance of them, 1 Cor. 2.9. In regard of the excellency of the things promised, life and godliness, or glory and virtue, which the Apostle Peter mentioned, 3. ver. of that 1. Chapter. The ordinary Gloss, would have life eternal to be there promised. There is nothing in the world so excellent, so precious▪ so sweet and so comfortable as the promises are, Psal. 119.103. e Cardan subtle l. 7. joseph. Anti●. l. 3. c. 9 Cardan saith that every precious stone hath some egregious virtue; and josephus observeth, that the splendour and brightness of the precious stones in the High-Priests breastplate foreshowed victory. I examine not the truth of those relations: but I dare say, there is more sovereign virtue in one of GOD'S precious promises, than in all the precious stones of the world. I may say of them, as Solomon saith of a virtuous woman, Pro. 31.10. that their price is far above rubies, or as he speaks of wisdom, Pro. 8.11. Promises in our hearts (saith one) are better than pearls or precious stones in our chests. that they are better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired, are not to be compared to them. The bright lustre also of these precious stones, observed by the quick eye of faith, presageth certain victory over all our enemies. If we can behold the face of GOD to shine upon us, by proving our interest in his promises, we shall be in all things more than Conquerors through Him that loveth us. The Promises of GOD applied by faith, will put such an undaunted courage into the heart of the weakest Christian, that he will not fear the rigour of the Law, 1 Tim. 1.9. the rage of Satan, Ephes. 6.16. the tyranny of the world, 1 joh. 5.4. the ghastly and grim face of Death, 1 Cor. 15.55. nor the torments of Hell, joh. 3.16. Therefore a truly humbled spirit, relishing Spiritual things, would not exchange any one of the Promises, for the riches and sweetness of both the Indies. In many of David's * Psal. 6. Psal. 22. Psal 51. Pierre du Moulin de L' Amour Divin. Psalms, the beginnings are full of trouble, but joy and assurance is to be found in the end: so that one would imagine (saith Peter du Moulin) that the Psalms had been composed by two men of a contrary humour: but he assigneth this as the cause of so sudden a change. David's soul at the last raising up itself, from under its burden and adhering to the promises, he found abundance of comfort. Mr. Bolton hath three excellent Stories to this purpose. Bolton his Instructions for a right comforting afflicted consciences. Page 345. The first is of a woman greatly distressed in conscience, who industriously sought the destruction of herself; but being most miraculously preserved, she afterward received comfort from that promise, Esay 57.15. Thus saith the High and lofty one that inhabiteth Eternity, whose Name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place: with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. And (to use his phrase) she went to Heaven, in the year of our LORD 1595. Page 346. Another Godly Man in his sickness, steadfastly fixed his heart upon that sweetest Promise, Esay 26.3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee: and said, GOD had graciously made it fully good unto his soul, A Scottish Penitent also at the place of execution, Page 397. when he was ready to die, laid hold on that, Matth. 11.28. saying, I challenge thee LORD by that promise, which thou hast made, that thou perform and make it good unto me, that call for ease and mercy at thy hands. S. Paul boasteth that he is an Apostle of CHRIST according to the promise, 2 Tim. 1.1. The patriarchs hugged and embraced the promises as a chief stay of their lives in their pilgrimage on earth, Heb. 11.13. Vrsine was comforted by that place, joh. 10.29. and Bilney was much quieted by that saying of S. Paul, 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that CHRIST JESUS came into world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. There is a commandment of the LORD for the children of Israel, Esay 66.11. That they should suck and be satisfied with the breasts of consolation. D. Preston of the New Covenant. A worthy Divine observes well the Emphasis of the original. Two Metaphors are there used, one is to milk consolation out of the Promises: Thus saith the Lord, ver. 12. the meaning is this, that the promises are full of comfort, as a dug is full of milk (for he repeateth the promise presently after) now if thou be ready to faint, Alludit ad infantes ●ugente, quos maetres quietant & solantur, applicando eis uberibus, ut sugen●o stere desinant Cor. a Lap. in locum. go and milk out consolation out of the promises, and that will relieve thee, and stay thy heart. The other Metaphor is, to extort the promises, as a rich man oppresseth a poor man, and gets out of him all that he is worth; so deal with the Promises, for they are rich, there is a price in them: now when a man is poor and needy, let him go to the rich promises, and be an extortioner to them, that is, consider them to the utmost, see the utmost riches that is contained in them, and they will make thee rich. Again, draw out the utmost of the milk that is in them, and it will exceedingly revive and comfort thee. CHAP. FOUR 4. The right Use of them. We are to praise God for his promises: 1. Tey are good things. 2. They shall be accomplished in a convenient season, and this duty have the Saints practised, Luke 1.46. Heb. 11.13. 2 Cor. 6.17, ●8 & 7. Chap. v. 1. We should labour to work upon ourselves to be holy upon Consideration of GOD'S promises, thus: is GOD our Father, is he holy: And are we his Sons and Daughters, and profess ourselves to be so, and shall we be unclean? Hath GOD promised to pardon our sins? and shall we therefore provoke and grieve him every day more and more by our sins? shall we thus requite the bounty, mercy, love and goodness of GOD? Hath he promised us a Crown and Kingdom? an immortal and eternal Inheritance, that can never be shaken nor taken from us, and shall not we labour to walk worthy of the s●ne? When the LORD renewed the promise of the Land of Canaan to the children of Israel, Deut. 10.11, 12. He doth infer this use upon the same, And now O Israel (saith he) what doth the LORD require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy GOD, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy GOD with all thy heart and with all thy soul? As if he should say, since GOD hath made thee so large promises, there is somewhat required at thy hands to do. So Rom. 12.1. I beseech you Brethren by the mercies of GOD, since GOD hath been so merciful towards you, both in promises and performances (for so f●rre that may be extended) that therefore you gi●e up your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto GOD. But because the right use of the Promise is a means to sweeten all our afflictions, confirm our faith, excite us to well-doing, and to breed contentation of mind in all estates and conditions whatsoever: something shall be premised generally, concerning the use of them, and then special rules laid down to direct us how to use them. For the general, three things are to be observed: 1. We must labour to be acquainted with them. 2. Faithfully to remember them. 3. Wisely and fitly to apply them. 1. We are to acquaint ourselves familiarly with those Promises, which are most General, Precious and Fundamental, wherein GOD'S power and goodness is principally seen. Such a speech there is in job, Acquaint thyself with him and be at peace, job 22.21, 2●. thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. If we have an herb in our garden that would ease our grief, and we know it not, what are we the nearer? So if we know not the Promises, though they be in the book, what are we the better? 2. We should strive to remember the Promises, for that which is not remembered, is not known. David hid GOD'S promises in his heart, Psal. 119.111. and those upheld him in his trouble, and he received admirable comfort by them, verse 50. The Promises of GOD are the Magna Charta of a Christian, his chief evidence for Heaven. Now if men do so highly prise their Charters and Privileges, and carefully keep the conveyances and assurances of their Lands, how should we then treasure up these promises, which unto the Faithful are in stead of all assurances, for his maintenance, protection, assistance, deliverance, comfort, and everlasting happiness. The Apostle showeth, that the cause of the Hebrews fainting in their troubles, Heb. 12, 3, 5. was this; they had forgotten the consolation, that is, the comfortable promises of GOD made unto them for the strengthening of their faith in the fiery trial. As a Lamp (saith chrysostom) will soon be out, if oil be not continually supplied: so faith, if it be not nourished with continual meditation of GOD'S promises, will soon fail. 3. We should believe the promises, and apply them particularly to ourselves. Faith apprehends the promises not only as true, and so assents, but as good and sweet, Faith applies and app●o●riates Ch●ist in 〈…〉 to ●nes self. and so adheres and cleaves unto them. Thy loving kindness (apprehended by faith) is better than life, Psal. 63.3. The apprehension of Faith, is with feeling sweetness in CHRIST, He loved me and gave himself for me, Gal. 2.20 sai●h S. Paul in the person of all believers. When Thomas said, My Lord, and My God, Chr●st answered that he believed. joh. 20. Gal. 3. 2●. and in the Promises, and therefore called The receiving of CHRIST, john 1.12. The eating and drinking of his flesh, john 6. Psal. 34.8. Taste and see that the LORD is good, that is, Believe in him, as appears by the reason added, Blessed is the man that trusteth in him. When the understanding hath judged aright of the promises and adjudged them to ourselves, that they belong to us, than the will welcomes them, clasps about them, hugs them, and as it is Heb. 11.13. kisses and embraces them, and when the heart thus kindly entertains the promises, then with old Simeon, we hold CHRIST in our arms. GOD himself applieth the promises outwardly in the Word, and inwardly by the testimony of his Spirit, and is wont to make good his promises unto his children, proportionably to their * Promises are never believed, unless they be trusted upon, as a captive cannot be said to believe him that promiseth to ransom him upon a day, unless he trust and depend upon him. trust in them, and dependence upon his truth and goodness for a seasonable performance of them, Be it unto thee according to thy saith, Matth. 9.29. All things are possible to him that believeth, Mark. 9.23. That we may apply GOD'S Promises, we are to use two means: 1. Fixed Meditation, we should ponder well and muse upon the promise. Pondering is, when a man lifts any thing to see what weight it bears, so ought faith to do with the promise, sound the sweetness of it to the bottom, and that, 1. By marking it, we should set a star upon the Margin of a special promise, and by the book that culls out promises of note in this kind. 2. Musing of it, we should dwell upon it: Marry pondered the Angel's words in her heart. 3. Making the word of promise, familiar by frequency, we should get it by heart till it be easy, so did David make the promise his Counsellor and Companion, Psal. 119.24. When we go to prayer, we should chew of those promises, Rom. 8.26. jam. 1.5. When we go about our callings, we should think seriously of that promise, Psal, 121.8. When any cross befalleth us, we should remember that unvaluable promise, Rom. 8.29. and that 1 Cor. 10.13. 2. Fervent prayer, that GOD would by his Spirit both reveal unto us, what be those precious promises which he hath made unto his people in his holy Word, and also give unto us wisdom rightly to judge of them, and fitly to apply them unto ourselves, in every estate we shall be in. We should beg of him to reveal this mystery of godliness and CHRIST to us, Ephes 1.17, 18. as the Disciples said, LORD increase our faith, that phrase of David is most heavenly, Psal. 119.49. Thy promise in which thou hast caused me to put my trust. It is the LORD that must cause the heart to put her trust in the promise. If we would keep faith in exercise, we must endeavour to know GOD'S promises, meditate on them, confer about them, Living by Faith is a relying upon the Word of God, with full purpose to be guided by it, either by resting upon his promises, or obeying his Commandments. Baynes directions. they should be continually in our minds, memories, hearts and tongues. To live by Faith, is to feed upon the several promises of GOD made in his Word, and to apply them to ourselves, according to all our needs, and so comfort and encourage ourselves against temptation, and unto every good duty. This is that which is required by GOD of his people, Hab. 2.4. These words Hab. 2.4. are interpreted two ways according to the several readings: the first is thus, The just by faith shall live. The words [●y faith] being referred to the subject of this proposition [Th● Ius●:] and then the sense is, he that is just by faith, shall li●e and have eternal life Iuniu● in his parallels, Weemse, Willet, Fai●●, and Wilson, sa●● this is the r●g●t reading. The second reading is thus, The Justice shall live by Faith; The words [by faith] being referred to the predicate [shall li●e] then the sense is this, the just while he lives in this world shall live by his Faith. Piscator on 1 Rom. and Perkins on Hab. 24. approve this latter construction for the best. GOD there having threatened judgement against the Jews by the Babylonians, doth afterwards promise deliverance again, but not suddenly: the people of GOD therefore in the mean time were to live by Faith, and depending upon GOD, to wait for the accomplishment of his gracious promises. The just shall not only live eternally by his faith, but even here also in this life, He shall live by Faith. Abraham served GOD wheresoever he came, That we may live by f●●●h we sh●●ld 1 Sto●e up good promises seasonably when our parts and abilities are strong. 2. Abundantly of all kinds Esa. 42. ●3. as if he had said, you must not only lay in promises just for the present, but store them for afterwards 3. We must so lay them up, that we may have them at hand, Col. 3.16. Verse 12. and rejoiced in the promise of salvation by CHRIST, Gen. 17.17. john 8.56. Now if he who saw the promises but afar of, Heb. 11. 13. was so cheered and quickened by them, what should we be to whom the grace of GOD hath shined so clearly, Tit. 2.11. jacob when Esau met him, and his heart began to faint (for the Text saith, Gen. 32.7. he feared exceedingly) did go and suck consolation out of the Promises: for thus he reasons with the LORD, LORD thou hast said thou wilt do me good: this promise sustained him, and he got so much strength with this milk, that he was able to wrestle with the LORD all night, and would not let him go without a blessing. So David, when the Philistines had burnt Ziklag, and the soldiers that should have been his strength, were ready to stone him, he remembered GOD'S promise that he should be King, and sit in the Throne of Saul; therefore it is said, He comforted himself in the LORD his GOD, 1 Sam. 30.6. that is, in the promise that the LORD had made to him. So Nehemiah when he heard of the misery of his people, fell to prayer, 1. Chap. 5. & 10. verses. clinging to a promise that he knew was made by GOD, that he had read and marked out of Deuteronomie. Verse 8, 9 The same is to be seen in that honourable company of those Worthy Servants of GOD in all ages from the beginning of the world to that day, mentioned, Heb. 11. which are all brought in as a cloud of witnesses testifying this truth, that The Just shall live by Faith. Thus S. Paul also lived by faith, both for Spiritual life, Rom. 7. and for Temporal life, 2 Tim. 4.17, 18. and for Eternal life, 7, & 8. verses of that Chapter. The Devil striketh specially at our faith in the promises, and not so much at the general faith, in believing the truth of them in general, as at our special justifying faith, applying those promises unto ourselves. Not so much to doubt at the general voice of GOD in the Word, Every believer shall be saved, but at the particular voice of GOD by his Spirit applying the general to us, and saying, Thou believest, Thou art my Son. Therefore above all things we should fortify our faith and assurance, that GOD is our Father and we his sons, and (as the Apostle exhorteth) Labour to make our calling and election sure: and for our better applying of GOD'S promises, let us observe two rules: 1. To apply all the Word of GOD indifferently, as well the Commandments for our direction, and the * The threatening declare the great pureness of God, the promises do show ●is great love to righteousness and his wonderful goodness toward men: He that doth these th●ngs shall live it them, is the promise's, Levit 185. The threatening that answers it, The soul that sinneth it shall die, Ezek. 18.4, 20. The tartness of t●e threatening make● us best taste the sweetness of the promise Sour and swee● make the best sauce, promises and threatenings mingled, serve t● keep the heart in the best temper. threats for our humiliation, as the promises for our comfort. 2. To examine the conditions of GOD'S promises, and to look as well to the performance of the conditions required in the promises, as to enjoy the things promised. For as the Devil denies unto us the application of the promises when we are interested in them, as when we walk uprightly with GOD; so contrarily he applies them strongly and earnestly, when they belong not unto us, as he did the promise of protection by Angels unto CHRIST, though he should tempt GOD. So he ordinarily applies the promise of mercy, to notorious sinners, though they lie wallowing in their mire, and never wash themselves in the waters of repentance. And wicked men do often with great confidence or rathe● * Faith receives Christ, presumption snatches at him, Dike. Faith having promise of a blessing, useth with precisest care means ordained to obtain it, Act ●7. 25, 3● Presumption so builds on the promise, that it regards not means of accomplishment. presumption lay hold of the promises; in the mean space, neither caring to apply to themselves the commandments and threatenings, nor yet respecting the conditions, by which the promises are limited. Thus when the LORD saith, Ezek. 33.11. As truly as I live, I will not the death of a sinner, they regard not what followeth, but that he repent and live; and when they hear the Apostles speech, 1 Tim. 2.4. That GOD will have all men to be saved, they make a bolster of it, whereon they sleep securely in their sins, but leave out the following condition: viz. that he would have all whom he would have saved, come first to the saving knowledge of his truth, which is never severed from the fruits of obedience, 1 john 2.3, 4. So when CHRIST saith, That he came not to call the righteous but sinners, with that they comfort themselves in their sinful courses, but observe not to what he calleth them: viz. to repentance, before they can have any part with him in glory. Some likewise suck poison out of that heavenly flower, Rom. 10.13. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved: not considering, that Every one that calleth upon the name of the LORD, should depart from iniquity, 2 Tim. 2.19. Special Rules directing us how to use the Promises. 1. General Promises are particularly, and Particulars generally appliable. The LORD in assenting to Salomon's prayer, 1 King. 8.37.40. made a general promise to any man, or to all the people, that what prayer or supplication soever should be made towards his Temple, he would hear in heaven and forgive, 2 Chron. 20.8 10. etc. jehosaphat being after in distress, applied this general to his own present condition; when the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Scir came to turn Israel out of their possessions. So David, Psal. 119 49. and the woman of Canaan, Matth. 15.22. applied the general promises to themselves. The LORD made a particular promise unto Iosh●a, josh. 1.5, 6. that he would be with him to bless his erterprises against the Canaanites, and to carry him through all the difficulties and hazards of that holy war; and S. Paul applies the promise to all the faithful, Heb. 13.5. in any straits or distresses of life, as the LORD himself had before applied it from Moses to joshua, Let your conversation be without covetousness,— for as GOD was with joshua, so will he be with thee, He will not fail thee nor forsake thee. CHRIST made a particular promise unto Peter, I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. Luk. 2●. 32. And the same in effect he applies to all his, john 17.15 See ●1. & 20. verses. I pray that thou wouldst keep them from the evil. Thus may the children of GOD do, if they find any promise made to one godly man, and no special reason expressed why it should be peculiar to him, they may take it as a promise made to them. The ground of this is taken from GOD'S unchangeable and impartial manner of dealing: the same GOD that he is to one faithful man, the same he is to all: they all are under the same Covenant, and have interest in the same promises. 2. Promises are subordinated and performed with dependence. Therefore we must not anticipate nor perturb the order which GOD hath put in his Promises, but wait upon him in his own way. Grace and Glory will he give, Psal. 84.11. Master Reynolds in his Treatise of the sinfulness of Sin but first grace before glory: no man must snatch at this promise, till he have interest in that. Godliness hath the promises of this life and of that which is to come; but we must note the order which our Saviour puts, Mat 6.33. First seek the Kingdom and Righteousness of GOD, and then all these things shall be added unto you. The LORD promiseth to call men unto CHRIST, Esay 55.5. Nations that knew thee not shall run unto thee. The Apostle tells us whereunto he calls, 1 Thess. 4.7. GOD hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness. Therefore in the next place he promiseth to sanctify and cleanse his Church; I will put my law in their hearts, jer. 31.33. and in their inward parts. The qualification of this holiness is, that it be whole and constant. The very GOD of peace sanctify you, 1 Thess. 5 23 and preserve you blameless unto the coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, is the Apostles prayer for the Thessalonians. Therefore in the next place, GOD promiseth perseverance, I will not turn away from them to do them good, but I will put my fear into their hearts, jer. 32.40. that they shall not depart from me. But this perseverance is not so certain, but that it admits of falls, slips, and miscarriages; therefore in that case, He promiseth healing and restoring: Hos 11.3. Host 14.4. Ezek. 34.16 Gods Promises signify what he will do, his precepts what we must do, that this promises may be to us fulfilled. He promiseth to hi● Church to forgive thei● sins withal give● us command to repent & believe, that our sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come, Acts 3.19 His promise is to save his children, their duty yet to save themselves, Acts ●. 40. I will heal their backslidings, I will love them freely, I will bind up that which is broken, and will strengthen that which was sick. And after all this comes the promise of Glory and Salvation. Therefore we must take the Promises in that Connexion and dependency which they have amongst themselves. When GOD hath called us to the knowledge of CHRIST, we must not skip over all the intermediate links, and look presently for the accomplishment of GOD'S promise of Salvation, or perseverance by GOD'S sole power, and in the mean time omit all care of Holiness in our conversation. For GOD doth not fulfil his promises in us only, but by us too; and those things which in regard of his word are his promises, are also, in regard of his Command, our duties. 3. Experience of GOD in his Promises, confirmeth Faith and nourisheth Hope. * Experiments God hath given us in others. The faithful are confirmed in the truth of GOD'S promises, by the experience of his dealing with others of his servants, Psal. 22.4. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them: Psal. 34.5. They shall look unto him, and 〈◊〉 to him, and their faces shall not be ashamed: What made them so confident in GOD'S mercies? verse 6. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. Experience of GOD'S dealing with others, doth also nourish and uphold hope. Therefore james brings to the memories of the Christian Jews, jam. 5.11 GOD'S dealing with job, to strengthen their hope. 2 Experience ●f his mercy in ourselves But especially the experience a man hath had in himself, of the performance of GOD'S promises, will marvellously confirm him. This encouraged David, when he was to encounter with Goli●h. See Pal. 4.1. ●sal. 2▪ & 7.5 77.5.11 1.3 5. Psa. 1●9. 52. The LORD (saith he) did deliver me from a Lion and a Bear, therefore he will deliver me from this Philistine, 1 Sam. 17 35, 37. Paul concluded God's favour, for the time future, by his proceedings past. The LORD (s●ith he) hath delivered me from a sentence of death, and doth deliver, therefore I trust that he will deliver, 2 Cor. 1.9, 10. See 2 Tim. 4.17, 18. This we may see also in Solomon, That faith may be preserved, we must often meditate upon the sweetness, Ps. 1●9 103. & 139.11. constancy, Rev. 1.5. 2 Cor. 1.20. & perpetulty of the most precious and free promises which are th● grounds of faith, Host 14.5 Ezek. 36.22. as a Revered Divine● observes in his Exposition of his Catechism. 1 King. 8.24. and in other places, Deut. 1.29, 31. Deut. 3.21. Esay 51.9, 11. But we have a notable example for this in jacob. Gen. 32.9. Thou saidst unto me, remove into thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will do thee good. There is GOD'S Word and promise: then followeth the experience, he had already of the performance of this promise, verse 10. I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies which thou hast showed unto thy servant: for with my staff came I over this jordan, and now I have gotten two bands. Then follows the confirmation, he received in his faith by this experience, verse 11. I pray thee deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau. Experience likewise bringeth forth Hope, Rom. 5.4. Three things concur to make up experience: 1. Knowledge: the better knowledge, the better affiance, Psal. 9.10. They that know thy Name, will put their trust in thee. The Philosopher saith, that experience is multiplex memoria, a multiplied memory, because of the memory of the same thing often done ariseth experience. 2. Observation of the ways of GOD. 3. Memory, remembrance of such works of GOD, as we have known and observed. We should observe how GOD hath made good and confirmed his promises, even in our own experience, by blessing us, while we have walked carefully and conscionably before him, how often he hath granted our requests. To this purpose is that exhortation, Psal. 34.8. O taste and see that the LORD is good. Labour to be able to say with David, Psal. 119.56. This I had because I kept thy precepts: thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy Word, 6●. verse, or as it is 140. verse, Thy Word is proved most pure (by good experience) therefore thy servant loveth it, or as he saith elsewhere, Marvellous are thy works, Psal. 139.14. and that my soul knoweth right well. 4. GOD'S Promises to us must be the ground and rule of our prayers to him. The ground for what, and the rule how we must pray. There are two things in this rule to be observed: 1. That we can make no prayer in boldness, faith or comfort, All our prayers are to be grounded on God's promises. but for things promised, and in that manner as they are promised. We must see the things we ask, made ours in some promise and engagements before we presume to ask them. David often chargeth God with his promise, Psal. 119. Quicken me according to thy word, v. 2●. that is, thy promise in thy word. So 100L, 149, 154. Remember thy Wor● 〈…〉 thy Wo●d, 38. still he harps upon this st●ing, 28, 1. ●5, 75. This encouraged jacob, Gen. 32.9, 12. David, 2 Sam. 7.27, 28, 29. Daniel 9.2, 3. and jehosaphat, 2 Chron. 20.8, 12. to pray unto GOD, because he had made promises of the things they desired, and therefore they were certain, that they prayed according to his will. This was * Neh. 1.8, 1● In the wa●t of other Rhetoric & Oratory, let Christians in their pray●●●●rge this with repetition, Lord ●hou hast promised, thou hast promised. Nehemiahs' ground in his prayer for the reparation of Ieru●alem. Remember, I beseech th●e, the word which thou comm●n●est thy servant Moses, saying if ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad: But if ye turn unto me, and keep my Commandments, and do them, though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, etc. Now these are thy servants, and thy people whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. O LORD, beseech thee, let now thine care be attentive to the prayer of thy servants who desire to sear thy Name. An excellent example also we have of this in jacob, Gen. 28. GOD promised to be with him, ver. 15. his vow or prayer respe●teth that, ver. 20. GOD promised to keep him in his way, ver. 15. his vow or prayer respecteth that, ver. 20. GOD promiseth not to leave him, he saith and will give me bread and raiment, GOD promised to bring him again to 〈◊〉 land, his prayer answered th●t, 〈◊〉. 21. Otherwise 〈◊〉 can have no hope to be heard, 〈…〉 2 Chron. ●9 & ●● 15, 17. 1 King ●2. if our petitions be not framed according to GOD'S promises. If we will have GOD hear us, we must pray according to h●s will, 1 joh. 5.14. We must ask in faith; Both CHRIST and his Apostles require faith in GOD'S promises in prayer, Mar. 11.24. james 1.6. No faculty can or aught to extend itself beyond its adequate and proper object; The thing asked must first be warranted under some precept or promise in general, though not expressly. M. Harris. for the object is the rule and the limit of the habit, but the promise is the object of faith, as hath been showed, therefore he that prayeth without a promise, denieth his own request. If I pray for the salvation of another, Object. I have no promise, how then can I pray in faith? How we may pray in faith, when we want a particular promise, that the thing we ask shall be granted. So likewise when a man prays to be guided in such a business, to have such an enterprise to be brought to pass to have deliverance from such a trouble, such a sickness or calamity that he lies under, he finds no particular promise, and for aught he knows, it shall never be granted: How can he be said to pray in faith? For to pray in faith, is to believe that the thing shall be done. Sol. To pray in faith, is to go as far as the promise goes. Now no particular man hath any particular promise, that he shall have such a deliverance, that he shall have such a particular mercy granted him; God's promises of things temporal and to hear us for others, are but indefinite not universal. The faith therefore requited toward them is but an indefinite act of recumbency and submission not of assurance. M. Go●hei● in his return of Prayers. Yet God often grants prayers made for o●her●, since promises are made to such prayers, as, that they shall be healed in their bodies, jam 5 15. healed of their lust●, v. 16. converted to li●e, 1 joh 5 16. Id. ib. and therefore it is not required to believe, that that particular thing should be done, but that GOD is ready to d●e that which is best for me, in such a particular, that which shall be most for his own glory and my good. Indeed if we had a particular promise, as Elias had, that it should not rain, in that case we were bound to believe in particular; but not having that, we are not tied unto it. David saith, Psal. 35.13. that he prayed for his enemies, but his prayer returned into his own bosom: no benefit came to them in their amendment, yet he was no loser by it, his prayer was not lost. The like may be said of others of GOD'S children: when they seek to GOD in sincerity, and pray in the behalf of others, though the particular suit be not granted, yet they discharging their duty, shall receive a reward. The Promises also are the rule how we must pray: Eo modo cuinia sunt petenda, quo modo sunt promissa. as things are promised, so must they be prayed for; things absolutely promised, may be absolutely asked; but where GOD hath put conditions and exceptions to his promise, there our prayers also must be conditional, and we must express or reserve in our minds some such secret limitations, as these, If GOD see it to be good, if his good pleasure be such, if it may stand with his glory. Verse 3●. We may pray against temptations, (as against sickness and poverty) 〈◊〉 simply, bu● with submission to Gods will; only we must pray absolutely to be 〈◊〉 from 〈…〉 of temptation: for those latter words in the I. P do restrain or correct the former. Moses, Ex●d. 32.10, 11. wo●ld not l●t GOD done till he had spa●●d his people, but desired to be razed out of GOD'S Book, rather th●n his people should be destroyed; because GOD had made an absolute promise to bring them into Canaan, verse 13. which promise Moses plead●th unto GOD in prayer. GOD hath made an Absolute promise of the perpetual continuance of the Church, but 〈◊〉 of a continual outward flourishing state thereof: for he can turn the persecution of his Church to the increase thereof, and so ●aine honour unto himself, and bring good unto his people thereby. In this point (because some things are controverted) I will not interpose my own judgement, it shall suffice me to declare, how the question is stated by many Divines. D. Am. That we should have grace is absolutely necessary, and therefore we may pray absolutely for it. We may not absolutely pray for limited & set mea●ure● of grace, but in what measure God shall think good. 1. Spiritual things, as they are necessary to salvation, ought absolutely to be asked, because they are absolutely promised to the Faithful, and those that seek them, Luke 11.13. 2. Those spiritual goods which admit degrees, cannot in every degree be absolutely begged, because the things themselves, not the degrees of them, are absolutely necessary, and of GOD absolutely promised, 2 Cor. 12.8, 9 3. Yet we ought absolutely to ask that measure of grace which is necessary for us to avoid crimes or scandals, and keep a good conscience, james 1.5, 6. 1 Cor. 10.13. Psal. 19.14. D. Sclater upon 2. to the Thess. pag. 18.210 & 233. Spiritual things are promised: 1. Rather quoad essentiam, then gradum perfectionis. 2. In competency for final victory, not in perfection. 3. With power reserved to withdraw the exercise; 2 Chro. 32 31 leave to ourselves, abate the fervour. There must be submission to GOD'S will and wisdom in our prayers for spiritual things, D. Splat. on 1. of Rom. We must refer the time, manner and measure of granting our petitions to the Lord. in regard of circumstances of time, means, measure; for these the LORD hath reserved in his own power. We must not in our prayers prescribe GOD the particular time, when he should give his blessings or help us out of misery, yet we may lawfully pray, that he would hear us speedily, Psal. 102.3. because He hath promised to do it. All the Petitions of the LORDS Prayer (saith Dr. Gouge) are absolutely promised, D. Preston on the Sacrament. D. G●uge on the Lord's Prayer. See page 10 saving the fourth. For hallowing GOD'S Name, He himself hath said, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again, john 12.28.2. For the coming of his kingdom, CHRIST hath said, that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against his Church, Mat. 16.18.3. For doing his will, this is a branch of the new Covenant, which by CHRIST'S death is made absolute, jer. 31.33. Ezek. 36.27.4. For pardoning sin, this is another branch of the foresaid new Covenant, 34. verse of jeremy. For not leading into temptation, See Schudder key of heaven, last Doct. but delivering from evil, the Apostle saith, 1 Cor. 10.13. GOD will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation, make away to escape. For daily bread, GOD can instruct us, both to be full, and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need, Phil. 4 12. Mat. 26.39. D. Sclat. on 2.10 Thess pages before quoted. There is no temporal thing of this life doth Cad●re in promission Dei, but only so fa●re forth as it sha●l help and further the next life. This life is but via ad citam, and whatsoever God promise● 〈◊〉 in the wa● is but to 〈◊〉 us ●n the end o●●he 〈◊〉 Temporal things, are not promised absolutely, but 1. With limitation to expediency. 2. They are conveied in the Covenant disjunctively, either the particulars or the equivalent, Mark. 10.30. by way of commutation, and compensation with spiritual; if not peace, yet patience, if not wealth, yet contentment. 3. With exception of the cross, and reservation of power to the promiser, to chasten our misdemeanour, Psal. 89.28, 31, 32. a 〈…〉 guide to godliness. When we crave temporal benefits, which GOD hath promised conditionally, so far forth as will stand with his glory, and our spiritual good, and everlasting salvation, we must believe that we shall obtain them, so far forth, as they will stand with these conditions. b B Babington on L.P. Earthly and outward things are lawfully prayed for, but ever ●um Conditione voluntatis, with Condition of GOD'S good pleasure and liking. c A Reverend Divine on the L.P. Things Temporal which are promised with condition, we are to pray for with condition of GOD'S will. d A Worthy Writer in his Catechism. All outward things must be asked with this exception, if it seem good unto his Majesty; which exception is proper to the fourth Petition. We must ask these outward things (not absolutely) no further than they may stand with GOD'S glory. Smith grounds of religion. Those things which belong to the kingdom of GOD are simply and primarily to be asked, other things only secundum quid and secondarily. Tylen. Syntag. GOD'S promises of temporal blessings are Hypotheticae and go with condition sometimes expressed, Barker on the 5. Commandment. sometimes suppressed, which condition is as a stern of a ship, and turns the promise another way. * Illa sola sunt absolutē petenda, quae necessaria sunt ad Dei gloriam & n●stram salutem: caetera vero cum tacita subiectione ad Dei sapientissimam dispositionem. D Ames medul. To l. 2. c. 9 Of the same opinion are Vrsin in his Catech. on the fourth Petition. Piscator on 8. Mat. 2. Cameron Myrothee. Evangel. in Luke 5.12. Master Harris on the Beatitudes and Covenant. Barlow on 2. of Tim. D. Preston in Saints daily Exercise and M. Goodwin in his return of Prayer. This is an undoubted truth, that we must pray for heavenly things with a more ardent affection then for earthly, Therefore in the Lord's Prayer there are 5. Petitions for Spiritual, and but one for Temporal things Matth. 6.33. 1. They comply with GOD'S nature and he had rather be giving them. 2. They are best for us, and will do us most good. 2. GOD will not perform promises till by prayer they be sought for from him; God must be sought to for the performance of his promises. till in our humble desires we declare, that we account his promises exceeding great and precious things. The LORD had promised deliverance unto Israel, yet saith the LORD, Ezek. 36, ●7. For this I will be enquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them: Thus saith the LORD, After seventy years be accomplished at Babylon, jer. 29 10, 13 I will visit you and perform my good word towards you, in causing you to return to this place; for I know the thoughts that I think towards you, thoughts of peace, and not of evil to give to you an expected end. But how shall this excellent promise of GOD be effected? It follows, God doth not give his promises to make us idle, but to exercise our faith in importuning him for performance. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go, and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you, etc. Godliness hath the promises of this life and that which is to come, 1 Tim. 4.6. yet we do not forbear daily to say the LORDS Prayer, that we may speed of both. The Lord makes a promise of forgiveness of sins, I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgression for mine own ●ake, God's promises than are as directions in, not as dispensations from the devotion we owe unto God. Bish. Lake. ●hen God promised things in particular, yet ●●ll ●hey prayed, and prayed earnestly, as E●●th when God promise● that it should rain, 1 King 18.41, 42. and David when God promised to make him an house, 2 Sam. 7.11. and will not remember thy sins. But for the execution of this promise▪ GOD will be sought unto. Put me in remembrance (s●●th he) and set us plea●e together, Elay 43.25, 26. 〈…〉 GOD to fulfil his 〈◊〉, we testify f●rst, that they 〈◊〉 promises of mercy and not of ●ury or d●●t: secondly, we declare our ●eed, and by consequence 〈◊〉 of them, and de●endance upon them: As Promises are the Rule of what we may pray ●or in ●ai●h; so Prayer is the ground of what we may expect with comfort. CHAP. V. 5. The properties of them. GOD'S Promises are 1. Free. 2. Full. 3. Firm. 1. GOD'S Promises are free and transferred. THey are not m●de for any 〈◊〉 that is in us, It is called a Covenant of g●ace and the promise of grace. The very Greek and Latin w●rds for promise (s● was befor● noted) signify a free and willing promise, so the word is taken, ●it. 1. ●. Deut. 7.7, 8. bu● proceed ●rom God's freedom and benevolence: ●orking moo●ed God out of himselve. 1. Not 〈◊〉 Th● LORD did not ●et h●● lov● upon you nor choose you: because we were more in number then any other people (or for any such like respects) but because the LORD loved you. That at first might seem to be Idem per idem, (as we say) a woman's reason, that the LORD should set his love on them, because he loved them: but it excellently sets forth the ground of GOD'S love to rest altogether in himself, and in his own good pleasure. Ezek. 16.6.8 2. Not our beauty: we were in our blood when GOD set his love upon us, and entered into Covenant with us. 3. Not our righteousness, Tit. 3.5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us. There is nothing at all in us to move the LORD to promise any good to us: as that first and great promise after Adam had sinned, was from GOD'S free grace, so are all other Evangelicall promises. GOD never set the promises on sale, or will ever sell his Son to any, He gives him freely, He stands not of desert, We may buy of Him a Christ is a free gift, Esay 96. and how shall he not with him freely give us all thing. Rom. 8 31. God commendeth his love to us, in that when we were yet sinners (and enemies also) Christ died for us, Rome 5 8.10 He loved us, non existentes, imo resistentes, saith Bernard. freely, Esa. 55.1, 2, 3. Rev. 21.6. & 22.17. Ezek. 36.32. He loveth freely, Host 14.7. and pardoneth sin freely, Esay 43.25. 1 john 2.12. Election is of grace, Rom. 11.5. Vocation is of grace, 2 Tim. 1.9. Justification is freely by grace, Rom. 3.24. Faith is of grace, Ephes. 2.8. Eternal life and salvation is of grace, Rom. 6.23. Luke 12.32. b The promises are free, yet conditional. Conditional is not opposed to Free, but to Absolute. 2 Thess. 3.3, 4 The Promises are (free in ficri) made only out of grace, but (conditional in facto esse) performed and accomplished with dependence upon duties in us. GOD is faithful (saith the Apostle) who shall establish you and keep you from evil, there is the promise; and we are confident, that you will do the things that we command you; there is the duty which the promise calls for. When we pray give us our daily bread; by saying give us, we acknowledge that it is from GOD, but when we call it ours, we show how GOD gives it, namely in the use of the means. For bread is ours, not only in the right of the promise, I will not fail thee nor forsake thee, 2 Thess. 3.11.12. but service and quiet working in an orderly calling. The freeness of GOD'S promises marvellously lifts up the head above water; as the beggar saith, the dole is free, and why may not I get it as well as another? O (may some say) but if I could pray and humble myself, there were hope of mercy. The freeness of God's promises revives our hope. GOD gives his mercy freely, he keeps open house, he requires nothing of thee to procure it, but he shows mercy, because he will show mercy. See what he saith, Es●y 43 24, 25. Thou hast wearied me (saith he) with thine iniquities; and in the next verse, I, even I am he that blott●th out thy transgressions, for my own sake, even I] excluding all m●anes: for my own names sake] excluding all motive. No unworthiness than should hinder us from believing the promises: but rather they that have the most sense of their own * It is good for a man (saith Greenham) to watch himself, whether in hearing the promises of God he hath a cold fear coming on him for his unworthiness, which if he have, that man may hope well of himself, Mat. 11.28. The wicked came God's peace into wantonness, jude 4. unworthiness, have most encouragement to believe; for that voice of CHRIST, Come unto me all ye that are weary, etc. serves not only for our first conversion, but in all our distresses whatsoever, throughout the whole course of our life. jacob confesseth himself unworthy of the least of all GOD'S mercies, Gen. 32.10. yet in the 9 verse he entitleth himself unto the promises, He that cometh to me, I cast not away, joh. 6.37. As if the LORD should say; fear not, though base, sinful, poor, and of no account in the eye either of thyself or others: For if thou comest to me, thou art welcome, notwithstanding these, and I never cast him away that cometh. The wicked abuse the promises of GOD to looseness; they say GOD is gracious and merciful. CHRIST died for us, the LORD will forgive us, and so stuff themselves with promises till they have made them a pillow for sin. It is true, there is mercy with GOD, Psal. 130.4. not to make us bold to sin, but to fear him. The Apostle urgeth the promise to spur us to obedience, 2 Cor. 7 1. Heb. 4 1. and as a motive to the fear of GOD, we should take heed of sinning, because GOD is gracious, Rom. 6.1, 14. Heb. 10.29. joel 2.13. who would spend to try a liberal friend? GOD'S mercy is regulated by his truth and justice. He hath promised no mercy to such, Deut. 29.20. they have neither part nor portion in this matter, Esay 55.7. Acts 8.21. 2. GOD'S Promises are full and of large extent, in respect of 1. Persons. 2. Things. In respect of persons; They are propounded generally with such terms as these, every one, or whosoever, joh. 3.15, 16. Matth. 11.28. Revel. 22.17. Esay 55.1, 2. Acts 10.43. joh. 7.37. john 6.37, 40. & 5.24. & 11.26. Ezek. 33.11. 1 john 2.1. They are offered to all, none excepted: the Angel brought glad tidings for all people, Luke 2.10. no sort of men are excluded, but in CHRIST they may have their part in these promises, as the Apostle showeth, Gal. 3.27, 28, 29. He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great, Psal. 115.13. The LORD is rich unto all that call upon him, Rom. 10.12. In every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, The Covenant is actually made with believers only, Act 13.48 Gal. 3. ●. but it is offered unto all by the Gospel, Mat. 28. 1●. Acts 17.30. Col 1.23. Tit. ●. 11. is accepted with him, Acts 10.35. The Promises are propounded promiscuously to all, together with the commandment of believing; but they are not performed to all, because they fail in performing the condition, but power is given to the Elect to perform the condition, Ephes. 2.8. Act. 5.31. & 11.18. There is therefore a twofold offering of CHRIST: 1. external in the preaching and publishing of the Gospel or the promises of CHRIST, Act. 9.15. 2. Internal, a certain spiritual Illumination whereby those promises are propounded to the hearts of men, joh. 6, 45 7 Ephes. 1.17. as it were by an inward word. 〈…〉 in Comment. ad Rome. 3. v. 2. The promises are indefinite in regard of all and every man, and to believers only they are universal, john 3.16. & Mark. 16.16. R●m. 1.16. & 10.4. GOD undertakes with them, not for themselves only, but for their seed aft●r them, I am thy GOD, and the GOD of thy seed: he showeth mercy to a thousand generat●●ns of them that fear him, and keep his Commandments. He maintains not only such is serve him, but all their household▪ yea and all th●●r posterity too: for the promises are made to you, Acts 2.39. and to your seed, and to as many as GOD shall call. 2. In respect of things; His Promises are likewise large for things. No good thing will he withhold; all that is in heaven, in earth, will GOD bestow on his. In Deut. 28. Psal. 37. & 128. whatsoever is good for the soul, the body, the estate, the name, the posterity of m●n, is promised to them that fear GOD, and obey his Commandments. The Promises in the Word extend themselves to all estates, to all conditions, and to all kind of distresses whatsoever, they are a Christians Catholic●n; being a help to all duties, a quickener of all graces, and a Comfort in all Troubles. The people of GOD streiten promises, and enlarge precepts, The largeness of the Promise serveth not only to assure all believers of salvation, but to encourage all that hear of Christ to believe in him: as the brazen Serpent had a promise annexed to it, Numb. 21.8, 9 joh. 3.14, 15, ●6. that all that looked toward it, when they were stung with a Serpent should be he healed; that promise served not only to assure the lookers of recovery, but also to encourage and warrant every one to look to the Serpent. but the generality of the promises may comfort any gracious person: Whosoever believeth, shall be saved, none is excluded but such as exclude themselves. This is singular comfort in temptation, no matter for thy sins; whosoever believeth in CHRIST, shall be saved, though his sins be never so great. This may comfort the godly also in their mean estate in the world, whosoever believes, the heinous sinner as well as the lesser; the poor beggar as well as the mightiest Monarch, shall not perish, but have life eternal. The Sacraments particularise the generality of the promise. The indefinite promises are to be appropriated by particular application: Gal. 2.20. 1 Tim. 1.15. The Articles of the Creed * Perkins reform Cath●like. Abbot against Bish. concerning remission of sins and life everlasting do include, and we in them acknowledge our special faith concerning our own salvation. He that hath not this particularity of applying, hath nothing of faith more than a Devil, as two of our worthy Divines * D. Prideaux Lect 7 de salutis certitudine. D Sclater on Rome 18. The Papish say it is arrogancy and presumption by a special faith to apply the promises to ourselves; but it is a notable glorifying of God: the glory of his truth is given him, when a man doth as it were subscribe to GOD'S Word, and set his Seal to i●. joh 3.33 Rome 4 20. not to believe is horrible presumption, for that we presume to give God the lie, ● joh 5. ●0 for he that doth not in special apply the promise unto himself, doth not in heart believe the general promise. Non en●m hic sensus est quem fingit Bellarminus, credo in Ecclesia dari remissionem peccatorum; quod Diabolus atque desperabundus quivis potest credere: sed credo diri remissionem peccatorum, per Christum mihi, quia in illum Credo. Episc Daven, in Col. have well observed. The Devils hold generals, of CHRIST'S death; remission of sins thereby purchased unto the Church: herein only they fail, that they apply not these to themselves, nor can believe that they are sharers in these benefits; and let it be thought no presumption, for GOD'S child to outstrip the Devil one step at least, in belief of the Articles of his Creed. The Apostles applied the promises to them whom either they did instruct or confirm in the faith, 1 Cor. 1.4, 9, 30. & Chap. 12.27. Ephes. 1.13. & Chap. 2.5. Acts 2.39. & 13.38. Col. 2.10. 1 Pet. 1.18, 19 1 john 2.12. The faithful also apply them to themselves, 2 Cor. 3.18. & 5.1. Ephes. 1.4. & 2.5. Col. 1.12. 1 Pet. 1.3. 1 john 3.1, 2. & 3.24. The Papists scoff at this particular assurance, and say, there must be a particular word, for a particular faith. Where is it said by name (say they) to any man; Thou Peter or john shalt be saved? We may retort this argument upon themselves: for where is it said to any by name, Sanctify the Sabbath, swear not? and yet the commandments belong to us, why not then the Promises, though not spoken to us by name? The word of promise is as particular, as the word of threatening, command, or prohibition. The Generals include their particulars; Generals of promise, blessing or comfort, delivered in Scripture, are intentionally meant, to particulars rightly qualified. Quod omnibus promi●titur, singulis promittitur. When a Prince gives a pardon to all thiefs, every one can apply the same unto himself, though his name be not set down in the pardon. To me (saith D. S●lat●r) it sounds as particular in case of my faith and repentance, as if our Saviour himself should say unto me, as to him in the Gospel, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. The wicked enlarge the promises, and straighten the precepts, they take liberty to sin, presuming on pardon from those two general main promises, He that believeth, shall be saved, Mark. 16.16. At what time soever a sinner reputes him of his sins, I will have mercy on him, saith the LORD, Ezek. 18.21, 22. Here are two sweet promises, the one annexed to Faith, the other to Repentance; but out of these fragrant flowers, the wicked suck poison. It is an easy matter to believe (saith the worldling) though indeed it be as hard as to keep the Law, for GOD must enable to both. And true repentance (saith he) is never too late: GOD hath promised pardon to the penitent, there is no exception of a 1 joh. 1.7. Esay 1.8. Ezek. 18.22. sin, b Ezek. 3●. 12 times, or c Mat. 1●. 28. persons, but at what time soever, what sinner soever reputes him of what sin soever, he shall be forgiven. This cannot be denied; but yet though true repentance be never too late, late * Poenitentia vera nunquam sera; at poenitentia sera rarò vera. Austen. Qui promisit ●oenitenti veniam, non promisit peccanti poenitentiam. Peccanti crastinum non promisit. Nemo promi●tat sibi, quod Evangelium non promittit. repentance is seldom true: and though GOD hath promised pardon to the penitent, yet he hath not promised repentance to the sinners. Thirdly, thou knowest not whether ever thou shalt have time, for he promiseth not tomorrow to the offendor, who is always ready to receive the penitent. One saith, GOD hath left man time past to repent of, and time present to repent in, but the time to come he hath reserved in his own hands. 3. The Promises are most firm and faithful; GOD is true in all his promises, be they never so great or wonderful: heaven and earth shall sooner pass away, than one piece of his promise fail, Rom. 4.16. GOD cannot lie, Tit. 1.2. nor deny himself, 2 Tim. 2.13. He may as easily deny himself as his word. David often in 119. Psalm, giveth this epithet to GOD'S Word, Nehem. 9.8. Just and righteous Word, 106, 123, 137, 144, verses. Paul often useth this preface, This is a true saying, and of all men worthy to be believed; or, this is a faithful saying, 1 Tim. 1.15. 1 Tim. 4.9. 2 Tim. 2.11. Tit. 3.8. Revel. 21.5. & 22.6. it is called The Word of truth, jam. 1.18. Ephes. 1.13. Col. 1.5. The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purirified seven times, Psal. 12.6. Psal. 18.30. Psal. 119.140. Pro. 30.5. As the gold and silver that hath been often tried doth never deceive men, so the divine promises do not deceive those that trust in them, because the truth and goodness of them hath been continually tried by others, and graciously performed by GOD himself. His Covenant is called a * A firm sat and uncorruptible Covenant which lasts for ever, Num 18.19 Decretum ab omni corruptione tutum perpetuumque, saith junius. Covenant of salt, 2 Chron. 13.5. that is, a stable and sure Covenant, an everlasting Covenant, Gen. 17.7. Esay 55.3. Ezek. 16.60. this phrase is frequently used in Scripture, GOD that keepeth Covenant, Deut. 7.9. Dan. 9.4. Nehem. 1.5. & 9.32. 2 Chron. 6.14, 15. Psal. 89.34. Every word of his mouth is exactly performed, a● his people by experience have found and confessed, josh. 21 45. 1 King 8.56. Esay 54.10. All the promises of GOD are Yea, and Amen, in CHRIST, 2 Cor. 1.20. Not only Yea, but Yea and Amen. Not only firm and faithful in themselves, but such as shall be made good to the souls of GOD'S people in full perfection. We may call in experience to witness this truth: GOD hath not only made good his Covenant to his friends, but to his enemies and strangers, Deut. 2. josh. 23.5, 10, 14, 15. He kept touch with jehu for the kingdom, for four generations * 2 King, 10.30. according to his promise. He is faithful to those that deal perfidiously in the Covenant, Rom. 3.3▪ 4. He makes good his promises in the circumstances of them, keeps the very hour as it were, Gen. 15.13, 16. compared with Exod. 12.41. therefore this phrase is often used, as the LORD hath said, or as the LORD hath promised, Deut. 10.9. & 18.26. & 27.2. joel 2.32. josh. 23.5, 10. We might instance in particulars, and show how the promises of GOD have still been fulfilled, as that first promise of CHRIST, Gen. 3.15. we may see fulfilled, Luke 1.68. to 73. Gal. 4.4. and that particular promise to preserve Noah in the Ark, Gen. 6.18. fulfilled, Gen. 8. those made to a The promise, Gen 12 2, 3. performance, Gen. 13.26.24.1.35. the promise, Gen. 15.5. fulfilled, Deut. 10.22. the promise, Gen. 17 16, 9 fulfilled, Gen. 21.1, 2. Abraham, b Promise to Isaac, Gen 26.3 fulfilled, 12, 13. verses. Isaac, and c To jacob, Gen. 24.15 fulfilled, Gen. ●5 3. His love move● him to promise, his truth binds him to perform. Deut. 7 7, 8. jacob. But I leave this to the observation of Christians themselves. GOD'S Love and mercy is the only reason of making promises; but his truth, justice, fidelity, power, and glory, are the reasons of fulfilling them. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, saith Moses to Israel; because ye were more in number then any people; but because the LORD loved you; that is the ground of making the promise: and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn to your fathers, that was the ground of performing his promise. For thy words sake, and according to thine own heart, 2 Sam. 7.18, 21. saith David, hast thou done all these great things, according to thine own heart, that is, ex mero motu, out of pure and unexcited love thou didst give thy Word and promise, and for thy Word sake thou hast performed it. Thou wilt perform saith the Prophet, The truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our father from the days of old. Micah 7 20. Why truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham? the promise after a sort began in Abraham (therefore he is called the Father of the faithful) and when GOD makes a promise, it is only out of mercy; but the promise was continued unto jacob, who being Abraham's seed, was an heir of the Promise, and so the inheritance which was out of mercy given unto Abraham, did out of truth and fidelity descend unto jacob, the seed of Abraham; The promises run all upon mercy, Exod 20.6. & 34 7. Deut. 5.10 Luk. 1 50 Psal. 103 17, 18. Mat. 5 7. Psal. 62 2. and therefore we shall find Covenant, Mercy, and Oath, joined together in the Scripture, Deut. 7.12. Luke 1.72, 73. to note unto us, both the ground of making the Covenant, Mercy, and the ground of performing the Covenant made, the Truth and Fidelity of GOD. GOD'S very name JEHOVAH, declareth that he is constant and will perform his promise, because as he giveth being to all things, so he makes that to be which he hath promised. Every one of God's promises is as sure as himself, being confirmed with his own oath, Heb. 17 18. Luk. 1. 7● Esay 54.9. D. Benefield on Amos 1.2 By my Name JEHOVAH was I not known to them, Exod. 6.3. He meaneth, that though he made many promises to them, especially concerning their possession of Canaan, yet he did not show himself to be JEHOVAH an Accomplisher of his promises, that he reserved to future generations, ver. 8. Therefore whensoever in any of the Prophets, GOD promiseth or threateneth any great matter, to assure us of the most certain event of such his promise or threatening, he adds unto it his Name JEHOVAH, as Ezek. 5.17. jer. 31.31. in which Chapter being wholly promissory concerning the New Covenant of grace and free pardon of sins, which the Church obtaineth through CHRIST, it is repeated 33 times, It was the end 1. Of CHRIST'S Incarnation, to show that GOD would be mindful of his promise, Luke 1.72. 2. Of his Ministry, to assure and confirm the promises made before to the Fathers, Romans 15.8. 3. They are sealed with the blood of CHRIST the Testator, Heb. 9.16. and therefore are said to be all in him Yea and Amen, 2 Cor. 1.20. that is, sure and infallible. They are sealed in his Spirit, all believers are said to be sealed by the Spirit of promise, Ephes. 1.13. and this is GOD'S privy Seal. GOD hath sealed to all his promises in the Sacraments, Rom. 4.11. which are given to us as GOD'S broad Seals to ratify his Covenant, and all his promises made unto his Church; they are outward pledges to confirm our faith, and make the promises (though not more sure, yet) more credible to us. The promises are in some places called in the singular number, the promise, to assure us, that it is as easy for GOD to fulfil all that goodness contained in all those Promises, as if they were but one only Promise. We promise and many times fail, either by the mutability of our will, the imbecility of our power, or the scantness of our knowledge, not being able to foresee impediments. But GOD is neither mutable, weak, nor ignorant. His promises are made in heaven, where there is no inconstancy nor repentance. For I the LORD change not, Psal. 119.89 152. Psal. 33.11. therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed, Mal. 3.6. as if he had said, I promised not to consume you, and you can tell I have kept promise with you, for ye are not consumed to this day, With him there is no variableness, nor shadow of turning, jam. 1.17. GOD cannot lie, 1 Sam. 15.29. nor repent: Num. 13.19 He cannot lie in making a promise, nor repent in fulfilling it. GOD is also infinite in wisdom to contrive, and in power to bring about the execution of his own will. He is only wise, Rom. 16.27. 1 Tim. 1.17. The LORD knoweth, 2 Pet. 29. It is not God's power simply, but with relation to his promise which secures our faith. Luk. 1.37. Psal, 1●5 3. & 135▪ 6. In Dei p●omissis nulla falsit is est, quia in facie●dis nulla omnipotent● est difficultas, Fulgentius. to deliver the righteous out of trouble. GOD is able to accomplish what he hath promised, All things are possible to him, Mar. 10.27. Nothing is too hard for him, jer. 32.27. Gen. 18 14. Num. 11.23. He cannot be hindered by weakness, He is Almighty, Revel. 1.8. He that is able of stones to raise up children unto Abraham, Matth. 3.9. is able to take away our stony heart, and give us a heart of flesh. There is a promise made of calling the Jews unto CHRIST, God having made a promise unto Israel, to restore them out of that great Captivity of Babylon, and it seeming to them incredible, he acquainteth them with his power together with his promises, Ezek. 37.11, 13. and causing them to turn from transgression in jacob, Esay 59.20. But he who should consider the extreme obstinacy and stubbornness of that people against the Gospel would think it impossible, that they should ever be pulled out of the snare of the Devil; therefore the Apostle makes GOD'S power the ground of certainty in this promise, Rom. 11.23, 26. The HOLY GHOST also puts us in mind of GOD'S power to strengthen our faith in these promises following. Where the Holy Ghost entreats of the doctrine of repentance and faith, the word create is metaphorically use●▪ to assure us that God will perform his promise, though it were as hard a work as to create all things at first; Thus he hath promised to create a clean heart, Ps 51. and to create the fruit of lips to be peace, Esay 57.9. and to create upon every place, etc. Esa 4.5 and to create light and deliverance out of afflictions, Esa. 45 7. 1. The alteration of our corrupt nature, Mark 10.23. 2. All needful grace, GOD is able to make all grace abound, 2 Cor. 9.8. 3. Perseverance to the end, joh. 10.28, 29. 4. Supply of all necessities, GOD that is able will supply them, Philip. 4.19. 5. Assistance in all trouble, Psal. 89.13, 21, 22.23. 6. Deliverance out of all evil, Esay 50.2. 7. The resurrection of our bodies, Ephes. 1.19, 20. 8. Eternal glorification, Phil. 3.21. This motive taken from GOD'S Almighty power, is used often in Scripture, to stir up men and women to believe the promises of GOD. It was used to Sarah, Gen. 18.14. to the Virgin Mary, Luke 1.37. to jeremy, jer. 32.27. and to the Disciples of CHRIST, Mark 10.27. Abraham looked to GOD'S power, God performeth his promise when there is no ground nor possibility in nature for it● notwithstanding all the media incongru●i & dissimilia. job 15.25, 26, ●7. and thereby was moved to believe that GOD would perform his promise, though Isaac in whom the promise was made, was to be sacrificed, Rom. 4.20, 21. Heb. 11.19. jehosaphat also by his faith did magnify GOD'S power, 2 Chron. 20.12. This was jobs only comfort upon the dunghill, that that GOD who would (after worms had consumed his flesh) raise him up at the last day, and make him with those very eyes to see his Redeemer, had power enough to deliver him from that calamity into which he cast him, and to revive his strength. All the promises are as true, as truth itself The promises are called su●e, Rome 4 16. Prom●ssa tua sunt Deus, & qua falit timeat, cum promittii veritas. August. Confess. l. 12. c. 10. GOD is likewise true, just, and faithful, and therefore will perform his promises. GOD the Father (who hath promised) is the God of truth, Psal. 31.5. the Gospel (in which his promises are made) is the word of truth, Ephes. 1.13. His Son (who hath declared and merited the promises) is a faithful and true witness, Revel. 3.14. truth itself, joh. 14.6. His Spirit (which sealeth unto us the truth of the promises even in our hearts) is the Spirit of truth. joh. 14.17. His words are as deeds, his promises as performances. GOD is just and faithful in accomplishing his promises, Rom. 3.3, 5. David saith, LORD in thy faithfulness, The land which was only promised to Abraham is said Gen. ●5. 12. to be given him, Promittendo se fecit debitorem. Austen. 1 joh. 1.9. or in thy justice answer me, Psal. 143.1. that is, not in the justice of merit, but of promise or Covenant: for in his promises he maketh himself our Debtor, and what he owes by virtue of his blessed promise, we may challenge. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. As if he should say, Verba illa [Iust●s & fidelis] referuntur ad promissionem divinam. Bellar. de penitent. l. 3. c. 6. God is as just in performing the mercy which he promiseth, as in executing the vengeance which he threateneth. GOD of his infinite mercy hath promised to all true Penitents and Confessors, that he will forgive, and never remember their sins any more; he must stand to his Promises, or else he should be unfaithful: and he is just, he doth not say he is merciful but just to forgive the sins of true believers, because they are all satisfied for, and GOD'S justice will not let him demand the same debt twice, of the surety and of the debtor. The righteous GOD shall give unto me a Crown of righteousness, 2 Tim. 4.8. righteousness as well as mercy, is the ground of salvation, not in relation or respect to merit in us, but to promise in GOD. 2 Tim. 2.13. 1 Thess. 5.24. For he is faithful that promised, Heb. 10.23. Sarah judged him faithful who had promised, Heb. 11.11. The Promise of GOD is our title to happiness, Gal. 3.18. If some great man out of his bounty give another an Inheritance of a hundred pounds per annum, upon his paying of a peppercorn for rent; when he hath paid it, he may claim the profits and by law recover them, and his plea in the Law must be the bargain and Covenant between them; for betwixt the rent and revenue there is no proportion: so upon our scant obedience, and scarce appearing faith, we may challenge heaven, and GOD cannot deny it us; not because we have deserved it, but because he hath promised it. This will uphold the faith of a Christian: GOD hath promised, nay confirmed his promise with an oath, and sent his Son in the fullness of time, Gal. 4.4. in whom all the promises are Yea and Amen. What can be more Absolute? It is a main policy of the Devil, to lay siege, to the truth of GOD'S Word, Yea hath GOD, said? Gen. 3, 1. so he would persuade us, that GOD will forget to be merciful, and his promise will fail for evermore, Psal. 77.8, 9 Weak Christians in temptations and desertions are ready to distrust GOD, and to question the truth of his promises. Moses bewrayed his infidelity, Num. 11. 1●, 14.15. Christ's Disciples and othe●s that believed in him, accounted the promises of his resurrection to be vain. Luk. 24.11, 25. Psal. 105.24. The wicked hope he will change, where is the promise of his coming? 2 Pet. 3.4. the godly fear he will change: David complaineth, Psal. 69.3. I am weary of my crying, my throat is dried, mine eyes fail, while I wait for my GOD, Psal. 119.123. Mine eyes fail for thy salvation. I shall one day die (saith he) by the hand of Saul, 1 Sam, 27.1. Psal. 73.13. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, Psal. 116.11. I said in my haste, all men are liars. Psal. 31.22. I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes. After that GOD had promised to Abraham that he would make of him a great nation, Gen. 12.2. and make his seed as the dust of the earth, Gen. 13.16. He and his wife being both old; he thus (as accounting GOD'S promises vain) answered, LORD GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless? Gen. 15.2. Luk. 1. 18, 20 Sarah likewise hearing the promise GOD had made to her husband concerning a Son by her, laughed at it, Gen. 18.12. as if she should have said, that is a jest indeed. GOD told Adam in Paradise, That the seed of the woman should break the serpent's head, Gen. 3.15. He was long, but sure; for it was fulfilled at last. He that gave us CHRIST, how shall he not with him give us all things also? Rom. 8.32. He that hath performed the promise concerning CHRIST, wherein shall he fail? He hath hitherto kept promise with nights and days, as jeremy saith, jer. 33.20, 25. that one shall succeed the other, therefore much more will he keep his word with his people. He is worthy to be believed, who never failed to perform what he promised. If GOD have promised us pardon of sin, Sanctification, Patience, Faith; we should promise ourselves these things, and rest confident, that we shall receive them. Shall we believe an honest man on his word, and yet not trust GOD upon his word, who is Almighty, and therefore able, a Father, and therefore willing to perform his promises. GOD hath spoken in his holiness (saith David) I will rejoice therefore in his Word. I will divide Shechem, and meet out the valley of Succoth, Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine, Ephraim also is the strength of mine head, judah is my lawgiver, Moab is my washpot, Psal. 60.6, 7. Though then he had little enough, yet he was confident, he should have all that, because he had GOD'S Word for it. So we may believe what GOD hath promised, since he hath said it, and sealed it, and sworn it. One in the Covenant may lay hold on CHRIST, and say CHRIST is mine, on the Promise, and say forgiveness is mine, The Covenant is mutual between God and us. 1 King. 8.23. on the Covenant, and say grace is mine. The LORD will not be unmindful of his Covenant with us, Psal. 111.5. nor unfaithful in performance of his promise to us, God hath said that he will be All-sufficient to us; but he requires then on our part that we be Altogether his, Cant. 2.16. In marriage the woman must take the may for her husband as well as he her for his wife. True faiths apprehension of Christ is mutual, it lays hold on Christ, as we use to do in our salutations when we embrace one another, there is mutual hold on both sides. Whence the act of the patriarchs faith apprehending the promises, Heb. 11.13. is elegantly set out, by the metaphor of saluting; They saluted the promises. True faith kissing Christ, is kissed of him, embracing Christ, is reimbraced of him, Phil. 3.12 if we prove not unfaithful, but keep covenant and promise with him, Psal. 103.17, 18. 2 Chron. 15.2. for the Covenant consists of two parts: in the one GOD binds himself to be our GOD, in the other we bind ourselves to be his people, Host 2.23. His is a Covenant of mercy, ours of obedience; He promiseth happiness, we holiness; He glory, we duty; He hath tied himself by an oath, we have bound ourselves by the vow of baptism, He will not forget his part, let us remember ours. Let it never be said of us, as it was of a Pope and his Nephew, that the one never spoke as he thought, the other never performed what he spoke. The Carthaginians were infamous for covenant-breaking, and slipperiness in their promises, so that it grew a proverb, Punica fides, Poeni foedifragi semper habiti, saith Plautus; and the Athenians were renowned for faithfulness in all their covenants, agreements, and promises; which gave occasion to those proverbes, Attica fides, and Atticus testis, used for one that still keeps touch. Fidelity in keeping promise is a fruit of the Spirit, called by the Apostle faith, Gal. 5.22. and a property of him that a Psal. 15.4, must rest on GOD'S holy mountain. Therefore we should imitate, the Athenians, shall I say? nay rather GOD himself, expressing faithfulness in all our words, works, and ways; we should b When we receive this command from God, keep my covenant, we should pray with Austen, Da Dominc, quod iubes, & iube quid vu, or as the Church teacheth us, when we hear the 10. Commandments, Lord have mercy on us, and incline our hearts to keep this law keep our covenant with GOD, and c Exod. 19 5 pay our vows unto the most High, Psal. 25.10. Psal. 103.18. we should also be constant in the performance of our promises to men, for promises are due debts. And non in promissione sed in consummatione virtus est, virtue doth not consist in promise, but in performance. The manner, how GOD performeth his promises is not always one and the selfsame: sometimes he gives the very particular thing promised, as unto the children of Israel deliverance out of Egypt, David from Saul, jacob from Esau. He restored unto Hezekiah his health according to his promise, and removed the host of the Assyrians, which besieged Jerusalem; sometime he gives that which is equivalent or better. Deut. 5.16. Is a good exposition of this place. So far as long life may be a benefit to God's children, so far he giveth it to them, Gen. 25.8. Thus in the 5. Commandment, obedient children are promised long life; yet josiah, 2 Kings 23.29. and Abiah, 1 King. 14.13. were taken away in their best age; therefore for temporal life, they had eternal: * He promised ●itam 〈◊〉 ●ongatam, and gave vitam perpevatam for it. so GOD promised Abraham the land of Canaan, and he had the true Canaan, the Kingdom of Heaven. GOD here breaketh not promise, but changeth in melius. In Coelis rep●sita est maior compensatio. Calvin. So in taking away wealth from his children, he giveth them more store of grace, in restraining liberty of body, He giveth freedom of conscience, with affliction, He giveth patience. It was promised josiah, 2 Kings 22.20. that he should be gathered to his grave in peace; yet he died a violent death, for he was slain by the hands of his enemies, 2 King. 23.29. the next words therefore do expound it, And thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. 1 Chron. 34.28. He died in peace comparatively with a worse state of life, for he lived not to see the misery of succeeding ages, Esay 57.1. Some interpret it thus, he was gathered to the Spirits of his Fathers, who enjoyed peace. GOD doth not always perform his promises to the same parties, and yet most truly performeth them, Psal. 97.11. Light is sown for the righteous. Oftentimes the Father soweth and dieth ere the harvest, and so the Son reaps: so Abraham inherited Canaan in his posterity. Acts 7.5. Tibi dabo & semini tuo, Gen. 13.15. Particula et videtur exegetica, Pareus in locum. So GOD promised to send his Son: this promise was made to the Fathers, and GOD fulfilled it to the children, Acts 13.32, 33. The time of accomplishing GOD'S promises is uncertain to us, Acts 1.7, God delayeth the fulfilling of his promises, Hab. 2.3. Goodness makes the promise, truth performs it, and wisdom observes the fittest time. though it shall not be over-passed, The vision is for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie. All visions and words of GOD, whether of promise or of threatening, let them seem to lie lea and void never so long, yet shall be not only certainly fulfilled, but in the period of time, Esay 60.22. which the wisdom of GOD hath impropriated to them. Sometimes GOD'S promises have a limited time; as that, 2 King. 4.16, 17. Gen. 17.21 & 18.14. and then they are fulfilled in that very time, expressed, as Gen. 21.1, 2. Sometimes he expresseth not the time. GOD in the beginning made a promise to our first Parents concerning the seed of the Woman, Gen. 3.15. and deferred it almost 4000 years, and yet at length accomplished it. There have passed about 5000. years since the time of the glorious coming of CHRIST unto judgement was promised, jude 14. and it is not known when it shall be accomplished. The Amorites country is by promise given to Ab●ahams see i●, Gen. 12 7. & 13.15. and 15.18. and Abraham's seed in the posterity of jacob possessed it, Amos 2, 10. but some 400 & seventy years after the promise. Abraham was childless till he was 70. years old, and at those years the LORD promised him issue. But this promise was not accomplished till a long time after, when he was an 100 years old. David had a promise to be King of jerusalem and juda, but the LORD exercised him by many and grievous afflictions, before he came to the Crown; insomuch that he says of himself, Psal. 119.82. Mine eyes fail for thy Word. The promise which was made unto Simeon, Luke 2. ●5. was not accomplished till he was an old man ready to die, yet he continued to wait. The deliverance of Israel was promised 400. years before it was fulfilled, Gen. 15.13. GOD many times takes day, 1. ●ither his children are not ready for it. Always some distance of time passeth between promises & ●erfo●mances. 2. Or he doth it to exercise their faith and patience, Heb. 6.15. to prove whether they can believe when they see not, Deut. 8.2. 3. Or he lets them wait, that they may more esteem the blessings when they have them, but never any could tax him for promise-breaking. GOD as he doth outvie all for the largeness of his promises, so is he unmatchable for faithfulness in fulfilling his promises. Polliciti● dive● quilibet este potest. Ovid. We read of some that have promised half their kingdoms, nay the Devil promised * Matth. 4. Excelse from 〈◊〉 in excelso. On a mountain, he promiseth mountains. all the kingdoms of the world to our Saviour; but GOD promiseth yet more, and performeth better than any of them. First, he doth not promise by halves, but he promiseth a whole Kingdom, and such a one, as is more worth than all the kingdoms of the world, and excelleth them in four properties, as the Apostle Peter showeth. 1 Pet. 1.4. Nay one kingdom or one world is too little for him to give, he promiseth to give to all the faithful two worlds, 1 Cor. 3.22, 23. Things present, and things to come, all are yours, both worlds are yours. He performeth better also, what he hath promised, than those before mentioned. For the first of them were but men, which often promise mountains, and perform * Like the man in Erasmus his naufragium, who in a storm promised the Virgin a picture of wax as big as S. Christopher, but when he came to sh●re, would not give a tallow candle. Heb. 6.12, 15 Psal. 130.7, 8 molehills: in this sense it may be said, Let GOD be true and every man a liar; and for the Devil's promise, that great All which he made proffer on, was just nothing, but shadows and representations of things. He went about to cousin CHRIST with mere words, for the kingdoms of the world were not in his power to give; but GOD is both able and willing to perform, whatsoever he hath promised, his servants have often found him better, * He promised the children of Israel only the land of Canaan, but he gave them, besides the whole l●nd of Canaan, two other kingdoms which he never promised; and to Zachary (for his unbelief stricken dumb) he promised to give his speech at the birth of the child, but besides he gave him also the gift of prophecy. God prevents his people with his blessings, Psal. 2●. 3. He is bountiful to them afore they ask ver. 3. and above their requests, ver. 4. never any worse than his word: therefore we should wait with patience for the fulfilling of his promises, not limiting him to time, manner, or means of accomplishment. CHAP. VI 6. The persons to whom the promises belong 1. CHRIST as the head. 2. His members. Christ is the scope and foundation of all God's promises, partly by merit, and partly by efficacy; by merit, because he ha●h procured by ●is death and passion, remission of sinnes and life everlasting; by his efficacy, because he seals up unto us in our consciences remission of sins, and withal restores to us the image of God. Perk. on Galat. FIrst, a Covenant of Grace is made with CHRIST the Head of the Church, He is the Foundation of it, He was GOD and Man to reconcile both; and is therefore called The Angel of the Covenant, Mal. 3.1. The Covenant of the people, Esay 49.8. The Mediator of the New Testament, Heb. 12.24. and next in CHRIST it is made with all Christian men and women. As he was Head of the Church and Redeemer, he is the heir of all GOD'S Promises, In him they are Yea and Amen, that is, in him they are propounded, ratified, and accomplished. This is evident by those general promises which are the foundation of all the rest. He (that is, CHRIST) shall break thine head, Gen. 3.15. Gal. 3.16. Caput & Corpus uniu est Christus▪ Austen. In thy seed (that is, CHRIST) shall the nations of the earth be blessed, Gen. 22.18. The promises are made not to seeds, as many, but to seed: viz. CHRIST (in aggregato) with his Church, the Head and members together; for JESUS together with all the Saints, make but one mystical body which is CHRIST, 1 Cor. 12.12. Any promise or blessing that belongs to us, belongs chiefly to CHRIST. He is the Elder Brother. That speech, Host 11.1. I called my son out of Egypt, is meant specially of the delivery of Israel by Moses out of the bondage of 〈◊〉, and yet it is a prophes●e of CHRIS● and applied to him, Matth. 2.15. That which is spoken Psal. 8. of man's digni●y above all other creatures, as having all things put in subjection under him, is interpreted of CHRIST, Omnia salutaria communicari nobis dicuntur in Christo, ut in Capite; propter C●ristum ut merito suo impetrame●; & per Christum, ut essi caciter applicantem. Heb. 2.6. 1 Cor. 15.27. All the good we have, comes to us by and through him. We are elected and called in him, Ephes. 1.3, 4. In him we have redemption, Ephes. 1.7. Col. 1.14. Sanctification, 1 Cor. 1.2. Adoption, Ephes. 1.5. In him GOD is well pleased with us, Matth. 3.17. He is Heir of all things, Heb. 1.2. The Faithful are Coheirs with him, Rom. 8.17. They shall have the same substantial (though not gradual) glory, the same crown, the same kingdom, joh. 17.22, 24. GOD loves them with the same love that he lo●ed CHRIST, verse 23. They are heirs of all GOD'S most precious promises. They are styled Children of the Covenant, Acts 3.25. Children of the Promise, Rom. 9.8. Gal. 4.28. because they are made children of GOD by virtue of GOD'S promise. Thus was Isaac the child of the promise in that he was borne to Abraham, S. Paul Rome 9.8. opposeth the children of the promise to the children of the flesh, which were borne by natural strength. not by the strength of nature, but by GOD'S promise. They are also called Heirs of the Promise, Gal. 3.29. Heb. 6.12, 17. & 11.9. that is, not only such to whom the promises do belong, but such as claim their inheritance only by adoption and promise. Amongst men the eldest child usually is the heir, and carries away the Inheritance, and the rest have but petty portions; but all the LORDS children are Heirs, and that not alone of the promises, but of the glory promised. Pareus hath an excellent similitude to illustrate this: every one there (saith he) inherits all, even as every man enjoyeth the light of the Sun, as if it were made only for him. The promises made to Christ, are, Thou shalt be a Priest for ever, and I will give thee the kingdom of David; thou shalt be a Prince of peace, and the government shall be upon thy shoulders; Luk 1.32, 33. The active part is committed to the Messiah. thou shalt be a Prophet to my people, shalt open the prison to the captive. The promises made to us are passive, You shall be taught, you shall be made Prophets, you shall have your sins forgiven, you shall be subject to his government, you shall be made Kings. If only they that are CHRIST'S have benefit of the promises in CHRIST, The promises of the Gospel are not universal, but belong to the Elect only. God hath promised by Esay 8 16. that t●e Elect only shall be his Disciples, & not all men indifferently than the wicked have no part nor portion in this business: the Devil sweeps all that are out of the covenant, the children's bread shall not be given to dogs, GOD will not cast away precious things upon swine, and those that are strangers from the covenant of promise, Ephes. 2.12. GOD promises to satisfy, but it is such as hunger for righteousness sake; to comfort, not the careless, but such as mourn, forgiveness of sins, but to the Penitent, eternal life, but to such as believe. Except the condition be wrought in us, the promise shall never be accomplished upon us: walk before me and be thou upright (and then) I am GOD All-sufficient, Gen. 17.1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Psal. 119.1. Psal. 84.11. joh. 1.12. Gal. 3.7, 9 Psal. 34.9, 10. Pro. 19.16. Therefore in the 1. of S. Matthew, Piscator in 1 Matth. when Abraham is said to have begotten Isaac, there is no mention made of Ishmael which yet he begot, and likewise when Isaac is said to have begotten jacob, there is no mention made of Esau, whom he begot also. But when jacob is said to have begotten judah it is added, and his brethren, because the promise of Redemption which was to come by CHRIST, was pronounced to them also. But that promise belonged not to all them neither, but only to such, who following the steps of their holy Fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and jacob, applied it by a true faith to themselves, as the Apostle showeth. Rome 4.12. It is our comfort tha● we which cannot stand of ourselves may subsist in Christ. Bish. Lake. This is a comfort to the people of GOD; they can never lose Evangelicall blessings of grace and glory, because CHRIST is made the Lord Treasurer and Lord Keeper of them. We are not trusted with them ourselves, for than we should lose them; but he receives them for us, and communicates them to us. THE SECOND BOOK. Book. II. CHAP. I. Of the Covenant. THE PROMISES ARE either GENERAL OR SPECIAL. GENERAL THE COVENANT. Which in * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 either ab Eligendo or Comedendo from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or à caedendo from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Buxtorfe and Pag●in on the word. Hebrew is called Berith; from choosing, because it is established on certain conditions which both parties choose: Illuric. Clav Scrip. jun. Orat. de foedere. The Greek word whereby the Septuagint still rendereth Berith is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 testamontum. Heb. 9 ●7. foedus, Mat. 26 28 Acts 3.25 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dispo●●. Est enim extrenta voluntas, qua quis disposit & dispensit res suas; or from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pa●●scor, Luke 〈◊〉. The Latin words whereby the Original is expressed, are Foedus, Pactum Testamentum. For they are used promiscuously in the Latin saith Muscula. 1. Foea●●. It was called Fedai in time past saith Var●o, for in a Covenant interp●uitu● 〈◊〉, men give their faith saith Isia●re, therefore some (〈◊〉 Al●ie●) had rather write it with a single ● then ●e. Some derive it from the adjective, soedus, filthy, for the slaying of a ●ow (when w●s inter ritualia foederis) was filthy, 〈◊〉 Vi●g●● saith— & caesa iungelant foedera porca. Peter Martyr derives it a feriendo, quod Foertales atrinque porcam mactarent Hinc ferire aut percutere foedu●, tritu loquenti modus, pro iung●●e, sace●e, pangere. Ma●●i●ius approveth this etymology, and it agreeth best with the Hebrew. ●. Pactum, generis comni est, saith Beza: quas● 〈◊〉 pace fictum, saith Isidore. It is that truce (saith Sico 〈◊〉) which in time of war is concluded upon, and accepted of both sides for a certain limited space of time; but Foedus: was a perpetual ●uce or league. 3. Testam●ntum quasi testatto m●n●is, saith justinian, which etymology Vasia derides; but it may be received as an aliusien. The French is Alliance, ab all●gando. The English is League a Ligando, or Covenant, which is the same that Conventio is with the Civilians, a convent●●●io it is taken for both a Covenant and a Feast; therefore some derive it from a word that signifieth to eat; because the Hebrews at their Covenant-making usually had a Feast, Gen. 31.54. Others derive it from a word that signifieth to stay. It was a Religious Ceremony common to the Jews and Gentiles, that in making solemn covenant before their gods, a beast was slain by the Priest, and the parts thereof laid one over against another. The makers of the Covenant passed between those divided parts; the Ceremony intended and imprecation, that he might be cut in pieces as that beast was, who should violate the Covenant so made. And from the use of this Ceremony came the phrase of cutting a Covenant; as with us, striking of a bargain, from our fashion of striking hands upon a bargain made. Alexander ab Alexandro. Lib. 5. c. 3. speaks of it: nay, This was a custom in Abraham's time, and therefore GOD himself to confirm his Promise to Abraham, vouchsafed to use that Ceremony, Gen. 15.10.17. for which it is said, GOD did cut a Covenant with Abraham, ver. 18. See jer. 34.18. The word Covenant doth sometimes signify a simple promise of grace without condition, Gen. 9.11. Numb. 25.12, 13. but ordinarily it notes a mutual contract or agreement between the parties covenanting by stipulation and promise, Psal. 50.16. & 25.10.14. & 44.17. What a Covenant is in general. A Covenant is a solemn Contract, passing between some parties (two at the least) whereby they bind themselves, each to other, in certain articles, to both their contents, for their mutual peace and comfort. Disserunt non re, sed modo rei promissio & foedus. Foedus est promissic solenni ritu foederali vestita atque firmata. Pareus in Gen. Chap. 15. v. 18. For the form and manner of it, it must be done with some solemnity; and herein stands the difference between a promise and a Covenant, for a Covenant is a bundle of promises, bound and knit up together in one tie and mutual solemnity. There is a Civil Covenant, which is a league or agreement inter dimicantes, between two or more parties being at variance, Gen. 21.32. and a Religious or Sacred Covenant, which is a league or agreement, that GOD hath made with man for his Salvation, and that is twofold: 1. That which GOD made at the beginning with our first Parents in the state of Innocence, Gen. 2.17. promising perfect felicity on condition of their perfect obedience. It is called Foedus naturale, the Covenant of nature, because it was made by GOD with man at his first Creation, Gal. 4.22. The Law requireth, 1. Personal 2. Perpetual. 3. Perfect obedience 4. And from a perfect heart, and that under a terrible curse. and because it is contained in the Law which is known to men by nature; and Foedus Legale, the Covenant of works, because works were the condition of it: it did run thus, Do this, and thou shalt live, and I will be thy GOD, Ezek. 20.11. Levit. 18. Rom. 10.5. Gal. 3.12. win it and wear it, obey perfectly, and live everlastingly. The two Sacraments of this Covenant, were the Tree of knowledge respecting the Law, Do this, and the tree of life respecting the promise, Live. GOD shadowed out this covenant also to the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sina, when he brought them out of Egypt. Moses describes it, Exod. 19 & 24. the blessings and curses comprehended in that Covenant are recited, Levit. 26. Deut. 27. & 28. It hath rationem speculi. It is a glass to manifest and discover sin and death, and so serves to humble men which are naturally proud, Mat. 19.17. and to make them fly unto CHRIST for sanctuary, Gal. 3.24. who perfectly fulfilled the Law for the Elect; in and through whom we may obtain the Legal promises, Rom. 10.4. Gal. 4.4. I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come saith the LORD, Hag. 2.7. to note unto us, (saith one) that a man shall never desire CHRIST indeed, till he be first shaken. 2. That which GOD of his singular grace made with man fallen. The first Covenant was of man's works, the second of God's grace, It is a compact made between God & man touching reconciliation and life everlasting by Christ. Perk Gen. 3.15. This is a free disposition of GOD whereby he promiseth eternal salvation by the death and mediation of his Son, that he may magnify the riches of his mercy. This was revealed and delivered to our first Parents in the garden of Eden, immediately after the fall by GOD himself, and after was continued and renewed with Abraham, Isaac and jacob. It is called Foedus Evangelicum, the Covenant of the Gospel, and the Gospel, Rom. 1.16. A New Covenant: We need a new Covenant (saith Bishop Lake) that ●ave broken the old, by our mutability before the fall, and through our imbecility since the fall. Behold the days come (saith the LORD) that I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel, jer. 31.31. that is, with the whole Church, the whole Israel of GOD, as appeareth, Heb. 8.8, 10. The Covenant of grace, Rom. 4.16. because nothing else moved GOD to make and establish it: it is not grounded upon our works and worthiness, but upon the free mercies of GOD, and all-sufficient merits of Christ, Gal. 3.18. The Covenant of peace, Ezek. 34.25. & 37.26. Peace, Esay 54.10. Rom. 10.15. the Gospel of peace, Ephes. 2.17. & 6.15. Reconciliation with GOD, and a Testament, because this reconciliation was ratified by the death of the Testator, The word of reconciliation. 2 Cor. 5.19. Heb. 9.16, 17. It runs in these terms, believe and repent, and Thou shalt be saved. john 3.16. Gal. 3.11, 19 Mar. 16.16. The Covenant of Grace (saith D. Preston) is double: 1. Absolute, and Peculiar only to the Elect, jer. 31.33. Ezek. 36.26.2. Conditional, which is common to all, and that is expressed in these terms; CHRIST hath provided a righteousness and salvation now, if you will believe, and take him upon these terms, that he is offered, you shall be saved, Mark. 16.16. The Sacraments which GOD gave to man in his corrupt estate were, God ever ordained Seals to make good his Covenant. either 1. Before CHRIST, prefiguring Him. 2. After Him, as memorials of Him. The Sacraments before Christ were of two sorts: 1. Either such as belonged to all sorts of people. 1. The Ark and Noah's preservation in it, Gen. 6.18. Heb 11.7. 1 Pet. 3.20, 21. 2. The Rainbow, Gen. 9.9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17. 2. Such as were peculiarly appointed to the Jews, some of which were 1. Extraordinary, during but once or a short time, and answering, either To Baptism as the red sea, the cloud 1 Cor. 10.1, 2, 3, 5. Or to the LORDS Supper, as the Manna, the water flowing out of the rock. 2. Ordinary, as 1. Circumcision, answering to our Baptism, Gen. 17.9, 11, 12. Col. 2.11, 12. 2. The Passeover, answering to the LORDS Supper, Ex. 12.13. 1 Cor. The Sacraments after Christ's coming to continue till the end of the world, are two: 1. Baptism, john 1.26. Mat. 28.19. 2. The Supper of the LORD, Luke 22.19, 20. 1 Cor. 11.25, 26. These two Covenants of works and Grace, do both agree and differ in several respects: 1. They agree 1. In their Author, GOD. 2. In the persons contracting, GOD and Man. 3. In the general end of them both, the glory of GOD. 4. In the ext●insecall form, they both bind. 5. They have both one matter also for substance, on God's part man's happiness in both, on man's part obedience in both. 6. In nature, because they are both inviolable on GOD'S part. 2. They differ. Therefore this is called Reconliation as well as Covenant. 1 In kind: that was a Covenant of amity between the Creator and the creature; this of Reconciliation between enemies, for there was no breach made before, as now there is between us and our GOD. When we were enemies CHRIST died for us. 2. In the special end; for the end of the Covenant of nature is the declaration of GOD'S justice, Cameron. opusc. miscell. of the Covenant of grace, the declaration of GOD'S mercy. 3. In the foundation: for the foundation of the covenant of nature is the creation of man, and the integrity of humane nature, of the other the redemption of man by Christ. 4. In the quality of the persons contracting: GOD the Creator in the first exacts his right from a man pure and perfect, but in this offers himself, as a merciful Father to a sinner troubled with the sight and sense of his sins. 5. In the conditions: works are required in the first, faith in the other. Adam was to make that good of himself, Invat Idem, qui lithet. Auson. God undertakes in the Covenant of grace to enable us to walk in his statutes, & to perform the condition he requires. He works all our works in us, and for us, Esay 26.12. and by his own power: In the Covenant of grace, GOD giveth what he requireth, and accepteth what he giveth. Fides impetrat quod lex imperat. August. Enchir. c. 117. 6. In the form of fanction; the Covenant of nature was published as soon as promised, but the Covenant of grace was first promised, than a long while after proclaimed & ratified with the blood of Christ. 7. In the object: that is extended to all men, this belongs to some certain men by a singular reason; for although it is often promisevously propounded, yet by a special propriety it belongs to them to which it is intended by GOD. Rome 9 7, 8 8. In duration: that is antiquated to them who are made partakers of this new one; this is perpetual, therefore called often an everlasting Covenant, and admits of no end or variation for the substance. 9 In effects: that was deadly for a sinner, the Ministry of death; this is called a quickening Spirit, and is the ministration of righteousness and life, 2 Cor. 3.6, 7, 8, 9 A Covenant in respect of God, a Testament in respect of Christ. The Covenant of grace, is called in regard of the convention and agreement between GOD and man, a Covenant; in regard of the manner of confirming it, a Testament; being in many things like a Testament. For 1. As in a Testament or last will the Testators mind is declared; so is the will of GOD in his Word. 2. As in a Will so here, is a Testator which is CHRIST; a Legacy which is eternal life; Heirs which are the Elect, an Instrument, which are the Scriptures; and Seals, which are circumcision and the Passeover, of the old, Baptism and the LORDS Supper, of the new. Thirdly, and principally, as a Testament is in force by the death of the Testator, Heb. 9.16, 17. so the Covenant of Redemption, is ratified by the death of CHRIST, and this death by the effusion of blood was shadowed out in the Old, but consummated in the New Testament. This Covenant is but one for * Divisio foedera in vetus & novum; non est Genero in Species, sed subveti in accidentia, Scarpi●s. The two parts of the ●ovenan●, as 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 & the 〈◊〉 have 〈◊〉 been 〈…〉 in sub●●●●● though not always in like manner dispensed. S. john speaking of love calleth it a new Commandment and an old, 1 joh 27, 8. Ol● in regard of the substance, Levit. 9. ●8 because it was given to Adam, was a Law in Paradise, and because our of request; New because re●e●ed and approved by Christ, joh. 13.34 & 15 12 excellent as new, it makes us new; it should be new & fresh in our memory. Novum, quia renovatum. Bucan. substance, yet in divers respects and circumstances it is either Old or New. Old as it is a reconciliation of the old people with GOD by CHRIST to be exhibited, new as it is a reconciliation of the new people with GOD, by CHRIST now exhibited in the flesh: in regard of the shadow it is called the Old, and in regard of the substance the New. Old, because it is first in time and antiquity. 2. Because it is abrogated in part, Heb. 8.13. 2 Cor. 3.14. being placed in ceremonies, which in time for oldness vanished away. New, 1. In respect of the immediate Author CHRIST, Luke 22.20. GOD was the Author of the other. 2. Because celebrated in a new manner, and new rites, and is never to be abrogated or disannulled. It is new in respect of GOD and us. 1. In respect of GOD, because the Covenant is renewed as he promised in the seed of Abraham, which is with all the nations of the earth, Gal. 3.8. 2. In respect of us, because we are renewed thereby, 2 Cor. 5.17. The Old Testament is called the Law, because the first and chief part of it is the Law of Moses; the New Testament is called the Gospel, because the first and chief part thereof, is the glad tidings of our Redemption, and the form of the Covenant is in the one Legal, in the other Evangelicall. The Law was written in Tables of stone, Exod. 31.18. 2 Cor. 3.5. but the Gospel is written in the fleshy tables of the heart, jer. 31.33. Heb. 8.10. The Old Testament is the Covenant of GOD which in types and shadows prefigured CHRIST to come and to be exhibited, The Fathers had the same Covenant which we have, they looked for immortality and had it promised. They expected it by mercy & not by merit, they knew that Christ was their mediator to obtain mercy as we●l as we, joh. 8. ●6 Acts 13.32. Luke 1.72. 1 Cor 10 ●. Sanguis Ch●isti proti●it ante●uam suit, Bernard. CHRIST'S blood was effectual, before existent. and by virtue thereof, Life everlasting was given by faith in CHRIST that was to come. The giving of Isaac, of the promised Land, and all these promises, were but shadows of the great promise, of the main Covenant in CHRIST. The New Testament is the Covenant of GOD, which (since the coming of CHRIST in the flesh) hath abolished those shadows, and giveth life everlasting by faith in CHRIST that is come. The old Covenant agrees with the Covenant of nature: 1. In both, the parties contracting are GOD and Man. Cameron. opusc. miscell. 2. Each hath a stipulation annexed to it. 3. The promise is the same in kind. 4. Both lead to CHRIST. They differ, 1. Because the Covenant of nature was contracted with all men, this with the Israelites only. 2. That of nature was made as soon as man was created and had no praeludia: the old Covenant long after, and had many praeludia afore it. 3. That of nature only binds to obedience due by the Law of nature, the old Covenant obligeth also to ceremonies. 4. Life is promised in both, but it is set forth in the one by the fruition of Paradise, in the other by the possession of the Land of Canaan. 5. The Covenant of nature is eternal, the old Temporary. 6. Both Covenants bring us to CHRIST; bu● that of nature doth not this per se, but * As it showeth what a man oweth unto God, and how he must be punished if he pay not the debt, whence it makes ●im look to a mediator, when he sees himself unable either to pay the one or endure the o●her. per accidens; this old one doth it, per se, for it is the true and proper scope of it. 7. The Covenant of nature was written in the heart, but the old in tables of Stone. 8. The Covenant of nature was made in Paradise, the other in Mount Sina. 9 There was no Mediator of that, this had a Mediator, Moses, Deut. 5.26, 27. 10. That was made with all mankind when man was perfect, this with a certain people after the fall. The Old and New Covenant agree; Polan. Syntag. 1. In the principal efficient cause, for there is the same Author of both, GOD, jer. 31.31. 2. In causa pröegumena, the inward impulsive cause, the mercy of GOD in both, Luke 1.54, 55, 72, 78. 3. In the meritorious procatarctical cause, Ephes. 2.12, 13. there is one and the same foundation of both Covenants, CHRIST, Heb. 13.8. Rev. 13, 8. 4. In the matter, there is the same thing promised in both, Rom. 1.1, 2. 5. In the essential form, in both Covenants there is a mutual obligation of GOD and the faithful, although of GOD'S part it is free, of man's due, Rom. 3.22. 6. In the end, which in both, is the glory of GOD and salvation of man, Heb. 11.8, 9, 10. 7. In the subject, for GOD made both of them with the faithful only, Rom. 3.26. 8. In the adjunct, the internal obsignation, for both of them are sealed by the same HOLY GHOST to the faithful, 2 Cor. 1.22. Ephes. 1.13. The Old and New Co●enant differ. 1. In respect of the Author or Covenant-Maker which was not CHRIST, They differ not essentially as the Covenant of works and grace, but modo admirish andi, in the manner of ministration. but GOD the Father of the Old; or he made it then mediately and not Incarnate, now immediately and from his own mouth. 2. In respect of the Mediator; Moses was Mediator of the Old, Levit. 26.46. Deut. 5. 27, 28. CHRIST of the New, Heb. 8.6. & 9.15.12.24. 3. In their quality. Non exigit à quoquam (saith Erasmus of the Gospel) onus Legis Mosatcae tantum adsit vivida fides. 1. In respect of liberty: of old they had circumcision and the Passeover, which were painful and chargeable Seals; and they were burdened with many carnal ceremonies: we have bread and wine, cheap and easy seals in comparison, and are freed from the Ceremonial Law, Col. 2.14. that was a hand-writing against us; the new is a rest for us, Matth. 11.28. 2. Clarity: the old was obscure, Novum Testamentum in veteri est velat●m, & virtue in novo revelatum. Austen. Heb. 9.8. 2 Cor. 3.13, 14. consisting in rites and ceremonies, whereby CHRIST was darkly prefigured; but the new is more plain and perspicuous, john 1.17. than the Spirit was distilled by drops, Novum Testamen●um in veiers latet, & vetus in novo patet. Luth●r. The Old Testament is instar libri clausi. Esa. 29.11. The New instar libri aperti. Apoc 5.9. Saith our learned Whitaker. now there is a larger effusion of the Spirit, Heb. 8.10. joel 2. which is repeated, Acts 2. Tit. 3.6. Zach. 12.8. 2 Cor. 3.12. they had the blood of CHRIST, but shadowed only in the blood of bulls and goats, Heb. 9.18. Exod. 24.5, 8. we have the very blood of CHRIST itself, to seal unto our covenant, Mat. 26.28. Heb. 9.12. & 10.4. Zach. 9.11. Cuius sanguis sistit omnem sanguinem, as the Fathers say. 4. In their quantity: the new is larger and more extensive than the Old, in respect of 1. Persons; the Old Testament was appropriated to a few, and did belong properly to the nation of the Jews alone, Psal. 114.2. Psal. 76.1. none but Israelites and Proselytes had part in the promise; Esay 40.27. & 66.18. joel 2.28. Hag 2 8. the New extends to the Gentiles. 2. Places; that was proposed, as to one people; Mat 10.5, 6 so in angulo tantum mundi, Trelca●iu● Ephes 2 14. in one land of Canaan; this to all nations throughout the whole world. Gal 6.15. 3. Times; that was Temporary, and to endure but a while, viz. till the ●●rst coming of CHRIST; 2 Cor 3.11. this is perpetual and shall last from CHRIST'S first, Ephes. 4.13. to his second coming, Heb. 8.6, 13. & 10.4, 9 & 9.12. How hath GOD then honoured us in these days of the Gospel, who are herein beyond, not Heathens only who were without GOD, and without the Covenant, but even beyond Adam in his innocency, and GOD'S Ancient people of Israel; for we have a better Covenant than they had, made upon better promises, Heb. 8.6. upon better terms and conditions, upon better evidences and assurances. Since GOD hath thus abounded in love and mercy towards us, we therefore should abound in knowledge, faith, love, zeal, and care to worship GOD, publicly and privately, with joy and singleness of heart. I have hitherto handled the several Covenants comparatively; and that to give some light to the Covenant of Grace, which I shall now speak of in a special manner, as it is a Bundle of all the Promises. The Covenant of Grace, is expressed in these words, I will be thy GOD, and thou shalt be my people, jer. 31.33. In this Covenant GOD undertakes to free his people from all * If the seal of the Covenant be stamped upon us, we are thereby secured from all evil, Ezek 9.4. Rev. 7 3. & 9 4. evil, that m●y any way prove hurtful to them, and to bestow all good things upon them, Temporal, Spiritual, and Eternal, Gen. 17.1, 2. Levit. 2.6.11, 12. 2 Cor. 6.16, 17, 18. Heb. 8.10, 11, 12. We promise to choose GOD to be our GOD, Hence are those gracious promises, that God is our portion, jer. 10.16. & 51.19. Lam. 3.24. that is, all we have to maintain us in the world: and we h●● portion, Deut 32 9 that is the chiefest thing he makes reckoning of. He becomes our God to direct, protect, and bless us, and we become his people to serve, love, and obey him. trust in him, love and fear him, and walk in obedience before him, Exodus 15.2. & 20.19. & 24.3, 7. David calls GOD his Lot and Portion, Psal. 119.57. GOD is my portion for ever, Psal. 16.5, 6. Psal. 142.5. God saith so unto the Gentiles, Hos 2.23. which the Apostle makes use of Rom. 9.25, 26. This was promised the faithful in all ages, that GOD would be their GOD, and they should be his people, Exod. 29.45. Revel. 21.3.7. Zach. 13.9. Ezek. 36.28. jerem 31.1, 33. 1 Chron. 17.13. & 22.10. All the particular promises depend upon this main Charter, that GOD is our GOD: one * Wing Jacob's staff. observes; that throughout all the Scripture, all the mercy promised, and every promise wherein any happiness is contained, hath this Seal, [and I will be their GOD, and they shall be my people.] If we could steadfastly believe and rest upon this promise, we should find more true comfort in it, then in all the world besides. This is the top of man's felicity, when GOD takes him into Covenant. When GOD, Levit. 26. had spoken much by way of promise to his Church, as That he would give them rain in the due season, etc. That he would set his Tabernacle among them, etc. at length he concludes all with this, verse 12. I will walk among you, I will even neighbour with you as it were, and I will be your GOD, and ye shall be my people. David having prayed for many temporal blessings in the behalf of his people, Psal. 144.12, 13, ●4. That their sons might be as plants, their garners full, etc. at length he windeth up all with this Epiphonema, or conclusion, Happy is that people that is in such a case; Verse 15. but presently comes with an Epanorthoma, or a correction of his former speech, Yea rather, happy is that people whose GOD is the LORD: as if he had said, that indeed is a happiness in some kind, but nothing to this; that is but Temporal, this is Eternal. The honour and happiness of a nation and people, Deut. 33.29. Psal. 33.12. and also of particular persons, Psal. 65.4. lies in this, The immunities and privileges of those that have God for their God. that they have GOD for their GOD. He that is in special Covenant with GOD, all that is in GOD is for him; his truth for his security; his love for his comfort; his power for his protection; his wisdom for his direction; all that is in CHRIST is his: his love, his graces, his merits. He is his Saviour, Redeemer; The HOLY GHOST is his Comforter, dwells in him, to teach him and guide him into all truth, and to seal up the promises to his heart. He hath the guard of Angels, Heb. 1.14. Dominion over the creatures, and free use of them both for necessity and * It is promised as a blessing even unto God's people, that there should be boys & girls playing together in the streets of jerusalem, Zach 85. and that they should have liberty to invite, and entertain either other. Zach. 3 10. delight, Heb. 2.7, 8. 1 Tim. 4.2, 3. All things are his, and he is Christ's, 1 Cor. 3.22, 23. GOD calls such as are in Covenant with him, His Treasure, Psal. 135.4. His peculiar people. Exod. 19.5. Deut. 14.2. His love for delights Cant. 76. The Lot of his inheritance, Deut. 32.9. His hidden ones, Psal. 83.3. His jewels, Mal. 3.17. He that toucheth them, toucheth the apple of his eye, Zach. 2.8. They are his beloved, Psal. 108.6. & 127.2. As the signet upon his right hand, Cant. 8.6. Esay 49.16. He dwelleth with them, joh. 14.23. He followeth them whithersoever they go, josh. 1.9. He stands at their right hand, Psal. 109.31. And holds them up by it, Psal. 73.23. He covers them under his pavilion, Psal. 27.5. He keeps their feet, 1 Sam. 2.9. Their very bones, Psal. 34.20. He counteth their wander, Psal. 56.8. He numbereth their hairs, jer. 31.20. Matth. 10.30. He bottles up their tears, Psal. 56.8. If they do but sigh, He observes it, Psal. 38.9. He is the shield of their help, the sword of their excellency, Deut. 33.29. He is their hope, their help, their health, Psalm 71.5. joel 3.16. jer. 17.7. Their Rock, their Refuge, Psal. 62.2, 6, 7. He will teach them in the way that they should choose, Psal. 25.12. And make them perfect in good works. Heb. 13.21. 2 Thess. 2.17. He will give them their heart's desire, Psal. 37.4. Pro. 10.24. His eye is ever upon them for good, Psal. 33.18. The Prophet comprehends all in that one verse, Psal. 84.11. The LORD GOD is a Sun, and shield: the LORD will give grace, and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. A Sun for consolation, a Shield for protection. A Sun to give them life, a Shield to defend life given. A Sun to make them fruitful in all good, a Shield to preserve them from all evil. He will give not only temporal blessings, as it followeth there, no good thing, etc. but he will also bestow upon them grace here, and glory hereafter, even that grace that shall be once glory. 1 Tim. 4.8. Godliness is profitable to all things, (saith the Apostle) having the promises of both lives, of temporal things for this life, and of spiritual and eternal things for the life to come. Since then the happiness of a Christian consists in this, Let us resolve to be Gods and enter into Covenant with him, josh 24.14. Nehem. 5.13 Nehem 9 2 King. 23.3. 2 Chron 3●. 31. 2 Chron. 15.12. is a special place: there was a Covenant, yea an oath upon the Covenant, a Bond upon a Bond Psal. 119.106 that GOD is his GOD, every one should labour to secure this main point, and try whether he be in special Covenant with GOD. To this duty the Apostle exhorts us, when he bids us, Give diligence to make our calling and election sure, 2 Pet. 1.10. & 2 Cor. 13.5. he saith, Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith, prove your own selves. And indeed there cannot be a better evidence, that we are in the Covenant than this, that we are in the faith, or that faith is in us, for so are those words to be understood. For the Covenant of grace runs all upon promises, I will give thee, etc. now faith answers the promise; for the promise is to be believed: Abraham believed in the LORD, and therefore GOD reckoned him, as a man that was righteous, Gen. 15.6. and accepted him to be a partaker of the Covenant. Every believer is within the Covenant. He that hath a true and saving Faith which worketh inwardly by purifying the heart, Acts 15.9. and outwardly by Love, Gal. 5.5. may certainly conclude that GOD is his GOD. We may know likewise, that we are in Covenant with GOD, by this, if we labour to keep Covenant with him, Psal. 103.18. if our greatest care be to please him, and our greatest fear, lest we should offend him. If we have chosen him, it is certain he hath chosen us, for so Cyril interprets that place, john 15.16. You have not chosen me, 1 joh. 4.19. but I have chosen you, that is, (saith he) in regard of priority, I have chosen you first. There is a threefold Choosing of GOD. God bestows himself on that man, that in true desire would have God for his God. M. Harris. 1. In opinion to prize and esteem him above all other delights, when with Paul we count all things as dross and dung, nay dogges-meat (as the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, garbage and filth that is thrown out to dogs, Ignatius (that holy Martyr) called Christ his love: my Love (saith he) was Crucified. Original hath it) in comparison of CHRIST, Philip. 3.8. 2. In affection, if we love him above all; when we can say with the Spouse, Cant. 1.7. O thou whom my soul loveth: or with Peter, LORD thou knowest that I love thee, joh. 21.16. 3. In practice, when we choose his ways, as David saith, I have sworn and will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgements, Psal. 119.106. If upon a diligent scrutiny into our own hearts and ways, we find GOD hath the chiefest command over all our thoughts, affections and desires, and that we are truly engrafted into CHRIST by faith; we should then prise the Covenant, and improve it to all holy uses. 1. We should highly prise the Covenant. We should say with David, What am I, 2 Sam. 7.18.19. or what is my father's house, that I should be raised hitherto? We should rejoice in this, that the Great and mighty GOD will enter into Covenant with us, every promise should be precious unto us. That noble Emperor Theodosius thought it a greater honour, to be Membrum Ecclesiae, then Caput Imperij, a member of the true Church, than Monarch of the world. Solomon in the book of his repentance, prefers the title of Ecclesiastes, a Preacher, or reconciled Penitent, before the title of the Son of David, King of jerusalem. When Charles the fifth, Abbot his Geography, and Grimston. Emperor, in a challenge to Francis the first King of France, commanded his Herald to proclaim him with all his Titles, styling him the Emperor of Germany, King of Castille, Arragon, Naples, Sicily, etc. Francis commanded his Herald to call him so often King of France, as the other had titles by all his Countries, implying that France alone, was more worth, than all the Countries which the other had. So when the wicked brag of their Honours, Livings, and great Lordships, a child of GOD may say, that GOD is his, he is his portion, and oppose this to all other dignities whatsoever. For when a man hath GOD, he hath all, he is Blessedness itself; when he comes into the heart, all comforts come along with him. The Child of GOD may view the Heavens, and say, my Father made them; he may behold the works of providence, and say, my Father feeds, clothes and preserves all the creatures in the world: if he be in prosperity, he may say, GOD hath yet reserved greater goods for me; if in adversity, he may say, CHRIST hath endured much more for my sake. The Word and Sacraments are his: He may go boldly to the throne of grace, Heb. 10.22. and ask almost what he will in the name of CHRIST, God's covenant with his people is a covenant of mercy, therefore these two are often joined together in Scripture, 1 King 8.23. Dan. 94. and elsewhere. 1. Mercy induced God to make it. 2 He administers this Covenant with a great deal of mercy, 1 accepting a little, 2 giving that little, 3 passing by many provocations. Psal. 31.1 9 Psal. 36.7, 8, 9 Mark 11.24. All his infirmities shall be borne withal, all his endeavours accepted. He may expect protection in dangers and distresses, Psal. 80.14, 15, 16. Every one protects their own, I am thine (saith David) save me, Psal. 119.94. He may look to have his wants supplied, Psal. 23.1, 4. He may boldly challenge Sin, Death, Hell, the Devil, and victoriously triumph over them all with the Apostle, 1 Cor. 15.55, 56, 57 and say with David, The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear, the LORD is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? Psal. 27.1. 2. We should also improve the Covenant for all holy purposes. We must with boldness and reverence challenge the Covenant of grace. There cannot be a more forcible argument in prayer, then to plead GOD'S Covenant and the interest we have in him. Our Saviour, Matth. 6.9. teaching us to pray, bids us to say Our Father, as if he should say, presume not to ask any petition of GOD, till thou canst so conceive and be persuaded of him. Those then who are GOD'S children may pray with confidence unto him, as a Father: ipsum nomen orat pro nobis, The very name makes supplication for us. Thus our Saviour CHRIST prayed, O my Father, three several times, Matth. 26.39, 42, 44. and My GOD, My GOD, Matth. 27.64. Psal. 22.1. The Papists urge their own merits, and merits of Saints, in their prayers, but GOD'S people have still urged Covenant, Gen. 32.9. Nehem. 1.6.10.11. 2 Chron. 14.11. & 20. 6, 7. Psal. 16.1, 2. Psal. 18.1, 2, 3, 6. Psal. 22.1. & 116.16. joh. 17.6.9, 10. Deut. 9.27. 1 Sam. 12.22. jer. 14.21. Psal. 74.20 & 94.14. Unite my heart, saith David, to thy fear, Psal. 86.11. as if he should have said, LORD thou hast promised to give me one heart; behold I find my heart divided, disjointed; unite it I beseech thee: so those that are within the Covenant may go to GOD, and say, LORD give me wisdom, faith, patience, for the discharge of my duty toward thee: Phil. 4.6. my heart is out of order, LORD mend it; it is thy bargain, Psal. 119.125.176. thine own Covenant; O do it for thy name's sake. GOD takes it well, if we mind him of his Covenant, and press him with his promise. We should also aggravate our sins in confession, by this, that we have sinned against Covenant, hand and seal; our sins in that respect are worse than the sins of Pagans or Heathens: they sin but against Creation, we against Covenant; Amos 3.2. Rom. 2.9. whoredom is worse than fornication. When we are tempted to the committing of any sin, the Covenant should be a curb to us: we should say, no; I must now lie no more, swear no more, break the LORDS day no more; it is against my bargain: such a LORDS day, in such a Congregation, before such and such witnesses, I took the Sacrament upon it, that I would do so no more: when we are taken off from any duty, In the preface to the Commandments, this is premised to provoke their subjection to the whole Law. I am the LORD thy GOD, Exod. 20. and again, Levit, 18.1, 5. the Covenant should spur us on, we should remember that we have taken press money and earnest as it were from GOD in our Baptism, that we will be for him, that we have often renewed our first Covenant in the Sacrament, and therefore there should be no flinching from our bargain. I am the LORD your GOD, ye shall (therefore) do my judgements, and keep my ordinances, and this was the reason of the people's resolution in Ioshua's time, 24 17, 8. For the LORD is our GOD, etc. therefore will we also serve the LORD, for he is our GOD. 2. Temporal Promises. This second Table contains the Special Temporal Promises Special promises in regard of a man's self. Temporal 1. In regard of evil 1. In general Afflictions, dangers, 1. To prevent them. 2. To qualify them if they do come by correcting 1. In gre●t wisdom which is seen in 1. The meetness of correction. 2. The just measure and continuance thereof. 2. In love and tenderness. 3. For good 1. General to make them happy. 2. Special 1. To try them. 2. To purge sin. 3. To quicken Graces. 1. Faith. 〈…〉 2. Hope. 3. Patience. 3. To help us t● bear them and in due time to remove them. 2. Special 1. Sickness 1. To prevent it. 2. To help m●●. 3. To take it aw●y. 2. Poverty. 3. Famine Promises to Succour in Deliveration. 4. War, to preserve from it. 5. Captivity Promises t● Comfort in Deliver ●ut. 6. Witchcraft or the possession of the Devils. 7. Oppression. 2. In regard of good 1. In general, to supply any thing needful. 2. In special for 1. Name 1. Honour. 2. A go●d name. 2. Body 1. Lon●-life. 2. Health. 3. Safety. 4. Peace. 5. Sleep. 6. Po●d●r●iment. 3. Estate 1. Wealth. ●. Good success and prosperity 1. To their pers●n●. 2. To their purposes. 4. Calling Promises To diligence in it 1. Abund●●ce and plent●. 2. Protection. 3. Prom●t●a. 4. Good fate. 5. It builds th● h●us●. 6. It make 〈…〉 CHAP. II. Of Special Temporal Promises. 1. Temporal Promises in regard of evil things: 1. In General. Afflictions and Dangers; 1. To prevent them. GOD will preserve his children from Afflictions and Dangers. HE is a Buckler, Gen. 15.1. Psal. 32.10, job 1.10 Pro. 2.7. & 30.5. to keep them from all evil, to cover and compass them round about, Psal. 5.11, 12. Psal. 8.2. A wall of Brass, jer. 1.18. and A wall * He saith, not (saith Theo●lores) a wall of stone or of brass, but of fire, that it may both fray a fai●e of and keep of toe at hand, that it may not only protect them, but destroy their enemies, Non saxe●, non aheneus, sed igneus, qui & comminus arecat, & eminus terreat. of Fire about his children, Zach. 2.5. As the mountains are round about jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people, Psal. 125.2. There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling, Psal. 91.10. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil, Psal. 121.7. There shall no evil touch thee, job 5.19. Ezra 8.22, 31 Gen. 32. GOD hath promised to protect his children in all their ways, Psal. 91.11. and to preserve them in greatest dangers by Sea or land. God will be with his in the fire, as he was with the three children: and in the water, as he was with Moses and jonah. Fire and water are two merciless enemies, yet the fire shall not burn, nor the waters overflow them, as GOD hath promised, Esay 43.2. They must not pass by these, by the fire and by the water, but through the fire and through the water, neither is here water mentioned only but floods or rivers of water, nor fire only but a flame too. Surely in the * By floods of waters, the Scriptures metaphorically express great dangers, and violent troubles, Psal. 42.7 Rev. 1●. 15 Esay 59.19. floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him, Psal. 52.6. An asseveration is added to confirm their hearts, and to show the truth of the promise. Though the earth, and the heavens be shaken, yet GOD will be the hope of his people, joel 3.16. And they shall be hid in the day of his anger, Zeph. 2.3. Therefore such who are in Covenant with GOD may look to be freed from evils and dangers, if it be for their good; and in the valley of the shadow of death may assure themselves of GOD'S merciful omnipotent presence, Psal. 23.4. Psal. 73.26. Psal. 91.15. Esay 43.2. 2. To qualify them if they do come. GOD will qualify Afflictions to his children. He will correct them. 1. In great wisdom, which is seen in two things: 1. In the meetness of correction, Heb. 12.9, 10. Furthermore we had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection to the father of spirits and live? For they verily for a few day's chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Earthly Parents oft correct their children after their own pleasure to satisfy their will: but GOD our heavenly Father in great wisdom considereth, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nocumenta, documenta. Schola crucis, schola lucis. Detrimenta Corporum, incrementa virtutum. Gregory. with what correction, and when to chastise his, so as may be most for their profit, yea the best profit, to repair his image of holiness in them. 2. In the just measure and continuance thereof, Psal 119.75. jer. 46.28. & 30.11. Esay 27.7, 8. 1 Cor. 10.13. they shall not be tempted above their strength, GOD will not lay more on man than is meet, that he should enter into iudgement with God, job 34.23 Affliction is momentany, CHRIST comforts his Disciples with the shortness of afflictions, joh. 16.16. GOD will not keep his anger for ever, jer. 3.12. Ezek. 16.42. Micah 7.18. nor cast off for ever, Lam. 3.31. Esay 10.25. & 26 20. Ch. 54.7, 8. Chap 57.16. Host 6.2. Heb 10.37. 1 Pet. 1.6. & 5.10. David had great experience of this, as he often professeth, Psal. 30.5. Psal. 103.9. The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous Psalm 125.3. God hath the wisdom of a Father, and the bowels of a Mother. 2. In love and tenderness, GOD compareth himself to a Father, Psal. 103.13, 14. to a Mother, Esay 49.15, 16. I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, for I am GOD and not man, Hesea 11.9. and in the 8. verse he saith, jer. 31.21. A child never sits so much on his mother's lap, and in her bosom, as when sick; so the Spouse being sick of love, that is, in some misery, Christ stayeth her with flagons, comforts her with apples; his left hand is under her head, and his right hand doth embrace her, Cant. 2.5, 6. His heart is turned within him, his repentings are kindled together. GOD there imitates parents (saith Theodoret) when any misery is upon a child, their bowels yearn more. There is an excellent expression in judg. 10.16. His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men, Lam. 3.33. Judgement is called his Strange work, Esay 28.21. which we enforce him unto. Atque dolet quoties cogitur esse ferox. In all their afflictions he is afflicted, Esay 63.9. Affliction cannot separate from his love, Rom. 8.35, 39 He preserveth their tears (as precious liquor) in his bottle, Psal. 56.8. See Psal. 116.15. Psal. 31.7. Psal. 38.9. Psal. 145.8, 9 3. For good. GOD afflicts his children for their good. There are many benefits, Afflictions are sanctified to the godly. which GOD promiseth, and his Spirit worketh by afflictions. 1. General: they are blessed whom the LORD correcteth, Behold happy is the man whom GOD correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty, job 5.17. the like promise we have, jam. 1.12. Psal. 94.12. Whom the LORD loveth he correcteth, Qui excipitur à numero flagella●orū, exelpitur à numero siliorum. He that ●scapes his affliction, may suspect his adoption. Deus unicum habet silium sine peccato, nullum sine stagello. Rev. 3.19. even as a father the son in whom he delighteth, Pro. 3.12. Quem unicè diligit, whom he cockers above the rest of his children: so the Hebrew word signifieth. That Son in whom he is well pleased, saith Mercerus, quem approbat, whom he makes his white boy, so Theophylact interprets, Heb. 12.6. The Original there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chastise, is derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a son or child. Our light affliction * 2 Cor. 4.17 Who can show a richer and fuller expression in Tully or Demosthenes, then is in the Greek, where there is both an elegant Antithesis and double hyperbole beyond englishing. which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. We shall have for Affliction, Glory; For light affliction, Heavy, Massy, Substantial Glory, a weight of Glory; For Momentany affliction, eternal Glory. He addeth also degrees of comparison, yea goeth beyond all degrees, calling it More excellent, far more excellent, an exceeding, excessive, eternal weight of Glory. See Rom. 8.18. Acts 14.22. 2 Tim. 2.12. 1 Cor. 11.32. Matth. 5.10, 11. Luke 6.22. 1 Pet. 3.14. & 4.14. jam. 5.11. Psal. 119.71. Lament. 3.27. 2. Special. 1. Afflictions are trials: the godly by them have experience of their frailties and graces, and come to know GOD and themselves, 2 Chron. 33.13. This is oft set out by this comparison of gold and silver tried by the fire, Zach. 13.9. Prov. 17.3. Psal. 66.10. 1 Pet. 4.12. james calls afflictions temptations, jam. 1.2. because they serve to try what is in us. GOD led the Israelites forty years in the wilderness, To prove them, and to know what was in their heart: Deut. 8.2, 3, 16. that is, that they might know, saith junius. The skill of a Pilot is unknown but in a tempest: the valour of a Captain is unseen but in a battle, and the worth of a Christian is untried but in trial and temptation. 2. They shall purge sin, they are sovereign medicines to kill spiritual diseases. GOD'S children shall come out of the furnace of affliction much more refined and purified, as job did, and lose nothing but their dross. By this the iniquity of Jacob shall be purged, and this is all the fruit to take away his sin, Esay 27.9. I will purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin, Esay 1.25. Many shall be purified, made white, and tried, Dan. 12.10. We know that all things work together for good to them that love GOD, That one v. 35. of 11. of Daniel, And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white: showeth that these were the three chief ends of their afflictions: 1. To try what dross of corruption & what sound mettle of grace was in them. 2. To purge out the corruption which was yet found remaining in them. 3. To make them more beautiful and shining in grace. to them who are the called according to his purpose, Rom. 8.28. We, that is, not only I and you, but all the faithful know, have great proof of it by daily experience, that all afflictions (for of them he specially speaketh) how many or how great soever they be, shall procure and further our chiefest good, the welfare and happiness of our souls. See john 15.2. Prov. 20.30. Psal, 119.67. Esay 4.4. job 33.16, 17. & 36.8, 9, 10, 15. Hosea 2.6, 7. 3. They quicken graces, they make us partakers of GOD'S holiness, and bring forth the quiet fruit of righteousness, Heb. 12.10, 11. The inward man is renewed by them, 2 Cor. 4.16. 1. Faith is exercised in believing most assuredly the promises that GOD hath made of our deliverance, that the trial of your faith being much more precious then of gold that perisheth, God afflicts his people, that they might trust in Him. Zeph. 3.12. though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and glory at the appearing of JESUS CHRIST. CHRIST. Faith is as much advanced by afflictions, as gold by fire. The 11. Chapter to the Hebrews proveth this. Afflictions (saith one) cause us to seek out GOD'S promise, Host 5 15. Psal. 107.6, 13, 19 Esay 26.16. the promise to seek faith, faith to seek prayer, and prayer to find GOD. 2. Hope in assuring herself of the reward promised to them that suffer patiently; Tribulation worketh patience; patience, experience, and experience hope, Rom. 5.3, 4. 3. Patience is exercised in bearing quietly. Tribulation worketh patience, as was said, Account it all joy, when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trial of your faith worketh patience, jam. 1.2, 3. 3. To help us to bear them, and in due time to remove them. GOD promiseth to help us to bear afflictions, and in due time to remove them. Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down, for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand, Psal. 73.23. Psal. 37.24. 2 Cor 7.3. As their afflictions abound, so shall their consolations also, 2 Cor. 1.5. The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in time of trouble, Psal. 9.9. See v. 18, Psal. 46.1, 2, 3 Unto the upright there ariseth light in darkness, Psal. 11●. 4. that is comfort in afflictions. They shall have the Comforter himself, joh. 14.16. joh. 15.26. & 16.7. GOD often promiseth to his people to be a sure and speedy help in all troubles, David had great experience thereof. The book of Psalms is full of those speeches: GOD is my Rock, my Tower, my Refuge, my Shield and Buckler, my Health and Strength, Psal. 18.2. Psal. 31.3. Psal. 71.3. Psal. 94.22. & 73.25, 26. All which speeches show, that what help any man in any danger, may find in any earthly means whatsoever; GOD is the same and much more to all his people in all their necessities, bodily or spiritual. The like are those speeches, that GOD will lighten our darkness, he will keep the feet of his Saints, he will not forsake them, nor forget their complaint, that they shall not be confounded in the time of trouble: He will hide them in his pavilion, Psal. 27.4, 5. And cover them with his feathers, Psal. 91.1, 4. His Angels shall pitch their tents about them, he will set them up on high from such as rise against them, he will heal their wounds, jer. 30.17. GOD sees our affliction and knows it well, Exod. 3.7. He heareth our sighs, and remembering his Covenant helps us, Exod. 2.23, 24, 25. All afflictions come from him, the Almighty hath afflicted me, saith Naomi, Ruth 1.21. it is often called the Chastening of the LORD. When we are judged, Heb. 12.5. saith the Apostle, we are chastened of the LORD, 1 Cor. 11.32. And the same GOD which imposed the affliction, takes it away, Deut. 32.39. 1 Sam. 2.6, 7. job 5.18. una eademque manus, vulnus opemque tulit; GOD will be the strength of the righteous in their trouble, and their salvation out of trouble. Psal. 37.39, 40. David had great proof hereof, and therefore after a mighty deliverance, composed that excellent Ps. 34. See 7, 17, 19 verses. I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace to give you an expected end, jer. 29.11. Rejoice not (saith the Church) against me O mine enemy. When I fall, I shall arise, when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me, etc. Micah 7.8, 9 Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart, Psal. 97.11. The latter part of the verse expounds the former; by light is meant joy, and by righteous the upright in heart. joy is sown for these, and as sure as an harvest follows a feeding; so to these comfort follows mourning, If we sow in tears, we shall reap in joy. I will be content (saith D. Hall) with a wet spring, so I may be sure of a clear and joyful harvest. Your sorrow shall be turned into joy, joh. 16.20. if CHRIST had only promised that their sorrow should be mitigated or shortly ended, it had been a great comfort, but this ministereth abundant consolation. Never was Goldsmith more curious and precise to watch the very first season, when the gold is throughly refined and fitted for use, that he may take it out of the furnace; Mal, 3.3. then our gracious GOD waits in such cases with an holy longing, that he may have mercy upon his children, and deliver them. Esay 30.18. He shall deliver thee in six troubles, yea in seven there shall no evil touch thee, joh. 5.19. Many of the Learned say, that here by six and seven, the Spirit of GOD alludeth unto the days of the LORDS work in Creating the world, and his resting on the seventh day; that so must his servants labour under afflictions all the days of their life, and shall rest from those labours in the perpetual Sabbath. Rather six or seven are to be understood indefinitely, Numeri definiti pro indefinitis. certain numbers for uncertain things: seven referred to humane evils importeth many, Pro. 24.16. See Psal. 91.14, 15. Pro. 11.8. Psal. 50.15. Psal. 149.4. 1 Cor. 10.13. 2 Cor. 4.8. The meditation of these gracious promises may comfort GOD'S people in trouble. Faith looketh unto God, and acknowledgeth his hand in all afflictions, Amos 3.6. and this will ca●se patience, 1 Sam. 3.18. Psal. 39 19 job 1.21. Host 6.1. GOD assures me, he will lay no more upon me, than I shall be able to bear, either my burden shall be made lighter, or my faith stronger. We should go to the LORD then in our afflictions, and say, LORD, it is part of thy Covenant to deliver me from such a cross and calamity; LORD thou hast said, that the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the Righteous; that thou wilt afflict, but in measure, according to our strength, and for our good. O sanctify thy hand unto me, give me faith and patience to wait upon thee, wisdom to make a good use of this chastisement; God hath made a swee●e promise of giving liberally even wisdom to behave ourselves under the cross, if we ask it. jam. 1.4, 5. See jer. 33 2. Lam. 3.39, 40. let it purge me from my dross, and breed the quiet fruit of righteousness. The end of chastisement is amendment of life, whence it receiveth the name of correction, which signifieth to set right or straight. Therefore we must first labour to find out the sin, for which GOD correcteth us. For which purpose let us remember that place, job 36.9. If they be tied with the cords of affliction, then will I show them their works and their sins. When we have found it out, let us be humbled for it, make our peace with GOD, and reform ourselves, joh. 5.14. and then we may expect comfort from GOD. This the LORD both promised and performed to job, job 11.14. and in him to all that are afflicted. Zophar telleth job, that which GOD himself did make good at last: If iniquit be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. It must be the care of the afflicted to purge his hand and house of all manner of wickedness and sin. Then it followeth, verse 15. Thou shalt lift up thy face without spot, yea thou shalt be steadfast and not fear, that is, Thou shalt enjoy the comfortable assurance of the remission of thy sins, and shalt rest persuaded, that the stain thereof is quite done away before the LORD. And for his outward estate he addeth, ver. 16. Thou shalt forget thy misery. He shall be quite freed from all the trouble of it, Thou shalt remember it as waters that are past: which cause the meadows to be more fat and fertile, than they would have been, ver. 17. Thine age (saith he) shall be clearer than the noon day, thou shalt shine forth and be as the morning. The comfort of a sinner reform by corrections, shall be plentiful and excellent as the brightness of the noontide sun, and withal, constant, durable, and on the growing hand, as the light of the morning. Faith makes us depend on GOD'S promises in our afflictions, and patiently expect the issue that he will give, and that without prefixing any time, for He that believeth doth not make haste, * It may be understood either as a precept, Le● him not make haste, or as a promise, He shall not make haste. Esay 28.16. or prescribing any means to him, as faithful Moses when he said, Stand ye still and see the salvation of the LORD, Exod. 14.13. Faith doth not limit GOD for the measure of affliction; job saith, He will trust in GOD though he kill him, Job 13. 1●. It was a grievous affliction for David to be driven out of his kingdom by his own Son, yet he saith in that slight, If he say, I have no delight in him, behold here I am, let him do unto me as seemeth good in his eyes, 2 Sam. 15.26. Therefore in all our afflictions, let us set faith a work, for this stirs up prayer, and prayer stirs up * Prayer of the Saints in time of afflictions, can do more than all the witches in the world can do (to whom devilish minded people seek in their troubles) for they can but set the Devils a-work, but prayer will set God a-work, GOD, and GOD stirs up all the creatures. Faith gathereth one contrary out of another, life out of death, assurance of sweetest deliverances out of deepest distresses; For the LORD shall judge his people and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up or left, Deut. 32.36. 2 King. 14, 26. Going into captivity, was a sign of the Israelites returning out of Captivity. S Jerome saith it was a proverb among the Hebrews, God will help us in the Mount, Gen 2●. 14 and it is an english proverb, man's extremity is God's opportunity. Faith will teach us to say, he hath chastised me according as he hath threatened, therefore he will comfort me according as he hath promised, jer. 32.42. It will extract abundance of comfort, in the most desperate distresses, from those places, 2 Chron. 20.12. Prov. 18.10. Esay 33.9, 10. For the nature of it is to believe GOD upon his bare word, Ibi incipit auxilium divinum, ubi defici● humanum. Psal. 61.2, 3. and that against sense in things invisible, and against reason in things incredible, Heb. 11.1. David, Psal. 56.10. though sorely afflicted, yet rejoiceth in GOD, because of his naked promise; the woman of Canaan could pick comfort out of the reproachful name of dog. Hath not GOD promised and assured me not to fail nor forsake me, but to uphold me in affliction, Psal. 27.10. and bring me through it, and comfort me by it, and glorify me after it? therefore I should with Abraham hope against hope, and apprehend the certain accomplishment of these promises by faith; when sense and carnal reason see nothing but the contrary. CHAP. III. Temporal Promises in regard of evil things. Special. Sickness, Poverty, Famine, War, Captivity, Witchcraft, or possession of the Devil, Oppression. Promises in regard of Sickness. 1. TO prevent Sickness and keep it away. 1. To prevent sickness. If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy GOD, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his Commandments, and keep all his statutes; I will put none of these diseases upon thee which I have brought upon the Egyptians, for I am the LORD that healeth thee, Exod. 15.26. Deut. 7.15. GOD will preserve his children from the pestilence, Pro 3.25. Psal. 91.3, 6, 7, 10. He will certainly deliver them from the hurt of it, so as it shall not hinder the good or salvation of any in the godly man's house. 2. If sickness be amongst us, to help in it, 2. To help in sickness. and remove it from us. The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing, thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness, Psal. 41.3. And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, 3. To take it away. job 5 18. Deut. 7.15. And I will take sickness away from the midst of thee, Exod. 23.25. In all our bodily infirmities and sore diseases, we should remember some of these promises, and lay hold on them by faith, that we faint not nor murmur. Promises in regard of Poverty. There is a general promise made to all that fear GOD, 1 Tim. 4.8. Psal. 34.9, 10. Heb. 13.5. Mat. 6.33. And many other special promises likewise, which may comfort and strengthen the godly against murmuring and impatiency in hard times: I will abundantly bless her provision, I will satisfy her poor with bread, Psal. 132.15. Deut. 8.16. No rich man under Heaven can be so assured, that he and his shall be preserved from beggary, as every poor Christian may be. For though the LORD in infinite bounty do bestow those blessings on wicked men in great abundance, yet they belong to them only ex largitate, out of a general providence; but to the faithful ex promisso, out of GOD'S * The good that comes by the promise, is a more sure, complete and comfortable good. job 21.7, 8. jer. 12.1, 2. Psal. 73.12. promise; David beholding how much it vexed GOD'S children to see the wicked prosper in this world, and the godly distressed, of purpose made the 37. Psalm, to heartens the godly against this sore tentation, which in all ages much troubled GOD'S people; and there he showeth that the state of the godly is far better even in this life, then that of the wicked, 3, 4, 5, 11, 16. verses. To the same purpose was made the 73. Psalm. See Psal. 16.5, 6. Psal. 23. Psal. 10.14. Psal. 109.31. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill, Psal. 103.7. I have been young (saith David in that 37. Psalm 25. verse) and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. David's saying may be taken 1. as his own observation in his time; for he saith not, the righteous is never forsaken; but that he never saw it, and it is a rare thing: 2. (which Exposition Master Perkins approves) the righteous man is never forsaken and his seed too; GOD may make trial of godly Parents by want, but their godly children shall surely be blessed: 3. he saith, he never saw the righteous and his seed forsaken, begging bread; that is, no not forsaken when they were begging their bread. God will either supply the wants of his children or enable them to bear them, as he taught Paul how to want, Phil. 4.12. Gen. 15 1. Hab. 3 17, 18 Whensoever we are pinched with any earthly necessity, we should run to one of these gracious promises; for if we rightly believe them, they will make us cast our care on GOD that careth for us, and moderate our immeasurable carking after the things of this world, moving us patiently to wait for the accomplishment of our desires, or contentedly to want what GOD denieth, Phil. 4.5. 1 Pet. 5.7. Psal. 55.22. Psal. 37.4, 5. Deut. 8.3. Promises for succour in Famine At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh, job. 5 22. God will not leave his in famine, but will then relieve them, as he did the widow of Zar●ph●ah. Particular promises for help in Famine, and deliverance from it. In Famine he shall redeem thee from death, job 5.20. The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish, Prov. 10.3. Behold the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy, to keep them alive in famine, Psal. 33.19. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied, Psal. 37.19. If I shut up Heaven (saith the LORD) th●t there be no rain, or if I command the Locusts to devour the land; if my people shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and heal their land. 2 Chron. 7.13, 14. In that day I will hear saith the LORD, I will hear the Heavens, and they shall hear the Earth, and the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil, and they shall hear jezreel, Hosea 2.21, 22. When the poor and needy seek water and there is none, Esay 41.17, 18. and their tongue faileth for thirst; I the LORD will hear them▪ I the GOD of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys, I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. See joel 2.18, 19 Zach. 8.11, 12. & 10.1. Mal. 3.10. GOD'S children in time of scarcity should live by faith, Mat. 4.4. feed on the promise, and depend on GOD'S allowance: when our own provision fails us, than not to distrust the provision of GOD, is a noble trial of faith. Promises to preserve from War, and deliver from the Sword. The LORD will preserve his children from War, Thou shalt not see a fierce people, Esay 33.19. The enemies being astonished shall be a prey to the Church, ver. 23. GOD will deliver them from the Sword, as he saith jer. 39.17, 18. I will deliver thee in that day, and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee, because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD. In War he shall redeem thee from the power of the sword, job 5.20. Promises to comfort in and deliver out of Captivity. Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, Levit. 25.44. and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them a little Sanctuary in the countries where they shall come, Ezek. 11.16. See ver. 17. I will give you a reviving there, Ezra 9.8. And make you to be pitied of those that shall carry you captive, Psal. 106.46. Then the LORD thy GOD will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations whither the LORD thy GOD hath scattered thee. This promise, Deut. 30. ●. was performed by Christ, Luke 4 18. Ephes. 4.8. If any of thine be driven out unto the utmost parts of Heaven, from thence will the LORD thy GOD gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee, etc. Deut. 30.3, 4, 5. Nehemiah sueth out this promise, Nehem. 1.9. There was a promise made unto Israel to restore them out of the great captivity of Babylon; and this seemed to them as incredible, as for men to be raised out of their graves, after so many years' consumption; therefore they said, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost, we are cut off for our parts: we have no more reason to believe any promise, or to rest upon any expectations of deliverance, then dead bones have to revive again. Therefore the LORD acquainteth them with his power, together with his promises; O my people, ye shall know that I am the LORD, that is, that my ways and thoughts are infinitely above your shallow apprehension, when I shall have brought you out of your graves, Ezek. 37.11, 13, 14. See Psal. 14.7. and 53.6. jer. 30.6.18. A promise against Witchcraft or possession of the Devil. Surely there is no enchantment against jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel, Num. 23.23. This is promised conditionally; so far as it is good for GOD'S people, they shall be freed from it. Promises against Oppression. It is one of the LORDS most royal titles, to be the Father of the Fatherless, and a judge of the widows, Psal. 68.5. To be a Refuge for the oppressed, Psal. 22.24. Psal. 140.12. Psal. 9.9, 10, 14. Esay 25.4. For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise (saith the LORD) I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him, Exod. 22.23. Deut. 10.8. & 14.29. & 24.20. Psal. 12.5. He executeth judgement for the oppressed, preserveth the strangers, relieveth the fatherless and widow, Psal. 146.7, 9 In thee the fatherless findeth mercy, Hosea 14.3. CHAP. FOUR Temporal promises in regard of good things. 1. In General, to supply any thing needful. GOD hath promised to provide things needful for the godly. All earthly blessings are entailed to godliness by that gracious promise, 1 Tim. 4.8. Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is, and that which is to come. It is said, Nothing shall be wanting, Psal. 34.9. All things shall be ministered, Matth. 6.33. GOD shall fulfil all your necessity, Philip. 4.19. As a tender Father desiring the welfare of his beloved child, bids him to be a good and obedient child, and he shall not want any thing; so the LORD bids us as good children, harken to his voice, and be ruled by him, and tells us we shall not want any thing that is good, Psal. 34.8, 9, 10. & 84, 11. This is that which is so oft repeated, That it may go well with thee in the land, which the LORD thy GOD giveth thee, Deut. 5.16, 33. & 6.3, 18. & 12.25, 28. This is meant in those Scriptures which set out the goodness of the LORD, Thou ar● good and dost good. Psal 119.68. Psal. 31.19. Psal. 145.9. and many other places, where GOD'S goodness, loving kindness and mercy, and that specially in things belonging to this natural life, are commended unto us. In those general promises, wherein GOD saith, He will dwell with his, and not forsake them, that he will love and bless his people, that he will be their GOD, will rejoice over them to do them good, jer. 32 41. will compass them with favour as with a shield, that he will set peace in their borders, and prosper them in all they go about, that he will keep his Covenant with them. For outward riches are a part of his Covenant, All things are yours, The Lord undertakes not only by single promise, but by Covenant to furnish his people with all needful blessings pertaining to this life. we are heirs of all the world. In the Covenant of grace, GOD promiseth not only to write his law in our hearts and to forgive our sin; but also to confer Temporal blessings, as they shall be serviceable to us in our journey towards Heaven, jer. 31.10, 11, 12, 14. Ezek. 34.25, 26, 27. & 36.29, 30. Hosea 2.20, 21, 22. He hath given us his Son, the Fountain of all good things, what can he deny us then that may be for our good and comfort? R●. good The promise of CHRIST before his incarnation, was to the Jews a seal of all temporal things promised. Our Saviour saith, Seek ye first the Kingdom of GOD, and his Righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Mat. 6.33. First] in time before all other things; and in degree above all other things, and all these needful things] shall be cast in. As when a man buyeth spice, fruit, or any such commodity, paper and packthread is given into the bargain. It is the property of true saving faith, not only to lay hold on the mercy of GOD for the pardon of sin, and life everlasting in CHRIST; but on his promises also for Temporal blessings that concern this life. As we look to be saved by our faith after death, so we must live 〈◊〉 faith in this world; if we rely upon his mercy for our souls, we must depend upon his providence for our bodies. How doth he trust in GOD for a Kingdom, that will not trust him for a crust of bread? Faith receiveth earthly blessings not as the fruit of our labour or desert, but as the gifts of GOD'S bounty, yea as gifts of the gracious Covenant proceeding from the free love of GOD. Temporal promises in regard of good things. Special. For 1. Name. 1. Honour. 2. A good name. 2. Body. 1. Long life. 2. Health. 3. Safety. 4. Peace. 5. Sleep. 6. Food, raiment. 3. Estate. 1. Wealth. 2. Good success and prosperity. 1. To their persons. 2. To their purposes. 4. Calling. Promises to diligence in it. 1. Abundance and plenty. 2. Protection. 3. Promotion. 4. Good success. 5. It builds the house. 6 It makes sleep comfortable. GOD hath promised, not only to give these outward things but to bless them to his children. CHAP. V. 2. Temporal Promises in regard of good things. 1. Special. Promises to GOD'S children in respect of their Name. 1. Honour. GOD saith, He will honour those that honour him, 1 Sam. 2.30. Exod. 19 5. Psal. 91.14. Deut 28 1. Esay 58.14. Psal. 14●. 18. job 36.7. If any man serve me, him will my Father honour, joh. 12 26. His born shall be exalted with honour, Psal. 113.9. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the dunghill, th●s he may 〈◊〉 him with Princes, Psal 113.7, 8 Deut. 28.13. Many shall make store unto thee, Iob●1 ●1, 19 And Wisdom will honour those that honour her, Pro. 4.7, 8, 9 So it is oft said, Riches and honour are with her, Pro. 3.16. and verse 35. The wise shall inherit glory. So Chap. 13.18. He that regardeth reproof, shall be honoured. This is meant by all those speeches where it is said, that harkening to instruction will adorn and bring into estimation, as costly ornaments of bracelets, jewels and the like will do; so it is, Pro. 1.9. They shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. See Chap. 3.22. & 4.9. The gracious woman receiveth honour, Pro. 11.16. Righteousness exalteth a na●ion, Prov. 14.34. GOD doth highly esteem of the godly himself. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee, Esay 43.4. and he will make the wicked to honour them. The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous, Pro. 14.19. Behold I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan to come and worship before thy feet and to know that I have loved thee, Rev. 3.9. 2. Good name. A good name is better than precious ointment, Eccles. 7.1. and rather to be chosen then great riches, Pro. 22.1. GOD hath made many promises concerning this. The memory of the Justice is blessed, Pro. 10.7. I will make you a name and praise among all the people of the earth, saith the LORD, Zeph. 3.20. I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off, Esay 56.5. The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance, Psal. 112.6. Promises to GOD'S children in respect of the Body. 1. Long life. The LORD, that he may stir up his people to obedience, doth make many promises of long life, and many days; as in the fifth Commandment, Exod. 20. 1● which the Apostle saith is the first Commandment with Promise, He that followeth after righteousness, as a man followeth a trade, shall find honour and life, true honour and eternal life. Pro. 21.21. Ephes. 6.2. every child is there commanded to Honour his Father and Mother, upon this promise, that his days may be long in the land. So Deut. 5.33. Deut. 25.15. & 30.20. In the Proverbes this is very oft repeated, Chap. 3.1, 2. My son forget not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments; for length of days and long life and peace shall they add to thee. And 16. and 18. verses of the same Chapter, and Chap. 4. from the 5. verse to 14. Chap. 8.35. Chap. 9.11. Chap. 10.25, 27. Chap. 11.19, 30. & 14.30. This GOD promised to Solomon, See Esay 65.20, 22. Psal 91 16. Psal. 1●8. 6. job 5.26. 1 King. 3.14. and the like is spoken more generally, that the Prince that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days, Prov. 28.16. and also Deut. 17.19, 20. Long life is promised to the observers of the whole law, Deut. 6.2. and other particular branches of it, Psalm. 34.12, 13, 14. In all the perils of this life, by sickness, war, famine, thiefs, or any wicked enemy whatsoever, we may call to mind some of these promises and so rest quiet thereupon, that none of these nor any thing else shall shorten our days more than shall turn to our good. 2. Health. GOD hath promised bodily health and strength unto his people, that they may enjoy and make use of these earthly comforts. Solomon, Pro. 3.7. exhorting us to fear the LORD and depart from evil, adds this as a promise, verse 8. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones, that is, soundness of health to thy whole body, and Chap. 4.22. He saith, That the true receiving of instructions, is life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Bodily strength is often promised. The LORD will give strength unto his people, Psal. 29.11. See Psal. 103.5. 3. Safety. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, Psal. 121.3. and thy foot shall not stumble, Pro. 3.23. See verse 26. 1 Sam. 2.9. The Name of the LORD is a strong tower, An example hereof we have in David, 1 Sam, 306. Psal. 8 2. Ier 46.27 Micah. 4.4. the righteous runneth unto it and is safe, Pro. 18.10. He that walketh uprightly walketh surely, Pro. 10.9. Who so hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil, Prov. 1.33. Thou shalt be secure, because there is hope, yea thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety, Job 11.18. See Psal. 91.1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10. 1 Pet. 3.13, 14. When a man is in Covenant with GOD, he is in league with the creatures, and therefore they shall never do him hurt, Gen. 9.2. Host 2.18. Thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee, Job 5.23. 4. Peace. Peace in regard of outward troubles is a special blessing of GOD, and hath been in all ages promised by GOD to his Church, 1 Chron. 22.9. And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid, Levit. 26.6. The LORD will bless his people with peace, Psal. 29.11. The meek shall delight themselves in abundance of peace, Psal. 37.11. He maketh peace in thy borders, Psal. 147.14. LORD thou wilt ordain peace for us, Esay 26.12. Thou shalt know that thy Tabernacle shall be in peace, Job 5.29. Promises to peaceable men or peacemakers, Mat. 5 9 jam, 3, 16. See Jam. 3.18. Esay 48.18. When a man's ways please the LORD, he will make his enemies at peace with him, Prov. 16.6. 5. Sleep. Promises for quiet rest and safety in the night. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, yea thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet, Pro. 3.24. Also thou shalt lie down and none shall make thee afraid, Job 11.19. Zeph. 3.13. He giveth his beloved sleep, Psal. 127.2. 6. Food and raiment. GOD hath promised to give his children food unto content. Ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the Name of the LORD, Joel 2.26. Trust in the LORD, and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed, Psal. 37.3. He giveth meat unto them that fear him, Psal. 111.5. He will satisfy the poor with bread, Psal. 102.15. He loveth the stranger in giving him food and raiment, Deut. 10.18. To such as want meat, drink, or apparel, CHRIST saith, Matth. 6.25. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? It is an argument (as we say) à maiori a●minus, from the greater to the lesser. The LORD which gave the life itself, will not suffer us to want those things that appertain to the sustaining of the same, and ver. 32. Your heavenly Father (saith he) knoweth that ye have need of these things, that is, food and raiment. A man may know our wants, and yet say as it is, james 2.16. another may desire to supply our wants, and yet not know them; but GOD 1. Knows our wants: 2. Will supply them, for he is a Father: 3. Can supply them, for he is a heavenly Father. Promises to GOD'S children for their outward Estate. 1. Wealth. GOD hath promised his people such a portion of earthly goods, as shall be needful for their more comfortable living in this world. Riches and honour are with me, yea durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea then fine gold, and my revenue then choice silver, Pro. 8.18, 19 The blessing of the LORD maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it, Pro. 10.22. The LORD often promiseth plenty, that the land shall yield her fruit, that he will give them rain in due season, that there should be none barren but he would increase them in all their substance, 1 Cor. 9.6. Pro. ●1. 23. Esay 60, 17 both ground and cattle, that they should eat old store, that threshing should reach unto * Pestican, Osia●der, Iuni●a, Vatablu●, Lorinus, Cornelius a Lap. do understand this promise touching the general blessing of 〈◊〉, and plenty to this people in this land, whilst they walked in obedience to God's Commandments, so Amos 9.13. vintage. Ezek. 36.30. joel 2.23, 24, 25. Levit. 26.4, 5, 10. & 25.19. See Deut. 28. from 2. to 15. and Chap. 7. from 12. to 17. Psal. 23. Psal. 128. Pro. 3.9, 10, 16, 17, 18. and Chap. 8.21. 1 Chron. 29.12. Those that wait upon the LORD shall inherit the earth, Psal. 37.9. the like is in the 11, 22, 29, 34. verses, and Mat. 5.5. A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the * Ps. 135.11, 12. & 136 21 22. Just, Pro. 13.22. Wealth and riches shall be in his house, Psal. 112.3. In the house of the righteous is much treasure, Pro. 15.6. Thou shalt lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks, thou shalt have plenty of silver, Job 22.24, 25. That was a special promise made to the people of Israel at their return; They shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and for the heard, etc. Jer. 31.12. I will open unto you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room to receive it, Malac. 3.10. 2. Good success and prosperity. GOD hath promised prosperity to his children: Both to their persons, and their purposes. They shall prosper that love thee, Psal. 122.6. Prosperity shall be within thy palaces, ver. 7. Good understanding giveth favour, Pro. 13.15. Do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee, We have excellent examples of this in jacob, Gen. 30 17 joseph Gen. 39 2, 5. Hezekiah, 2 Chrō●1 ●1 21. David, Psal. 23 that thou mayst prosper whithersoever thou goest, Josh. 1.7. Then shalt thou make they way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success, ver. 8. They shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures, Job 36.11. And all nations shall call you blessed, for ye shall be a delight some land, Malac. 3.12. The LORD taketh pleasure in the prosperity of his servants, Psal. 35.27. He that feareth the LORD is and shall be blessed, See jer. 33. ● Hosea 14.5. every way blessed, Psal. 128.1, 2.3. GOD will also give good success to their purposes and endeavours. Deut. 29.9. Whatsoever he doth shall prosper, Psal. 1.3. this was verified in joseph, Gen. 39.3, 23. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee, Deut. 28.8, 12. and the light shall shine upon thy ways, Job 22.28. Commit thy way unto the LORD, trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass, Psal. 37.5. Promises to GOD'S children in respect of their Calling. Diligence in a calling hath many a sweet promise in the Word of GOD. 1. Abundance and plenty: The hand of the diligent maketh rich, Pro. 10.4. The soul of the diligent shall be made fat, Deut. 30.9 Pro. 13.4. He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread, Pro. 28.19. at least sufficiency follows it. He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread, Pro. 12.11. Two Promises to tillage. See 27. verse. That which is gotten by honest labour is preserved and multiplied, Prov. 13.11. 2. Protection: GOD hath promised to protect those that keep themselves within the limits of their calling; He shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways, Psal. 91.11. that is, Heb. 13.5 so long as thou keepest thyself within the ways of thy calling, so long shall my Angels preserve thee. 3. Promotion, it exalteth to honour and authority. The han● of the diligent shall bear rule, Pro. 12.24. Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stan● before Kings, he shall not stan● before mean men, Prov. 22.29. Thou shall eat the labour of thy hand, Psal. 1.8.2. 4. Good success: The recompense of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him, Pro. 12.14. They shall build houses and inhabit them, they shall plant vineyards and eat● the fruit of them. They shall not labour in vain nor bring forth fo● trouble, Esay 65.21, 23. There ye shall eat before the LORD your GOD, and ye shall rejoice in all that you put your hand unto; Ye and your households wherein the LORD thy GOD hath blessed thee, Deut. 12.7. Deut. 28.8, 12. 5. It buildeth the house, Pro 24.27. 6. It makes sleep comfortable, Eccles. 5.12. The sleep of a labouring man is sweet and pleasant, whether he eat little or much: if little, his labour breeds him rest; if much, his body being strong and hardened by labour, causeth easy digestion, and uninterrupted sleep. CHAP. VI GOD hath promised not only to give these outward things, but to bless them to his children. HE will make that prosperous unto the Righteous which they possess, be it little or much. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store, Deut. 28.4, 5. Deut. 7.13, 14. The LORD also will bless thy fruit of thy womb and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, the flocks of thy sheep, there shall be neither male or female barre● among them, or among your cattle. He shall not only enjoy the fruit of his labours, but also be blessed in his fruit, Psal. 128.1, 2. The godly are in a better state for these outward things than the wicked, in two respects: 1. They have a spiritual right to them which the wicked have not, they have these outward things only by a general providence during GOD'S pleasure, but the faithful have them as rewards of their righteousness, as testimonies of GOD'S love and care of them. 2. They enjoy them as they are, A little that a righteous man hath, is better than the riches of many wicked Psal. 37.16. a little gives them more content than plenty others. Better is a little righteousness, then great revenues without right, Prov. 16.8. more comfortable in respect of inward peace, the present use of this life and continuance. Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, then great treasure and trouble therewith, Prov. 15.16, 17. The blessing of the LORD maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it, Prov. 10.22. GOD giveth his beloved sleep, Psal. 127.2. The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul, Pro. 13.25. See Esay 65.13. Eccles. 5.19. & 3.12, 13. Prov. 17.1 THE THIRD BOOK. Book III CHAP. 1. 2. SPIRITVALL PROMISES. 1. In regard of evil, from Temptations 1. Of Satan in general. 2. To uncleanness. Comforts against the temptations of Satan. THE Faithful have a promise to preserve them from such temptations as are incident to their lawful callings, and which they cannot avoid unless they would forsake their calling, Psal. 91.11, 12. In all thy ways (seem they never so dangerous and full of temptation) they shall bear thee up. Rev. 3. ●. The man whose heart is upright shall find strength enough against every temptation, while he is in the LORDS way, Pro. 10.29. 2 Chron. 15.2. There is much comfort to be drawn out of that one verse, 1 Cor. 10.13. Et quam sortem patiuntur omnes, far nemo recusat. 1 Pet. 5.9. God will make his grace sufficient for us, 2 Cor. 12.9. 1. It is the common condition of all the godly, to be tempted. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man. 2. GOD will lay no more upon us, than we shall be able to bear, GOD is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able. 3. GOD will give a happy issue out of temptation: Who will with the temptation also make away to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Another consolation against them, may be the short continuance of our temptations, We shall suffer but a while, 1 Pet. 5.10. The GOD of pe●ce shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly, Rom. 16.20. We should consider, 1 That CHRIST was tempted as we are, Heb. 4.15. 2. That he is our Captain in this warfare, Rev. 12 7. The Captain of our salvation was made perfect through sufferings, Heb. 2.10. 3. That he overcame the Devil for all his members; so it was promised to Adam and prophesied of him, Gen. 3.15. so it was fulfilled by him, Mat. 4.1. And having spoiled principalities and powers (that is, the Devil and his Angels) He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them upon ●he Cross, Coloss. 2.15. He led captivity captive, Ephes. 4.8. By captivity is meant sin and Satan, which did and do lead men captive into perdition: Heb 2. 14.1● ●. Death and the grave which held him captive for the space of three days. He leads them all captive: 1. In himself, triumphing over them. 2. In his members, a Idem hortatur ut pugnemus, adiuvat ut vincamus, deficientes sublevat & vincentes ceronat. subduing and weakening their power. 4. That CHRIST is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, Heb. 4.15. 5. That he hath made intercession and prayed for us, Luke 22.32. I have prayed that thy faith may not fail; that is general for all believers as well as Peter, joh. 17.9, 10. 6. CHRIST succours and helps those that are tempted, Heb. 2.18. 7. He assures them of b If GOD lead them in●o temptation, he will deliver them from evil, Mat. 6.13. strength and victory; Resist the Devil, and he will fly from you, jam. 4.7. He is like the Crocodile, whose property is, if one follow, it flieth away; if one fly, it pursueth him; cowardice encourageth the Devil, courage daunts him. See 1 john 5.18. Esa. 27.1. john 12.21. The c The Devil is a Lion, so is Christ, and that of the Tribe of judah, there is a Lion for a Lion, courage for courage: the Devil is a Serpent, so Christ called himself the brazen Serpent, the●e is a Serpent for a Serpent wisdom for wisdom. Devil is subtle, but GOD will teach wisdom to discern and disappoint his stratagems, 2 Pet. 2.9. He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, Psal. 91.3 He is strong and powerful; But GOD shall cover thee under his wings, thou shalt be d Psal ●0 12 1 Pet. 1.5. kept with all care as a garrison is kept. safe under his feathers, his strength shall be thy Buckler. ver. 4. He dissolveth the works of the Devil, 1 john 3.8. He will tread Satan under our feet. He shall bruise his head, wherein lies all his subtlety and strength. e Mat. 16. 1● Portarum appellatime urbes & con silio & pro pugna●u●● munitas intelligimus, i● quicquid vel consilio vel viribus potest Satan Beza in locum. The gates of Hell (that is, the power and policy of the Devil) shall not prevail against the Church. For the gates were the places, where both their strength was and their counsel sat, Amos 5.15. 2. Promises against Temptations to uncleanness. He shall deliver thee from the strange woman, Prov. 2.16. Thy body shall be kept blameless until the coming of CHRIST, 1 Thess. 5.24 Who so pleaseth GOD shall escape from her, Eccles. 7.26. It is part of GOD'S Covenant to give us victory over all our enemies: this is the great promise that GOD hath made; That being delivered from the hands of all our enemies, we might serve him in Holiness and Righteousness all the dries of our life, Luke 1.74. When a child of GOD is to wrestle with Satan, or any temptation or lust, he may challenge the Covenant at GOD'S hands, and say, LORD hast not thou said that Thou wilt deliver me out of the hands of all mine enemies? Is it not a part of thy Covenant? CHAP. II. 2. Promises against opposition for truth and goodness from persons, which are either 1. Ill minded and oppose truth. 2. Ill livers and oppose goodness. 1. Promises for those that suffer for the profession of the truth. FOR I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist, An example of which promise we have in S. Stephen, Act. 6.9, 10. Luke 21.15. When they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you shall speak, for it sh●ll be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak, Matt. 10.19. Be not afraid (said GOD unto Paul) but speak, Ex 4, 11, 12 Psal. 8.2. The Apostles were persecuted for preaching the Gospel, Act. 4.3, 3. others for believing and professing the Gospel, Act 9.2. and hold not thy peace, for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee, Acts 18.9, 10. Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven, Matth. 10.32. 2. Promises for those that suffer for the practice of good. Daniel was cast into the Lion's den for praying unto God, Dan 6.10. and Christ was persecuted for doing works of mercy, Mat. 3. ●. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven, Matth. 5.10. If ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye, 1 Pet. 3.14. Hereby they give their testimony to CHRIST and the Gospel, when they partake of the afflictions of the Gospel, 2 Tim. 1.8. And as there be promises for such as suffer either for truth or goodness, so there are for such who suffer for both together, and these either General in regard of any kind of suffering, as these following. For if they suffer with CHRIST, they shall reign with him in another world, 2 Tim. 2.11, l2. When CHRIST appears in his glory, they shall be glad and rejoice, 1 Pet. 4.13. What shall separate us from the love of CHRIST? shall tribulation, distress, or persecution, &c▪ nay in all these things we are more than conquerors, * Occidi possumus, vinci non possamus Rom. 8.35, 36, 37. GOD may turn the hearts of the wicked, 2 Thess. 1.6. and make them of Lions and Tigers, to become Lambs, and no more to do hurt in the mountain of the LORD, Esay 11.6, 7, 8, 9 Esay 65.25. GOD will subdue all their enemies; I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee, Gen. 12.3. See Deut. 30.7 Jer. 12.14. Psal. 37.14, 15, 17. Job 8.22. Esay 41.11, 12. & 54.15. & 59.19. Pro. 22.23. & 21.18. Their troubles shall not be long, though violent, For the elects sake those days shall be shortened, Matth. 24.22. Or Special, as Loss, 1. Of name, in reproaches. 2. Of liberty, in imprisonment. 3. Of goods, any or all. 4. Of life itself. Promises to those that suffer reproaches for both truth and goodness. 1. Reproaches and scorns from the world for thy profession, should fill thy heart with abundance of glory, blessedness and joy. If ye be reproached for the name of CHRIST, happy are ye (saith S. Peter) for the Spirit of glory and of GOD resteth upon you, The very kind and cause of the affliction should be an argument of great consolation. 1 Pet. 4.14. that is, such a Spirit shall rest on you, which shall make you glorious. Blessed are you (saith CHRIST himself) when men shall revile, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, jam. 1.2. Psal. 69 7, 9, 10. Act. 5 41. rejoice and be exceeding glad, Matth. 5.11, 12. Leap for joy, so it is, Luke 6.23. and the word here in Matth. signifieth exceeding joy, such as we use to express by outward signs in the body, as skipping and dancing, 2 Sam. 6.14, 16. For great is your reward in Heaven. Thou art honourable in GOD'S account, Esay 43.4. he takes notice of all thy disgraces, Psal. 69.19. and will take care for thy clearing and comfort, He will bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgements as the noon day, Psal. 37.6. As if he should have said, howsoever thy innocency be at sometimes covered as it were with a thick and dark mist of slander and oppression, yet the LORD will in his good time scatter and dissolve the mist, and so make thy innocency apparent to the world; yea he shall make thy righteous cause, as evident as the Sun when it ariseth, nay as noon day when it is at highest, and shineth brightest. Thou shalt receive double for all thy shame, Esay 61.7. Though you have lain among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold, Psal 68.13. that is, although ye have lived in great straits and baseness, yet ye shall be freed from them, Scurtilities and odious nicknames in this kind are so many honourable badges of thy Christian magnanimity, and at the throne of Christ will be certainly reputed as characters of special honour, and remembrances of thy worthy service, Bolton. Esay 16 1●. and obtain illustrious glory. They shall be honoured in the day of CHRIST, 1 Pet. 1.7. Their reward shall be great in Heaven, Mat. 5.12. and in the mean time there is with GOD a hiding place from the strife of tongues, Psal. 31.20. job 5.21. Psal. 13.18. How doth GOD cheer his people, Esay 41. Fear not, be not dismayed, ver. 10. I am with thee, I am thy GOD, I will strengthen thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. But GOD will bring the wicked to shame for the contempt with which they have dishonoured his servants, as it followeth, ver. 11. All they that were incensed against thee, shall be ashamed and confounded. He still encourageth his people there, ver. 13. He saith again: Fear not, for I the LORD thy GOD will help thee, Esay 43. c. 2. Esay 44.2. and ver. 14. Fear not thou worm, (that is, were thy state never so weak and despicable) I will help thee, saith the LORD and thy Redeemer. He begins the 43. Chap. with the same words; Fear not, viz. thine enemies, for I have called thee, and redeemed thee, thou art mine. Fear not little flock (saith our Saviour) fear not men, fear not means, for it is your Father's pleasure to give you a Kingdom. Luk. 12.32. See jer. 46.27, 28. If thou wouldst be delivered from reproaches and evil report, go to the LORD and urge him upon Covenant; say, LORD thou hast said, Thou wilt bless the name of the righteous, thou will honour them that honour thee, that we shall not be ashamed when we have respect unto all thy Commandments, Psal. 119.6. Sue out this promise upon all occasions, as David often doth, Psal. 31.1, 17 and 119.116. 2. Promises to those that are imprisoned for the Gospel. The LORD heareth the poor and despiseth not his prisoners, Psal. 69.33. He heareth the groan of the prisoner, Psal. 102.20. And bringeth out those that are bound with chains, Psal. 68.6. as he did Peter, Acts 12.10. Fear non● of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tried, and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto the death, Rev. 2.10. and I will give thee a crown of life. Here was a bitter-sweet message, Ye shall be cast into prison: Act. 16.25. This was bitter: fear not, this was comfortable; but I will give thee a crown of life, this was the comfort of comforts. 3. Promises to those that lose outward things for GOD'S cause. In losses for GOD'S cause: We should meditate of GOD'S gracious promises. 1. In the loss of outward things for thy love and service unto GOD, remember that place, 2 Chron. 25.9. The LORD is able to give thee much more than this. 2. In the loss of any earthly blessing for GOD'S cause, call to mind that promise three times set down by the Evangelists: Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, An excellent example of this we have in job 46 10, 1●. or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred * Which is termed by S. Augustine the best and greatest usury. fold, and shall inherit everlasting life, Mat. 19.29. Mark 10.29, 30. Hath it for my sake and the Gospels, Luke 18.29, 30. For the kingdom of GOD'S sake. 3. In the loss of any earthly things in every kind, think of that speech, Hab. 3.17, 18. Although the figtree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines: the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat, the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no heard in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD: I will joy in the GOD of my salvation. Consider also jobs patient blessing of GOD, upon the surprise and concurrence of an universal misery, job 1.22. 4. Promises to those that lose their life for GOD'S cause. 4. When thou art like to lose thy life, meditate on those places, Mat. 10 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it, joh 12 25 and he that looseth his life for my sake shall find it. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation, (yea though it be the fiery trial) for he shall receive the crown of life, Jam. 1.12. Rev. 14 13 Q●i moriuntur Domini ciusa, id est, propter Dominum. Beza. 1 Pet. 4 16. Blessed are the dead which die in LORD; and which die for the LORD: he speaks of such as suffered in the quarrel of CHRIST under Antichrist, they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them. Every drop of blood spilt by a true professor of the Gospel, for the constant and found profession of it, is precious in the sight of GOD, Psal. 116.15. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his Saints. CHAP. III Promises against evils in the world, 1. In general. WHosoever is borne of GOD overcommeth the world, and this is the victory that overcommeth the world, even our faith, 1 Joh. 5.4. CHRIST prayed to his Father, To keep his from the evil of the world, Joh. 17.15. 2 Pet. 1.4. Who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world, Gal. 1.4. Our Saviour, john 16.33. tells his Disciples, That in the world they should have tribulation, but be of good cheer (saith he) I have overcome the world. 2. A promise to those that dislike evil company. I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their GOD, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate saith the LORD, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the LORD Almighty, 2 Cor. 6.16, 17, 18. 3. Promises against worldly cares and covetousness. To curb our hearts from covetousness, we should meditate upon these places, Heb. 13.5. * There are five negatives together in the Original that strongly affirm, as if he should say, tell thee I will never forsake thee, I tell thee I will never forsake thee and so five times. We are to pray that every thing which causeth offence in the Church may be removed, for which we have an express promise, Mat. 13 41. I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. He that gave us his own son, how shall he not with him freely give us all things, Rom. 8.32. See Matth. 6.25. to the end. Phil. 4.6. 1 Tim. 4.8. 1 Pet. 5.7. 4. Promises against Scandales. GOD will secure his people and save them from being ensnared by scandals, Psal. 119.165. and nothing shall offend them, or they shall have no stumbling block. jer. 31.9. CHAP. FOUR Infirmities are, 1. General, as sinfulness of nature, that remains, though it reign not. 2. Special. 1. IGnorance. 2. Spiritual deafness. 3. Slips and frailties. Here Promises 1. To keep them from falling. 2. To comfort them being fallen, and restore them again. 4. Spiritual lameness. 5. Doubts and fears of losing the love of GOD. 6. Forgetfulness. 7. Dullnesse and uncheerefullnesse. 8. Indisposition to good. 9 Distractions in good. 10. Evils of good done. 11. Fears of falling away from GOD. Comforts to the godly, who likewise want the means of grace, either altogether, or in the power of them, or having them do not profit by them. 1. General or daily Infirmities. Comforts to those that do fall though Infirmity. The LORD, The LORD GOD, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, Exod. 34.6, 7. He is JEHOVAH] Always the same, unchangeable, he will not alter his love to thee, and for the more assurance he repeateth that title twice; then followeth his power, GOD * El the strong God, Deu● fort●, a. Tr●melliu● renders it. ] Though thou be weak, he is strong. Merciful] or compassionate towards repentant and believing sinners, and though they be unworthy, yet he is Gracious.] The Hebrew word signifieth to pour out abundance of extraordinary bounty upon a most undeserving and ill deserving party. (He will show mercy, not because thou art good, but because he is Good; not because thou canst please him, but because mercy pleaseth him, Micah 7.18.) though thou offerdest daily, yet he is Long-suffering,] and Abundant in goodness and truth] 1. In Goodness] ready to bestow all benefits. 2. In Truth,] ready to fulfil all promises, * As ●03, Psal. 8 the same Hebrew word is used, and should be so translated iniquity] that is, original corruption, transgression] that is, actual rebellion, sin] that is, sin of custom. keeping kindness for thousands,] a certain number for an uncertain; forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin] that is, sins of all sorts, kinds and degrees whatsoever. It is neither the foulness of sin, nor the multitude of sins, nor the long continuance in sin that can prejudice his goodness. God will pass by our mere frailties. There is no god like unto him for passing by transgressions. Micah 7.18. Dan. 9.9. Psal. 1●0 3, 4. 1 joh. 2 1, 2. GOD upon our prayer will cure our infirmities, Esay 40.29. Psal. 103.3. he pitieth his in their infirmities, as an Indulgent ●ather his little ones, Mal. 3.17. CHRIST himself is affected with the sense of our infirmities, Heb. 4.15, 16. Matth. 11.28. and Esay 42.3. he was a Propitiation for such sins, and comforts us concerning them before they be committed, 1 john 2.12. Rom. 6.14. The Spirit helps our infirmity, * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, the same word i● used, Luk. 10 40. Est metaphora ab oneribus sumpta, quae utrinque admotis manibus sublevantur. Beza. Rom. 8.26. helps together: the Greek word is decompound, and there is a great force in it; as two that carry a burden, one will carry over ●gainst another, and put to his ●and and help him; so when we begin to sink, GOD'S Spirit puts under his hand to support ●s, which is said in so many words, Psal. 37.24. O but I offend daily, I sin again and again, may some weak Christian say. GOD promiseth likewise that he will multiply his pardons (so the word signifieth in the Original) as thou hast multiplied thy sins, Esay 55 7, 8, 9 for (saith he there) My thoughts are not as your thoughts, nor my ways as your ways, but my thoughts go beyond your thoughts, as much as the distance is between Heaven and earth: He is merciful and and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy, he will not reward us after our iniquities: for as the Heaven is high above the Earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him, Psal. 103.8, 10, 11. As there is a continual spring of wickedness in you, so there is a continual spring of mercy * Thou canst not commit more than God can remit; Thy sins are but the sins of men, his mercies are the mercies of an Infinite God. flowing from him, both to pardon, and wash away this iniquity. Special Infirmities. 1. Ignorance or blindness. Comforts against ignorance. It is a special promise of GOD in the new Covenant, In Christ's Kingdom the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped, 2 Cor. 3.16 joh. 9 39 & 12.46. that He will write his laws in thy heart, and he will make thee to know the LORD. He hath promised to lead thee by a way that thou hast not known, Esay 42.16. we have such an High Priest as knows how to have compassion on the ignorant, Heb. 5.2, 3. The eyes of the blind shall be opened, Esay 35.2. He shall open the eyes of the blind, Esay 42.2. Luke 4.18. The anointing thou hast received, shall teach thee all needful things, and lead thee into all truth, 1 joh. 2.27. GOD hath made many promises to teach them his way, that see their ignorance and mourn for it. He will guide the meek in judgement and will teach the humble his way, Psal. 25.9. See 12. & 14. verses. GOD will fill the hungry with good things, Luke 1.53. To him that disposeth his way aright will I show the salvation of the LORD, Psal. 50.23. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life, Joh. 8.12. I will manifest myself to him, John 14.21. The Spirit of truth will guide them into all truth, John 16.13. A high way shall be there, and fools shall not err therein, Esay 35.8. 2. Spiritual deafness. Comforts against spiritual deafness. The cares of the deaf shall be unstopped, Esay 35.5. Other sheep I have which are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, joh. 10.16. that is, the Gentiles not yet called shall understand the voice of GOD. 3. Particular falls through frailty. Comforts in regard of slips and frailties. 1. GOD will uphold his and keep them from falling. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil, Joh. 17.20. The LORD is faithful, who shall establish you and keep you from evil, 2 Thess. 3.3. That your whole soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it, 1 Thess. 5.23, 24. GOD watcheth over his people to defend them from sin, 2 Tim. 4 17, 18. Rom. 7.24, 25. Psa. 73.23, 24. jer. 32.39, 40. His mercy holdeth up the godly, when they say their foot slippeth, Psal. 94.18. He will be their confidence, and shall keep their foot from being taken, Pro. 3.26. He will keep the feet of his Saints, 1 Sam. 2.9. And guide their feet into the way of peace, Luke 1.79. And thine ear shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left, Esay 30.21. The child of GOD hath a promise of preservation from the sin unpardonable, 1 john 5.18. 2. Comforts to those that do fall through infirmity. But of this I have spoken already, when I treated of the daily and general Infirmities of Christians, therefore I will (tanquam can●s ad Nilum) run over it hastily. GOD'S people after relapse into some old, or fall into some new sin, when their heart is smitten for it, may comfort themselves with such precious places as these, 1 joh. 2.1. Luke 17.4. 1 Sam. 12.20, 22. 1 john 1.9. From this last place, a reverend Divine collects this comfort. If we see our unworthiness, and with broken hearts acknowledge it, GOD is faithful and just to forgive it, be it never so great. Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers, yet return again to me saith the LORD, jer. 3.1. 3. The LORD will restore them, and raise them up again by repentance. Return ye 〈…〉 and I will heal you● b●ckesl●din●s. jer. 3. 2● See 12, 13, 1●. verses. The LORD will heal thy backesliding, if thou take unto thee words to confess thy falling away, Hosea 14.2, 3, 4. There is healing in the wings of the Son of righteousness, and you shall grow up as the calves of the stall, Mal. 4.2. The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that are bowed down, Psal. 145.14. Behold I will bring it health and cure, Psal. 103 3. and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth, jer. 32.6. He speaks Ezek. 34.16. of the time of the Gospel when CHRIST should be the Shepherd, and shows the Covenant that he will make with those that are his, if any thing be lost (saith he) if a Sheep lose itself, this is my Covenant, I will find it. If it be driven away by any violence of temptation, I will bring it back again. If there be a breach made into their hearts by any occasion through sin and lust, I will heal them and bind them up. GOD'S Covenant is to make us faithful in his Covenant: the actions of faith and repentance are ours; but the power of doing them, GOD'S. 4. Spiritual Lameness. Comforts against Spiritual Lameness, or weaknesses of graces. Then shall the lame man leap as an Hart, Esay 35.6. And I will put my spirit within you, jer. 31.9. and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements and do them, Ezek. 36.27. Psal. 29.11. They shall run and not be weary, * Mark the gradation, they shall walk, they shall run, they shall fly, yea, as an Eagle. they shall walk and not be saint, Esay 40.31. See ver. 29. The LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel, Joel 3 16. In our Spiritual infancy we may comfort ourselves by those cordial refreshing promises. I will give unto him that is a thirst of the fountain of the water of life freely, Rev. 21.6. Esay 57 15. Mat. 5.6. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench, Esay 42.3. though grace be in us but like the heat in the week of the candle, when the light is out; yet GOD hath taken order, that it shall not be extinguished. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young, Esay 40.11. He will use all compassion with a tender respect of our weakness. In love, in care, in pity he will redeem us, and carry us as in the days of old, Esay 63.9. As he hath borne us from the womb; so will he be the same still unto old age, even unto the grey hairs, he will carry us in the arms of his compassion, he hath made us, he will bear, even he will carry and deliver us, Esay 46.3, 4. Since thou art a branch of his planting, Rev. 3 8, 9, 10 he may glorify himself in thee, so as thy little one may be as a thousand, and thy small one as a strong nation, GOD can perform it in his due time, Esay 60.21, 22. CHRIST graciously receiveth and tenderly cherisheth weak Christians, Zach. 13.7. Matth. 18.5. He giveth charge against the contempt of them, verse 10. and will not have the day of small things despised, Zach. 4.10. * God acce●●s affecting for a●●e●ting, willing for working, desires for deed●, purposes for performances, pence for pounds. Dyke. Examples are many in Scripture, Ge● 2● 16, 17 Reb. 11.17 1 Chron. 17 10, 11, 12 Luke 21.3. The obedience o● the faithful is weak and imperfect, but pleasing and acceptable unto GOD. The Psalmist saith, Psal. 147.11 & 149.4. The LORD taketh pleasure in his people, * Pro 15.8. the prayers of the upright are his delight. GOD will reckon of so much good done by us, as we desired and endeavoured to do; the preparations of our hearts are reckoned with GOD as great things, Esay 55.1. This is a great comfort to GOD'S children, The best gold must have his allowance of such grains, so the best Christian must have some allowance, imperfection clea●e● to him, he can not do all perfectly, for than what need● the Covenant of grace. that do their best endeavour to keep all his Commandments, for though they fail in that obedience which they ought to perform, yet GOD promiseth to show mercy to them, Exod. 26.6. so long as their heart is true, he will bear with their infirmities. We are not under the law (saith the Apostle) but under grace, Rom. 6.14. We are delivered from the rigour of the Law: GOD hath received us to the benefit of that Covenant, in which perfection is only required in CHRIST, uprightness in us. GOD accepts of the will for the deed, Col. 3.24. 2 Cor. 8.12. and the will above the deed, as appeareth by the 10. verse, Who hath not only begun to do, but also to be forward a year ago; making it a greater grace to be willing and desirous to do well, than it is to do a good thing. 5. Doubts and Fears of losing the love of GOD. Comforts against doubts and fears of losing the love of GOD. In the affliction of thy mind and loss of the feeling of GOD'S favour, Ier 31.12, 25 acquaint thyself with those promises, john 13.1. Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end, and without end. The Rome 11.29 gifts and calling of GOD are without repentance: that is, such gifts as accompany an effectual calling, are such as GOD never repenteth of, or taketh away, I will not forsake my people, 1 King. 6.13. Heb. 13.5. Behold GOD will not cast away a perfect man, job 8.20. The love of GOD unto his child, in respect of tenderness, is infinitely dearer than that of a most loving mother to her little one, Esay 49.15. stronger than the stony mountains and rocks of flint, Esay 54.10. as constant as the waters of Noah, ver. 9 as the ordinances of Heaven. jer. 33.20 and ver. 25. nay as sure as GOD himself, Psal. 89.33, 34, 35. 6. Forgetfulness. A promise against forgetfulness. But the Comforter which is the HOLY GHOST whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you, john 14.26. 7. Vncheerefullnesse. Comforts against dullness and uncheerefullnesse. The wilderness and solitary place shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose, it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing, Esay 35.1, 2. Then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you, and ye shall be comforted in jerusalem. And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice and your bones shall flourish like an herb, Jer. 66.12, 13, 14. Thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, Esay 41.16. Thou shalt have thy delight in the Almighty, job 22.26. The godly have a spring of joy within them, john 4.14. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day, Psal. 89.16. See Psal. 33.21. 8. Indisposition. Comforts against it. In the thoughts of our indisposition to any thing that is good, let these places quicken us. I can do all things through CHRIST that strengtheneth me, Phil. 4.13. Ye shall be unto me a kingdom of Priests, Exod. 19.6. We shall be able to offer unto GOD the sacrifice of prayer or praise. In every place incense shall be offered to my name, and a pure offering, Mal. 1.11. which is spoken of the believing Gentiles. 9 Distractions. Comforts against them. GOD promiseth in the Covenant of grace, Ezek. 11.19. To give his people one heart. CHRIST prayed that we might have this one heart, john 17.21, 23. and be one with GOD. When we are troubled with distractions in prayer, hearing, or meditation, we should plead the Covenant, and pray with David, O LORD unite my heart to thee. 10. Evils of good done. Promises or comforts to the godly for evils of good done. GOD not only accepteth and taketh in good part the poorest service we do to him notwithstanding our corruptions and frailties, but even delighteth and taketh great pleasure in them, Cant. 2.14. as a Father delights more in the stammering of his little child, then in the eloquence of the best Orator. CHRIST presenteth and perfumeth our prayers to his Father, Rev. 8.3. 1 Pet. 2.5. And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, and that they may be accepted before the LORD, Exod. 28.38. Accipit suum, & remittituum, God accepts that which is his, and forgives that which is thine. Aaron was a Type of CHRIST, who by his intercession perfumes our prayers, and doth away the blemishes that cleave to our best actions. Loving Parents do not take notice of many blemishes in their children; so GOD seeth no iniquity in jacob, nor any transgression in Israel, Num. 23.21. But passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage: Micah. 7 18 which makes the Prophet in the beginning of the verse, in admiration to cry, Who is a GOD like to thee! 11. Comforts against Fears of their falling from GOD, who labour to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. 1. In regard of GOD. Rom. 9 11. Mat. 25 23, 24. 2 Tim 2 19 Singula ve●ba po●du● habem, certitudo haec nititur ● sundamento, 2 non quocunque sed sirmo, 3 non hominu sed Dei, 4 non vacillan●e s●d stante i●lque o●signato, ●dque notitia Dei, non si●pl●●u satum inspection●, sed disce●nen●e sum a non sun. O. Prideaux. 1. His Counsel, on which man's salvation is founded, is sure and unchangeable, and his calling without repentance, Rom. 11.29. 2. His Love is everlasting and inviolable, jer. 31.3. Rom. 8.35. ult. 3. His Mercy (like his Lov●) is ●verlasting, Psal. 103.17. Psal. 100.5.106.1. & 107.1. Luke 1.50. It is iterated 26. times in 136. Psalm. 4. His Will is for such, Luke 12.32. 1 Pet. 1.5. Kept by the guard of God's power unt● salvation, Phil. 4.7. Keep with a guard as Kings are kept, Ps. 132.11. john 6.39. His Grace, and that is all-sufficient, 2 Cor. 12.9. 5. His Power is for such, and that is Almighty, joh 10.27, 28, 29. jude 24.2 Tim. 1.12. 6. His faithfulness and truth make both for this, 2 Thess. 3.3. 2. In regard of CHRIST. 1. Because of our union with him: Our assurance is not in o●r sel●e, b●t in Chri●t; as we la● hold of Man, so he fa●● holds u●; and as he hath prayed that our faith fail not us, so neither will he let go his hold joh 10 27, 28, 29 Heb 7 25 Phil ● 7. He is the Head, we the members. and he will not suffer any to perish that are ingraffed into him, joh. 6.39. joh. 17.22, 23, 26. 2. From the perpetual efficacy of his intercession, Rom. 8.34. Heb. 7.21. He is a Priest for ever, and always intercedes for his. What he said to Peter, S. Austen saith, A mighty man will not lose that which he hath bought for his money, and will Chri●● lose ●h●t which He hath bought with his blood? I have prayed that thy faith fail not, Luke 22.32. He performeth for all. He is the Author and finishe● of our faith, Heb. 12.2. 3. In regard of the HOLY GHOST. 1. His continual assistance, Esay 59.21. 1 Cor 3.16. He shall abide with us for ever, John 14.16. And he which hath begun a good work, will finish it, Phil. 1.6. The nature of a seal is to make things sure, Dan 6.8. Mat 27.66. a writing in firm amongst men, when the seal is put to it. 2. His Obsignation which is irrevocable: every one that believeth, is sealed by the holy Spirit of promise, Ephes. 1.13, 14. sealed for ever, 4.30. 2 Cor. 1.22. an honest man will not break his bargain, when there is earnest and evidence for it; therefore chrysostom saith elegantly, if GOD having once given this earnest, should not also give the rest of the inheritance, He should undergo the loss of his earnest. 4. The lasting power of the Word once rooted in the good and honest heart, Luke 8.15. It is called immortal seed, 1 Pet. 1.23, 25. The engrafted Word, James 1.21. The seed remaining, 1 Joh. 3.9. 5. The certainty and sweetness of the promises to this purpose. Zach 10.12 john 8.12. 2 Sam. 7 14 15. GOD hath promised that his people shall not be moved from the state of grace, The book of Psalms is full of ●he●e comfortable promises. Psal. 1, 3. & 9.10.18. Ps 112.6.19. & 73.24, ●6. Ps. 103.17. & 145.14. Ps. 8●. 33. Psal. 15.5. & 16.8. Psal. 37.24, 27, 28, 31. Psal. 55.22. & 102.28. Pro. 10.30. Psal. 125.1. He will not cast off his people nor forsake his inheritance, Psal. 94.14. 1 Sam. 12.22. And he will put his fear into their hearts, that they shall not depart from him. For this is his Covenant with his people. jer. 32.39, 40, 41. Hosea 2.19, 20. He upholdeth them with his hand, that they shall not fall away. He will confirm them unto the end, that they may be blameless in the day of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, joh. 6.35, 37 51, 53. & 5.24. 1 Cor. 1.8, 9 the like is, 1 Thess. 5.23, 24 GOD hath made more promises to hold up his children, than ever he made to hold up the pillars of the world. 6. The prayers of the whole Church of GOD which are very prevalent and powerful, joh. 16.23. the daily sacrifice of believers, is, ne inducas in tentationem. 7. The force and might of faith, 1 Pet. 1.2, 3, 4, 5. 8. The durable vigour of saving graces, John 4.14. our Saviour hath promised, john 16.22. that he will give unto the faithful such constant and permanent joy, as no man shall be able to take from them: He hath prayed that our faith may not fail, Luke 22.32. It is a stable grace, 1 joh. 5.4. 1 Pet. 2.6. Comforts to the Godly, who are troubled with many and strong corruptions, and likewise want the means of grace, either 1. Altogether. 2. In the power of them. 3. Or having them so, yet profit not by them. 1. Comforts in case of dismaidness under many and strong corruptions. Act 3 26. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, The faithful (that they may have comfort against their corruptions) must by beholding the promise●, fly unto Christ, and clea●e the faster to Him, Rom. 7 25. Phil. 3.9. and you shall be clean ●rom all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you, Ezek. 36.25. Though thy sins were as great as Idolatry in the first Table, or Whoredom in the second, yet GOD will forgive and sanctify thee. He will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea, Micah. 7.19. The sea can drown mountains as well as molehills: Though they were as crimson and scarlet, which will take no other die, yet in CHRIST'S blood they shall be made as white as wool and snow, Esay 1.18. All manner of sins and blasphemies shall be forgiven unto men, Matth. 12.31. CHRIST came to save sinners, 1 Tim. 1.15. It matters not what the wound is, so CHRIST be the Physician. Where sin, that is, the knowledge and feeling of sin abounded, grace over-abounded, Rom. 5.20. have we a multitude and magnitude of sins? GOD hath a multitude and magnitude of mercies: Have mercy upon me O GOD according unto the multitude, Psal. 51.1. so we translate it, (the Hebrew word Rob, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See 2 Sam. 24.4. His mercies are greater many. Spare me O God according to the greatness or multitude of thy mercy. Neh. 13 22. signifieth also magnitude) of thy tender mercies. Two things terrify penitent sinners: 1. The multitude and exceeding great number of evils whereof they are guilty, he tells them in that 26. Ezek. that he would * Psal. 130 8 wash them from all their filthiness, without exception, 1 Joh. 1.9. therefore let us not put in conditions where GOD doth not, and as it were interline his Covenant. 2. That their sins have been heinous and extraordinary, Zach. 13.1. He promiseth to open a fountain of grace to wash them from all sins; CHRIST hath discharged our pounds as well as our pence. He came to take away the sins of the world, this is spoken indefinitely. 2. Comforts to such who are troubled for want of the means of grace, either Altogether. After GOD hath given you the bread of affliction, Comforts to those that want, or have lost the means of knowledge, their teachers are taken from them. and the water of adversity, he will restore teachers and no more restrain instruction, Esay 30.20. Though thou see no way of help, yet thou knowest not how GOD can provide, He can open rivers on the tops of mountains, and he maketh the wilderness a standing pool, when his people thirst and cry unto him, Esay 41.17, 18. If ordinary means fail, GOD will then ●●pply of his Spirit; I will be unto them as a little Sanctuary in the countries where they sha●l come, Ez●k. 11.16. I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will ●r●ng you in Zion, Jer. 3.14. The LORD giveth the Word, great is the company of preachers, Psal. 68.11. The ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads, they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall fly away. Elay 35.10. Or in the power of them. I will give you Pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding, jer. 3.15. Or having them so, and not profiting by them. In our spiritual barrenness lamented, I am the LORD thy GOD which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way which thou shouldst go, Esay 48.17. For thy Maker is thine husband, etc. Esay 54.5, 6. Hosea 2.19. In the wilderness shall waters break out, See 1 & 2. verses. and streams in the desert, and the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land-springs of water, Esay 35.6, 7. that is, the most barren heart shall abound with grace, according to that promise, Out of their bellies shall flow rivers of living water, john 7.38. streaming out for the good of others. The Kingdom of GOD shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof, Matth. 21.43. This is a promise, that the Gentiles shall bring forth the fruits of the Gospel, therefore every believing Gentile may apply it. The use of Faith here is, to uphold us against our manifold de●ects, infirmities and imperfecti●ns. For first, it giveth evidence to our souls, that the graces we have are the gifts of GOD, because GOD promiseth them. Secondly, it maketh us rest on GOD for perfecting of that good work which he hath so graciously begun. The Godly that know they fear GOD unfeignedly, and yet are often perplexed, because all sensible tokens of GOD'S favour are taken from them, should 1. Acquaint themselves with the promises, and comfort themselves with these words, they will be as flagons of wine to all distressed spirits. 2. Let them not consider too much of, nor reason too much with their temptations, Rom. 4.19. 3. Though they feel nothing, yet let them say with David, Ps●l. 56.10. In GOD will I praise his Word, in the LORD will I praise his Word. CHAP. V. 5. In regard of GOD, Desertions. Comforts to GOD'S people in spiritual desertions. 1. LEt them Consider, that this hath befallen the best of GOD'S servants. Job 6.4, 13.16.9. David, Luther confesseth of himself, that after his conversion, he lay three years in desperation. Psal. 6. & 77. and CHRIST himself, Mat. 27.46. CHRIST (saith Greenham) was forsaken for a few hours, David for a few months, and job for a few years. 2. GOD doth not forsake them, Heb. 13.5. Non deserit etiamsi deserere videatur, non deserit etiamsi deserat. Austen. Esay 49.15, 16. but seems to forsake them. 3. Desertion is but short, compared with the time of mercy, For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee, for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer, Esay 57.18, 19 Esay 54.7, 8. He will not always chide, neither will he keep his anger forever, Psal. 103.9. The LORD will not cast off for ever, but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies, Lam. 3.31, 32. 4. GOD waits for a fit season of showing his favour toward them, Esay 30.18. We ought to live by faith, Hab. 2.4. waiting for GOD who hides his face, Blessed are all they that wait for him, Esay 30.18. Esay 8.17. and to stir up ourselves to lay hold on our GOD, Esay 64.7. that is an excellent place, Esay 50.10. CHAP. VI SPIRITVALL PROMISES. 1. In regard of Good. 1. GOD'S 1. Love of them, which hath three properties, it is 1. Free. 2. Infinite. 3. Eternal. 2. Presence with them: 1. Each of the godly in particular. 2. The whole Church in general. 3. Providence over them, keeping them 1. Immediately, by himself. 2. Mediately, by his Angels. 1. Promises of GOD'S Love. For spiritual blessings in General, Ephes. 13. he hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings, 2 Pet. 1.4. He hath given us all thngs pertaining to life and godliness. ANd he will love thee, and bless thee, etc. Deut. 7.13. He crowneth his people with loving kindness, and tender mercies, Psal. 103.4. There are three properties of GOD'S Love. 1. It is a free Love; he stands not upon desert, Hosea 14.4. Exod. 33.19. 1 joh. 4.10, 19 The LORD did not set his Love upon you, nor choose you, because ye wore more in number then any other people, but because the LORD loved you. Lo he loved you, because he loved you, Deut 7.7, 8. Amat, quia amai. Bernard. to show the freedom and independency of his love unto them. 2. It is an infinite & transcendent Love, Eph. 2.4.7, 18, 19 GOD * There is a Sic without a Sicut. so loved the world, etc. john 3.16. that is, so infinitely, so transcendently, so incomprehensibly, 1 joh. 3.1. jer. 32.40. 2 Sam. 7.15. 3. It is an eternal and unchangeable Love, I have loved thee with an everlasting love, Jer. 31.3. Behold I will betrothe thee unto me for ever, Hosea 2.19. With everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, Esay 54.8. 2. Promises of GOD'S special and gracious presence. This is the most sweet comfort, wherewith GOD anciently used to sustain his children. Each in particular. Isaac, Gen. 26.3, 24. Moses, jacob, Gen. 28.15. & 3●. 3. I will be with thee, that is, to do thee good, Gen 32.12 Exod. 3.12. & 4.12. Josh. 1.5, 9 & 3.7. Ezek. 3. Jer. 1.8, 19 David encouraged his son Solomon with this, 1 Chron. 28.20. And the whole Church in general. Zach. 2.10, 11. joel 2.17. Christ is spiritually present with all true believers. Rom. 16.24 2 Cor 13.14 Phil. 4.23. Esay 41.10. & 43.2. Rev. 1.13. & 2.1. CHRIST left this comfort for his farewell to his Disciples and their Successors. Lo I am with you to the end of the world, Matth. 28.20. And [With you] Comprehends under it not only Pastors, but people also; For where two or three are gathered together in my name (saith CHRIST) there am I in the midst of them, Mat. 18.20. 3. Promises of GOD'S providence over his children. They have an honourable guard. 1. GOD himself keepeth his Israel who neither slumbreth nor sleepeth. Psal. 121.4, 5. He keepeth his under the shadow of his wings, Psal. 91.14. The LORD compareth himself to an Eagle which safely carrieth her young, Deut. 1.31. & 32.11. and to a careful Shepherd, Ezek. 34.12. Psal. 23.1, 2, 3. john 16.12. Esay 30.21. ● Chron. 16.9 Psal. 13.18 19 Deut. 11. 1●. There are two sweet Psalms for promises of future protection, Psal. 91. & 121. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, Psal. 34.15. a man's eye is upon one that he loves, ubi amor, ibi oculus. The LORD hath a care of them, he loves, defends and protects them. He saith, Psal. 32.8. I will guide thee with mine eye. He will guide his children by his special providence in all their ways, Psal. 121.8. Esay 46 4. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous, but with Kings are they on the throne, yea he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted, Job 36.7. He keepeth all his bones, not one of them is broken, Psal. 34.20. There shall not a hair of your head perish, All the hairs of your head are numbered Luk. 12.7. and it is Austin's inference thereupon, Si sic custodiuntur su perstua tua, in quanta securitate est animatua. The eye is kept most diligently, and strongly guarded by nature with tunicle; Luke 21 18. Matth. 10.30. Acts 27.34. He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye, Zach. 2.8. To express the tenderness of his love, he named the tenderest part of the body, saith Salvian, that he might show that he is troubled with the least contamelie offered to his Saints, as we are with the least hurt of our eye. Nay he saith not, he that toucheth you toucheth his eye, but the apple of his eye, the tenderest piece of the tenderest part, the Crystal humour as the Philosophers call it, Psal. 17 8. Deut. 32.10 Ishon in Hebrew of Ish, pupilla in Latin of pupa, because therein appeareth the resemblance of a little man, or because as a man is to be prized above all other creatures, so GOD esteemeth his people above all the world. David found by his own experience, Psal. 17.8. Psal. 63.7. and 41.12. that GOD preserved him as the apple of his eye: and so may all Christians. What was said to jacob, Gen. 28.15. and to joshua by Moses, Deut. 31.8. and by GOD himself, josh. 1.5. Paul applieth generally to all Christians, Heb. 13.5. I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. He guides them in all their ways. He that hath mercy on them (saith the Prophet) shall lead them, even by the springs * The world is like a wilderness, the wicked like wild beast, in a de●art; God's children are so provided for, that God preserve● them, yea and himself s●●ds them out means of singular refreshing all their days. of water shall he guide them, Esay 49.16. 2. Christians have the guard of Angels. He shall give his Angels charge ov●r thee, to keep thee in all thy ways, they shall bear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Psal. 91.11, 12. The Angels keep us, and that universally, in all our ways: they keep us, and that very charily and tenderly, they bear us in their hands, and they keep us very safely and surely, so that we dash not our feet against a stone. The Angel of the LORD encampeth about them that fear him, and delivereth them, Exod. 33 2. & 32.34. Psal. 34.7. CHAP. VII. 2. CHRIST himself, and many blessings by him are promised to the Godly, 1. Redemption. 2. Vocation. 3. justification, which hath two parts, 1. Not imputing sin. 2 Imputing righteousness 4. Reconciliation 5. Adoption. The world itself was no sooner begun, but the promise also began of sending Christ into the world, Gen 3.15 Yet this promise was in general terms, neither showing what seed, neither showing what kind of woman, or of what people this seed should be. A second promise was made to Abraham, and it was a little more lightsome than this, for it showed of what people he should be, viz of the jews, Gen 22.8. A third promise was more lightsome than this too, for it shows of what Tribe he should be, viz of the Tribe of juda, Gen. 49 ●0. A fourth promise was yet more lightsome, for it showed of what family He should be, viz of the family of David, 2 Sam 7 16 The fifth, and six, and seventh promises were much more lightsome than this, for the fifth declared the party that should bring him into the world, viz a Virgin, Esay 7 17 The sixth the place he should be borne in, viz. Bethlehem, a City of judah, Micah 5.2 These youth declared the time, viz. seventy weeks of years from the time the Prophet Daniel lived in, that is, four hundred four score and ten years, Dan. 9 24. Days first Sermon of our Saviour's Nativity. 1. CHRIST is promised to the godly. THe first promise made to man and the foundation of all other was th●t, Gen. 3.15. It shall bruise thy head, It or He, that is, CHRIST, shall bruise thy head, that is, break the power and dominion of Satan. The first Promise was made concerning CHRIST, because GOD intended to make good every promise in CHRIST. In all ages the LORD renewed this promise of sending CHRIST the promised seed, as immediately after the flood, Noah by prophecy blessing his two sons, said, GOD shall enlarge japhet, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem, Gen. 9.27. He meaneth that we the Gentiles should be called to be one body with the Jews in CHRIST. The same was afterwards oft renewed to Abraham: In thy Seed (that is, CHRIST) thou thyself, and all the nations of the earth (that is, the faithful in all nations) shall be blessed, Gen. 12.3. Gen. 13.14. & 15.4, 18. Gen. 17.4. & 22. The like was after promised to Isaac, Gen. 26.4. and jacob, Gen. 28.14. and Gen. 49.10. it is said, The Sceptre shall not depart from juda until Shiloh come, Shilo secundae eius, id in que involvitur partus in utero existens, Metonymia rei continent●s pro recontenta, ut inquit ●remel. See Cartwright his confutation of the Rhemish Testament, on Mat. 1.23 and Perkins on the Creed. that is, the Messias come, for Shiloh signifieth the tunicle or skin that lappeth the Infant in the Mother's womb; called by Physicians the secundine, (because it grieves the woman that is with child the second time, as it were a second birth) in French arriere fais, in English the afterbirth or after-burden: and by a kind of figure is put for the Son of GOD in the womb of the Virgin, made man; to note him to be of the flesh of Mary, and his birth to be like the birth of other children, sin only excepted. There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, Numb. 24.17. In all succeeding ages, Moses and all the Prophets in their times foretold of CHRIST, Rome 1.2. Acts 3.24. & 10.43. The LORD thy GOD will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren like unto me, unto him shall ye hearken, Christ was promised to come of th● seed of David, Acts 1●. 23. See Psal 8●. 35.36 & 131, 11, 12, 13 14 Esay 16.5. Deut. 18.15. like unto me] both in the participation of nature and office, saith junius: a true man, and a true Mediator, CHRIST is there meant, Acts 3.22. & 7.37. That evangelical Prophet Esay spoke of him then as already come. For unto us a child * That is, jesus Christ, of whom he prophesied, Chap. 7 14 Behold a Virgin shall conceive, and hear a Son, and shall call humane Immanuel. is borne, unto us a Son is given, and the Government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty GOD, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, Esay 9.6. See Esay 11.1.32.1, 2. & 53.2, 3, 4. Ezek 37.24. & 34.24. jer. 33.15, 16. jer. 23.5, 6. Micah 5.2. Zach. 3.8. & 6.12, 13. & 9.9, 10. He is called the messenger of the Covenant, Mal. 3.1. For in him GOD reconciled the world to himself, 2 Cor. 5.19. There are multitudes of promises also concerning CHRIST, Luke 1.32. and the general benefits by him in the New Testament. 1. That he shall save us: The Evangelist Matthew gives this reason of his name JESUS, Mat. 1.21. Luke 3.6. For he shall save his people from their sins, from the guiltiness, power, and punishment of them. The Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost, Luke 19.10. GOD sent his Son into the world, that the world through him might be saved, joh. 12. 4●. john 3.17. The Apostle with a vehement asseveration affirmeth this. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that CHRIST JESUS came into the world to save sinners, 1 Tim. 1.15. Hence CHRIST is often called our Saviour, Esay 49.26. Esay 60.16. Luke 2.11. 1 Tim. 1.1. 1 Tim. 2.3. Esay 49 6. 1 joh. 19 2. CHRIST is said to be A light to the Gentiles, Matth. 4.16. The light of the world, John 8.13. & 9.5. under this comparison of Light, all benefits which CHRIST brings us are contained, light of knowledge, grace, and glory. Hitherto belong all such Scriptures as show CHRIST to be our Life, 2 Tim. 1.10 Col. 3.4. john 6.33. joh. 14.6. CHRIST also calls himself The bread of life, joh. 6.35, 51. He is said to be the Head of the body. Compares himself to a Vine, john 15.1. to teach, that as the branch hath his whole life from the stock, so we have all our life from him. 3. GOD is well pleased in CHRIST, Mat. 3.17. In whom, not with, by, or through whom, but a larger preposition than them all, which signifieth two things: 1. That GOD is well pleased with CHRIST: 2. In and through him with others; therefore it is said, Ephes. 1.3. GOD hath blessed us, Rom. 8.32. with all spiritual blessings in CHRIST, verse 4. GOD hath chosen us in him, ver. 6. accepted us in the beloved, ver. 7. Ephes. 3.25. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. It is said, Acts 13.34. I will give you the sure mercies of David, that is, all those good things which were promised in CHRIST, who was of the seed of David. 2. Blessings by CHRIST to the Godly. 1. Redemption. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, Tit. 2.14. We have redemption through his blood. Col. 1.14 Ephes. 1.7. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquity, Psal. 130.8. He hath redeemed them from the curse of the law, by being made a curse for them, Gal. 3.13. CHRIST JESUS by his own blood entered into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us, Heb. 9.12. CHRIST is made unto us Redemption, 1 Cor. 1.30. 2. Effectual Calling; our particular calling doth interest us in the promises of GOD, Acts 2.39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, Rome 8 28.30. and to all that are a far of, even to as many as the LORD our GOD shall call, there is the condition. 3. Justification. By his knowledge, shall my righteous servant justify many, Esay 53.11. By him all that believe, are justified, Acts 13.39. In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, Esay 45.25. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of GOD'S Elect? it is GOD that justifieth, Rom. 8.33. He justifieth the ungodly, Rom. 4.5. that is, saith Beza, he makes him righteous in CHRIST, who is unrighteous in himself. 1. Justification consists of two parts, 1. Not imputing sin, 2 Cor. 5.19. 2. Imputing righteousness, Gal. 3.6. Promises of forgiveness of sins. This great benefit of forgiveness of sin by CHRIST, is plentifully proclaimed unto us miserable sinners. See Luk. 14 47. Act 5.31.10.43. & 13.38. Behold the Lamb of GOD which taketh away the sins of the world, John 1.29. He shall bear their iniquities, Esay 53.11. Once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, Heb. 9.26. He was manifested to take away our sins, 1 Joh. 3.5. The blood of JESUS CHRIST cleanseth us from all sin, 1 Joh. 1.7. He hath by himself purged our sins, Heb. 1.3. He bore our sins on the tree, 1 Pet. 2.24. He loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Rev. 1.5. He is the propitiation for our sins, 1 John 2.2. Hereunto agreeth that invitation of our Saviour: Come unto me all ye, He came to call sinners, Luk. 5 21. that are weary and heavy laden, and I will ease you, Mat. 11.28. GOD of his rich grace and mercy in JESUS CHRIST doth make offer of free and full forgiveness of sins, to every burdened, thirsty, and penitent soul. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our GOD, for he will abundantly pardon, Esay 55.7. Return thou backesliding Israel, saith the LORD, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you, for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep mine anger for ever, Jer. 3.22. I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me, and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me, Jer. 33.8. GOD when he forgiveth us, so fully acquitteth us of our sins, as if we had committed no sin at all. This appeareth by many Metaphors used in the Scripture. I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions, saith the LORD, Esay 43.25. It is a Metaphor taken from Creditors, who when they purpose never to exact a debt, will blot it out of their books: Col. 2.14. I have put away thy transgressions as a cloud, and thy sins as a mist, saith the same LORD, Esay 44.22. The clouds which are driven away by the winds appear no more, nor the mist which is dried up by the Sun; so the sins which GOD forgiveth, return not again: thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back, saith Hezekiah to GOD, Esay 38.17. that which a man would not look on or regard, that he casteth behind his back. Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the Sea, Micah. 7.19. As if he should say, look as God subdued Pharaoh and all his host in the bottom of the Sea; so he will cast and put away the sins of his people. Psal. 85.2. saith Micah to the LORD. When a man would have a thing utterly forgotten, he will cast it into the bottom of the Sea, from whence there is no fetching it again. The Psalmist pronounceth him blessed, whose sin is covered, Psal. 32.1. A thing covered is not seen, he hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, nor seen perverseness in Israel, Numb. 23.21. The same Psalmist pronounceth him blessed, to whom the LORD imputeth not sin, Rome 4.7, 8. Psal. 32.2. a sin not imputed, is as not committed: as Merchants when they will forgive a debt, put it not into the reckoning, and so do not impute it. GOD himself saith, I will forgive their iniquities, Heb. 8, 12. & 10.17. and I will remember * That which the Heathen Orator spoke flatteringly of Iuliu● Caesar, is most true of God, nihil obli●iset so let, nisi iniurias, He forgets nothing but the sins of penitent suppliants. their sin no more, jer. 31.34. the latter clause expounds the former; to forgive is to remember no more, that is, never to call that to account, which was once remitted. Thus GOD blotteth out our sins, that they condemn us not. Putteth them away, that they hurt us not. Casteth them behind his back, as though he regarded them not. And into the Sea, that they drown us not. Covers them, that they appear not. Doth not impute them, as though they were not. Forgetteth them, so that he punisheth them not. All the blessings in the new Covenant are given with remission of sins. When GOD forgives a man's sins, than he gives him all other things, Sanctification, and whatsoever else, as we see at large. Ezek. 36.26. The LORD there, after he had promised to forgive all their sins, he saith, he will give them a new heart, he will cause them to walk in his ways; and then he comes with outward mercies too, he promiseth them deliverance from their enemies, and other good things in the rest of the Chapter, but all other things come in with remission of sins, Acts 10.43. To him give all the Prophet's witness, that through his name, we have remission of sins. The Prophets gave witness concerning CHRIST of many other things besides remission of sins, that we have in his name, which we have by him, but all other things come with this. GOD was in CHRIST reconciling the world to himself, 2 Cor. 5.19. a marvellous great mercy, it consists in this, that their sins were not imputed. The privileges of the new Covenant are chained together: Whom he hath predestinated, them also he called, and whom he called, them also he justified, and whom he justified, them also he glorified, Rom. 8.30. 2. Promises to make us righteous. As by one man's disobedience, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one, shall many be made righteous, Rom. 5.19. therefore we are said, to be the righteousness of GOD in him, 2 Cor. 5.21. For this cause CHRIST is called The LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, jer. 23.6. & 33.16. CHRIST is made unto us righteousness, 1 Cor. 1.30. He is said to be the end of the law for righteousness, to every one that believeth, Rom. 10.4. and the Sacraments are said to be the Seals of the righteousness of faith. Rom. 4.11. Esay 61.10. Zach. 3.3, 4, He hath covered me with a robe of righteousness, Abraham believed GOD, and it was imputed to him for righteousness, Gal. 3.6. This imputed righteousness the Papists scoff at, Rom. 4.3, 5, 6 8, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, 24. and call it a putative righteousness; and yet the phrase is used ten times in one Chapter. 4. Reconciliation. By CHRIST we are reconciled to GOD. GOD hath reconciled us to himself by JESUS CHRIST. GOD was in CHRIST, reconciling the * That is, all believers through the whole world. world unto himself, 2 Cor. 5.18, 19 CHRIST is our peace, who hath made both one, that he might reconcile both unto GOD, Ephes. 2.14, 16. See Rom. 5.1.10. You that were sometime alienated, yet now hath he reconciled, Col. 1.21. 5. Adoption. Promises 1. of it. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ jesus Gal. 1 20. Ephes. 1. ●. that we should be called the sons of GOD, 1 Joh. 3.1, 2. But to as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of GOD, even to them that believe in his name, john 1.12. That is a gracious promise which the Apostle citeth out of the Prophet Hosea, Rom. 9.26. And it shall be in the place, where it was said unto them, ye are not my people, that there they shall be called the children of the living GOD. So the LORD promiseth to such as shall separate themselves from the wicked, 2 Cor. 6.18. He that overcommeth shall inherit all things, and I will be his GOD, and he shall be my son, Rev. 21.7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of GOD, Mat. 5.9. It was GOD'S promise to David concerning Solomon, 2 Sam. 7.14. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. Whereupon David much affected and ravished, saith, verse 18. O LORD GOD, what am I, or my father's house, that thou shouldst vouchsafe me so great honour and happiness, as to find my child, yea to take him for thine own, and to become his Father? See that excellent place, Gal. 4.4, 5, 6, 7. & Rom. 8.17. 2. To it, paternity promiseth all blessings, Mat. 7.11. and all forbearance, Psal. 103.13. Heb. 12.5, 6. CHAP. VIII. PROMISES 1. Of the Spirit. THe giving of the Spirit is a part of GOD'S Covenant, Whereas God did in the old time reveal his will unto some by vision●, and dream; now all sorts of men, young and old, men and maids shall be instructed in the knowledge of God more plentifully and perfectly. I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh in those days, and your young men shall see visions, etc. joel 2.28, 29. which is repeated, Acts 2.17, 18. The great Promise that our Saviour CHRIST made to them, before he departed in the flesh, was this, I will baptise you with the HOLY GHOST; which was fulfilled after when he poured forth his Spirit. So Esay 44.3. I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground, I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thy offspring, the latter end of the verse interprets it. So Ezek. 36.25, 26, 27. I will put my spirit within you, etc. I will pour upon the house of David the spirit of grace and supplications, Zach. 12.10. How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Spirit to them that ask him, Luke 11.13. I will pour out my spirit unto you, Prov. 1.23. This is meant in that place, joh. 4.10. Where our Saviour saith to the woman of Samaria, thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water: that is, the Spirit, as appears by comparing it with john 7.38, 39 I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, john 14.16, 17. It is said, Ephes. 1.13. They were sealed with the Spirit of promise, that is, which was promised to all Believers, and Gal. 3.14. we are said, by faith to receive the promise of the Spirit, that is, the Spirit of promise, or that had been promised. CHRIST had the Spirit in the fullness of it, The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, Esay 11 2. I will put my Spirit upon him. Esay 42.1. It pleased the Father, that in him should all fullness dwell, Col. 1.19. all fullness both in respect of the number of graces, Esay 11.2. and in respect of the measure of them, john 3.34. Col. 2.3. Of his fullness we shall all receive, and grace for grace, joh. 1.16. grace freely, and grace upon grace, Zach. 14.8. A Promise to those that have the Spirit. As many as are led by the Spirit of GOD, they are the sons of GOD, Rom. 8.14. CHAP. IX. The operation of the Spirit. 1. In General. Sanctification. 2. In Special. 1. Spiritual graces. 2. Spiritual duties. 1. The kinds of them. 2. The degrees of them. 1. The Promises of Sanctification. Ier 31.33. & 32.4. which is twice repeated in the Epistle to the Heb 8.10. & 10.16. Ezek. 11.19, 20. which is repeated, Ezek. 35.27. & 37.24. _●OD promiseth in the Covenant of grace which he hath made with his people, to take away their hearts of stone, and give them hearts of flesh: to put his law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, to put his fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from him, and to give them a new heart, and to put his Spirit within them. The substance of which Covenant is this, that all their sins shall be forgiven, and both the guilt and punishment thereof wholly removed. Their persons shall be justified, and their natures sanctified; the laws of GOD and his promises shall be written in their minds, so that they shall have the knowledge of them; and in their hearts, so that they shall have the comfort, feeling and fruition of them: they shall not only have interest in all GOD'S graces and blessings, but according to their need, shall have the use and enjoyment thereof. The LORD often promiseth to Sanctify and make holy his people, Ezek. 37.28 Deut 28.9. as Exod 19.6. & 31.13. Levit. 22.32. Esay 4.3, 4, 35.8. joel 3.17. Sanctify them through thy truth, John 17.17. and ver. 19 For their sakes I sanctify myself, Ephes. 5.25, 26. that they also might be sanctified through the truth. The LORD hath sworn that his children shall serve him in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life, Luke 1.73, 74, 75. The GOD of peace sanctify you wholly. Faithful is he that hath called you, who also will do it, 1 Thess. 5.23, 24. CHRIST is made unto us Sanctification, 1 Cor. 1.30. The LORD hath said, God will enable his children to live a holy life. that his children shall not want any needful Grace, for the leading of a godly life, Psal. 84.11. 1 joh. 3.3. There shall be a fountain opened for sin, and for uncleanness, Zach. 13.1. it is GOD'S Covenant to sprinkle clean water upon us, that we may be clean, and to cleanse us from all our filthiness, and all our Idols, Ezek. 36.25. I will turn to the people a pure language, Zeph. 3.9. See ver. 13. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgement. The Law of GOD is in his heart, Psal. 37.30, 31. CHRIST gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works: Tit. 2.14. the LORD will guide the meek in judgement, and teach the humble his way, Psal. 25.8. & 12. In the days of the Gospel (saith the Prophet Zacharie) shall there be upon the bells of the horses, Zach. 14. The meanest shall have holiness written upon his forehead as the Priests had under the Law, or they shall be holy in their journeys, in eating and drinking. HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD. Those Promises before quoted in the Chapter of Justification, Mat. 1.21. joh. 1.29. 1 john 2.2. 1 joh. 1.7. Rev. 1.5. may be referred to this head also, for they are to be understood not only of pardoning our sins, but, delivering us from the power of them. Promises. 2. To Sanctification. In keeping of them there is great reward, The rewards of Sanctification. The promise of walking in white hereafter is made to none but such as walk in white here, Rev. 3 4. There are promises to holiness, 1. Of God's presence. 2. Of his acceptance. 3. Of his fatherhood, 2 Cor 6.16, 17, 18. Psal. 19.11. Blessed and, happy is he that hath part in the first resurrection, on such the second death hath no power, Rev. 20.6. Depart from evil and do good, and dwell for evermore, Psal. 37.27. To give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified, Act. 20.32. See the like Act. 26.18. See Rom. 8.1, 13. 1 john 1.7. Esay 1.16, 17, 18. CHAP. X Promises of Spiritual Graces. 1. The kinds of them. 1. Knowledge and wisdom. 2. Faith. 3. Confidence. 4. Hope. 5. Joy. 6. Love, of 1. GOD. 2. CHRIST. 3. Our Brethren. 4. Our Enemies. 7. Fear. 8. Obedience. 9 Repentance, in which are handled 1. Confession of sin 2. Mourning for sin 3. Killing of it. 4. Turning from it. 10. Humility. 11. Meekness. 12. Patience. 13. Righteousness. 14. Uprightness. 15. Peace. 16. Zeal. 17. Perseverance. There are promises of all kind of graces; not a grace, but there is a promise of it generally, or specially Spiritual Graces promised. 1. Knowledge, and Wisdom. Promises. 1. Of Knowledge. IT is part of the Covenant, Heb. 8.11. You shall know me from the least to the greatest, jer. 24.7. & 31.34. ●os. 2 20. and I will teach you, and you shall no more teach one another his neighbour, you shall have my law written in your hearts. The Prophet speaking of the days of CHRIST, saith. The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea, Esay 11.9. the like we have, Hab. 2.14. 2 Cor 3.16.18. In the time of the Old Testament, there was a veil that covered their hearts and their eyes, that they were not able to see the truth clearly, but now That veil is taken away and we see the truth with open face, as we see an image in a glass. joh. 1.17, Mat. 1.16. 1 joh 5.10. Ephes 3.5 We know much more than they in the Old Testament, and in another manner, more distinctly, more particularly. It is oft said, that The LORD will teach his people. As in that famous prophecy of the days of the Gospel, that GOD would teach them his ways, and they would walk in his paths, Esay 2.3. Micah 4.2. So Psal. 25.8, 9 He will teach sinners in the way, and the meek he will teach his way. The Elect shall be all taught of GOD, Esay 54.13. john 6.45. so much as is necessary for their salvation, jer. 31.34. yea The least as well as the greatest. They shall know of the Scripture to be GOD'S Word, Esay 52.6. They shall know in that day that I am he, that doth speak, behold it is I. They shall know of that doctrine which is taught them, whether it be of GOD, or whether their teacher speak of himself, john 7.17. CHRIST'S Sheep know his voice, and will follow him, John 10.4. Pro 3.32. His secret is with the righteous. The secret of the LORD is revealed to them that fear him, and he will show them his Covenant, Psal. 25.14. See ver 12. When the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth, john 16.13. The faithful have an unction from the holy one, and know all things. 1 john 2.20. and ver. 27. The HOLY GHOST abideth in them, and they need not that any man teach them. See Pro. 1.23. Host 14.9. Psal. 107.43. john 8.32. Psal. 32.8. Mark 4.11. Esay 30.21. Prov. 2.3, 4, 5, 6. Prov. 3.6. & 14.6. Promises. 2. To Knowledge and wisdom. The profit of knowledge. Pro. 3 15 to 19 21. to 25. & 24.14. It is rewarded 1. with Temporal blessings, GOD will exalt such as know him. I will set him on high, because he hath known my name, Psal. 91.14. Length of days is in her right hand, Dan. 11. 3●. & 11.3. The wise shall inherit glory, Pro. 3.35. See P●o. 4.5. to 10. and in her left hand riches and honour, Prov. 3.14. 2. With spiritual blessings, as grace * joh 17 3. By life eternal is understood grace, by a metonymy of the effect, quia vitam efficit, it works life. Piscat quia radix & or●go vitae Cyril Quia gustus est vitae aeternae. Brentius. Esay 53.11. M. Perkins on the Creed. Faith is the gift of God, whereby we know, apprehend and apply the promises relying upon them Pa●. on the Rom. and peace. 2 Pet. 1.2. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you, through the knowledge of GOD. 3. With eternal blessings, Prov. 3.13, 18. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her, and happy is every one that retaineth her. 2. Faith, which is thus defined, Faith is a supernatural gift of GOD in the mind, apprehending the saving promise with all the promises that depend upon it, Phil. 1.29. Gal. 3.14. Promises. 1. Of Faith. GOD promiseth to give Faith to whom he means to save. The Apostle saith, It is the gift of GOD, Christ is conceived in our soul by faith, as he was conceived in the Virgin's womb by her yielding to the promise. So we closing with the promise, than faith is wrought, and Christ comes to live in the heart. Ephes. 2.8. and jude 3. That it was once given to the Saints. Heb. 12.2. CHRIST is said to be the Author and finisher of our Faith. And Rom. 12.3. That GOD hath dealt to every man the measure of Faith. All that the Father giveth me, that is, by election; shall come to me, that is, by Faith, john 6.37. See verse 35. Promises. 2. To Faith. Many Promises are made to Believers. 1. Belief in GOD brings good success. Believe in the LORD your GOD, so shall ye be established; believe his Prophets, so shall ye prosper, 2 Chron. 20.20. 2. Forgiveness of sins: righteousness and justification are promised to Believers, Acts 10.43. Rom. 10.4. & 4.5. & 5.1. Acts 13.39. 3. We are made the sons of GOD by adoption, when we believe in CHRIST, joh. 1.12. Gal. 3.26, 29. 4. GOD will give his Spirit to them that believe: He that believeth in me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water, joh. 7.38. 5. GOD hath promised to hear the prayers of such as believe, What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them, Mark. 11.24. Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, if ye believe ye shall receive it. Matth. 21.22. 6. Eternal life is promised to Believers, john 3.16. joh. 3.18. & 6.35, 11, 25, 16 & 12. ●● 2 Thess. 1.10. Whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. It is not only said he shall have eternal life, but already he hath it, often in john, Chap. 3.36. Chap. 5. 24. Chap. 6.47, 54. 1. In regard of right, because he is instated into it in the Covenant of grace, Mat. 5.3. 2. CHRIST in his Ascension hath taken full possession for us, Ephes. 2.6. 3. In regard of initial fruition in this life, the life of grace is an imperfect life of glory. Believers are said to be blessed, John 20.29. Acts 16.30, 31. The Evangelicall promises of grace concerning ou● reconciliation made by Christ and remission of sins, are so to be believed of us, that they may bring firm and solid comfort, but unless I believe in speeciall, that I am reconciled and that my sins are pardoned, I cannot have this consolation, Ergo, I am to believe this. The Mayor is manifest, because the end of Evangelicall grace and the Divine promises, is that we may have firm consolation, Heb. 6.18. B. Dau. on Coloss. Every man that believes shall be saved, Mar. 16.16. There is the gracious promise: now the Faithful man assumes the Minor, but I believe, and out of these two premises, inferreth this saving Conclusion, therefore I shall be saved. Bellarmine saith, this particular proposition, such or such a man is truly justified, hath eternal life, is not contained in the Word of GOD, either immediately or by consequence. Some Divines say, that such places as these, Psal. 103.3. Rom. 10.9. Gal. 2.20. intimate and imply such a particular proposition immediately, but this is deduced by evident consequence out of the word, from such general promises and propositions as these: Whosoever believeth in him, shall receive remission of sins, Acts 10.43. And by him all that believe, are justified from all things, etc. Acts 13.39. He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life, john 3.36. follow by good consequence these particulars, Paul, Peter, Calvin, Bradford, or any other particular man believing in him, receives remission of sins, is justified and hath eternal life; as it follows directly and infallibly, every man is a reasonable creature, therefore john, Thomas, etc. is endued with reason. For all Generals comprehend and include their particulars; otherwise how shall it be proved, that GOD made Hens and Ducks, etc. but by this, that he made all the world, and gave being to every creature. One means to get Assurance is a serious meditation on the Promises of GOD, and an humble and sound application of them to thyself, Heb. 10.22, 23. When the LORD acquaints us with his Word and Promises, and causeth us by his Spirit to put our trust in them, this is a sound and true Assurance, job 33.26. * The smallest measure of true grace that can be, is to hunger after grace in the want thereof, faith a reverend Divine on the fourth of john. The smallest measure of Faith that can be, is when a man not being able to apply the promises to himself, and to say, I am persuaded my sins are forgiven, yet out of a troubled heart doth unfeignedly desire the favour of GOD above all the world. Such as unfeignedly desire & ask grace of God, shall be sure to obtain it. To this thirsting the Promises are made, Mat. 5.6. Psal. 107.9. The LORD will fulfil the desires of them that fear him, Psal. 145.19. See Esay 55.1, 2. Esay 44.3, 4. Rev. 21.6. & 22.17. john 7.37. Psal. 10.17. Luke 1 53. Promises of Assurance, Psal. 50.23. that is, I will cause him to see and know that he shall be saved, Mal. 4.2. Psal. 85.9. & 97.11. GOD hath first commanded the faithful to make their calling and election sure, 2 Pet. 1.1. and to believe his promises, Mar. 1.15. 1 john 3.23. Secondly, promised that he will certify and assure his people of his favour, Ezek. 34.30. Thirdly, GOD hath given his people in all age's experience of the truth of this his promise in themselves, Rom. 8.15, 16. Gal. 4.6. 3. Confidence. Promises. 1. Of Confidence. It is said of GOD'S people, That they shall stay upon the LORD the holy one of Israel Esay 10.20. At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eye shall have respect to the holy one of Israel, Esay 17.7. Thou shalt call me my father, and shalt not turn away from me, Jer. 3.19. They shall trust in the name of the LORD, Zeph. 3.12. Many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the name of the LORD, Psal. 40.3. Under his wings shalt thou trust, Psal. 91.4. He is the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are a far off upon the Sea, Psal 65.5. They that know thy name will put their trust in thee, Psal. 9.10. In his name shall the Gentiles trust, Mat. 12.21. The Spouse leaned upon her beloved, Cant. 8.5. The Isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust, Esay 51.5. The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him, Psal. 64.10. Promises. 2. To Confidence. 1. Safety: Deut 31.6. Iosh 1.9. 1 Chron. 28.20. 2 Chron 20.15, 17. Esay 41.10, 13, 14. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord, Psal. 112.7. Confidence in God doth the more bind and oblige him as it w●re to do us good. GOD is a shield to them that put their trust in him, Pro. 30.5. who so putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe, Pro. 29.25. They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion which cannot be removed, Psal. 125.1. Thy life shall be for a prey unto thee, because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD, Jer. 39.18. None of them that trust in him shall be desolate, Psal. 34.22. The LORD shall save them because they trust in him, Psal. 37.40. The faithful have promised themselves help, because they trusted in the LORD, Psal. 57.11. & 143.8, 9 Numb. 14.9. 1 King. 6.16. Psal. 3.6. & 23.4. & 27.1, 3. Psal. 46.1, 2. & 49.4. & 46. Psal. 4.11. & 118.6. Esay 12.2. 2. Peace; Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee, Esay 26.3. 3. Mercy, He that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about, Psal. 32.10. 4. Blessedness; Blessed is the man that trusteth in thee, Psal. 84.12. Psal. 34.8. Blessed is the man that maketh the LORD his trust, Psal. 40.4. Who so trusteth in the LORD, happy is he, Pro. 16.20. 4. Hope. Calvin calleth Hope an expectation of those things which Faith believeth to be truly promised of GOD. Spes est expectasio eorum quae verè a Deo promissa fides credidit. Calvin l. 3. Inslit. C. 2. Sect. 42. Rome 8.25. Spit est virtus qua inclinamur ad expectationem eorum, quae Deus nobis promisit. M. Perkins defineth Hope thus Hope (saith he) is the grace o● GOD whereby with patienc● we wait the LORDS leisure for the performance of his promises, especially touching redemption and life eternal. Hope is an expectation o● such good things to come 〈◊〉 GOD hath promised, and Faith believed. Faith is the foundation of Hope, Hope is the nourishment of Faith. Faith apprehendeth the promises of things to come, Hope expecteth the things promised. Simeon having a promise, that before he died, he should see CHRIST with his bodily eyes, believed the same, and looked for the performance of it, Luke 2.26, 29, 30. Promises. 1. Of Hope. David often professeth, that GOD was his hope, Psal. 39 7.33.22. & 119 16●. and his trust even from his youth, and GOD made him hope even from his mother's womb, Psal. 71.5. & 22.9. And that GOD is the hope of all the ends of the earth, Psal. 65.5. CHRIST is in you the hope of glory, Col. 1.27. The righteous hath hope in his death, Proverbs 14.32. Dum spiro, sp●ro, saith the Physician. Dum expiro, spero, saith the Divine. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, saith job 13.15. Promises. 2. To Hope. The LORD promiseth, Psal. 91. both temporal blessings and eternal salvation to those that hope in him. They are pronounced Blessed that have true hope, Psal. 40.4. We are saved by hope, Rom. 8.24. The hope of the righteous shal● be gladness Pro. 10.28. Hope maketh us not ashamed Rom. 5.5. Psal. 25.3. To Hope in GOD, and to have GOD for our Help, ar● linked together in Scripture Happy is he, that hath the GO● of Jacob for his help, whose hop● is in the LORD his GOD Psal. 146.5. See Heb. 10.35. Lam. 3.24, 2● 26. Psal. 14.7, 11. Hope is preserved by a 〈◊〉 consideration and full persuasion of GOD'S properties, which make us patiently abide for the accomplishment of his promises: four special properties for this purpose are to be observed. 1. His free grace, 1 Pet. 1.13. that makes us wait on him, being persuaded in our hearts by faith, that the same grace which moved GOD to make any gracious promise, will further move him to accomplish it. 2. His infinite power, Rom. 4. 2●. being persuaded that he is able to do it. 3. His infallible truth: 2 Tim. 2 13 so faithful is GOD, that not a word which he hath said, shall fall to the ground. 4. His unsearchable wisdom: he is most wise in appointing the fittest times and seasons for all things, so as may most make for his own glory, and his children's good. Let us therefore imitate David, job, and Simeon, spoken of before, in waiting for the accomplishment of GOD'S promises, Rom. 4.18. Acts 26 6. and hoping in him even against hope, as Abraham did: though * Sense corrects imagination, reason corrects sense, but faith corrects both. sense, reason, and experience should be against us, yet let us cleave to the Promises, and wait upon GOD, who never faileth those that trust in him, 1 Pet. 1.13. 5. Joy. Promises of it. This is notably set out unto us in the book of Psalms, Psal. 19.8. The Statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart. Psal. 23.4. Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psal. 36.8, 9 Thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures; for with thee is the fountain of life, and in thy light shall we see light. Psal. 89.15, 16. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound, they shall walk O LORD in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day, and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. Psal. 45.15. Psal. 33 21. & 126 5, 6, With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought. Psal. 64.10. The righteous shall be glad in the LORD. Psal. 68.3. Let the righteous be glad, let them rejoice before GOD, yea let them exceedingly rejoice. Psal. 97.11, 12. * This duty is often and earnestly enjoined, ●sal. 32. ●. Phil. 4. & 3●. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD ye righteous, Psal. 118.15. The voice of rejoicing and salvation, is in the tabernacles of the righteous. Psal. 132.16. Her Saints shall shout aloud for joy. The books of the Prophets are full of these Promises. Notable is that sweet song of Esay, Esay 12.2, 3 GOD is my Salvation, I will trust, and not be afraid; for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song, he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of Salvation or Consolation. The whole 35. Chapter of Esay is full of heavenly consolation to as Gentiles, verse 1. jer. 3●. 12, 13 & 2● 19.41.16.61 3. Hol. 12.9 Zach. 19 The wilderness and th● solitary place shall be glad for th●m, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. See ver. 10. Esay 56.7. I will make them joyful in my house of prayer. In the 66. of Es●y are many sweet consolations, verse 10. to 14. our Saviour likewise said to his Disciples, that their hearts should rejoice, and their joy should no man take away from them, Joh. 16.22. Paul saith, The kingdom of GOD is in righteousness, peace, and joy in the HOLY GHOST, Rom. 14.17. The HOLY GHOST works it in the heart, one of his fruits is joy, Gal. 5.22. The LORD makes so many promises of this one thing, to make us see, 1. That there can be no holding out in a Christian course without this joy: 2. By reason of the many evils that befall us in this life, it is very hard to get, much more to keep this joy. 6. Love, of 1. GOD. 2. CHRIST. 3. Our Brethren. 4. Our Enemies. A Promise. 1. Of the Love of GOD. And the LORD thy GOD will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy GOD with all thy heart and with all thy soul, that thou mayst live, Deut. 30.6. As if the LORD had said, I will engraft the true love of myself in your hearts, which you will increase in, and constantly proceed in the same; The upright love thee. Cant. 1 4. and then I will account and accept of it, for the full measure of love that my law requireth. Promises. 2. To the Love of GOD. Many things are promised to those that love GOD. 1. Preservation, The LORD preserveth all them that love him, Psal. 145.20. 2. Plenty, GOD will cause them to inherit substance, and will fill their treasures, Proverbs 8.21. 3. Deliverance, Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him, Psal. 91.14. 4. Joy, unspeakable and glorious, 1 Cor. 2.9, 10. That Text is chiefly meant of the Gospel's joy, of the wine and fatlings, revealed to the Believer by the Spirit. 5. GOD knows them, loves them, will keep his Covenant with them, sheweth mercy to them and their posterity, and hath promised them a crown of life. If any man love GOD, the same is known of him, 1 Cor. 8.3. I love them that love me, Pro. 8.17. He is the faithful GOD which keepeth Covenant, and mercy with them that love him, Deut. 7.9. Deut. 7.9. Which sentence is repeated twice in the very same words, Nehem. 1.5. Dan. 9.4. He showeth mercy to them, and thousands of their generations that love him, Exod. 20.6. He shall receive the crown of life, which the LORD hath promised to them that love him, James 1.12. & 2.5. 6. All things shall work together for their good, Rom. 8.28. Promises. To the Love of CHRIST. If any man serve me, him will my Father honour, John 12.26. He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself unto him, john 14.21, 23. Promises to the love of our Brethren. It is the cognizance of a Disciple, and a sign of spiritual life. jam 2 8. By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples, if ye love one another, John 13.35. He that loveth his brother, abideth in the light, 1 John 2.10. And is translated from death to life, 1 John 3.14. If we love one another, GOD dwelleth in us, 1 john 4.12. Pr●mises to forg●v● of 〈◊〉. Promises to the love of our Enemies. It is a matter of great credit to forgive, for thereby we are declared to be The children of our heavenly Father, Matth. 5.44, 45. Love your enemies, and do good, and your reward shall be great, Luke 6.35. If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee, Pro. 25.21, 22. Thine enemy] that is, he that hates thee, not he whom thou hatest, for thou must hate none: give him bread] that is, Saul was for the time mollified, when he saw that David spared his life. 1 Sam. 2●. ●6 17. all things necessary in time of his need, if occasion be offered; for by thy beneficence thou shalt overcome his evil, and provoke him to love; or if not, GOD will certainly reward thee. It is also matter of Comfort for us; for if we forgive, so shall we also be forgiven, If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, Matth. 6.14. the same is Mark 11.25. and Luke 6.37. 7. Fear. Promises, of Fear. GOD promiseth to make us fear him. He saith in his New Covenant, that he will put his fear into our hearts, as jer. 32.39, 40. and that we shall fear him for ever. The LORD doth oft repeat this promise, as Deut 4.10. where one special means whereby this fear is wrought, is set down. Deut 6.1, 2. & 17 19 Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. So Pro. 2.5. They who seek for wisdom, shall understand the fear of GOD. David, Psal. 40.3. shows another means, whereby GOD doth stir up this grace in his people, viz. the beholding of GOD'S mercy on others, saying. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our GOD: many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. They shall fear thee as long as the Sun and Moon endure, throughout all generations, Psal. 72.5. They shall fear the GOD of Israel, Esay 29.23. Psal. 102.15. They shall fear the LORD, and his goodness in the latter days, Host 3.5. GOD hath made promises to free his people from servile fears, job 11.15. Psal. 112.7, 8. Prov. 1.33. Promises to Fear. 1. Great and everlasting mercy is promised to those that fear GOD. Illumination of the understanding, Psal. 11●. ●0. Pro 1.7. ● the amendment of a wicked life, ●ro 10.27. & 1●. 27. & 15.16. Luke●. ●0 Eccles 8.12. Psal 112 1. As the heaven is high above the earth: so great is his mercy toward them that fear him, Psal. 103.11. The mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that fear him, verse 17. O how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, Psal. 31.19. 2. Such as fear GOD, are accepted of him, Deut. 6.24 Esay 66.2. Act. 10.35. He taketh pleasure in them, Psal. 147.11. Mal, 3.16, 17. The Sun of righteousness shall rise up to such. Mal. 4.2. GOD will teach them in the way that they should choose, Psal. 25.12, 13, 14. He will fulfil their desire, Psal. 145.19. 3. They shall not want, There is no want to them that fear the LORD, Psal. 34 9 Psal. 111.5. 4. The Angel of the LORD enc●mpeth round about them, and delivereth them, Psal 33.17 Psal. 34.7. 5. Their days shall be prolonged, Pro. 10.27. Pro. 19.23. Pro. 22.4. and they shall be rewarded, All kind of felicity is promised to it, Psal 15 12, 13, ●4, 15. Psal 34 10. Esay 33 6. Pro. 13.13. 6. Those that fear the LORD are pronounced blessed. Blessed is the man that feareth GOD, Psal. 112.1, 2. He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great, Psal. 115.13. Happy is the man that feareth always, Pro. 28.14. He that feareth the LORD is, and shall be every way blessed, Psal. 128.1, 4. The reward of eternal life shall be given them, Rev. 11.18. 8. Obedience. Promises. 1. Of Obedience. GOD will make us able to obey. GOD doth promise in the New Covenant to enable us to walk in his statutes, and keep his Ordinances and do them, Ezek. 11.19, 20. the like is repeated, Ezek. 36.27. & 37.24. And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his Commandments which I command thee this day, Deut. 30.8. The like promise is, Host 14.9. The ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk● in them. Ier 30.9. Esay 30.21. & 58.11. GOD hath sworn, that we shall serve him, Luke 1.72, 74. Promises. 2. To Obedience. 1 joh. 2.3. & 3.24. The Scriptures are full of promises to Obedience. 1 Tim. 4 8. True and faithful obedience bringeth all manner of blessings for body and soul, God said to Adam in Paradise, do this and live. The Lord had Abraham go out of his country, & promised upon his obedience to bless him. Gen. 12.1, ●, 3. and to be his buckler, and exceeding great reward Gen. 15.1. & 17.1. & 18.19. for name and estate, yea, and for seed and posterity also. All these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy GOD, Deut. 28.1, 2. to 14. 1. All in general, all these blessings shall overtake thee. 2. Every one in particular, as is showed in the verses following. Particular promises made to Obedience. 1. a Peace and tranquillity of mind are promised to obedience. Holy and Christian security, Levit. 25.18, 19 & 26.3, 5, 6. Pro. 1.33. job 11.13, 15, 19 1 Chron. 28.7. 2. b Psal. 8.13, 1●. Deut. 10.13 & 1.36. Long life in man● of tho●e place● is promised also to obedience. Deut. 30.20. Pro. 3.1, 1, 2● 21. Sufficiency of outward things, nay plenty, Deut. 28. Levit. 25.18, 19, 21. & 26.3, 4, 5, 10. GOD'S blessing on the creatures, Exod. 23.25. 3. Prosperity and a blessing also on their seed, job 36.11. Esay 48.17. Deut. 6.17, 18, 24. This is often iterated almost in every Chapter in Deuteronomie, and in divers verses of some one: Take heed and do according to all that I command you, that it may be well with you and with your children for ever, Deut. 4.40. Deut. 5.29, 33. Deut. 6.2, 3, 18, 24. Deut. 12.28. GOD will show mercy unto thousands of them that love him and keep his Commandments, Deut. 5.10. Exod. 20.6. 4. Freedom from diseases, Exod. 15.26. and deliverance out of trouble, Deut. 4.30, 31. 5. GOD'S love, and presence. If ye will obey my voice indeed and keep my Covenant, than ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people, Exod. 19.5. And I will set my Tabernacle amongst you, and I will walk among you, Levit. 26.11, 12. 6. Victory over enemies, Deut. 6.19. Psal. 81.13, 14, 16. Deut. 11.22, 23. Deut. 28.7. Levit. 26.7, 8. 7. Audience of their suits, and acceptance of their persons. 1 joh 3.22. If my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you, john 15.7. Our obedience is an acceptable sacrifice to GOD, offered up in CHRIST, Pro. 3.1, 4. Gen. 4.7. Levit. 26.9. Acts 10.35. 8. Perseverance. If you keep my Commandments, ye shall abide in my love, john 15.10. 9 Blessedness, and eternal salvation. Deut. 11.17 1 Tim. 4.8. Blessed are they that keep judgement; and he that doth righteousness at all times, Psal. 106.3. See Pro. 8.32. & 29.18. Luke 11.28. john 13.17. Rom. 2.10. Psal. 19.2. Ezek. 18.9. james 1.25. Rev. 22.14. He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him, Heb. 5.9. A promise. 1. To willing obedience. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the Land, Esay 1.19. 2. Promises to general obedience. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy Commandments, Psal. 119.6. Ye are my Friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you, john 15.14. 9 Repentance; Promises 1 of it, Acts 5.31.2 to it, Acts 2.31. 2 Cor. 3.16. jer. 4.1. Ezek. 33.15, 16. In it are handled 1. Confession of sin. 2. Mourning for it. 3. Killing of it. 4. Turning from it. 1. Confession of sin. To true Confession of sin are promised. Remitting of it, purging from it, and mercy. Man taketh advantage from the delinquents confession, confess (we s●y) and be hanged. But with God, that may rather be a proverb, Confess & be saved. Psal. 32.5. See Levit. 26 40, 41, 42. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just (see the certainty of this promise) to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, See the extent and largeness of this promise, 1 joh. 1.9. Cum homo agnoscit. Deus ignoscit, saith Austin. He that confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall have mercy, Pro. 28.13. If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged, 1 Cor. 11.31. Jer. 3.12, 13. He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right and it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going down into the pit, and his life shall see the light, job 33.27, 28. 2. Mourning for sin. Promises. 1. Of godly sorrow. GOD promiseth in the New Covenant, Ezek. 36.26 Non carnale sed carneum cor. Not a fleshly but a fleshly heart. to take away the stony heart out of their flesh (that is, the stony hardness which was in their heart before) and to give them a heart of flesh, that is, a soft and tender heart, to tremble at GOD'S judgements, believe his promises, and obey his Commandments. You shall look on him, whom you have pierced, and you shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only Son, and be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn, Zach. 12.10. See Ezek. 20.43. & 36.31. If thou complainest of a hard heart, challenge GOD with his promise, and in a holy reverence and humble boldness, charge him with that Covenant mentioned in Ezekiel. Promises to true contrition or humiliation. Promises. 2. To Godly sorrow. This sorrow shall not be everlasting, but it shall end in comfort. 1. Comfort. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted, Mat 5.4. The words import an exceeding measure of grief, such as is expressed by crying and weeping; therefore Luke saith, Blessed are ye that now weep, Luke 6 21. * Doler p●opter off●nsum Deum per nostra peccata. Piscator, and others expound it of sorrow for sin. They that so mourn are already blessed, and shall be comforted. You shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy, john 16.20. See verse 24. Psal. 126.5.6. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. See jer. 21. The meek shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the holy one of Israel, Esay 29.19. He that goeth forth and weepeth, shall come again with rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him. GOD hath undertaken to comfort them: In the prophecy of Esay every where almost we find it promised. The ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall fly away, Esay 35.10. They shall have both outward and inward comfort, for so some distinguish between joy and gladness; that ●oy is outward of the body, and gladness inward of the soul, Psal. 118.24. arise (saith GOD, ●alling on his Church) and shine, ●nd put on brightness and glory: ●he LORD shall be a light unto ●hee in darkness. CHRIST was ●ent for this very end, to comfort such as mourn for their sins. The LORD hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, See Esay 65 13, ●4. & 60.5, 10, 11, 12.13. Psal. 10.5. Mat. 11.28 jer. 31.18, 19 20. Psal. 51.17. to give unto them that mourn in Zion, beauty for ashes, the oil of joy, for mourning, the garment of praise, for the spirit of heaviness, Esay 61.1, 3. Luke 4.18. I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel, Esay 30.19 Zach. 8.19. Mat. 15.24. that is, (saith M. Perkins) to those which in their own sense and feeling are lost in themselves. The fruit of the Spirit is joy, Gal. 5.22. The LORD who is the Father of mercies, and GOD of all consolation, 2 Cor. 1.3, 4, 5. is called a GOD that Comforteth all those that are cast down, 2 Cor. 7.6. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith our GOD. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, Esay 40.1, 2. Behold how freely and how fully the LORD speaks, how he doubles his comforts: Comfort ye, comfort ye, and iterates his words, speak comfortably, cry unto her: The LORD will comfort Zion and her mourners, Esay 57.18. All Zion, the Church of GOD shall be comforted, and all the friends of the Church, that mourn in her mourning, and that take to heart her sorrows and desolation, shall be comforted too. GOD shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, Rev. 7.17. God will make himselve marvellous in their deliverance, when all other humane helps and comforts fail, Esay ●3. 18, 9, 20, 21. Thus saith the High and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones, Esay 57.15. The day of humiliation, when GOD'S people afflict their souls before him, is called a day of atonement, Levit. 23.27. For so is GOD'S promise, In that day there ●hall be a Fountain opened for sin, Zach. 13.1. Zach. 13.1. 2. Grace. The second benefit this sorrow will bring, is, that it will make us capable of and able to thrive in every saving grace. Such shall attain to a clear, certain, and sanctified knowledge of the truth. Such shall get power over their corruptions, Eccles. 7.3. 2 Chron. 32.26. Counterfeit humiliation, hath been effectual for the turning away of God's judgements. 2 Chron. 12.12. This benefit is pressed as a motive unto godly sorrow. 1 Pet. 5.5, 6. GOD giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore (saith the Apostle) under the mighty hand of GOD. jam. 4.6, 7, 9 GOD giveth grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to GOD, Be afflicted and mourn and weep. 1. Knowledge, The humble he will teach his way, Psal. 25.9. 2. Repentance, Godly sorrow bringeth repentance to salvation, 2 Cor. 7.10. 3. Special protection, assistance, and mercy in the evil day. Those that mourn for the sins of other men, have a great promise of special protection in the days of common calamity. Go through the midst of the City, 1 King 21.29. through the midst of jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh, and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof, Ezek. 9.4. GOD marked them for his own, signo salutari saith junius, with a saving mark, such as that, Exod. 12. Thou wilt save the afflicted people, Psal. 18.27 He saveth such as be of a contrite spirit, Psal. 34.18. When men are cast down, than thou shalt say, there is a lifting up, he shall save the humble person, job 22.29. 4. Audience in prayer. The LORD hath promised, that the prayers of such shall prevail mightily with him both for themselves and others. Ambrose said to Monica the mother of Austin, when with many tea●es, s●e bewailed her ●ons unconversion, Fieri non potest, ut 〈…〉 l●ch●y●arum perea● It could not be that the Son of so many tears should perish. Aug. Confess l. 3 c. 13. It is said of jacob, Hosea 12.4. He had power over the Angel and prevailed, he wept, and made supplications unto him. And of Hezekiah, Esay 38.5. I have heard thy prayers I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years. LORD thou hast heard the desire of the humble, thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear, Psal. 10.17. When the Prophet had said, Psal. 34.17. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth them, he giveth this reason, verse 18. The LORD is nigh to them that are of a broken heart. 2 Chron. 7.14. If my people that are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, then will I hear from Heaven. Yea GOD will hear them also for others. job 42.8. My servant Job shall pray for you, for him will I accept. 3. Mortification or killing of sin. Promises. 1. Of Mortification. A Child of GOD shall be able to mortify his corruptions, and overcome his special sins which most prevail over him. For sin shall not have dominion over you, Rom. 6 14. that is, shall never any more reign as in times past it did, and so have the full victory over you. For ye are not under the Law, but under grace, that is, Ye are not still under the condemnation and tyranny of the Law; but by true receiving of CHRIST by faith are now delivered from that bondage, and so brought into the liberty of GOD'S children. See ver. 18, 22. and Rom. 7.24, 25. He will subdue our iniquities, Micah 7.19. He will tread them under our feet, as it were. This grace of Mortification is expressly promised, Gal. 5.16. Walk in the spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh, Tit. 2.11, 14. The members of CHRIST shall be cleansed from the guiltiness of sin, it shall not be imputed; and from the filthiness of sin, it shall not prevail over them, 1 john 17.9. Mat. 1.21. john 1.29. Rev. 1.5. Acts 3.26. Psal. 103.3. The Prophets foretold in their time, That GOD would purge and cleanse his Church. Esay 4 3, 4. & 27 9 Esay 1.25. That GOD will purely purge their dross, and take away all their tin: that is, their sins. I will cleanse you or wash you, that is, with the imputation or sprinkling of the blood of CHRIST from all your Idols, that is, from all the sins that you have committed. Esay 11.6. When we feel our hearts discouraged by the little strength we find to master our special corruptions, than we may apply to ourselves any of these promises, wherein the LORD himself doth undertake this work which is too hard for us: Nothing cleaves more pertinaciously, or is more inexpugnable than a strong lust. As God of ten promised his people going to conquer the land of Canaan, that no enemy should be able to stand against them, Deut 7 24 & 11. 2●● josh. 1.5. & ●0 8 so he hath as certainly promised to the Elect victory over their enemies. That he will subdue our iniquities, cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Though a strong and importunate lust hang upon us, an hereditary disease, a lust that is natural to us, which we think we shall never be able to conquer, yet GOD hath promised to break the dominion of every sin; That he will crucify the flesh with the affections thereof. He can heal the strongest lusts, CHRIST could cure those that were borne blind and lame; therefore when we grapple with a strong lust we should go to the LORD, and plead the Covenant, and say to him, LORD I feel this temptation is too strong for me, such a lust I cannot overcome, thou hast said, Thou wilt circumcise my heart, that thou wilt dissolve these lusts, I beseech thee to do it. If we truly hate and detest sin, (though it do sometimes stir in us) we should not be discouraged; for our Sanctification here is but in fieri, it is but in doing yet, We should do therefore as jehosaphat did, 2 Chro. 20.11. Rev. 6.2. CHRIST rides about conquering, and will yet go on to conquer sin in us. He will not subdue our corrupt lusts unto us at once, but as he did the Canaanites to his people Israel, by little and little, Exod. 23.30. Deut. 7.22. That promise which GOD made to Paul in the stir and conflicts of his concupiscence is made unto all of his temper, God hath promised to give grace sufficient to them that ask it. Ezek. 36.25, 26. my grace is sufficient for thee, 2 Cor. 12.9. There are two things in that promise; grace to make it, and sufficiency to fulfil it. The LORD doth sometimes descend to particulars, as that, He will cleanse them from their Idols, and that he will take away the stony heart out of them. But we may apply the former general promises to our particular occasions, and they will be as comfortable, as if the LORD had said in particular, he will kill our pride, our unbelief, our hypocrisy. Promises. 2. To Mortification. The benefits the LORD will bestow upon us, if in obedience and love to him, we can be content to cast away our sinful lusts. He that forsaketh any profit, credit or comfort for CHRIST'S sake, shall be rewarded an hundred fold, Mar. 10.29, 30. Mat. 19.28. He shall receive not ten in the hundred, but a hundred for ten, If ye mortify the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit, ye shall live, Rom. 8.13. Without it there is no living, it is a necessary condition required to the attainment of salvation. 4. Turning from sin. Promises. 1. Of Turning from sin. Then thou shalt remember thy ways and be ashamed, Ezek. 16.61. Ye shall remember your ways and all your doings wherein ye have been defiled, and you shall loath yourselves in your own sight, for all your evils that ye have committed. Ezek. 20.43. the like is repeated 36.31. Unto you hath GOD raised up his Son JESUS, and sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities, Acts 3.26. GOD promiseth to the Gentiles in their conversion, Then will I change in the people their lip, that it may be pure (so junius reads it) with the which all may call upon the name of the LORD, Zeph. 3.9, 11. that is, I will call them to repentance: and then follows a promise of taking away the stain of sin, In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy works. The remnant of Israel shall stay upon the LORD the holy one of Israel in truth. Elay 10.20 21, 22. The remnant shall return, etc. Then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband, for than was it better with me then now, Host 2.7. They shall return unto me with their whole heart, jer. 24 7. Promises. 2. To turning from sin. Turning unto GOD by repentance procureth his mercies upon us. 1. Temporal, Return unto me, The like is Zach. 1 3. I will turn unto you, in pard●n of sin, and delivery of them out of the scarcity and dangerous condition they were in, into a better estate of peace, and plenty and outward prosperity. and I will return unto you saith the LORD of hosts, Malac. 3.7. See Deut. 30.1, 2, Nehem. 1.9. job 22.23, 24, 25— 28. jer. 7.3, 5, 7, 14, 15. & 18.8. 2. Spiritual: the promises of remission to repentance are very frequent in Scripture. Esay 1.16, 17, 8 God will hear their prayers that turn unto him. job ●2. 27. 1 King. 8 48, 49. 2 Chron. 7.14. So the Prophet Esay promiseth pardon to the penitent; Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your works from you, that is, repent: and then follows, Though your sins were as crimson, they shall be made as white as snow, that is, ye shall be pardoned. If we acknowledge our sins, See Esay 59.20. jer. 4.1. & 3.1. (that is, if we repent) he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. Hence repentance and remission of sins are joined together by our Saviour, job 33 27, 28, 29. Ezek 18. 2●, 22, 23, 27, 28, 30, 32. & 33.12, 14, 15, 19 Luke 24.47. Acts 2.38 Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come, Acts 3.19. Let the wicked forsake his way, and return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, Esay 55.7. 3. Eternal: O Jerusalem wash thy heart from wickedness, that thou mayst be saved, jer. 4.14. 10. Humility. Promises. To Humility. The LORD inricheth the humble with all his gifts, both Temporal, Spiritual, and Eternal. 1. He will reward them with temporal benefits. By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life, Pro. 22.4. 2. GOD promiseth deliverance to the humble, 2 Chron. 12.7. job 22.29. 3. Honour, Before honour is humility, Pro. 15.33. & 18.12. job 5.11. jam. 4.6, 10. Luke 18.14. Matth. 23, 12. Mat. 18.4. 2. Spiritual graces; Wisdom is with the lowly, Pro. 11.3. GOD giveth grace unto the humble, jam. 4.6. 1 Pet. 5.5. Pro. 3.24. 1. Pardon of sin, 2 Chron. 7.14. 2. GOD teacheth them his ways, Psal. 25.9. Mat. 11.25. He revealeth to them the secrets of his Kingdom, making them thereby wise unto their salvation, Pro 11.2. 3. GOD blesseth them with his presence, taking delight to dwell with them, Esay 57.15. 3. GOD will crown the humble in the life to come with eternal glory. God hath two thrones; one in the highest heavens, the other in the lowest heart Esay 6●. 2. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, Mat. 5.3. Austen and chrysostom expound it of inward humility. 11. Meekness. Promises. 1. Of Meekness. The Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid: and the Calf, and the young Lion, and the falling together, and a little child shall lead them. And the Cow and the Bear shall feed, their young ones shall lie down together, etc. Esay 11.6, 7, 8. whereby is signified, that men once converted, shall be so changed and altered, that if they were never so fierce and cruel against the Church, and one against another before, yet they shall be framed to a peaceable and meek disposition towards all men. Promises. 2. To Meekness. God hath promised to water this grace with secret joys and easeful refresh, Esay 29 19 Mat. 11.29. 1. Protection, The meek are under GOD'S protection, in a special manner, Psal. 76.9. He will beautify the meek with salvation, Psal. 149.4. They shall be hid in the day of the LORDS wrath, Zeph. 2.3. He will rebuke aright for all the meek of the earth, Esay 11.4. 2. Advancement, The LORD lifteth up the meek, Psal. 147.6. 3. Instruction, The meek will he guide in judgement, and the meek will he teach his way, Psal. 25.9. 4. The inheritance of the whole earth: this appears both in the Old and New Testament, Psal. 37.11. Mat 5.5. Such a man shall have the earth as an heir, he shall hold it by right of adoption, as the word in the Original signifieth. 5. Blessedness, Mat. 5.5. Blessed are the meek. 12. Patience. Promise. 1. Of it. Patience is a gift which GOD hath promised freely and liberally without grudging or upbraiding jam. 1.5. If any of you lack wisdom, (that is, to bear the cross) let him ask it of GOD that giveth to all men liberally, and up braideth not, and it shall be given him. Promises. 2. To it. The patient abiding of the righteous shall be gladness, Prov. 10.28. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of GOD, (that is, Rev. 3.10. bow and buckle under it with meekness and silence) that he may exalt you in due time, 1 Pet. 5.6. Ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of GOD, Heb. 12.9. Who through faith and patience inherit the promise●, Heb. 6.12. ye might receive the promise, Heb. 10.36. Behold we count them happy which endure, Jam. 5.11. To them who by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal life, Rom. 2.7. 13. Righteousness. Promises To Righteousness. 1. Generally, Psal. 11.7. Pro. 11.3, 4, 5 6, 18, 19 2. Particularly, for the righteous person. 1. Himself. * Blessings (indefinitely) are upon the head of the righteous Pro. 10.6. 2. His posterity, Psal. 37.25. Psal. 112.2. Prov. 11.21. Himself. 1. In this life, He shall have, 1. Peace, and protection in time of danger, Esay 32.17. Psal. 5.12. Prov. 12.21. deliverance out of danger, Psal. 34.19. Psal. 125.3. Pro. 11.8. 2. Provision in time of want, See Psal. 58.11. Pro. 10.16 24, ●0. Psal. 92, 12, Pro. 4.18. Psal. 34.15. 1 Pet. 3.12. Psal. 37.25, 29. 3. Joy, Psal. 68.3. Let the righteous be glad, let them rejoice before GOD, yea let them exceedingly rejoice. 2. For his death; the righteous hath hope in his death, Esay 57.1. Pro. 14.32. 3. After death; the memory of the just is blessed, Pro. 10.7. the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance, Psal. 112.6. 4. At the resurrection; the righteous shall go into life eternal, Mat. 25.46. See 14. Chap. 43. 14. Uprightness. Promises. 1. Of Uprightness. He shall put his law in thy mind, and write it in thine heart, Jer. 31.33. The truth dwelleth in us and shall be with us for ever, 2 Epist. of john 2. Promises. 2. To Uprightness. GOD rewards it with the blessines of this life and that which is to come, he will give them grace in this life, and glory in the life to come, Psal. 84.11. No good thing will be withhold from them. In this life GOD multiplieth his favours upon those who s●rve him in sincerity, Psal. 73.1. Psal. 125.4. GOD hath promised to be good to them; 1. In their habitations and families, Pro. 14.11. 2. In their children and posterity, Psal. 112.2. 3. In all the comforts of this life, Psal. 84.11. 4. In times of common calamity and combustion, Psal. 37.19. Prov. 2.7. Psal. 112.4, 11. 5. Peace, joy, and security are promised to it, Pro. 11.3, 5, 6, 11. Pro. 10 29. Pro. 4 2, 11. & 19.1. Job 8.6, 20. Psal 61.10. He that walketh uprightly walketh surely, Pro. 10.9. 2 Chron. 16.9. Psal. 97.11. Prov. 11.28. GOD performeth all his gracious promises upon this condition only: so he promiseth unto the Kings of Israel and judah, 1 King. 2.4. & 9.4.5. that he will confirm their Kingdom unto them and their posterity after them. If they would walk before him in truth with all their heart and with all their soul: Psal. ●7. 18. Pro. 2.7, 21. Pro. 11.3, 6. therefore Hezekiah intreateth GOD to perform his promise unto him and his posterity, grounding his faith on this, seeing he had walked, etc. Esay 38. 3. Psal. 145.18. He will save and deliver them from all perils, and out of the hands of all their enemies, Psal. 7.10. Prov. 11.6. which makes them bold and confident as Lions in perilous times, Pro. 28.1. 6. Promotion, Pro. 22.11. He that loveth pureness of heart, See Esay 33.15. Pro. 10, Ilb 17.9, ●0. Psal ●5 and Psal 24 Pro 10 20. Pro. 11.20. for the grace of his lips the King shall be his friend. 7. GOD is delighted with it, 1 Chron. 29.17. Pro. 12.22. Psal. 51.6. Psal. 11.7. By sincerity and truth we come to be in league with GOD, he smites a covenant with us, Gen. 17.1, 2. 8. A peaceable end: mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace, Psal. 37.37. Three special blessings are promised them: 1. Such shall never fall away nor lose GOD'S favour and grace, Psal. 36.10. a Prophetical prayer hath the nature of a promise, Psal. 112.6.2. Such shall have strength given them of GOD to endure any trial he shall be pleased to bring them unto, 2 Chron. 16.9.3. Such shall be sure to have a comfortable issue and a joyful deliverance ●ut of all their tentations, Psal. 37. 37. Psal. 97.11. Psal. 126.5. In the life to come, GOD also crowneth the sincere and upright services of the faithful with joy and happiness. Solomon saith, He who walketh uprightly shall be saved, Pro. 28.18. and David affirmeth that the upright is blessed and shall dwell in GOD'S presence, Psal. 32.2. & 119.1. Psal. 15.2. our Saviour affirmeth that he shall be blessed in the vision and fruition of GOD, Mat. 5.8. 15. Peace. Promises. Of Peace of conscience. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you, john 14.27. Our Saviour 1. Challengeth peace to be his own, having dear purchased it: 2. His own to give, men may wish the peace of GOD or CHRIST, but he gives it as his own: 3. He showeth that this peace cannot be elsewhere had; Psal. 3. ●. & 4 8. Rom. 5.1. (not as the world giveth) plainly distinguishing his peace from the worlds, both in the gift and manner of giving. Ob. O but (may a child of God say) I have many and great afflictions in the world. Sol. What ●hough, in Christ thou mayst have peace, joh. 16.33. Ob. O but I cannot see which way I should have peace Sol. He will create peace Esay 57.19. Ob. O but the peace we have, neither is, nor here will be perfect. Sol. Peace shall come, Esay 57.21. Ob. O but am afraid lest my peace with God break and so hold not. Sol. The mountains may fall, but God's Covenant of peace shall not fall, Esay 54.10. The peace of GOD which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through CHRIST JESUS, Phil. 4.7. It is called the Peace of GOD] 1. Because it hath GOD for its Object, it is a peace with GOD. 2. Because GOD by his Spirit is the Author of it; it is peace from GOD, and therefore said to be a fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5.22. It is said to pass all understanding] because 1. The understanding of ma● cannot sufficiently conceive it 2. Man's understanding canno● sufficiently esteem or prize 〈◊〉 according to its worth, shall kee● your hearts] keep] as with guard or strong garrison: th● same greek word is used, 2 Cor. 11.32. your hearts] that is, your will and affections, and minds] your intellectual faculties, your whole souls shall be kept in the knowledge and faith of CHRIST JESUS. As many as walk according to this rule, peace shall be upon them and mercy, Gal. 6.16. By peace we are to understand outward peace, as prosperity and good success in all things we go about, and peace with the creatures: but the peace which is principally meant in this place, is peace of conscience, which is peace with GOD, and ourselves. 16. Zeal. The care of being Zealous, 1. Hath a singular promise of the presence and communion of GOD in CHRIST, Rev. 3.19, 20. 2. Zeal makes all our services acceptable to GOD, jam. 5.16. Romans 12.11. 3. It is the way to happiness, Matth. 11.12. 17. Perseverance. Promises to strengthen our faith as touching Perseverance. For this mark the first Promise which GOD made, The seed of the woman shall break the serpent's head, Gen. 3.15. there Satan is stinted to the heel of CHRIST, and that promise made to Abraham, Gen. 17.7. and to David concerning Solomon, 2 Sam. 7.14, 15. the which promise is applied to all GOD'S Elect, Psal. 89.23, 28, 29. GOD hath promised to his Elect, That they shall enjoy the work of their hands, and shall not labour in vain, Esay 65.22, 23. Not one of them shall be lacking in the whole flock, Jer. 23.4. He will build them and not pluck them down, he will plant them and not pull them up, jer. 24.6. See Esay 33.20. Mat. 28.20. Mat. 7.24, 25. Rome 8 35 to the end 1 joh. 2 24. joh 6.47. 2 Tim 4 18. Mat. 24.24. Deut. 31.8. 2 Sam. 7.10. Amos 9.15. Psal. 92.13, 14. Pro. 10.30. & 12.3. Judg. 5.31. Job 11.15, 17. Esay 42.3. & 46.4. Esay 55.3. Ezek. 37.26. Heb. 13.5. & 20. Esay 54.9, 10. Promises. 2. To Perseverance. The Promises of reward, are limited and restrained unto those who persevere unto the end, He that endureth unto the end shall be saved, Mar. 13.13. Matth. 10.22. which is often repeated, Matth. 24.13. Mark 13.13. CHRIST promiseth a reward to those seven Churches of Asia, but with a proviso of overcoming. To him that overcommeth will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of GOD, Rev. 3.5, 11 12, 21. Rev. 2.7. He that overcommeth shall not be hurt of the second death, verse 11. To him that overcommeth will I give to eat of the hidden Manna, He that overcommeth shall inherit all things. Rev 21.7. verse 17. To him that overcommeth and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations, verse 26. See 28. verse. Holding fast and going on hath a crown attending it, Heb. 10.23. Luke 22.28, 29, 30. Be thou faithful unto death, Rom. 27. Col. 1. 1●. Heb 3 6. and I will give thee a crown of life, Rev. 2.10. If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you, john 15.7. See james 1.25. Heb. 3.14. Gal. 6.9. CHAP. XI. 2. The Degrees of Graces. Promises. Of growth and increase in Grace. GOD hath promised to give grace abundantly, not only to drop it, but to pour it. I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, etc. Esay 44.3, 4. Their soul shall be as a watered garden, Esay 58.11. and Jer. 31.12. GOD promiseth to make his people fruitful; He is compared to a Husbandman, the Church to an Orchard, the faithful to young plants, whose nature is to spread, and shoot out their branches and bring forth fruit, john 15.2. The godly man shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth fruit in his season, Psal. 1.3. Jer. 17.8. The righteous shall flourish like the Palmtree, ver. 12. The Palmtree never, looseth his leaf or fruit saith Pliny. Quentumun veveres non v●terascent. ●unius. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD, shall flourish in the courts of our GOD. They shall bring forth fruit in old age: they shall be fat and flourishing, Psal. 92.13, 14. An old man being once asked if he grew in goodness, said, yea doubtless, I believe it to be so, for GOD hath said it. The righteous shall flourish as the branch, Pro. 11.28. Ye shall go forth and grow up as the calves of the stall, Mal. 4.2. The LORD likewise as a good Shepherd saith, He will feed his people, that they may be fat, that is, abounding in grace, as Psal. 23. Ezek. 34.13, 14, 15. Psal. 36.8. Pro. 13.4. He saith, He will give strength to his people, to walk in the ways of the LORD, Esay 45.24. Esay 40.29, 31. Psal. 29.11. Esay 26.4, 12. Esay 41.10. Zach. 10.12. Phil. 4.13. They go from strength to strength, Psal. 84.7. The righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger, Ezek. 47. ●2 Job 17.9. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day, Pro. 4.18. Whosoever hath (that is, useth well what he hath received) to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance, Matth. 13.12. Luke 19.26. Mar. 4 24. The Apostle proveth that the 〈◊〉 and might 〈…〉 and p●a●s●d God 〈◊〉 T●ess●lonians, that the● d●d gr●w. 2 ●hess. ● Nathaniel believed at the first, yet he is promised that he shall see greater things. See Hos 14.5, 6, 7. Promises to several degrees of true grace or growth in grace. 2 Pet. 1.5, 6, 8, 10, 11. Growth in grace will procure growth in glory; the more holiness we have here, The more we proceed in holiness, our salvation is still the nearer to us. Rome 13.11. the more happiness we shall have hereafter. If we be rich in the work of the LORD, our labour shall not be in vain in the LORD, 1 Cor. 15.58. He that sows liberally, shall reap liberally, we shall receive a full reward, john Epist. 2.8. CHAP. XII. 2. Spiritual Duties. THe LORD hath promised to assist us in them by his Spirit, and they being done by the operation and assistance of the Spirit shall be accepted and rewarded of the Father. 1. GOD hath promised to help us by his Spirit in holy duties. Therefore we must not only look to the Commandment enjoining duty, but to the promise showing GOD'S mercy in helping us. For GOD in the New Covenant gives what he requires. In one place the LORD commandeth, Ezek. 18 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, and make you a new heart, and a new Spirit. In another place he promiseth, Ezek. 36.25, 26. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your filthiness; A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you. So GOD commandeth them to circumcise the foreskin of their hearts, Deut. 10.16. and after he saith, he will circumcise their hearts, etc. Deut. 30.6. He commands us to keep his Commandments, Eccles. 12.13. and promiseth to cause us to walk in his statutes, Ezek. 36, 27. He commandeth us to fear Him, Eccles. 12.13. and promiseth to put his fear into our hearts, jer. 32.40. He commandeth us to have a new soft heart, and promiseth to make it so, Ezek. 36.26. He commands us to pray and make known our wants to him, and promiseth to pour upon us the Spirit of grace and Supplication, Zach. 12.10. GOD'S promises are the foundation of all our performances; For we by working do not cause him to fulfil his promises, but he by promising doth enable us to perform our works. 2. GOD promiseth to accept the services of his children. All our sacrifices shall be accepted. The LORD by Moses did often tell his people, God acce●●s ●is in their services. that their sacrifices should be accepted, Levit. 1.3, 4. & 22.21. & 23.11. Exod. 28.36, 38. See Esay 60.7. Ezek. 43.27. & 20.40, 41. Mal. 3, 4. If thou dost well, shalt not thou be accepted, Gen. 4.7. Exod. 19 5, 6. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, Psal. 51.19. Ye are a holy Priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to GOD by JESUS CHRIST, 1 Pet. 2.5. If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not, 2 Cor. 8.12. I will make them joyful in mine house of prayer; their burnt offerings, and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine Altar, Esay 56.7. 3. GOD will reward the services of his children. God rewards his children for the good they do, even in this I for the least tear shed, and wo●d spoken in a good cause goes not without a re●ard. Mat. 10. ●2. job 34.11. To him that soweth righteousness, shall be a sure reward, Pro. 11.18. Every man shall receive his own reward according to his labour, 1 Cor. 3.8. Whatsoever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the LORD, whether he be bond or free, Ephes. 6.8. Behold his reward is with him, Esay 40.10. Verily there is a reward for the Righteous, Psal. 58.11. I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, jer. 32.18. Psal. 111.5. Ps. 105 42. Mal. 3.16. even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings, Jer. 17.10. Let us not be weary of well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not, Galat. 6.9. 2 Chron. 15.7. He shall reward every man according to his works, Mat. 16.27. CHAP. XIII. The ordinances of GOD. 1. In general. 2. Particular Duties. 1. Prayer. 2. Preaching. 3. Reading. Promises. 1. To the ordinances of GOD generally. THere is a promise to the use of GOD'S ordinances. James 4.8. Draw nigh to GOD, and he will draw nigh to you. With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation, Esay 12.3. We may apply this promise when we pray, hear, confer or fast, in every duty. Promises. 2. To particular Duties. 1. Prayer. 1. GOD will give his children hearts to seek him by Prayer. Zach. 13.9. He shall call upon me, and I will answer hi●, Psal. 91.15. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you, jer. 29.12. He will prepare their hearts, Psal. 10.17. For this cause shall every one that is godly prey unto thee in a time when thou mayst be found, Psal. 32.6. See jer. 31.9. and Hosea 3.5. 2. GOD promiseth to help us to pray. His Spirit shall indite our prayers, and help us to draw our petitions. The Spirit helpeth our infirmities, and maketh intercession for us with groan that cannot be uttered, Rom. 8.26, 27. Every one should labour for more Spirit than speech in prayer I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the Inhabitants of jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplications, Zach. 12.10. So soon as the Spirit of Grace entereth into the heart; it makes one plentiful, and abundant in supplicating and suing unto GOD for grace and mercy. 3. GOD hath bound himself by promise to hear his servants, when they call upon him. Promises of audience in prayer. See Psal. 18.3 & 20.6. joh 4 10. job 22 27. & 33.6. Esay 58 ●. David pleadeth this promise, Psal. 4.1. The LORD made a promise to Solomon after his prayer, saying, Mine eyes shall be open and mine ears attentive to the prayer in ●his place, 2 Chron. 7.15. The LORD is rich unto all that call upon him, Rom. 10. ●2 Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, General promises to prayer, that God will hear and answer us, Esay 30.19 john 16.23 particular promises; first deliverance from any trouble and affliction, Ps. 50.15. of strength and patience to bear it, jam. 1.5. Secondly, whatsoever spiritual grace we stand in need of, Luk. 11.13. Thirdly, inward joy & peace of conscience, job 23.26. joh. 16.24. let your request be made known unto GOD. And the peace of GOD which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through CHRIST JESUS, Philip. 4.6, 7. The prayers of the upright are his delight, Pro. 15.8. He heareth the prayer of the righteous, verse 29. GOD will not only hear our prayers in general, but our voice, Psal. 5.3. our very desires, Psal. 10.17. Pro. 10.24. which are effectual prayers with GOD. He will not despise our prayers, Psal. 102.17. He will not reproach us, nor upbraid us with what is past, or our present frailties, jam. 1.5. It is agreeable to his nature and disposition to hear prayers, Psal. 65.12. The thing that hath encouraged GOD'S children, and given them heart in prayer, hath been this hope and assurance that they should find audience and respect with GOD, O thou that hearest prayer, or because thou hearest prayer, all flesh shall resort unto thee, Psal. 65.2. GOD excepts no man, all shall be heard. For thou LORD art good and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy to all them that call upon thee, Ps. 86.5. We are to be familiarly acquainted with these promises and meditate on some of them when we go to pray. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth, Psal. 145.18. It shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered, joel 2.32. which is repeated, Acts 2.21. and Rom. 10.13. Though our prayers be weak, yet let us remember, that the promise is made to all. We may see the proof of this in a prayer made in much infirmity, Psal. 31.22. GOD is more ready to hear, than we to ask, to give, than we to receive, 1 Pet. 3.12. His ears are open, as a kind mother or nurse which useth to be so wakeful, that she will hear the child so soon as ever it begins to cry, Dan. 10.11. Fear not Daniel, for from the first day, that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before GOD, thy words were heard, yea before they call, I will answer, and while they speak, I will hear, Esay 65.24. that is, in our purpose of Prayer. This the faithful have gloried in, Psal. 4.3.17.6. and 38.15. GOD hath specially bound himself to hear his children in those prayers, that they make unto him in their afflictions; the time of trouble is the very set hour of Audience. Exod 22 23. Psal 9.9. & 22.24. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry, Psal. 34.15. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles, verse 17. Which is repeated four times in the 107. Psalm, 6, 13, 19 and 28. verses. The LORD saith, Psal. 50.15. Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. He will regard the prayer of the destitute, a●d not despise their prayer, Psal. 102.17. to 21. their tears, sighs, and groan are not hid from him, Psal. 39.12. He will hear in the morning, Psal. 5.3. in the very season, the due time, when we are in trouble. Yea so as he will in our affliction in a special manner, let us know, that he is our GOD, and that he will deliver us, Zach. 13.9. The LORD, heareth the prayers of his people, when they think they are cast out of his sight, Psal. 31.22. GOD'S people have found comfort in all their afflictions, by pouring out their hearts to GOD in prayer, Psal. 109.3, 4. In the day of my trouble, I will call upon thee, for thou hearest me, Psal. 86.7. Psal. 86.6, 7. The LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping, the LORD hath heard my supplication, the Lord will receive my prayer, Psal. 6.8, 9 A Noble man in this Kingdom, had a ring given him by the Queen Elizabeth, with this promise; that if he sent that ring to her at any time when he was in distress, she would remember him and deliver him. This was a great privilege from a Prince, and yet that ring though sent, might not be delivered. GOD hath given his children prayer as that ring, and tells them whatsoever distress they are in, let them but send this up to him, and he will be sure to relieve them, and when they do send up this, it is sure to be conveyed, wheresoever they are. Prayer is profitable to obtain every thing, as is evident by the promise of CHRIST, john 16.23. Verily, Psal. 5.24. verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father i● my name he will give it you. Note the certainty of the promise, in CHRIST'S vehement asseveration; note the generality of it [whatsoever.] Our Saviour oft repeated such promises in those heavenly and last speeches which he uttered to his Disciples, john 14.13. joh. 15.7, 16 See Mar. 11.24. john 9.31. 1 john 3.22. & 5.14, 15. I may say of prayer, as the Apostle saith of Godliness; it hath the promises of this life and that which is to come. 1. For this life. Temporal and Spiritual things are promised to prayer. 1. Temporal. 1. The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the LORD shall raise him up, jam. 5.15. 2. Spiritual. 1. It obtaineth remission of sins, and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him, the same verse of 5. of I●mes. 2. The Spirit, How much more shall your heavenly Father give good things to them that ask him, Matth. 7.11. Give the holy Spirit to them that ask him, So it is Luke 11 13. 2. For the life to come. Prayer obtaineth eternal life and salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved, Rom. 10.13. That Promise that is made to our prayers runs thus, If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands towards him, etc. job 11.13. The stretching out of our hands (or of our voice either) is to little purpose, if our heart be not prepared first. Promises To fervent prayer. Then ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, jer. 29 12, ●3 and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me and find me, Luke 8.7, 8 when ye shall search for me with all your heart, that is, truly and fervently, saith Greenham. The effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much (both for the helping of the body, jam 5.16. and healing of the soul) but with this proviso, if it be fervent: open thy mouth wide, that is, Psal. 81.10. earnestly, confidently, call upon me, and I will fill it, that is, I will satisfy thy desire to the full. Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you, Matth. 7.7. Ask, seek, knock. It is not a simple repetition of the same thing, but a gradation. It shows instantissimam ne●essitatem, saith Austen. Ask ●s a beggar, seek as with a candle, knock as one that hath pow●r with importunity. * D. Playfere One thus descants upon the place; Ask with the mouth, Non dicitur quid dabitur, saith Austen Christ nameth not what shall be given to you, to let us know that that gift, is a thing suprae omne nomen, above all that can be named Matth 6.6. seek with the heart, knock with the hand: and it shall be given you, that is, for Temporal things; and ye shall find, that is, for Spiritual things; and it shall be opened unto you, that is, for Eternal things. Promises. 1. To Secret Prayer. When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. 2. To Private or Family prayer. Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there a● I in the midst of them, Matth 18.20. 3. To public prayer. Public for 1. Matter. 2. Place. 1. A promise to those, that pray for the Church. Remember Zion, they shall prosper that love thee, Psalm 122.6, 7. 2. Promises to the prayers of the Congregation made in the Church. If every several beleiver have a promise, Mat 7.7, 8 to be heard in whatsoever he shall ask according to the will of God, when he prayeth apart by himself, or privately in his fr●ily, or with a few, much more when he joins in prayer with the Minister and ●he rest of the godly i● the public assembly Mat 18, 20. Jerusalem had singular promises made unto it, such as had no particular Church in the world besides, Psalm. 132.14. There is a special promise made to the prayers made in the Temple, 2 Chron. 7.15. Mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attended unto the prayer t●at is made in this place, 1 Kings 9.3. The LORD hath promised, that he will cause his servants to rejoice in the granting of their suits which they shall make unto him in his own house, Esay 56.7. upon the like promise made by GOD, Solomon at the consecration of the Temple, 1 King. 8.30, 33. groundeth his Prayer, that the LORD would in special manner, hear the suits and supplications of his servants, publicly assembled in his Temple to call upon him. See the 5. Book, cap 1. God hath promised to accompany this ordinance of his with the divine power & efficacy of his Holy Spirit. Esay 59.21. john 5.25. A promise. To Preaching. GOD hath made a special promise to this, that he will be with it, to assist and bless it, Matth. 28.20. I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Promises. To Reading. Rev. 1.3. In Reading of the Word, if we understand not, we should apply these Promises. Prov. 1.23. I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my Words unto you. Prov. 1.4. It gives subtlety to th● simple, to the young men knowledge and discretion. The Commandment of the LORD is pure, inlightning● the eyes, Ps. 19.8. GOD hath promised to teach and instruct such by his Spirit, that bring good and honest hearts to the reading and hearing of the Word. Psal. 25.12. What man is he that feareth the LORD, him will he teach in the way that he shall choose. The promise of finding is made to those who seek as for gold and search as for treasure, Pro. 2.3, 4, 5. Promises, to s●ch as love the Word of GOD. Great peace have they which love thy Law, and nothing shall offend them, Ps. 119.165. Blessed is the man that delighteth greatly in his commandments, Ps. 112.1. A promise to those that wait for the Word. There is a blessing promised to such hearers as wait for the Word. Pro 8, 34, 35. Metaphora à clientibus so res patronorum obsidentibus. sunius. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For who so findeth me, findeth life and obtaineth favour of the LORD. Promises, that GOD'S children shall hearken to the Word. The ears of them that hear shall hearken, Psa. 32 3. See Esaias 50.4. Acts 16.14. Promises to such as conscionably hearken to the Word. Ho, every one that thirsteth come ye to the water, and he that hath no money: come ye, Esa. 5● 1, 2. Promises 1. General God will ever assist this ordinance and work with it, Mat. 28.10. 2. ●●ee will save the souls of his people by this ordinance, jam. 1 21. ●s. 55.3. 3 By this ordinance he will begin grace and convert the soul, Ps. 19.7. 4 By this ordinance he will increase and perfect grace where he hath begun it, Mark. 4.24 Act 20.32. God hath made also particular promises to them that attend on this ordinance. 1. That by it he will give them strength to overcome their strongest corruptions, Psal. 119 9 2. That he will by it work peace in their consciences, Esay. 57.9. buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine, and milk without money, and without price. Harken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live, etc. There the LORD freely offereth saving grace to such as have none, and nothing, whereby they might purchase it. 2. He setteth out a way whereby they might enjoy it, viz. a diligent hearing and believing GOD'S Word. 3. He makes most sweet promises, that their soul shall live, that is, they shall be quickened in CHRIST, and in him the seed of David, be made partakers of those mercies which shall never decay, If thou warn the righteous man that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned, Ezek. 3.21. The conscionable hearing of GOD'S Word, quickens the soul, and makes it to live both the life of grace and of glory; Prov ● 14. Mark 4.24. Luke 1 28. Rom. 1.16. He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life: the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of GOD, and they that hear shall live, John 5.24, 25. not such a voice as shall call them out of their graves, as in the 28. verse; for he saith, now is, but the meaning of the place is, that those which were dead in sin should be quickened either by CHRIST in his own person, or by his Word in his Ministers. The titles given to the Word express this. It is called, the Word of life, Acts 5.20. Phil. 2.16. John 6 68 The Word of grace, Acts 20.32. The word of Salvation, Acts 13. ●6. Salvation itself, and life e●erlasting, Heb. 2.3. Acts 28.28. John 12.50. The word is able to save our souls, Jam. 1.21. 1 Tim. 4.16. 1 Cor. 1.21. To this purpose there are so many commendations of the Word, specially in the Psalms and Proverbs, Psal. 19 ●. The l●w of the LORD is perfect; etc. the whole 119. Psalms was written, to set out the excellency of the Word. The nine first Chapters of the Proverbes; Take f●●st hold of instruction, let her not go, keep her, for she is thy life, Pro. 4.13. Instruction is our life, thereby we attain all things pertaining to the comfort of this life and of that to come. See Pro. 1.9, 23. Pro. 2. from 1. to 13. Prov. 3.3. to 4. & 13. ver. to 24. Prov. 4.5. to 14. & 20. to 23. Prov. 6.20. to 24. Pro. 7.1 to 5. and the whole eighth Chapter. Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth, John 17.17. Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly? Micah 2.7. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby, 1 Pet. 2.2. The comparisons which are used to set forth the profit of the Word, confirm this: it is resembled to The light, Esay 9.2. Rain, Deut. 32.2. Dea●, there also, living water, Zach. 14.8. Wine and milk, Esay 55.1, 2. It is able, 1. To enlighten with saving knowledge the simplest that shall hear and read it with an honest heart, Psalm 119.130. 2. To reform the heart and life of him that hath the strongest corruptions, Psal. 119.9. 3. To comfort and revive the heart that is most cast down either with inward or outward afflictions, Esay 57.19. 4. To preserve and add knowledge and grace to them that have best profited, Mar. 4.24. Whensoever we go to the Word, we should meditate on some of these precious promises, We should hear so, as to expect & hope for life by the word which the Lord promiseth, Deu. 3●. 47. joh. 5.39. to encourage us to attend unto GOD'S Word with expectation of his blessing on our labours. Promises. For the Sacraments. 1. In general. They are the Seals of the righteousness of faith, Rom. 4.11. or of the Covenant of grace. The Apostle speaks of both Sacraments, 1 Cor. 12.13. 2. The speciale Sacraments. Baptism. LORDS Supper. 1. Baptism. Promises to it. It is called, It is a usual thing to call the principal cause & the instrument by the same name. The laver of regeneration, Tit. 3.5. The Baptism of repentance for remission of sins, Mar, 1.4. Act. 2.38. Our sins are said to be washed away, Act. 22.16. Heb. 10.22. and Baptism saveth, 1 Pet. 3.21. all which belong to the blood of CHRIST, Rev. 1.5. 1 John 1.7. our Saviour saith, we must be borne of water, John 3.5. that is, be made GOD'S children by receiving CHRIST, Acts 1, 4, 5. as John 1.12. GOD hath promised that he will baptise us with the HOLY GHOST and with fire, Mat. 3.11. 2. LORDS Supper. Promises to it. 1 Cor 11 24, 25. When our LORD JESUS did ordain it, he speaking of the Bread, ●●k. 21.19 ●0 johne. 14. 5● Mark 1, 22, ●4. said, This is my body, and of the Wine, This is my blood of the New Testament, Mat. ●6. 26, 28. that is, these outward signs and seals were most sure and certain pledges of his body and blood, which he did as truly give to be spiritual food, as he gave the bread and wine to be bodily food to every believer, 1 Cor. 10.16. There is a full meal, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Rom. 14.17. Bread and Wine comprehend entire food; for humidum & siccum are all that are required unto food: this is promised, Esay 25.6. In this mountain shall the LORD of Hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, etc. that is, he would make for his Church complete provision. So Pro 9.5. A Lawful Oath. Promises to it. God hath promised to reward it. 1. In this life, Jer. 12.16. If they will learn the ways of my people, to swear the LORD liveth etc. then shall they be built in the midst of my people. 2. In the life to come with eternal happiness, for he that sweareth and chargeth not, though it be to his own hindrance, he shall dwell in GOD'S holy Mountain, Psal. 15 4. Fasting. Promises to it. Be afflicted and mourn and weep, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the LORD, and he shall lift you up, J●m. 4.9, 10. If thou fast in sec●●t, thy Father which seeth in secret will reward thee openly, Mat. 6.18. Joel 2.12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19 first a fast is prescribed, than a blessing promised. Praising GOD. Promises of it. They shall praise the LORD that seek him, Ps. 22.26. They shall show forth my praise, Esay 43.21. Ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD, Joel 2.26. where GOD promiseth temporal blessings and a thankful heart, it is an evident sign of the continuance of them, as there in Joel. And Deuter. 8.10. Esay 62.8, 9 Promises to it. Them that honour me I will honour 1 Sam. 2.30. The duty of Fasting is to be performed when the accomplishment of some remarkable promise is expected to be fulfilled to the Church. Dan. 9.2, 3. He that offereth praise, glorifieth me, Psal. 50.23. Praise is one of the Sacrifices with which GOD is well-pleased, Heb. 13.15, 16. Psal. 69.30, 31. Let all the people praise thee, O GOD, let all the people praise thee. Then shall the Earth yield her increase, and GOD, even our own GOD shall bless us. Psal. 67.5, 6. Promises. To Meditation. Mercy and truth shall be to them which devise good, Pro 14 22. This promise may be also applied, to the following of good examples & precedents. Think of these things which ye have both learned and received, and heard and seen in me; and the GOD of peace shall be with you, Phil. 4.8, 9 Let not the book of the Law depart out of thy mouth, but meditate therein day and night, that thou mayst observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then shalt thou make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success, Josh. 1.8. Blessed is the man that meditates on the Word day and night: Psal. 1.2. Promises. To Self-examination. If we would judge ourselves, Lan. 3. 4●, we should not be judged, 1 Cor. 11.31. Let every man prove his own work, and then he shall have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another, Gal. 6.4. Promises. To those that conscionably sanctify the LORDS day. The Lord promises many singular graces to all that sanctify hi● day of what nation, or condition soever they be ●hey shall have their hearts filled full of spiritual joy. God will give them the spirit of prayer & hear their prayers, he will give ●hem ability to serve him, he will also accept & reward their service. The sanctifying of the LORDS ●ay will bring comfort and happiness to soul and body. 1. Blessings, Spiritual, 13. v. ●●d Temporal 14. of 58. of Esay. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath from doing thy pleasure on ● holy day, and call the Sabbath a light, the holy of the LORD, honora●●● and shalt honour him, not doing 〈◊〉 own ways, nor speaking thine 〈◊〉 words: then shalt thou delight thy 〈◊〉 in the LORD, and I will cause 〈◊〉 to ride upon the high places of the 〈◊〉. 2. Spiritual. Blessed is the man that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, Esa. 56.2. See 5, 6, 7. verses, Jer. 17.24, 26. a special place. GOD promiseth there, 24, and 26. verses to reward the outward observation of the Sabbath. The blessing there promised is twofold, the first concerneth the Commonwealth, vers. 25. The second the Church and State of Religion, v. 26. Promises. To watchfulness. Blessed is he that watcheth, Matth. 24.46, 47. Revel. 16.15. They are three times said to be blessed, Terque quate●que beati. Poelices ter & amp●ius Horat. Luk. 12.37, 38, 43. to show that they are thrice blessed and ever perfected in blessedness, which keep constantly their spiritual watch. Promises. Of Conference. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, Pro. 15.7. They are a well of life to feed many. The tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly, Esay 32.4. The dumb man's tongue shall sing, Esay 35.6. The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom, Prov. 10.31. Promises. To Conference. The mouth of the upright shall deliver them, Pro. 12.6. A man shall be satisfied with good by the f●uit of his mouth, Prov. 12.14. Righteous lips are the delight of Kings, and they love him that speaks right, Prov. 16.13. See Prov. 22.11. A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth, Prov. 18.20. A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth, Pro. 13.2. Promises. To Reproof. He that rebuketh a man, shall afterwards find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue, Pro. 28.23. To them that rebuke the wicked shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them, Pro. 24.25. Promises. To giving of Alms. See Mat 6. Heb 13.16. Eccles. 11. ●. Esay 587, 8, 10, 11. Ps. 129. Beneficence shall be rewarded. 1. In this l●fe. 1. In ourselves. 2. In our posterity, Ps. 37.25, 26. 1. In ourselves, with 1. Mercy, Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy, Mat. 5.7 Pro. 14.21, 22. Pro. 14.21, 22 2. Comfort in sickness. 3. Deliverance out of trouble: one verse proves both, Blessed is he that considereth the poor and needy: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble, the LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing, he will make all his bed in his sickness, Psal. 41.1, 3. 4. Competency, He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack, Pro. 28.27. this is a means to bring us to the right use of our wealth, Luk. 11.41. 2. In the life to come, Come ye blessed of my Father, receive the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world, etc. Mat. 25.34. Make to your selus friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations, Lu. 16.9. Receiving is not mentioned here in regard of merit * Though Alms deeds merit not at God's hands: yet they make him our debtor according to his gracious promise, said King james, Pro, 1●. 17. 1 Tim 6.18.19. (as the Papists say) as though a man could deserve it by giving of alms, but either by way of hearty prayers made by the poor, that they may be received, or else because their Alms shall be unto them a pledge and earnest of their receiving into GOD'S Kingdom as a Father says sweetly if ye will be wise Merchants, thrifty and happy usurers, part with tha● which you cannot keep that you may gain the which you cannot lo●s● When thou makest a feast call the poor, the maime●▪ the lame, the blind; An● thou shalt be blessed: 〈◊〉 thou shalt be recompensed the resurrection of the ius● Luk. 14.14. Promises, to liberal giving. The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth shall be watered also himself, Prov. 11.25. He which soweth bountifully, shall reap bountifully, 2 Cor. 9.6. 2. To cheerful giving. GOD loveth a cheerful giver, He that hath a bountiful eve shall be blessed, for he giveth of his bread to the poor, Pro 2● 9 2 Cor. 9.7. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved, when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy GOD shall bless thee in all thy work●s, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto, Deut. 15.10. Promises. 1. To liberality to the Saints. He that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man. shall receive a righteous man's reward. Dicit frigidae aquae, ne in calida sumptum lignorum causari quis posset, Hieron. Mark 9.4. Propecuto aquae fr●gidae torrens voluptatis. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones, a cup of cold water only in the name of a Disciple, he shall in no wise loose his reward, Mat. 10.41, 42. For a cup of cold water, (water the common element, and cold water that cost thee not the charge of fire to warm it) there is a Torrent, may a very Sea of all pleasures provided for thee for all eternity. For GOD is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the Saints, and do minister, Hebr. 6.10. See Gal. 6.9, 10. Promises. To bounty to GOD'S Ministere. He that receiveth you, receiveth me: He that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet, shall receive a Prophet's reward, Matth. 10.40, 41. Some understand that thus, they shall be partakers of the same reward, which is laid up for the Prophets. Calvin takes it for a reward which is fit for the worthiness of the person, upon whom the liberality shall be bestowed. Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine, Prov. 3.9, 10. See Mal. 3.10 1●. And the Levite because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee, A promise to paying of tithes. shall come and shall eat, and be satisfied, that the LORD thy GOD may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou dost, Deut. 14.29. Promises to seeking of GOD. Zephany 2.3 1. They shall have their hearts filled with joy and gladness Rest on every side from enemies in the fruition of GOD'S favour. Book IV 2 Chro. 14.7 That prophetical prayer of david's implieth also a promise in it, Ps. 40.16. Let all those that seek thee, be glad and rejoice in thee. Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD, Psalm 105.3. the very same is, 1 Chro. 16.10. The LORD often promised to his people, that if they should seek him, Esay 55.6. he would be found of them, as David told Solomon his son, 2 Chro 14 7 Mat. 77. 1 Chron. 28.9. and the Prophet told Asa the King, 2 Chro. 15.2. See 15. Thou LORD hast not forsaken them that seek thee, Ps. 9.10. Esa 45.19. But his people then must seek him with their whole heart, 2 Chro. 31.11 Blessed are they that seek him with their whole heart, Psalm 119.2. as Deut. 4.29. Jer. 29.13. and diligently, Heb. 11.6. Seek yea me, and ye shall liv● Amos 5.4, 6. And your heart sha●● live that seek GOD, Psalm 69.32. The hand of our GOD is upon all them for good that seek him, Book III Ezra 8.22. Lam. 3.23. They that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing, Psal. 34.10. Promises. To waiting on GOD. Waiting patiently for the LORDS coming to comfort us, either in temporal or spiritual distresses, is a right pleasing and acceptable duty and service unto GOD, which he is wont to crown with multiplied and overflowing refre●hings when he comes. They that wait up●n the LORD shall renew their strength, they ●hall mount up with wings as Eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they ●hall walk and not faint, Es●. 40.31. For since the beginning of the world, w●● have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nei●her hath the eye seen, O GOD, besides thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him, Esay 64.4. they shall not be ashamed (or disappointed) that wait for him, Esay 49.23. He shall save them, Pro. 20.22. They shall inherit the earth, Psal. 37.9, 34. and Heaven too. Blessed are all they that wait for him, Esay 30.18. Dan. 12.12. We must stir up ourselves to receive the promises, Cant. 5.2, 3. The godly sometimes walk without comfort, because they put it from themselves, and GOD oftentimes causeth his children to seek long before they find comfort. But the ardent desire shall at length be satisfied. Remission of sins, and peace of conscience, are favours worth waiting for. We have not waited so many years in the means of grace for comfort, as GOD hath waited for our conversion. Promises. 1. That we shall delight in God. Then shalt thou have they delight in the Almighty, Job 22.26. The promise of delighting ourselves in the LORD, is confined to the duty of delighting in holy exercises, If thou call the Sabbath a delight, etc. then shalt thou delight in the LORD, Esa. 58.13, 14. A promise. To delighting in GOD. Delight thyself in the LORD, Psalm●9 ●9 15 16, ●7, 18. and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart, Ps. 37.4. Promises to godliness or grace exercised, or to godly and gracious men which act the graces, and exercise themselves in the duties above specified. True Godliness hath the promises both of this life and of that which is to come, 1 Tim 4 8. (of this life) Seek ye first the kingdom of GOD and the righteousness thereof, Book IV and all these things shall be administered unto you, Matth. 6.33. (and of the life to come) To him that order●th his conversation aright, will I show the salvation of GOD, Ps. 50.23. ●r●mises in gen●rall to t●e w●ys of godliness. 1. The godly shall be blessed. 〈◊〉 ●. 13 Ps. 11●. 1. Ps. 9.8. Ps. ●11▪ 12, 13. Ps. 110.1. Ps. 1.1. Ps. 128.1, 4. They whom the world account above all men most miserable, are truly and only happy, as our Saviour proves, Matth. 5. Blessed are the poor in spirit, etc. from 3. ver. to 12. we shall never be truly happy till we be sincerely holy, nor fully happy till we be perfectly holy. 〈…〉, Au●●in. 2. The godly shall be a blessing to the place where they live. I will bless thee, and the● shalt be a blessing, Genesis 12.2. And I will make them a blessing, Ezek. 34. ●6. I●rael shall be a blessing in the midst of the land, Esay 19.24. 3. PROMISES ETERNAL. Promises Eternal 1. Against damnation. 2. For Salvation. 1. Passages to it. 1. Death, comforts against the fear of First, Death. 2. Untimely death. 2 Burial. 3. Resurrection. 2. Performances of it. 1. Glorification in part, of our souls. 2. Last judgement. 3. Glorification of the whole man both soul and body. Promises. 1. Of eternal life both in soul & body. 2. For the glory of heaven. THE FOURTH BOOK. CHAP. I. Eternal Promises. 1. Against Damnation. The godly shall be delivered from eternal Confusion and Damnation. Ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end, Esay 45.17. Rom. 9 * Some do refer it to the day of judgement when the faithful shall not be confounded or ashamed cum ventris in future, when Christ shall come to judgement Gloss interlin, Haym● But it is more general, showing that the faithful neither in the time present nor to come shall be ashamed. Not to be confounded signifies non frustrati, not to be disappointed of the●r hope, P. Matt. And more is understood then said, i.e. shall be confirmed comforted and establishe●, Parus. 33. and 10 11. 1 Pet. 2.6. GOD will deliver the soul of the righteous from the pit. Job 33.28. Ps. 86.13. There is no condemnation to them that are in CHRIST JESUS, Rom. 8.1. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of GOD'S elect? It is GOD that justifieth, ver. 33. They are delivered from the wrath to come, 1 Thes. 1.10. Blessed is he that hath part in the first resurrection, on such the second death hath no power, Rev. 20.6. He that overcommeth, shall not be hurt of the second death, Rev. 2.11. CHAP. II. 2. For Salvation. 1. Passages to it. 1. Death. 1. Comforts against the fear of death. 2. Fear of untimely death. 2. Burial. 3. Resurrection. 1. Comforts against the fear of death. HE that will bear with comfort the pangs of death, He that will k●ep● my saying, shall ●ot test of death. john 8.51 that is shall not be overwhelmed by ●t. must labour to die in faith, that is, he must lay hold of the promise of GOD touching forgiveness of sins and life everlasting by CHRIST. All these (saith the HOLY GHOST, Heb. 11.13.) died in the Faith: viz. Abel, Enoch, No, Abraham and Sarah, all laying hold of the promise of life by CHRIST: So jacob, Gen. 49.18. by Faith rested on the mercy of GOD, and by hope he waited for his salvation. Thou shalt not be afraid of destruction when it cometh, Job 5.21. Death be it never so bitter or painful, shall not be able to separate us from the love of GOD, Rom. 8.28, 38. St. Stephen's violent death was but a sweet sleep, Act. 7.60. john 11.11. It is but a sleeping in JESUS, 1 Thes. 4.14. The grave is called a bed of rest, Esay 57.2. CHRIST hath pulled the sting out of death for all the godly, Dying in the Lord. Revel ●4. 13 is but a rest from labours, 2 Tim. 1.10. Esay 25.8. Host 13.14. 1 Cor. 15.55. and took away the strength of it by his death, Heb. 2.14, 15. The righteous hath hope in his death, Pro. 14.32. it is gain unto him, Phil. 1.21. for he is delivered by death from many and great evils. 1. Sin, That one happy pang which pulls away the soul from the body, doth also pull away sin both from the soul and body Rom. 6.7. He shall never offend GOD more: 2. Those miseries which follow sin, Esay 57.1, 2.3. The temptations of the Devil Rev. 12.8.4. The opposition and vexation of the world and flesh, God doth watch over the faithful for good by his pro●idence, both in life and death, Mat. 10.28, 29, 30 31. Psa. 72.14 Rev. 14.13. Eccles. 4.1, 2. It is to them obstetrix immortalitatis, a passage to immortality, 2 Cor. 5.1, 4. a sturdy Porter, that opens heaven gates unto him. See 1 Cor. 3.22. & 15.26. Psalm 37.37. 2. Comforts against the fear of untimely death. Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in, in his season, Job 5.26. The number of thy days will I fulfil, Exod. 23.26. The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, and he shall be blessed upon the earth. Ps. 4. 1.2. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation, Ps. 91.16. 2. Burial. It is a kind of blessing promised by GOD to his Saints, to be buried. 1 King. 14.13. 2 King. 22.20. 2 Sam 25. In Christ shall all be made alive, 1 Cor 15 ●●punc; that is shall be raised by him at the resurrection. The Cerma●es call the Church yard Godsaker, because the bodies are sown there to be raised again: and the Grecians called their Church yards, or places of sepulture, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dormitories, or sleeping places where the body's rest, expecting the resurrection. 3. Resurrection. Promises of our Resurrection. He which raised up the LORD JESUS, shall raise up us al●o by JESUS. The Covenant of GOD is of force with us, as we lie in the dust of the Earth, Mat. 22.31.32. He keepeth the very bones of his Saints, Ps. 34.20. All that are in the grave shall come forth, they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, John 5.28, 29. I will raise him up at the last day, John 6.39, 40, 44, 54. See 1 Thess. 4.14, 16. Rom. 8.11. Dan. 12.2. Esay 26.19. CHAP. III. 2. Performances of it. 1. Glorification in part, for the soul. 2. Last Judgement. 3. Glorification of the whole man both soul and body. Promises. 1. Of the Glorification of our souls. GOD promiseth to translate the souls of the godly into his heavenly kingdom when they die. The soul of t●e faithful at the dissolution of the body shall go immediately to heaven. This is employed in the Parable where the Angels carry up Lazarus soul into Heaven, Therefore there is no purgatory. Christ promiseth to the Saints of God af●er death, Life, 1 Tim 4.8 Apoc. 2.10. john 5.24 & 11.25, Rest, Luke 16.25. Apoc. 14.13 joy, Mat 3.25.23 Esay 35 10. Luke 16.22. This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise, Luk. 23.43. Which Paradise the Apostle Paul expoundeth to be the third heaven, 2 Cor. 12.1, 2, 4. He that overcomes shall inherit all things. See Rev. 3.21. 2. Of the last Judgement. * 1 john 4 17 & 3.21. Acts 3 19 Heb. ●. 28. The godly have boldness and confidence at the day of judgement. When these things begin to come to pass, then shall we look up and lift up our heads, because our redemption draweth nigh, Luk. 21.28. There is a promise, 2 Tim 4.8 to these that long for Christ's second coming, & love his appearing. Unto them that look for CHRIST shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation, Hebr. 9.28. When CHRIST who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory, Colos. 3.4. He shall say to them of his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, Matth. 25.32, 34. See ver. 40. 3. Glorification of the whole man both soul and body. Mat. 13.43. See 1 Cor 15 4●, 43. Heb. 9 ●5. & 11 16. jam. 1 1●, 5 jude 20, 21, verse The gl●ry of the body (say the School men, consists first in clarity, Mat ●●. 43 2 Impassibility, 1 Cor. 5 53. 2 Of the soul consists in the manifest vision of God which succeeds faith, 1 Cor. 13.12. 2 In the perfect fruition of God which succeeds hope Rev. 7.16, 7, Promises of the glorification of our bodies. The LORD JESUS shall change our vile bodies, and make them like his glorious body, Phil. 3.21. The bodies of the Saints shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars. Dan. 1 2.3. Yea as the Sun for ever and ever. Promises. Of eternal life in both soul and body after the day of judgement. Then we shall be ever with the LORD, 1 Thess. 4.17. Whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3.16. I give unto them eternal life, John 10.28. He that believeth on the Son, hath eternal life, 3 In the perfect love of God wh●c● succeeds of imperfect charity 1 Cor, 13.8. Joh. 3.36. He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved, Mark 16.16. Act. 16.31. The gift of GOD is eternal life through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Rom. 6.23. See John 6.40. and 20.31. 1 Joh. 2.23. John 5.24. 1 Joh. 5.11, 12, 13. Joh. 17.3. 1 Pet. 1.3, 4. Tit. 3.7. Rom. 5.10, 17. Rom. 8.13. Gal. 6.8. Matth. 5.8, 12. and 19.29. Matth. 25.34, 35, 46. 1 Tim. 6.17, 18 19 The Promises of GOD, assure us of everlasting happiness and glory in the Kingdom of Heaven. I know, saith Job 19.25. (relying upon GOD'S promises) that my Redeemer liveth. 2 Cor. 5.1. & 4.14. Faith apprehendeth the promise of eternal life, hope expecteth it, love thankfully entertains it, and all other graces are quickened and strengthened by it. Promises. For the glory of Heaven. In thy presence is fullness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore, Ps. ●6. 11. We shall have fullness of joy, everlasting pleasures: A swift flowing river and 〈◊〉 of pleasures. Psal. 36.8. We shall 〈◊〉 no more, 〈…〉 Rev. 7.16. GOD will wipe away all tears from our ey●. Rev. 21 4. We shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and jacob, in the kingdom of heaven, Mat. 8.11. as at a banquet: we shall then be as the Angels of GOD, Matth. 22.30. Nay like CHRIST himself, 1 John 3.2. We shall be made confirmable to the image of his Son, Rev. 21.3. 1 Thes 4 17. Rom. 8.29. and be With CHRIST, John 14.3. and behold his glory, Joh. 17.24. & 12.26. We shall enter into our master's joy. Matth. 25.21. he saith not, it shall enter into us, but we into it, showing that the joys of heaven are so many, that they cannot be contained in the soul of man. GOD hath promised us a kingdom, Mat. 25.34. A heavenly kingdom. 1 Pet. 13.4. Mat. 7. 2●. 2 Tim. 4.18. An eternal kingdom, 2 Pet. 1.11. A Crown, a Crown of life, jam. 1.12. Rev. 2.10. A Crown of righteousness, 2 Tim. 4.8. An immarcessible Crown of glory, 1 Pet. 5.4. The word [Crown] represents unto us: Sir Thomas Bodley gave for his arms three crowns with this posy, Quarta perennu erit, the fourth shall be eternal. 1. The perpetuity of that life, for a crown hath neither beginning nor ending: 2. Plenty, because as the crown compasseth on every side, so there is nothing wanting in this life: 3. Dignity, eternal life is a coronation day, every Saint shall be a crowned King. The use of Faith in regard of these promises, is to uphold us with the expectation of that heavenly happiness which is promised, yea though we be destitute of worldly things and be in many troubles and tribulations, Act. 14.22. The Table of the fifth Book. Special Promises in regard of Others. 1. The Church in general, or particular Churches. as public assemblies. God hath promised to them. 1. His special protection. 2. His special presence. 3. His special blessing. 4. To deliver the Church out of trouble. 2. Against the Seductions, for the destruction of Antic●rist. 3. For calling the jews. 4. For bringing in the Gentiles. 5. To Magistrates. 6. To Ministers 1. Extraordinary, the Apostles. 1. To work miracles. 2. To cast out Devils. 3. To lead them into all truth 2. Ordinary, all the faithful Ministers. 1. For competency of outward things. 2. Of protection and deliverance from trouble. 3. To take their parts against their enemies. 4. To give good success to their labours. 5. To reward them largely. 6. That t●ey shall agree together, and join force against the common adversary. 7. To Masters of a Family and godly servants, to bless the habitation of the godly. 8. To husband & wife, & concerning children. 1. To give them. 2. To bless them every way, 1. With outward things. 2. In their souls. 3. That mothers shall give suck to their children. 4. To parents correcting their children. 5. To comfort them in the want of children. 6. To children obeying their parents. 9 For company, that we shall reap good by the society of the godly. Book V. THE FIFTH BOOK. Esay ●3 20. The unvisible Church is the ●●llar of truth, Christ is made to her righteousness, sanctifica●io She hath all light and 〈◊〉 here, & in Heaven. The ●ambe himself shall be h●r Sun & glory She shall be led into all truth. Her fai●● shall not fai●● her enemies shall ocke the dost of her sect, & come and worship before her, she shall inherit the earth, prevail against t●e gates of her enemies. Yea the promises made to Christ himself, are applied to her, compare Esay 49 ●. with that in 2 Cor 6● CHAP. I. Promises in regard of others. The Church in general, or particular Churches, as public Assemblies. 1. GOD will defend the Church, and all the faithful. THE gates of Hell shal● not prevail against it, Matth. 16.18. GOD is in the mid●● of the Church, therefore it shall not fall, Ps. 46.5. I the LORD do keep it, I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day, Esay 27.3. As the mountains are round about jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from hence forth, and for ever, Ps. 125.2. See Esay 4.5, 6. Psalm. 46. whole, 124, & 125. Psalms, Psal. 132.13. to 17. Psal. 89.15, 16, 17, 18. Zach. 9.16. GOD hath made promises unto the public assemblies, Promises unto the Church assemblies, of his special protection. Look upon Zion, the city of our solemn feasts; thine eyes shall see jerusalem, a quiet habitation, a Tabernacle that cannot be removed, etc. Es●y 33.20, 21. See ver. 16. This was one reason why David so esteemed of GOD'S Tabernac●es, Ps. 84.11. For the LORD GOD is a sun and shield unto us. Christ hath promised to be present in a more comfortable manner in the assemblies of his people, then in any of our houses or any other place. 2. GOD hath promised to be present with his Church and people in a special manner. There are promises, 1. Of the presence of CHRIST, Matth. 18.20. & 28.20. 1 Cor. 5.4. Rev. 2.1. Esay 31.9. 2. Of the presence of the HOLY GHOST Esa. 59.21. GOD hath made promises to the public assemblies of his special presence. Promises unto the Church-assemblies. In this respect the Prophet calleth, Zion the habitation of GOD'S house, and the place where his honour dwelleth, Psal. 26.8. Psalm. 132.14. in this respect the place of GOD'S public worship, is called the face of GOD. The Synagogues were called the houses of GOD, Psalm 83.12. This promise is also made to our Assemblies as well as theirs, Matth. 18.20. Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them, Rev. 2.1. CHRIST walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. Public places have a promise's of God's special presence in them, 1 King 9.3. 3. GOD hath promised his special blessing to public assemblies. In all places where I record my name, w●ll I come to thee and bless thee. Exod, 20.24. GOD hath promised Temporal blessings to such as do love and frequent the Assemblies. No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly, Psalm. 84.11. David makes this one reason of his love to GOD'S Tabernacles, but the chief reason why he so esteemed them, was this, the LORD will give grace and glory, and 133.3. There is beauty, Ps. 7 4 good●e●se ta●nesse in God's hou●e, such as 〈◊〉 fill the soul of a man, & give him as much as he can desire Esay 55.7. For there (in Zion) the LORD appointed the blessing and life for ever. The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion, Psalm. 128.5. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thine holy Temple, Ps 63, 4. See Psalm. 36.8, 9 & 92.13, 14. 4. GOD will deliver the Church out of trouble. Thou shalt see peace upon Israel. Ps. 128.6. Thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem, all the days of thy life, verse 5. The LORD will not cast off his people, nor forsake his inheritance. Ps. 94.14. Thus saith the LORD, after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon, I will visit you and perform my good word towards you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, to give you an expected end, Jerem. 29.10, 11. They shall sit every man under his vine, and under his figtree, and none shall make them afraid for the mouth of the LORD 〈◊〉 Hosts hath spoken it. Many nations are gathered against thee, but they know not the thoughts of the LORD: For he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor, Micah 4.4, 11, 12. When thus it shall be in the midst of the Land amongst the people: there shall be as the shaking of an Olive-tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done, Esay 24.13. See Esay 61.10. Deut. 4.29, 30. Jeremy 33.6. Jeremy 31.12. Esay 27.5, 7, 8, 9 CHAP. II. Promises. 1. Against the seductions of Antichrist. 1. THE faithful are of GOD, and overcome Antichristian Seducers, 1 john 4.4. 2. The Elect cannot be seduced. Mat. 24.24. Promises. 2. For the destruction of Antichrist. The ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, See 2 Thess. 2.8. these shall ha●e the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat h●● flesh, and shall burn her with fire. Rev. 17.16. There is a promise that Babylon shall be cast into the Sea as a millstone, Rev. 18.21. See ver. 8. And a mighty Angel took ●p a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the Sea, saying, thus with violence shall the great city Babylon be thrown down, and and shall be found no more at all. Each word almost hath a gradation; in that an Angel, a strong Angel, taketh a stone, F●rb●s upon t●e place Magnas la pa sua mol●●uit cum ingeni● impetu● mato i●si pro ijciatu●r longe maximo, protectus ab act quo valido & ●ebusto. Brightmamnu. in locum. and a great stone, even a millstone, which he letteth not barely fall, but casteth and with impetuous force, thrusteth in the bottom of the Sea whence nothing ordinarily is recovered, much less a millstone, thrust from such a hand, and with such force. CHAP. III. Promises. For calling the Jews. THere is a promise made of calling the Jews unto CHRIST, and causing them to turn from their transgressions, The Redeemer shall come from Zion, and unto them that return from transgression in Jacob, Esay 59.20. They shall be graffed in again, for GOD is able to graft them in, as it is written, there shall come out of Zion a deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob, Rom. 11.23, 26. Before the second coming of CHRIST, the Jews shall be converted and become a most famous Church again: and they shall be the means of the salvation of all the Elect, that shall remain to be converted among the Gentiles, as the Apostle plainly teacheth there 25, 26. verses, I would not Brethren that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in, and so all Israel shall be saved. In Hosea there are most sweet and comfortable promises to the Jews. 1. Of delivering them out of misery, and making them to flourish again, comparing their wretched estate to death, and their delivery to a resurrection, Host 13.14. 2. A promise of their repentance and turning unto GOD, Host 14.2, 3. 3. Of the forgiveness of sins, peace, reconciliation, verse 4. 4. Of a glorious Church. 5, 6, 7, 8. verses. These promises which GOD hath made unto that nation, that he will call them, and make them his people again, should provoke us to pray for them, as they did for us, Cant. 8.8. CHAP. IV. Promises. For bringing in the Gentiles. THus saith the Lord, Behold I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles, Esay 42 2●, ●3 and set up my standard (i.e. the Gospel) to the people, and they shall bring their sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders, and Kings shall be thy nursing Fathers, and Queens thy nursing Mothers: that is, GOD will stir up the Princes of the Earth to be a protection to it, and to shroud it under the wings of their authority. The Apostle john speaking of the new Jerusalem, saith, Ps. 68.29, 31. & 7●. 10, 11 & ●●. 19. Esa 62 2. Ps. 38 4. the Kings of the earth shall bring their glory to it, Rev. 21.24. Other sheep I have (saith our Saviour, meaning the Gentiles not yet called) which are not of this fold, them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd, Joh. 10.16. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, Esa. 60.3, 5, 8 and Kings to the brightness of thy rising. The abundance of the Sea shall be converted un●o thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? Act. 10.45 they are the words of the Church, wondering, as it were at the sight of such a propagation, as a cloud and Doves: it is a prophecy of the Gentiles converted, they fly as a cloud, that is, most swiftly, and shall in such flocks come into the Church, as if a whole flight of Doves driven by some hawk or tempest, should scour into the Columbary and rush into the windows. The Prophet Esay almost in every Chapter speaketh of the vocation of the Gentiles, as the 2. & 9 the 11. the 18. the 42. and 45. See 49. Chap. 12. and Chap. 54.1. And Chap. 65.1. Amos 9.11, 12. Ephes. 2.12, 19 John 12.32. CHAP. V. Promises. To Magistrates. THe LORD makes expressly this promise unto a godly King, that if he decline not from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, he shall prolong his days in the kingdom, he and his sons in the midst of Israel. Deut. 17.19.20. His enemies will I clothe with shame, but upon himself shall his crown flourish, Psalm 132.18. Promises, to Ministers. 1. Extraordinary, the Apostles. 2. Ordinary, all faithful Ministers. Promises to the Apostles. 1. To work miracles, M●t. 19 2●. & 28. ●0. Mar. 6.17. That promise was made by CHRIST unto his Church to be fulfiled immediately after his ascension. It extended only to the times of the Primitive Church, and to such as then lived, Perkins. 2. To cast out Devils, Mat. 10.1. 3. The Spirit promised to le●de them into all truth, john 16.13. so that they were free from error in doctrine. Promises to faithful Ministers. 1. For sufficiency and a competent measure of the blessings of this life. GOD promiseth this as a blessing to his Church, that in the plenty and abundance he would give to his people, his Ministers also should be plentifully provided for: And I will satiate the soul of the Priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with goodness, saith the Lord, jer. 31.14. Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren, the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy GOD promised him: Deut. 10.9. 2. Of protection and deliverance from trouble. I will clothe her Priests with salvation, Ps. 132.16. I am with thee; saith the LORD to jeremy, to deliver thee. jer. 1.18, 19 See 7. & 8. verses, Jer. 15.19, 20. & 20.11. Ezek. 2.6. & 3.9. He holdeth the stars in his right hand, Rev. 2.1. by which is signified his power in protecting and governing his Ministers. 2. GOD will take their part against their enemies and revenge their wrongs. He suffered no man to do them wrong, yea he reproved Kings for their sakes, saying, Touch not mine Anointed, and do my Prophets no harm, Ps. 105.14, 15. Hitherto belongeth that benediction and prophetical prayer that Moses made for Levi: Bless LORD his substance, and accept the work of his hands, smite thorough the loins of them that rise against him and of them that hate him, that they rise not again, Deut. 33.11. 4. GOD hath promised to give good success to their labours. It was promised, Esa 6.13. that a tenth should return. He walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, Rev. 2.1. by which action is noted, his presence in the midst of his Church, guiding and blessing his Ministers with all the members thereof. Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, Matth. 28.20. CHRIST was present with his Apostles, and now is with their Successors by his protection of their persons, and co-operation in their work. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then th●y shoul● have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. Jeremy 23.22. 1 Tim. 4.16. Rev ●1 18. Dan. 12. ●. Mat. 24.45, 46. 2 Tim. 4 7, 8 Secundum laborem accipient, non second 'em proventam, saith Bernard. 5. Their reward shall be great. They shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away, 1 Pet. 5.2, 4. Their reward is with God. Esa. 49.4, 6. They shall agree together, and join force against the common Adversary. It is promised, as a blessed fruit of the Gospel, Esay 11.13, 14. That Ephraim shall not envy judah, and judah shall not vex Ephraim: But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines towards the West. CHAP. VI Promises. To Masters of families and godly Servants. IN ordering and guiding the affairs of our family, we should depend by faith upon GOD'S blessing. See Ps. 127. Promises to godly servants. 1. They have a general promise, 1 Tim. 4.8. 2. More special ones. Servants, be obedient unto them that are your masters, Ephes 6 5, 8 etc. Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the LORD, whither he be bond or free: whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the LORD and not to men, knowing that of the LORD ye shall receiv● the reward of inheritance: for ye serve the LORD CHRIST, Col 3.23, 24. The Apostle Peter shows that a poor servant when he suffers hard words and ill usage from his master, doth herein find acceptation from GOD, ● Pet. 2.19. GOD hath promised to the faithful, to keep their houses, and bless them in their going out and coming in. It is a special blessing oft promised to the godly, that their habitation and dwelling shall prosper, He blesseth the habitation of the Just, Pro 3.33. Exod. 34 24. Pro. 3.33. that GOD will make the habitation of their righteousness prosperous, Job 8.6. yea that they shall know and feel, that peace shall be in their tabernacles, Job 5.24. There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling, Pro. 14.11. The tabernacle of the upright shall flourish, the house of the righteous shall stand, Pro. 12.7. GOD keeps such a fence about them, and their houses, and all that they have, as Satan cannot hurt them, job 1.10. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out, Deut. 28.6. The LORD shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in, from this time forth and even for evermore Ps. 121.8. It is the protection of GOD that keeps our houses from the calamities of fire within, and lightning from Heaven, and from the annoyance and molestation of evil spirits, and other judgements; governor's of families should therefore put sin far from their Tabernacles, Job 22.23. CHAP. VII. Promises. To Husband and Wife. IF the Husband or wife be godly, they have a promise from the Lord for their comfort. David bestows a whole Psalm upon them to this purpose, viz. 128. the sum whereof was this, that he should eat the labours of his hands, that he is well, and should be happy: that his wife should be as the fruitful vine upon the walls of his house, comfortable as well as fruitful: that his children should be like the olive branches round about his Table: profitable and beneficial as well as many (those are of the best fruits, the one for cheering the heart, the other for clearing the face, Psal. 104.15. the one for sweetness, the other for fatness, judg. 9.13.) that he should see Jerusalem in prosperity all his life long, that he should see his children's children (as job 42.16.) and peace upon Israel. See also Prov. 31.28. and 30. verses. promises made to the virtuous woman, and Proverbes 11.16. Promises. Concerning children. GOD promiseth the godly, 1. To give them the fruit of the womb. It is promised, as a blessing and favour of GOD to his people, to multiply their seed, and to make them fruitful. I will make you fruitful and multiply you, Leu. 26.9. He will bless thee, and multiply thee. There shall neither be male nor female barren among you, Deu. 7.13, 14. The like is, Deu. 6.3.8. ●. & 28.11. Thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth, Job 5.25. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house, thy children like olive plants round about the table. Lo thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. Thou shalt see thy children's children, Ps. 128.3, 4, 6. See Esay 48.19. Ps. 115.14. & 127.3. Ps. 113.9. These promises may abundantly suffice to settle the minds and hearts of any true believer, under this tentation of grief for want of children, that assuredly GOD will fulfil their desire, if it be good for them. 2. To bless their children every way, 1. With outward things. 2. In their souls. GOD hath made a free and gracious Covenant with the believing Parents, and their posterity, Gen. 17.7, 9 Act. 2.39. jer. 32.39. He hath promised to bless their children every way, He will bless the fruit of thy womb, Deut. 7.13. This is intended in all those places, where it is said, I will be the GOD of thy seed, which was said to a That very promise was after repeated to Abraham's posterity in all ages, to be a staff of comfort to them still, therefore it is oft said, that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, & jacob, Exod 36 15, ●6 Le●● 42 Ps. 105 8. 〈◊〉. Abraham the father of the faithful, Gen. 17. and belongeth to all b Acts 3.25. Rom. 4.11.16 1 Cor 7.14. believers. The just man walketh in his integrity, his children are blessed after him, Pro. 20.7. 1. GOD will bless them with outward things. Personal goodness is a good means to bring safety, honour, wealth, and many comfortable blessings upon posterity. Exod. 20.6. Their children and children's children to many generations shall be blessed. Esa. 619 & 65.23. Ps. 102 ●8. Pro. 14.26 Ps. 37.25, 26. Pro. 11.21. His seed shall be mighty upon the earth, the generation of the upright shall be blessed, Ps. 112.2. His seed shall inherit the earth, Ps. 25, 13. Ps. 37.29. A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children, Pro. 13.22. 2. GOD will bless them in their souls. I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, Esa. 44.3, 4. Thy children shall be taught of the LORD, and great shall be the peace of thy children. Esay 54.13. If we know ourselves to be GOD'S children, we may be assured (saith one * H●on 4 of job ) that some of our posterity shall be so likewise. They are foederati in GOD'S Covenant, by means of their Parents, whom when GOD received into the Church, 1 Cor 7 14. Rom. 11.16. See 1 Kin 11 34. & 2 Kings 10.30. he received them with this promise, I will be thy GOD, and the GOD of thy seed. Good Parents though they be poor, leave their children a good patrimony, for they have laid up many prayers for them in heaven, and they leave them GOD'S favour for their possession; this is urged therefore as a motive by the HOLY GHOST to provoke Parents unto all righteousness, Deut. 5.29. It is promised as a blessing, that mothers shall give suck to the children that they bear. GOD shall bless thee with the blessings of the breasts and of the womb, Gen. 49.25. Promises. To Parents correcting their children. The rod and reproof give wisdom: correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest, yea he shall give delight to thy soul, Proverbs 29.15, 17. Hold not correction from thy child, for if thou beatest him with the rod he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from Hell, Pro. 23.13, ●4. Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him, Pro. 22.15. Promises to comfort them in the want of children. To them will I give in mine house, and within my walls, a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off, Esa. 56.5. Promises. To children obeying their Parents. Honour thy Father and thy Mother, that thy days may be long upon the Land which the LORD thy GOD giveth thee, Exod 20.12. The Apostle, Ephes. 6.2. saith this is the first Commandment with promise. The second Commandment hath a Promise annexed unto it, Object. and a large one, of showing mercy unto thousands, to them that love GOD, Exod. 20.6. The Greek * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Ambrose and Piscator say, this is the first precept of the second Table with promise. word used by the Apostle, Answ. properly signifieth an affirmative precept, as our English word [Commandment] doth, of the affirmative precepts it is the first with promise; Secondly, the promise in the second Commandment is only a general promise made to observers of the whole Law, and therefore he useth the plural number [Commandments] and saith in the general showing mercy to thousands, but this is a special promise made to them that keep this particular Commandment: Boza, V●sin, R●vet on 20. of Exo Zanchtu● on Eph 6. B Bahington B. Andrews. D. Gouge and others. that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live; this answer is given by many Learned Divines. It followeth, ver. 3. That it may be well with thee, and thou mayst live long on the Earth. The promise mentioned before in general, is particularly set down. Whatsoever belongeth to a man's welfare and well-being in this life is here promised, saith D. Willet. All manner of blessings, Spiritual and Temporal, belonging to soul and body, concerning this life and the life to come, make to a man's well-being; but temporal prosperity is here principally intended, Deut. 5 1●. saith Doctor Gouge. And jeremiah saith unto the house of the Rechabites; Ier 35.18, 19 Thus saith the LORD of Hosts the GOD of Israel, because ye have obeyed the commandment of jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: Therefore thus saith the LORD of Hosts, the GOD of Israel, jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother. For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head and chains about thy neck, Prov. 1.8, 9 See 6.20. CHAP. VIII. Promises. For Company. That we shall reap good by the society of the godly. HE that walketh with wise men, shall be wise, Prov. 13.20. Then they that feared the LORD, spoke often one to another, and the LORD harkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. Mal. 3.16, 17. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels, and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them, Mat. 18.20. FINIS. An Alphabetical Table of the principal things contained in this Treatise. A. ABsolute promises, pag. 12. Adoption, promises of it, 289. 2. To it, 291. Afflictions, promises to prevent them, 155, 156. Or qualify them if they do come, 157, 158. Affliction is momentary, 159. GOD afflicts his children for their good, 161, 162. Afflictions are trials, 163. Afflictions purge sin, 165, 166. and quicken graces, faith, hope, patience, 168. GOD promiseth to help his to bear afflictions, and in due time to remove them, 169, 170. The use of faith in respect of God's promises concerning afflictions, 173. to 176. almsgiving, promises to it, 402, 403. Angels guard the godly, 272. Antichrist, promises against him, 434, 435. Apostles, promises to them, 441. Application of the promises, 30, 72. Means to apply them, 32, 33. Rules to be observed in applying them, 41. Examples of such as have applied them 35, & 74. The devil would hinder the faithful from a right applying of them 37. The wicked misapply them, 39, 67, 74, 75. Assurance, 74, 75, 306, 307. B BAckesliding, comforts against it, 243, 244. Baptism, promises to it, 393. Barrenness, comforts against spiritual barrenness, 262, 263. Bless, GOD will bless all outward things to his children, 212, 213. Blessings by CHRIST to the godly, 280. Body, promises to God's children in respect of the Body, 198. Bounty, promises to bounty to ●ODS Ministers, 406. Burial, 420. C CAlling, promises to diligence in a calling, 209 210. Effectual calling, 280, 281. Captivity, comforts against it, 187, 188. Children, promises concerning children, 449, etc. Promises to children obeying their Parents, 454, 455. Christ, promises belong to him as Head of the Church, 104, etc. Promises of Christ, 274, 275. Church, promises to the Church in general or particular Churches, 428, etc. Company, a promise to those that dislike evil company. 232. Promises to good company 457. Conditional promises, 15, 16, 59, 60. Conference, promises of and to it, 41, 42. Confession of sin, promises to it, 332, 333. Confidence, promises of and to it, 309, etc. Conversion, promises of and to it, 347, 348. Correction, See Afflictions. GOD corrects in great wisdom and in love, 157, 158. They are blessed whom the LORD correcteth, 161, etc. Promises to correction of children, 453, 454. Covenant is mutual between God and us, 94.95. What the word covenant signifies, 111, 112. How it is taken in Scripture, 113. The definition of a covenant in general, 114, 115. The division of a covenant in general, 114, 115. The covenants of works and grace, ●15, 116. their several appellations, agreements, and differences, 116— 219. Why the Covenant of grace is called a Covenant and Testament▪ and why it is termed old and new, 126, 127, 128, 129. How the old Covenant made with the Jews agrees and differs from the covenant of works 129, 130, 131. How the old and new covenant or Testament agree and differ, 132, 133. The covenant of grace handled in a special manner, as it is a cluster of all the promises, 137, 138. The privileges of those that are in Covenant with GOD, 140, etc. How to know whether we be in Covenant with GOD, 144, 145. What use we are to make of the covenant, 146, 147. etc. Covetousness, promises against it, 233. D DAngers, see Afflictions. Damnation, promises against it, 415. Deafness, comforts against spiritual deafness, 240. 〈◊〉 comforts against the fear of death, 417. and the fear of untimely death, 419. Delighting in GOD, promises of it, and a promise to it, 410, 411. Desertions, comforts to GOD'S people in spiritual desertions, 265, 266. Desire, promises to such as unfeignedly desire grace, 308, 309. Distractions, comforts against them, 251, 252. Duties, GOD hath promised to assist his children by his Spirit in holy duties, 368, 369. he will also accept the services of his children, and reward them. 371, 372. E ELect, the promises belong to them only, 180, etc. Estate, promises to God's children for their outward estate, 205, 206, 207. Eternal life, promises of it, 423, 424. Evils, promises against evils in the world, 231, 232. Comforts to the godly for evils of good done, 252, 253. Self- examination, promises to it, 399. Excellency of the promises, 18, 19, etc. Experience of God in his promises, confirmeth faith, and nourisheth hope, 46, 47. etc. F FAith, promises of and to it, 303, 304. How Faith and hope agree and differ, 6, 213, 314, 315. How Faith and presumption differ, 39, 40. Live by Faith, 34, 35. God's promises are faithful, 15, 77, 102, 103. Falling away, comforts against fears of falling-away, 253, 254, etc. Famine, promises for help in famine, and deliverance from it, 184, 185 Fasting, promises to it, 396. Fear, promises of and to it, 324, 325, 326. Food, promises of it, 204, 205. Forgetfulness, a promise against it, 249. Forgiving injuries, promises to it, 322, 323. Forgiveness of sins, promises of it, 282, 283. etc. Frailties, comforts in regard of slips and frailties, 241, etc. Free, God's promises are free. 65, 66, 67, 68 G GEnerality of the promises, 68, 69, 70. Gentiles, promises for bringing them in, 438, 439. Give, promises to liberal and cheerful giving, 405. Godliness, promises to it, 411, 412. Godly, promises to them, 412, 413. Glorification, promises for the glorification of our souls and bodies, 423. Glory, promises for the glory of heaven, 425, 426. Growth in grace, promises of and to it, 365, 366, 367. H HEalth, promises of it, 200, 201. Honour, promises of it, 196. Hope, what it is, 312, 313. Promises of and to hope, 313, 314. The agreement and difference between Faith and Hope, 6.313. Hope is preserved by a consideration of four attributes in God, 315. House, GOD hath promised to keep the houses and habitations of the godly, 446. Humility, promises to it, 349. Husband, promises to him, 448, 449. I Jews, promises for calling them, 436, 437. Ignorance, comforts against it, 238, 239. Imprisonment, promises to those that are imprisoned for the Gospel, 228, 229. Indisposition, comforts against it, 251. Infirmities, comforts against them, 235, 236, etc. joy, promises of it, 316, 317. etc. judgement, promises concerning the last judgement, 422. justification, promises of it, 281. K Kill of sin, see mortification. Knowledge, promises of and to it, 300, 301. L Lameness, comforts against spiritual lameness, 244, etc. Law, 115, 116. Liberality, promises to liberality to the Saints. 405, 406. Long life, promises of it, 198, 199. Lord's supper, promises to it. 194. Losses for God's cause, promises to those that lose outward things and life itself for Christ, 229, 230 Love, comforts to such as are troubled with doubts and fears of losing God's love, 248, 249. Promises of God's love to us, 268, 269. A promise of our love to him, 319, 320. Promises to the love of Christ, 327 Promises to the love of our brethren and enemies, 322, 323. Promises to such as love the word, 387. M MAgistrates, promises to them, 440. Masters of Families, 445. Means, comforts to those who are troubled for want of the means, 261, 262. Meditation in the promises, 32. Promises to Meditation, 398, 399. Meekness, promises of and to it, 350, 351. Ministers, promises to faithful Ministers, 441, 442, 443. Mortification, promises of and to to it, 340, 341, etc. Mothers, a promise that they shall give suck to their children 453. Mourning for sin, see sorrow. N NAme, promises of a good name, 198. Nature of the promises, 1. to 8. O Oath, promises to a lawful oath. 395. Obedience, promises of and to it, 327. to 330. Promises to willing and general obedience, 331. Oppression, promises against it, 189. Ordinances, promises to the Ordinances of GOD generally, 373. P Parent's, promises to give them children, and to bless them eevery way, 449. to 453. Promises to comfort them in the want of children, 454. Patience, a promise of it, and promises to it, 352, 353. Peace, promises of outward and inward peace, 359, 360. Promises to peaceable men, or peacemakers, 203. marg. Persecution, promises to those that are persecuted for the profession of truth, 221, 222. Promises to those that are persecuted for practice of good, and for both together, 222, 223. Perseverance, promises of and to it, 330. Plenty, see wealth. Ponder, what it is, 32. Possession of the Devil, see witchcraft. Poverty, promises in regard of it, 181, 182. Practice, promises to the practice of the word, 388. Promises to those that suffer for the practice of good, 222. Praising God, promises of and to it, 397. Prayer is a means to apply the promises, 33, 34. Prayer is to be grounded on God's promises 49. to 60. Promises to give the godly hearts to pray, 374. Promises to help them to pray, and to hear their prayers, especially in trouble, 374. to 380. Promises to prayer, 381, 382. Promises to fervent, secret, private and public prayer, 382. to 385. Preaching, promises to it, 386. Presence, promises of Gods gracious presence with the godly, 269. Promises, the nature of them. 1. to 8. How distinguished from commandments and threatenings, and from purposes, 1, 5. The explanation of the word, and the acceptations of it in Scripture, 1, 2, 3. The definition of a Promise in general, 3. The divine Promises diversely defined, 5. The division of a Promise in general, and of the divine Promises, 3, 4, 11, to 16. Promises are the grounds of our hope, and objects of our Faith, 6, 7. The order wherein faith lays hold on the Promises, 8, 9 The excellency of the Promises, 18, to 26. The right use of the Promises, 26, 27. General and particular rules directing us how to use them, 5, 28, to 62. How spiritual and temporal things are promised, 15, 16, 56. to 59 God must be sought to for the performance of his Promises, 60, 61. The properties of the Promises, 63 to 9●. The manner how God performeth his Promises, 96. He delayeth the fullfilling of his Promises, 56, 98, 99, 100 The persons to whom the Promises belong, 104. to 110. Prosperity, promises of it to the godly, both to their persons and purposes, 207, 208. Providence, promises of Gods special Providence over his people, 270, 27●. R RAiment, promises of it, 204. Reading of the word, promises to it, 386, 387. Reconciliation, promises of it, 289. Redemption, promises of it, 280. Repentance, 331. Promises 1. of it, 2. to it, 18. Reproaches, promises to those that are reproached for both truth and goodness, 224, to 227. Reproof promises to it, 402. Resurrection, promises of it, 420. Righteousness, promises to make us righteous, 288. promises to righteousness, 353, 354, 355. S SAbbath, promises to those that sanctify it, 399, 400. Sacraments, a division of all the Sacraments. 119, 120, 121. promises to the Sacraments in general 393. Safety, promises of it, ●01. Salvation by Christ, 278. Sanctification, promises of and to it, 294, to 298. Scandales, promises against them, 233. Scarcity, see famine. Seeking of GOD, promises to it, 407, 408. Servants, promises to godly servants, 4●6, 447. Sickness, promises in regard of it, 180. Sin, comforts in case of dismaiednesse under many and strong corruptions, 259, 260. Sleep, promises of quiet rest and safety in the night, 203. Sorrow, promises of and to godly sorrow, 334. to 339. Spirit, promises of the Spirit, 291, 292. A promise to those that have the Spirit, 293. Spiritual promises, 215. Spiritual graces promised, 300. How spiritual things are promised, 15, 55, 56, 57 Strength, promises of bodily strength, 201. Success, see prosperity. Suffering, see persecution. T Teacher's, comforts to those who have no teachers, or such as are bad, 261, 262. Temporal promises in regard of evil things, 155. in regard of good things, 190. to 193. Temporal things how promised, 16, 58, 59 Temptations from the Devil and flesh, promises against them, 215, to 220. threatenings, 2, 38. Testament, see Covenant. Tillage, promises to it, 209. marg. Tithes, a promise to paying of them, 407. Truth, comforts to such as suffer for the profession of the truth, 221, 222. Turning from sin, promises of and to it, 346, 347. V VNcheerfullnesse, comforts against it, 250, 251. Vocation, see effectual calling. Uprightness, promises of and to it, of all sorts, 355, 356. Use of the promises, 20. to 62. Use of faith in respect of afflictions, 174. to 178. W WAiting on God, promises to it, 409, 410. A promise to such as wait for the word, 388. War, promises to preserve from it. 186, 187. watchfulness, promises to it, 400. Weak, comforts to weak Christians 244, to 247. Wealth, promises of it, 205, 206. Wise, promises to her, 448, 449. Wisdom, see Knowledge. Witchcraft, a promise against it, 189 Word, promises that God's children shall hearken to it, and to them that do hearken to it, 388, 389. World, promises against evil in the world in general, 231, 232. Worldly cares, see covetousness. Z Zeal, promises to it, 361. FINIS.