There is none of us all, but may some time or other fall into such a great extremity, that when we look •bout us, we shall find none to help •s: at which time we shall throughly •now, what it is to have comfort from heaven, and a God to go unto. If there be any thing in the world worth labouring for, it is the getting sound evidence to our souls that God is ours. What madness is it to spend all our labour, to possess our selves of the Cistern, when the fountain is offered to •s? O beloved, the whole world cannot ⟨p. 506⟩weigh against this one comfort, that God is ours. All things laid in the other balance, would be too light. A Moth may corrupt, a thief may take away that we have here, but who can take our God away? Though God doth convey some comfort to us by these things, yet when they are gone, he reserves the comfort in himself still, and can convey that, and more in a purer and sweeter way, where he plants the grace of faith to fetch it from him. Why then should we weaken our interest in God, for any thing this earth affords? What unworthy wretches are those, that to please a sinful man, or to feed a base lust, or to yield to a wicked custom, will (as much as in them lieth) lose their interest in God? Such little consider what an excellent privilege it is to have a sure refuge to fly unto in time of trouble. God wants not ways to maintain his, without being beholding to the devil. He hath all help hid in himself, and will then most show it, when it shall make most for his own glory. If God be ours, it is a ⟨p. 507⟩shame to be beholding to the devil, that ever it should be said Satan by base courses hath made us rich. God thinks any outward thing too mean for his children, severed from himself, therefore he gives his Son the express •age of himself unto them. For which cause David when he had even studied to reckon up the number of Gods choice blessings, concludes with advancing of this above all, yea rather happy 1•e they whose God is the Lord. If this will not satisfy the soul, what can? Labour therefore to bring thy soul to this point with God, Lord if thou seest it •t, take away all from me, so thou leavest •e thy self, whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none on earth that I de•re 2in comparison of thee.
There is none of us all, but may some time or other fall into such a great extremity, that when wee looke •bout us, we shall finde none to help •s: at which time we shall throughly •now, what it is to have comfort from heaven, and a God to goe unto. If there be any thing in the world worth labouring for, it is the getting sound evidence to our soules that God is ours. What madnesse is it to spend all our labour, to possesse our selves of the Cisterne, when the fountaine is offered to •s? O beloved, the whole world cannot ⟨p. 506⟩weigh against this one comfort, that God is ours. All things laid in the other ballance, would be too light. A Moath may corrupt, a theefe may take away that we have here, but who can take our God away? Though God doth convey some comfort to us by these things, yet when they are gone, he reserves the comfort in himself still, and can convey that, and more in a purer and sweeter way, where hee plants the grace of faith to fetch it from him. Why then should we weaken our interest in God, for any thing this earth affords? What unworthy wretches are those, that to please a sinfull man, or to feede a base lust, or to yeeld to a wicked custome, will (as much as in them lyeth) lose their interest in God? Such little consider what an excellent priviledge it is to have a sure refuge to flye unto in time of trouble. God wants not wayes to maintaine his, without being beholding to the devill. He hath all help hid in himselfe, and will then most shew it, when it shall make most for his owne glory. If God be ours, it is a ⟨p. 507⟩shame to bee beholding to the devill, that ever it should bee said Sathan by base courses hath made us rich. God thinkes any outward thing too meane for his children, severed from himselfe, therefore he gives his Son the expresse •age of himselfe unto them. For which cause David when he had even studied to reckon up the number of Gods choise blessings, concludes with advancing of this above all, yea rather happy 1•e they whose God is the Lord. If this will not satisfie the soule, what can? Labour therefore to bring thy soule to this point with God, Lord if thou seest it •t, take away all from me, so thou leavest •e thy selfe, whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none on earth that I dere
- 1Ps. 144. 15.
- 2Psal. 73. 25.
