I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Answ. 1 A Godly, Gracious man, hath propriety and interest in God himself. Some special men and women there are in the world, whom the great God of heaven and earth doth make over himself unto, and they that have him for their God and portion, have no reason to be disquieted whatever their condition be: thus it is with the Saints, and therefore the Psalmist doth not barely say, that he would rejoice, but that God was his exceeding joy: Psal. 43. Satan may darken this light and joy for a time, but he can never put it out, all the Saints and people of God are possest of this.¹ It's written of Antoninus the Emperor, one of the persecutors in the Primitive times, that being environed, and compassed about by his enemies, (whereby he and all his army in the field were like to be lost for water) he commanded the Christians of his army to pray for rain; Whereby present relief came to him, his army was preserved, and his enemies destroyed; whereupon he wrote a letter to the Roman Senate in favour of the Christians, and gave this commendation of them in it, that they were a people which were, Deo contenti, content with God, quem circumferunt secum in pectore, whom they did always carry about with them in their bosom: yea saith he, in that same letter, It is very credible, that although we think them wicked men, Deum pro munimento habere in conscientia, that they have God in their conscience for ⟨p. 44⟩their bulwark. Thus a Heathen, thus an Enemy, thus he who was once a Persecutor confessed, and shall not we say as much?

Answ. 1 A Godly, Gracious man, hath propriety and interest in God himself. Some special men and women there are in the world, whom the great God of heaven and earth doth make over himself unto, and they that have him for their God and portion, have no reason to be disquieted whatever their condition be: thus it is with the Saints, and therefore the Psalmist doth not barely say, that he would rejoyce, but that God was his exceeding joy: Psal. 43. Satan may darken this light and joy for a time, but he can never put it out, al the Saints and people of God are possest of this.¹