7. 'Tis an Abiding Care, a Lasting Care, and not a transient care, a momentary care. Psal. 125. 1, 2. They that trust in the Lord, shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people, from henceforth, even for ever. Jerusalem was surrounded with many great high mountains which were a great safeguard to it against all winds and storms; such a shelter, such a safeguard, yea, and a better, 1will God be to mystical Mount Zion the Church, against all winds and storms of affliction or persecution, Psal. 121. 3, 4. He that keepeth thee will not slumber: behold, he that keepeth Israel, shall neither slumber nor sleep. He repeats the promise, and sets it forth with a behold, that it may stick the closer, and warm our hearts the better. The phrase is taken from Watchmen, who stand on the walls in time of war, to discover the approaching enemies, and accordingly ⟨p. 36⟩give warning: Now though they may be careless, treacherous, or sleepy, yet the Lord will be so far from sleeping, that he will not so much as slumber, no, he will not so much as fetch one wink of sleep. It hath been a tradition, that 2Lions sleep not; yet to think or say that they sleep not at all, were absurd; indeed their eye-lids being too little to cover their great eyes, they do sleep with their eyes somewhat open and shining, which hath occasioned some to think that they sleep not at all. But sure I am, that the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, who is the Keeper of Israel, doth neither slumber nor sleep, he never shuts his eyes, but hath them always open upon his people for good; he winks not so much as to the twinkling of an eye, he always stands Sentinel for his peoples safety, Isa. 27. 2, 3. In that day sing ye unto her, a Vineyard of red wine; I the Lord do keep it, I will water it every moment, (or as the Hebrew runs, at moments, ⟨p. 37⟩or by moments) lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day; that is, constantly, continually, without intermission. And this constant care of God over his people, was signified by those two Types, the Pillar 3of Fire, and the Pillar of a Cloud, that left not Israel, till they were in the possession of the Land of Canaan, which was a Type of Heaven.
7. 'Tis an Abiding Care, a Lasting Care, and not a transient care, a momentary care. Psal. 125. 1, 2. They that trust in the Lord, shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people, from henceforth, even for ever. Jerusalem was surrounded with many great high mountains which were a great safeguard to it against all winds and storms; such a shelter, such a safeguard, yea, and a better, 1will God be to mystical Mount Sion the Church, against all winds and storms of affliction or persecution, Psal. 121. 3, 4. He that keepeth thee will not slumber: behold, he that keepeth Israel, shall neither slumber nor sleep. He repeats the promise, and sets it forth with a behold, that it may stick the closer, and warm our hearts the better. The phrase is taken from Watchmen, who stand on the walls in time of war, to discover the approaching enemies, and accordingly ⟨p. 36⟩give warning: Now though they may be careless, treacherous, or sleepy, yet the Lord will be so far from sleeping, that he will not so much as slumber, no, he will not so much as fetch one wink of sleep. It hath been a tradition, that 2Lions sleep not; yet to think or say that they sleep not at all, were absurd; indeed their eye-lids being too little to cover their great eyes, they do sleep with their eyes somewhat open and shining, which hath occasioned some to think that they sleep not at all. But sure I am, that the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, who is the Keeper of Israel, doth neither slumber nor sleep, he never shuts his eyes, but hath them alwayes open upon his people for good; he winks not so much as to the twinkling of an eye, he alwayes stands Centinel for his peoples safety, Isa. 27. 2, 3. In that day sing ye unto her, a Vineyard of red wine; I the Lord do keep it, I will water it every moment, (or as the Hebrew runs, at moments, ⟨p. 37⟩or by moments) lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day; that is, constantly, continually, without intermission. And this constant care of God over his people, was signified by those two Types, the Pillar 3
- 1Zech. 2. 5.
- 2Oppianus. Plin. Hist. lib. 3. cap. 3.
- 3Exod. 13. 21, 22.
