Gods love does so link his heart to his People in their deep distresses, 1that he can't leave them, he can't stir from them, Isa. 43. 4. Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee. Well, and what then? This love so endears & unites God to his People that he can't leave them, he can't stir one foot from them, V. 2. When thou passest through the Waters I will be with thee, and through the Rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. The Lord dearly loves his People, and he highly prizes his People, and he greatly ⟨p. 121⟩delights in his People, and therefore he will be signally present with his People, both in the fire and in the water, both in the fire of persecution, and i• the waters of affliction. God loves the persons of his People, and he loves the presence of his People, and he loves the graces of his People, and he loves the services of his People, and he loves the fellowship of his People, and therefore he will never leave his People, but stand by them, and be signally present with them in their greatest troubles & deepest distresses. Such is Gods singular love to his Covenant-People, that he will neither forsake them, nor forget them in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers. The Jews were low, yea very low in Babylon, their distresses were great, and their dangers many, they looked upon themselves as so many dead 2men, Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we are cut off for our parts; They looked upon themselves both as forsaken and forgotten by God. Behold, captive Zion lamentingly saith: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord 3hath forgotten me. Zion is taken several ways in Scripture; 1. For the place properly so called, where they were wont to me•t to worship the Lord, but this place was long ago destroyed, 2. For the blessed Angels, Ye are come to mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of Angels. 3. For the congregation 4of Saints, of Believers, of which it is said, The Lord loves the Gates of Zion more than all the habitations of Jacob.
Gods love does so link his heart to his People in their deep distresses, 1that he can't leave them, he can't stir from them, Isa. 43. 4. Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee. Well, and what then? This love so endeares & unites God to his People that he can't leave them, he can't stir one foot from them, V. 2. When thou passest through the Waters I will be with thee, and through the Rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. The Lord dearly loves his People, and he highly prizes his People, and he greatly ⟨p. 121⟩delights in his People, and therefore he will be signally present with his People, both in the fire and in the water, both in the fire of persecution, and i• the waters of affliction. God loves the persons of his People, and he loves the presence of his People, and he loves the graces of his People, and he loves the services of his People, and he loves the fellowship of his People, and therefore he will never leave his People, but stand by them, and be signally present with them in their greatest troubles & deepest distresses. Such is Gods singular love to his Covenant-People, that he will neither forsake them, nor forget them in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers. The Jews were low, yea very low in Babylon, their distresses were great, and their dangers many, they looked upon themselves as so many dead 2men, Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we are cut off for our parts; They looked upon themselves both as forsaken and forgotten by God. Behold, captive Sion lamentingly saith: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord 3hath forgotten me. Sion is taken several wayes in Scripture; 1. For the place properly so called, where they were wont to me•t to worship the Lord, but this place was long ago destroyed, 2. For the blessed Angels, Ye are come to mount Sion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of Angels. 3. For the congregation 4of Saints, of Believers, of which it is said, The Lord loves the Gates of Sion more than all the habitations of Jacob.
- 1Psalm 91. 15.
- 2Ezek. 37. 1. to 15.
- 3Isa. 49. 13. to 18. Psalm 84. 7. Isa. 1. 27. Heb. 12. 22.
- 4Psalm 87. 2.
