CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

2. Gods children may for a while enjoy many sweet consolations, and have good assurance of Gods love, and this is a special sensible support. When David hath no cause to complain that God hid his face from him, when he said, his mountain was strong, when he could bless God, because he had forgiven his sins, so that he could with heavenly boldness call him his Lord, and his God, all this while David was happy; but this fair weather doth not last always, God hideth his face, and then he is troubled, then he crieth out, Why art thou cast down and troubled within me, O my soul. It is a gross error to say assurance cannot be lost, yea we may lose it by our careless and lazy walking, and God may deprive us of it for wise and holy ends: If then God gives thee these soul-sensible supports, that thou knowest and feelest his love upon thy soul, make much of this mercy, faith of evidence will not be always: There will be a time when faith of adherence and dependence will be all in all.

2. Gods children may for a while enjoy many sweet consolations, and have good assurance of Gods love, and this is a speciall sensible support. When David hath no cause to complain that God hid his face from him, when he said, his mountain was strong, when he could bless God, because he had forgiven his sinnes, so that he could with heavenly boldness call him his Lord, and his God, all this while David was happy; but this fair weather doth not last alwaies, God hideth his face, and then he is troubled, then he crieth out, Why art thou cast down and troubled within me, O my soul. It is a gross error to say assurance cannot be lost, yea we may lose it by our careless and lazy walking, and God may deprive us of it for wise and holy ends: If then God gives thee these soul-sensible supports, that thou knowest and feelest his love upon thy soul, make much of this mercy, faith of evidence will not be alwaies: There will be a time when faith of adherence and dependance will be all in all.

3. Then have the people of God carnal and sensible supports, when they are preserved from the outward malice and persecutions of men, so that they live honoured and prosperous lives here below. Such a time Joseph had at last, David, Mordecai, Esther, and many others; yea we see in Ahab's days, when there was such an hot persecution of Elijah the Prophet, and other godly Prophets, yet Obadiah a godly man, lived in great favour with Ahab, so that although the rage and malice of the world be prepared against every holy man, yet for a while they may be the worlds darlings, they may have the Kingdoms, the Powers, and the Honours of the world, so that we may sometimes say in this respect, the servant is above his Master, Christs Disciple above Christ; only let them know, there may come a time, and then God depriveth them of all these, for their honours, they have disgrace, for their glory, reproach. It's much if God lets them have the good things of this life, and of the life to come.