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

The second external Principle is, The Covenant and Promise of God made in Christ to the Godly: So that the Covenant of Grace being confirmed by Christs death, In whom the Promises are Yea and Amen, 2 Cor. 1.20. being among other glorious ends, to perpetuate and continue the work of Grace in them; it's impossible, that hell, or the world should quite put them out of the way to Heaven, Jerem. 32.40. God there promiseth an Everlasting Covenant, a Covenant that shall abide for ever; And what is the Privilege vouchsafed in that Deed of Gift? It's the putting his fear in their heart, that they shall not depart from him. You see by this notable place, That it's not we our selves, but God who keepeth us; and for this we have his Promise: So that the godly may triumph in an holy Confidence because of it: Many other Promises that are branches of this Covenant, the Scripture declareth, which should be sweeter then the honey, and the honey-comb: For what can be more precious to hear, then that God will safely preserve thee in the way to Heaven, so that no fraud or force without, nor any lust or corruption within shall hinder thee of the Crown of Glory. Isai. 40.29, 30, 31. He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength, &c. God in the verse before is said Himself not to faint, or to be weary: Though he created the Earth, and doth still preserve it, yet he is not weary, and because he is thus, he will make his people so: They in themselves may be fainting and weary, but he will renew strength: And he illustrateth this from natural strength, Though young men in their full strength may be weary, yet these shall not. And again, he compareth their strength to the Eagle that mounteth up with wings to the Heaven, and is not weary. Thus God will enable the godly soul: Though they run, or walk, they shall not be weary; What a reviving place should this be to the dead, dull, and languishing believer? Why do I lie grovelling on the ground? Let me fly up to Heaven like an Eagle. We have also a remarkable Promise of Divine Protection, Isai. 4.5, 6. where God by two similitudes doth notably declare it, First, by an allusion to that wonderful Preservation of the people of Israel: It was not enough, that ⟨p. 346⟩