Thirdly,1 That knowledge and acknowledgement of God in an outward formal way is that which Hypocrites think will commend them much to God in time of affliction; that by which they shall have favour from Him because they have made some profession of God: We know thee: as if they should say, Lord, we were not as others that had forsaken thee, we continued Israel still, we did not turn to be Heathens: It is very hard for mens spirits to be taken off from trusting in formality, in outward worship, we are all Christians, we are not turned Heathens; so they shall call to me, My God, we know thee, Israel; we continue Israel still. Oh! how sweet and comfortable is it then to have a true interest in God?2 in the time of affliction to be able to say, in truth Lord we know thee, and blessed be thy Name Lord we have known thee, we have had experience of thy goodness, and faithfulness, mercy, love, and tender compassion towards us, we have known thee an infinite all sufficient good, thou hast satisfied our souls with thy love, the light of thy countenance it hath been the joy of our hearts, and blessed be the time that ever we knew thee, Oh blessed be the time that ever the Lord made himself known to us; we can say, Lord, we have known thee, and therefore now Lord have mercy upon us; Oh let us all learn to make more of our interest in God, and to labour to know Him more and more, that we may have this comfort in our afflictions, to be able to say in truth, Oh Lord, thou ⟨p. 11⟩art our God, and we have known thee. If Hypocrites think it to be so great a comfort that they are Israel, Oh what is it then to be a true Israelite in whose heart is no guile?
Thirdly,1 That knowledg and acknowledgment of God in an outward formal way is that which Hypocrites think will commend them much to God in time of affliction; that by which they shall have favour from Him because they have made some profession of God: We know thee: as if they should say, Lord, we were not as others that had forsaken thee, we continued Israel still, we did not turn to be Heathens: It is very hard for mens spirits to be taken off from trusting in formality, in outward worship, we are all Christians, we are not turned Heathens; so they shall call to me, My God, we know thee, Israel; we continue Israel still. Oh! how sweet and comfortable is it then to have a true interest in God?2 in the time of affliction to be able to say, in truth Lord we know thee, and blessed be thy Name Lord we have known thee, we have had experience of thy goodness, and faithfulness, mercy, love, and tender compassion towards us, we have known thee an infinite al sufficient good, thou hast satisfied our souls with thy love, the light of thy countenance it hath been the joy of our hearts, and blessed be the time that ever we knew thee, Oh blessed be the time that ever the Lord made himself known to us; we can say, Lord, we have known thee, and therefore now Lord have mercy upon us; Oh let us all learn to make more of our interest in God, and to labor to know Him more and more, that we may have this comfort in our afflictions, to be able to say in truth, Oh Lord, thou ⟨p. 11⟩art our God, and we have known thee. If Hypocrites think it to be so great a comfort that they are Israel, Oh what is it then to be a true Israelite in whose heart is no guile?
