Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…

There is nothing in the Book of God, wherein God is so full in his expression, as when he comes to this argument, to manifest his affection to his Church. Christ is the Shepherd, and when sheep are together, ⟨p. 261⟩they are under the protection of the Shepherd, when the sheep are scattered, the Shepherds eye is not so over them; And therefore in Hosea 4. 16. God threatens his people, he would feed them as a Lamb in a large place; as a Lamb getting from the fold, goes up and down bleating; so when Gods people are scattered, they are as a Lamb in a large place: and when God would threaten the sorest judgement against his people, Ezekiel 34. he says, He will scatter them, and they shall become to be meat to the beasts of the field. And hence it is, that the condition of the Church is so stable a condition: and therefore in Isaiah 60. 15. the Church is called an eternal excellency, because it is under the Lords protection, and is it not good being there, to be under the wing of God?

Ninthly, to be amongst Gods people is a blessed ¹thing, because they have so many privileges from God: every one desires to join with such societies as have great privileges; now Gods people have such as are very great, Psal. 87. 3. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O City of God! What glorious things? They have glorious privileges; What are they? To them are committed the Oracles of God, as the Apostle reasons for the Church of the Jews; So to every Church of God, is committed the Oracles and the Ordinances of God, and those Offices for the dispensation of the mysteries of God; which were the great gift, that Christ triumphingly ascending to Heaven gave, and surely that gift must needs be great. The benefit but of one Ordinance, the Ministry of the Word, dispensed rightly, is made an argument by God himself, for the comfort of his people,