Sixthly observe (But he saveth the poor) God delights to help the poor. He loves to take part with the best, though the weakest side. Contrary to the course of most, who when a controversy arises, use to stand in a kind of indifferency or neutrality. till they see which part is strongest, not which is justest. Now if there be any consideration (besides the cause) that draws or engages God, it is the weakness of the side. He joins with many, because they are weak, not with any, because they are strong; therefore 1he is called, the helper of the friendless, and with him the fatherless (the orphans) find mercy; By fatherless, we are not to understand such only whose parents are dead, but any one that i• in distress; as Christ promiseth his Disciples, Joh. 14. 18. I will not leave you orphans, that is, helpless, and (as we translate) comfortless, though ye are as children without a father, yet I will be a father to you. Men are often like those clouds, which dissolve into the sea, they send presents to the rich, and assist the strong; but God sends his rain upon the dry land, and lends his strength to those who are weak. This poor man cried, and the ⟨p. 303⟩2Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. Forget not the Congregation of thy poor for ever: The truth is, he never 3forgets them. They are graven upon the palms of his hands, such poor are his treasure, his Jewels, as the signet upon his right hand; Therefore always in his eye, yea always in his heart, though they lye in the dirt, or be trodden under foot like mire in the streets. The Prophet makes this report to God of himself (Isa. 25. 4.) Thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, &c.
Sixthly observe (But he saveth the poore) God delights to help the poore. He loves to take part with the best, though the weakest side. Contrary to the course of most, who when a controversie arises, use to stand in a kind of indifferency or neutrality. till they see which part is strongest, not which is justest. Now if there be any consideration (besides the cause) that draws or engages God, it is the weaknesse of the side. He joynes with many, because they are weake, not with any, because they are strong; therefore 1he is called, the helper of the friendlesse, and with him the fatherlesse (the orphans) finde mercy; By fatherlesse, we are not to understand such only whose parents are dead, but any one that i• in distresse; as Christ promiseth his Disciples, Joh. 14. 18. I will not leave you orphans, that is, helplesse, and (as we translate) comfortlesse, though ye are as children without a father, yet I will be a father to you. Men are often like those clouds, which dissolve into the sea, they send presents to the rich, and assist the strong; but God sends his raine upon the dry land, and lends his strength to those who are weake. This poore man cryed, and the ⟨p. 303⟩2Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. Forget not the Congregation of thy poore for ever: The truth is, he never 3firgets them. They are graven upon the palmes of his hands, such poore are his treasure, his Jewels, as the signet upon his right hand; Therefore alwayes in his eye, yea alwayes in his heart, though they lye in the dirt, or be trodden under foot like mire in the streets. The Prophet makes this report to God of himselfe (Isa. 25. 4.) Thou hast been a strength to the poore, a strength to the needy in his distresse, a refuge from the storme, &c.
- 1Psa. 10. 14. 18 Hos. 14. 3.
- 2Psal. 34 6.
- 3Psal. 7. 4. 19.
