An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

It is an argument moving the Lord to much compassion, to tell him that we are his work, as we are creatures, and his work especially as we are new creatures.

When we are under such afflictions as threaten to ruin us, 'tis seasonable to tell the Lord he made us. David strengthens ⟨p. 446⟩prayer upon this argument (Psal. 138.8.) Forsake not the work of thy own hands; All men love their own works, many dote upon them: Shall we think God will forsake his? See how the people of God plead with God in greatest distress (Isa. 64.8.) But now, O Lord, thou art our Father, we are the clay, and thou our Potter, and we all are the work of thine hand, Be not wroth very sore, O Lord. Wilt thou be angry with thy work? Lord, be angry with the works of wicked men, and destroy the work of Satan; Do not destroy the work of thine own hands, thy people are thy work, Hast thou not formed them for thy self? They will show forth thy praise. That invitation to prayer (Isa. 45.11.) seems to intimate that this plea hath a kind of command upon God, Thus saith the Lord, the holy One of Israel, and his maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me: while ye come to me under that notion, that these are the work of my hands, I cannot deny you; Do but name this, and it is a law upon me, ye may have any thing of me, or do any thing with me, while ye speak for the work of mine hands. Hence when the Prophet had put the Jews from that plea, they were a lost people, and their case was desperate, This is a people of no understanding, therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will show them no favour (Isa. 27.11.) As if he had said, Ye were wont (I know) to come to God with this motive of mercy, when he afflicted you; Lord, thou didst make and form us, therefore have mercy upon us, but this shall prevail no more: He that made you, will not have mercy on you; He that formed you will show you no favour. There is but one argument stronger then this among all the Topics of prayer, and that never fails, namely, that God hath redeemed us, or that we are his redeemed ones. God bestowed much cost upon us in the work of Creation, and therefore under that title he can hardly cast us off, but he hath bestowed so much cost upon us in the work of redemption, that he will never cast us off.