The law unsealed

We come now to speak a little of the promise, which is added to stir up to the more serious Observation of this command, and as for the nature of it, it is a temporal one, peculiarly applied to Israel here, yet generally agreeing to all and so applied as to the substance of it by the Apostle, Ephes. 6 2. 3. where he putteth earth for land, whereby he insinuateth that it is to be understood of any land wherein God shall please to cast a mans Lot to reside or inhabit as well as of Jude•, so then.

We come now to speak a little of the promise, which is added to stir up to the more serious Observation of this command, and as for the nature of it, it is a temporal one, peculiarly applyed to Israel here, yet generally agreeing to all and so applyed as to the substance of it by the Apostle, Ephes. 6 2. 3. where he putteth earth for land, whereby he insinuateth that it is to be understood of any land wherein God shall please to cast a mans Lot to reside or inhabit as well as of Jude•, so then.

If it be asked, whether or not this promise is to be simply understood; and the accomplishment of it without any restriction expected or looked for? Answ. Although this promise seems to have a peculiar respect unto that Dispensation, wherein not only the Saints everlasting rest was prefigured by that temporal rest in the land of Canaan, but also the more obscure manifestations of the life and immortality brought to light by the Gospel, supplied as it were by more full and assuring promises of earthly blessings▪ yet seeing the Apostle, as we have touched, doth in the pressing of this command also accommodate to us it's promise, we think it holds out that such, who through Grace are enabled to give obedience to the command, may by virtue of the promise annexed, expect from God even outward things, in so far as the having of them, shall be for their good and spiritual advantage. And 2. They may with confidence promise themselves, that whatever they have in the world, or how many or few days soever they may have in it, yet all shall be with Gods blessing and peace: And 3. That their death shall never be untimely: And 4. What seeming defect soever may be in the performance as to length of days here shall be abundantly made up by eternity hereafter in Heaven; what then will or can be the prejudice of few days on Earth?