The Fountain of Life Opened

Fifthly, Yea, He hath yet more obliged you to strict and holy lives by his confidence in you that you will thus walk, and please him. He expresseth himself in Scripture as one that dare ⟨p. 607⟩trust you with his glory, knowing that you will be tender of it, and dare do no otherwise. If but a man repose confidence in you and trust you with his concerns, it greatly obliges you to be faithful. What an engagement was that upon Abraham to walk uprightly when God said of him, Gen. 18.19. I know him, that he will command his Children, and his household after him; and they shall keep the way of the Lord, q. d. as for this wicked generation, whom I will speedily consume in my wrath, I know they regard not my Laws, they will trample my commands under foot; they care not how they provoke me, but I expect other things from Abraham, and I am confident he will not fail me. I know him, he is a man of another spirit; and what I promise my self from him, he will make good. And to the like purpose is that in Isa. 63.78. I will mention the loving kindness of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord; according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness towards the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them; according to his mercies and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. For he said surely they are my people, Children that will not lie, (or fail me) so he was their Saviour. Here you have an ample account of the endearing mercies of God to that people, ver. 7. and the Lords confident expectations of suitable returns from them, ver. 8. I said (i. e.) (speaking after the manner of men in like cases) I made full account that after all these endearments, and favours bestowed upon them, they would not offer to be disloyal and false to me. I have made them sure enough to my self, by so many bonds of Love. Like to which is that expression, Zeph. 3.7. I said surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction. Oh how great are the expectations of God from such as you. I know Abraham, there's no doubt of him. And again they are Children that will not lie, (i. e.) they will not fallere fidem datam. Break their Covenant with me. Or they are my people that will not shrink as Mr. Coverdale well translates, filii non negantes, such as will keep touch with me, and will answer their Covenant engagements.