A Saint Indeed

That is a sad condition indeed, to which no promise belongs. I remember Mr. Calvin upon those words, Isa. 9. 1. Nevertheless, the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, &c. Salves the doubt, in what sense the darkness of the Captivity was not so great, as the lesser incursions made by Tiglath Pileser. In the Captivity the City was destroyed and the Temple burnt with fire; there was no comparison in the affliction; but yet the darkness should not be such, and the reason (saith he) is this, huic certam promissionem esse additam, cum in prioribus nulla esset, (•. e.) there was a certain promise made to this, but none to the other.

That is a sad condition indeed, to which no promise belongs. I remember Mr. Calvin upon those words, Isa. 9. 1. Nevertheless, the dimnesse shall not be such as was in her vexation, &c. Salves the doubt, in what sense the darkness of the Captivity was not so great, as the lesser incursions made by Tiglath Pileser. In the Captivity the City was destroyed and the Temple burnt with fire; there was no comparison in the affliction; but yet the darkness should not be such, and the reason (saith he) is this, huic certam promissionem esse additam, cum in prioribus nulla esset, (•. e.) there was a certain promise made to this, but none to the other.

'Tis better be as low as Hell with a Promise, than in Paradise without one. Even the darkness of Hell it self would be comparatively no darkness at all, ⟨p. 92⟩were there but a promise to enlighten it. Now God hath left many sweet Promises for the faith of his poor people to feed on in this condition, such are these: Psalm 34. 9. 10. O fear the Lord ye his Saints, for there is no want to them tha fear him; the Lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they that fear the Lord shall want nothing that is good.