You see how good men may be even overwhelmed with public fears, but certainly if we did well consider the bond of the Covenant that is betwixt God and his people, we should be more quiet and composed. For by reason thereof it is, 1. That God is in the midst of them, Psal. 46. 1, 2, 3, 4. When any great danger threatened the Reformed Church in its tender beginnings in Luther's time, he would say, come, let us sing the 46 Psalm, and indeed it is a lovely Song ⟨p. 71⟩for such times, it bears the Title of A song upon Alamoth, or a song for the hidden ones, God is with them to cover them under his wings. • 2. And it is plain matter of Fact, evident to all the world, that no people under the Heavens have been so long, and so wonderfully preserved as the Church hath been: It hath overlived many bloody Massacres, terrible persecutions, subtle and cruel enemies; still God hath preserved and delivered it, for his promises oblige him to it, amongst which those two are signal and eminent ones, Jer. 30. 11. Isai. 27. 3. 3. And it is obvious to all that will consider things, that there are the self same motives in God, and the self same grounds and reasons before him to take care of his Church and people that ever were in him, or did ever lie before him from the beginning of the world. For, (1.) The relation is still the same: What though Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, those renowned believers be in their Graves, and those that succeed be far inferior to them in Grace and Spiritual excellency; yet saith the Church, Doubtless thou art our Father. There is the same tie and bond betwixt the father and the youngest, weakest child in the family, as the eldest and strongest. 2. His pity and mercy is still the same, for that endures for ever: His bowels yearn as tenderly over his people in their present, as ever they did in any past afflictions or straits. 3. The rage and malice of his and his peoples enemies, is still the same, they will reflect as blasphemously and dishonourably upon God now, should he give up his people, as ever they did. Moses Argument is as good now as ever it was, what will the Egyptians say? and so is Joshua's too, What wilt thou do unto thy great name? O if these things were ⟨p. 72⟩more throughly studied and believed, they would appease many Fears.
You see how good men may be even overwhelmed with publick fears, but certainly if we did well consider the bond of the Covenant that is betwixt God and his people, we should be more quiet and composed. For by reason thereof it is, 1. That God is in the midst of them, Psal. 46. 1, 2, 3, 4. When any great danger threatned the Reformed Church in its tender beginnings in Luther's time, he would say, come, let us sing the 46 Psalm, and indeed it is a lovely Song ⟨p. 71⟩for such times, it bears the Title of A song upon Alamoth, or a song for the hidden ones, God is with them to cover them under his wings. • 2. And it is plain matter of Fact, evident to all the world, that no people under the Heavens have been so long, and so wonderfully preserved as the Church hath been: It hath overlived many bloudy Massacres, terrible persecutions, subtle and cruel enemies; still God hath preserved and delivered it, for his promises oblige him to it, amongst which those two are signal and eminent ones, Ier. 30. 11. Isai. 27. 3. 3. And it is obvious to all that will consider things, that there are the self same motives in God, and the self same grounds and reasons before him to take care of his Church and people that ever were in him, or did ever lie before him from the beginning of the world. For, (1.) The relation is still the same: What though Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, those renowned believers be in their Graves, and those that succeed be far inferiour to them in Grace and Spiritual excellency; yet saith the Church, Doubtless thou art our Father. There is the same tie and bond betwixt the father and the youngest, weakest child in the family, as the eldest and strongest. 2. His pity and mercy is still the same, for that endures for ever: His bowels yern as tenderly over his people in their present, as ever they did in any past afflictions or streights. 3. The rage and malice of his and his peoples enemies, is still the same, they will reflect as blasphemously and dishonourably upon God now, should he give up his people, as ever they did. Moses Argument is as good now as ever it was, what will the Egyptians say? and so is Ioshuah's too, What wilt thou do unto thy great name? O if these things were ⟨p. 72⟩more throughly studied and believed, they would appease many Fears.
