A39696:763
Two treatises the first of fear, from Isa. 8, v. 12, 13, and part…
Two treatises the first of fear, from Isa. 8, v. 12, 13, and part of the 14 : the second, The righteous man's refuge in the evil day, from Isaiah 26, verse 20 / by John Flavell.
London: printed by H.H. for Robert Boulter, 1682
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
SECT. 1.
Care in the general Notion of it, as it is applied to the Creature, imports the studiousness, and solicitousness of our thoughts, for the safety and welfare of our selves, or those we love, and highly value. Now though there be no such thing properly in God, at whose dispose and pleasure all events are, and to whose counsels and appointments all difficulties must give way, yet he is pleased to accommodate himself to our weakness, and express his regard and love to his people, by such things, as one creature doth to another to which it is endeared by relation or affection. To this purpose we find many significant, Synonymous expressions in Scripture, all importing the care of God over his people in a pleasant variety of notion and expression, as Nah. 1. 7. The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble, and he knoweth them that trust in him. He knoweth them, i. e. he hath a special, tender, and careful eye upon them, to see their wants supplied, and to protect them in all their dangers; for in the common and general sense, he knoweth them that trust not in him, as well as those that do; and further to clear this sense of the place, it is said, Ps. 40. 17. The Lord thinketh on them. Importing not only simple cogitation, but the ⟨p. 238⟩immoration or abiding of his thoughts upon them, as our thoughts are wont to do, upon that which we highly esteem, especially when any danger is near it. And yet farther to clear this sense, it is said, Job 36. 7. He withdraweth not his Eye from the righteous. As when Moses was exposed in the Ark of Bulrushes, where his Life was in eminent hazards by the waters of Nilus upon one side, and the Egyptian Cut-Throats on the other; his Sister Miriam kept watch at a distance, to see what would be done to him. Her eye was never off that Ark wherein her dear Brother lay; fear and care engaged her eye to keep a true watch for him. Thus the Lord withdraweth not his eye from the righteous. To the same purpose is that expression,