The application of redemption

Thus Samuel shored up the dismayed and sinking hearts of the Rebellious Israelites, when the Lord had thundered out his displeasure against them, by reason they had wretchedly, and treacherously, and unfaithfully rejected the Lord and his gracious Government, when they would not believe Samuel's words, he tells them, That God would thunder out his threatenings from heaven, 1 Sam. 12. 17, 18. &c. And when the people saw the lightning and heard the thunder, and then saw the heinousness of their sins, and feared what heavy punishment they ⟨p. 443⟩might expect from so terrible a God. Then they that cared not for his words and Counsels, crave his Prayers, Oh pray for us (say they) for we have sinned, and to all our other sins have added this, in asking for a King. Samuel to prevent the deadly symptom of desperate Discouragement, which would drive them from the Lord, and so from their own Comfort; heads, You have indeed sinned, yet turn ye not aside from following the Lord: And again he ads, Turn not aside unto vain things that cannot help: And he gives this as a ground, For the Lord will not forsake his People for his great Names sake, because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people: He that out of Mercy made you his people when you were not, he will not forsake you when he hath called you to him: As the Elders of Israel Reasoned when they were to War with Jehu in the defence of their Masters Sons, 2 King. 10. 4. Behold two Kings could not stand before him, how shall we? Let this be thy comfort and undoubted evidence of succour and deliverance: When thy heart was Satan's home, and the power of darkness dwelt in it, when he had levied all his Forces, he was strengthened and encouraged, by all the advantages that might be; he had the hold of the heart, and entrenched himself in the stubbornness, and invincible stiffness of my Will, and that I was resolved to leave my life, but never to leave my lusts, nor renounce his temptations, which I entertained as my delight, and sided with all allurements, and stood in open […] against the Holy One of Israel. If Satan in his full power could not keep his hold, nor my heart, but the Lord cast him out; when he is Conquered, and his Forces spoiled by the Lord Christ: Shall he not for ever keep him out? When I was under the power of Satan, he then rescued ⟨p. 444⟩