1. A full and free engagement of himself; to procure and accomplish the good, and welfare of his People. Undertakes to see all good done for them, that can be desired, as needful: all evil removed, which they can fear, as hurtful or dangerous to their Souls. The Father, as I may say, lays all his excellencies, and sufficiency to pawn, that he will see the Salvation of his shall not miscarry. As he is said to swear by himself, he calls his God-head, as a Witness to see done what he says. So, I may say, he doth by Promise, lay his infinite sufficiency to pledge; that as Reuben said to Jacob, I will undertake; thou shalt require him at my hand: So God says, require what may be needful, or helpful at my hand, I will answer it. And this God hath left upon Record in his Word, and under his hand, and therefore as the wise man said of him that is become Surety for his Friend; Thou art ensnared, and taken in the words of thy mouth, ⟨p. 391⟩Prov. 6.2, 3. Deliver thy self when thou art come into the hand of thy Friend. He is now in the hands of the Creditor; It was in his own hand and will before, if he would have paid, if not, he might have chosen; but he is now in the hand of his Friend, he hath him bound by Promise. This is implied in that Phrase, 2 Tim. 2.13. He is faithful, he cannot deny himself; q. d. If he should deny to do good, he should deny himself; for he hath laid himself to pawn.
2. As a free Engagement, so there must be a full Accomplishment, and Performance of all that is promised, and which he hath undertaken to see done in the behalf of his, Psal. 119.138. Thy Testimonies are Righteous, and very faithful; not failing in the least, nor falling short in the performance of whatever was promised. Lam. 3.23. Great is thy Faithfulness, which provides new mercies every morning, every moment, answering to new occasions: therefore it's said, Psal. 36.5. Thy Faithfulness reacheth unto the Clouds; and therefore it is noted, that there failed nothing of all those words that God had spoken.
3. There must be as a certain, so an immutable continuance of his Fatherly care, through our daily course, without any interruption: for he hath undertaken to see us safely arrived, he hath engaged himself, he will not neglect it, and nothing can hinder it, unless it can out-bid his Power, or over-reach his Wisdom, or out-bid his Mercy; for all stand bound. Psal. 89.33.
1. A full and free engagement of himself; to procure and accomplish the good, and welfare of his People. Undertakes to see al good done for them, that can be desired, as needful: al evil removed, which they can fear, as hurtful or dangerous to their Souls. The Father, as I may say, laies al his excellencies, and sufficiency to pawn, that he wil see the Salvation of his shal not miscarry. As he is said to swear by himself, he cals his God-head, as a Witness to see done what he saies. So, I may say, he doth by Promise, lay his infinite sufficiency to pledg; that as Reuben said to Jacob, I wil undertake; thou shalt require him at my hand: So God saies, require what may be needful, or helpful at my hand, I wil answer it. And this God hath left upon Record in his Word, and under his hand, and therefore as the wise man said of him that is become Surety for his Friend; Thou art ensnared, and taken in the words of thy mouth, ⟨p. 391⟩Prov. 6.2, 3. Deliver thy self when thou art come into the hand of thy Friend. He is now in the hands of the Creditor; It was in his own hand and wil before, if he would have paid, if not, he might have chosen; but he is now in the hand of his Friend, he hath him bound by Promise. This is implied in that Phrase, 2 Tim. 2.13. He is faithful, he cannot deny himself; q. d. If he should deny to do good, he should deny himself; for he hath laid himself to pawn.
2. As a free Engagement, so there must be a full Accomplishment, and Performance of all that is promised, and which he hath undertaken to see done in the behalf of his, Psal. 119.138. Thy Testimonies are Righteous, and very faithful; not failing in the least, nor falling short in the performance of whatever was promised. Lam. 3.23. Great is thy Faithfulness, which provides new mercies every morning, every moment, answering to new occasions: therfore it's said, Psal. 36.5. Thy Faithfulness reacheth unto the Clouds; and therfore it is noted, that there failed nothing of al those words that God had spoken.
3. There must be as a certain, so an immutable continuance of his Fatherly care, through our dayly course, without any interruption: for he hath undertaken to see us safely arrived, he hath engaged himself, he wil not neglect it, and nothing can hinder it, unless it can out-bid his Power, or over-reach his Wisdom, or out-bid his Mercy; for al stand bound.
