The glory and interest of nations professing the Gospel preached at a private fast,…

2. Not only preservation but prosperity is from hence also. Mich. 5. 7. And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people, as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, that waits not for the sons ⟨p. 13⟩of men. It is the Remnant of Jacob, of whom he speaks, that is, this people of Christ, with whom he is so present as hath been manifested; and where are they; they are in the midest of many people, in their inside, in their bowels; they are woven by their Relations and employments into the bowels of the nations; and on that account there is neither this nor any Nation about us, but shall spin out their mercies or their misery from their own bowels; their providential fates lie in them; as is their deportment towards this remnant, such will their issue be. But what shall this remnant do? why it shall be be as dew from the Lord, and as showers, on the grass. It shall be that alone which makes them fruitful, flourishing and prosperous; it may be it will be so, provided there be good assistance, counsel and strength, to carry on their affairs: yea blessed be God for counsels, and for armies, he hath made them useful to us: but the truth is, the blessing of this dew depends not on them, it tarrieth not for man it waiteth not for the sons of man: it will be a blessing, let men do what they will; it depends not on their uncertain and unstable Counsel, on their weak and feeble strength. This Remnant is as the Ark in the house of Obed Edom, as Joseph in the house of Potiphar, all is blessed and prospered for their sakes. It is not the glorious battlements, the painted windows, the crouching Antics, that support a building, but the stones that lie unseen in, or upon the earth. It is often those who are despised and trampled on, that bear up the weight of an whole nation. All the fresh springs of our blessings are in Zion.

2. Not onely preservation but prosperity is from hence also. Mich. 5. 7. And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people, as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grasse, that tarrieth not for man, that waites not for the sons ⟨p. 13⟩of men. It is the Remnant of Jacob, of whom he speakes, that is, this people of Christ, with whom he is so present as hath been manifested; and where are they; they are in the midest of many people, in their inside, in their bowels; they are woven by their Relations and imployments into the bowels of the nations; and on that account there is neither this nor any Nation about us, but shall spin out their mercies or their misery from their own bowels; their providential fates lie in them; as is their deportment towards this remnant, such will their issue be. But what shall this remnant do? why it shall be be as dew from the Lord, and as showers, on the grasse. It shall be that alone which makes them fruitful, flourishing and prosperous; it may be it will be so, provided there be good assistance, counsel and strength, to carry on their affaires: yea blessed be God for counsels, and for armies, he hath made them useful to us: but the truth is, the blessing of this dew depends not on them, it tarrieth not for man it waiteth not for the sons of man: it will be a blessing, let men do what they will; it depends not on their uncertain and unstable Counsel, on their weak and feeble strength. This Remnant is as the Ark in the house of Obed Edom, as Joseph in the house of Potiphar, all is blessed and prospered for their sakes. It is not the glorious battlements, the painted windows, the crouching Anticks, that support a building, but the stones that lie unseen in, or upon the earth. It is often those who are despised and trampled on, that bear up the weight of an whole nation. All the fresh springs of our blessings are in Sion.