2. We must not trust in any Creature. 1. Not in Asshur, in any confederacy or combination with Gods enemies, be they otherwise never so potent. Jehoshaphat did so, and his Ships were broken, 2 Chron. 20.35, 37. Ahaz did so, and his people were distressed, 2 Chron. 28.21. It is impossible for Gods enemies to be cordial to Gods people, so long as they continue cordial to their God. There is such an irreconcilable Enmity between the seed of the woman, and the seed of the Serpent, that it is incredible to suppose that the enemies of the Church will do any thing which may p•r see, tend to the good of it, or that any End and design by them pursued can be severed from their own malignant interest. Let white be mingled with any colour which is not it self, and it loseth of its own beauty. It is not possible for Gods people to join with any that are his enemies, and not to lose of their own purity thereby. He must be ⟨p. 55⟩as wise, and as potent as God, that can use the •age of Gods enemies, and convert it when he hath done, to the good of Gods Church, and the glory of Gods Name, and be able at pleasure to restrain and call it in again. We must ever take heed of this dangerous competition between our own interests and Gods, to be so tender and intent upon that, as to hazard and shake this. Jeroboam did so, but it was fatal to him, and to all Israel. The End of Judahs combining with the Assyrian, was that they might rejoice against Rezin and Remaliah's son: but the consequent of it which they never intended, was, that the Assyrian came over all the channels, and over all the banks, and overflowed, and went over, and reached to the very neck, and if it had not been Immanuels land, would have endangered the drowning of it, Isa. 8.6, 7, 8. If Israel for his own ends join with Ashur, it will hardly be possible for him in so doing, though against his own will, not to promote the Ends of Ashur against God Church, and against himself too. And yet the Prophet would not have in that case Gods people to be dismayed, or to say, a Confederacy, a Confederacy; but to sanctify the Lord himself, and make him their fear and their dread, who will certainly be a Sanctuary unto them, and will bind up his Testimony, and seal the Law amongst his Disciples, when others shall stumble and fall, and be broken, and be snared and be taken.
2. We must not trust in any Creature. 1. Not in Asshur, in any confederacy or combination with Gods enemies, be they otherwise never so potent. Iehoshaphat did so, and his Ships were broken, 2 Chron. 20.35, 37. Ahaz did so, and his people were distressed, 2 Chron. 28.21. It is impossible for Gods enemies to be cordiall to Gods people, so long as they continue cordiall to their God. There is such an irreconcileable Enmity betweene the seed of the woman, and the seed of the Serpent, that it is incredible to suppose that the enemies of the Church will doe any thing which may p•r se, tend to the good of it, or that any End and designe by them pursued can be severed from their owne malignant interest. Let white be mingled with any colour which is not it self, and it loseth of its owne beauty. It is not possible for Gods people to joyne with any that are his enemies, and not to lose of their own purity thereby. He must be ⟨p. 55⟩as wise, and as potent as God, that can use the •age of Gods enemies, and convert it when he hath done, to the good of Gods Church, and the glory of Gods Name, and be able at pleasure to restraine and call it in againe. We must ever take heed of this dangerous competition betweene our own interests and Gods, to be so tender and intent upon that, as to hazard and shake this. Ieroboam did so, but it was fatall to him, and to all Israel. The End of Iudahs combining with the Assyrian, was that they might rejoyce against Rezin and Remaliahs sonne: but the consequent of it which they never intended, was, that the Assyrian came over all the channels, and over all the bankes, and overflowed, and went over, and reached to the very necke, and if it had not beene Immanuels land, would have endangered the drowning of it, Isa. 8.6, 7, 8. If Israel for his owne ends joyne with Ashur, it will hardly be possible for him in so doing, though against his own will, not to promote the Ends of Ashur against God Church, and against himselfe too. And yet the Prophet would not have in that case Gods people to be dismayed, or to say, a Confedera•ie, a Confederacie; but to sanctifie the Lord himselfe, and make him their feare and their dread, who will certainly be a Sanctuary unto them, and will binde up his Testimony, and seale the Law amongst his Disciples, when others shall stumble and fall, and be broken, and be snared and be taken.
