IN these evil and perilous times God hath not left us without some choice mercies. Our sins abound, and his mercies superabound. The Lord might justly have spoken those words of death against us, which of old he did against the Jews; I have taken away my peace from this people, loving kindness, and mercies, which had he pulled from us, we had had cause enough to mourn with Rachel, and to refuse comfort, for all our happiness lies wrapped up in peace, loving kindness and mercy.1 But God is yet good unto Israel, he commands deliverances for Jacob,2 he over-rules all the powers of darkness,3 and tells the sons ⟨image 3⟩of Belial, (men of corrupt minds and cursed practises) that they shall proceed no further,4 but that their folly shall be manifest unto all. He makes all enemies, all devils, all creatures, to further his own glory, and the good of his peculiar people.5 When times are naught and dangerous, he saith, Come my people, enter into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee, hide thy self as it were for a little moment till the indignation be over past. If troubles threaten life, he saith, 6When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers they shall not over flow thee, when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flames kindle upon thee; for I am the Lord thy God, &c. When enemies are incensed, fear and sorrows multiplied, he saith, 7Fear thou not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God, J will strengthen thee, I will help thee, yea J will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold all they that were incensed against thee, shall be ashamed ⟨image 3⟩and confounded, they shall be as nothing, and they that strive with thee shall perish. Such words of comfort and life doth God speak unto his. And among other mercies he stirs up the spirits of his servants to write many precious truths and tractates to further the everlasting good of his beloved ones. If the bottomless pit be open,8 and smoke rise thence, to darke• the air, and obscure the way of the Saints; Heaven also is opened, and there are lightnings, and voices, to enlighten their spirits, and direct their paths. Had ever any age such lightnings as we have? Did ever any speak since Christ and his Apostles as men now speak?
IN these evill and perilous times God hath not left us without some choyce mercies. Our sinnes abound, and his mercies superabound. The Lord might justly have spoken those words of death against us, which of old he did against the Iewes; I have taken away my peace from this people, loving kindnesse, and mercies, which had he pulled from us, we had had cause enough to mourne with Rachel, and to refuse comfort, for all our happinesse lyes wrapt up in peace, loving kindnesse and mercy.1 But God is yet good unto Israel, he commands deliverances for Jacob,2 he over-rules all the powers of darkenesse,3 and tells the sonnes ⟨image 3⟩of Belial, (men of corrupt mindes and cursed practises) that they shall proceed no further,4 but that their folly shall be manifest unto all. He makes all enemies, all devills, all creatures, to further his owne glory, and the good of his peculiar people.5 When times are naught and dangerous, he saith, Come my people, enter into thy chambers, and shut thy doores about thee, hide thy selfe as it were for a little moment till the indignation be over past. If troubles threaten life, he saith, 6When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers they shall not over flow thee, when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not bee burnt, neither shall the flames kindle upon thee; for I am the Lord thy God, &c. When enemies are incensed, feare and sorrowes multiplied, he saith, 7Feare thou not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God, J will strengthen thee, I will helpe thee, yea J will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousnesse. Behold all they that were incensed against thee, shall bee ashamed ⟨image 3⟩and confounded, they shall bee as nothing, and they that strive with thee shall perish. Such words of comfort and life doth God speake unto his. And among other mercies he stirres up the spirits of his servants to write many precious truths and tractates to further the everlasting good of his beloved ones. If the bottomlesse pit be open,
- 1Psal. 73. 1.
- 2Psal. 44. 4
- 3Psal. 76, 10.
- 42 Tim. 3. 8, 9.
- 5Isaiah 26. 20.Esay 26. 20.
- 6Isaiah 4 32.Esay 4 32.
- 7Isaiah 41. •0, 11.Esay 41. •0, 11.
- 8Revel. 9. 2 Revel. 1•. 19.
