The pastors farewell, and wish of welfare to his people, or, A valedictory sermonThe pastors farevvell, and vvish of vvelfare to his people, or, A valedictory sermon

He is able to defend you from whatsoever is hurtful. There is a Dialogue between an Heathen and a Jew after the Jews return from Captivity (all Nations round about them being enemies to them) The Heathen asked the Jew how he and his country men could hope for any safety, because (saith he) every one of you is a silly sheep compassed about with fifty Wolves; I but saith the Jew, we are kept by such a Shepherd as can kill all those Wolves when he pleaseth. God can with a breath, a puff, blast all the plots of his enemies, and cause their persons to perish; how happy are they then who have him for their strong hold? The Egyptians had an Idol called Baalzephon Lord of the watch Tower, whose Office was to fright such fugitive Jews as fled from their Masters; but it seems he was a sleep, when the Israelites marched out of Egypt in a full body. God is pleased to call himself the watchmen of his people, but he is such a watchman as neither slumbereth (or taketh those short sleeps by day) nor sleepeth (or hath any long sleep by night) his eyes never close, all his thoughts are waking thoughts for the good of his people.

He is able to defend you from whatsoever is hurtful. There is a Dialogue between an Heathen and a Jew after the Jews return from Captivity (all Nations round about them being enemies to them) The Heathen asked the Jew how he and his country men could hope for any safety, because (saith he) every one of you is a silly sheep compassed about with fifty Wolves; I but saith the Jew, we are kept by such a Shepheard as can kill all those Wolves when he pleaseth. God can with a breath, a puff, blast all the plots of his enemies, and cause their persons to perish; how happy are they then who have him for their strong hold? The Egyptians had an Idol called Baalzephon Lord of the watch Tower, whose Office was to fright such fugitive Jews as fled from their Masters; but it seems he was a sleep, when the Israelites marcht out of Egypt in a full body. God is pleased to call himself the watchmen of his people, but he is such a watchman as neither slumbereth (or taketh those short sleeps by day) nor sleepeth (or hath any long sleep by night) his eyes never close, all his thoughts are waking thoughts for the good of his people.

If enemies come before them, He is the Lord of Hosts; If behind them he is their rear-ward. It was said of the Palladium in Troy, that whilst that Image remained there, the City was impregnable, and that till the Greeks found out a stratagem to steal that Idol away they could not take it. Whatever fancy there was in that, this is a truth, that God is the defence of a people, and while he is present they are safe.