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

All the while that his people suffer he doth sympathize; and he will support them. As a tender father he proportions the burden to the strength of his children's back. He doth like a Lutanist (to use Chrysostoms similitude) who will not let the strings ⟨p. 55⟩of his Instrument be too slack, lest they mar the music, nor suffer them to be too hard screwed up, lest they break. He who taught the Husbandman to use several instruments for the threshing of several sorts of grain, and not to turn the cart wheel about upon the Cummin (Isa. 28.25.) will certainly himself not suffer his people to be afflicted above what they are able, 2 Cor. 10.13.

All the while that his people suffer he doth sympathize; and he will support them. As a tender father he proportions the burden to the strength of his childrens back. He doth like a Lutanist (to use Chrysostoms similitude) who will not let the strings ⟨p. 55⟩of his Instrument be too slack, lest they mar the musick, nor suffer them to be too hard screwed up, lest they break. He who taught the Husbandman to use several instruments for the threshing of several sorts of grain, and not to turn the cart wheel about upon the Cummin (Isa. 28.25.) will certainly himself not suffer his people to be afflicted aboue what they are able, 2 Cor. 10.13.

His love will set all his other. Attributes at work for his peoples good: His Wisdom will contrive, his Power will act, and his Faithfulness will perform (whatsoever he promiseth) for the comfort of his Church, and all because he loveth them. What would not David have done for Absalom, whom he affecteth so dearly? when Absalom rebelled against him and sought his life, his heart relented towards Absalom out of love? What a charge doth he give his Captains concerning him; Deal gently for my sake with the young-man, even with Absalom? What will not God do for his chosen whom he loveth? when they wander and run from him, he followeth after and wooeth them; For the iniquity of his covetousness I was wroth and smote him, I hid me and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his own heart. Mark, Here is a child in a great crime, his Father corrects him, and instead of kissing the rod he kicks at the hand that holds it; He went on frowardly, in the way of his own heart. Well what is the fruit of this frowardness? you might expect greater severity upon such contumacy; surely if few stripes will do no good, many must be laid on; or if the rod will not do, the axe might be used: But lo what love doth! I have seen his ways, and will heal him: