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

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: ⟨p. 56⟩I will lead him also and restore comforts to him and to his mourners, Isa. 57.17, 18, 19. Well, though he be undutiful yet he is my child; I will throw away my rods and draw him with the cords of love; though he freeze under the nipping frosts, yet he will thaw under my warm beams.

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 Absolom, whom he affecteth so dearly? when Absolom rebelled against him and sought his life, his heart relented towards Absolom out of love? What a charge doth he give his Captains concerning him; Deal gently for my sake with the young-man, even with Absolom? 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 childe 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 ax might be used: But lo what love doth! I have seen his ways, and will heal him: