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

In the next place, I come to the Reasons why the Pastor must commend his brethren and friends to God. And they shall be drawn from these three heads; From God, from the World, and from the Brethren themselves; Gods propriety in them, the Worlds enmity against them, and their own impotency, do all require that they should be commended to Gods care and charge.

I shall now show the necessity of commending them to God, that its the greatest good will appear in the Use, because he is the most able, loving and faithful friend.

I shall now shew the necessity of commending them to God, that its the greatest good will appear in the Ʋse, because he is the most able, loving and faithful friend.

First, In regard of God, his propriety in them. None so fit to take care of the Child as its Father. A brute will venture its self, and encounter with that which is much stronger, in defence of her own; the fearful Hen which hath nothing but flight to secure her self from the Dog, will yet hazard a duel against the Kite, to protect her little Chickens. The blessed Jesus gives this ground why he commends his Church to God, I pray for them, I pray ⟨p. 25⟩not for the World, but for them which thou hast given me out of the World, for they are thine, Joh. 17.9. I pray not for strangers, nor enemies to thee, but for thine own people, thine one family, for them thou hast chosen, called & loved. For they are thine; thy jewels, thy portion, thy temple, thy children. Men in a flame will venture far to secure their own jewels. Naboth would hazard & lose his life, rather then part with his own portion. What cost will some be at, and what care will they take to keep their own houses in good repair? David would have died, that his own Son might have lived. Propriety is a sufficient ground for special protection. God doth by a general providence take care of all his creatures, because of his general propriety in them, because they are his creature. He feeds the young Ravens, and satisfies the hunger of the Sparrows. He is upon this account the preserver of man and beast, but his special providence is exercised about them in whom he hath a special propriety. The Saints are his [Greek or Hebrew], peculiar people, & therefore he hath over them a peculiar protection. Hence his peculiar care is compared to a Bird flying over the Nest, where her young ones are,