The child's portion

Pro. 8. All the power and policy of the world cannot frustrate, no not so much as defer the fulfilling of one of God's promises. God had promised Abraham that after four hundred and thirty years, his posterity should be delivered from the bondage of Egypt; and we read how wisely Pharaoh ⟨p. 212⟩and his Servants dealt to put by this promise, and make it miscarry: Yet see how God brings it about, Exod. 12.41, 42. At the end of four hundred and thirty years, the self same day it came to pass. &c. It is a night to be much observed, &c. Men keep their purposes very secret, lest by coming abroad, they should be countermined, they dig under ground, lest being discovered, they should be disappointed: But God passeth his purposes into promises, and makes them legible▪ and withal engageth his word to perform them in the very time, Heb. 2.2, 3. Write the vision, and make it plain, &c. because it will surely come▪ it will not tarry. God had appointed David to be King over his People Israel; and how did Saul labour to take away his life, and so to prevent his succession? but all his counsels come to nought, and David reigns. Thick and heavy Clouds may gather, and threaten a dismal storm, but if God have said it shall not come, he raiseth a contrary wind and blows them all away. Sennacherib threatens to invade Judah with a formidable army, but God promiseth he will send a blast upon him, which shall turn him back, Isa. 37.6, 7. And that he shall not so much as shoot an Arrow against the City, vers. 33.34. And he presently dispatcheth an Angel to do his business effectually for him, which soon divests his thoughts and sends him home there to find his ruin, vers. 36, 37. There are none ⟨p. 213⟩that can ever be able to alter the word which is gone out of his mouth.

Pro. 8