N00328:49
God's promise to his plantations
God's promise to his plantations; [Three lines from Samuel] / As it was delivered in a sermon by John Cotton, B.D. and preacher of God's word in Boston. ; [Seven lines from Psalms]
Boston: printed by William Jones for John Bellamy, 1686
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
This may teach us all where we do now dwell, or where after we may dwell, Be sure you look at every place appointed to you from the hand of God. We may not rush into any place, and never say to God, By your leave; but we must discern how God appoints us this place. There is poor comfort in sitting down in any place, that you cannot say, This place is appointed me of God. Canst thou say, that God spied out this place for thee, and there hath settled thee above all hinderances? Didst thou find that God made room for thee, either by lawful Descent, or Purchase, or Gift, or other warrantable Right? Why then this is the place God hath appointed thee; here he hath made room for thee, he hath placed thee in Rehoboth, in a peaceable Place.
This we must discern, or else we are but intruders upon God. And when we do withal discern, that God giveth us these outward Blessings from his Love in Christ; and maketh comfortable provision as well for our Souls as for our Bodies, by the means of Grace: then do we enjoy our present possession, as well by gracious Promise, as by the common and just, and bountiful providence of the Lord. Or if a man do remove, he must see that God hath espied out such a Country for him.
This we must discern, or else we are but intruders upon God. And when we do withal discern, that God giveth us these outward Blessings from his Love in Christ; and maketh comfortable provision as well for our Souls as for our Bodies, by the means of Grace: then do we enjoy our present possession, as well by gracious Promise, as by the common and just, and bountiful providence of the Lord. Or if a man do remove, he must see that God hath espied out such a Countrey for him.
2. Though there be many difficulties, yet he hath given us hearts to overlook them all, as if we were carried upon Eagles wings.