138 The l'ramife of Prefervation: the time prefix'd in the eternal purpofe, when, by means of the law in the hands ofthe Spirit of bondage, their breaHs, as it were, are £1fhioned, in the work of convi~ion; upon which enfues their fpiritual marriage . with Chri£1::. But, how is the out-ca£1:: preferved in the interval, that .!he perifheth not.in her wretched condi... tion ? \Vhy; tho' po hand was Jaid upon her, yet a word was fpoken, which fecur'd her life in a cafe na· . I turalJy de:1dly. At the firfi pailing by her, in the day lhe was born and cajt out, God faid to her, Live in thy h!ood: that i~, ' Notwithfianding that thou art lying in the open field, in thy blood, thy navel not dreffed, fo that according to the courfe of nature, thy blood and fpirits mufl: quickly £1il, and this thy birth day mull: be thy dying-day; · yet, I fay unto thee, ' live: thou !halt not die in that condition, but grow up in it, being preferved till the happy moment of the defign'd . marriage.' And this is the promife of the eleCt's pre– fervation in their natural fiate. And it hath two great l:ranches : one refpeCting their natural life ; another refpetl:ing their fpiritual death. The ~ Firfl, Is a promife of the continuation of their na-· tural life, till fuch time as they be made partakers of life in Chrifi Jefus. God has faid it; theyfha!i live, tho' in the blood of their natural fiate. So it i5 not poffible they lhould die before that time, whatever dangers they are brought into; even tho' a thouland lhould fall at their fide, and ten thoufand at their right– hand·: for by the prolnife of the covenant, there is an unleen guard about them, to defend them. 'Tis in virtue h-ereof, that all along during the time they are · in that fi:ate; they are preferved, whether in the womb or coming out of it, or in alJ the dangers of infancy, childhood, youth, or wha tfoev-er age they arrive at therein. This is it, that fo long as they are unconver– ted, doth fo often bring ·them back fi·om the gates of death ; returning them in fafety, when eith~r by dif-. eafes, or other accidents, they're pafi hope in their own
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