i68 I The Spiritual-a0ings ofFaith ly vifit the Soule in the time when the fentence of death-is upon the bufineffe, it argues that the Mercy is, not quite dead. ulrofes had a promife in a vifion : the Bufhburning, and not cot-iming; Ifrael in Egypt , and not defiroyed Mofes, he carries this prom (.'e along with him in his bofome: indeed we do not reade of it till Moles comes to die ; and. Der.33, when 11//ofes comes to bleffe the People : The good will of aG thq dwelt in the , be withyou. This fame promife kept c....2140,1'e'w company all along and though the fentence of death was often put upon the bufineffe , yet. notwith- ftanding , in that the Mercy came and vifitedhim , ar- gued that this promife was not quite dead. So by he fre- Job. 4. 9. quent Milting's of the fame promife ; Though the Tree be cutt down;yet through thefent ofthofe waters it fhaff rifeagain. 2... But efpecially in the fecond place : A cphriftian may have Tome comfortable perfvvafion , that the Mercy is not dead, but fletpeth : By theFirft-fimts ofthe promife. When the Jews kept the Feaft of the Firft-fruits; they knew that the Harveft was not farre off. And fo, when the Firft-fruits of a Mercy comes , we may know that the,Mercy , or Wet- ting is not farre off; Beloved , God does life to give the Firft-fruits of a bleffing , before the great bleffing comes, It's a good fpeech of one fayes he : God does with the fame feak , teak divers matters ; one. Mercy is made a feale to. another. God does give one Mercy as a pledge of another, and, as a feal of another. And fa our Saviour Chrift does , in that 9. Chapter of Matthew we, reade of a certain Ruler, that came tohim for his Daugl;ter; and he laid , (at the 18, vcrfe) My 'Daughter is even non, dead but come , and lay thine hand upon her , and flee (ball live. Here was his unbeliefe, that he fhould fay : Come and lay thine hand upon her; Chrift could have healed her, without coming to her ; But Jefus aroce , and followed him. And behold a woman (at the 20. verfc ) which *lie dxfeafed with an iffue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched thehemof his garment : 7efiu turned him about , and Ifhen hefait her, he 'Daughter, be of goodcomfort, thy Faith
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