Chap. r 3. An Expoftion upon the BookofJos. Verf. 16. that God gave him ftrength, that God was his deliverer, then that he was delivered, that God was his fortrefs, his buckler,his. hDrn,his high tower,then that he gave him the effeet ofall thefe: It pleated David, and it pleafes all the Saints more, that God is their falvation ( whether temporal or eternal) then that he faves them. The Saints look more at God then at all that is Gods. Taey fay ( Non tua, fed te) we delrenot thine, but thee, or no- thing of thine like thee. Whom have 1 in heaven but thee ? faith David again ( Pfal.73.25.) What are Saints ? What areAngels w a foul without God ? 'cis true of things as well as ofperlons, What have we in heaven but God ? What's joy without God ? What's glory without God ? What'sall the furnitureand riches, all the delicates, yea, and all the diadems of heaven, without theGod of heaven ? If God fhould fay tothe Saints, here ishea- ven, take it atnongl1 you, but I will withdraw my felf , how would they weep over heaven it felf, and make it a Baca, a valley of tears indeed! Heaven is notheaven toilet'swe enjoy God. 'Tis the pretence of Godwhichmakes heaven : Glory is bat our nearedbe- ing untoGod. As Mephibofheth replied, when David told him,/ havefaid, thouand Ziba divide the land : Let him take all ifhe will, faith Mephibofherh, I donot fo much regard the land, as I regard thy prefence ; Let him takeall, for as muchas my Lord the King is come again inpeace tohis ownhoufe, where -I mayenjoy him. So, if God fhould fay to the Saints, take heaven amongll you, and withdraw himfelf, theywould even fay, Nay, let the world take heaven if they will, let them take glory if they will, ifwe may not have thee in heaven,heaven would be but anearth, or rather but a hell tous. That which Saints rejoycein, is, that they may be in the prefence ofGod,that they may lit at his table, and eat breadwith him, that is, that they may be near him con- tinually, which was Mephibofheth his priviledge with David. That's the thing, fay they, which they delire, and which their fouls thirli after ; that's the wine they would drink. Myfoul ('faith David, Pfal. 42. 2.) thirtiethfor God, for the livingGod, when ( me--thinks the time is very long, when) hall Icome and appear before God ? He fpake this in the greatnefsand heat of his Zeal to enjoy God in the Ordinances of his publick worfhip Flow much more was his foul on fire to enjoy God where he fhould be above Ordinances ? Theufual faying of Chriftians is, Come, let usgo toprayer, or let usgo toChurch ; we fhouldrather N n n fay,, 457
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