3.20 and worldly things, .God will deprive us attain; and fo by this be all in all to us;. and draw us nearer to hitnfelf : have we caufe of fear ? to fear that.that cornes from God ? Objets. No,will force fay,if we fall into the hands ofGod there is mercy,biìt themercies, of mcrì are cruel. Whatif uureafo able men dealwith us, have we not reafon to'. fear ill from them? they are outragions and crucl,thcy bend their maliceagainft ui; and if thetnèmy fhould come and make an in-road into our country, acid brin0 devaftation,what fhould we do then Rnf,y, I anfwer, firft in all things that fall frommen, there is a provident hand ofGod t therefore faith our Saviour to his Apoftles when he would incourage them , F.titi{ he, there is a providenceeven concerning fparrows , there is none of them light on theground without the providenceof God. So,whenbe would encourage his if ciples againft their adverfarics, your very hairs are numbred. Asif he had faid, Almighty God knows how many hairs every man hath upon his head ; he numbers all, our joynts , he tells our fteps : there is nothing befals us , but what the provident hand ofGod is in. And wicked meu,the Devil and all his iuffru- mcnts,God haththemin a chain,thcy cannot goohe fiep further than he gives them leave. Again, confider what God faid to r 4bralam here I am tJy J7neld. In regard of all the mills that met, attempt againft us, whether in regard of Icoffi 'g, or per-1 fecntion, and open hoftdity, or whatfoever, God is our lhield. And the Plalmift calls him -elfe--Where, ourfirong tower. You know how it is, ifmen Mc-minter a ftrongTower, the enemy mutt firft batter the Tower about their cars before they cats hurtthe men. If a man fight with an enemy, he muff pierce his !Meld before he can hurtthe man. We may (peak it with facrcd reverence to the Majelty of God., they niuft overcome God himfelf, before they can hurt "his people its doing any thing that !hall prove in the event hurtful, as long as they keep chile God. The Lord intimated this to the people of Itrael t The Egyptians marched,' and followed hard after them to devour them with open "mouth : Godithen he raw that > he removes the pillar of the Cloud, and fet it between tlíëm > ass ìf God should have laid to them, you deceive your felves, to think to conquermjt 'people, you ntuft conquer me, before you conquer them. So God is.our Iteon Tower,our (hield,and our deliverer,andhe willfind deliverance for his people tome way or other,from the evil,or in the evil, or out of it; as (hall turn to our e*cetd ing advantage. For, fuppofe the wont that can be fuppofed, that wicked men arc let loofe on us, to do all that their malice caninvent, they cats but touch the body, the shell of the foul,and let the prifoner out ofdoors. Upon this argument Chriff ìncourageth us ; Fear not them that can kill the body, but fear him that can kill both body and I foul. As ifhe fhould fay, Do the enemiesthreatcn death, they promife you life tl the greateff advantage, and the happieft day that ever can befd a man that is in covenant with God, is the dayof death. Then all they can do, is to kill the body for a while,which God will raife,maugre the malice of the Devii,and all his inítru- meats, and poffefs the foul of that blifs that is prepared for it. And in regard of Death, why fhould we fear that ? if we be in covenant with God, the nature of it is changed, the fling is out, and it is become beneficial. Objefi. But you know the Saints die fill. Anfw. The red Sea fwallotvcd up the Egyptians,hitt contrariwifeto the Ifraelites,itwas a wall ofprote &ion on the right hand,and on theleft. That then that was the ruine of the Egyptians, it was the prote&ion of the Ifraclites. So, it is in regard ofdeath, that that is the entrancetothe doleful mifery ofevil men, that is the motblifsful and joyful day to a child ofGod that can be, for them he refisfromhis labours, andhe4 works follow him. ,1uefi. Butnotwithllanding all this, it is hard to livewithout fear, .1 enjoy many things,' I am afraid to lofe them, and my children are afraid, and loath to part withme, my heart waversttd isfull ofperplcxity,how !hall 1 be freed from this ? I! The Righteous MansRefling-place, or,
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