on ther19.PJnlmé. 579 fodainelieat one timeor otherbecoloured with theirgood things : fo thegodlje abiding in the More. meetings ofche.vicked,vnleffe theybe verycircumfped,and ftifpe& theirowneweakenes,w ill » 7'&e ,"di fodainhe be ráken. We know that.rofiph beingin Pharaohes Court, began tobecolouridwith " "`rY of rbevvzc- the Egyptians corruptions. Ifthenwehaue any MR cattle ofmeetingwith the wicked,weeMuff " , not auoide theircompanie; but we mull miflike their manners weemilli rebuke,reprove, and ,, cryagainl their Gnnes;we nmft feareour felues,and in euerything fufpeeithem. But let vs fee how dangerousa thing itistobewitjrthewicked, and what neanesthere be with therir for our defiruetion: Whetherwe be friendes,and in leaguewith them,or foesantler defiance with them, all isotre. For ifwebe ar defiance withthem,howwill theybring ourperlons incontempt, and rajfemany calumniousfpceches againfk vs, and array vs with injuries? if INCbe in friendfnip ti'ith them, inwhat dangerare we leali they fhould inueaglevs, allure vs, 3e takevs (Idle away from a goodconfcjence. If we beat defiancewith [hear,rhey will dtfmay vswith threatnings r if wee more. beinfriendlhipwithehem,wecannot deale fo roughlieagaiutl their finnes,wecan hardly gaine- fay client ineheir wickednes, wee aredrawne away by them, and wax coldby littleand little in thole 'hinges whereinwehaue bin zealous. Oh here then appeareth the wondcrfuli and vn- fpcakeable nrçrcieofGod tohis children in this world rokeeps them as Oteepe among wolves, and toCane them from the infetljonof the mtddefl ofa wickedand (info!! generation. Itfollonethinthis verfe,that Imo l ,eepe the CommarsndementrofmyGod. As if he fhould bane faid,he is notyourGod,becaufeyouputnotyour troll inhim,but followyour owne junen- tions.hc ismy God,Ilouehim,I fcarehim,' put my croft in him;I lone hisword, becaufehis pro- mifcs are fweet to tile; I lean to finne, becaufehis threatningsproue true; I croft in him , becaufe ofhis word: he is noneofyour God,neythercanyou a fíù reyour fclucsofhim. Foras port. 20.3. Salvation isforre fromthe mieked,becau[e theyfeeIVenot thyffatutes. No,no,God is gricued, and difpleafed withyou,though for a whilehe (pare you,he (hall onedaypm:ifh you,hee ismypre, teeloucand defender. This is a notablerhing,and worthy to,be obferued.The manofGod rccouereth himfelfe, be eaufeGod hash promisedjnbis word, that beewill defend hisas witha(hield, burlierwill pur toflightthearmies oftheir aduerfaries. Hee reafoncth therefore thuswith himfelfe. The Lorde hathpminded to be a tower. andbuekler for them, that put their truflinhim, and bcleeue his word: Ibclecue this tobe true, I fee it ballcornetopaffe according tohis word : therefore heels my Ged, mylhield,and myrefuge. Let vs !came in timeof trouble ,.thus to recouer our [ekes. For doe weenot fee, how nowa dayesCome rake thisway,and ionic cake that tvay,fornevfe this fhjft,and fomehaue thatpolicy, doe their dealings(}iew,rhat (',od ison theirIide,or char bee willrake their part? nayrather that heis farce from them. We muffeveryone frame this reafon,which the Prophet vfeth, thatcurtir manmay fay, I null inGodsword, Ihatethcvainefhifrsofthewicked, God is my God. My God wemuff heremarke,t hat wegluenotGod fuftncnthonour, vntill wee cleavewhole vote) » To lose God bin:,ashe requireth ofvs inhis fill commandement. For we then have him tobeour onlic God, >' onrry ar tine whenweonlje feare hinr,whenweonlie loue him ,whenweonlicobey m h hi when wee put our "beta Li, word. xntff inhim älone,.5o Mat we dcniehim his honour, untill we leaving all other fetches and deli, fes oflouing,fearing,oheyingandnulling in bim;and loue, feare,obey,and croft in him,as Wee areonlie andwholìe taught in hisword. Excellent is that place of the Prophet Pfal. 73. where .theman of God, feting the cull! men tonumber many,in power great; andgoodmen innumber fevvandabil i tie weake,begantobe in a dangerousell are, in thinkingalmtoll wickedly of Gods drrourdcnce,and begantóbe moued,and to dtlputeas it were withGod about theprofperitieof thewicked, andponerrteof thegodlie, vntill heecame to look into the glalle of Gods word, where hefound, that though the wicked feemed tohauean happie time for a vvhile, yet through Gods fecret curie, they had a fearefull end, and though Gods children were tryed with many troubles,yet through Gods fccret,bleflings they had happie jffttes. Thus faith hec,wasl fofoo[i,?r and ignorant,and as aheal[ beforethee, whiles bymine owne wieagd reafon I wouldgoe about to fearchout thy ferret judgements. Yet faith he, /war alroav rriththee,dmvhzfdehaldenmeby; my righthaad,and howfoeuer it went with thewicked, myfaith in ;thy proutdence didafire me,chat thoudiddefl watch ouer mee,andwould& ,not finailie forfake.tue.LYhom bane l inbeams: hoot thee,and!hatudefrrednone in theearth but D dd z thee.
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