[or1templationi. --:-:-------:--~---' noble is that confdlion,which lhemakes ofthe power and truth of God~ yea, 1 fee A jlere,not only a DtfCiple ofGod, but a Prophetdfe.Or tf lhe had once bin publike as her houfe WJS; now lbe is a chafl: and worthy Convert ; and fo approved her fdf for honefl: and wtfe behaviour,rhat fi1e is thought worthy to be the great Grandmo. rherof Davids Father; and the holy Line ofthe Mdlias, is nor allnmed to admit her into that happy Pedigree. The metcyofourGod doth not meafureus by what we were; It would be wide with the befl: ofus,iftheeyeofGodlhouldlook back. ward to our formerefl:ate: there he lhould f<e .Abrah•m an Idolater, Paul a Perfecu. ror, t.M•n•ffisa Necromancer ,t.M•ry Ulfagdalen a Currizan; and the befl: vile e. nough to be afitamed ofhimfelf. Who can defpaireof mercy that fees even Rahab fetchr into the bloud of!frael,and Line ofChrifl: ~ . If Rahab had norreceived rhefe Spies, but as unknownpaffengers,with refpeQ ro B rhdr money,and not totheir errand,it had bin no praife; for in fuch cafes the thank is rather ro theguefl:, then to theOafl: ; bur now lhe knew their purpofe; fi1e knew that the harbour ofthem was thedan~er ofher own life; and yerfite hnards this enrertainmenr.Either faith orfrienqlbtpare~ver fried,bur in extremities. To fl1ew countenance to the meffengers·ofGod, "l"hiles the·publike face of the State"fmiles upon them,is bur acourtefieofcourfe;but ro hide our own lives in theirs,when they are perfecuted, is anaa tharlooks for Heward. Thefe times need nor our favour; wee know not what may come: Alas ! howlikely is ir they would lhelrer them in danger,which refpethhem nor in profperiry ~ All intelligences ofStatecome firfl: ro the Court;Irmofl: concerns Princes to har. ken after the affaires ofeachotber.lfthis poore Inholder knew ofrheSea dryed up c before Ifrad, and of rhe difcomfitureofogand Srho»; Surely rhis rumour was fl:ale with the King of}ericho;hehad heard itand feared;andyer in fl:eadoffendingAmbaffadours for peace, he fends Purfnivams for theSpies.Tbe fpirir of Rahab melted with that fame rrporr, wherewith the King of Iericho was hardeaed: All make not one ufeofthe meffages ofthe proceedings of God. Tb~King fendstote!lherwhat lbeknew; lhehaclnot hid them, iflhe had not knowntheir errand.I know not whether firfl: towon&rat the gracious provifionof GodforrheSpies, or at thefl:rong faith which he bathwrought in the heart ofa weak woman; rwo fl:rangers,Ifraelires,Spies(and noted for all thefe) in a forrain,in I ap hol\ile Land,have a fafe harbour provided them,even amongfl: their enemies;In Ierj fho,at the veryCourt-gare,againfl:rhe ProclamationofaKing,againfl: t~ indea- I) vours of the people.Where catulot rheGodofheaven either find ortaife up frirnds to.his owne caufes andfervanrs ~ o. Who could have hoped for fuch faith in Rahah?which contemned her life for the p(ff<llt, r.hatlhe might fave it for the furure;negleded h<r own King and Country, · fQ~ fl:rangers which lhenever faw1and more feared the defl:ruaion ofthat City,bcfne lr knew that it bad an adverfary,then rhe difpleafurc ofherKing,in themortal! r~vc;nge ofthat,which hewould haveaccounted rrechery.Shebringsrhem up to the roof• ofher houfe,and hides rhem with fl:alks offtaxe: 'fhar plant which was made t<'l hide the body from nakednelfe and lhame, now is ufed to hide the Spies from de;\th. Never could thefe fralks have binimproved fo well with all her hufwifty, ?fkr.they were bruifed,a~ now before rhey were fitted to her wheele: Ofthefe fhe I: ha.<h woven.an merlafl:ingweb, both oflife·and propagation.And now hertongu<' hi.;ks them no leffe-rhenher harid: her charity was good,horexcufewas noq~ood. Etvillm1y not b~do~~<,thatgoodm•y come.ofit ';wemay doeanything bur fin,for P'?" moring a good caufe : And ifnot in fo maine occafions; how lball God rake lf, rhat we are nor dainty offullhclodsin rriftes~ •·n No man wilL took that thefe< Spies could rake any founq lleep in thefe beds of fl:a)ks;it is enough f1l<thcu1 that they live,tho~h tlu:y refl: ~or. And nowwhen they heare Ra.hak comming up the fl:airas, doubtleller~ey lOQk~d 1\'ir an executi~ner: but behold, lb-e comes !'P with amdl'age betteo •ht.AIIhelr fl~epl addtng to rhetrprote-- Qion,advice forrholdururefafjtty ; .whe<eto lbe.nakesway; by a;f,ithfull reporl of Gods former wonders,& rfie'pref.,nnllfpofitioiilofher peopli:; and by wife-ca~tturl ' lauon$
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