LIB.v II r. ~~----~--~~--~~~------- A Iations for the life and fecurity ofher Family.The newcsofGods miraculous proceedings for !frael,havemadeper refolve oftheir fuccelfe,and the ruine< ofJe•icho. Then onely doe we make a right ufe ofthe works of God,when by his judoements upon others, we are warned to avoid our own. Heintends his ach for preftdents of jullice. . The pan:nts and brethrenof R•h•b take their rell;They are not troubled with the . fear & care ofthe fuccetfe ofIfrael,but fecutdy goe with thecurrent ofthe prefent condition : She watches for them all, and breaks her mid-night lleep to prevent their lali.Onewife and faithful! perfondoes well in an houfe;where all are carele!fe ch<re is no comfort,but in peri01ing together.!t h•d binan ill nature in R•h•~, if01e . had bin content to be faved alone: that her love might be a matchto her faJth, ll1e B covenants for all her family; and fo rcturne1life to thofe, ofwhomthe received it. Both the bond ofnature,and ofgrace,will draw all ours to the plf!icipation of the fame good,withour fdves. . . . . . . . It had bin never the better for the Sp1«, 1fafterth"mghts lodgmgthcy had b1q turned out ofdoores to the hazard oftheway; for fothe purfuers had hghtupon them, and prevented their return with their death. Rahahs counfeU therefore was better then her harbour;which fent them (nodoubt,wirh vitluals in their hands) to feek fafc:ty in the mountain«, till the heat ofrhatfearchwere pall. He that bath gi. ven us charge ofour lives, will not fuffer us to call them upon wilfull;~dventures: Had notthefe Spies hid the~fdves in thofe Defarr hils,Ifrael bad wanted diretlors for their enterpnfes. There IS nothmg mort exped1ent,for the Church, then that C fome ofGods faithful! me!fengers fuould withdraw themfelves, and give way to perfecutions.Courag~ !n thofc that m~ft die,is not a greater ~dv~mage to the Gofpel,thcna prudent retl!mg ofthofc,wh1chmay furvlVe,to ma1ntrun and propagate"' It was a jull and reafonabletran!attion betwixt them,!hat herlife thould be faved by them,which had faved theirs;They owe no lelfe to her,ro whom they were not fo much guells as prifoners: and now they palfe not their promife oncly, but their oath. They were llrangers to Rahab, and forought!he knew,might have bin godle!fe :yet fl1e dares truft her life upon their oath. So facred and inviolable haththis bondev<r bin, that an heathenwoman thought her fdf fecure upon the oath ofan Ifraelite. , Neither is themore confident of ~heir oath taken, then theyare careful! bmh of , D taking and performing ir.So far are they fromdeliring to falve up any breachofpromiCe,by equivocation,that they explain all conditions; and would preventall poflibilities ofviolation.All R•hahs Familymull be gathered into her houfe; & thaued cord,whichwas an inftrument oftheirddivert,mull be a !igneof hers.Behold,this is the faving colour :The dellroying Angel! fe<:s the doore-cheeks ofthe !fraelites fprinkled with red,and pa!fes themover. TheWarriours oflfrael fee the window of Rah•b dyed with red, and fave her family from the common dc!hut!ion. Ifour foul« have this tin.fture ofthe precious bloud of our Saviour, up'oli our doores or windowes,weare fafe. , But if any oneofthe brethren of Raha.f thall fly from this red flag;and rovi: about the City,and not contain himfelf under that roofe,which hid the Spies,itis in vain E' for him to tell the avengers, that he is Rahahs brother'\ That titlewill not fave him in the ftreet, withindom;s irwill.Ifwe will wander out ofthe limits that God hatli fc:tus,wecaft our fe)ves out ofhis protection;we cannot challenge the benefit ofhis gracious Prefetvatipn,~nd our moll preciousRedemption,when we fly outintothe by-waie< ofour own•hearts; not for innocence, but for fali:w and harbour: The Clmrch is that houfe of iulhab, which is faved when all Jericho{hall perith.Whiles we keep.us in the lillst!]ereof,we cannot mifcarry,through mif-ofinion 1 butwhen once we run out ofir, let us look for judgement ftom ,GOd, ;uld errour in out own judgement• . ,
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