Book II. G 0 D AN H 0 u s H 0 L D E R. 273 METAPHO~ DISPARIT~ Princes, Parliaments, and PatenAll-wife, yea, Wifdom itfef in the Abftracr. tates of the Earth; but in vain, Time doth not caul<: him to decay, nor grow old : alas! is Salvation hoped for from He abides the fame, and his Y ears fail not; the fuch Hills and Mountains. I looketernal God is thy Refuge. He is righteous and ed 01Z my right Hand, and behold, juft, and will not Jitjfer his Faithfulnefs to fail. there <vas no Man would know me: Deut. xxx. 2 7. Though others have neither Faith– Refuge failed me, and no_ Man cared fulnefs, Bowels, nor Humanity in them; yet he for my Soul, Pfal. cxlu. 4- How who faid, I will never leave thee nor forfake thee, have many been undone, in forHeb. x,iii. 5· bath alfo faid, His lvfercy and Good– mer and latter Days, by flying to nefs endureth for ever. Look to the. Gmerations of falte and deceitful Refuges expectold: Did any c·ver truft in God, and were confound– ing they would be Fathers and edPOr whom did he ever difpift, that called upon Nouri!hers to them ? There JS himP no Truft to be put in the Sons of . the Mighty. The Pope and his Cardinals have a Proverb amongft them, Mercato– rum eft, 11on Regum, flare Juramentis : It is for Merchants, not for Princes, to ftand to that which they have Jwom. V. The Cities of Refuge under the Law, were only for the Man– llayer, who by Chance or Cafualty kiJled a Man, not for wilful Mur– derers. V. God in Chrift is a Refuge, not only for Man– llayers, but Murderers, Adulterers, yea, the vile!l: and worft of Sinners, if by true Faith and Re– pentance they feek to him, Mana.f!eh, who made_ Jerufalem run down with Blood, 2 Kings xxi. 16. and Mary Magdalen, found Refuge (viz. Pardon and Forgivenefs) in him, Luke v1i. 48. N F E R E N C E S. 1. HENCE we may perceive, that the Godly in this World are expofed to great Affiictions and Calamities. 2. Yet God hath not left them without a Place of Refuge. 3- That there is no Safety but in the Almighty. 4- That it is the only Way and Wifdom of finful Men to fly with Speed to God through Chrift, if they would find Mercy, and Sanctuary from Wrath and Vengeance. 5· This alfo !hews the happy State and Condition of the Godly. 6. Let Believers have recourfe to God in the Day of Trouble, by Prayer and Humiliation. 7- Befides, we may learn, how vain and fruitlefs all the Attempts and Approaches of the Wicked are, ·againft God's Church, and holy Men. 8. Why lhould the Godly then fear in the Day of Evil, that have fuch a Refuge? See Strong-Tower, Ha!Jitation, Hiding-Place. G 0 D AN H 0 U S H 0 L D E R. Hear another Parable, '!'here was a certain lloujholder, &c, Matt, xxi. 33· BY the Scope and Meaning of this Parable, it appears, that God the Father is that Houlholder intended in this Text of Scripture. 1 . Becaufe it was he that planted the Vineyard. We take Vineyard for the World, or the State of the Jews in the Land of Canaan, 2. He hedged it round about, he digged a Wine-Prefs, and built a Tower. 3· He fet ir, and farmed it out to H'!fbandmen. God made the World, and all Things therein, divided it by Lot, fince Adam ; and fct a Determination to the Bounds and Habitations thereof. 4· It was God who fent the Prophets, Judges, Apoftles, Priefts, and Kings to receive the Fruits of them. 5· It appears evidently, that it was God who fent his Son to the Hu!bandmen, who killed him, &c. 6. To put alJ out of doubt, his Son is faid to be the Corner-ftone laid in Zion, and that by the Lord himfelf: '!'his is the Lord's doing, and it is marwllous in o11r E)'es. . . . - 4 A :,fh~
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