2 Ver.>f 1. the 17th Chapter of St. JO 1-1 N, 15 t Token, his Bracelets, Ring, and Staff, Whole are thefe ? fo may God's Promifes be (hewed to him. 2. His Mercy, in oppofition to our Unworthinefs; Mercy to pardon, and pity, and help us. Poor Creatures ! they will furely mifcarry, if I do not go down and help them; Heb. rd. Let to come boldly to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Grace, and find Mercy to help its in time of need : God is not upon his Tribunal of Juuice, but his Throne of Grac. When you are in fpiritual Straits-, be not difcouraged, the time of heed is a time for God to thew himfelf. God hath Mercy to pardon, and Grace to pity and help : Mercy for the recovery of every Sinner 5 Grace, as a ft_ernedy for every Mifery. Do but obferve thy Heart, what thou woaldit have, and tell God every day. 3. His Power againft our Weaknefs; 2 Pet. I. 5. We are-kept by the Power of God; through Faith unto Salvation. This is our Garifon, we. cannot fiaud a moment longer than God upholdeth us by his Power as a Staff in the Hand of a Man, take away the Hand, and the Staff falleth to the Ground 5 or rather, as a little Infant in the Nurfes Hand, which is God's own Comparifon 5 Hofea It, 3. I taught Ephraim alfa tp go, raking them by their Arma. If God fhould but let loofe his Hand, as he doih fometitmes to make us fenfible of our Weaknefs, we fhould foots mifcarry ; as if God fhosld let loofe his Hand of Providence, all the Creatures would fall into nothing. 4. I might mention his Holinefs, againft our Sinfuinefs. He is not only the Holy One, but the Holy One of Ifrael, the Churches Sana.Mer ; as the Pipe would be dry, if the Fountain ceafe to run : But this is enough. Deus, gazer's eft I his whole Name is engaged by Chrilt to do his People good. idly, Why we are only kept by God. I. Nothing elfe could keep Os but Çod's Name : We fhould furely mifcarry if our Standing did depend upon the Frailty of our Will. We are weak,: and the Enemies and Difficulties of our Salvation are very great, Corruptions within, and Temptations without us ; created Grace could never hold out. One Of the.Fathers bringeth in the Flefh, laying, Ego deftcìam; the World, Ego decipiam 5 and Satan, Ego eripiam : But God faith, Ego cuf'odram, I will keep them, never fail them, npr forfake them ; and there lieth our Security. The World is a, flippery place, it is ftrange that any hold their footing : We are carnal, and carnal per%ns are about us ; It were ftrange for a Man to keep his Health in a Town where every Perlon, every Houfe, and the Air it -(elf is infclted with the Plague; this is our Condition. -Then for the Malice of Satan, he is a reftleCs Enemy, watcheth all Advantages, ao,a Dog -that ftandeth waving his Tail: It is Chryfoflom's Companion. His Envy and Malice are bent againft them that have molt Grace. There were two Adams, and both were tempted. In our Hearts there is great deal of Variablenefs ; in the beft of Gods Saints, many ups and downs in point of Grace. Our Hearts are rebellious, Jer. 5. 23. This People have a revolting and rebellious Heart, they are revolted and gene : Jer. 14. to. My People havé loved to wander. It is natural to the Creature to be fickle and unconftant, efpeciallÿ in Point of Grace. It is a Miracle that we having fuch naughty Hearts, where there is fo much Pride, love of Pleafures, worldly Cares,brutifh Lulls, any of us fhould hold out to the end. Would not we wonder to fee an Herb that we prize, grow in the midit of Weeds, a Candle to burn in the Water. 2. It is meet none elfe fhould. God will have this Honour frorfi all his Saints, and he will put this Honóur upon the Saints, that he will be their Guardian and Keeper; not only Angels, who are MinJring Spirits, fen' forth to minfer to them that are the Heirs of Salvation; Heb. I. 14. they have a great deal of Employment about God's, Children : but God himfelf will keep them ; s Pet. 1.5. Te are kept by the Power of God, through Faith unto Salvation. If your Protection were vifible, all the Ptinces of the World would come Ihort of your Guard and Attendance. God will be your Watch -man, your Keeper, to forefee the Danger, and defend you fromit : This Ho- nour he will have. He that is the Maker of theWorld, is the Preferver of it, the . keeping of the World could be trufted in no other Hands, but his that made it. Só he is the Preferver of the Saints, as well as their Maker; t Sam. 2. 9. By Strength (hall, no Man prevail ; he keepeth the Feet of his Saints ; you rob God of the Honour of your Salvation by other Confidences.' i
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