Ver.i2. the 17th Chapter of St. JO H N. i7i Fir ; I begin with Chrifes Care : Whil I was with them in the World, I kept theta in thy Name. t. Obferve ; We cannot withfiand Danger by our own Slrengtb. it is Jerome's Obier.. vation. Chrift faith, I kept them ; he doth not fay, I gave them Free -will to beep them- [eelves. And it is confirmed by another Scripture, t Sam. 2. 9. He keepeth the Feet 'hit. Saints. The Feet are put for all kind of Actions, Courfes and Endeavours. For by ftrength Jball no Man prevail; that is; by his own ftrength. God will have this Honour, as to be theAuthor of Grace, fo the Preferver of it ; as the making of the World, and keeping of the World, is put into the fame hands. You rob God of his Honour, when you look elfewhere. Take heed then of going forth in the ftrength of your own Refolutions. The Devil doth not fear us, but the Guard that is about us. Peter was a fad Inftance ; The all Men do deny thee, yet will not I deny thee : At firft he out -bra- veth a whole Troop, and afterwards falleth by the accufation of one Damfel. A bold Refolution doth not carry out a Man fo far as an humble Dependence ; a filly Wench difcourageth this flout Champion. Every fmall Temptation is fufficient to overturn a Man puffed up with the confidence of his own ftrength, the weak Blaft of a Dam - fel's Queftion. What poor Creatures are we, when God leaveth us I We cannot be without thefe Providences..Audeo dicere ( faith Aufiin) utile efe fuperbis, cedere inalignod esanifefium epertum peccatum, ut falubrius fbi difpliceant. The Saints fall fo often, that they may ftand the firmer. Nay, if you do not fall fouly, you will meet with a great deal of Uncomfortablenefs and Wearinefs in the ways ofGod; our Strength will Coon tire. Learn this, the belt of you, you that feem to have moth reafon to ftand. `Peter had been with Chrift on the Mount, Mat. 17. 1. in the Garden, Mat. 26. 37. affured of his Glory, armed againft his Sufferings, and yet now denieth him. 2. Oltferve; How loyal, faithful and tender Chrift is over his Charge. He is loyal to God, 1 have kept them in thy Name; faithful to his Flock, he omitted no point of the Duty of a good Shepherd ; he was tender of them. who I was with them in the World, I kept them; and now he furrendreth his Charge into God's hands. Judas was loft, not out of any impotency and carelefnefs in Chrift, he was not in his Commiffion, but through his own malignity. Chrift is faithful, for he giveth an account to God, none of them is loft, juff as he will at the laft day ; it is but a Type of what he will do then : He will prefent all the Faithful to God ; Heb. 2. 13. 'Behold, 1 and the Chil- dren which God path given me : And he will difclaimHypocrites, as he doth Judas. 71fe r. Let us learn, how Cafe it is to be in Christ's bands and keeping. Chrift was a faithful Shepherd when he was upon the Earth ; and tho his corporal Prefence be re- moved, yet it is fupplied by the Spirit : he bath (till a care of his Flock; the Lambs, thofe that are molt tender, heearrieth them in his Bofom ; he hath a particular care of every tingle Believer, tho there be Co many Thoufands in the World: John to. 3. I know my Sheep by Name: John, Anna, Thomas, however called and diftinguithed in the World. He is careful to provide good large Pafture, to fupply your Defetts. His Conduct is gentle and tender, as the little ones are able to bear, and to guide you with Difpenfations fuitable to your Work, and Temptations are proportioned to your Growth and Experience. Paul was not buffeted till his Rapture. 4fter ye were illu- minated, ye endured a great Fight of Afffilions. Heb. to. 32. The Cattle is tititialled,, before it is befeged. He is conttantly watchful over you, taketh notice of Decays of Grace, and fpiritual Languifhments, to reclaim and reduce his People, when gone a- ffray. Ifa. 3o. 21. Thine Ears ;Al hear a Voice behind thee, Paying, This is the Way, walk in it, when ye turn to the right -hand, and when ye turn to the left. Yoti may be confident of his keeping, if you will but chufe him for a Shepherd, and put your Souls as a Pledg in his hands. Pfal. 23. s. The Lord w my Shepherd, I Jhall not want. Walk on in a Courfe of Obedience, referring your lelves to Chrift's cares Z1fe 2. We fhould learn of Chrift to be faithful to our Chatgé. We that are Mini, fters, fhould keep thofe that are committed to us in God'sName, that when we die, or by Providence are called away from our People, we may plead our Faithfulnefs; Fa- Cher, I have kept them in thy Name. If we give not warning to the Sinner, His Blood mill God require at our bands, Ezek. 3.20. As under the Law, if an Ox or Sheep were YYy a laid
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