CAP.V I,g; 16,17. Ifa.54.7,8,9,1O. Opened. 142 frame towards them hewould not continue, fhauld they bechanged and turned into Idolaters andBlafphemers. Anf Firft, the Promifes of God, and theaffe&ions ofmen arebut ill compared. 2. Paul loved the Corinthians,whilft they were filch as he men- tioned ; God promifeth his Grace to Believers, that they may continue fuch as he loves. ob. All the Promifes are made to &ualiieations, not to Perfons. Anf Prove that, and i. Take thecafe in hand; and 2. Catt downe the Church to the ground, it having no one Promife on that account made unto it, asconfining ofAbrahams Seed: and fo thiswitneflè alto is freed from all exceptions put in againft it,and appeares with confidence togive in its Te- Itimony to the Vnchangeableneffe ofGod unto Believers. I. z6. I (hall in the next place adjoine another portion ofScripture ofthe fame im- port with thofe foregoing,wherein the truth in hid is no leffe clearly,& fome- what more pathetically,& convincinglyexpreffed thé in that latt mentioned. It is Ifa.54.7,8,9, Io.For afmallmoment have Iforfa4enthee,but with greatMer- cieswill Igather thee.in a little wrath Ihidmyfacefrom theefor a moment, but with everlafïing kindnefe willI have Mercy on thee,faith the Lord thyRedeemer. For this is as the watersofNoah unto me, for as I have fworne that theWaters of Noahßball no more cover the Earth,fo have Ifworne that Iwillnot be wrathwith thee, norrebuke thee:for theMountains(ball depart andthe hits be removed, but my Loving-4Zindne ee(hallnotdepart from thee, neither fliallthe Covenant ofmy Peace be removed,faith theLordthat bathMercy on thee.Theplace Ihave men- tionedbefore, but only as toone fpeciall inference from one pailage in the words, I (hall now ufe the whole for the confirmation ofthe generali Truth we plead for; thewords are full, plaine, fuited to thebufinefle in hand. No ex refilons ofour finding out, can fo fully reach the Truthwe aflèrt , much leffe.fo pathetically' worke upon theAffe&ions of Believers, or fo effe&wally prevaile on their underítandings to receive the Truthcontained in them , as thefe wordsofGod himfelfe, given us for thofe ends, are fuited to doe. Goe tomen,whofe minds in any meafure are free from prejudice, not foreftalled with acontrary perfwafion, and furnifhed with evafions for the defence of their opinions, and aske whether God Both not in thefe words direly and pofitivelypromffe to thofe, towhom he fpeaketh, that he will alwaies conti- nuehis /indneffe to them, to the end: and that for thedales of eternity his Love (hall be fixedon them: and I no way doubt but they will readily anfwer, it is (o indeed, it cannot be denied. But teeing wehave to deale, as with our own unbelieving hearts, fo with men who have turned every (tone to prejudge this TeftimonyofGod, the words mu(ta little more narrowly be conlidered, and the mindofthe Holy Ghoftinquired into. g: 17 V. 5. mention is made ofthe defertion of the Church, by the eclipfing of thebeames ofGods countenance,and the infli&ing of force greataffli&ion for a feafon: in oppofition unto which momentary defertions,in that , and in the beginningofthe 8.v. hegiveth in Confolation from the*Affurance of the great Mercies , and Everlaffing Kindneffe, wherein he abiderh to doe them good; witheverlaffing l¿indneffe will I havemercy on thee, I will pardon, pitty, and heale thee, with that mercy which floweth from Love, which never had beginning, that never (hall have ending, that cannot be cut off; Everlafïing Kindnefe. Bearewith patience your prefent defertion , your prefent trialls, whatever they are that befall you , they are but for a feafon , but for a mo- ment, and thefe alloconfrftent with that Mercy & Kindneflè;which is ever- 'ailing, and turneth not away; Ifthis Mercyand Kindneffe dependethon any thing in us, and is refolved laftly thereunto, which may alter and change eve- ry
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