472 VER S E 4. The Priejlhoodof thrift. downe abarren trees But whenhee comes with a bid= ling, hee cloth not delay, but prevents his people with goodneffe and mercy. 0how forward ought weTiPtit to ferve him, who is fo ready to meet us in his way, and tobleffe us ? Note fixthly, from the refe6lion and preparationa which Aieichsfedekniade for Abrahawand forhis men, we may oblerve, That Cbrig as King and `Priefi is et comforter and refrefher of bis people in all their ffiiritnall marineIre, and after all their lervices. This was the end ofhis union to heale, and to comfort his people. The Spirit of-theLord is upon me, becaufe bee bath amain- tedme topreach the Gape& to the poore, he hatblewwee to hide the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives,and a recoveringoffight to the61iNde,to ret at lie bertie them that arebruited, and topreach the acceptable yeare ofthe Lord, Lake 4.18,19. To provide 4 teal?of fatted things, of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined, Efay 25.6. To mileout unto his people conrolationsand abundance ofglory, Efay 66.1 I. To fpeake words in feafon to thole that are weary, and to make broken and dry bones to rejoyce,and to flourifb like an herb, Epy 50.4. P/a1.51.8. EA, 66.14. And this is a thongargument to holdup the patience, faith, and hope ofmen in his fervice, and in all fpirituall affaults ; we have a Melchifedek which after our corn- bate is ended, and our vi6lory obtained willgive us rem frefhmentsat the laa, and will meet us with his mercies. Ifwe faint not, but wait a while, we {hall fee the falva- tion of the Lord, that in the end he is very pitifull and of tender mercy, Exod. i4. a 3. ton.5.1 I. He is neereat hand, his comingdraweth nigh: He is neere that issfii- fieth awe, who will contend withow ? Let us Rand toge. ther. Who is mineadverfary ? let him come neere to me. The readineffeof the Lord to helpe is a ground of challenge
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=