144 FOURTH SERMON David, unto whom all helpless persons that are in dis- tress, in debt, in bitterness of soul, may resort and find entertainment, 1 Sam. xxii. 2. Lastly, we should learn to behave ourselves as pupils under such a Guardian, to be sensible of our infancy, minority, inability to order or direct our own ways, and so deny ourselves, and not lean on our own wisdom ; to be sensible how this condition exposeth us to the injuries of strangers, for because we are called out of the world, therefore the world hateth us," and so to be vigilant over our ways, and not trust ourselves alone in the hands of temptation, nor wan- der from our Guardian, but always to yield unto his wisdom and guidance. Lastly, to comfort ourselves in this, that while we are in our minority we are under the mercy of a father. A mercy of conservation by his providence, giving us all good things richly to enjoy, even all things necessary unto life and godliness : a mercy of protection, defending us by his power from all evil : a mercy of education and instruction, teach- ing us by his word and Spirit : a mercy of communion, many ways familiarly conversing with us and mani- festing himself unto us : a mercy of guidance and government by the laws of his family : a mercy of discipline, fitting us by fatherly chastisements for those further honours and employments he will advance us unto ; and when our minority is over, and we are once come to a perfect man, we shall then be actually admitted unto that inheritance immortal, invisible, and that fadeth not away, which the same mercy at first purchased, and now prepareth and reserveth for us. Now it followeth : Verse 4. " 1 will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for mine anger is turned away from him." In the former words we have considered both
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