The Parable of the Ten Pirgins, he died for it; 1on~th, though difcouraged, and thought he lhould never come rhere, but be caH our of Gods light. , 1"cob amlJofeph, though rhey might have badhonorable burial elfewhere yet fuch was not only their faith ~n rhe pro~ife, but their love ro the Land of prom~fe, where they knew God lllt~nded hts prefence, thac t~eir very bones mull be there, Heb.tt.l2. when they could not ltve there, rhe1r very carkafies !hall lie there. , ; • ' This was rhe pow~r of the timorous faith of 1•hh and Nicodemus (\~hen rhey h td lo£~ rhe life of Chrill, and Chrill: was departed) yet they loved and beooed rh.:: dead body of Jefus; fo ·though you have neglec\ed the Lord yet ' no~ b.:: as near the Lord as you can; Chri!t h.imfelf when he was to d~part from his people, yet he would be as nearto h•s as he could; hence he fends the Comforter ; Oh fo be you towards him ! I know his love ro us ex.:eeds OlltS ro him ; bur there i~ no rea!on why it lhould, for we: are vik ; rh~ re is reafon ours lhoulq elffe;;:d, fer ~e is wor~~y ; rhis is the honor of the Saincs, To be a p•ople mar to him ; as le Is rhe curJe, and lhame, and mtfery of all the world robe . far from hin1. · · ' M.:m hearts lie further our from Chrill than we are aware of; fome' !tars feem eo be wi rbit~ a h1nds breadrh, cf the mo_on, wh~n th~y are indeed far o!f, becaufe of our weaknds nor able to Judge ef thtngs at that d1Hance; fo ic is with many ; n-iymany 'of G<lds o~nJ>eopJe are far oif, t>r not near enough eo rhe · Lord: Ana heti'e 'tome -\ _·• · Fir!l, -All affiiafons ' for the m'olt part; why are they fent but to fetch you 'in from your flrayings ' ? hence l'/~<1. 2 3· 4· the rod of God comfori(d David . ' ' , .. , " , . Secondly,Hence come& your fl~eping in your !lrayings from God ; as Jo~ah that went ~way from rhe prefC:nceoftbe lord, and the Lord 'lee him alone for a time; I' know there are dai'Jy 'fl'rayings; but to lie and Jive irr rhem not Jam en- ~~. this a~gues your hearcs'a~e ~one, and lie out from tbe Lord, at Jeall, for a 'nme. ' SECT. XV. Qpell.HOw JhoN/d we be n•ar unto the L~rd? • : ' ~: - finfw. In Four particulars. . Firll, Be near to him m his Providences; the Lord is exceeding near to all -lnen rhus, tAfl.I7.27,28. in him we livund move,as the beam is in rhe Sun, fo as-be may be felt; it is wonderful to think how near the Lord is to men, not on-ly by the immediarenefs of his verrue, but of his perfon ; yec they are far fromrheLord, and men are to feekfor him; bepce vetf. 30,31. heperfwades unto that, efpecially to be near God, nor only as a Creator, but as a Mediator, by whom rhe alfairs of all thefamily in heaven and earth are or- -dered. Oh therefore feek him till you come fo near as to fee him and find him hece; '1J11vid faw this really, and chat in times of peace, when lie had fat pafiuresand full cups, P[11l.23. he faw rhe Lord as his Shepherd; 'joh.ro.t. who is known of.his, feeding, leading, rettoring, comfoning by rods, adhering eo ·him;, the VPile; of the fradow of death; and'rhen for outward things, furnilhing his cable, an·,Gintinghis head, giving neceffities and fuperlluicies; he looked , , not only on fecond caufes, but faw c;od as really doing all thefe, a_scarnal men fee fecond caufes doing thefe : Nay, he fo feescbe Lord, as that he falls awondering l and indeed the Lord is never feen in tlis Providences till then ;, as r · M11no11 1
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