3 18 7he Support of Good Men, leave them to the Righteous and Merciful Sentence of their Matter and our,, to whole Judgment we muff all hand or fall. I am lure it will very ill become thofe, who by the Providence of God have elcaped thofe Sufferings, and are at prefent out of Danger themfelves, to fit in Judgment upon thofe who are left to endure this terrible Confli&, and have per- haps held out as long, or longer, than they themfelves wouldhave done in the like Circumltances. Let us rather earneffly beg of the God of all grace and pati- ence, that he would endue us with a greater meafure of Patience and Conftancy, if he fee fit to call us to the Exercife of it, and (which we lawfullymay, after the Example of' our Bleffed Saviour) that if it be his will, he would let this Cep pats from us, and not try us with the like Sufferings, left we alfo be weary, andfaint in our Minds. I come now to the III. And Laft Enquiry which I propofed ; What Ground and Reafon th e is, for good Men to expe& the more Peculiar and Efpecial.Care of God's Pro'; a í,rice in cafe of fuck Sufferings ? The ProvidenceofGod extends to all his Creatures, according to that of the Pfalmift, the Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his Work:, - But he exercifeth a more particular Providence towards Mankind ; and more peculiar yet towards thofe who fludy to pleafe him, by obeying his Laws and doing his Will. He that is allured of his own Heart, that he loves God, and would do or fuffer any thing for him, can have no caufe to doubt but that God loves him, and is concerned for his Happinefs. No Man was ever afraid of God, that was not confcious to himfelf that he had offended him, and by the wilful breach of his Laws had put himfelf out of the Care of his Providence. But on the contrary, ifourlHearts give us this Teflimony, That we have made it our fincere Endea- vour to pleafe him, we are naturally apt to have good afurance and confidence of his Favour and Good -will towards us. This comfort the Mind of every good Man is apt togive him, from his own Reafon, and the natural Notions which he hath ofGod. But to free us from all doubt in this Matter, God himfelf hath told us fo, and given us plentiful Affurance of it in his Word, Pfal. e r. 7. The Righteous Lord loveth Righteoufnefs, his countenance doth behold the upright ; that is, he will be fa- vourable unto them, Pfal. 33. 18. Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him ; upon them that hope in his Mercy. The eye ofGod, lignifies his watchful Care and Providence over good Men. So that befrdes the Cure and well -grounded Reafonings, from the Effential Perfe&ions of the Divine Nature, the Mercy and Goodnefs of God ; we have a morefure word ofPromife, in the exprefs declarati- ons ofGod's Word, and more particularly in the cafe of great Temptations and Sufferings. For can we think, that the Scripture faith in vain, Wait on the Lord, and be ofgood courage, and he foall flrengthen thine heart? Many are the afil,Iions ofthe Righteous, but the Lorddeliverethhim out ofall ? the fleps of a good Man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his ways, tho' he fall he (hall not utterly be cefi down, for the Lord upholdeth him with hishand ? The Salvation of the Righte- ous cometh of the Lord, he is their help in time of trouble ? The fame Promifes we find in the New Teffatnent. All things(hall wort¿ together forgood, to them that love God. God isfaithful, who bath promifed, that he will notfineryou to be temp- tedabove whatye are able, but will with the temptation make a way to efcape. And tomention no more ; Holdfall the Profe on ofyour Faith without wavering, he be faithful that bathpromifed ; via. to fupport you under Sufferings, and to reward them. Thus much for thefirfi Point namely, that when Men do fuller truly for the Caufe of Religion, they may with confidence commit themfelves to the more Peculiar Care of the Divine Providence. SER
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