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Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world; that we may be made partakers of his holiness, and fo prepared to behold his face in glory.

Now what are the great things we should defire, were it put to our choice, but to be delivered from fin the worst of evils, and from hell the deepest misery? To obtain falvation with eternal glory, that God may be everlastingly honoured in our everlasting happiness? And if he over-rules his various difpenfations to this end, though fome of them are harsh and severe, how plain is it that those with whom he deals thus, want nothing that is good? And with what thankfulness fhall we acknowledge this, when we are well instructed in the method of grace to bring us to glory? We fhall confess with wonder and joy, That it was good for us that we were afflicted, and that in very faithfulness God did it.

How pleafing a fcene will it be at last to behold the excellent counfels and designs of wifdom extending to all the circumftances and turns of life? That this way we were to go? Through fuch ftraits and trials to be led? By fuch means and methods to be brought into the divine favour, and kept in it? By fuch croffes and afflictions to be faved from pride, weaned from earth, kept back from fin, excited to duty, and a diligent pursuit of heaven? Which have all been obferved, and with a steady hand guided to a bleffed iffue. With what triumph fhall we use the words of the Pfalmift, as fulfilled: Surely goodnefs and mercy fhall follow me all the days of my

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life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever, Pfal. xxiii. 6.

Though I was led through a howling wildernefs where I was often ready to murmur upon account of the ftraits I was in, or the dangers I was encompaffed with, I find it was the best way to the promised Land. I now perceive the reafon, and the need I had of the various difpenfations of providence towards me, the ufefulness of all the hard circumftances I was in, how nothing was omitted or could be fpared, how well and wifely all things were over-ruled for my eternal good: And now, adored be that wisdom that watched over me, and directed my fteps; that mercy and goodness that chofe my ftate for me, and attended me therein; that power that kept me from falling, strengthened me in weakness, delivered me from every evil work, and preferved me to his heavenly kingdom. How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God? how great is the fum of them? They are more in number than the fand.

3. They that feek the Lord fhall want nothing that is good, with refpect to the service he calls them to, the work they have to do, and the part they are to act for him in the world: And fo the promife is fulfilled, though he does not give to all his fervants alike. By fome he will be honoured in a higher, by others in a lower station; and accordingly to one he gives ten talents, to another two. Now whatever he fees fit to bestow on me, his will and wisdom are to measure my defires, as knowing the fitteft proportion for me. And if I honour him VOL. II.

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less by my substance, I am to honour him more by my patience and humble fubmiffion to his will; and having food and raiment, which is all that is abfolutely neceffary, therewith I am to learn to be content.

4. They that seek the Lord fhall want nothing that is good, as it fhall become seasonable: And fo he fulfills his word, though he does not presently or all at once beftow all the good he intends. His fovereign will is to determine the time and order, as well as the measure of our mercies.

The Ifraelites in the wilderness, when fed with Manna, had nothing denied them that was good, though they had no more than would laft them from day to day; to teach them to live in a conftant dependence upon God, and as their wants returned, to look up to heaven, from whence fupplies were to be fent in the fittest seafon. And how tafteful must those mercies be, that descend fresh out of the hand of God?

Lastly, They that feek the Lord fhall want nothing that is good, either in kind, or in value; in outward comforts, or in inward content with the divine difpofal and allowance. Godliness with contentment is great gain, 1 Tim. v. 6. If God denies the joy of harvest, and gives the joy of the Holy Ghoft; if he fuffers men to be in outward trouble, and gives them that peace that paffeth understanding, who can fay he deals hardly with them, or that they want any thing that is good?

To remove our burdens, or else increase our ftrength: To answer our defires in taking off an affliction, or fay, My grace is fufficient for thee:

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To give us riches, honours, friends and poffeffions, or contentment, which is equivalent: To fupply us mediately, or immediately; continue the streams, or lead us to the fountain, in either way, he fulfils his promife. I have learnt, faith the Apostle, in whatsoever ftate I am, therewith to be content, Phil. iv. 11. He knew God would supply all the believers need according to his riches in glory, by Jefus Chrift, ver. 19.

Hence this is the reprefentation he gives of his own and his fellow minifters ftate, As dying, and behold, we live; as chaftened, and not killed; as forrowful, yet always rejoycing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet poffeffing all things: They having the Author of all, God all-fufficient for their portion, 2 Cor. vi. 9, 10. Thus they that feek the Lord fhall not want any good thing.

Hence I go on to confider,

IV. From what grounds the certain accomplishment of this promise may be inferred.

And here how many things may be offered, as encouragements to the faith and trust of such as feek God. As,

First, The endearing relations in which God ftands to them.

1. He is their Shepherd, and they are his flock. They are finall indeed in number; but precious and honourable, by his esteem of them, his property in them, and his regard for them. He feparated them from the reft of the world; formed them for his praise in this world, and for his kingdom in another; and in their way to it, would have them truft him for all that is good for

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for them. Upon this the Pfalmift places his reft. Pfalm xxiii. 1. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. The Lord is my shepherd; and though he has others to take care of, I fhall be as well fupplied, as if I were alone the object of his concern. The Lord is my fhepherd, Ishall not want : No, fo far from that, that the provision he makes for thofe that belong to his flock, is fully answerable to the relation in which he ftands to them. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; be leadeth me befide the fill waters.

2. God is a father to those that feek him, and will pity, and provide for them as fuch. Like as a father pitieth his children: fo the Lord pitieth them that fear him, Pfalm ciii. 13. He confiders. their weakness, is acquainted with their wants, and withdraweth not his eye from the righteous. He has his ear open to hear their cries, and his hand full to fatisfy their defires. With this argument Chrift confirms the faith and truft of his difciples. Matt. vii. 12. which of you would withhold from his craving fon what is convenient and neceffary for him? And if you that are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in beaven give good gifts to them that afk him?

To fcatter their doubts, and give the fullest affurance of this, hear his own words, Ifai. xlvi. 16. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my bands. And his love to every one of his people, exceeds that of the most affectionate mother to her tender infant: Can a woman forget her fucking child, that fhe fhould not have compaffion upon the fon of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I

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