Page:Saint's duty in evil times (3).pdf/2

THE SAINT'S DUTY ''Iſaiah xxvi. 20. Come, my People, enter thou into thy Chambers, and ſhut thy Doors about thee: Hide thy ſelf, as it were, for a little Moment, until the Indignation be over-paſt.''

HE bowels of the Lord's ſympathy towards his people, are always at the burſting out, and he dow not ſee them forſaking their own mercy, and ſtraying from him, but is much taken up in lamenting over their folly, and with giving them many a moving and ſweet invitation to come to him, where their happineſs lies, and lays himſelf open to them, and the riches that are with him, with his arms ſpread abroad,inviting them by his precious and hearty promiſes, ſeeking nothing of folk, but only that they would come and receive freely; Iſa.55.1. Ho, every one that thirſteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat, yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. He opens up precious and rich ware, and ſays to his buyers and merchants, the commodity is good, come away, we ſhalt not caſt out about the price; if ye have hearts to receive, I have an heart to give: Come away then, hearty good fellows, we will never ſtand upon it; for 'tis not with him as with the men of the world; for they count them the beſt good-fellows, who give moſt and freelieſt; but he counts them the beſt good-fellows, who will take moſt and freelieſt; and he bars none from him, but diſcovers his riches, and invites all; Rev. 22. 16, 17. I am the root, and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning-ſtar. And the ſpirit and the bride ſay, come. And let him that heareth ſay, come. And let him that is athirſt come. And whoſoever will, let him take of the water of life freely. And if this and ſuch ſweet invitations will not prevail, he makes taws to whip his own to himſelf: Terrors within, and judgments without; and he never lays on a blow, but he is ſtill provoked to it, and when he lays it on, the tear is in his eyes, becauſe he muſt do it: Lam. 3.33. For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men; yea, when his own turn their backs upon him, he lets them not alone, but is ſtill calling them back again, Zech. 1. 3. Turn ye unto me, ſaith the Lord of holts, and I will turn unto you, faith the Lord of holts. And alſo, when he threatens moſt ſadly, he fails not to make large promiſes to the faithful, and to give them ample invitations to come to him for their pleaſure and for their ſafety, Come my people, &c. When the