Page:Sermon preached on a preparation-day, before the sacrament of the Lord's-Supper, at Bruntisland, upon 2 Sam. vii. 20. Do as thou hast said.pdf/13

 but I cannot ſee him, Job.xxii. 8, 9. The comfort that could relieve my ſoul is far removed, "Lam. i. 16. God ſays, Iſa. liv. 7, 8, 10. "For a ſmall moment have I forſaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee: in a little wrath I hid my face from thee, for a moment; but with everlaſting kindneſs will I have mercy on thee, faith the Lord thy Redeemer. For the mountains ſhall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindneſs ſhall not depart from thee, neither ſhall the covenant of my peace be removed, faith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee"--- Hath he ſaid ſo? Then, O take him at his word, ſaying, Lord, Do as thou haſt ſaid.

But what doth God ſay to one that is toſſed with one wave of affliction upon the back of another, "deep calling unto deep, at the noiſe of God's water ſpouts; all his waves and billows are gone over me?" Pſal. xci. 7. Why, God ſays, Iſa. liv. 11, 12, 13, 74. "Oh thou afflicted, toſſed with tempeſt, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy ſtones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires: and I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleaſant ſtones; and all thy children ſhall be taught of the Lord, and great ſhall be the peace of thy children: in righteouſneſs ſhalt thou be eſtabliſhed." Yea, he ſays, Pſal. xci. 15. "He ſhall call upon me and I will anſwer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him, and honour him" Many ſuch ſweet words of grace he ſpeaks: O then, take his word and plead, Lord, Do as thou haſt ſaid.

But is there any word to one that is loſt in the wilderneſs, and knows not where he is, ſo as to think it impoſſible that miniſters can find him out? I think I am loſt in a thicket, and it is impoſſible to find out my caſe, a nameleſs caſe. why may be that word concerns you, Iſa. lxii. 11, "Behold thy ſalvation cometh; and thou ſhall be called, Sought out, not forſaken?" And Hoſea. ii. 14. "I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderneſs, and there will I ſpeak comfortably to her or, as the word is in the margin, Speak to her . O comfortable when God ſpeaks not only to the ear, but to the heart. Well, hath he ſaid it? O then, take his word and plead, Do as thou haſt ſaid.

But is there any word to one that hath been incorrigible under correcting providences, and hath his corruptions irritate by the croſs, and rebellion rather increaſed by rods