2. His truth. God hath made promises to his people, when they are under great pressures, to deliver them; and his truth is engaged in his promise, Ps. 1. 15., « Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deli- ver thee." Job V. 19., " He shall deliver thee in six troubles, yea in seven." How is the scripture bespangled with these pro- mises as the firmament is with stars? Ei- ther God will deliver them from death, or by death ; he will make a way to escape, 1 Cor. X. 13. When promises are verified, God's truth is magnified.
3. His goodness. God is full of com- passion to such as are in misery. The He- brew word, rocham, for mercy, signifies bowels. God hath " sounding of bowels," Isa. Ixiii. 15. And this symj)athy stirs up God to deliver, Isa. Ixiii. 9., " In his love and pity he redeemed them." This makes way for the triumj)h of God's goodness. For he is tender-hearted, lie will not over afflict ; he cuts asunder the bars of iron, he breaks the yoke of the oppressor. Thus all his attributes ride in triumph, in saving his people out of trouble.
bthlif. Quest. IIoic the deliverance of the godly and wicked out of trouble, differ ?
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OF THE PREFACE TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
Ans. 1. The deliverances of the godly are preservations ; ot" the wicked are reser- vations, 2 Pet. ii. 9., " The Lord knows how to deliver the godly, and to reserve the unjust to be punished." A sinner may be delivered from dangerous sickness, and out of prison ; but all this is but a reserva- tion to some greater evil.
A. 2. God delivers the wicked (or rather spares them) in anger. Deliverances to the wicked are not given as pledges of God's love, but symptoms of displeasure, as quails were given to Israel in anger : but deliverances of the godly are in love, 2 Sam. xxii. 20., " He delivered me because lie delighted in me." Isa. xxxviii. 17., " Thou hast, in love to my soul, delivered me from the pit of corruption ;" or as in the Hebrew, Chashiacta Nap/ishi, — thou bast loi'ed me from the pit of corruption. A wicked man may say, Lord, thou hast delivered me out of the pit of corruj)tion ; but a godly man may say. Lord, thou hast loved me out of the pit of corruption. It is one thing to have God's power deliver us, and another thing to have his love deliver us. O, saith Hezekiah, " Thou hast in love to my soul, delivered me from the pit of corruption."
Quest. How may it be known that a deli- verance co?nes in love ?
Ans. 1. When a deliverance makes our heart boil over in love to God, Ps. cxvi. 1., " I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice." It is one thing to love our mercies, another thing to love the Lord ; then a deliverance is in love, when it caus- eth love.
A. 2. Then a deliverance is in love, when we have hearts to improve it for God's glo- ry. The wicked instead of improving their deliverance for God's glory, improve their corruption ; they grow worse after, as the metal when it is taken out of the fire grows harder ; but then our deliverance is in love, when we improve it for (Jod's glory. God raiseth us out of a low condition, and we lift him up in our praises, and honour him with our substance, Prov. iii. 9. He re- covers us from sickness, and Ave spend our- selves in his service. Mei'cy is not as the sun to the fire to dull it and put it out; but as oil to the wheel, to make it move faster.
A. 3. Then a deliverance comes in love, when it makes us more exemplary in holi- ness ; our lives are walking bibles. A thousand praises and doxologies do not ho- nour God so much as the mortifying of one lust, Obadiah 17., " On mount Zion there shall be deliA^erances and holiness." When these two go together, — deliverance and holiness, — when being made monuments of mercy, we are patterns of piety, — now a deliverance comes in love, and we may say as He/ekiah, " Thou hast in love to my soul, delivered it from the pit of cor- ruption."
Use 1st. If God brings his people out of bondage, then let none despond in trouble. Say not " 1 shall sink under this burden ;" or as David, " I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul." God can make this text good, personally and nationally ; to bring his ])eople out of the house of bon- dage when he sees a fit season, he will put forth his arm and save them ; and he can do it with ease, 2 Chron. xiv. 11., " It is nothing with thee, Lord, to help." He that can turn tides, can turn the times ; he that raised Lazarus when he was dead, can raise thee when thou art sick, Isa. Ixiii. 5., " I looked, and there was none to help; there- fore my own arm brought salvation." Do not despond; believe in God's power; faith sets God on work to deliver us.
Use 2d. Labour (if you are in trouble) to be fitted for deliverance; many would have deliverance, but are not fitted for it.
Quest. JVhe7i are we Jitted for deliver' ance ?