safety. Well, when they are out of this danger, behold, they are in a wilderness, where nothing is to be had for back and belly, and yet here they shall live forty years, withont trade or tillage, without begging or robbing of any of the neigh- bour nations ; they shall not be beholden to them for a penny in their way. What cannot almighty power do to provide for his people ? What can it not do to protect them against the power and wrath of their enemies ? Almighty power stood between the Israelites and Egyptians ; so that, poor creatures, they could not so much as come to see their enemy. God sets up a dark cloud as a blind before their eyes ; and all the while, his eye through the cloud is looking them into disorder and confusion. And is the Almighty grown weaker now- a-days, or his enemies stronger, that the)' promise themselves better success ? No, neither ; but men are blinder than the saints' enemies of old, who sometimes have fled at the appearance of God among his people, crying out, ' Let us flee, for the Lord fighteth for them.' Whereas there be many now-a-days will rather give the honour of their discomfitiu'es to Satan himself, than acknowledge God in the business ; more ready to say the devil fought against them, than God. O you that have not yet worn off the impressions which the almighty power of God hath at any time made upon your spirits, beware of having anything to do with this generation of men, whoever they are. Come not near their tabei'- nacle, cast not thy lot in amongst them, who are enemies to the saints of the Most High ; for they are men devoted to destruction. God so loves his saints that he makes nothing to give whole nations for their ransom. He ripped open the very womb of Egypt, to save the life of Israel his child, Isa. xliii. 3.
Use 2. — -This shews the dismal, deplorable condition of all you who are yet in a Christless state ; you have seen a rich mine opened, but not a penny of this treasure comes to your share ; truth laden with incomparable comfort, but it is bound for another coast; it belongs to the saints, into whose bosom this truth unlades all her comfort. See God shutting the door upon you, when he sets his children to feast themselves with such dainties, Isa. Ixv. L'J, 'My ser- vants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry ; my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty.' God hath his set number, which he provides for ; he knows how many he hath in his family : these and no more shall sit down. One chief dish at the saints' board, is the almighty power of God ; tliis was set before Abraham, and stands before all his saints, that they may eat to fulness of comfort on it : ' But thou shalt be hungry.' He is almighty to pardon ; but he will not use it for thee an impenitent sinner ; thou hast not a friend on the bench ; not an attribute in all God's name will speak for thee : mercy itself will sit and vote with the rest of his fellow-attributes for thy damnation. God is able to save and help in a time of need ; but upon what acquaintance is it that thou art so bold with God, as to expect his saving arm to be stretched forth for thee ? Though a man will rise at midnight to let in a child that cries and knocks at his door, yet he will not take so much pains for a dog, that lies howling there. This presents thy condition, sinner; sad enough ! yet this is to tell thy story fairest; for that almighty power of God which is engaged for the believer's salvation, is as deeply obliged to bring thee to thy execution and damnation. What greater tie than an oath? God himself is inider an oath to be the destruction of every impenitent soul. That oath which God sware in his wrath against theimbelieving Israelites, that they should not enter into his rest, concerns every unbeliever to the end of the world. In the name of God consider, were it but the oath of a man, or a company of men, that, like those in the Acts, should swear to be the death of such an one, and thou wert the man, would it not fill thee with fear and trembling night and day, and take away the quiet of thy life, till they were made friends ? What then are their pillows stuffed with, who can sleep so soundly without any horror or amazement, though they be told, that the Almighty God is under an oath of damning them body and soul, without timely repentance ? O bethink yourselves, sinners, is it wisdom, or valour, to reftise terms of mercy from God's hands, whose almighty power, if rejected, will soon bring you into the hands of justice? And how fearful a thing that is, to fall into the hands of Almighty God, no tongue can express, no, not they who feel the weight of it.
Use 3. — This speaks to you, that are saints indeed. Be strong in the faith of this truth, make it an article of yoiu- creed ; with the same faith that you
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20 AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.
believe there is a God, believe also this God's almighty power is thy sure friend, and then improve it to thy best advantage. As,