3. The dangers and fears of the people of God in this world are many and great ; and were it not for the Lord's assiduous and ten- der care over them, they must necessarily be ruined both in soul and body by them. The church is God's vineyard, its enemies as so many wild boars to root it up : Upon this account he saith, Isa. xxvii. 3. " I the Lord do keep it ; lest any hurt it, I will keep it " night and day." And, indeed, it is well for Israel that he who keepeth it, never slumbereth nor sleepeth, Psal. cxxi. 4. That our houses are in peace, that we and our dear relations fall not as a prey into cruel and bloody hands skilful to destroy, that we find any rest and comfort in so evil and dangerous a world, is wholly and only to be ascribed to the care of God over us and ours.
386 THE RIGHTEOUS MAN's EEFUGE.
4. Jesus Christ hath solemnly recommended all the people of God to his particular care. It was one of the last expressions of Christ^s love to them at the parting hour, John xvii. 11. " And *^ now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world ; and *' I come to thee : Holy Father, keep through thine own name *' those whom thou hast given me.'' q. d. While I have been per- sonally present with them, I took the same care of them as a shep- herd doth of his flock, or a tender father of his children : but now I must leave them in the world, and in the midst of a world of dangers, fears, and troubles, against which they can make no pro- vision or defence themselves. Father, remember them, look after them when I shall be removed from them, they are thine as well as mine ; and I recommend them, with my last breath, to thy care and protection. This is a special ground also, of God's care for them.
5. Believers daily cast themselves upon thp care of God, and re- sign themselves unto it in their daily prayers, and by their often- renewed acts of faith, than which no act is found more engaging from the creature upon its God ; though there be nothing of merit, yet there is much engaging efficacy in it, Isa. xxvi. S. " Thou wilt " keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee ; because " he trusteth in thee.'' We find it so among ourselves, the more firmly and entirely any one trusteth in us, and dependeth upon us, the more he engageth us to protect and relieve him. Now this is the daily w ork of Christians to trust God over all, and put all their concernments into his hand, which very trust and dependence draw forth the care of God for them.
6. In a w^ord, the many promises God hath made to his people to preserve, support, and supply them in all the times of need, en- gage the care of God for them, as often as such wants or dangers befal them; for indeed, herein he at once takes care for their necessity, and for his own honour and glory. They trust to his •word, and rely upon his promises, which therefore he will be care- ful to make good. This was the argument wliich the church plead- ed in the time of imminent danger to engage the care of God for them, Psal. Ixxiv. 20. Have respect unto the covenant : for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of' cruelty, q. d. O Lord, thy people are in the midst of cruel enemies, take care for their protection, and though there be no worth in them to which thou shouldest have respect, yet have respect unto thine own covenant : let the glory of thy name draw forth thy care to thy people.
Sect. II. We have seen the grounds and reasons of God's care over his people, let us next view (2.) The extent and compass of this divine care; and here methinks the Lord saith to his people as he said to Abraham, Gen. xiii. 14, 15. Lift up now thine eyes from
THE lilGIITliOUS xMA>; S REFUGK. *dS7
the place where thou a7% northward and southward^ and eastward and zoestzc^ard, for all the land which thou seesf, to thee zvill I give it and to thy seed for ever. So here, poor timorous, dejected be- liever, lift up thine eyes from the place where thou art, and take a view of all the promises in the scriptures of truth ; promises of sup- ports under all burthens, supplies of all wants, deliverances out of all dangers, assistances in all distresses ; to thee have I given them all as a portion for ever. This care of God walks around, and en- compasseth the souls and bodies of them that fear him day and night. There is no interest or concern of either found without the line of his all-surrounding care, and every one of his children are enfolded in his fatherly arms, Deut. xxxiii. 3. All his saints are in thy hand. All, and every one of their wants and straits are observed by this care, in order to their supply, Phil. iv. 19- My God shall supply all your need.
1. Great is the care of God over the bodies of his people, and all the dangers and necessities of them as they daily grow ; your meat and drink are daily provided for you by your Father's care, Psal. cxi. 24. He hath given meat unto them that fear him : he will he ever mindful of his covenant. It is from this care of thy heavenly Father, that necessary provisions have been made for thee, of which, it may be, thou hast had no foresight : this is the God that hath fed thee all thy life long. Gen. xlviii. 15. It is from the same care thy body hath been clothed, Matth. vi. 28. How much more shall he clothe you^ O ye of little faith ? It is through this care you sleep in peace, and your rest is made sweet unto you, Prov. iii. 24. ' When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid ; yea, thou shalt ' lie dojs^n, and thy sleep shall be sweet.' In a word, thou owest all thy recoveries from dangerous diseases, and narrow escapes from tlie grave, to this care of thy God over thee, He is the Lord that healeth thee^ Exod. xv. 26. That the incensed humours of thy body had not overflowed their banks, like an inundation of the sea, when they raged in thy dangerous diseases, is only because thy God took the care of thee, and set them their bounds.
2. Divine care extends itself to the souls of all that fear God, and to all the concernments of their souls ; and manifestly disco* vers itself in all the gracious provisions it hath made for them. More particularly, it is from this tender, fatherly care that,
1. A Saviour was provided to redeem them, when they were ruined and lost by sin, John iii. 16. Rom. viii. 32.
2. That spiritual cordials are provided to refresh them in all their sinking sorrows and inward distresses, Psal. xciv. 19-
3. That a door of deliverance is opened to them, when they are Vol. III. B b
388 THE RIGHTEOUS MAN'» REFUGE.
sorelv pressed upon by temptations, and ready to be overwhelmed, 1 Cor. X. 13.
4. That a strength above their own comes seasonably to support them, when they are almost over-weighed with inward troubles; when great weights are upon them, the everlasting arms are under- neath them, Psal. cxxxviii. 3. Isa. Ivii. 16.