Use 5. Again, we should use this as a plea against dejectedness at the hour of death, in regard of those we leave behind us, not to be troubled what shall become of them, when we are to jdeld up our souls to God ; but know that he hath undertaken to be ' the Father of the fatherless, and of the widow.' Therefore, for shame, for shame ! leam, as to live, so to die by faith ; and as to die by faith in other things, so to die in this faith ; that God, as he will receive thy soul, so he will receive the care of thy posterity. Canst thou with affiance yield up thy soul unto God, and wilt thou not with the same confidence yield thy posterity ? Thou art an hypocrite, if this distract and vex thee, when yet thou pretendest to die in the faith of Christ. Canst thou yield thy soul, and yet art grieved for thv posterity ? No ; leave it to God. He is all-sufficient. ' The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof,' Ps. xxiv. 1. We need not fear to put our portion in his hands. He is rich enough. ' The earth and all is his.' Therefore, when we are in any extremity whatsoever, rely on this mercy of so rich and powerful a God ; improve it, for it is our portion, especially in a distressed condition. Were it not for faith, wrought by the blessed Spnit of God, he would lose the glory of this attribute of mercy. Now, faith is a wise power of the soul, that sees in God what is fit for it, sing- ling out in God what is fit for the present occasion of distress. Is a man in any extremity of miseiy ? let him look to mercy. Is a man oppressed ? let him look to mercy, to be revenged of his enemies. Is a man in any perplexity ? let him look to mercy, joined with wisdom, which is able to deliver him. Keligion is nothing else but an application of the soul to God, and a fetching out of him somewhat (as he hath discovered him- self in the covenant) fit for all our exigents ; as there is somewhat in God, and in the promises, for all estates of the soul. Faith, there- fore, is witty to look to that in God which is fit for its turn. Let us therefore take heed of Satan's poHcy herein, who in our extremity, useth this as a weapon to shake our faith. ' Tush,' as it is in the psalm, ' God hath forsaken and forgotten him,' Ps. x. 11. Hath he so ? Nay; because I am in extremity, and deserted above others, rather God now regards me more than before ; because, ' he scourge th everj- son whom he receiveth,' Heb. xii. 6. So retort Satan's fieiy darts back again. For indeed, that
298 THE EETUENING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON IV.
is the time wherein God exalts and shews himself most glorious and triumphant in mercy, where misery is greatest. ' Where sin abounds, there grace abounds much more,' Rom. v. 20. So where misery abounds, mercy superabounds much more. Therefore let us be as wise for our souls, as Satan can be malicious against them. TVhat he useth for a weapon to wound the soul, use the same as a weapon against him.
To end all, let faith in God's mercy ansicer this his description; and let it be a description ingrafted into us at such a time. Doth God care for the fatherless, and mean persons, who are cast down and afflicted ? Why, then, I will trust that God who doth so, being in this case myself. If he will help in extremity, trust him in extremity ; if he will help in distress, trust him in distress ; if he will help when all forsake, trust him when we are forsaken of all, Hab. iii. 17. What if a stream be taken away ? yet none can take away God from thee. What if a beam be taken away ? thou hast the sun itself. What if a particular comfort be taken away ? So long as God, * who comforteth the abject,' and is merciful to the distressed, fatherless, and widows, continues with thee, thou needst not fear. A man cannot want comfort and mercy, so long as the Father of mercies is in covenant with him. If he sin, he hath pardoning mercy for him ; if weak, he hath strengthening mercy ; if in darkness, he hath quickening mercy ; if we be dull, dead, and in danger, there is rescuing mercy; and if subject to dangers we may fall in, there is for that preventing mercy, Ps. xxxii. 10, Therefore there is mercy ready to compass God's children about in all conditions. When they are environed with dangers, yet God is nearer to guard their souls, than the danger is to hurt them.
Therefore let us take the counsel of the blessed apostle. ' Be careful for nothing ; but in ever}i:hing, by prayer and supplication, with thanks- giving, let your requests be known to God.' And what then ? Will God grant that I pray for ? Perhaps he will not ; but yet, ' the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus,' Philip, iv. 6, 7. As if he should say, in nothing be over- careful. Let your care be, when ye have used the means, to depend upon God for support in the event and issue of all. If God deny you what you pray for, he ■will grant you that which is better. He will set up an excel- lent inward peace there, whereby he will stablish the soul in assurance of his love, pardon of sins, and reconciliation : whereby their souls shall be guarded, and their hearts and minds preserved in Christ. So they become impregnable in all miseries whatsoever, when they have * the peace of God, which passeth all imderstanding,' to guard them within. Therefore let us not betray and lose our comforts for want of making use of them, or for fear some should call us hypocrites. And, on the other side, let us not flatter ourselves in an e'val course ; but make the conscience good, which will bear us out in all miseries, dangers, and difficulties whatsoever. No- thing makes losses, crosses, banishment, imprisonment, and death so terrible and out of measure dreadful unto us, but the inward guilt and sting in the inside, the tumults of conscience. Gen. xhi. 21. Clear this well once, make all whole within, let conscience be right and straight, let it have its just use and measure of truth and uprightness, and go thy way in peace ; I warrant thee, thou shalt hold up thy head, and wind thyself out of all dangers well enough : nothing shall daunt or appal thy courage. For, saith Solomon, * The righteous is bold as a Hon,' Prov. xxviii. 1. What can, what should he fear, who is heir of all things,' Rev. xxi. 7, whose all things are, and who is reconciled to God in Christ, having all the