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ing those blessings that his people want, this is also equivalent to a promise: Thus, in Exod. xxxiv. 4, 6. when the Lord passed by before Moses, and proclaimed the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, &c. it is the same as though he had said that he would shew mercy. to them, since the design thereof is to encourage them to hope for it.

(3.) Whatever blessings are said to be purchased by Christ as our Redeemer, or prayed for by him as our Advocate, these may be included in the number of promised blessings; for they will certainly be applied by him, who will not lose what he has purchased by his blood, and is never denied what he asks for.

(4.) The universal experience of believers, relating to the blessings that accompany salvation, contains the nature, though not the form, of a promise; and therefore, when this is recorded in scripture, for the encouragement of others, in all succeeding ages, it is as much to be applied by us when we are in like circumstances as though it were more directly promised to us: Thus when God's faithful servants are said, 1 Pet. i. 5. to be kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation; or, when the Psalmist says, in Psal. xxxvii. 25. I have been young, and now am old; yet have Inot seen the righteous forsaken, nor Ais seed begging bread; these, and such-like expressions, are to be applied by us as promises.

(5.) That which is proposed to us, or which we are to have in view, as the end of our attending on ordinances, is equivalent to a promise; and accordingly, when we are commanded or encouraged to hope and pray for any spiritual blessings, when waiting upon God therein, in such a way as he requires, it is the same thing as though he had said, that he would give us those blessings. If a believer is thirsty, and encouraged to come to the waters; or if he wants grace or peace, and is told that these are to be attained in ordinances, the bare intimation that we are to seek these blessings in such a way is equivalent to a promise.

(6.) God's seeing our distress or knowing our wants, is sometimes to be understood in scripture, as containing the nature of a promise, relating to the supply thereof: Thus our Saviour tells his disciples, in Matt. vi. 32. Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things; which is the same as though he had told them, that God had promised or designed to bestow those outward blessings upon them: And when he designed, or promised to deliver his people out of the bondage, in which they were in Egypt, he says, I have surely seen the affliction of my people: I know their sorrows, &c. Exod. iii. 7. Thus concerning the manner in which the promises are laid down in scripture.

We shall now consider how they are to be made use of in order to our direction and encouragement in prayer. And here it may be observed, that the promises either respect outward, or spiritual blessings, both of which we are to pray for: Thus the apostle says, in 1 Tim. iv. 8. Godliness has the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come; the former respects the temporal dispensations of providence; the latter, grace and glory, or the things that accompany salvation. [1.] We shall consider the promises that respect temporal or outward blessings which we are obliged to pray for, as we stand in need of them. These are of various kinds;

1st, There are promises of health and strength, whereby our passage through this world may be made easy and comforta ble, and we better enabled to glorify God therein: Thus it is said, in Prov. iii. 7, 8. Fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. And in Psal. ciii. 5. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles.

2dly, There are promises of food and raiment, or the necessary provisions and conveniences of life, in Psal. xxxvii. 3. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. And in Deut. x. 18. He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.

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3dly, There are promises of comfort and peace in our dwellings, in Job v. 24. Thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall 'be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin. And, in Psal. xci. 10. There shall no evil befal thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.' And in Psal. cxxi. 8. The Lord shalt preserve thy going out, and 'thy coming in, from this time forth and forevermore.'

4thly, There are promises of quiet and composed rest by night, on our beds, in Job xi. 18, 19. Thou shalt take thy rest in safety: Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid. And in Prov. iii. 24. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid; yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall

be sweet.

5thly, There are promises of success, and a blessing to attend us in our worldly callings, in Psal. cxxviii. 2. Thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. And in Deut. xxviii. 4, 5, 12. Blessed 'shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, 'the fruit of thy cattle, and the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the 'heaven to give the rain unto thy land, in his season, and to C bless all the work of thine hand: And thou shalt lend unto

many nations, and shalt not borrow.' And in Psal. i. 3. He ← shall be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water, that bring<eth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doth shall prosper.'

6thly, There are promises of an intail of blessings on our families, in Psal. cxxviii. 3. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, by the sides of thine house; thy children like oliveplants round about thy table.' And, in Psal. ciii. 17. The <mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that fear him; and his righteousness unto children's children.' And, in Psal. cii. 28. The children of thy ⚫ servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established be<fore thee.' And, in Psal. xlv. 16. Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all "the earth.'

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I might have mentioned many more promises of outward blessings, which God will bestow on his people, though with this limitation, so far as it may be for his glory, and their real good, viz. such as respect riches, as in Psal. cxii. 3. Wealth and riches shall be in his house; and his righteousness en• dureth for ever;' or honours, as in 1 Sam. ii. 30. and these accompanied with long life; as, in Prov. iii. 17. Length of days are in her right hand; and in her left hand riches ⚫ and honour.' And, in Psal. xxxiv. 12, 13. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile;' or, if God does not think fit to give them this, he will take them out of the world in mercy, and gather them into a better, to prevent their seeing the evil he designs to bring on the inhabitants thereof, Isa. lvii. 1. The righteous is taken away from the evil to come.' He has also promised some blessings that respect their good name, in Zeph. iii. 20. I ' will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth.' And in Prov. x. 7. The memory of the just is blessed.' But that which I shall principally add concerning these and such-like outward blessings, is, that God has not only promised, that he will give them to his people, but that he will sanctify them to them for their spiritual advantage, and enable them to improve them aright to his glory, which will render them more sweet and desirable to them. Thus God has promised,

1st, That he will free his people, who enjoy outward good things, from the sorrow which is oftentimes mixed therewith, and tends greatly to imbitter them, in Prov. x. 22. The blessing of the Lord maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow ' with it.' He has also promised to give them inward peace, together with outward prosperity, in Psal. xxxvii. 11. The VOL. IV. X x

'meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves 'the abundance of peace.'

2dly, He has promised to give them spiritual and heavenly blessings, together with the good things of this life, in Job xxii 24-26. Thou shalt lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir ' as the stones of the brooks. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy ' defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver: For then shalt ' thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy 'face unto God.' And in Psal. xxiii. 5, 6. Thou preparest ' a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou ' anointest mine head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely ' goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will, or, I shall, dwell in the house of the Lord for ' ever.'

3dly, God has promised together with outward blessings, to give a thankful heart, whereby his people may be enabled to give him the glory thereof, in Deut. viii. 10. When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy "God, for the good land which he hath given thee.' And, in Joel ii. 26. Ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously 'with you; and my people shall never be ashamed.'

4thly, He has not only promised that he will confer outward good things on his people, but that he will make them blessings to others, and thereby enable them to lay out what he gives them for their good, to support his cause and gospel in the world; and to relieve those that are in distress, in Gen. xii. 2. I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou 'shalt be a blessing.' And, in Deut. xxvi. 11. Thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath 'given unto thee and unto thine house, thou and the Levite, ' and the stranger that is among you.' These promises more especially respect those who are in a prosperous condition in the world.

But there are others which are made to believers, in an afflicted state; and, indeed, there is scarce any affliction which they are liable to, but what has some special promises annexed to it. Accordingly,

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(1.) There are promises made to them when lying on a sick bed, in Psal. xli. 5. The Lord will strengthen him upon the 'bed of languishing; thou wilt make all his bed in his sick'ness.' And, in Deut. vii. 15. The Lord will take from thee 'all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt (which thou knowest) upon thee; but will lay them upon all ' that hate thee.' And, in Exod. xxiii. 25. I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.'

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(2.) There are other promises made to believers, when poor

and low in this world, in Psal. cxxxii. 15. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread.'

(3.) There are other promises that respect God's giving a full compensation for all the losses which his people have sustained for Christ's sake, in Matt. xix. 29. Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or 'mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall inherit life everlast'ing.' And, in chap. x. 39. He that findeth his life shall * lose it; and he that loseth his life for my name's sake shall ' find it.'

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(4.) There are other promises made to believers under oppression, in Psal. xii. 5. For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise (saith the Lord) 'I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.' And in Hos. xiv. 3. In thee the fatherless findeth mercy.' And, in Psal. lxviii. 5. A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the 'widows, is God in his holy habitation.'

(5.) There are other promises made to believers, when reviled and persecuted for righteousness' sake, Matt. v. 11, 12, 'Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven.' And, in 1 Pet. iv. 19. Wherefore 'let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the 'keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful 'Creator.'

(6.) There are promises made to God's people, when they are in distress, and, at present, see no way of escape: Thus when Jeremiah was shut up in the court of the prison, he had this promise given him, in Jer. xxxiii. 3. Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, ' which thou knowest not.'

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(7.) God has made promises suited to the condition of his people, when their lot is cast in perilous times: Thus it is said, in Isa. xliii. 2. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Now there are several mercies which God has promised to his people, under the various afflictions which we are exposed

to, as,

(1st) Sometimes he promises to prevent the afflictions which we are most afraid of, in Psal. cxxi. 7. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evils; he shall preserve thy soul.' And, in Job v. 19. He shall deliver thee in six troubles; yea, in seven • there shall no evil touch thee.'

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