gain it; but I delight to do thy will, O God: thy law is in my heart. By thee only will I make mention of thy name; and though forely affaulted, Nevertheless I am continually with thee.

(3.) As the Searcher of hearts, they are continually with him, as under his inspection, and open to it. Pfalm cxxxix. 1, 2, 3. O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my down-fitting, and mine up-rifing, thou understandeft my thoughts afar off. Thou compasJeft my path, and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. Thou art witness to my inward grief through the workings of corruption, and in what manner I am urged by outward temptation : but however tempted, I would not yield; whatever I suffer for thee, or from thee, I would not allow myself to fin against thee, no not in thought, Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. And fee if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting, verses 23,24.

(4.) As the God of all grace, they are continually with him; in a way of fupplication, dependance and trust for what they need; and in thanksgiving for what they receive. Mine eyes are ever towards the Lord, of whom, and through whom, and to whom are all things, I am thine, fave me. If God do not save me, none else can, When he will work, none can hinder. And having so often experienced this, what reason have I to love, and bless, and

cleave to him? How strongly foever urged to neglect,

neglect, distrust, or revolt from thee, I can yet say, Nevertheless I am continually with thee. The freest of my desires and thoughts run out after thee; my chief delight is in thee; my largest expectations from thee; communion with thee can turn all my forrows into joy upon earth, and this perfected into fight, will make up heaven. In hope of this, and as breathing after it, however chaftened, afflicted, tempted and tried, Nevertheless 1 am continually with thee.

This is a temper becoming the people of God; and thus should they be with him at all times, and in every condition, particularly under the greatest tryals that befal them. Under these they should be with him.

1. By acknowledging his hand in determining their lot, how dark or afflictive soever it may be. Though the wicked flourish and the fervants of God are oppreffed, I must be far from thinking this happens by chance, or without wise ends. He that made the world has not caft off the government of it, nor is unconcerned how matters go in it. How bitter soever my cup may be, it is of his mixing, who does all things according to the counsel of his own will, and all things well. I would therefore look above and beyond second causes, to him whose kingdom ruleth over all, and receive evil as well as good from the hand of God: I would kiss the rod, as knowing who hath appointed it.

2. By refolved adherence to him, as their portion or chief good, however he see fit to deal with them. No trials shall separate between God and my foul. Afflictions shall not drive me from thee, thee, O my God, but make me cleave the fafter to thee. I should not love thee less, but more, when having little of the things of earth left to draw off my heart from Thee and heaven.

3. By esteeming, and improving an interest in bis favour, as ballance enough againft all the troubles of the world. Why art thou caft down, O my foul? and why art thou disquieted within me ? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Let them fret or repine, be ready to throw up their hope and die, who have no God to go to under their fufferings: But in the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts, O Lord, delight my foul.

4. They are with God, as the temples of his Spirit, enriched and adorned by his grace; and fo such in whom he delights to dwell, 1 Cor. iii. 16. Know ye not, faith the Apostle to Believers, that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? By this Spirit they are inhabited now, as the guide of their way, preparing them for the glory with which they shall e'er long be filled. This Chrift promises to his disciples, as matter of fupport, upon his going away. John χίν. 16, 17. 1 will pray the Father, and be shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it feeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. The Lord hath chofen Zion: And what he speaks of the church in general, holds good as to every holy foul, he hath defired it for his habitation. And as entering into

it

i

it declares, This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell, for I have desired it, Pfal. cxxxii. 13, 14.

5. They are with him as confederates and allies, in whom he has a claim by covenant, and they in him. He remembers and records how it was made, and the helpless state he found them in, when he came to contract an alliance with them. Ezek. xvi. 6. When 1 passed by thee and faw thee polluted in thine own blood, I faid unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live: Yea, I faid unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. Ver. 8.. Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold thy time was the time of love, and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: Yea, I fware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, Jaith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine. The nature of the covenant is plainly declared, on their part and on his. Ifa. lv. 3. Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, &c. and I will make an everlafting covenant with you, even the fure mercies of David. Jer. 1. v. Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. And this God is pleased to confirm upon their review of it, to every one that hath laid hold on it. P/alm lxxxix. 28. My covenant Shall stand fast with him. And though tranfgreffion may awaken his rod: he adds, Nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor fuffer my faithfulness to fail. And the believer, when ready to fink, has recourse to this for his fupport. 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and and fure: for this is all my falvation, and all my defire.

6. They are with him, as his peculiar favourites now, and as heirs of the kingdom which he hath prepared for them that love him hereafter. They are his favourites now, though they are apt to think otherwise, when walking in the dark, or under his rebukes. In that cafe, Zion, and this and the other of her children may be ready to say, the Lord hath forsaken me, My God bath forgotten me: But he argues down the complaint, Can a woman forget her fucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. They are in heaviness; but it is when need is; not for want of love, but from it. Heb. xii. 6. For whom the Lord loveth be chasteneth. No affliction is for the present joyous but grievous. And when it lies fore and long, it is no uncommon thing for a holy foul to let fall such complaints as these : Will the Lord cast off for ever? Will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? Doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath be in anger shut up his tender mercies, Pfal. lxxxvii. 7. But they have been brought to own at last, that this was their infirmity, and that it was in their hafte that any of them faid, I am cut off from before thine eyes, Pfalm xxxi. 22. God speaks in another strain, I know the thoughts that I think towards you, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Whatever his people fuffer from, or for him. The Apoftle speaks in their name what it becomes them to speak,