spread a Table for thee in the midst of thine Enemies; Bread hath been given thee, and thy Waters have been sure: But now a Famine seems to threaten thee, and the Comforters that should relieve thy Soul are far from thee. Thy Shep∣heards are removed. Thou seest not thy Signs, nor thy Pro∣phets, and thy wonted helpers are now disabled from giving thee supplies, Alas, how do thine Enemies triumph, and thy Teachers and thine Inhabitants are become their Cap∣tives! and how great is the Cry of thy Poor, and thine op∣pressed!
Such would be the Language of Sense, if that were suffer∣ed to be the Speaker. But Faith will speak in another Dia∣lect. And therefore amongst my other Counsels, that I shall send you, this shall be the first.
Judge not of the present Providences, by the conduct of Sense, but by the eye of Faith. Faith will see that we are then most Honoured, when we are most vilified, and re∣proached, and set at nought for the sake of Christ; and that we are then most happy, when the World hath done its worst to make us miserable. Faith will tell you; that GOD is a very present help, when you seem quite to fail of Help; and will shew you the Well of Water, that is near, when the Water in the Bottle is spent. What though you seem to have lost Ministers, Husbands, Friends for a Season? Faith will tell you, that they are well bestowed, and that it will be both your, and their Advantage, in the Day of Retri∣bution.
Brethren, what are you for? Are you for the present World, or for that to come? Are you for your Temporal enjoy∣ments, or do you seek for Glory, Honour, and Immortall∣ty? If you are for this World, you have made a very impru∣dent choice, in taking up the Profession of Godliness and cleaving to and owning the hated ways of the Lord; But if you are for Glory, and for Eternity, then be of good Chear, all these things do make for us. You are Witnesses how often I have told you of these things, and I can say with the Apostle, I believed therefore have I spoken, and therefore I am no∣thing moved with all these things, nor with the things that do yet further abide me. I believed, and therefore I told you, that you should never be losers by Jesus Christ. Nay,