§. 68. Of Gods taking his consederates to be a peculiar people to himself.
THey to whom the Lord is in special their God, are by him taken to be his spe∣cial and peculiar people. Thereupon this clause is added to the former, a 1.1 and they shall be to me a people. Very frequently therefore are these two clauses joyned to∣gether, as Ier. 31. 1.* 1.2
This setteth down a dignity and a duty. A condition of Gods people and their disposition.
Their dignity and condition is, that God chuseth and calleth them out of the world to be his peculiar people to guide, govern, protect, nourish, provide for, and blesse with all blessings. Vpon this ground saith the Lord to the Israelites his con∣federates, ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burthens of the Egyptians, and I will bring you in unto the Land, &c. Exod. 6. 7, 8. An Apostle thus bringeth in God speaking unto such, I will dwell in them, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in them, &c. 2 Cor. 6. 16. The many titles of eminency given to Gods confederates, 1 Pet. 2. 9. do prove as much. And the difference that is made betwixt them and •…•…∣thers, Exod. 19. 5. Deut. 10. 14, 15. Excellently is this set forth in the parables of a Vineyard, Isai. 5. 1. &c. and of a Figtree. Luke 13. 6. &c. In these parables it is d•…•…∣monstrated, that Gods people are to him as a Vineyard, in comparison of other open wild fields: and as a Figtree in comparison of other wild trees, as Crab-trees, and other hedge trees.
God thus taketh them as peculiar to himself, not as if he stood in need of them, as Kings and other Masters do of their special and peculiar servants. God is absolute in himself: he neither needeth any thing that man can do (my goodnesse extendeth not to thee, saith David, Psal. 16. 2.) nor can he receive any thing from man, Job. 35. 7. It is for the good of those whom God chuseth, that he chuseth them to be his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 people: as some Kings will take such and such to be of their Court, & to settle them in special Offices, and to be of their bed-chamber, and to be their favorites, even for their good. David would have had Barzillai to have gone with him to Court, that he might do him good. So he did to Chimham, 2 Sam. 19. 33, 38. for this end God taketh us to be his Sons and Daughters, 2 Cor. 6. 18. and Christ taketh us to be M•…•…m∣bers of his body, 1 Cor. 12. 12. yea his spouse, Eph. 5. 32.
Much doth this amplifie Gods good respect to his confederates. Hereby not only the affection of the Lord in offering himself to them to be their God in peculiar is manifested, but also their happy condition. The excellency of this condition is such, as it is sufficient to swallow up the basenesse of all outward mean conditions: even as a bright light brought into a dark room, swalloweth up that darknesse. If we be one of Gods people, what need we care whether in outward condition we be mean or great, poor or rich, bond or free. He that is called in the Lord, being a Servant, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Lords freeman, 1 Cor. 7. 22. What people can have better Laws, priviledges, •…•…∣rogatives, immunities, p•…•…ovision, protection, then the people of God, Deut. 4. 7, 8.