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§. 73. Of Gods not failing nor forsaking his.
THe substance of this promise, I will not fail thee nor forsake thee, giveth assu∣rance of Gods constant and continuall carefull providence over his. Con∣cerning it the Psalmist upon his own experience thus saith, I have been young and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, &c. and again, The Lord forsaketh not his Saints; they are preserved for ever, Psal. 37. 25, 28. Very elegantly doth the Prophet by an argument from the less to the greater, thus enforce this point, Can a woman forget her sucking childe, that she should not have compassion on the sonne of her womb? yea they may forget, yet will not I forget thee, Isa. 49. 15. This negative promise is much pressed in Scripture; as 1 Chro. 28. 20. 1 Sam. 12. 22. 1 King. 6. 13. Isa. 41. 17.
The ground hereof resteth upon the unchangeableness of Gods love. God* 1.1 is in all things unchangeable. God is immutable in his nature: in which re∣spect he thus saith, I am the Lord, I change not, Malach. 3. 6. He is also im∣mutable in his Counsell, in his Word, in his Oath, Heb. 6. 17, 18. and in his Love, Ioh. 13. 1.
Besides, the relations which he hath caused to pass betwixt himself and us, gi∣veth* 1.2 us further assurance that he will never leave nor forsake us. When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up, Psal. 27. 10. Doubtless thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not, &c. Isa. 63. 16.
Obj. Iob by reason of his soar and heavy crosses, and Lazarus who died a beg∣gar,* 1.3 may seem to be left and forsaken of God.
Answ. Losses, crosses, pain, penury, and other afflictions are no argument of Gods forsaking men. His wise providence is much manifested in ordering his chil∣drens estate here in this world. For,
- 1. God never suffers his to be tempted above that they are able to bear. He giveth strength answerable to the burden he laieth upon his. We are troubled on eve∣ry side, yet not distressed: we are perplexed, but not in despair: persecuted, but not for∣saken: cast down, but not destroyed, 2 Cor. 4. 8, 9.
- 2. God alwaies gives a good issue to the trials of his children, 1 Cor. 10. 13. Iob had all that was taken from him doubled, Iob 42. 10. The Angels carried Lazarus his soul into heaven, Luk. 16. 22.
- 3. God recompenseth outward losses and crosses with far better things. For wealth he giveth grace; for bondage of body, freedom of conscience▪ for pain, patience: for corporall death, eternall life.
Obj. 2. Saints themselves have complained that they have been forgotten and* 1.4 forsaken, Isa. 49. 14.
Answ. That was the misapprehension of their weak flesh, which is no sufficient evidence against Gods express promise. The Psalmist acknowledgeth this misappre∣hension, Psal. 77. 10▪
Obj. 3. Christ himself complaineth that he was forsaken, Matth. 27. 46.
Answ. Christ together with our flesh took the infirmity thereof: and thereupon* 1.5 complaineth according to his present apprehension. But to shew that he did not utterly despond, nor judge himself totally and finally forsaken, he premiseth this clause of affiance, My God, my God.
Do they beleeve the foresaid promise of God who •…•…aint and sink under the bur∣den* 1.6 of any triall, or under any fear that they shall be forsaken? yet how many be there in the number of those that profess the Christian faith, who upon great losses cry out, and say they are utterly undone: and upon some soar afflictions despair∣ingly say, they shall never be able to endure it. Such are more like to Cain, who said, My punishment is greater then I can bear, Gen. 4. 13. then to David, who when he was greatly distressed encouraged himself in the Lord his God, 1 Sam. 13. 6. or Iehoshaphat, who in his distress said, O our God we know not what to do, but our eyes are upon thee, 2 Chron. 20. 12. or Abraham, who when Gods promise and precept seemed to cross one another about the sacrificing of his son said, God will provide, Gen. 22. 8.