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A treatise of the divine promises in five bookes : in the first, a generall description of their nature, kinds, excellency, right use, properties, and the persons to whom they belong : in the foure last, a declaration of the covenant it selfe .../ by Edvvard Legh ...

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Title
A treatise of the divine promises in five bookes : in the first, a generall description of their nature, kinds, excellency, right use, properties, and the persons to whom they belong : in the foure last, a declaration of the covenant it selfe .../ by Edvvard Legh ...
Author
Leigh, Edward, 1602-1671.
Publication
London :: Printed by George Miller, and are to be sold by Thomas Underhill ...,
1641.
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Subject terms
God -- Promises.
Christian life -- Early works to 1800.
Man (Theology)
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A47631.0001.001
Cite this Item
"A treatise of the divine promises in five bookes : in the first, a generall description of their nature, kinds, excellency, right use, properties, and the persons to whom they belong : in the foure last, a declaration of the covenant it selfe .../ by Edvvard Legh ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A47631.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 17, 2024.

Pages

Page [unnumbered]

2. Temporall Promises.
  • This second Table containes the Speciall Temporall Promises
    • Speciall promises in regard of a mans selfe.
      • Temporall
        • 1. In regard of evill
          • 1. In generall
            • Afflictions, dangers,
              • 1. To prevent them.
              • 2. To qualifie them if they do come
                • by correcting
                  • 1. In gre••t wisedome which is seene in
                    • 1. The meetnesse of correcti∣on.
                    • 2. The just measure and conti∣nu••nce thereof.
                  • 2. In love and tendern••s.
                  • 3. For good
                    • 1. General to make them happy.
                    • 2. Speciall
                      • 1. To try them.
                      • 2. To purge sin.
                      • 3. To quicken Graces.
                        • 1. Faith.
                          • 〈…〉〈…〉
                        • 2. Hope.
                        • 3. Patience.
              • 3. To helpe us t•• beare them and in due time to remove them.
          • 2. Speciall
            • 1. Sicknesse
              • 1. To prevent it.
              • 2. To helpe m••••.
              • 3. To take it aw••y.
            • 2. Povertie.
            • 3. Famine
              • Promises to
                • Succour in Deliver••t••••n.
            • 4. Warre, to preserve from it.
            • 5. Captivity
              • Promises t••
                • Comfort in Deliver ••ut.
            • 6. Witchcraft or the possession of the Divell••.
            • 7. Oppression.
        • 2. In regard of good
          • 1. In generall, to supply any thing needfull.
          • 2. In speciall for
            • 1. Name
              • 1. Hon••ur.
              • 2. A go••d name.
            • 2. Body
              • 1. Lon••-life.
              • 2. Health.
              • 3. Safety.
              • 4. Peace.
              • 5. Sleepe.
              • 6. Po••d••r••iment.
            • 3. Estate
              • 1. Wealth.
              • ••. Good successe and prosperity
                • 1. To their pers••n••.
                • 2. To their purp••s••s.
            • 4. Calling
              • Promises
                • To diligence in it
                  • 1. Abund••••ce and plent••.
                  • 2. Protecti••n.
                  • 3. Prom••t••a.
                  • 4. Good fate.
                  • 5. It builds th•• h••us••.
                  • 6. It make 〈…〉〈…〉

Page 155

CHAP. II. Of Speciall Temporall Promises. 1. Temporall Promises in re∣gard of evill things:
  • 1. In Generall.
    • Afflictions and Dangers;
      • 1. To prevent them.

GOD will preserve his children from Afflictions and Dan∣gers.

HE is a Buckler, Gen. 15.1.* 1.1 Pro. 2.7. & 30.5. to keep them from all evill, to cover and compasse them round about, Psal. 5.11, 12. Psal. 8.2. A wall of Brasse, Ier. 1.18. and A wall * 1.2 of Fire about his children, Zach. 2.5.

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As the mountaines are round about Ierusalem, so the LORD is round about his people, Psal. 125.2. There shall no evill befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling, Psal. 91.10. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evill, Psal. 121.7. There shall no evill touch thee, Iob 5.19.

* 1.3GOD hath promised to pro∣tect his children in all their waies, Psal. 91.11. and to preserve them in greatest dangers by Sea or land.* 1.4

Fire and water are two merci∣lesse enemies, yet the fire shall not burne, nor the waters over∣flow them, as GOD hath pro∣mised, Esay 43.2. They must not passe by these, by the fire and by the water, but through the fire and through the water, neither is here water mentioned onely but flouds or rivers of water, nor fire onely but a flame too. Surely in the * 1.5 flouds of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him, Psal. 52.6. An asseveration is added

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to confirme their hearts, and to shew the truth of the pro∣mise.

Though the earth, and the hea∣vens be shaken, yet GOD will be the hope of his people, Ioel 3.16. And they shall be hid in the day of his anger, Zeph. 2.3.

Therefore such who are in Covenant with GOD may looke to be freed from evills and dangers, if it be for their good; and in the valley of the shadow of death may assure themselves of GODS merci∣full omnipotent presence, Psal. 23.4. Psal. 73.26. Psal. 91.15. Esay 43.2.

2. To qualifie them if they doe come. GOD will qualifie Afflictions to his children.

He will correct them.

  • 1. In great wisedome, which is seene in two things:

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      • 1. In the meetnesse of correction, Heb. 12.9, 10. Furthermore wee had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and wee gave them reve∣rence: shall wee not much rather be in sub∣iection to the father of spirits and live? For they verily for a few daies chastened us after their owne pleasure; but hee for our profit, that wee might be partakers of his holinesse. Earthly Parents oft correct their children after their owne pleasure to satisfie their will: but GOD our hea∣venly Father in great wisdome considereth,* 1.6 with what correction, and when to cha∣stize his, so as may be most for their profit, yea the best profit,

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      • to repaire his image of holinesse in them.
      • 2. In the just measure and continuance there∣of,* 1.7 Ier. 46.28. & 30.11. Esay 27.7, 8. 1 Cor. 10.13. they shall not be tempted above their strength, GOD will not lay more on man then is meet, that he should enter into iudge∣mēt with God, Iob 34.23 Affliction is mo∣mentany, CHRIST comforts his Disciples with the shortnesse of afflictions, Ioh. 16.16. GOD will not keepe his anger for ever, Ier. 3.12. Ezek. 16.42. Micah 7.18. nor cast off for ever, Lam. 3.31.* 1.8 David had great ex∣perience of this, as he often professeth, Psal. 30.5. Psal. 103.9. The rod of the wicked shall

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      • not rest upon the lot of the righteous Psalme 125.3.
    • * 1.92. In love and tendernesse, GOD compareth him∣selfe to a Father, Psal. 103.13, 14. to a Mother, Esay 49.15, 16. I will not execute the fiercenesse of mine anger, for I am GOD and not man, He∣sea 11.9. and in the 8. verse he saith,* 1.10 His heart is turned within him, his repentings are kindled toge∣ther. GOD there imi∣tates parents (saith Theo∣doret) when any misery is upon a child, their bowels yearne more. There is an ex∣cellent expression in Iudg. 10.16. His soule was grieved for the misery of Israel. He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men, Lam. 3.33. Judgement is called

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    • his Strange worke, Esay 28.21. which wee in∣force him unto. At{que} dolet quoties cogitur esse ferox. In all their afflicti∣ons hee is afflicted, Esay 63.9. Affliction cannot separate from his love, Rom. 8.35, 39. He preser∣veth their teares (as pre∣tious liquor) in his bottle, Psal. 56.8. See Psal. 116.15. Psal. 31.7. Psal. 38.9. Psal. 145.8, 9.
    3. For good. GOD afflicts his children for their good.

    There are many benefits,* 1.11 which GOD promiseth, and his Spirit worketh by afflicti∣ons.

    • 1. Generall: they are bles∣sed whom the LORD correcteth, Behold happy is the man whom GOD correcteth: therefore de∣spise

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    • not thou the chaste∣ning of the Almighty, Iob 5.17. the like promise we have, Iam. 1.12. Psal. 94.12. Whom the LORD loveth hee correcteth,* 1.12 even as a father the sonne in whom hee delighteth, Pro. 3.12. Quem unicè diligit, whom he cockers above the rest of his children: so the Hebrew word signifieth. That Sonne in whom hee is well pleased, saith Mercerus, quem approbat, whom he makes his white boy, so Theophylact inter∣prets, Heb. 12.6. The Originall there 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 chastize, is derived from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a sonne or childe. Our light affliction * 1.13 which is but for a moment, wor∣keth for us a farre more exceeding and eternall waight of glory. Wee shall have for Affliction,

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    • Glory; For light affli∣ction, Heavie, Massie, Substantiall Glory, a waight of Glory; For Momentany affliction, eternall Glory. He ad∣deth also degrees of comparison, yea goeth beyond all degrees, cal∣ling it More excellent, farre more excellent, an exceeding, excessive, eter∣nall weight of Glory. See Rom. 8.18. Acts 14.22. 2 Tim. 2.12. 1 Cor. 11.32. Matth. 5.10, 11. Luke 6.22. 1 Pet. 3.14. & 4.14. Iam. 5.11. Psal. 119.71. Lament. 3.27.
    • 2. Speciall.
      • 1. Afflictions are tri∣alls: the godly by them have experi∣ence of their frail∣ties and graces, and come to know GOD

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      • and themselves, 2 Chron. 33.13. This is oft set out by this comparison of gold and silver tried by the fire, Zach. 13.9. Prov. 17.3. Psal. 66.10. 1 Pet. 4.12. Iames calls afflicti∣ons temptations,* 1.14 because they serve to try what is in us. GOD led the Is∣raelites forty yeares in the wildernesse, To prove them, and to know what was in their heart:* 1.15 that is, that they might know, saith Iunius. The skill of a Pilot is unknowne but in a tempest: the va∣lour of a Captaine is unseene but in a battell, and the worth of a Chri∣stian is untried but

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      • in triall and temp∣tation.
      • 2. They shall purge sinne, they are so∣veraigne medicines to kill spirituall diseases. GODS children shall come out of the fornace of affliction much more refined and purified, as Iob did, and lose nothing but their drosse. By this the iniquity of Jacob shall be pur∣ged, and this is all the fruite to take a∣way his sinne, Esay 27.9. I will purely purge away thy drosse, and take away all thy tinne, Esay 1.25. Many shall be puri∣fied, made white, and tried, Dan. 12.10. Wee know that all things worke together

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      • for good to them that love GOD,* 1.16 to them who are the called according to his purpose, Rom. 8.28. Wee, that is, not only I and you, but all the faithfull know, have great proofe of it by dai∣ly experience, that all afflictions (for of them he specially speaketh) how ma∣ny or how great soever they be, shall procure and further our chiefest good, the welfare and happinesse of our soules. See Iohn 15.2. Prov. 20.30. Psal, 119.67. Esay 4.4. Iob 33.16, 17. & 36.8, 9, 10, 15. Hosea 2.6, 7.
      • 3. They quicken gra∣ces, they make us

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      • partakers of GODS holinesse, and bring forth the quiet fruit of righteousnesse, Heb. 12.10, 11. The in∣ward man is re∣newed by them, 2 Cor. 4.16.
        • 1. Faith is exer∣cised in be∣leeving most assuredly the promises that GOD hath made of our deliverance, that the triall of your faith being much more pretious then of gold that perisheth,* 1.17 though it be tryed with fire, might be found unto praise and glo∣ry at the appea∣ring of JESUS CHRIST.

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        • CHRIST. Faith is as much advan∣ced by affli∣ctions, as gold by fire. The 11. Chapter to the Hebrewes pro∣veth this. Af∣flictions (saith one) cause us to seeke out GODS pro∣mise,* 1.18 the pro∣mise to seeke faith, faith to seeke prayer, and prayer to find GOD.
        • 2. Hope in assu∣ring her selfe of the reward promised to them that suf∣fer patiently; Tribulatiō wor∣keth patience; patience, expe∣rience,

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        • and ex∣perience hope, Rom. 5.3, 4.
        • 3. Patience is exercised in bearing quiet∣ly. Tribulation worketh pati∣ence, as was said, Account it all joy, when yee fall into divers tempta∣tions; know∣ing this, that the triall of your faith wor∣keth patience, Iam. 1.2, 3.
    3. To helpe us to beare them, and in due time to remove them.

    GOD promiseth to helpe us to beare afflictions, and in due time to remove them.

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    Though he fall hee shall not be utterly cast downe, for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand,* 1.19 Psal. 37.24.* 1.20 As their afflictions abound, so shall their consolations also, 2 Cor. 1.5.* 1.21 They shall have the Comforter himselfe, Ioh. 14.16. Ioh. 15.26. & 16.7. GOD of∣ten promiseth to his people to be a sure and speedy helpe in all troubles, David had great expe∣rience thereof.

    The booke of Psalmes is full of those speeches: GOD is my Rocke, my Tower, my Refuge, my Shield and Buckler, my Health and Strength, Psal. 18.2. Psal. 31.3. Psal. 71.3. Psal. 94.22. & 73.25, 26. All which speeches shew, that what helpe any man in any dan∣ger, may finde in any earthly meanes whatsoever; GOD is the same and much more to all his people in all their necessities, bodily or spirituall.

    The like are those speeches, that GOD will lighten our darkenesse, he will keepe the feet of his Saints, hee

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    will not forsake them, nor for∣get their complaint, that they shall not be confounded in the time of trouble: Hee will hide them in his pavillion, Psal. 27.4, 5. And cover them with his feathers, Psal. 91.1, 4. His An∣gels shall pitch their tents a∣bout them, hee will set them up on high from such as rise against them, he will heale their wounds, Ier. 30.17.

    GOD sees our affliction and knowes it well, Exod. 3.7. Hee heareth our sighs, and remembring his Covenant helps us, Exod. 2.23, 24, 25.

    All afflictions come from him, the Almighty hath afflicted mee, saith Naomi, Ruth 1.21. it is of∣ten called the Chastening of the LORD. When we are iudged,* 1.22 saith the Apostle, we are chastened of the LORD, 1 Cor. 11.32. And the same GOD which imposed the affliction, takes it away, Deut. 32.39. 1 Sam. 2.6, 7. Iob 5.18.

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    Vna eadem{que} manus, vulnus opem{que} tulit;
    GOD will be the strength of the righ∣teous in their trouble, and their salva∣tion out of trouble.* 1.23 David had great proofe hereof, and therfore after a mighty deliverance, composed that excellent Ps. 34. See 7, 17, 19. verses.

    I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace to give you an expected end, Ier. 29.11. Reioyce not (saith the Church) against me O mine enemy. When I fall, I shall arise, when I sit in darkenesse, the LORD shall be a light unto mee, &c. Micah 7.8, 9. Light is sowne for the righteous, and ioy for the up∣right in heart, Psal. 97.11. The latter part of the verse ex∣pounds the former; by light is meant joy, and by righteous the upright in heart. Ioy is sowne for these, and as sure as an harvest followes a feeding; so to these comfort followes mourning, If wee sow in teares, we shall reape in ioy.

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    I will be content (saith D. Hall) with a wet spring, so I may be sure of a cleare and joyfull har∣vest.

    Your sorrow shall be turned in∣to ioy, Ioh. 16.20. if CHRIST had onely promised that their sorrow should be mitigated or shortly ended, it had beene a great comfort, but this ministreth abundant consolation. Never was Gold-smith more curious and precise to watch the very first season, when the gold is through∣ly refined and fitted for use, that he may take it out of the for∣nace;* 1.24 then our gracious GOD waites in such cases with an holy longing, that he may have mercy upon his children, and deliver them.* 1.25 He shall deliver thee in sixe troubles, yea in seaven there shall no evill touch thee, Ioh. 5.19. Many of the Learned say, that here by sixe and seven, the Spirit of GOD alludeth unto the daies of the LORDS worke in Creating the world, and his resting on the

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    seventh day; that so must his ser∣vants labour under afflictions all the daies of their life, and shall rest from those labours in the per∣petuall Sabbath. Rather sixe or seaven are to be understood in∣definitely,* 1.26 certaine numbers for uncertaine things: seaven referred to humane evills importeth many, Pro. 24.16.

    See Psal. 91.14, 15. Pro. 11.8. Psal. 50.15. Psal. 149.4. 1 Cor. 10.13. 2 Cor. 4.8.

    The meditation of these gra∣cious promises may comfort GODS people in trouble.* 1.27 GOD assures me, hee will lay no more upon me, then I shall be able to beare, either my burden shall be made lighter, or my faith stron∣ger.

    We should goe to the LORD then in our afflictions, and say, LORD, it is part of thy Cove∣nant to deliver me from such a crosse and calamity; LORD thou hast said, that the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of

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    the Righteous; that thou wilt af∣flict, but in measure, according to our strength, and for our good. O sanctifie thy hand unto me, give me faith and patience to waite up∣on thee, wisedome to make a good use of this chastizement;* 1.28 let it purge mee from my drosse, and breed the quiet fruit of righte∣ousnesse.

    The end of chastizement is amendment of life, whence it re∣ceiveth the name of correction, which signifieth to set right or streight. Therefore we must first labour to finde out the sinne, for which GOD correcteth us. For which purpose let us remember that place, Iob 36.9. If they be tyed with the cords of affliction, then will I shew them their workes and their sins. When we have found it out, let us be humbled for it, make our peace with GOD, and reforme our selves, Ioh. 5.14. and then we may expect comfort from GOD. This the LORD both promised and performed to Iob,* 1.29

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    and in him to all that are afflicted. Zophar telleth Iob, that which GOD himselfe did make good at last: If iniquit be in thine hand, put it farre away, and let not wicked∣nesse dwell in thy tabernacles. It must be the care of the afflicted to purge his hand and house of all manner of wickednesse and sin. Then it followeth, verse 15. Thou shalt lift up thy face without spot, yea thou shalt be stedfast and not feare, that is, Thou shalt enjoy the comfortable assurance of the re∣mission of thy sinnes, and shalt rest perswaded, that the staine thereof is quite done away before the LORD. And for his out∣ward estate hee addeth, ver. 16. Thou shalt forget thy misery. He shall be quite freed from all the trouble of it, Thou shalt remember it as waters that are past: which cause the meddowes to be more fat and fertile, then they would have beene, ver. 17. Thine age (saith he) shall be clearer than the noone day, thou shalt shine forth and

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    be as the morning. The comfort of a sinner reformed by correcti∣ons, shall be plentifull and excel∣lent as the brightnesse of the noone-tide sun, and withall, con∣stant, durable, and on the growing hand, as the light of the mor∣ning.

    Faith makes us depend on GODS promises in our afflicti∣ons, and patiently expect the issue that he will give, and that with∣out prefixing any time, for Hee that beleeveth doth not make hast, * 1.30 Esay 28.16. or prescribing any meanes to him, as faithfull Mo∣ses when he said, Stand yee still and see the salvation of the LORD, Exod. 14.13.

    Faith doth not limit GOD for the measure of affliction; Iob saith, He will trust in GOD though he kill him, Job 13.1••. It was a grievous affliction for Da∣vid to be driven out of his king∣dome by his owne Sonne, yet he saith in that slight, If he say, I have no delight in him, behold here

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    I am, let him doe unto me as see∣meth good in his eyes, 2 Sam. 15.26. Therefore in all our afflicti∣ons, let us set faith a worke, for this stirres up prayer, and prayer stirres up * 1.31 GOD, and GOD stirres up all the crea∣tures.

    Faith gathereth one contrary out of another, life out of death, assurance of sweetest deliverances out of deepest distresses; For the LORD shall iudge his people and repent himselfe for his servants, when hee seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up or left, Deut. 32.36. 2 King. 14, 26. Going into captivity, was a signe of the Israelites returning out of Captivity.* 1.32 Faith will teach us to say, he hath chastized me accor∣ding as he hath threatned, ther∣fore he wil comfort me according as he hath promised, Ier. 32.42. It will extract abundance of com∣fort, in the most desperate distres∣ses, from those places, 2 Chron. 20.12. Prov. 18.10. Esay 33.9, 10. For

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    the nature of it is to beleeve GOD upon his bare word,* 1.33 and that a∣gainst sense in things invisible, and against reason in things incredi∣ble, Heb. 11.1. David, Psal. 56.10. though sorely afflicted, yet rejoyceth in GOD, because of his naked promise; the woman of Canaan could picke comfort out of the reproachfull name of dog. Hath not GOD promised and assured me not to faile nor forsake me, but to uphold me in affliction,* 1.34 and bring me through it, and com∣fort me by it, and glorifie me after it? therefore I should with A∣braham hope against hope, and ap∣prehend the certaine accomplish∣ment of these promises by faith; when sense and carnall reason see nothing but the contrary.

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