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 ...

CHAP. III. Temporall Promises in regard of evill things.

• Speciall.
  • Sicknesse, Poverty, Famine, Warre, Captivity, Witchcraft, or possessi∣on of the Divell, Op∣pression.

Promises in regard of Sick∣nesse.

1. TO prevent Sicknesse and keepe it away.* 1.1

If thou wilt diligent∣ly hearken to the voice of the LORD thy GOD, and wilt doe that which is right in his sight, and wilt give eare to his Commande∣ments, and keepe all his statutes; I will put none of these diseases upon thee which I have brought upon the Aegyptians, for I am the LORD

that healeth thee, Exod. 15.26. Deut. 7.15.

GOD will preserve his chil∣dren from the pestilence,* 1.2 Psal. 91.3, 6, 7, 10. He will certainly deli∣ver them from the hurt of it, so as it shall not hinder the good or sal∣vation of any in the godly mans house.

2. If sicknesse be amongst us, to helpe in it,* 1.3 and remove it from us. The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing, thou wilt make all his bed in his sicknesse, Psal. 41.3.

And the LORD will take away from thee all sicknesse,* 1.4* 1.5 Deut. 7.15. And I will take sicknesse away from the midst of thee, Exod. 23.25.

In all our bodily infirmities and sore diseases, we should re∣member some of these promises, and lay hold on them by faith, that wee faint not nor mur∣mure.

Promises in regard of Pover∣ty.

There is a generall promise made to all that feare GOD, 1 Tim. 4.8. Psal. 34.9, 10. Heb. 13.5.* 1.6

And many other speciall pro∣mises likewise, which may com∣fort and strengthen the godly a∣gainst murmuring and impatiency in hard times: I will abundantly blesse her provision, I will satisfie her poore with bread, Psal. 132.15. Deut. 8.16. No rich man under Heaven can be so assured, that hee and his shall be preserved from beggery, as every poore Christian may be. For though the LORD in infinite bounty doe be∣stow those blessings on wicked men in great abundance, yet they belong to them onely ex largitate, out of a generall providence; but to the faithfull ex promisso, out of GODS * 1.7 promise; David beholding how much it vexed GODS children to see the wicked prosper in this world, and the godly distressed, of purpose made the 37. Psalme, to hearten•• the

godly against this sore tentation, which in all ages much troubled GODS people; and there hee sheweth that the state of the godly is far better even in this life, then that of the wicked, 3, 4, 5, 11, 16. verses. To the same purpose was made the 73. Psalme.

See Psal. 16.5, 6. Psal. 23. Psal. 10.14. Psal. 109.31. He raiseth up the poore out of the dust, and lif∣teth the needie out of the dunghill, Psal. 103.7.

I have beene young (saith Da∣vid in that 37. Psalme 25. verse) and now am old, yet have I not seene the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Davids saying may be taken 1. as his owne observa∣tion in his time; for he saith not, the righteous is never forsaken; but that he never saw it, and it is a rare thing: 2. (which Expositi∣on Master Perkins approves) the righteous man is never forsaken and his seed too; GOD may make triall of godly Parents by want, but their godly children

shall surely be blessed: 3. hee saith, hee never saw the righ∣teous and his seed forsaken, beg∣ging bread; that is, no not forsaken when they were beg∣ging their bread.

* 1.8Whensoever wee are pinched with any earthly necessity, we should runne to one of these gracious promises; for if wee rightly beleeve them, they will make us cast our care on GOD that careth for us, and moderate our immeasurable carking after the things of this world, moving us patiently to waite for the ac∣complishment of our desires, or contentedly to want what GOD denieth, Phil. 4.5. 1 Pet. 5.7. Psal. 55.22. Psal. 37.4, 5. Deut. 8.3.

Promises for succour in Fa∣mine

* 1.9Particular promises for helpe in Famine, and deliverance from it.

In Famine he shall redeeme thee

from death, Iob 5.20. The LORD will not suffer the soule of the righ∣teous to famish, Prov. 10.3. Behold the eye of the LORD is upon them that feare him, upon them that hope in his mercy, to keepe them alive in famine, Psal. 33.19. In the daies of famine they shall be satisfied, Psal. 37.19. If I shut up Heaven (saith the LORD) th••t there be no raine, or if I command the Locusts to devoure the land; if my people shall humble themselves and pray, and seeke my face, and turne from their wicked waies, then will I heare from heaven and will for∣give their sinne, and heale their land. 2 Chron. 7.13, 14. In that day I will heare saith the LORD, I will heare the Heavens, and they shall heare the Earth, and the earth shall heare the corne, and the wine, and the oyle, and they shall heare Iezreel, Hosea 2.21, 22. When the poore and needy seeke water and there is none,* 1.10 and their tongue faileth for thirst; I the LORD will heare them▪ I the GOD of Israel will

not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountaines in the midst of the valleys, I will make the wildernesse a poole of water, and the drie land springs of water.

See Ioel 2.18, 19. Zach. 8.11, 12. & 10.1. Mal. 3.10.

GODS children in time of scarcity should live by faith, Mat. 4.4. feede on the promise, and de∣pend on GODS allowance: when our owne provision failes us, then not to distrust the provision of GOD, is a noble tryall of faith.

Promises to preserve from Warre, and deliver from the Sword.

The LORD will preserve his children from Warre, Thou shalt not see a fierce people, Esay 33.19.

The enemies being astonished shall be a prey to the Church, ver. 23.

GOD will deliver them from the Sword, as he saith Ier.

39.17, 18. I will deliver thee in that day, and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee, because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.

In Warre he shall redeeme thee from the power of the sword, Iob 5.20.

Promises to comfort in and deliver out of Captivity.

Although I have cast them farre off among the heathen,* 1.11 and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them a little Sanctuary in the countries where they shall come, Ezek. 11.16. See ver. 17.

I will give you a reviving there, Ezra 9.8. And make you to be pit∣tied of those that shall carry you captive, Psal. 106.46.

Then the LORD thy GOD will turne thy captivity, and have

compassion upon thee, and will re∣turne and gather thee from all the nations whither the LORD thy GOD hath scattered thee.* 1.12 If any of thine be driven out unto the ut∣most parts of Heaven, from thence will the LORD thy GOD ga∣ther thee, and from thence will hee fetch thee, &c. Deut. 30.3, 4, 5. Ne∣hemiah sueth out this promise, Nehem. 1.9.

There was a promise made unto Israel to restore them out of the great captivity of Babylon; and this seemed to them as incredible, as for men to be raised out of their graves, after so many yeares con∣sumption; therefore they said, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost, we are cut off for our parts: we have no more reason to be∣leeve any promise, or to rest up∣on any expectations of delive∣rance, then dead bones have to re∣vive againe. Therefore the LORD acquainteth them with his power, together with his promises; O my people, yee shall

know that I am the LORD, that is, that my waies and thoughts are infinitely above your shallow apprehension, when I shall have brought you out of your graves, Ezek. 37.11, 13, 14.

See Psal. 14.7. and 53.6. Ier. 30.6.18.

A promise against Witchcraft or possession of the Divell.

Surely there is no inchantment a∣gainst Iacob, neither is there any divination against Israel, Num. 23.23.

This is promised conditionally; so farre as it is good for GODS people, they shall be freed from it.

Promises against Oppression.

It is one of the LORDS most royall titles, to be the Fa∣ther of the Fatherlesse, and a Iudge of the widdowes, Psal. 68.5. To be a Refuge for the oppressed,* 1.13 Psal. 9.9, 10, 14. Esay 25.4. For the oppressi∣on of the poore, for the sighing of the

needy, now will I arise (saith the LORD) I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him,* 1.14 Psal. 12.5. He executeth iudgement for the oppressed, preserveth the stran∣gers, relieveth the fatherlesse and widdow, Psal. 146.7, 9. In thee the fatherlesse findeth mercy, Hosea 14.3.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. To pre∣vent sick∣nesse.
• * 1.2

  Pro 3.25.
• * 1.3

  2. To helpe in sicknesse.
• * 1.4

  3. To take it away.
• * 1.5

  Iob 5 18.
• * 1.6

  Mat. 6.33.
• * 1.7

  The good that comes by the pro∣mise, is a more sure, compleate and comfor∣table good. Iob 21.7, 8. Ier. 12.1, 2. Psal. 73.12.
• * 1.8

  God will either sup∣ply the wants of his children or inable them to beare them, as he taught Paul how to want, Phil. 4.12. Gen. 15 1. Hab. 3 17, 18
• * 1.9

  At destructi∣on and fa∣mine thou shalt laugh, Iob. 5 22. God will not leave his in fa∣mine, but will then relieve them, as he did the widdow of Zar••ph••ah.
• * 1.10

  Esay 41.17, 18.
• * 1.11

  Levit. 25.44.
• * 1.12

  This pro∣mise, Deut. 30.••. was performed by Christ, Luke 4 18. Ephes. 4.8.
• * 1.13

  Psal. 22.24. Psal. 140.12.
• * 1.14

  Exod. 22.23. Deut. 10.8. & 14.29. & 24.20.