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 ...

Promises to GODS children in respect of the Body.

1. Long life.

The LORD, that hee may stirre up his people to obedience, doth make many promises of

long life, and many daies; as in the fift Commandement,* 1.1 which the Apostle saith is the first Commandement with Promise,* 1.2 Ephes. 6.2. every child is there commanded to Honour his Fa∣ther and Mother, upon this pro∣mise, that his daies may be long in the land. So Deut. 5.33. Deut. 25.15. & 30.20. In the Proverbes this is very oft repeated, Chap. 3.1, 2. My sonne forget not my law, but let thine heart keepe my commandements; for length of daies and long life and peace shall they add to thee. And 16. and 18. verses of the same Chapter, and Chap. 4. from the 5. verse to 14. Chap. 8.35. Chap. 9.11. Chap. 10.25, 27. Chap. 11.19, 30. & 14.30. This GOD promised to Salomon,* 1.3 1 King. 3.14. and the like is spoken more generally, that the Prince that hateth cove∣tousnesse shall prolong his daies, Prov. 28.16. and also Deut. 17.19, 20.

Long life is promised to the

observers of the whole law, Deut. 6.2. and other particular bran∣ches of it, Psalm. 34.12, 13, 14.

In all the perills of this life, by sickenesse, warre, famine, theeves, or any wicked enemy whatsoever, we may call to minde some of these promises and so rest quiet thereupon, that none of these nor any thing else shall shorten our daies more then shall turne to our good.

2. Health.

GOD hath promised bodi∣ly health and strength unto his people, that they may enjoy and make use of these earthly com∣forts.

Salomon, Pro. 3.7. exhorting us to feare the LORD and depart from evill, adds this as a pro∣mise, verse 8. It shall be health to thy navill, and marrow to thy bones, that is, soundnesse of health to thy whole body, and Chap.

4.22. He saith, That the true re∣ceiving of instructions, is life to those that finde them, and health to all their flesh.

Bodily strength is often pro∣mised.

The LORD will give strength unto his people, Psal. 29.11. See Psal. 103.5.

3. Safety.

Then shalt thou walke in thy way safely,* 1.4 and thy foot shall not stumble, Pro. 3.23. See verse 26. 1 Sam. 2.9.

The Name of the LORD is a strong tower,* 1.5 the righteous runneth unto it and is safe, Pro. 18.10.

He that walketh uprightly wal∣keth surely, Pro. 10.9.

Who so hearkeneth unto mee shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from feare of evill, Prov. 1.33.

Thou shalt be secure, because there is hope, yea thou shalt digge about thee, and thou shalt take thy

rest in safety, Job 11.18. See Psal. 91.1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10. 1 Pet. 3.13, 14.

When a man is in Covenant with GOD, he is in league with the creatures, and therefore they shall never doe him hurt, Gen. 9.2. Hos. 2.18.

Thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee, Job 5.23.

4. Peace.

Peace in regard of outward troubles is a speciall blessing of GOD, and hath beene in all ages promised by GOD to his Church, 1 Chron. 22.9.

And I will give peace in the land, and yee shall lye downe, and none shall make you afraid, Levit. 26.6.

The LORD will blesse his people with peace, Psal. 29.11.

The meeke shall delight them∣selves

in abundance of peace, Psal. 37.11.

He maketh peace in thy borders, Psal. 147.14.

LORD thou wilt ordaine peace for us, Esay 26.12.

Thou shalt know that thy Taber∣nacle shall be in peace, Job 5.29.* 1.6 See Jam. 3.18. Esay 48.18.

When a mans waies please the LORD, hee will make his ene∣mies at peace with him, Prov. 16.6.

5. Sleepe.

Promises for quiet rest and safety in the night.

When thou liest downe, thou shalt not be afraid, yea thou shalt lie downe, and thy sleepe shall be sweet, Pro. 3.24.

Also thou shalt lie downe and none shall make thee afraid, Job 11.19. Zeph. 3.13.

Hee giveth his beloved sleepe, Psal. 127.2.

6. Food and raiment.

GOD hath promised to give his children food unto con∣tent.

Yee shall eate in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the Name of the LORD, Joel 2.26.

Trust in the LORD, and doe good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed, Psal. 37.3.

He giveth meate unto them that feare him, Psal. 111.5.

He will satisfie the poore with bread, Psal. 102.15.

He loveth the stranger in giving him food and raiment, Deut. 10.18.

To such as want meate, drinke, or apparell, CHRIST saith, Matth. 6.25. Is not the life more then meate, and the body then raiment? It is an argument (as we say) à maiori a••minus, from the greater to the lesser.

The LORD which gave the life it selfe, will not suffer us to

want those things that apper∣taine to the sustaining of the same, and ver. 32. Your heaven∣ly Father (saith hee) knoweth that yee have neede of these things, that is, foode and raiment. A man may know our wants, and yet say as it is, Iames 2.16. ano∣ther may desire to supply our wants, and yet not know them; but GOD 1. Knowes our wants: 2. Will supply them, for hee is a Father: 3. Can sup∣ply them, for he is a heavenly Father.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Exod. 20.1••
• * 1.2

  He that fol¦loweth afte•• righteousnes, as a man followeth a trade, shall finde honour and life, true honour and eternall life. Pro. 21.21.
• * 1.3

  See Esay 65.20, 22. Psal 91 16. Psal. 1••8.6. Iob 5.26.
• * 1.4

  Psal. 121.3.
• * 1.5

  An example hereof we have in Da¦vid, 1 Sam, 306. Psal. 8 2. Ier 46.27 Micah. 4.4.
• * 1.6

  Promises to peaceable men or peace-ma∣kers, Mat. 5 9. Iam, 3, 16.