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CONTEMPLATIONS and COLLECTS ON THE Sixth PSALM of DEGREES, BEING The CXXV. PSALM.
O Thou immutable Lord God, most faithful Creator, Redee∣mer, and Comforter, I desire not only to believe of thee in the world, to credit what thou art in thy self; but to trust to what thou sayest in thy Gospel, to rely on thee for what thou dost at present, and acquiesce in thee for what thou wilt do hereafter, and stay my self on thee through thine everlasting good pleasure: For thou art the Lord that dost not change, and therefore we are not consumed, but are converted from Creatures to thy Children, confirmed from our weaknesses by thy Spirit, and continued in thy service with thy self.
Ah the safety! the assurance, the steadiness, the solace, the sole and supernatural satisfaction that is in fulness of Faith upon thee the Messiah, the Lamb of God, who makest us thereby the Temples of the living God, the City of the Lamb, the New Jerusalem that shall ascend up above, and be made illustrious with all the Jewels of the concord, regularity, and brightness of Spiritual Graces, as with the eternal Riches of ineffable Love, and heavenly Glory: So that we shall never be removed from our Abode in Jesus Christ (thou hast made our Rock so strong), and if we believe surely we shall be establish'd for ever, for the foundation of God stands sure. As we shall here be sur∣rounded with the munition of Rocks, (the Rock of Ages, and all his Angels) like Jerusalem the holy City; so also we shall be wholly blest, and saved to the very uttermost: For neither the blasts of Tem∣ptation (the Spirit that rules in the Children of Disobedience) shall attack the corners of our Dwellings, as he did Job's Sons; nor from the Wilderness assault us (as he did our Saviour) to spoil our La∣bours, or our hopes. Nor shall the storms of Tribulation be able to beat upon our House, so as to make it shake or totter: For though our building of Faith be raised high, even unto the Heavens; yet it is no Babel, it is no Jericho, but a Fabrick that the Lord will bless and defend, and because it stands upright, it shall stand fast for ever. The strength of our confidence in God shall put to flight the Armies of those Aliens that would enter and destroy its strong holds; for there are Mountains of Horses, and Chariots of Fire, round about the Faithful to secure them; so that they cannot be immur'd or shut up, when never so closely begirt by Adversaries. They can still look up, nay, go up to the Hill of Sion, from whence comes their help, even to Jesus, the Author and finisher of their Faith, who not only pitched the forces of his Word and Miracles, but the red Standard of his Cross,