us, our hope is lost, our hope is not in the means, our hope is in thee, leave us not.
Secondly, thou art the Saviour of Israel, and it is that that thou takest upon thee, and thou hast made thy selfe a Saviour, and now is the time of trouble, performe what thou hast undertaken.
Thirdly, thou art in the midst of us, thou art a great comforter, ready to succour us. What wilt thou see us perish when thou art so near us? 1 Sam. 4.6. Even as the Arke in the midst of the campe: as if he should say, he lives in the midst of us, and will not save us.
Fourthly, we are called by thy Name, we have inte∣rest in thee, to whom should servants go for safety, but to their Master? to whom should the wife goe, but to her husband? we have interest in thee, leave us not.
Now we will meddle only with the latter clause, leave us not. God might leave them, but they beg that he would not, that is their Amento the Peti∣tion, though thou standest by, and wilt not help, yet let us not dye in thy presence. This is the great re∣quest of the Saints, they desire not to be left of God, though God may justly leave them,
That God may justly leave off a people,and un∣church a Nation. Israel suspected it, and feared it: It is that that they prayed against, that God would not leave them. I doe not say that God will cast off his elect eternally; but those that are onely in out∣ward covenant, with him he may, Isa. 1.2. Heare O ye heavens, I have nursed up children, that is, the Iewes, there is an outward vocation, and for such God may