The Fourth Sermon.

HERE is another Expression of the Work that Christ was anointed for. Where mind, 1. The Persons that he is to be Serviceable to. The Word Captive is from Capio, to take. They are such as are taken in War. Aichmalotos is from Aichme, Spear or Sword, and Alotos, taken in War. This sets forth the state of Sinners. They are by the just Judgment of God, delivered into Satans Hands, & they are his Captives. 2 Tim. 2.26. They are taken Captive by him at his Will. 2. What Service Christ was to do for them. To Preach Deliverance, to Publish or Proclaim it. His Office was not meerly to Condole their Captivity, but to Proclaim Deliverance to them. He doth not Proclaim that they are delivered, but he Proclaims an Offer of Page  108 Deliverance. He declares that there is a way of Deliverance, and makes a tender of it upon Terms.

DOCTRINE. God offers Deliverance to those that are in spiritual Captivity. Delive|rance to them that are in bodily Captivity is a great Priviledge; but Deliverance to them that are in spiritual Captivity, is a far greater Priviledge. As it is more Cost|ly, so it is more Comfortable and Profita|ble; but this is freely offered by God. He doth not force their Deliverance without their Consent, but he makes a tender of Deliverance unto them. They cannot force their Deliverance, neither can they pur|chase their own Deliverance. What shall a Man give in exchange for his Soul? Math. 16.26. But God doth freely offer it to them. He doth not at present make an offer of it to all the World. There be great Nations that have not heard of it; but where he sends his Gospel, he makes an offer of it. There be many in such Places that are not delivered from this Captivity, and indeed never will be delivered; but it is not for want of an offer, but for want of their Acceptance. Some that are in Cap|tivity are delivered, and Deliverance is offered unto others.

Page  109Q. Why are Sinners said to be in spiritual Captivity?

A. Because their Condition is resembled by the Condition of Captives.

1. They are made to serve with Rigour. Thus the Egyptians dealt with the Israelites. Exod. 1.14. They made their Lives Bitter with hard Bondage, in Morter and in Brick, and in all manner of Service in the Field. All the Service wherein they made them serve, was with Rigour. So Satan puts his Cap|tives to a great deal of Drudgery. He keeps them continually at Work. He hurries them from Service to Service. He makes them do a great deal of base Work, that is be|neath the Dignity of Men. He makes them to Idolize the World, and to make Gods of their Bellies. Phil. 3.19. He makes them Lye, and Steal, and be Prophane. He makes many of them to be like the Beasts that Per|ish. He drives them sometimes to do things that will be a Reproach to them, that they are as the Fools in Israel. 2 Sam. 13.13. He makes them to do such things as un|do them in this World. Prov. 6.33. A Wound and Dishonour shall he get, and his Re|proach shall not be wiped away. He compels them to do such things as are utterly Un|profitable, Page  110 and forces them to do things that displease God, and bring down his Wrath. He hurries them on to do things that Wound their Consciences. He will not allow them time, nor suffer them to serve God. Eph. 2.2, 3. Ye walked according to the Course of this World, according to the Prince of the Power of the Air, the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of Disobedience. A|mong whom we had our Conversation in times past, in the Lusts of the Flesh, fulfilling the Desires of the Flesh, and of the Mind.

2. They are miserably provided for. Some|times it is so with Captives among Men. Deut. 28.48. Thou shalt serve thine Enemies, which the Lord shall send against thee, in Hun|ger, and Thirst, and Nakedness, and in the want of all things. So Isai. 20.4. So the King of Assyria shall lead the Egyptians Prisoners, and the Ethiopians Captives; Young and Old, Naked and Barefoot. Thus these Mens Souls are in a starved Condition; they have no|thing to satisfy them; they are like the Prodigal, Luk. 15.16. He would fain have filled his Belly with the Husks that the Swine did eat, but no Man gave unto him. They have no Heavenly Manna; they don't eat of the Tree of Life, spoken of, Rev. 2.7. Page  111 They have not that which is Meat indeed, and Drink indeed. They have insatiable De|sires after Happiness; but they have no|thing to live upon, but that which is Course, and Bitter, and Unsatisfying. They have Desires after Satisfaction, but cannot find it. They are kept in an Hungry and Star|ved Condition. While other Men are en|tertained in God's Chambers, they are kept out of Doors. They come into the Meet|ing-house, but not into the Chambers of Communion; and their Souls are misera|bly Cloathed, while others are Cloathed with change of Raiment, and their Beauty is Perfect through that Comliness which God hath put upon them, and are adorn|ed with the Robes of Christ's Righteous|ness. These poor Captives have nothing but rotten Rags to cover them, while their Bodies are finely adorned, their Souls are Naked and Filthy: They are Polluted in their Blood. Ezek. 16.6. All their Righte|ousness is as filthy Rags.

3. Satan is leading them to his own Terri|tories. That is the manner of Conquerours when they have taken Captives, to lead them away to their own Country. So Ze|dekiah was dealt with. Jer. 52.11. The Page  112 King of Babylon bound him with Chains, and carryed him to Babylon. Thus Satan is deal|ing with these Men. The Divel himself is cast into Hell. 2 Pet. 2.4. God spared not the Angels that Sinned, but cast them down to Hell. And though they be suffered to Ram|ble about the Earth, yet Hell is their Home; and thither it is that they are lead|ing their Captives. The Divel is leading them in those Paths that go down to De|struction. 1 Joh. 3.8. He that committeth Sin is of the Divel. He leads them on in the Practice of Iniquity, which is the very way to Hell. He leads some in the way of Pro|phaness, others in the way of Voluptuous|ness, others in a way of Pride and World|liness, till he brings them down to Hell. The Divel deceives them, Rev. 20.10. He destroys them, Rev. 9.11. And he is busily endeavouring to hinder them from getting out of this way. When they hear the Word, he is careful to take it away. Math. 13.19. Then cometh the wicked One, and catcheth away that which was sown in his Heart. He mightily opposeth their Conversion. He is shewing them the Glory of the World, and blinding their Eyes that they may nor believe the Gospel. 2 Cor. 4.4. The God of Page  113 this World hath blinded the Eyes of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious Go|spel of Christ, who is the Image of God, should shine unto them.

2 Q. What is it that is offered to these Captives?

A. Not a Mitigation of the Extremity of their Captivity, but Deliverance. It is a Mer|cy to poor Captives, to have some Pity shewed them in their Bondage. Psal. 106.46. He made them to be pitied of all those that carried them Captive. And indeed there is some difference among those that are Sa|tan's Captives. Some are made to do a|bundance more Drudgery than others: They are made to blast their Names, and wound their Consciences more than others, and they go along faster in the way to Destruction than others: But the thing that God offers to Men in the Gospel, is not a Mitigation of, but Deliverance from Captivity. Christ Jesus is raised up to be a Deliverer, to be a Saviour, and he doth deliver Men. His Work is to deliver them, who through fear of Death, were all their Life-time subject to Bondage Heb. 2.15. And this is that which is offered in the Gospel. He offers to make them Happy Page  114 that were Miserable, to save them from the power of Satan. Act. 26.18 To turn them from Darkness to Light, and from the power of Satan unto God. To deliver them from the power of Darkness, Col. 1.13. He offers to set at Liberty, those that were in Bondage.

1. He doth not offer Deliverance hereafter only, but present Deliverance. God offers the Glory of Heaven to Sinners in the Gospel; but this is not to be enjoyed at present, but they must go through several Calami|ties before they come thither. 1 Pet. 5.10. God has called you to his Eternal Kingdom and Glory after ye have suffered a while. They may have some fore-tasts of it now, but they must not enjoy it till they Die. But there is a present Deliverance offered, he that is effectually called, is the Lord's Free-Man. 1 Cor. 7.22. Satan's Dominion is immediately taken away. The Man is de|livered from servitude to Satan. 1 Joh. 5.18. He that is begotten of God, keepeth himself, and that wicked One toucheth him not. The Divel may hurry him into some Trans|gressions, but his Lordship is taken away, and the Man walks in a way of Holiness, and has a right to the Tree of Life. Sa|tan Page  115 is cast out, and the Man is made an Heir of Heaven, and God is leading him in the way to Glory. Rom. 6.22. Ye have your Fruit unto Holiness, and the End ever|lasting Life.

2. He don't offer Deliverance for the present only, but Eternal Deliverance. Men that are delivered out of Captivity here, may after a while go into Captivity again, and be in as sad a Condition as before; but this De|liverance is Eternal. When once they are delivered, they are never brought into such a Captivity again. Paul says indeed, that the Law in his Members brought him into Captivity. Rom. 7.23. The meaning is, That Sin did get some Advantage, and Tyrannize over him a while, that he was at times like a Captive; but not as he was before in his natural Condition. He never was a Servant to Sin any more. The Divel may try to recover his Dominion; he acts Craftily, and makes many Assaults, and brings the Heart into bad Frames, and leads it into actual Transgressions, but he has no power over him to make him walk in the way of Destruction. Such Per|sons being the Sons of God, are led by the Spi|rit of God. Rom. 8.14. Satan is very much Page  116 restrained by God, and all such Persons are kept by the power of God, through Faith unto Salvation. 1 Pet. 1.5.

3 Q. On what Terms doth God offer De|liverance from this Captivity?

A. 1. Not upon the Condition of their lay|ing down the Price of their Deliverance. We can't lay down any Price of our Redemp|tion. Money will not Redeem us, if it should be laid out in Works of Piety or Charity. Math. 16.26. What shall a Man give in Exchange for his Soul? Men have no Works to Redeem them; all the Works that they do before their Deliverance, are Sins. They run in Debt, and don't pay their Debts thereby, until they are deliv|ered. They are by all that they do, pur|chasing Damnation, and not Salvation. They are said to have no Money, Isai. 55.1. Nothing that will pass in Heaven, as Mo|ney doth upon the Earth.

2. Nor upon Condition of their Recompencing God for it afterwards. When he delivers Men, he expects that they should serve God in Ho|liness and Righteousness all the Days of their Lives. Luk. 1.74, 75. But this is not the Condition, but part of the Mercy that is offered. Men that are sensible of their Cap|tivity, Page  117 are ready to promise, That if God will deliver them, they will be very Obe|dient, and shew forth his Praise: But God don't regard their Promises, nor deliver them because they promise fairly. He ex|pects no Reward from them, as in that Case. Isai. 45.13. He shall let go my Cap|tives, net for Price nor Reward, saith the Lord of Hosts. God requires Obedience as a na|tural Debt, and likewise in a way of Thankfullness for their Deliverance, but not in a way of Recompence.

3. But on Condition of accepting it as a free Gift through Christ. Deliverance is a free Gift as to us, but Christ hath pur|chased it. Rom. 6.23. The Gift of God is Eternal Life, through Christ Jesus our Lord. And we must accept it as such. The In|vitation is, to come and take the Water of Life freely. Rev. 22.17. And we must take as it is offered; we must make no Alteration in the Terms: God will have his own way: He will not sell Deliverance to us but he will give it; but he will not give it abso|lutely without respect to any Price, but with respect to the Death and Righteous|ness of Christ. And we must receive it as he offers it. 1 Pet. 1.21. Who by him do Page  118 believe in God. Heb. 7.25. He is able to save them to the uttermost, who come unto God by him. We must depend on the Grace of God, as the moving Cause, but on the Blood and Righteousness of Jesus Christ, as the meritorious Cause of our Salva|tion.

4 Q. To what purpose is this offer made to Sinners, seeing they have not Power to accept of it? Joh. 6.44. No Man can come unto me, except the Father that sent me draw him.

A. 1. It is no ways fit that Salvation should be forced on them without their acceptance. In this way they put a great deal of Honour upon God: They Honour the Grace of God, and his Faithfullness, and his Autho|rity. Rom. 4.20. Abraham was strong in Faith, giving Glory to God. It is a Testimo|ny for God, and a practical Acknowledg|ment of his Attributes; and in this way they put a great deal of Honour upon Christ. It is a Confession that he is the Son of God, and the only Mediatour be|tween God and Man; of the Sufficiency and saving Virtue of his Death and Obe|dience: It manifests that the Man prizeth Christ. 1 Pet. 2.7. To them that believe Christ is Precious. And in this way there Page  119 is a Foundation for a great deal of Com|fort. God is bound now by Covenant to bestow Salvation, and they are secured from Apostacy: That they shall never fall into a state of Condemnation. Joh. 5.24. He that seeth the Son, and believeth on him that sent him, hath Eternal Life, and shall not en|ter into Condemnation. The Heirs of Pro|mise hereby have strong Consolation.

2. They can do a great deal in order to their accepting of Deliverance. They can Pray ear|nestly for it. Prov. 2.3. They can cry for Wisdom, and lift up their Voices for Under|standing. God saith concerning Paul, Be|hold he Prayeth. Act. 9.11. They can Re|form their Lives, and leave off the Evil Practices that they have been addicted un|to. So they are directed to forsake their ways, Isai. 55.7. They can addict themselves to ways of Obedience, duties of Piety, and Charity, and Justice. They can resist Dis|couragements, and discern that there is no sufficient Foundation for them; they are able to examine their Hearts, and to dis|cern the Falseness of those Pretences that they make to Godly Sorrow, Love and Faith; they are capable to discern their Carnal Confidence, and to find out the Page  120 Pride and Stubbornness of their Hearts: They are able also to justify God, and under a sense of their own Insufficiency, wait upon God for his Mercy.

3. When they do what they can, God gene|rally makes the offers Powerful. When they are prepared, God's manner is to open their Eyes. When they have gone as far as they can, God's manner is to put Strength in them, and he will accompany the Gospel with a Divine Power. The Gospel doth be|come his Power unto Salvation, Rom. 1.16. He teaches them in that way, and makes them to come to Christ. Joh. 6.45. Every one that heareth and learneth of the Father, cometh unto me. In this way God is Breath|ing into some the Breath of Life. These offers of the Gospel are not in vain, for God doth perswade many thereby. I Cor. 4.15. I have Begotten you through the Go|spel.

1 USE. See here the great Mercy of God to many Sinners. He offers Deliverance to them from Spiritual Captivity. Bodily Cap|tivity, especially among barbarous People, Indians or Turks, is a great Misery; but this Spiritual Captivity is much greater. Their Wants are very great; they live a Page  121 miserable Famished Life, they are destitute of those Spiritual Comforts that the Na|ture of Man craves. They are very much Debased, they live in such a way as is beneath the Dignity of Mankind. They indure abundance of Sorrows, and Wounds in their Consciences. They are exposed unto great Dangers: God pities them in this Condition, and offers Deliverance to them, when none else could do it. He is making a gracious Offer unto them. You are utterly uncapable to deliver yourselves; you have no sufficiency to procure your own Liberty. Some that have been Cap|tives to Men, have got their Liberty by Running; some by being Victorious over them; some by promising Money for their Redemption, but you are under an utter Incapacity to procure your own Liberty. You must continue for ever in a miserable Condition, if God do not set you at Li|berty: And in this Extremity God offers Deliverance to you. It would not be so strange, if your Deliverance would be any Advantage to God, but he gains nothing by it. It is indeed for his Honour to De|liver you; and so it would be for his Ho|nour if he should refuse to Deliver you: Page  122 But it is no profit to him, he is Blessed for ever, whatever becomes of you. Yet he is freely offering Deliverance to you.

1. This is offered to you, though you brought your self into this Condition by your Rebellion. Many Men that are in Captivity, are to be pityed under that Consideration, That it was not their fault that they are Cap|tives: It was not from any Perversness or Indiscretion of theirs, that they are in such a Condition, but your Captivity is the fruit of your Rebellion. Man was made in an estate of Freedom, but we cast our selves into this Bondage by breaking God's Law. We might have lived happily if we would have obeyed, but ventured for the sake of the Forbidden Fruit, to go abreast against God's Law, and plunged our selves into this Misery. Rom. 3.23. Man has Sinned, and fallen short of the Glory of God. God might have said, Seeing they would be Miserable, let them be Miserable: They should have known when they were well; their Mi|sery is no more than they deserve. Seeing they would serve the Divel, let them be his Bond-Men, let them find by Experience, the fruit of their own Folly. But such is his Mercy, that he has overlooked the Provocation, and Page  123 says, as Hos. 13.9. Thou hast destroyed thy self, but in me is thy Help.

2. Though it has cost him much to make this Offer. The generality of the great Works of God have not been costly to him. When he was to make the World, he spake and they were Created; he Commanded and they stood fast; but our Deliverance was costly. 1 Cor. 6.20. We are bought with a Price. Men are willing to Redeem others out of Captivity, if they can have it for a moderate Sum; but this Deliverance cost the Blood of the Son of God. In order to it, the Son of God must take our Nature: That was great Condescention; he stooped very low, to take a Nature made out of the Dust; and in this Nature he suffered the Curse of the Law. It would have been a great Misery for us to have suffered the Curse of the Law; and it was a great kind|ness for the Son of God to suffer that Curse for us. Though the Divine Nature did not suffer, yet it was God that suffered. Act. 20.28. God hath purchased the Church with his own Blood. If that Nature had not been taken into Union with the Son of God, it would not have been such love for God to inflict Sufferings on it; but being Page  124 United to the Son of God, it was unspeak|able Love for God to deliver it to Death. Rom. 5.8. God commendeth his Love to|wards us, in that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for us. God was at great Expence for our Deliverance.

3. He offered this to you before you asked him. Some Men would think it time e|nough to offer Men Liberty when they are sought to, and would make that an Objection, that Men never asked them for such a Favour; but he has prevented you, he did not wait to see whether you would fall before him upon your Knees, and with Tears in your Eyes beg Deliverance of him; but he laid the Foundation of this De|liverance before you were Born; sent his Son to Die for you, many Ages before you came into the World, and in early Days offered Deliverance to you, before you had any Thoughts about it. He called on you, before ever you called on him. It would have been an exceeding Mercy to have hearkned to you, and made you such an Offer, after you had with Prayers and Supplications, with strong Crying and Tears sought unto him for it. But God has been beforehand with you, and before you Page  125 ever thought of any such thing, hath sent the Gospel to you▪ you have no Occasion to say, Who shall ascend into Heaven (to bring Christ down from above) or who shall de|scend into the Deep? But the Word is nigh thee, in thy Mouth, and in thy Heart. Rom. 10.6, 7, 8. God has brought the Gospel to your Doors.

4. He offers this to you, after many Refu|sals. You have been greatly Guilty, in blowing on the offers of the Gospel. You have been like the Deaf Adder. God has called and set many Arguments before you, and after time of Consideration, has re|newed his offers; but you have rejected them. Prov. 1.24. I have called, and they have refused: I stretched out my Hand, and they have not regarded. You have delayed him, you have denyed him, you have af|fronted him; yet he persists to make the offer still. He stands at the Door and Knocks. Rev. 3.20. He might have said, They should have known when they were well offer|ed; let them learn by their Sufferings, what it is to despise such Grace. This is not a Mercy to be trampled on, seeing they won't have Life, let them have Death. He might have been discouraged from making any more offers Page  126 to you. He might have said, It is in vain to call upon them; they are in love with their Servitude and won't. What could I say more than I have said? They are stubborn willful Creatures, I'll wait no longer on them, the Kingdom shall be taken from them. But not|withstanding all Provocations, he is still offering Deliverance. After so long a time he is saying, To Day while it is called to day, harden not your Hearts.

2 USE. Of Reproof to those that don't ac|cept the offer of Deliverance. Accepting the offer is a secret Thing, and I don't pre|tend to know who hath not accepted; but if we be not better than the Jews, few have accepted. Christ Complains of this, Joh. 5.40. Ye will not come to me, that you may have Life. Luk. 14.18. They all with one Consent began to make Excuse. And there be many Evidences against some Men, that Affront to God, that you don't accept. He might well expect that you should ac|cept it with Thankfullness. Christ makes great Complaint of them, Mat 23.37. I would have gathered thy Children together, as an Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings, and ye would not.

Page  1271. In some, it is because they are not afraid of the Misery that Satan is leading them unto. Some Men are not much afraid of Dam|nation. They have cause to be afraid; mul|titudes of such as they, are gone to Hell. The Sinners of the Old World are there; they were Disobedient in the Days of No|ah, and now their Spirits are in Prison. 1 Pet. 3.19.20. God threatens them with Dam|nation. The Chaff shall be burnt up with un|quenchable Fire. Math. 3.12. Many others have been afraid. Isai. 33.14. Sinners in Zion are afraid, Trembling takes hold of Hy|pocrites. The Divels are afraid. Jam. 2.19. The Divels believe and Tremble. It is a dread|ful Thing to loose Heaven, and all the Good of that, and endure the Pains of Hell. It is strange that Men that can't bear the Aking of a tooth, make light of going to Hell: But many through Athe|ism and Flattery, are not afraid, and so they don't regard the offers of Deliverance, but are casting horrible Contempt upon the Grace of God.

2. In some, it is from love to that Drudgery that Satan puts them to. They love their Sins; they love to serve the World; they love to indulge their Lusts: Their Lusts Page  128 are like a Right Eye: They say as they, Jer. 2.25. I have loved Strangers, and after them I will go. They have little Reason to be fond of their Service; 'tis base and low, beneath Rational Creatures. They do be|reave their Souls of Comfort: It Wounds their Consciences; it exposes them to Wrath. They might live Pleasantly, and Honourably, and so as is agreeable to Conscience. The benefit of serving God is very great. Psal. 19.11. In keeping thy Com|mandments is great Reward. But they don't know how to part with their Sins; they are bewitched with the World, and their Life is bound up in Carnal Enjoyments, and they are not willing to be delivered: they are naturalized to their Sins, and it is like Death to part with them.

3. In some, it is from their not believing that God will deliver them. Some cry for Deliverance, but don't accept the Offers. They are Fearful and Unbelieving. Rev. 21.8. They scare themselves, because of the Anger of God; they scare themselves, be|cause of the Threatnings of the Word, and because of the badness of their Hearts. They hear that Christ has satisfied Justice for Sin; that God is willing to be recon|ciled Page  129 to Sinners, but they dare not adven|ture themselves on Christ; they think if their Hearts were better, and they could Bleed freely for their Sins, and had a more fervent Spirit of Love to God, his Heart would be mollified towards them, and he would be more inclinable to give Salvation to them: But as they are, they dare not accept, they think it would be Presump|tion; without all Reason, they call in Question the Word of God. One would think God's Word should satisfy them. Psal. 12.6. The Words of the Lord are pure Words. But they dare not depend upon Gods Word: They doubt that we don't understand the Meaning of it, and that it is to be under|stood with some Limitations that we are not aware of.

3 USE. Of Exhortation to those that have accepted this Offer, Rejoice in this Deliverance that God has bestowed on you. You have re|ceived and do receive the Offer, and God hath done according to what he offered, and you are delivered: Rejoice in this.

1. You are delivered from servitude to Sa|tan. He is Tempting of you still, and leads you into a great deal of Transgression, as he Tempted David to Number the People Page  130 of Israel. Yet you are not his Servants, his Dominion is taken away, and he is under Restraint, and cannot Govern you as he did. It is a dreadful Thing to be a Slave to Satan. Thus it is with all Ungodly Men; they are the Seed of the Serpent; they are the Children of the wicked One. Math 13.38. The Tares are the Children of the wicked One; they are of their Father the Divel, and his Lusts they will do. Joh. 8.44. But you have changed Masters, and now serve the living God. You are now deliv|ered from the power of Darkness, and turned from Satan unto God. Act. 26.18. And do maintain a Warfare against the power of Darkness. Eph. 6.12. We wrestle not against Flesh and Blood, but against Principalities, a|gainst Powers, against the Rulers of the Dark|ness of this World, against Spiritual Wicked|ness in High Places.

2. You are well provided for. Many Men having nothing to Refresh their Hearts but Carnal Things, they are in a starved Con|dition; they are Pining for want of Sa|tisfaction; but the Case is altered with you. You draw Water out of the Wells of Salva|tion, Isai. 12.3. You can sit under the sha|dow of Christ with Delight, and his Fruit is Page  131 Sweet to your Taste. As Cant. 2.3. God has made satisfying Provision, and you are at times feeding on that. The Flesh of Christ is Meat indeed, and his Blood is Drink in|deed; and you have a great deal of Com|fort in that. And while other Men have nothing to cover them but the rotten Rags of their own Righteousness, your Souls are beautified and adorned with the Robes of Christ's Righteousness; and Christ Jesus says of you, as Cant. 4.7. Thou art all Fair my Love, there is no Spot in thee. And God says of you, Ezek. 16.14. Thy Beauty is perfect through my Comliness which I have put upon thee, saith the Lord God.

3. God is leading you unto Glory. You are on this side Heaven, and have many Temp|tations, but your Salvation is secured. God is conducting you to Glory, and will without fail bring you thither. The Glory of Heaven is very great; it will bring Sa|tisfaction; it exceeds all the Glory of the World, more than the Light of the Sun doth the Light of Rotten Wood: And God will not suffer you to fail of this. Your Expectations as to some Worldly Enjoy|ments may fail, but God will lead you in the very way to Glory. Psal. 73.24. Thou Page  132 wilt guide me by thy Counsel, and afterward receive me to Glory. Christ Jesus has prepar|ed a Place for you, and he reserves it for you. 1 Pet. 1.4. You are Begotten unto an Inheritance Incorruptible, Undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you. Abundance of People are Dying continu|ally, and they all need to go to Heaven, but they shall not prevent you: There is a Place prepared, and it is reserved for you.