T H E
SAINTS’ DUTY IN EVIL TIMES.
ISAIAH XXVI. 20.
Come, my People, enter thou into thy chambers, and
shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself, as it were,
for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
THE bowels of the Lord’s sympathy towards his people, are always bursting out, and he dow not see them forsaking their own mercy, and straying from him ; but is much taken up in lamenting over their folly, and many a moving and sweet invitation to come to with giving them him, where their happiness lies, and lays himself open to them, and the riches that are with him, with his arms spread abroad, inviting them by his precious and hearty promises, seeking nothing of folk, but only. That they Would ‘come and receive freely,’ Isa. Iv. I. 'Ho, everyone that thirtheth come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price.’ He opens up precious and rich ware, and says to his buyers and merchants, the commodity is good, come away, we shall not cast out about the price; if ye have hearts to receive, I have a heart to give: Come away then, hearty good-fellows, we will never stand and upon it: for ’tis not with him as with the men of the world, for they count them the best good-fellows, who give most and freest; but he counts them the left good-fellows, who will take most and freest; and he debars none from him, but discovers his riches, and invites all. Rev. xxii. 16, 17. ‘I am the root and offspring of
