ſtarts of unbelief, O believer, ſhall not hinder the performance of the promiſe you have once believed ſavingly; "If we not, he abideth faithful; he cannot deny himſelf," 2 Tim. ii. 13. Will he deny his word? Will he deny his oath? No, no; he will have reſpect to his covenant, becauſe he hath a reſpect to himſelf.
But what fays God of one that is afflicted and mourning for the deſolation of Zion, and particularly for the ſins and defections of the day we live in? I will tell you what he says, They that sow in tears ſhall reap in joy: And though you have your mourning time for Zion, you ſhall alſo have your rejoicing times; "Rejoice ye with Jeruſalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her," Iſa. lxvi. 10. He ſays, that he will "ſet a mark upon the foreheads of them that sigh and cry for all the abominations that are done in the midſt thereof, Ezek. ix. 4. Bleſſed are they that mourn, for they ſhall be comforted," Matth. v. 4.----Why, then look to him to do as he hath ſaid.
But says another, I'm one that has a family, and children that the Lord hath given me, and it is my concern not only that I may be bleſſed myſelf, but that my feed and offspring may be bleſſed: is there any word for me in this case? Yea, what think you of that word, Iſa. xliv. 3. "I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my bleſſing upon thine offſpring? What think ye of that covenant made with Abraham, which you are called to lay hold upon by following his faith? Gen. xvii, 7. "I will be thy God, and the God of thy seed. You have not only the covenant of Abraham to look to, but the ſame entail of the Covenant to your posterity to look to. Iſa. lix. 21. "This is my covenant with them, faith the Lord, my Spirit that is upon thee, and my words that I have put in thy mouth, ſhall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy feed, nor out of the mouth of thy feeds ſeed, ſaith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever. He hath ſaid, that children are his heritage Pſal. cxxvii. 3.; and that his righteouſneſs is unto childrens children, ciii. 17.; The promiſe is unto you and to your children? Acts. ii. 39. O take him at his word, and сrу Lord, Do as thou haſt ſaid.
But what do you ſay to one that finds himſelf deserted of God, and that God anſwers neither by Urim nor Thum mim. "I go forward, but he is not there; backward, but I cannot perceive him: on the left hand, where he dothwo(illegible text)
