SUTABLE COMFORTS FOR Suffering Sion; OR, SAINTS INTEREST in GOD their Chiefeſt Support in times of greateſt Straits.

DEar Brethren, and fellow Companions of the Kingdom of God; This is the day of Jacobs Trouble, of Joſephs Affliction, of Zions Trials, and of the Calamities of the whole Iſrael of God; And I find that the People of God in general, are very prone and incident to be Troubled, Caſt down, and Diſquieted; And I find that it is the De­ſign of God that his People ſhould be Comforted, Conſolated, and Refreſhed. Therefore in order thereunto, I ſhall offer ſomething, that may anſwer the End and Deſign of God; And the Portion of the Word of God, which I intend to make the Ground of my Diſ­courſe, for my own and others Edification, is Recorded in that pre­cious Scripture,

In order to theſe Words, we may conſider Three things:

• 1. The Author of theſe Words.
• 2. The Perſon to whom they were Spoken.
• 3. The Occaſion why they were Spoken.

For the Firſt, The Author of them was the great God of Heaven, the Diſpoſer of all things, the Judge of the whole Earth, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; and therefore conſidering the Great­neſs and Worthineſs of Him that ſpeaks, we ſhould have the higher eſteem, and give the more diligent heed to what he ſaith.

2. The Perſon to whom theſe Words were ſpoken, and that was Moſes; of whom, Three things are mighty Remarkable and Con­ſiderable.

Firſt, His Love to God, in that he forſook all earthly Pleaſures and Delights, and Choſe rather to ſuffer Affliction with the People of God. Ah! there be few that take Moſes Choice, that chooſe Good­neſs more than Greatneſs, eſteeming Poverty better than Riches, and count Godlineſs more Gain than Wickedneſs, and rather hazard Bonds and Sufferings, than the Violation of their Conſci­ences with falſe Swearing, &c. That account Raggs with Chriſt, though on a Dunghil, more than Robes without Chriſt, though on a Throne.

Secondly, Another thing Conſiderable in Moſes, was his Meek­neſs; which is much commended in him, Numb. 12.3. Now the man Moſes was very Meek above all the men that were in the Earth; this is a Chriſt-like Spirit, a Mild Gentle Spirit, and to exerciſe ſuch a Spirit to thoſe that are of a Froward, Peeviſh, Proud Diſpoſi­tion, is an excellent Frame; not to return evil for evil, but good for evil; to uſe gentleneſs and mildneſs, for bitterneſs and frowardneſs, is a Carriage that makes Chriſtians look moſt like God: Now Mo­ſes was not onely Meek, but very Meek, and that above all the men that were upon the Earth.

A Third thing Remarkable in Moſes, was his Faithfulneſs for God; See how it is ſpoken to his Praiſe, Numb. 12.7. compared with Heb. 3.2.

Touching his Faithfulneſs you have Three things.

Firſt, His being Faithful to declare to the People the whole mind of God, as God communicated it to him; Now when God took him up into the Mount, he might have taken liberty to have varied (and no body have queſtioned him) either to have added or to have di­miniſhed,5 to what God had left in charge with him, no he doth not, but is Faithful to that Truſt delivered to him.

Secondly, He was Faithful in doing what God Commanded from him, in performing Gods Requirements to him, Exod. 11.26. and therefore when he tells Pharaoh, That God would have the Children of Iſrael and all they had, go up with them to Worſhip; Pharaoh was not willing that their Cattel and Flocks ſhould go: Nay, ſaith Moſes, We muſt not leave a hoof behind. So Faithful was he for God, that not a tittle of the Service of God, muſt be omited or left undone.

Thirdly, His Faithfulneſs to God appeared, in that he cloſely follow­ed and ſerved the Lord even to his laſt day; He perſevered to the laſt, in a full and faithful following of the Lord, and therefore the Lord writes this praiſe and commendation on Moſes, He was faithful in all things.

Thus much ſhall ſuffice as touching the Perſon, to whom the Words were ſpoken. Now I come to the Third thing, the Occaſion; Why the Words of my Text were ſpoken? And in that we ſhall conſider many things very Remarkable.

Firſt, Moſes goes to tend upon his Father-in-Law's flock, and in his way, ſees a Buſh burning, and turning about, ſaid, I will ſee this great ſight, why the Buſh burns and is not conſumed. The Admiration or Wonder in Moſes, was not ſo much, that the Buſh burned, but that it burned and was not conſumed; this was the Wonder then, and it's the Wonder now, yea, and will be in all Ages.

Give me leave to enlarge a little upon it; This Buſh I compare to the People of God, and the Fire, or Burning, to Afflictions and Perſecu­tions. Now it hath been the Marvel in all Ages, that the Buſh hath burned, and hath not been conſumed, that the People of God have been wonderfully carried forth in the midſt of fiery Tryals, that they have ſeemed rather to overcome then to be overcome, rather con­querers then conquered, to be living daily though dying daily; and this hath occaſioned marvel and wonder to the men of the World; Witneſs thoſe three Children in Daniel, that were in the burning Fur­nace, and yet not conſumed; Witneſs thoſe worthy Martyrs of late days, whoſe life and livelineſs in Suffering made their Adverſaries amazed, that the Buſh burned, and was not conſumed, when they ſaw their inward man lived and renewed, in the midſt of their dying and bitter deaths. Now if the men of the World would do like dili­gent Moſes, turn aſide and be inquirous to behold this great ſight,6 to ſearch into the cauſe thereof, they might have their marvel ta­ken away, and their wonder removed; Moſes looked, and belold the Lord was in the midſt of the Buſh. Hence ſee the cauſe that the People of God have been moſt Eminently preſerved in the Inward-man, and have been born up above and beyond all ſpeakings; in the midſt of all Trials and Sufferings, God was in the midſt of them; there was, and is, a very gracious Preſence of His, accompanying and aſſiſting of them; This is the Reaſon, this is the Ground why the Buſh burns and is not conſumed; So they in the fire were preſerved, Dan. 3.24, 25. Now when the Lord out of the Buſh had called to Moſes, He ſaid, in the ſeventh Verſe, I have ſurely ſeen the Affliction of my People in Egypt. Hence obſerve, That God takes notice of his Peoples Affliction, yea, ſpe­cial notice; I have ſurely ſeen, ſaith God. Oh ſuffering Souls! your Conſolations are not ſmall, the Eyes of Heaven are upon you, and your ſufferings; the Eye of Love, and the Eye of Pity, is not onely Preſident over you, but Preſent with you; be you never ſo remote, or obſcure in Suffering, that Eye of Divine Majeſty that runs to and fro throughout the whole Earth, will be firſt on you; I have, ſaith God, ſurely ſeen the Affliction of my People in Egypt. This is a ſweet Word of God, My People, though Afflicted, yet Mine; though Oppreſſed and Hated, yet My People; It's not their Suffer­ings, their Miſeries, their Afflictions, that can un-people them, that can break that great cord of Union and Relation, between God and his People; My People, though Oppreſſed and Perſecuted, yet My People; They are never the more Unlovely in my Eyes, never the more Uncomely, though they are trampled upon as dirt, and made as the off-ſcouring of the World, yet I am not aſhamed to own them, I am not aſhamed to acknowledge them to be My Peo­ple, and therefore I will own them and ſtand by them: They are indeed by their Oppreſſors and Perſecutors (having the rod of the wicked over them, making ſurrows upon them) repreſented very Unlovely, very Uncomely, very Deſpicable and Contemptible; yet nevertheleſs there is not a tittle of my Affection and Love, that I bear to them, abated or diminiſhed, they are My People, yea, and in Egypt. God doth not onely own his People in the worſt of Con­ditions, but in the worſt of Places alſo; And therefore he ſaith, I have ſurely ſeen the Affliction of my People in Egypt; Egypt was called The Houſe of Bondage: The Nation of their Oppreſſion: The Land where­in they were Slaves and Strangers. Yet there God owns them, My7 People in Egypt. It is not Places that makes God at all Diſaffected with his People, though they be thrown into Newgate, or elſewhere, the ſhamfulleſt of Goals, by his cruelty, whoſe tender mercies are no better, nor nothing elſe; yet there will God own them; the loath­ſomeſt Dungeons, ſhall not at all keep God from Communion with his People, He will own them though in Egyt; and ſaith God, I know their Sorrows; Know their Sorrows he doth, and will he not remedie it? Yea ſurely: As if the Lord ſhould ſay, I am acquaint­ed with all their Griefs, I am concerned in all their ſufferings: Oh Chriſtians believe this Truth, That God ſees all the Afflictions of his People, and knows their Sorrows; God ſees for this end, and knows for this end, that he might the better communicate ſeaſonable good to his People. And in Verſe 10. ſaith God, Come now therefore, that thou mayeſt bring the Children of Iſrael out of Egypt; Come now, ſaith God, now is my Time, now is my Opportunity, now is my fit Sea­ſon to Deliver My People. God's Time of working Deliverance for his People, is when they are in the midſt of the greateſt ſtraits and ſufferings. Now the Lord is imploying and ſending Moſes with a Meſſage both to Pharaoh, and to his People. Moſes very much op­poſeth it, and with the Lord pleads two things.

1. His own Unworthineſs, Who am I, ſaith he, that I ſhould go to Pharaoh, that I ſhould be imployed in the ſervice of the great God of Heaven? The Lord takes off this Objection by Anſwering, I will be with thee. The Worthineſs of Gods aſſiſting Preſence, will far ſur­mount and exceed Moſes his Unworthineſs. One thing here you have worth obſerving, and that is, That it is not the Meanneſs, Low­neſs, Unworthineſs, (ſimply conſidered) of poor creatures, that doth exclude or exempt them from Gods ſervice or acceptance; but ſin will hinder from both.

A Second thing that Moſes pleads againſt his being imployed, is, Ignorance of Gods Name; He did not know what Name of God he ſhould carry to his poor ſuffering People; This God anſwers and declares, and ſo I come to my Text.

I AM THAT I AM, I AM hath ſent unto them; this is my Name for Ever, and my memorial unto all generations. In which Words you have Three things.

1. A Deſcription or Diſcovery of the Name of God, I AM THAT I AM, or what I ever was.

2. The Perpetuity and Continuance of His Name; This is my Name for EƲER.

3. The uſe of it to his People; This is my Memorial unto all generations.

From the Occaſion of the Words, you have this Obſervation.

You may ſee that this Truth ariſeth naturally from the occaſion of theſe Words, if you conſider that theſe were a People under great Promiſes from the Lord, and alſo from Men under great Sufferings and Oppreſſions; Now to this Afflicted, Oppreſſed People, God ſends this Meſſage, this errand, I AM THAT I AM: No Name of God had been ſo Sutable, ſo Seaſonable as this, I AM the ſame that ever I was. I ſhall ſhew anon, in due place, how Sea­ſonable, how Sutable this Name of God is, to his Suffering People. If God had ſent to his People his Name Jah, or Jehovah, it had been ſomething, but it had not been ſo ſeaſonable as I AM. God uſual­ly ſtays and delays Deliverance, that it may come moſt Seaſonable and Sutable to his Peoples Conditions; Why muſt they be four hundred years in Affliction? May not two hundred years ſerve? No, at the end of four hundred years, is Gods time for Deliverance, then will his Mercies come moſt Seaſonable. And truly this I am perſwaded, is the very Reaſon why God ſeems to keep away deliver­ance from his People, they are not yet come to the greateſt of ſtraits; the Mercy will not come ſo Seaſonable and Sutable as God would have it. I might be large upon this Point, but I ſhall not at this time, though it is a Truth of great concernment, I ſhall only prove it with an Inſtance or two, with ſome Reaſons, and then pro­ceed to what remains, which is much upon my heart.

See Gen. 21. from verſ. 15. to 21. Poor Agar was in great diſtreſs, ſhe and the Babe was like to periſh for want of water, ſhe was in the greateſt of Straits, gave her ſelf and babe over for death, paſt all hope of life; Oh then was Gods time, then was his time to appear, and that with a Sutable and Seaſonabe Mercy to her State and Condition; and pray, What was that? Her condition was ſuch that ſhe had like to have died with Drought, want of Drink, for ſhe was in a Remote and barren Wilderneſs, & behold God communicates to her a Well of Water. From hence ſee, That God proportions out Seaſon­able and Sutable Mercies & Comforts to his Peoples Wants & Neceſſities. 9From this Remarkable inſtance in Agar, you have many conſider­able things.

1. That Gods People in their greateſt Straits and Wants, make their recourſe by Prayer to God: this good Agar did. The times of tribulati­on ought eſpecially then to be the times of ſupplication. Chriſts Suffering hour was his praying hour. Times of Afflictions puts Saints upon Petiti­ons at the Throne of Grace.

2. Strange and unexpected ways and means of Deliverance hath God for his People. This is a glorious Truth, but I muſt but name it: Little did poor Agar think to find Supplies in the Wilderneſs, no viſible means attainable.

3. Obſerve, That there are ſuch Bowels of Mercy and Love in God towards his, that he uſually, yea frequently, not onely grants their De­ſires, but gives them more, yea over and above. Poor Agar begs a lit­tle Water of God to preſerve the life of her and her little babe, and lo, God gives her a Well of Water. So Solomon asked for Wiſdome; God did not onely give him That, but Riches, and Honour alſo. I muſt proceed.

A Second notable Inſtance you have, is, concerning Sampſon, Judg. 15.18, 19. He having a very great thirſt, like to die, the Lord in a miraculous maner preſerved him, and communicated a Sutable Mercy to him, and gave him Water out of the Jaw-bone of an Aſs. One thing here I ſhall mind unto you, that is, Sometimes I have marvelled at the exceeding Drought and Thirſt that came upon Sampſon, immediately after the Deliverance obtained, by the help of the Lord againſt his Enemies. I ſuppoſe that his great Thirſt came not by reaſon of his great Fighting; He might be thirſty, but not upon that account unto death, conſidering the Lord helped him; But now for him to be by thirſt, near death, there lies ſome­thing in it; and therefore I humbly judge, that this thirſt was ſent as a Judgement from the Lord, and that upon two accounts:

1. His too much Vaunting, Applauding and Praiſing of himſelf for this Victory; See his high proud Words, With the Jaw of an Aſs have I ſlain a thouſand men.

2. Not returning the Praiſe and Honour to whom it was due, and therefore the Lord might be angry & diſpleaſed with him, & to ſhew him his own weakneſs, frailty and infirmity, that he might not glory in himſelf, but to ſee that without the Lords aſſiſtance, he was but a dead man, & therefore I conceive this thirſt came: And then betook10 himſelf to prayer; and though after mercy received, he was unmind­ful of his duty, yet now his great wants and ſtraits make him mind his duty, and help; and when Sampſon had taſted of Gods anger, then you ſhall have him acknowledge God having a hand in the De­liverance, but not before.

So likewiſe the Prophet, having fled into the Wilderneſs, being driven to great wants, the Lord adminiſtred food to him by Ravens; and ſo the Lord communicated Sutable Comforts to his Servant. I might name many more, but I would haſten, and briefly now give you the Reaſons of it. I ſhall at preſent name but two; Why God proportions out Sutable Mercies to his Peoples Conditions.

The Firſt is, To enlarge their Experiences of Him. Not a Sutable Mercy or Comfort comes to us from God, but it is to ſtock us with Experience; for Experience of God's goodneſs is of great uſe to a dependance on God.

Secondly, It is To heighten our Praiſes to Him, that we may much be carried forth in new Songs of Praiſes to the Lord. A word of Uſe to this, and ſo proceed and come to the thing I aim at.

Seeing God doth proportion out Sutable Comforts to his Peoples Conditions; then be Exhorted, To walk Sutable to ſuch a God as this is, be perſwaded to walk anſwerable to a God of ſuch Sutable Comforts, and ſeaſonable Mercies. Oh the Sutable Comforts that his poor Ser­vants have enjoyed in their Bonds and Sufferings! that when all the World ſhall frown, then to have the God of Heaven ſmile; that when the World ſtrips us of all outward Injoyments, then to have them made up with inward and ſpecial Injoyments; when the men of the World put a bitter cup into our hands, then for our Father to ſweeten it for us; when we hear the worſt news from Earth, we can then have the beſt news from Heaven: Oh this is Seaſonable and Sutable Comfort: It's true we want our Liberties, but yet we have the bleſſed Liberty of the Sons of God: It's true we are in Bonds, under Reſtraint, Oh but yet our ſouls are not in bonds, our Conſci­ences are not captivated to ſins and luſts: it's true we are in the hands of cruel and unreaſonable men, but yet we are in the hands of a faithful Creator. Fellow-ſufferers, conſider it and believe it, you that experience Gods goodneſs, in Sutable Comforts to you, know, that he expects that it ſhould work rare effects in you, and produce eminent and ſutable walkings towards him. Thus much for the firſt thing, being occaſional from the Words; I ſhall now come to the chief thing I aime at.

I AM THAT I AM, this is my Name for Ever, and my Memorial unto all Generations. The Doctrine, Concluſion, or wholſome Truth, which ariſes from theſe Words, is this;

This is a great and weighty Truth, and there lieth much ſap and marrow in it, and therefore I do earneſtly deſire that it may dwell in the hearts of all the Suffering ſons of Sion this day; and this Truth I judge ariſeth naturally from the Words; for in the Doctrine you may obſerve theſe ſeveral Branches.

• 1. That Gods Name is, I AM.
• 2. That it is ſo for EVER to his People.
• 3. That the ſerious conſideration thereof, is of uſe to Comfort and Con­ſolate the People of God in their Sufferings.

Now conſider well the Text, and you ſhall find this Truth couch­ed in it; And conſider the Perſons to whom it was communicated, being the People of the Lord under great Sufferings and Troubles, and you may plainly perceive, that the great aime, and deſigne of God here is, that his People through a ſerious Conſideration of his Name, I AM THAT I AM, ſhould be much conſolated and refreſhed, in the midſt of their Troubles and Sufferings.

• I. Prove it to you, and ſhew you what is Gods Name, and how it endures for Ever.
• II. Declare how, and wherein Gods Name, I AM, is the ſame to his People in all ages; and ſhew you that this Truth is of mighty uſe and benefit to bear up their hearts in Suffering.
• III. Give you the Reaſons of this Truth, which are very conſider­able, Why the Lords Name, I AM THAT I AM, is his Name for EVER, and continued to his People to all Generations.
• IV. Give you the wholſome and ſeaſonable Uſes and Concluſions of this Subject.

I. What Gods Name is, and the Duration of it. This Name of12 God, I AM THAT I AM, is wrapt and bound up in His moſt glorious Attributes; See that notable Text in Exod. 34.5, 6. And proclaimed the Name of the Lord; Now what was the Name of the Lord? See, and you ſhall find it declared, and held forth in His Attributes, The Lord, the Lord God, Long-ſuffering, Merciful and Gracious; Here is the Mercy of God, keeping Mercy for thouſands, for giving iniquity, tranſgreſſion and ſin; Here is the Faithfulneſs of God, and by no means clearing the guilty; Here is the Juſtice of God. Now that the Name of God endures, ſee Pſal. 102.26, 27. They ſhall periſh, but thou ſhalt endure; thou art the ſame, and thy years ſhall have no end. Here you ſee that this God, who hath declared himſelf I AM, is of continuance, he endures, he is the ſame and changes not. Oh it's a bleſſed thing to conſider, that God is now the ſame that e­ver he was, His Name is I AM, and this is his Name for Ever, Pſal. 72.17. His Name ſhall endure for Ever, His Name ſhall be continued as long as the Sun, and Men ſhall be bleſſed in him. Oh this Name of God, I AM, is the Name that ſhall continue and en­dure, and whereby men ſhall be bleſſed, Mal. 3.6. For I am the Lord, I change not. From hence you may ſee the nature of Gods Name to his People, He is the ſame, and changes not, Pſal. 135.3. Thy Name, O Lord, endureth for ever, and thy Memorial, O Lord, un­to all generations. From hence you may obſerve the ſweet harmony and joynt-agreement, the Spirit of God hath here with my Text, the ſelf ſame language expreſſed.

But Secondly, take notice, with what Zeal and Affection, and Cor­dial deſire, the Prophet Declares the Name of the Lord. Oh Lord, ſaith he, thy Name endures for ever; and when he ſpeakeh of Gods Me­memorial, O Lord, ſaith he, it endures to all generations, he fals as is were into admiration of the Name of God. The next Verſe declares part of Gods Name. Firſt, His Faithfulneſs, He will judge His People, or plead for them. Secondly, His Mercy, And He will repent Him­ſelf concerning His ſervants, and that is in keeping back the intend­ed evil, and giving them the promiſed good. One text more, and then I have done with this, Iſaiah 63.15, 16. The People and Church of God at that time, as it is now, were in a very miſerable and deplorable ſtate, as may be diſcerned by their expreſſions in their requeſts: Look down from Heaven, and behold from the habitation of Thy Holineſs and Glory. And the Church ſeems to remind the Lord of ſome remiſneſs in ſome things, as if God had been wanting to ſome13 of his diſtreſſed People, and ſo had forſaken them, and therefore in vehement ſorrow ſaith, Where is Thy zeal, Thy ſtrength, the ſounding of Thy bowels and of Thy mercies, are they reſtrained? As if this poor People ſhould ſay, Ah Lord, Our Condition is ſad, our State miſerable, and Thou ſeemeſt to be a ſtranger, Where is Thy zeal, Thy affection to Us? How doth that ſeem to decline and decay? Where is Thy ſtrength that ſhould be moſt helpful to us now? Oh where is the ſounding of Thy bowels and mercies, where is that yearning of bowels, that ſympathizing, that compaſſionate, melting, commiſerating of thy Peoples miſeries? Ah Lord, ſay they, are they reſtrained, are they bound up, art Thou grown obdurate againſt Thy poor People? Now do but obſerve what Argu­ments this poor afflicted People uſe, and from thence draws com­fort.

Firſt, The Intereſt they had in God; Donbtleſs, ſay they, without all doubt Thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and thou art our Father, though Iſrael acknowledge us not. From hence you may obſerve three Things.

1. That Saints in the greateſt of miſeries have an eye to the Intereſt they have in God.

2. Intereſt in God is of great ſupport to Saints in times of greateſt ſtraits. This hath born up the Spirit of Gods People in their trials and ſufferings; what if all the men of the World were mine ene­mies, and all the malice and envy of men my accuſers, and all the devils my tormentors? yet if God be my Father, if I have an Intereſt in Him, I have all unſpeakable Help, Relief and Support.

3. The certain aſſured knowledge of the Intereſt in God affords great Comfort, Satisfaction and Contentment to ſuch, though others know it not or be ignorant of it; Though Abraham be ignorant of us, yet thou art our Father.

A Second Argument that theſe People ſucked Comfort from, was the remembrance of Gods Name, and therefore ſaith, Thy Name is from Everlaſting; as if the Church ſhould ſay, though I am afflicted and ſuffer, yet the Name of my God remains, yea it is from ever­laſting. Hence obſerve, That Gods everlaſting Name afords laſting comfort to his People.

The third Argument was, the Relation they had to God, and that is in the laſt Verſe, We are Thine, Thy peculiar People in Covenant with Thee, and Thou never ruleſt over the heathen, Thou never hadſt that rule and reign in their hearts and conſciences, as thou14 didſt over and in us, and we are called by Thy Name, we do repre­ſent Thee to the World. Thus much ſhall ſuffice for the firſt thing premiſed.

Now I come to the Second thing propoſed, and that was, to De­clare how or wherein Gods Name, I AM, is the ſame to his People in all ages; and that this Truth is of ſuch weight and concernment, that it's able to comfort and conſolate the hearts and ſpirits of Gods People in the midſt of their troubles, and ſufferings: In the proof of this I ſhall indeavour to ſhew wherein Gods Name is the ſame to his People.

And firſt, as touching Gods Power; His power and ſtrength is ve­ry great, that let the troubles be never ſo many, and never ſo great, yet Gods Power is as great yea greater. We will firſt conſult with ſome Scriptures, that ſpeakes aloud to this Truth, and then apply it, Nahum 1.3. The Lord is great in Power; Oh believe this Truth and it will adminiſter comforts in your Straits; Are your ſufferings great, remember The Lord is great in Power, Deut. 9.29. Speaking of the Children of Iſrael, ſaith, Thou broughteſt them out by thy migh­ty Power; as God hath Mighty Power, ſo it is ingaged for the good of His People, Luke 9.43. And they were all amazed at the mighty Power of God: Gods Power is ſo Mighty, that it amazes the very Adverſaries of his People, Pſal. 147.5. Great is our Lord, and of great Power; We have a peculiar Relation to Him that hath this great Power, He is our Lord, Gen. 17.1. I am the Almighty God, walk before me and be thou perfect; God hath here declared him­ſelf to be the Almighty God, the Alſufficient God, able to anſwer and ſupply all wants and neceſſities, as if God ſhould ſay to Abra­ham, Walk thou before me and be thou perfect. Now leſt he ſhould object and ſay, Ah Lord, They that do walk perfectly before thee, will meet with many troubles, be expoſed to many hardſhips and loſſes; well, ſaith God, matter it not, I am the Almighty God, the Alſufficient God; Let the Troubles of his People be never ſo great, yet the Lord is Almighty, great in Power and ſtrength. Now ſeriouſly conſider this firſt thing, as part of the Name of God, remember Gods Name, I AM, He is the ſame now as ever he was, as Powerful as ever, as Strong as ever, as Mighty as ever, This is his Name for Ever, and his Memorial unto all generations. Oh ſuffering Chriſtians, give me leave to tell you, that your Fathers Power is your greateſt Pillar of ſupport in times of difficulties. See that pretious Text in15 2 Chron. 16.9. The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to ſhew himſelf ſtrong in the behalf of thoſe whoſe hearts are perfect towards him. From hence note, That there is Mighty Power and ſtrength in God, handed forth and exerciſed for the good of his People. This truth really believed how mightily would it caution the Lords People, to take heed of fears, and to live above them. One word of Uſe, and I conclude this.

Oh let us ſing Songs of praiſe of our Gods Power, it is true Gods Power is matter of fear and terror to the wicked, but its matter of comfort and joy to the Saints, Pſal. 59.16. I will ſing of thy Power, when the ſoul is in great troubles, and ſufferings; and conſider what God is, what his Name is, that he is the Mighty Powerful God, and then conſider that he is the ſame, His Name is, I AM, that the poor ſoul is ready to ſing forth of Gods Power; Believe it fellow Chriſti­ans, you are in the hand of God, Deut. 33.3. Obſerve all his Saints are in his hand, not ſome but all; oh you be ſafe enough, there is none can pluck you out of your fathers hand; and beſides he hath all Power in his hand, 2 Chron. 19.6. Oh then my dear Brethren, be not hopeleſs, for God leaves you not helpleſs; What can harm you? you have the Power of God to arm you; then labour to undergo all here, for you ſhall not onely be delivered from all, but be conquerors over all. This is the firſt thing.

A Second thing relating to Gods Name, wherein he is the ſame now as ever, and that is his Wiſdom; He is as Wiſe now as ever, and as Prudent in managing his Peoples concernments, as ever. Oh the great Wiſdom of our God, in ordering our affaires, it's matter of great Comfort and Conſolation. But firſt we will ſee what the Scri­pture ſaith concerning Our Gods Wiſdom, Rom. 16.27. To God onely Wiſe be glory; As God is Wiſe, ſo He is onely Wiſe, none like Him, 1 Tim. 1.17. To the onely Wiſe God be glory. Col. 2.3. In whom are hid all the treaſures of VViſdom and Knowledge; In our God are treaſures of Wiſdom; Conſider this dear friends, is there any Trouble or Calamity befalls you, that you know not how to come out of it, or be rid of it, well remember that your God hath Trea­ſures of VViſdom and Knowledge. Iſa. 40.28. There is no ſearching of the Lords Underſtanding, it is ſo deep and large, and therefore though that cannot be ſearched, yet it can ſearch all things, God is the alone and onely VViſe God, now in 1 Cor. 1.25. there is a ſaying ſomething ſtrange, that the Apoſtle ſpeaks, and ſome would16 be apt to conclude, that it was ſomething contradictory to what hath been ſaid; his words are, that the fooliſhneſs of God is wiſer then men; in­timating, as if there were ſome Fooliſhneſs in God; the Apoſtle doth not ſpeak nor intend it in the leaſt, but he was ſpeaking of upbraid­ing mens wiſdom, that to ſuch the fooliſhneſs of God was wiſer, he doth not ſay, the fooliſhneſs in God, but of God; but had allu­ſion to the Saints, whom as fooliſh things of God, were choſen to confound the Wiſe; Now God is ſo perfect in Wiſdom, that the very Angels he chargeth with folly, and it's ſaid of the Lords Underſtand­ing that it is Infinite.

Now conſider this ſeriouſly, God is great in Wiſdom, and as he was always ſo he is now, I AM THAT I AM, that is His Name for Ever, a Wiſe God, that by his wiſe diſpoſing of things, can make all things work for good, and can turn all your troubles and ſufferings, to the beſt advantage or profit, that you ſhall reap the fruit thereof with great gain and increaſe; He by His Wiſdom can order the Saints troubles and ſufferings to be further footings to glory and happineſs, that by his Wiſdom can allure His People into the Wilderneſs, and there ſpeak comfortably to them; Now what a comfort is it to conſider, that our Gods Name is I AM, ſtill the ſame to His People as ever He was. A word to Apply this, Is our God onely and alone Wiſe, Then let us leave all our Concernments and affairs to his diſpoſe; Our Father knows what is beſt for us, and what will conduce to our good and His glory.

Well, to proceed to the Third thing, and that is the Faithfulneſs of God; Gods Faithfulneſs is of mighty weight and concernment, that His Name is, I AM, the Faithful God, as Faithful now as ever. Gods Faithfulneſs conſiſts chiefly in fulfilling and perform­ing and making good all Promiſes and Propheſies; See the voice of the Scripture concerning this Truth, Deut. 7.8, 9. But becauſe the Lord God loved you, here was the Mercy of God, and becauſe He would keep the Oath which he ſware unto your Fathers, here was the Faith­fulneſs of God, the Lord hath brought you out with a Mighty hand, here is the Power of God, and redeemed you from the houſe of bondmen, and out of the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, here is declared the Juſtice of God: Thus conſider, ſee, and obſerve here you have His Name, which he ſent by Moſes to his People, I AM THAT I AM, this is my Name for Ever; See what the Lord ſaith further in the ninth Verſe, Know therefore that the Lord thy God He is God,17 What God? A Faithful God, which keepeth Covenant and Mercy, with thoſe that love Him and keep His Commandments to a thou­ſand generations. The Lord is not onely exactly, compleatly, and perfectly Faithful, but he is mighty large in his Faithfulneſs, the extent of it reacheth to a thouſand Generations; Here the Lord in­cludes and intends all his People, that are, or ever will be in the VVorld: One Generation continues about a hundred years if not more. Now its not reaſonable to imagine, that there would be from that time theſe words were ſpoken, to the end of the World, a thou­ſand Generations; Onely this Scripture ſhews the large extent of the Faithfulneſs of God, it reaches all Saints in all Ages, even to a thouſand Generations, if it be poſſible there may be ſo many, while the VVorld continues. Oh lay up this Word of God in your hearts, our God is a Faithful God, 1 Cor. 10.13. God is Faithful, who will not ſuffer you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the tem­ptation, make a way to eſcape, that ye may be able to bear it: The faith­fulneſs of God is as much ingaged in his Peoples ſufferings, as any other of His Attributes. In His Peoples Sufferings His Faithfulneſs is engaged Three ways.

Firſt that their Sufferings ſhall not exceed,

• 1. His Precepts to them.
• 2. Other Saints before them.
• 3. The ſtrength he gives them.

Secondly, His Faithfulneſs is engaged, that in their Sufferings for Him, He will ſtand by them, own them, and be with them.

Thirdly, His Faithfulneſs is ingaged to make good his Promiſes to them, in delivering and freeing them from troubles. Oh Chriſti­ans are your troubles and Sufferings great, and like to be greater, and you are even ready to ſink under them; well remember your Gods Name, I AM THAT I AM: He is the Faithful God, as Faithful now as ever, Pſal. 36.5. Thy Mercy O Lord is in the Heavens, and thy faithfulneſs reacheth to the clouds. This Scri­pture holds forth the multitude or abundance of Gods Faithfulneſs, that it reacheth to the clouds; As wicked mens ſins, when they are multitudes and numerous, they are ſaid to reach up to Heaven; ſo the Faithfulneſs of God is ſo continued to his, that it even reach­eth up to the clouds, Pſal. 119.90. Thy Faithfulneſs is to all ge­nerations; This alſo is a precious Scripture, that no ſoul in no age, though in the laſt days, and in the latter end of the World, when wickedneſs will abound, and ſtrange and dark Providences, with18 deſmal diſpenſations will be ſeen in the earth, yet Gods faithfulneſs abides ſtill, it endures unto all generations; therefore no ſoul, in what age or ſtate ſoever, ſhould be caſt down or troubled, but to mind the Name of God, I AM THAT I AM, the Faith­ful God: Oh that Chriſtians in all their troubles and ſufferings would have an eye to the Faithfulneſs of God, and unfeignedly be­lieve it, for it's of mighty uſe to bear up your hearts in the midſt of troubles; and truly I am perſwaded, that when God ſent Moſes with his Name I AM, to his afflicted People, he had thus much in his eye, and upon his heart, His Faithfulneſs in keeping Covenant with them, and performing His Promiſes to them: The Faith­fulneſs of God is one of his principal Attributes, and the great ſplen­dor and beauty of his Name, though all the Attributes of God are Perfect; What were it (if I may ſpeak with holy reverence) for God to be Powerful and Wiſe, if not Faithful? The Faithfulneſs of God is the great Bulwark of his People in their Troubles. Conſider that in no age, there was no Saint whatſoever to whom God was un­faithful: If ſome ſay, there may be ſome one or other; ſhew me that man or woman, what is their Name, where dwell they, when was it, or where was it, that God was not Faithful? I dare engage my ſoul, and its eternal welfare, that God is not unfaithful to any of his; Far be it from me, or any to think that there is unfaithful­neſs in God; His People may be unfaithful to Him, but He will not be ſo to them; If there be any of Gods Promiſes not perform­ed, it's not His fault, but His Peoples; His Promiſes being Conditi­onal, they breaking, or not keeping the Condition, and ſo miſs of the Promiſe to which the Condition is annexed; They break their Words and Promiſes with the Lord, but as for God, Let Him be true, and every man a liar; nay, it's impoſſible for God to lye. Thus much for the Third thing.