of the womb is cast into the lap of one appointed to take care of it, Psal. xxii. 10. Though they be destitute (as a shrub in the wilderness, which the foot of every beast may tread down) the Lord will regard them, Psal. cii. 17. It is no marvel, the weakest plant be safe in a garden: but our Lord Jesus Christ is a hedge for protection to his weak and destitute ones, even in a wilderness.

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Objection, But if the saints be so supported, how is it that they fall so often, under temptations and discouragements? Answer, (1.) How long soever they fall at any time, they never fall off: and that is a great matter. They are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation," 1 Pet, i. 5. Hypocrites may fall, so as to fall off, and fall into the pit, as a bucket falls into a well when the chain breaks. But though the child of God may fall, and that so low as "the waters go over his head;" yet there is still a bond of union betwixt Christ and him, the chain is not broken; he will not go to the ground; he will be drawn up again, Luke xxii. 31, 32." And the Lord said Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." (2.) The falls of the saints flow from their not improving their union with Christ, their not making use of him by faith for staying or bearing them up, Psal. xxiv. 13. "I had fainted unless I had believed," While the nurse holds the child in his arms, it cannot fall to the ground: yea if the unweary child hold not by her; it may fall backwards in her arms, to its great hurt. Thus David's fall broke his bones, Psal. li. 8. But it did not break the bond of union betwixt Christ、 and him the Holy Spirit, the bond of that union, was not taken from him, ver. 11.

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The last benefit I shall name is, "The special care of the husbandman," John xv. 1, 2." I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.---Every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." Believers, by virtue of their union with Christ, are the objects of God's special care and providence. Mystical Christ is God's vine, other so

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cieties in the world are but wild olive-trees. The men of the world are but God's out-field; the saints are his vineyard, which he has a special propriety in, and a special concern for, Cant. viii. 12. "My vineyard, which is mine, is before me." He that slumbers not, nor sleeps, is the keeper of it, he "does keep it; lest any hurt it, he will keep it night and day :" he in whose hand is the dew of heaven" will water it every moment," Isa. xxvii. 3. He dresseth and purgeth it, in order to further fruitfulness, John xv. 2. He cuts off the luxuriant twigs that mar the fruitfulness of the branch. This is done, especially by the word, and by the cross or afflictions; the saints need the ministry of the word, as much as the vineyard needeth one to dress and prune the vines, 1 Cor. iii. 9. "We are labourers together with God; ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building," And they need the

cross too, I Pet. i. 6.

And therefore, if we should reckon the cross amongst the benefits flowing to believers, from their union with Christ, I judge, we should not reckon amiss, Sure I am, in their sufferings they suffer with him, Rom. viii. 17. And the assurances they have of the cross, have rather the nature of a promise, as of a threatening, Psal. lxxxix. 30, 31, 32, 33. "If his children forsake my law,---then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless, my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him: nor suffer my faithfulness to fail." This looks like a tutor's engaging to a dying father, to take care of the children left upon him; and to give them both nurture and admonition, for their good. The covenant of grace does truly beat the spears of affliction into pruninghooks, to them that are in Christ, Isa. xxvii. 9. "By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit to take away his sin." Why then should we be angry with our cross? Why should we be frighted at it? The believer must take up his cross, and follow his Leader, the Lord Jesus Christ. He must take up his every day's cross, Luke ix. 23. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his

cross daily." Yea, he must take up his holy-days cross too, Lam. iii. 22. "Thou hast called as in a solemn day, by terrors round about." The church of the Jews had of a long time many a pleasant meeting at the temple on solemn days, for the worship of God: but they got a solemnity of another nature, when God called together, about the temple, and city, the Chaldean army that burnt the temple "and laid Jerusalem on heaps." And now that the church of God is yet militant in this lower region, how can it be but the clouds will return after the rain? But the cross of Christ (which name the saint's troubles do bear) is a kindly name to the believer. It is a cross indeed, but not to the believer's graces, but to his corruptions. The hypocrite's seeming graces may indeed breath out their last on a cross, as these of the stony-ground hearers did, Matt. xiii. 6. "And when the sun (of persecution, ver. 21.) was up, they were scorched: and because they had no root, they withered away." But never did one of the real graces in a believer die upon the cross yet. Nay, as the candle shines brightest in the night, and the fire burns fiercest in intense frost: so the believer's graces are, ordinarily, most vigorous in a time of trouble.

There is a certain pleasure and sweetness in the cross, to them who have their senses exercised to discern, and to find it out. There is a sertain sweetness in ones seeing himself upon his trials for heaven, and standing candidate for glory. There is a pleasure in travelling over these mountains, where the Christian can see the prints of Christ's own feet, and the footsteps of the flock; who have been there before him. How pleasant is it to a saint in the exercise of grace, to see how a good God crosseth his corrupt inclinations, and prevents his folly! How sweet is it to behold these thieves upon the cross! How refined a pleasure is there in observing how God draws away provision from unruly lusts, and so pincheth them, that the Christian may get them governed! Of a truth, there is a paradise within this thorn-hedge. Many a time the people of God are in bonds; which are never loosed, till they be bound with cords of affliction.

God takes them, and throws them in a fiery furnace, that burns off their bonds; and then, like the three children, Can. iii. 25. they are loose, walking in the midst of the fire. God gives his children a potion, with one bitter ingredient; if that will not work upon them, he will put in a second, a third, and so on, as there is need, that they may work together for their good, Rom. viii. 28. With cross-winds he hastens them to their harbour. They are often found in such ways, as that the cross is the happiest foot they can meet with; and well may they salute it as David did Abigail, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me," I Sam. xxv. 32. Worldly things are often such a load to the Christian, that he moves but very slowly heaven-ward. God sends a wind of trouble that blows the burden off the man's back and then he walks more speedily on his way; after God hath drawn some gilded earth from him, that was drawing his heart away from God, Zeph. iii. 12. "I will also leave in the midst of thee, an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord." It was an observe of an heathen moralist, That no history makes mention of any man, who hath been made better by riches. I doubt if our modern histories can supply the defect of antient histories in this point. But sure I am, many have been the worse for riches: thousands have been hugged to death, in the embraces of a smiling world; and many good men have got wounds from outward prosperity, that behoved to be cured by the cross. I remember to have read of one, who having an imposthume in his breast, had in vain used the help of physicians: but being wounded with the sword, the imposthume broke; and his life was saved by that accident, which threatened immediate death. Often have spiritual imposthumes gathered in the breasts of God's people, in time of outward prosperity, and been thus broken and discussed by the cross. It is kindly for believers to be healed by stripes: although they are usually so weak as to cry out for fear, at the sight of the pruninghook, as if it were the destroying axe; and, to think

the Lord is coming to kill them, when he is indeed coming to cure them.

I shall now conclude, addressing myself in a few words, first to saints, and then to sinners.

I. To you that are saints, I say,

First, Strive to obtain and keep up actual communion and fellowship with Jesus Christ; that is, to be still deriving fresh supplies of grace, from the fountain thereof in him, by faith and making suitable returns of them, in the exercise of grace, and holy obedience. Beware of estrangement betwixt Christ and your souls. If it has got in already, (which seems to be the case of many this day) endeavour to get it removed. There are multitudes in the world that slight Christ, though ye should not slight him: many have turned their backs on him, that sometimes looked fair for heaven. The warm sun of outward peace and prosperity has caused some to cast their cloak of relgion from them, who held it fast when the wind of trouble was blowing upon them and "will ye also go away?" John vi. 67. The basest ingratitude is stampt on your slighting of communion with Christ, Jer. ii. 31. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel: a land of darkness? Wherefore say my people, We are lords, we will come no more unto thee?" O! beloved, "Is this your kindness to your friend?" It is unbecoming any wife to slight converse with her husband, but her especially who was taken from a prison or a dunghill, as ye were, by your Lord. But remember, I pray you, this is a very ill chosen time to live at a distance from God: it is a time in which divine providence frowns upon the land we live in ; the clouds of wrath are gathering, and are thick above our heads. It is not a time for you to be out of your chambers, Isa. xxvi. 20. They that are now walking most closely with God, may have enough ado to stand when the trial comes: how hard will it be for others then, who are like to be surprised with troubles, when guilt is lying on their consciences unremoved. To be awakened out of a sound sleep, and cast into a raging sea, as Jonah was, will be a fearful trial. To feel trou ble before we see it coming, to be past hope before we