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that their corn and wine are increafed; and here

by lead them not only to fay, but to taste and fee that the Lord is good, Pfalm xxxiv. 8. There is no want to them that fear him, ver. 9.

Iniquity may feparate between us and our God, and our fins hide his face from us: But the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, ver. 15. And the promise ftands firm: Bleed are the pure in heart; for they shall fee God, Matt. viii. 5. See him reconciled to them through his Son, and walk in the light of his countenance, as being fo. The fecrets of the Lord is with them that fear him, Pf. xxv. 14. In the experience of which, they have found it eminently fulfilled, That they that feek him fhall not want any thing that is good.

2. They fhall not want the protection of his arm. The Lord hath fet apart him that is godly for himself: And he that dwelleth in the fecret of the Moft High, fhall abide under the shadow of the Almighty, Pfal. xci. 1. Their habitation is a facred inclosure, to which no evil fhall approach, that God will not over-rule for good.

3. Whatever trials they meet with, they that feek God fhall not want his prefence with them, to fupport them under them, and over-rule them for their good. Thefe he will ufe as means to mortify corruption, and take away fin; wean them from the world, and deaden them to it; exercife their graces in order to their increafe, and fo promote their meetnefs for the heavenly glory. In the mean time, when brought into the wilderness of trouble, thus comfortably he speaks to them: Ifaiah xxvii. 8, 9. Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will

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firengthen

Strengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right-hand of my righteousness, Ifa. xli. 10.

Though no chastening is for the prefent joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterwards it yieldeth the peacable fruit of righteousness, unto them that are exercifed thereby, Heb. xii. 11. In regard to which, they put their afflictions to the account of God's faithfulnefs, as mindful of his word, and acting according to it, Pf. cxix. 75. I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness haft afflicted me.

4. They fhall not want feasonable deliverance from what they groan under. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, 2 Pet. ii. 9. and hath graciously promised it. P. xci. 15. I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all, Pfal. xxxiv. 29.

5. They fhall not want the fpecial conduct of providence directing their steps, when in the most perplexing difficulties and ftraits. What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him fhall he teach in the way that he fhall chufe, Pfal. xxv. 12. He layeth up found wifdom for the righteous, Prov. ii. 7. He preferveth the way of his faints, declaring, I will inftruct thee, and teach thee in the way which thou fhalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye, Pfalm xxxii. 8.

And how sweet has it been for those, who have fought the Lord, and waited for him, to look upon his kind appearances for them! how frequently he hath fcattered their doubts, and been better than their fears; removed their burdens, answered

their prayers, fucceeded their endeavours, fatisfied their defires, and exceeded their hopes! Whofo is wife, and will obferve things, even they shall underftand the loving kindness of the Lord, Pf. cvii. 43.

6. They shall not want neceffary provifion and fupply in times of the greatest distress. As the children of God dwell on high, in point of safety; fo bread fhall be given them, and their water fhall be fure, lai. xxxiii. 16. The Pfalmift concludes upon grounds common to all Ifraelites indeed, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. righteous fhall have good things in poffeffion, Prov. xxvii. 10. They fhall not be afhamed in the evil time; and in the days of famine they shall be fatisfied, P. xxxvii. 19.

The

7. They that seek the Lord fhall not want the privilege of coming with acceptance to the throne of grace, and fpreading their cafe before him. The facrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight, Prov. xv. 8. He is well pleafed with their approaches to him; pities them as a father pities his children; understands their request, how imperfectly foever uttered, and is ready to fupply their wants, according to his riches in glory thro' Jefus Chrift.

8. They that feek the Lord as going through this world to eternity, fhall be guided by his counfel, even unto death, and afterwards received unto his glory. And even in the evening time, when God fees it good for them, it shall be light with them; and when flesh and heart are about to fail, God will be the ftrength of their heart, and their portion for ever, Pfal. lxxxiii. 26.

Thefe

These are fome of the encouraging things contained in the promise made to them that seek God, that they fhall not want any good thing.

I now proceed to fhew,

III. By what fuch a promife as this is to be measured, That they that feek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

This is neceffary upon the account of the objection that may be made from the variety of trials, which fuch as are dear to God, and fincerely feek him, often labour under. Their cafe is fometimes fad, and leads them with deep fenfe to fay as the Apfile, If in this life only we had hope in Chrift, we are of all men most miferable, 1 Cor. xv. 19.

But however, They that feck the Lord fhall want nothing that is good here on earth, i. e.

1. So far as is fuitable to their prefent imperfect ftate, out of which they are gradually recovering. And thus God fulfils his promife, though he bestow not all that is defirable upon his children ; this not being the place of our compleat felicity and reft. A place of unmixed enjoyment of all good, and perfect freedom from all evil is the defcription of heaven, and not to be expected on this fide it.

To have light without darkness, ease without pain, health without fickness, plenty without all want, holinefs without fin, and life without death, is referved for the promised land, and what our condition in a wildernefs will not admit.

To have no forrow, fufferings, fears, or ftraits; no enemies, temptations, wearinefs, or wants: To have every defire filled up, and all matter of

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complaint removed, is the privilege of those who have finished their travels, and are called home by their heavenly Father, to take poffeffion of the inheritance prepared for them. And while we are followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promifes, if we have enough to our fafety and fubfiftence, direction and progrefs, we want nothing of good belonging to our infant unfettled ftate, and fuitable to it.

2. They that feek the Lord fhall want nothing that is good, with reference to the great defign he is carrying on, viz. his own glory, and his people's falvation; which all his proceedings towards them, make way for, and fhall iffue in. And thus he performs his promise, notwithstanding the troubles wherewith his fervants are fometimes exercifed. Afflictions are grievous, and fo not defirable in themfelves: But yet as they have an influence reaching to eternity, and as they tend to promote the divine honour, and our everlafting bleffedness, they are matter of our rational choice now, and will be of our thankfulness and praise hereafter.

Mofes having refpect to the recompence of reward, chofe rather to fuffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of fin for a feafon; efteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, Heb. xi. 25. For our light afflictions that are but for a moment, work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 2 Cor. iv. 17. By this therefore fhall the iniquity of Jacob be purgea, and this is all the fruit to take away bis fin, Ifa. xxvii. 9. We are chaftened of the Lord,

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