signs are delivered unto you, then know and remember, and consider in your hearts, that I therein plight you my troth, and set to my hand, and do thereby ratify and confirm every article of these indentures, and do actually deliver into your own hands this glorious charter, with all its immunities and privileges, as your own for ever.a Secondly. The Nether Springs, or mercies temporal: 1. The supply of his creatures. And having sowed to you so largely in spiritual blessings, shall you not much more reap the temporal? Be you not of doubtful mind;-all these things shall be added unto you. My creatures I grant for your servants and supplies. Heaven and earth shall minister to you: all the stars in their courses shall serve you, and (if need be) shall fight for you.d And I will make my covenant for you with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; and you shall be in league with the stones of the field; and all shall be at peace with you. I will undertake for all your necessities. Do I feed the fowls, and clothe the grass; and do you think that I will neglect my children's I hear the young ravens when they cry; shall I not much more fulfil the 1 Cor xi, 25. Gen. xvii, 10. b Luke xii, 29, 31. c Psalm viii, 3 to the end. d Judges v, 20. Job v, 23. Hos. ii, 18. f Mat. vi, 25 to the end. desire of them that fear me?a Fear not; you shall be sure to want no good thing. You would not yourselves desire riches, pleasures, or preferment, to your hurt. I will give meat to them that fear me; I will be ever mindful of my covenant.c 2. The co-operation of his providences. My providences shall co-operate to your good.d The cross wind shall blow you the sooner and swifter into your harbour. You shall be preferred, when you seem most debased; and then be greatest gainers, when you seem to be deepest losers; and most effectually promote your good, when you seem most to deny it.e II. THINGS to come ours. Things to come are yours: the perfecting of your souls, the redemption of your bodies, the consummation of your bliss. 1. At death, in glorification initiate. When you have glorified me for a while on earth, and finished the work I have given you to do, you shall be caught up into paradise, and rest from your labours, and your works shall follow you.f a Psalm cxlv, 19. cxlvii, 9. b Psalm xxxiv, 10. c Psalm cxi, 5. d Rom. viii, 28. e2 Cor iv. 17. Mark x. 29. Phil. i, 29. f Rev. xiv, 13. Luke xxiii, 43 2. The convoy of angels. I will send of mine own lifeguard to conduct home your departing souls,a and receive you among the spirits of just men made perfect; and you shall look back upon Pharaoh, and all his host, and see your enemies dead upon the shore. 3. Redemption from all afflictions. Then shall be your redemption from all your afflictions. 4. The thorn in the flesh taken out.. The thorn in the flesh shall be pulled out, and the hour of temptation shall be over, and the tempter for ever out of work. 5. The sweat wiped off from our brows. The sweat shall be wiped off from your brows, and the day of cooling and refreshing shall come; and you shall sit you down for ever under my shadow. For the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne, shall feed you, and lead you to the living fountains of waters.d 6. The tears wiped away from our eyes.. The tears shall be wiped away from your eyes, and there shall be no more sorrow.nor a Luke xvi, 22.. b Heb. xii, 23. Acts iii,, 19); Heb. iv, 9. d Rev.. vii, 17 the crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away, and behold I make all things new. I will change Marah into Naomi, and the cup of sorrow into the cup of salvation; and th bread and water of affliction, into the wine of eternal consolation, b You shall take down your harps from the willows, and I will turn your tears into pearls, and your penitential psalms into songs of deliverance. You shall change your Ichabods* into Hosannahs, and your Ejahst of sorrow into Hallelujahs of joy. 7. The cross taken off from our backs. The cross shall be taken off from your backs, and you shall come out of your great tribulations, and wash your robes, and make them white in the blood of the Lamb; and you shall be before the throne of God, and serve him night and day in his temple. And he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among you; and you shall hunger no more, nor thirst any more; neither shall the sun light upon you, nor any heat. 21. a Rev. xxi, 4, 5. b John xvi, 20, 22. Luke vi, • Rev. xix, 1, 4, 6. * Where is the Glory? or There is no Glory-An expression used by Eli's daughter-in-law, as a name for the son of whom she was delivered a little before her death, when she had heard of the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead. 1 Sam. iv. 19-21. † Ejah, an exclamation of grief. 8. The soul's admission into the chamber of presence, and vision of God. Thus shall you be brought to the King, all glorious, in raiment of needle work, and clothing of gold; with gladness and rejoicing shall you be brought, and enter into the King's palace So shall the beloved of the Lord dwell safely by him; and you shall stand continually before him, and behold the beauty of the Lord, and hear his wisdom. Then will I open in you an everlasting spring of joy, and you shall break forth into singing, and never cease more, nor rest day or night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy."d Thus shall the power of the tempter to distress you expire with your breath, and the day of your death shall be the birthday of your glory.e 9. At the resurrection, in glorification consummate, redemption complete. The return of the Redeemer. The raising of the body. Have faith in God.f Wait but a little, and sorrow shall cease, your last enemy a Rev. vii, 14, 15, 16. b Psalm xlv, 9. 13, 14, 15. c1 Cor. xiii, 12. d Rev. iv, 8. Psalm xvi, 11. e2 Cor. v, 6, 8. Phil. i, 20, 23. Luke xxiii, 43. f Mark xi. 22. |