2ly. In the losse of all things, in the greatest straights and extremities, Gods children yet find comfort in God, that God their portion is not lost. Thus as David when his wives, and children, and friends, and servants, and cattell were all devoured by an enslaving and captivating sword, and he finds no Remainder, but burnt walls and ashes, and his own company ready to stone him, yet as David they take comfort, and incourage themselves injoying their God.
7thly.
Ready obedience to God.
7tly. It is an argument of spirituall health, and strength, when the holy Commandments of God are not grievous, but pleasant and delightfull to us: when we can say as the Lord Jesus said, it is our meat and drink, to do our heavenly Fathers will: when we are active and ready at the commands of God, and can say (when the Lord asketh whom shall we send) send me, as the Prophet Esay said: And as the Lord Jesus Psal: 40. Here I am, I delight to do thy will O my God: when we can without repining, grudging, or delaying, obey commands most grievous to flesh and blood, against not only flesh and blood, but against carnall reason, yea against Hope and Faith it self, as Abraham did, in offering up his most dear and only son Isaac.
Obj. But may not Hypocrites obey the commands of God, as Saul did, &c?
I answer, they may indeed obey Gods commands by halves as he did, and as a servant, and hireling, serve God for wages, and with eye service, with opinion of merit, and boast of their halt and lame service, as Saul did. But Gods children imbrace all the commands of God with delight, even the least, and most despised, with the greatest and most difficult, and when all is done, they confesse they have need of mercy, and are unprofitable Servants.
Obj. But may not Gods children live in the disobedience of some commands of God, and yet be healthfull, and strong in grace?
The sins of Gods people.
I answer, it is impossible that a child of God should (either in spirituall health or sicknes) live in the breach of any known command of God his Father. Tis true, Abraham, and Jacob, and David, and others, lived long in the sin of many wives, out of ignorance of Gods will, and Gods children to this day, even the holy Martyrs or Witnesses of Jesus, (who accounted their heart bloods not too dear for Christ) have and do live in the breach of many Commandments, that concern the worship of God: But they are herein like a traveller deceived, by a false path, which when he once really suspects, he cannot walk a step with ease, now do they cry out with David, Psal: 119. I will walk at liberty, for I seek thy precepts: And when God saith seek my Face, their Hearts answer, Lord thy face will I seek. Psalm 27.
8thly