[Sidenote: God himself the portion of his.]
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_.
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?
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_.
