art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.-Hearken to me ye, that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the 'pit whence ye are digged. For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord: joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgivings, and the voice of melody.— Come, and let us return unto the Lord for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. Then shall we Ps, xliii, 5, Isa, li, 1, 3. :: know, if we follow on to know the Lord his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.-Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree, and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. I have blotted out as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins: return unto me, for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye heavens, for the Lord hath done it; shout ye lower parts of the earth, break forth into singing ye mountains, O forest and every tree therein; for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified him Hos. vi. 1-3. Isa. lv. 13, self in Israel. Thus saith the Lord thy redeemer; and he that formed thee from the womb: I am the Lord that maketh all things. That confirmeth the word of his servant; and performeth the counsel of his messengers.-Fear not little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.-Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I I said unto you, go away and come again unto you.-My God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus. -Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of Isa, xliv. 22-26. Luke, xii. 32. Joha, xiv. Phil. iv. 19. your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth ; though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Whom having not seen ye love, in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 1 Pet. i. 6-8. CHAP. V. OF THE DUTY AND PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER, AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO MAINTAIN PATIENCE, AND A PERSEVERING WATCHFULNESS THEREUNTO, UNDER DISPENSATIONS OF BARRENNESS AND DARKNESS OF MIND. --- THE effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.Watch therefore : for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. For the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.— Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.-Watch and pray, that ye enter not into James, v. 16. Mat. xxiv. 42. Rom. x. 12 |