our Father, our Redeemer, thy name is from everlasting." We should hold by it, and by no means quit it, as the guilty did by the horns of the altar. Therefore saith the apostle, Heb. x. 25, "Cast not away your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward."

II. The next head is to shew why they who have taken God in Christ for their refuge and portion, should recognise their so doing. They should do it,

1. For the honour of God in Christ. It tends to the Lord's honour for his people to be often recognising and re-acknowledging their subjection to him, and their consent to the covenant, Jer. iii. 4, forecited. For it says, they remember it, stand to it, own it, profess it consistently, are satisfied in it, and plead the benefit of it. For this cause the sacrament of the supper was instituted, and is often to be celebrated, that so the covenant may be confirmed and recognised again and again.

2. To revive the impressions of it on their own souls, Psal. xvi. 2. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord. We are apt to forget what we have most solemnly said unto the Lord in the covenant. Hence Moses says unto the children of Israel, Deut. iv. 23," Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God which he made with you. How soon did Peter and the rest of the disciples forget, after the first communion, what they had said unto the Lord? The hearts of the best are fickle; impressions of good are easily worn off them, and very soon too do they begin to grow weak. We have much need therefore to be putting ourselves in mind of what passed in that case, lest the heart be like the adulteress, which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God, Prov. ii. 17.

3. Because there is a competition in our case betwixt the Lord, and the world with the lusts thereof; and after we have said to the Lord, Thou art my refuge and my portion, these will set upon us to take them for a refuge and a portion. Wherefore this is necessary in that case to make a decision of the case still, and to silence the Lord's competitors, and cut off their pretences to us: even as a woman already espoused would recognise her espousals, to silence one continuing to make suit to her, Tit. ii. 12.

4. To excite ourselves to the duty of the relation constituted by that saying. If we have taken refuge under the shadow of the Lord's wings, we must be as obedient children, walking according to the law of our God, our Husband, elder Brother, and King. If we have taken him for our portion, we must live to and for him, as we live by him, Psal. ciii. 18. But we will be ready to neglect our duty, if we call not to mind the engagements to it, taken upon us.

5. Lastly, To strengthen us in the faith of the privileges of the relation. It will serve to confirm our trust in him for safety and satisfaction, when we remember that we have said unto the Lord, Thou art my refuge and my portion. It will be a means to cause us to adhere to him as such, Job xiii. 15. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.

I come now to apply this doctrine to them that have said the Lord is their refuge and their portion, and to those who cannot be brought to say it,

FIRST, Let me address myself to you who have said unto the Lord, Thou art my refuge and my portion, at a communion-table or otherwise.

First, Since ye have said it, recognise, reflect upon, and call to mind your saying it.

1. Do it often; often call to mind your saying it. We find David often upon it, Psal. xvi. 2. forecited. Psal. xxxi. 14, "I said, Thou art my God." exix. 57," Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words." cxl. 6, "I have said unto the Lord, thou art my God." Ye cannot remember it too often; for it is a thought that is always seasonable. It must be habitually in your mind it must never be out of it, either virtually or expressly. For your hearts are apt to forget the Lord: and, forgetting him, and your relation and engagement to him, ye go astray.

2. Do it occasionally at some times in an explicit manner. Renew this your transaction with God, and set it again before your eyes expressly, and that on these four occasions especially.

(1.) When a temptation is before you to sin, in thought, word, or deed; as Joseph did, Gen. xxxix. 9. How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? Many think they are to be excused in the woful out-breakings of their corruption, because forsooth they are provoked and tempted: as if a soldier should say, he did not yield to the enemy until he attacked him. But ye are called to resist temptation, that ye may resist it, to remember that ye have said unto the Lord, Thou art my refuge and portion. Let that thought pass through your heart before ye yield, and it will help you to stand.

(2.) When ye find yourselves unfit or backward to duty, take this into your thoughts in a believing manner: so will ye see both what may excite you to duty, and what may encourage, strengthen, and oil the wheels of your soul: as Paul experienced, Rom. vii. 24, 25, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Here is your relation to God, and your privilege.

(3.) When ye are in danger or difficulties that ye know not how to get through; then remember, that ye have said to the Lord, Thou art my refuge. This is the way to compose your souls in a patient waiting for God, and comfortable expectation of relief from him; whether they be dangers of your soul, body, outward estate, reputation, &c.

(4.) When ye are under the world's frowns, things going wrong with you there, when the persons or things of the world disappoint you in your expectations from them: then remember ye have said, Thou art my portion. This will be of use to compose your heart under all these, since these are not, but God is your portion.

3. Do it sometimes in a solemn stated manner, taking some time by yourself alone to review what passed betwixt God and your soul in the day you said, Thou art my refuge and portion. Self-examination is necessary after as well as before a communion: and I must say, it is a very bad sign, when people are at no pains that way after a communion. If ye have not done it as yet, see that ye do it this night; retire yourselves by yourselves a while, and review what you said to the Lord this day eight-days; to whom, how, upon what grounds, and where ye said it. And particularly examine yourselves, whether ye said it sincerely or not, Thou art my refuge. If you have made God in Christ your refuge then,

(1.) Ye will have a superlative esteem of him above all persons and things, 1 Pet. ii. 7. Unto you that believe he is precious. The city of refuge was better to the refugee than all the land of Canaan besides, for there only could he be in safety of his life. And God in Christ will be better to the sincere soul than all persons or things else, Psal. lxxiii. 25, "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee." Luke xiv. 26, “If any man come after me, and hate not his father and mother, &c. he cannot be my disciple."

(2.) Ye will have fled to him for safety from sin, as well as from wrath, Matth. i. 21, "Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins." Ye will have made his sanctifying Spirit, as well as his justifying blood, your refuge. And because the sincere refugee flees from sin as sin, your souls will be longing to be rid of all sin, counting it as your enemy and the pursuing avenger; and the remains of sin in you, will be your soul's burden, Rom. vii. 24, forecited.

(3.) Ye will look for safety from God in Christ alone, and not from the law or your own works: For by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified, Gal. ii. 16. From thence will be the support of your souls. When a man is without the city of refuge, if the aven

ger of blood pursue hot, then he quickens his pace; if he halts, then he halts, all his motions and comforts depending on his motions or haltings. But when he has got within the city, it is not so with him. Thus as to men out of Christ, the great motives to obedience are fear of punishment and hope of reward by their works, which are the great grounds of their comfort: but the soul which has made God in Christ its refuge, looks for its safety only in Christ's works and suffering, Phil. iii. 3. rejoicing in Christ Jesus, and having no confidence in the flesh; and so its labour is turned into a labour of love, Heb. vi. 10.

Secondly. Since ye have said, That God in Christ is your refuge, hold by it, and carry yourselves accordingly.

I. Abide in your refuge, John xv. 4. Cleave to God in Christ as your refuge for ever, Acts xi. 23. Your continuance there is necessary to evidence your sincerity, John viii. 31. "If ye continue in my love, then are ye my disciples indeed." Drawing back is dangerous, Heb. x. 38, "If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." It speaks hypocrisy, 1 John i. 19, "They went out from us, but they were not of us for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest, that they were not all of us." And,

(1.) Venture not out without the borders of your refuge, Heb. iii. 12, Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." A man is no longer in safety than he is within the refuge, Num. xxxv. 25, 27. For without it death reigns, without it is nothing but the land of darkness and shadow of death.

(2.) Beware of betaking yourselves to any other refuges, for their is no safety in them, Acts iv. 12. forecited. Every man is sensible he needs a defence, something to trust to for safety in his straits : but all things else beside God in Christ will be found lying refuges which will not secure you, Isa. xxviii. 17. And,

[1] Make not men your refuge. For," Thus saith the Lord, Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desart, and shall not see when good cometh, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited," Jer. xvii. 5, 6. David was not one that had much experience of men's falsehood, and disappointing the expectations of those that trusted in them, Psal. cxlii. 4, "I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me; refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. Therefore saith he, It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man. It is

better to trust in the Lord than to put trust in princes, Psal. cxviii. 8, 9. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth : in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God," Psal. cxlvi. 3, 4, 5. Wherefore in all cases where ye may be in hazard this way of placing confidence in men, beware of it, and place your confidence in God.

[2.] Nor make world's wealth your refuge, Prov. xviii. 11. "The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit." O what safety are men apt to promise to themselves from their abundance! and yet after all it proves but a refuge of lies: Psal. lii. 6, 7, “The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him. Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness." Much need is there then to take heed to the advice, Psal. lxii. 10, If riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

[3.] Nor make your own works and duties your refuge. Paul could not trust himself under that covert, but desired to be "found in Christ, not having his own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith," Phil. iii. 9. It is natural to men, when conscience is raised on them, and begins to pursue them, to flee to their own works and doings, and to seek refuge about mount Sinai for their guilty souls, as the Jews did, who sought after righteousness, not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law, Rom. ix. 33. Your only safety is under the covert of blood.

[4.] Nor uncovenanted mercy, mercy for mere mercy's sake, as many do, who, not careful to be savingly interested in Christ, betake themselves to mercy, without betaking themselves to Christ by faith. These, justice will draw from the horns of the altar; for without shedding of blood is no remission, Heb. ix. 22. It is mercy through a propitiation, that is the only safe refuge for a guilty creature; for, said the publican, God be merciful [propitious Gr.] to me a sinner, Luke xviii. 11.

2. Improve your refuge for safety, comfort and establishment in all cases. This is the life of faith which all believers are called to as that wherein their duty and interest jointly lie, Gal. ii. 20, "I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the

me, and gave himself for me." And,

Son of God, who loved

(1.) With respect to sin, improve your refuge. When ye are assaulted with temptation from the devil, the world, and the flesh,