from others in the time of general declining, who would have the Lord to diftinguish them from others in the time of general calamity.-We shall point out,

II. The marks of favour by which, in times of great calamity, God ufes to distinguish such. III. We fhall fubjoin fome reafons of the point, to confirm it.-And,

IV. Make fome improvement.

We are then,

I. To fhew how those must distinguish themfelves from others in the time of general declining, who would have the Lord to distinguish them from others in time of general calamity.-Here we observe,

1. That they must be beft, when others are worft: Gen. vi. 9. "Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generation; and Noah walked with God." Their candle muft fhine brightest, when that of others is dying out. It is the property of holy zeal for God and his way, to become more vehement by oppofition; fo that the declining of others is as oil to their flame. It was better with Lot when he dwelt among the Sodomites, than when with his own children in the cave: 2 Pet. ii. 7.-10. "And delivered juft Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked, (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in feeing and hearing, vexed his righteous foul from day to day with their unlawful deeds)." The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to referve the unjuft unto the day of judgement, to be punished." "It is time for thee, Lord, to work; for they have made void thy law. Therefore I love thy commandments above gold, yea, above fine gold." If religion be dying out among

others,

others, this will the more kindle an holy fire of zeal, and increase it in their own breafts. We observe,

2. That they must cleave to God, especially in that article in which others are leaving him, as in Caleb's cafe; that is to fay, they must be careful that they be not led away with the fins of the time, that they do not enter into the general confpiracy of the generation against the Lord and his way, whether it be against truth or holiness. Thus the promise was to those who kept the life and power of godlinefs in Sardis, where there was a great general declining, a deadnefs and formality, and the bare carcase of religion: Rev. iii. 4. "Thou haft a few names even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy."-We observe,

3. That they must witness against every declining, according to their ftations, and as they have accefs, for the exoneration of their own confciences, and the honour of God. Thus did Noah, that preacher of righteousness, to that unrighteous world. Thefe muft give a real teftimony by their contrary practice, and, as they may have accefs, labour to withdraw others from finful courses. Thus did Caleb.We obferve,.

4. That they must be mourners over the fins of others, lamenting them before the Lord; fighing and crying for all the abominations which are done in the midst of the land, Ezek. ix. 4. They must mourn for those who cannot mourn for themselves. When the glory of God is impaired by the fins of an apoftatifing generation, their love to the perfons of the finners, and hatred of their fins, must draw tears of godly forrow from their eyes.

LET us now,

II. Point out the marks of favour by which, in times of general calamity, God ufeth to distinguish fuch. There is,

1. Liberal furniture for duty, in a large communication of the Spirit, when the Spirit is withdrawn from others: Matth. x. 19. "But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye fhall fpeak, for it fhall be given you in that fame hour what yes fhall speak." The Lord calls not his people to ferve him for nought; he even rewards the will to his work, with ftrength for it. If they be refolute to bear his burden, God will strengthen the back for it. Hence it comes to pass, that God's people never make better speed, than when rowing against the stream of oppofition.-There is,

2. Intimations of his special love to their fouls. Thus had Caleb in the text. The faints of God have often golden days in the dregs of time upon this account. When the deluge of public calamity carries incorrigible finners before it, with their burden of guilt upon their back, the faints are then made to reft in the evil day, by virtue of that peace which they have with God and their own confcience, Hab. iii. 16.-There is,

3. Special provifion in a time of calamity: Pfal. xxxvii. 19. "They fhall not be afhamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they fhall be fatisfied." God rifeth often to fee well to the provifion of thofe whose work it is to cleave to their duty, and rely on the Lord for their provifion : Pfal. xxxvii. 3. "Truft in the Lord, and do good; fo fhalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou fhalt be fed." So that their faces are fatter and fairer than those who eat of the defiled meat.There is,

4. Special protection in an evil day. God fets

a mark on their foreheads: Ezek. ix. 4. "And the Lord faid unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerufalem, and fet a mark upon the foreheads of the men that figh, and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof." They are always protected from the evil of trouble; but God fometimes, befides this, affords them fpecial protection from trouble, by fome furprising providence removing them out of the way of it; fometimes by making them find favour in the eyes of their enemies : Jer. xv. 11. "The Lord faid, Verily, it shall be well with thy remnant; verily, I will cause the enemy to intreat thee well in the time of evil, and in the time of affliction." And fometimes by hiding them in the grave before the calamity come on: Ifa. lvii. 1. 2. " The righteous man perifheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none confidering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness."

Laftly, He gives them the crown of glory: Rev. ii. 1o. "Fear none of these things which thou fhalt fuffer; behold, the devil fhall caft fome of you into prifon, that you may be tried; and ye fhall have tribulation ten days: Be thou faithful unto the death, and I will give thee a crown of life." He brings them into Canaan above, and crowns them, while others, who forfook God, are for ever forfaken of him; and they who finned with the multitude, fuffer with them for ever: Luke, xxii. 28. 29. 30. "Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and fit on thrones, judging

the

the twelve tribes of Ifrael."-We how proceed very shortly,

III. To fubjoin the reasons of the point, to confirm it.-Here we offer the following, viz.

1. It is hard work to follow fully in a declining time, to strive against the ftream which is fo ready to carry people away: Matth. xxiv. 12. " And because iniquity fhall abound, the love of many fhall wax cold." Hard to keep warm in cold Sardis, Rev. iii. 4. To keep up the flame of religion, when a deluge of fin comes on, is very hard work. But hard work has always the greatest reward from the Lord.

2. It is a piece of special honour to God; and thofe who honour him he will honour. It is not fo much to follow Chrift when he hath a great backing, as to cleave to him when many are dropping off from him on every hand.

3. The Lord orders it fo for the encouragement of his people, to follow him fully. He gives them the view of the recompence of reward, to encou rage and animate them in preffing forward towards. the mark for the prize of the high calling of God: in Christ Jefus.

IV. We are now to make fome brief improvement of the whole; and this,

1. In an use of information.-We see,

(1.) That none fhall be lofers at God's handi They that cleave to him, when others leave him,. God will cleave to them when he forfakes others. Our errand will come in his way, and he will shew himfelf mindful of any respect and love fhewn him by them that walk uprightly.We fee,

(2.) That he who walketh uprightly walks furely, come what will come. Whofo wanders from

God's