Transcribed from the 1817 R. Thomas edition ,
THE
Believer’s Confidence
IN A
FAITHFUL GOD,
AND THENEEDLESS
Triumph of his Enemies
CONSIDERED,
IN
A SERMON,
Preached onLORD’s DAY MORNING, November 23, 1817.
AT SEVEN O’CLOCK,
At the SurreyTabernacle,
BOROUGHROAD,
BY JOHN CHURCH,
ON HISTAKING LEAVE.
THOUGH I WALK IN THE MIDSTOF TROUBLE THOU WILT REVIVE ME;
THOU SHALT STRETCH FORTH THINE HAND UPONTHE WRATH OF MINE
ENEMIES, AND THY RIGHT HAND SHALL SAVEME.—Psalm cxxxviii, 7.
Southwark:
Printed by R. THOMAS, Red Lion Street, BOROUGH.
1817.
p. 3ASERMON, &c.
Micah viii,6th.—“Rejoice not againstme, o mine enemy; when I fall, I shallarise; and when I sit indarkness, the Lord shall be a lightunto me.”
MY DEAR FRIENDS,
I am come this morning to perform one of the most painfultasks that ever fell to my lot. I am come to take farewellof those who are dear to God, dear to angels, dear to each other,and dear to my heart upon the most noble principles. ThoughI trust it is but a temporary farewell in general, yet to many itwill be perhaps a long farewell, even till we meet in glory,where parting shall be known no more for ever; and to others wholive and die enemies to the dear and adorable Saviour—tohypocrites in Zion, to formalists and pharisees, dying such, Isay it is an eternal farewell. We shall meet no moreperhaps on praying ground—but be it known unto you, mytestimony p.4for God and truth you have heard many times, will neverbe out of your consciences, either in heaven or hell; it will befor or against you, either a savour of life unto life, or ofdeath unto death. And now behold, many among whom I havepreached the gospel will see my face no more—painfulthought! but I bow to the solemn, awful, just, and I may add, Iam sure, merciful dispensation; fully persuaded it is my duty,nay, more, it is my salvation, to bow to the will of the greathead of the church. Nature shrinks, but faith looks forwardto the grand end which my heavenly father has in view—andbeing already assured by his word, and by his spirit, that Ishall be favoured with his manifesta