THIS is the great Promise, to which all the Saints under the Old and New Testament are Heirs, _I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a People_[m]: And if we are interested in it, the happy Consequence is, that we being his, all our Concerns are his also; all are humbly resigned to him,--and graciously administer'd by him,--and incomparably better Blessings bestowed and secured, than any which the most afflictive Providence can remove. IF we have any Share in this everlasting Covenant, all that we are or have, must, of course, have been _solemnly surrender'd_ to GOD. And this is a Thought peculiarly applicable to the Case immediately in view. "Did I not," may the Christian, in such a sad Circumstance, generally say, "did I not, in a very solemn Manner, bring this my Child to God in Baptism, and in that Ordinance recognize his Right to it? Did I not, with all humble _Subjection to the Father of Spirits_[n], and _Father of Mercies_[o], lay it down at his Feet, perhaps with an express, at least to be sure with a tacit Consent, that it should be disposed of by him, as his infinite Wisdom and Goodness should direct, whether for Life or for Death? And am I now to complain of him, because he has removed not only a Creature of his own, but one of the Children of his Family? Or shall I pretend, after all, to set up a Claim in Opposition to his? A Heathen Parent, even from the Light of Nature, might have learn'd silent Submission: How much more then a Christian Parent, who hath presented his Child to GOD in this initiatory Ordinance; and perhaps also many a time, both before and since, hath presented himself at the Table of the Lord! Have I not there taken that _Cup of Blessings_, with a declared Resolution of accepting every other _Cup_ how bitter soever it might be, _which my heavenly Father_ should see fit to _put into my Hand_[p]? When I have perhaps felt some painful Fore-bodings of what I am now suffering; I have, in my own Thoughts, particularly singled out that dear Object of my Cares and my Hopes, to lay it down anew at my Father's Feet, and say, _Lord thou gavest it to me, and I resign it to thee; continue, or remove it, as thou pleasest._ And did I then mean to trifle with GOD? Did I mean in effect to say, _Lord, I will give it up, if thou wilt not take it?"_