armsful

They may know that they were in God’s hand from eternity, and out of God’s hand they were put as a compliment into Chriſt’s hand, if I may ſo expreſs it; and indeed he is infinitely well-pleaſed with the compliment; he takes an armsful of them, as it were, out of God’s everlaſting arms; and he hugs them in his boſom; for his delights were with the ſons of men; and whenever he ſees the travail of his ſoul, he is ſatisfied: and when he hath hugged them in his redeeming arms, till he hath juſtified, ſanctified, and completely ſaved them, then he will give them back to the Father’s hand again, preſenting them blameleſs to him, ſaying, “Behold I, and the children which thou haſt given me.” There muſt then be a gathering of the people to him, becauſe there was a giving of the people to him.