he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God 4. By Christ overcoming the world the world is become ours the troubles of the world which would of themselves hinder our Salvation shall be made through the Conquest of Christ to further our Salvation Phil. 1.19 I know that this shall turn to my Salvation The Apostle speaks of his Bonds and of the afflictions some evil minded men thought to add to his Bonds ver 13.16 And he knew that his afflictions should be so far from hindring that it should be a furtherance of his Salvation See also 2 Cor. 1.6 VVhether we be afflicted it is for your Consolation and Salvation which is effectual in enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer The Salvation of the Corinthians was effectual that is powerfully promoted effectually carried by enduring the same sufferings which the Apostle endured Hence the World through Christ is said to be ours as well as all other things 1 Cor. 1.21 22 23. Because even the troubles of the World are through Christ made to work for our advantage § The intercession of Christ a ground of comfort against the troubles of the World II. The intercession of Christ is a ground of comfort against the troubles of the World Joh 17.9 13. I pray for them whom thou hast given me And these things I speak in the VVorld that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves He acquainted them with his praying for them on purpose that their hearts might be filled with joy It is a comfort to such as are in affliction to hear that good men are always mindful of them in their Prayers to God 1 Thes 3.6 7. You have a good remembrance of us alwayes Therefore Brethren we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your Faith If it were good tidings to the Apostle to hear that the Thessalonians had good remembrance of him always and that which did comfort him in all his affliction and distress How much more may it comfort us in all our affliction and distress to hear that Jesus Christ hath good remembrance of us alwayes and ever liveth to make intercession for us For 1. Though Christ be in Heaven and we are upon the Earth he beareth us upon his heart continually This was typified by the high Priest under the Law Aaron bore the names and the judgment of the Children of Israel upon his heart continually when he went into the holy place Exod. 28.29 30. And Aaron shall bear the names of the Children of Israel upon the Breast plate of judgment upon his heart when he goeth in unto the holy place for a memorial before the Lord continually And shall bear the judgment of the Children of Israel before the Lord continually Aaron the high Priest was a Type of Christ who is our great high Priest Heb. 4.14 Aarons going in unto the holy place was a Type of Christs ascending into Heaven Heb. 9.24 What Aaron did Typically when he entred into the holy place that Christ doth really for us now he is in Heaven And what was it that Aaron did when he went into the holy place 1. He bore the names and he bore the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart The judgment of the Children of Israel may signifie all their causes their affairs their condition this teacheth us Christ our high Priest knoweth his by name and that both their persons and conditions are born upon his heart 2 Aaron bore the names and judgments of the Children of Israel upon his heart at all times when he went into the holy place twice it is mentioned that he bore them continually which teacheth us that neither our persons or conditions are at any time forgotten of Christ but they are upon his heart continually now that he is in Heaven Psal 73.23 I am continually with thee That is continually upon thy heart under thy care And as David was so are we continually with Christ 3. Aaron bore both the names and judgment of the Children of Israel for a memorial before the Lord continually So Christ our high Priest as he carrieth our persons and conditions upon his own heart so he continually presenteth our case and condition before his Father The Apostle said 2 Cor. 7.3 You are in our hearts to die and live with you The like may be said of Christ concerning all that are his They are so much in the heart of Christ that he dyed for them and now that he is raised from the dead they are so much on his heart that he will live with them for evermore The Church of Christ is more upon the heart of Christ than the Church of Corinth was upon Pauls heart Now if the Saints had such a Room in Pauls heart that it was in his heart to live and dye with them then how much are all the Saints upon the heart of Christ What the Lord saith of Solomons Temple 2 Chron. 7.16 Mine Eyes and mine Heart shall be there perpetually The same is true of all Christians that are the Temple of God 2 Cor. 6.16 Ye are the Temple of the Living God The eyes of the Lord and the heart of the Lord shall be upon them perpetually Christs bearing us upon his heart is set forth by his carrying his Lambs in his Bosom Isa 40.11 He shall feed his Flock like a Shepherd he shall gather the Lambs with his Arm and carry them in his Bosom It is not said he shall put them but he shall carry them in his Bosom intimating that not only strong Christians but the weakest and most feeble and shiftless are always born upon his heart And in doing this he fulfills his Peoples Prayers for they desire to be set as a Seal upon the heart of Christ Cant. 8.8 Set me as a Seal upon thine heart as a Seal upon thine Arm. The Seal makes and leaves an impression upon the Wax and all the cuts and engravings on the Seal are imprinted on the Wax 't is as if the Spouse should have said carry me upon thy heart as men use to carry Seals which they are very chary of and that there be deep and abiding impressions of all my troubles graven upon thy heart set me as a Seal upon thine Arm that is manifest the love of thine heart by thy actings towards me and for me put forth thy power to help me in all my troubles The Apostle had great confidence that God would give preserving grace to the Philippians because they were much in his heart to pray for them every time he went to the Throne of Grace Phil. 1.4 6 7. Always in every Prayer of mine for you all making request with joy Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it untill the day of Jesus Christ even as it is meet for me to think this of you all because I have you in my heart If the
of trouble the Lord hath promised his presence to such as belong to Christ Ps 91.15 He shall call upon me and I will answer him I will be with him in trouble Isa 43.1 2. Fear not For I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the Rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shall not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee Now the presence of God going along with us will comfort us living and dying it will be our refreshment under all manner of troubles Exod. 33.14 My presence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest Moses was forty years in the Wilderness with the Israelites who were a froward people and both the difficulties of the place in which he walked and the difficulties of the people among whom he walked created him much vexation and trouble but under his troubles he found ease and comfort from the presence of God going with him A man that hath the Almighty All-sufficient God with him need not fear any thing Isa 4.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee be thou not dismayed for I am thy God He need not fear any kind of Death or any kind of troubles he need not fear Men or Devils for God can do more for us then all Creatures can do against us This was Davids consolation against the fear of Death that he had God with him and did so raise his courage that he feared no evil when he was passing through the Valley of the shadow of Death Ps 23.4 Yea though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of Death I will fear no evil for thou art with me Obs It is true may some say If God were with us this would raise our Faith dispel our fears put joy and gladness into our hearts under all our troubles living and dying but we can't find God is with us Yea many that have an interest in Christ find God standing afar off and hideing himself in time of trouble as we see Ps 10.2 Isa 49.14 A. The Lord is alway's ready and truly though not always sensibly present with them Ps 125.2 As the Mountains are round about Jerusalem so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever The Lord is for ever with and round about his people although sometimes their eyes are held and they perceive it not And then their Faith is weak so that judging by Sence rather than by Faith they think God hath forsaken them when as he is graciously with them and they know it not What Jacob said of the place where he lodged Gen. 28.16 Surely the Lord was in this place and I knew it not The same may be said of some persons Surely the Lord is with them and they know it not Now the Lord is alwayes with his people these two wayes even when they are ready to say that he hath forsaken them 1. He is present with them in respect of his love and favour Isa 54.10 My kindness shall not depart from thee Ps 89.33 Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take away from him Joh. 13.1 Jesus having loved his own loved them to the end 2. The Lord is alwayes present with his people by inward supports and secret upholdings of them Deut. 33.27 The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting armes Isa 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness Ps 73.23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee thou hast holden me by my right hand Though David was ready to say in his hast that he was cast out of Gods sight yet he found upon recollecting himself that he was continually with God and upheld by him 6. Interest in Christ is a ground of strong consolation under all sorts of troubles and also against the terrours of Death because they that are Christs are in covenant with God and are heirs of all the promises They are in Covenant with God Ezek. 16.8 I sware unto thee and entred into a Covenant with thee saith the Lord God and thou becamest mine They are Heirs of all the promises Gal. 3.29 And if you be Christs then are ye Abrahams seed and heirs according to the promise 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen to the glory of God by us If all the promises of God be upon and Amen in Christ then when Christ is ours all the promises of God are ours And this is a ground of strong consolation under all manner of troubles to be in covenant with God and to have an interest in all the promises of God For the Scripture is full of great and precious promises promises of all good things pertaining to this life and the life which is to come and to have an interest in all these promises is a matter of unspeakable joy By acquaintance with the covenant and promise of God our Souls may dwell at ease whatever troubles come upon our outward man Ps 25.13 14. His Soul shall dwell at ease and he will shew them his Covenant The Psalmist speaking of a man that feareth God saith his Soul shall dwell at ease and then sheweth how this is brought to pass and that is by acquaintance with the Covenant He will shew them his Covenant The dwelling of the Soul at ease implyeth the abundance and continuance of inward and Spiritual comforts which are enjoyed by our acquaintance with the Covenant The promises are sweet Cordials which refresh the Soul in times of greatest distress Ps 60.6 God hath spoken in his holiness I will rejoyce In the three first verses there are sad complaints of grievous afflictions O God thou hast cast us off thou hast scattered us thou hast been displeased Thou hast made the Earth tremble thou hast broken it Thou hast shewed thy people hard things thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment Now what will comfort a man at such a time as this What will make a man rejoyce under such amazing providences when God seems to cast off and be displeased when God scatters his people shewes them hard things makes them drink the Wine of astonishment when the very Earth trembles at Gods judgments The promises of God will comfort in such a dark day as this is God hath spoken in his holiness I will rejoyce When David was in a persecuted condition and they that persecuted him were no mean men but great Persons Princes Saul and his Courtiers he had exceeding great joy in the Promises of God Psal 119.161 162. Princes have persecuted me without a cause I rejoyce at thy word as one that findeth great spoil When David was in a dying condition he found strong consolation from his interest in Gods covenant 2 Sam. 23.1 5. Now these be the last words of David Although
34. If his Children forsake my Law and walk not in my judgments if they break my Statutes and keep not my Commandments then will I visit their Transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my Faithfulness to fail My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my Lips § No doubts about our Spiritual estate to be indulged or admitted but upon Scripture grounds 3. After you have closed with Christ and God hath cleared up to your Souls your interest in Christ by his Word and Spirit admit no doubts about your interest in Christ but upon Scripture grounds Satan labours what he can to keep us in a doubting condition all our dayes because doubts of this nature hinder our comfort weaken our faith and are impediments to our glorifying God And therefore after clearest evidences of our interest in Christ he will be thrusting doubts into our minds whether webe Christs yea or no that he may puzzleus herein as long as we live After our Lord Jesus Christ had it witnessed to him from Heaven that he was the Son of God Matth. 3.17 And lo a voice from Heaven saying this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased The Devil tempted him twice with doubts about his Sonship Matth. 4.3 6. If thou be the Son of God if thou be the Son of God Now if Satan adventured to suggest doubts to our Lord Jesus Christ after he had his Sonship witnessed in an extraordinary manner even by his Fathers voice speaking from Heaven to him it is no marvail if he be often suggesting doubts to us about our interest in Christ after clearest manifestations thereof Wherefore it will be our wisdom to examine all our doubts to see whether there be real grounds from the Holy Scriptures for such doubts and if there be not then to reject them as the suggestions of Satan and the sinful fruit of our own unbelieving mistrustful hearts As Christ said to Peter Matth. 14.31 O thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt So should we say to our own hearts when doubts arise in our hearts wherefore do I doubt Have I cause from the word of God to question my interest in Christ because of this or that which is suggested to me If not reject those doubts as causeless and as proceeding from Satan § Interest in Christ is consistent with great imperfections sore afflictions dreadful temptations conflicts between the Flesh and Spirit want of influences succeslesness in Holy Duties and the hideings of Gods face 4. It is of great use to the holding fast the perswasion of our interest in Christ to have a right understanding of the State and Condition of a Christian in this present evil world A man may be united unto Christ and have a saving interest in him and yet be sensible of many and great imperfections and be exercised with sharp afflictions and dreadful temptations he may feel a law in his Members warring against the law of his mind and find great conflicts between the Flesh and the Spirit he may feel great dryness and want of Spiritual influences and be under the hideings of Gods face and meet with other exercises of his Faith and notwithstanding all these things he may be Christs and Christ may be his As I shall shew by instanceing in the several particulars 1. A man may be sensible of much imperfection in himself he may find very great defects in his best duties and yet be one that hath a saving interest in Christ God may be his Father and he may be one of Gods Children Isa 64.6 8. We are all as an unclean thing and our righteousnesses are as filthy rags But now O Lord thou art our Father There are Babes in Christ as well as young Men and Fathers and they that are but Babes in Christ are so full of imperfections that in some things they seem more like to carnal men than Spiritual 1 Cor. 3.1 And I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual but as unto carrnal even as unto babes in Christ yet these Babes in Christ that had much carnality in them were truly interested in Christ as we may see ver 23. ye are Christs 2. A man may be exercised with sharp and sore afflictions such as may melt and break his heart and yet have a saving interest in Christ Cant. 2.2 16. As a Lilie among Thorns so is my love among the Daughters My beloved is mine and I am his When the Spouse was a Lilie among Thorns that is compassed about with sharp afflictions which did prick and grieve her like Thorns she was Christs Love and Christ was hers and she was his When David was afflicted very much and his troubles such as melted his Soul and broke his heart he did not question his interest because of his afflictions but could and did own it that he was the Lords Psal 119.28 107. My Soul melteth for heaviness I am afflicted very much compared with ver 94. I am thine save me A man may be exercised with horrid and dreadful temptations and yet be one that hath an interest in Christ The Apostle Paul who was a chosen Vessel and had an undoubted interest in Christ was under the buffettings of Satan which were as grievous to his Soul as a Thorn is grievous to the Flesh 2 Cor. 12.7 There was given to me a Thorn in the Flesh the Messenger of Satan to buffet me lest I should be exalted above measure Our Lord Jesus himself was tempted by Satan to great and grievous sins to get bread when he was hungry to cast down himself from a Pinacle of the Temple which was in effect to have destroyed himself and to fall down and worship the Devil And what worse sin than to worship the Devil Matth. 4.6 9. Now if Satan adventured to tempt our Lord Jesus Christ to such horrid sins as these are We need not wonder if he assault his Members with temptations to the worst of sins as Blasphemy Idolatry Atheism Self-Murder and the like 4. A man may have a saving interest in Christ and yet feel in himself the indwelling corruption which may incline him to that which is evil and hinder him in doing that good which he desireth to do He may feel the lustings of the Flesh opposing the workings of the Spirit of Grace He may feel the Law in his Members warring against the Law of his Mind and sometimes leading him Captive to the Law of Sin and yet be one that is made a partaker of the saving benefits of Christ We find the Apostle Paul uttering such complaints as these Sin dwelleth in me The good that I would that I do not but the evil which I would not that I do I find a Law that when I would do good evil is present with me I see another Law in my Members warring against the Law of my mind
them her love to them and delight in them was as strong and fresh in her old age as in the day of her Espousals when she first set out and began to tast that the Lord was gracious It is not to be spoken how she hazarded her weak body to hear Sermons to attend upon the Lord in all opportunities enjoyable â—t was generally observed in Stratford that â—he was sick indeed if she was not at the word either on the Lords day or at Church meetings on the week day Nothing but a very afflictive hand of God kept her at home It was her daily study how to glorifie God in every condition and under every dispensation that was either prosperous or adverse that was principally her study how and in what way God might be most honoured and his name advanced by her She had a heart for Vniversal Obedience walking as Elizabeth in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless She evidenced that she was a friend to Jesus Christ by doing whatever he commandded her and through that friendship between Christ and her she found she could do nothing so well as the will of Christ and found that obedience easie loved Jesus Christ with a superlative love and served him not with half an a heart but sincerely with the whole heart yea delighted in serving of him she had a Law within suitable to the Law without which rendred it natural to her to act graciously Jesus Christ was her Life his Grace and Image were implanted in her Soul that from a Spirit of love to him even in old age when weak and sickly she acted for Christ yea above her strength he was in her so much by his Spirit that she thought nothing too much to do for him and his She was full of good projects and designs for Jesus Christ loved to visit the sick and afflicted and those who walked in darkness as to their spiritual conditions loved to acquaint themselves with her who by a great treasure of experiences was able to afford Counsell and comfort to them A Christian able to speak a word in season to the relief of any soul under spiritual burdens and pressures And as ready to impart what Jesus Christ had Communicated unto her and the Lord Communicated the more to her because she was so free to Communicate to others laying up her experiences as for her own good so for others that they might be comforted with the same comforts that she was comforted with-all Her discourse never tended to self applause or commendation neither was it burthensome frothy or unsuitable but always savoury Christian and profitable commanding the ears of all about her In her Family she was frequently taking opportunities in the day time and evening and when ever she thought it seasonable to be speaking of the things of God of the excellency of Jesus Christ of the way of Life by him opening the miserable condition of a soul out of Jesus Christ setting forth the evil of sin the immortality of the Soul the sufferings and eternity of the punishment of Hell to her Children Servants and those that lived with her and was daily dropping in and working upon them to make them serious and considerate and as God had given her a choice gift that way so he made a great use thereof her counsels warnings threatnings invitations and holy instructions were made singularly advantagious and useful to the convincing quickning and edifying those committed to her charge so as they had cause for ever to bless God for the gracious words which proceeded out of her mouth She was always taking of opportunities to be calling upon those in a natural estate to mind the great concerns of their Souls and to be exciting provoking encouraging and strengthning those whose face was Zion ward her words were as choice Silver seasoned with Grace mostly Scriptural The Sermons that she heard on the Lords day or Week day were much the Subject matter of her discourse The Light of Gospel Grace and Truth did so shine in her as that her presence laid a restraint upon Sinners it was a curb unto vain Persons if they came into the Room where she was present She was exact and much in private Duties every day and yet so prudent in the singling out of the time as that the place in the Family wherein she stood never missed her She had at all times a due respect to the duties of both Tables and both in her Life and Discourses shewed how inseparable they were commending to all persons with whom she had to do the necessary and indispensible observation of both She looked upon time as a precious thing that was not to run waste and was diligent in the improvement of the Sands of every hour so as there was no part of her Life from Morning unto Evening that was an empty space but was laid out either in doing or recieving good Like the Summer she brought forth every thing in its season wisely forecasting and timeing whatsoever she had the ordering of She studied to excel in faithfulness and uprigh ness in all she undertook like Nathaniel she was without allowed guile had the Testimony of her Conscience that in simplicity and Godly sincerity she had her Conversation in the World very zealous for the truth of Jesus Christ following the Lamb whithersoever he went She had a very publick Spirit minding the good of others where she lived much taken up about the welfare of the Nation and was deeply concerned for the interest of Christ all the world over daily bore Zion and the work that God was doing in the world upon her heart and laid out her self much in Prayer for those things She had a large heart for Jesus Christ and for all that were his though of differing perswasions always putting the best construction upon every thing but sin was no way censorious or ready harshly to judge others but did most fairly coustrue their actions and carriaages speaking modestly and moderately of them Gospel Charity ruling her Spirit in all wonderful affable and courteous so as the Grace and sweetness in her words and carriage did win upon all that she conversed with that they loved her and said that she was made up of love She by Grace was enabled to Regulate her affections had a choice poise continually upon her Spirit that she seldom or never roiled or was disturbed but walked in an even and composed frame though none more sympathizing loving tender and affectionate than she yet were her affections always in order and under command free from excessive and disturbing passions that do often put the strings of the Spirits of most men and women out of tune and so render them unfit for what they are called too in the place wherein the Lord hath set them She had a fresh remembrance of the means and methods of the Lords dealing with her in bringing her Soul unto him and of her many experiences she had of