weeps he watcheth he runs he fights he strives and all to obtain further assurance to apprehend that for which he is apprehended of him And so much for the more general signs of our Interest in God To touch secondly about a few more special signs of having him our help and hope First If God be our Help and we so make him there will be a disobligation to and utter discarding of rejection and casting away all creature-confidence The Soul hath no confidence in the arm of flesh as to its spiritual condition not in Means and Ordinances gifts parts duties graces enjoyments but accounts all loss as to its temporal condition it trusts not to its power wit policy strength wealth estate friends makes not fine Gold its hope as Job speaks in vindication of his integrity cap. 3.24 Ezra was ashamed to go with a request to the King though in a good Cause having first declared his trust in his God Ezra 8.12 A gracious Soul renounceth all carnal dependencies whatsoever Neither Circumcision or Uncircumcision avails him he glorieth only in the Lord. He will not pluck the Crown off the head of Free grace or snatch it out of the hand of Divine power to set it on the head of a poor finite Creature A carnal heart can trust any thing but God a Christian can trust nothing but God him before any thing all things A Worldling can trust God in nothing a Saint in all things at all times can trust him with his Name Estate Liberty Life Soul his all trust him in good dayes of peace and prosperity in evil dayes of trouble and adversity being carefull for nothing but in every thing making his requests known to God with Prayer and Thanksgiving committing his whole way and care to him and his Providence Which is a second Note A constant exercise of dependance on God and on God alone He is his hope and his habitation to which he continually resorts Psal 71.2 Do's he want any mercy he goes by Faith and Prayer to his God for it do's he meet with any mischief or injury he goes again and pours forth his overwhelmed Soul in complaints before the Lord he waits for him and looks to him His eyes are up to the Heavens whence his help comes Mic. 7.7 Therefore saith the Church will I look to the Lord and wait upon the God of my salvation And so David Psal 5.3 In the morning will I direct my prayer to thee and will look up When he hath shut his mouth he will open his eye his ear and when himself knows not what to do hear what his God will say He is alwayes confident in the Lord and triumphs in the God of his salvation Now because an Hypocrite may harbour a false dependance and a counterfeit hope as well as a Christian a well-grounded confidence let us try it by some following Touch-stones which is the third and last particular concern'd in this Inquisition with which I shall dismiss it namely to give some Notes or lay before you some properties and effects of a Saints fixed hope in the Lord his God which may discriminate and contradistinguish it from the languishing and vanishing hope of Hypocrites and carnal Professors And them take in these following particulars First A godly mans hope is a grounded Hope He hath the root of the matter in him The righteous hath an everlasting foundation the Hypocrite hath no bottom These have no root Luk. 9.13 The house on the Sands was raised to an equal height with that on the Rock and the difference was not in the superstructure but only in the foundation A carnal man may have as firm a confidence as a Saint and an Hypocrite as strong a presumption as an upright Soul hath a perswasion but not so good an evidence Now confidence is always nought without evidence The jetting hope of an Hypocrite is built upon his external profession and priviledges as a worldlings is on his meer outward enjoyments His confidence is in the flesh but a Saints hope is bred and maintained too by the Word and Promises Heb. 6.18 19. It 's nourisht by spiritual influences and experiences As it is founded on the Lord Jesus Christ that bringing in of a better hope that hope in us of our glory so 't is backt with good evidence I will trust in him saith Job though he kills me I will maintain mine own wayes before him He also is become my salvation but an Hypocrite shall not come before him cap. 13.15 16. The Apostle calls a Believers a good hope through grace 2 Thess 2.16 through grace favouring as the Spring and grace sanctifying as the suel of it Secondly It is an Effectual hope hath a blessed vertue and efficacy in it especially a six-fold vertue First Ad purificandum to purifie the heart and Conscience of a Christian What the Apostle saith of Faith may be said of Hope it purifies the heart Yea he sayes it expresly of this grace also 1 John 3.3 He that hath this hope purifies himself even as God is pure Secundum speciem though not gradum in kinde and quality though not equality If not in act yet at least in endeavour and affection Hope purgeth the Conscience from dead works to serve the living God by it the Soul draws nigh to God and comes to have a sight and view of him and Omnis visio affimilat Proportionable to our Faith is our Holiness and to our Expectations our Conversation This distinguisheth it from all Formalists presumption Hypocrites lean on the Lord and are confident of his presence amongst them though they perpetrate all manner of wickedness and do all kind of abominations Mic. 3.11 But in vain do sinners load Gods back and yet pretend to lean on his Arm. Security and presumption lead men to sin Isa 57.10 Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way yet thou saidst not there is no hope Thou hast found the life of thine hand therefore thou wast not grieved And desperation also makes them rush on in courses of Iniquity Jer. 18.12 They said there is no hope but we will walk after our own devices and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart a sad and desperate conclusion But true hope draws the Soul off from sin Whatsoever a Childe of God doth he will not sin against and away his hopes but having hope in Gods Word and in those great and precious Promises he cleanseth himself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit Tit. 2.12 14. Secondly Ad excitandum it quickens unto duty It 's a living yea a lively hope 1 Pet. 1.3 Where hope is in the centre obedience is in the circumference David conjoyns them Psal 119.166 Lord I have hoped for thy salvation and done thy Commandments Believing puts upon doing Hope of mercy quickens and animates to duty We believe and therefore we speak and act too and no good hope of the end without due use of the means means must
proportion and perpetuity or duration and these are only found to centre in God himself who is God self and all-sufficient the portion of his peoples Souls and God from everlasting to everlasting the Alpha and Omega who hath neither beginning of dayes nor end of life but is the same yesterday to day to mornow and for ever But this is only imply'd Secondly and more particularly with reference to the chief scope and intendment of the Text as the notion of help speaks a relation to the circumstances of an evil time a time of disappointment and affliction observe That the supreme yea sole ground of comfort and confidence in an evil day a day wherein a soul needs â—elp is interest in God O thrice happy is that Soul that in any day especially in a day of trouble and affliction hath God for his Help This was all the Musick of Davids Joy when on the top of the waters of distress and outward disconsolation This was his sole encouragement that spake well to his Soul when all things seemed to look asquint on him and be against him 1 Sam. 30.6 This was the only surviving hope of the Prophet Jeremiah in the day of evil This was the alone remaining prop of the Churches Consolation in times of greatest persecution Mic. 7. and depopulation Hub. 3. This was the ground of her acclamations under all worldly disturbances and commotions The Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our resuge Psal 46.7 Now the verity of this point will appear and be made good from a double consideration Both from the Nature of God and also the manner or the peculiar properties of that Help he affords his people First From the Nature of God who is his Peoples Helper Now amongst many other there are four or five things especially considerable in God which bespeak the Saints happiness interested in him in an evil day First The Infiniteness of his Being Isa 40.12 13 14 28 29. All his Attributes are equal because they are all infinite Who hath limited the holy one of Israel or can confine him that is Eternity Canst thou by searching finde out God Job 11.7 Though we may know him to salvation who can know him to perfection Creatures are all finite though never so excelsent but his understanding is infinite His Power Wisdom Justice Holiness Truth and Mercy all carry an infinity with them He is not measurable by the line of humane reason or fathomable by the plummet of any created understanding but still we must cry out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements and his waies past finding out Rom. 11.33 He can do every thing and no thought can be with-holden from him Job 42.2 Men can do something but God can do all things he is omniscient omnipotent and omnidisponent Now all the wants and straits of the creature are but finite and inter finitum infinitum nulla est proportio there is no proportion between finite afflictions and infinite compassions Secondly The Absoluteness and Independency of his actings He doth whatsoever he pleaseth in Heaven or Earth or all deep places Psal 135.6 He sits on the circle of the Heavens and all the Inhabitants of the earth are but as so many Grashoppers before him All the Inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing and he doth according to his will in the Army of Heaven and among the Inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand or say unto him what dost thou There is none 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 absolute and independent but God only so miraculous is his providence as he does great things past finding out yea and wonders without number Job 9.10 All second causes depend on him for their being motion and operations and in every strait and exigency that befalls must say as the King to the woman Except the Lord helps we cannot help But though Heaven acts on haec inferiora the first cause on the second it never goes to the second while that ever goes to the first The spring depends not on the stream though that depends on the fountain All created beings depend upon God though he depends on no created perfections but for through and to him are all things His own arm when that of the creaturesis quite withered can work salvation to him and his righteousness sustain him Thirdly The Immutability of his purpose and promises He works all things according to the counsel of 〈◊〉 â—wn will And his decrees issue forth as between mountains of brass Zach. 6.1 His counsel shall stand and he will do all his pleasure Isa 46.10 If he decrees who can disannul he cannot lie or repent but will perform all he hath spoken his whole word to his Servants Fourthly The Tenderness of his bowels He hath not only a fulness and riches of grace but exerciseth a freeness in his operations and while creatures act according to desert he doth all from free grace and hath abundance of compassionsâ— which are never failing to his People He i◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Father of pities and compassions and they are all the genuine off-spring oâ— uncreated goodness He hath the wisdom of a Father and the bowels of a Mother Isa 41.15 Mercy is his darling which pleaseth him Micaâ— 7.18 The Benjamin of his delight he will not alwaies chide nor be angry for ever As a tendeâ— Shepherd carries his Lambs so does he his People in his bosome his bounty may be seen in his bowels as in an Anatomy Hos 11.8 How shall I give thee up O Ephraim mine heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled together Fifthly The Eternity of his existence He is the eternity of Israel the rock of ages and God of all Generations Creatures are but of yesterday and must shortly say to corruption Thou art our Father and to the worms ye are our Brethren and Sisters but his years have no end and endure throughout all generations He that builds on him shall never be ashamed but have an everlasting foundation In the Lord Jehovah Isa 26.4 is everlasting strength So that put all these together and they must needs speak his People happy in the worst of times whose help is laid on such an infinite immutable independent compassionate and eternal God as their only refuge Secondly It 's demonstrable from the manner of his supply and help And so their happiness in this their interest appears First A facultate from his ability to help he is the Mighty God yea the Almighty Gen. 17 1. An able and self-sufficient yea an Alsufficient God to his people he hath pleonasms of grace and can do abundantly yea superabundantly for his above all they can ask or think Ephes 3.20 He hath not plenitudinem vasis but fontis a fulness of redundancy as well as of abundance Does the soul want pardon he can abundantly pardon grace he
when we extravagate from him but will never utterly disinherit us and cast us out of his favour and protection but though for a moment he forsakes with everlasting kindness he remembers us Fourthly This teacheth us the folly and danger of all oppositions against and oppressions of the People of God If God be their help who shall be their destroyer or dare be their opposer And yet such is the madness and phrensie of the world as they will venture to set themselves against those God hath set himself for The wicked have shamed the counsel of the poor because the Lord is his refuge They know what to do well enough with him for all that they are resolved to persecute him let him save and deliver him Many there be saith David which say of my soul there is no help for him in his God Psal 3.2 3. These in their triumphant bravado's and flourishing vapours are their vain and cursed conclusions I will pursue I will overtake that 's their desperate resolution The world is resolved to hate those God loves and persecute them God hath undertaken to protect They will kick against the pricks and though they cannot reach the person Christ whose Image the Saints do but represent yet Panther-like in their rage they will tear the picture Either by secret fraud they are consulting against Gods hidden ones to undermine them or by open violence endeavouring to overthrow them But such is the Saints stability in God that the very gates of Hell shall never prevail against them They are as Mount Sion that cannot be moved They do but throw stones against the wind go about to pluck the Sun out of Heaven as those Barbarous Nations who when scorched by the heat of it endeavour with their arrows to shoot at it There is no enchantment against Jacob nor divination against Israel saith Baalam himself a Wizzard Numb 23. And God hath set a noli me tangere about his People Psal 106.15 Yea promised that no weapon formed against them shall prosper God will turn those weapons against themselves and cause all their arrows to return on their own heads God will be an enemy to his Peoples enemies and bring ruin on all the Churches oppressors It 's Solomon's counsel not to oppress the poor because his Redeemer is mighty The Most High regards it and will reward it too and relieve them under it For the oppression of his poor and needy he will also arise and set him in safety from him that puffeth at him Psa 12.5 God is his Peoples second and stands at their back he will uphold Jacob though a Worm he hath undertaken their defence and will vindicate their cause They therefore have no cause to fear or their enemies to triumph God stands Sentinel over them never slumbers or sleeps and they may sleep securely while he awakes as that great Commander did when his Captain was watching the enemies motion David will never flie or run for 't as long as he hath God for his shield Psal 11.1 In the Lord saith he put I my trust how say ye to my soul fly as a Bird to your Mountain And neither have their enemies any ground of confidence Would not you think that man worse than mad whom you bend setting his shoulders against a strong and well-built house thinking to overturn it of its foundation or against an impregnable Rock endeavouring to remove it from its place Such and infinitely far worse is their vanity who set themselves against the Lord and his Anointed None ever yet set himself against the Almighty or shall ever do but will be sure to have the worst of it God saies Zach. 12.3 He will make Jerusalem a burthensome stone for all people all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces Heerom tells us that at the entrance of the gate of Jerusalem there lay very great stones by the lifting whereof men used to try their strength He that could heave them came off without any harm but they which attempted and could not lift them were sorely bruised and battered if not utterly spoiled by them Such will be the issue and success of all wicked mens designs and enterprizes against Gods People who have him as the stone of their help all their powers policies attempts and under-ground devices shall come to nought and confusion their mischief come down on their own head and their violent dealing on their own pate yea all their confâ—deracies and combinations as well as conspiracies and secret machinations shall be broken in pieces Isa 8.9 10. And as God told the Israelites once when leaning on the Egyptians both he that helpeth and he that is holpen shall both fall together Isa 31.3 O that the world would at length learn the wisdom not to oppose God and so run on the pikes of their own inevitable ruin but rather kiss the Son lest they perish in his wrath when kindled but a little And which is a consequence of this or rather a just inference upon it let all that pretend to bear good will to Sion beware openly or covertly of taking in against Gods interest and cause whatsoever be their disguises or pretences lest it comes home by them in the end If Meroz was cursed for not helping the Lord against the mighty what will be their doom who dare help the mighty against the Lord If good Jehosaphat had so sharp a reproof for helping with the ungodly and those who did not fear the Lord 2 Chron. 19.2 They must needs not only be blamed but also cursed who will venture to aid abet or assist the wicked against those who fear the Lord and are the objects of his help and protection And so much by way of deduction and inference Secondly This provokes to examination If they be thus happy who are interested in God and have him as their help and hope it 's worth our enquiry whether this God be our God and consequently our help and hope in the day of evil Now if we would know this our interest let us take first some general signs of an interest in him Secondly some more particular evidences or discoveries of our making him our hope and help The first mark or sign of an interest in God is union with him in and through Christ All creatures through the fall are out of favour at Heaven and there is no coming to God but through his Son He is the way the truth and the life The way in which the truth by which the life unto which the soul moves and comes No man comes to the Father but by him nor knows the Father but 't is of his revealing We are far off from God by nature but draw nigh through Christs blood that new and living way If we know him we know also the Father Are our souls united then to Christ by faith have we received him as our Lord and Saviour Prince and Priest to save and sanctifie redeem and rule us are
we joyned to him by the same spirit does he dwell in our hearts by faith is he in us and we in him and abides in us as the hope of our glory our interest in him is a sure and infallible evidence of our interest in the Father He is the only Jacobs ladder whereby we can climb up to communion with the God of Jacob. His foot is on Earth but his top in Heaven The second is our covenant obligation to him I entred into a covenant with thee saith God and thou becamest mine Ezek. 16.8 Isa 55.3 There is a mutual covenant between God and his People as he hath engaged for their salvation so have they for his service O Lord I am thy Servant quoth David and so the Church Micah 4.5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his God and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever She gives up her self to God not only in a way of single considence but resolute obedience The relations are mutual between God and his People he becomes theirs and they his They are betrothed in the marriage-covenant to him in judgement righteousness tender mercies and faithfulness and they know the Lord. Art thou then O soul brought into covenant with God hast thou broken off that accursed league with sin and Satan by righteousness and engaged thy soul solemnly to become a faithful servant to him as thy only Liege-Lord and no other Art thou resolved to fear love and serve him in holiness and righteousness all the daies of thy life and to glorifie him in thy soul body and spirit which are his Thy engagement for his glory is an hopeful sign of his engagement for thy good Thirdly Intimate acquaintance and indeared communion with him Abraham had great interest in God and as great acquaintance with him We may see in Sodoms case how boldly he goes to him Friendship with God breeds an holy familiarity So Moses had a large share in Gods favour and God spake to him face to face and he talked with him again as a man with his familiar friend There are sweet communications of counsel between God and a gracious soul Our fellowship is with the Father 1 Joh. 1.3 David was a man after Gods own heart and had intimate acquaintance with God went to him by faith and prayer on all occasions It 's good for me saith he to draw near to God and one daies communion with him is worth a thousand It was said of Charls the great he conversed more with God than men As all communion is founded in union so true union discovers it self by flowing forth in acts of communion Now Christian what communion maintains thy soul with God in prayer private secret in meditation in publick Ordinances Is it thy meat and drink thy joy and rejoycing to work righteousness and meet him in his waies Thou canst have no interest in God if thou livest without him in the world nor canst call him Father truly if thou hast not or dost not know him Fourthly Sympathy and fellowship with him Gods interest and the souls are not two but one they are like two Turtles if one dies the other never lives comfortably after but sorrowing for the loss of her Mate God is sensible of and well-pleased with all the good done to his People his language is Inasmuch as ye have done it to these ye have done it to me And his people are affected with and rejoyce in all the glory is brought to him and had rather lose their comfort than their God should lose his honour They desire he alone should be magnified and are willing to be made stirrups for him to rise by though it be by their utter downfall And as they are satisfied in each others good so sensible of each others evil God sympathizeth with his Peoples sufferings In all their afflictions he is afflicted And they with his affronts and injuries The interest of God lies nearer their hearts than any thing else in the world They count not their own lives dear so they may but save his honour and so he be magnified though they be reproached impoverished imprisoned bamshed pâ—rsecuted they think themselves well apaid What sympathy hast thou with Gods cause and interest dost thou account the glory brought to him as good done to thee and take the injuries he suffers as offered to thy self Canst thou wish thy self a shield to sence off those dishonours which are cast on the face of thy Lord and Master Art thou meek as a Lamb in thy own cause but fierce as a Lion in Gods zealous for the Lord God of Israel how art thou affected when thou hearest his holy Name torn by the black mouths of the wicked and their tongues set on fire from Hell when thou seest his Creatures abused his Ordinances prophaned his People trampled under foot his Truth despised his Attributes blasphemed his Sabbaths unhallowed his Worship polluted If thou beest in the relation of a Son thou wilt not endure to see one spit on thy Fathers face or an ingenuous Servant wilt not bear thy Masters wrong behind his back Fifthly Suitable affections Where there is interest in God all the affections of the soul have their out-goings after him Thou hast First An high esteem and valuation of him Whom have I in Heaven but thee Interest raiseth estimation The Father esteems his Child and the Husband his Wife and so vice versà above all other though they be deformed and others beautiful they weak and others healthful they rich and others poor they ignorant and others learned and knowing because of their propriety in them A Saint values God above all the world above all things visible or invisible counts all loss dross and dung in comparison of him He alone is to him the Pearl of true price Gods People are precious to him above all others and so is he to them likewise They will part with all for him preferring him before all and venture all rather than lose their hold of him or sacrifice their interest in him omnia levia preterquam quod tui carendum How stands their esteem poised Secondly Thou hast an ardent and affectionate love towards him I will love the Lord my strength saith holy David Psal 18.1 Self-interest makes a man love his own Whom believing we love The applications of faith are alwaies seconded with the imbraces of love He that hath God for his God hath had experience of his love in Christ some tastes of his love shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost and he cannot but love him by whom he was first loved This love constrains him Amor meus Pondus meum Does mercy love misery and shall not misery love mercy beauty affect deformity and shall not deformity re-affect beauty glory shine on dust and they not reflect on glory Nimis durus animus qui etsi amorem non vult impendere tamen non vult rependere Bernard
they triumphant or his peoples low and they despondent and desperate First The influx of divine help is then seasonable under the enemies rage height and insolency when they blaspheme the God of Heaven and say Where is their God become There is no help for him in his God Ah so would we have it God hath forsaken him persecute him and take him there is none to deliver him we offend not they have sinned against the Lord the habitation of Justice the hope of their Fathers God then will make no delay but make haste for their help When the malignant Church vaunted it against the true as the debaucht Harlot against the chaste Mistress she returns her this answer Micah 7.8 10. Rejoyce not against me O mine enemy Though I fall I shall rise She that is mine enemy shall see it and shame shall cover her which said to me Where is the Lord thy God Secondly Under the Saints succumbency when they seem to be swallowed up quick of the rage of their adversary to fall by the power of corruption to be in such an estate as they cannot extricate and winde themselves out by all their policy and industry yea are ready to conclude The Lord hath forsaken them and there is no hope their hope is perished their way hid and their Judgement passed over from their God it 's in vain and they will wait on the Lord no longer are ready to leave off and quite give over praying waiting hoping and believing their spirits fail them and they are ready to put forth their hand to iniquity their extremity is his opportunity This is that David urgeth Psal 70. ult I am poor and needy O God thou art my help and deliverer And so the Church Psal 44. ult Our soul is bowed down to the dust and our belly cleaves to the Earth Arise for our help When Gods servants know not what to do in ipsa hora dabitur and when they are exposed to great injuries and oppressions it repents the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them who oppress and vex them Judg. 2.18 I have seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt and heard their cry by reason of their Task-masters and I know their sorrows And when their sighing and crying came up before God by reason of their bondage he thought them meet for deliverance Exod. 2.24 cap. 3.7 9. The Rabbins have a proverb Cum duplicantur lateres venit Moses when the tale of Bricks was doubled then comes Moses a deliverer out of Egypt Nothing fetcheth down Judgement from Heaven sooner than the cry of Sodoms sins nor mercy than of Sions sorrows God regards the prayers of the destitute hears the groaning of his Turtles appointed for death of his prisoners destin'd for destruction Their mourning weeds furrowed faces and sighing sobbing hearts are silent but potent Orators at the Throne of Heaven for relief and succour God gives his Enemies a loose rein for a while but when they grow extravagant the limit he hath set them he pulls at the Curb and he layes the rod on his people to lash them for their sins but if once it fetcheth tears from their eyes and brings them to weeping Cross he spares further correction and throws it into the fire Fourthly God helps his People invincibly and irrestistibly Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord Zach. 4.6 What is this Mountain before Zerubbabel As he works by an insuperable grace in the heart so by an omnipotent power in the world Thy right hand O Lord is become glorious in power saith Moses in his excellent Canticle Exod. 15.6 The right hand of the Lord doth valiantly saith the Psalmist Psal 118.15 The right hand is commonly the Instrument of action and the seat of power God saves by his right hand Psal 17.8 by it he can work and none shall let him nothing is too hard for him For if the very weakness of God to speak as to our capacity be infinitely too much for the strength of man what is the strength of God to the weakness of men He is wonderful in counsel and mighty in working Jer. 32.17 19. He hath power to help and power to cast down as the Man of God tells Amaziah 2 Chron. 25.8 The arm of Creatures is but an Arm of flesh as Hezekiah tells the People to encourage them against Rabshaketh's revilings 2 Chron. 32.8 With him is an arm of flâ—sh but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battels So able is God to help that he can do the work alone though there be none else to help He is the Lord alone and besides him is there no Saviour and he can save alone without any use of Instruments and second Causes As Jehesophat tells the People 2 Chron. 20.17 Ye need not fight in this bastel the Lord your God fighteth for you And so he did by making their Enemies their own destroyers while his People went out with Songs instead of Weapons and struck not a stroke only sang a Psalm of Thanksgiving they became each others Butchers and Executioners Vers 22 23. And so it was in Midian's destruction Gideon and his Souldiers go out with Lamps and Pitchers instead of Military Engines and not a Sword drawn or Drum beaten only a shout given and the Lord sets every mans Sword against his fellow throughout the whole Host Judg. 7.22 Here was the Finger of God evidently manifested for his People against their Enemies in making them spend their Arrows one on another So dealt God also with the Egyptians that they confessed the Lord fought against them for Israel Exod. 14.25 Here was the immediate hand of Heaven Gods Providence can easily discover divert or discomfit his Enemies making their own fears their snare as he did the Syrians 2 King 7.6 Yea such is Gods Omnipotency that though there be never so many letts and hinderances resistances and oppositions he can leap over all If he hath none to help there shall be none shall hinder If he cannot finde his way with Hannibal he will make it he can make every hill a Plain Notwithstanding all impediments he can work his intentions and accomplish his Purposes both in the World and in the Heart Though violent temptations assail and strong corruptions oppose so as the Sons of Zerviah seem to be too hard for the Soul grace can triumph over all difficulties and discouragements and level all towring thoughts and soaring imaginations and bring it into the obedience of the just There is no difficulty to omnipotency He can cause the work of his Temple to go on in troublous times and give the great things of Righteousness and Reformation which have met with nothing but a miscarrying Womb and dry Breasts strength to conceive and also to bring forth And the designs of Enemies he can make all abortive The wisest Counsellor against his Church he can make his own Executioner and
makes use of whatsoever is in God for the supply of a poor Creature and Quanto vas fidei capacius afferimus saith the Father tanto majus gratiae inundantis exhaurimus The larger the Bucket the fuller the Vessel the larger the Net the greater the Draught But now Infidelity cuts short and withers the armâ— of Mercy as Faith unbares it They that believe in the Lord shall prosper 2 Chron. 20.20 But if ye will not believe ye shall not be established Isa 7.9 Unbelief prevailing no help against lusts at home O faithless generation saith Christ to his Disciples when they could not cast out the evil Spirit there lay the reason of their impotency unbelief hinders Christs own miracles he could not do many things there because of their unbelief O Augustine In te stas non stas was language to Austin when he could not overcome his beloved corruption Nor yet against Enemies abroad Alas Infidelity opens a backdoâ—re for Syria's escape 2 Chron. 16.7 Because thou hast relyed on the King of Syria and not relied on the Lord thy God therefore is the Host of the King of Syria escaped out of thine hand Want of due and noble exercises of Faith on God in the day of Prosperity provokes God often to leave his own People in the day of Adversity God loves to be trusted by his People their Faith honours him He that comes to him for mercy must believe his being and his plentifull remuncrations and an Unbeliever must expect to receive nothing at the hand of the Lord. Fourthly To their right use and improvement or worthy carriage and deportment They who do best shall have best with God and that most endeavour to help forward his glory he will most influence them with comfort Vtenti dabitur Dii munera laboribus Truly God is good to Israel Walk before me saith God to Abraham and be perfect and I will be thy Shield and Buckler and thy exceeding great reward Let God have much of the fruit of our obedience and we may expect much of the light of his Countenance Ordinarily the more Ships we send out laden with duty the larger returns we finde of Mercy The more Service we do to our great and Soveraign Lord the more we have of Priviledge The end of all deliverance is service in holiness and righteousness and the end of righteousness is peace and assurance for ever the fruit thereof is sown in peace and such as the seed-time is such is the harvest Sin clips the wings of Mercy God will never bestow his Corn and Wine on them who bestow it on themselves and their lusts nor trust his mercies in their hands who make them weapons to fight against him His salvation is nigh them that fear him and his blessing upon his people but he will not take the ungodly by the hand or help the evil doers Job 8 20. Sin separates God and a Soul divorceth him and a People an unthankfull or unfruitfull return of his Influences wholly shuts them up No long shinings of his favour where no reflections of our gratitude no allegiance no protection but a casting out of the lines of the communication of his grace While we do well and be obedient we shall eat the good of the Land but if rebellious we shall be devoured with the Sword If faithfull Servants he will become our gracious and affectionate Saviour but if undutifull Sons he will be our Judge and Corrector Isa 63.9 10. In all their affliction he was afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them In his love and in his pity he redemed them and he bare them and carried them all the daies of old But they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit therefore he was turned to be their enemy and he fought against them His promises of assistance to presence with his People are conditional and so are his performances Dum se bene gesserint As the Seer told King Asa 2 Chron. 15.2 The Lord is with you while ye be with him and if ye seek him he will be found of you but if ye forsake him he will forsake you And so much for the second particular how God helps his People Thirdly What are the Causes of Divine Help or the reasons why God will help his People First In respect of that relation he bears towards them or that right and propriety he hath in them Relations though of small entity are of great efficacy Now there is a near and intimate yea an united and manifold Relation between God and his People They are related to him in Christ that mighty one on whom he hath laid help though by nature afar off yet by grace made nigh and have a new and living way opened through his blood whereby they draw nigh to God and beg help and succour from him Heb. 4. ult He is the saving strength of his Anointed Psal 28.7 Or by his Anointed as some read the strength of their salvation by Christ They are related to him in covenant He is their God and they are his people And being their God therefore he must needs become their salvation As Moses sings Exod. 15.2 Salvation is of the Lord and his blessing is upon his People Psal 3. ult He is their Shepherd and they are his Sheep their Maker and they his Image the work of his hands and what is a man more tender of than his picture or a King more nice than of his coin The Father protects and proâ—ides for his Children though Prodigals he takes some care of them The Husband helps and defends the Wife Our Law saies Vxori lis non intenditur no suit can be commenced against a Wife because she is under Covert-barn The friend is helpful and beneficial to the friend whom should a man expect relief from in his strait but from his friends A Friend is born for Adversity and is better than a Brother God is a Father and friend to his People As a Father pities his children so does the Lord pity them that fear him Doubtless thou art our Father But now O Lord thou art our Father Isa 64.8 And 〈◊〉 we being evil know how to give good gifts to our children and should be worse than Infidels if we did not provide for them how much more shall our heavenly Father take care of his children Yea he is the Husband of his People Isa 54.5 For thy Maker is thine Husband from him they may expect and to him they may seek for protection Abraham was called the friend of God Jam. 2.23 He is their Master and they are his Servants their King and they his Subjects Now no Master but will maintain his Servant in the work he does for him and by his order and appointment he will alwaies maintain the cause of his Servants Princes will defend their Subjects in the way of their duty and allegiance This is the Churches Argument in her prayer for mercy Psal 44.4 Thou art my King O God command
is a Lion to lofty and sturdy sinners but a Lamb to depressed and dejected souls Such as advance themselves to the Throne God brings down to the footstool but to those that patiently bear the Cross he reacheth forth the Crown He revives the spirits of the humble and the hearts of the contrite ones Secondly Prayer and Invocation Gods People are a praying people a generation of seekers and such commonly are speeders God sends none away that so come to him with a non inventus He never said to the seed of Jacob seek ye my face in vain They seek his face righteousness and strength and he is found of them When Jehosaphat was compassed about with the Syrian Host and had no way to fly but up to Heaven he cries to the Lord and he helped him 2 Chron. 18.31 The Saints alone betake themselves to God and his help run to him as their Sanctuary others fly from Gods presence run to the Rocks and the tops of the ragged Rocks call to the hills and the mountains but a child of God goes only and tells his Father and before him laies open his cause As good Hezekiah did when Rabshaketh came out against him O Lord I am oppressed undertake for me or the Church Isa 33.2 Be thou our Arm every morning and our salvation in the time of trouble They only sensibly need and so alone crave and implore divine succour And God will not suffer his People to lose the precious treasure of their prayers Psal 145.18 19. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him he will also hear their cry and save them So Psal 91.14 15. Because he hath set his love upon me therefore will I deliver him I will set him on high because he hath known my Name he shall call upon me and I will answer him That God who prepares his Peoples heart to pray prepares also his own ear to hear and he that promiseth to hear before we call will never deny to hearken when we cry unto him Ideo premuntur justi ut pressi clament clamantes exaudiantur saith Calvin Oppressions and afflictions make man cry and cries and supplications make God hear Psal 141.1 2. Spreading forth our hands in believing and servent prayer is the only way of grasping mercy God hath given full assurance by promise of grants on such applications even under the inffliction of the greatest judgements and calamities 1 King 8 37. 2 Chron. 6.28 If publick mercy does not yet particular at least alwaies follows as an answer of prayer Psal 32.6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found There 's the voice of prayer What is the Eccho of mercy appears in the very next words Surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh to him Thirdly Faith and dependance on God and expectation from him He that comes unto God and goes not away as he comes sad from his presence must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him It 's the periphrasis that David describes him by The Saviour of them that trust in him Psal 17.7 In this hope and confidence the Prophet placeth mans blessedness Jer. 17.7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord whose hope the Lord is The Lord is a buckler to them that trust in him Psal 18.30 God is to his People whatsoever by faith they make him Faith makes all that is in God a mans own it engageth all Gods Attributes and sets them at work for his People it obligeth him in point of honour to come in for their relief Who will be found so unworthy as to fail them that trust to him If a friend trust to us for supply counsel assistance we will by no means disappoint him Nay if an enemy delivers himself up into our hands and confides in us for secresie we will not be so disingenuous as to betray him much less will God ever prove unfaithful to us while we are faithful to him Faith calls in help from Heaven it saith to God as the men of Macedonia to Paul Come over and help us God is known in her Palaces to be a refuge Our Fathers trusted in thee and were not confounded Psal 22.5 Unbelief hinders establishment but Faith ushers in prosperity It 's a riddle to Philosophy to fetch strength from another to undergo a burden but Faith hath a secret vertue to fetch strength from God either as to doing good or bearing evil The Lord takes pleasure in them that fear him that hope in his mercy Psal 147.11 He is a Sun and Shield to them that trust in him Psal 84.12 Hope in him never makes the soul ashamed God never forsakes such as are dependants by faith upon him They that trust in him shall never become desolate David urgeth this frequently in this book of Psalms for help and protection Psal 57.1 Be merciful to me O God for my soul trusteth in thee Psal 86.2 Psal 7.1 O thou my God save thy Servant that trusteth in thee So Psal 71.1 In thee O Lord do I put my trust let me never be put to confusion It 's observable that Gods being a rock and a refuge are joyned in Scripture Psal 46.1 God is his Peoples refuge which they fly to their habitation they continually resort to and therefore he becomes their help Though creatures are broken reeds and crackt cisterns yet God was never a broken staff a dry and barren wilderness to his People Now Gods children are not only an humble and a praying but a believing and depending people As the child hangs on its Mothers breasts so do his children on their Fathers bowels We finde holy David usually professing his confidence in his God Psal 62.1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God from him cometh my salvation And so verse 5. My soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him The Lord is my strength and therefore is become my salvation Psal 118.14 The People of God know his Name and therefore will trust in him Psal 9.10 They are a people who will not lie by falseness to their profession and principles or vain confidence in second causes or creature-comforts a poor afflicted people that trust in the Name of the Lord that will not lie nor do iniquity Zeph. 3.12 13. The hypocrite leans on his house as Job speaks his parts priviledges profession common grace The wicked man trusts in chariots and horses armies and navies his riches and revenues power and carnal policies shifts and devices friends wit or wealth Psal 49. But what saith the pious and devout soul he breaths forth himself in David's dialect Psal 20.7 Some trast in chariots and in horses but we will remember the Name of the Lord. A Saint leans only on the staff of Jacob the holy one of
end Yea as his People are best at last to him so is he to them The World indeed is best at first but God at last sweetest to the Soul The first tastes of God are exceeding delightfull witness Solomons Canticles when young and in the prime of his affections The largest and longest draughts of the World leave with them a tang of bitterness in the end witness his Vanity of Vanities in the strength of his Experience The fashion of this World and all things here below passeth away and no wonder for all created beings carry about them principles of self-destruction but God and his Word endure for ever And as a Saints happiness consists in the enjoyment of God above all things besides so is it aggravated by having interest in his help above all humane help and succour whatsoever And if we should draw out the comparison at length which I shall not for fear of interfering and too much enlarging we should finde there were indeed no comparison And that there were none holy as the Lord none such a rock as our God There is a vast difference and so transcendency of divine Help to humane in respect of its absoluteness and immediateness All the help of Creatures is but mediate through the use of other Causes or Instruments and but conditional on supposal of divine concurrence If he withdraws not his anger the proud Helpers do stoop under him Job 9.13 All Creatures borrow their light from that Sun derive their strength from that Arm. Second causes cannot help without the concourse and influence of the first Men may pity but the Lord only can help But though they cannot help without him he can work without them as well as by them God and all the Creatures is no more than God without any of them All Creature-help is but secondary but his is the prime and original The help of Creatures is but particular and partial Some men will assist some persons and some others some will help their Friends and others their Neighbours or Dependants or take in with those that stand and are on the surer ground and stronger side But God helps all that call upon him even those which are fallen down as well as those that stand upright Some things will help in some cases one thing in wants another in sickness a third under dangers but no one good thing is to be found in the World that hath in it an universal vertue and efficacy but God is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and his grace a catholique remedy under all trials and troubles and can succour under less afflictions and also under greater when the troubles of our heart are enlarged he can enlarge the hand of his grace and brings us out of all our distresses Humane help oft-times is unconstant and uncertain in the event Men oft-times will not oft-times cannot help not the Warrier to Victory or Magistrate to Right and Justice because over-powered by the number of enemies or offenders and commonly fail when we stand in greatest necessity thereof Vain is the help of Man saith the Psalmist weak is their help All the Nations of the Earth are but as the drop of a Bucket and the small dust of the ballance Isa 40.15 God threatneth the Helpers of Egypt that they should all be destroyed Ezek. 30.8 and lie down in the grave with the uncircumcised cap. 32.21 Ethiopia and Egypt were No 's strength and it was infinite Put and Lubim her helpers yet she was carried away into captivity Nahum 3.9 The Egyptians themselves were Men and not God and their Horses flesh and not spirit when the Lord stretcheth out his hand both he that helpeth shall fall and he that is holpen shall fall down and they all shall fail together Isa 31.3 But God is a sure and impregnable Rock to his People In fine all humane help as it is but arbitrary depending on the will of God the highest cause of all things so it is but temporary Men and friends may stand by us and help us till death but they are mortal as well as we and when either die we are out of the reach of their help A gulf is then fixed between us None can redeem his Brother no more than deliver his own soul from the hand of the grave Psal 49.7 But God is our God even to death yea in and after death even to all eternity will never fail or forsake us but guide us by his counsel till he receives us to his glory And so I have finished the first general part of the Text the comfortable proposition or conclusion Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help A word or two of the second general part and so I shall close all with some branches of practical application which is the further explication or confirmation of the assertion In these words Whose hope is in the Lord his God Wherein to pass the connection which might give us this observation That he who would have God or can justly challenge him for his help must make him his hope And also the order of the words describing a godly man first by his faith in making God his help and then by his hope which notes to us the conjunction of with or the priority or precedency of the grace of faith unto that of hope and of believing to expecting Faith is the Mother and Hope the Daughter the soul first believes and then hopes in the God of its salvation In regard of the habit as all other graces so these are infused simul semel being but one and the same cast of that seed of God which abides in us And also in respect of their working and operation they go hand in hand they are as so many links of the same chain knots in the same garden all concatenated and indissolubly twisted together yea faith and hope above all other are of nearest alliance and closest companions Hope is to Faith Fidus Achates its faithful and constant friend yet notwithstanding there is a priority of order both as to their being and acting though none of time faith being the primitive grace challenging the primogeniture in the soul having both excellency of dignity and of strength This transition of the Psalmist only hints us the one to be pedissequam to the other where one goes before the other follows and faith is in the centre hope in the circumference But passing this I shall take notice only of the matter and therein consider these two particulars First The Saints character or description They are such as hope in the Lord their God Secondly The Saints charter of happiness on that account or their reward or remuneration Happy are they The first is the attribution of hope as the distinguishing property or peculiar specification of Gods People in times of distress and affliction And therein we have first spei exercitium the act or exercise of their hope Secondly spei fundamentum the object whereon
least ground or colour of hope but continually occasion of fear and perpetual cause of terror He hath no just hope in the day of Mercy and that 's sad enough much less in the day of misery and that 's worse His defence is departed from him the Lord being not with him and he is bread for the teeth of every Judgement as Joshua told them of the Nations they were to invade Numb 14.9 In the day of abounding of all Creature-comforts a carnal man can have no content or satisfaction One thought of his distance from God will sufficiently imbitter all his Cups of pleasure so as they shall be no other than waters of Marah to him Under the tydes of external Joy his heart is sorrowfull and his brightest Sun of outward felicity hath sad reflections especially if the Clock of Conscience answers the Diall of the Word and amidst his â—ight riseth to him thick darkness or gathers upon him His heart is black as an Oven within while the Corn Wine and Oyle makes his face shine without As a Childe of God often carries the â—ight of a rejoycing Soul in the dark Lanthorn of a soiled and withered face so do's the sinner oft disguise a sad heart with a cheerfull and smiâ—ing countenance Neither can he expect any succour or relief either from within or from without in the day of affliction As fear of losing eats up all his comfort and content in enjoying so forfeiture of title makes his lost Soul eternally despair of a recovery and repossession I wonder on what acquaintance the sinner can challenge any interest or pretend to any hope in God or what possible should be the ground-work and foundation of his professed but mistaken confidence He may build Castles in the Air and make to himself a refuge of lies please himself with conceits and fancies of supposed and imaginary happiness but they will prove meer delusions in the end As his confidence is a lie in the foundation so it will be in the event Isa 28. Gods wrath is all this time smoaking against him and will break forth in fiery flames of indignation while he promiseth himself peace in the walks of the imagination of his own heart Deut. 29.19 If God once forsakes him all the world cannot help or relieve him Neither any of the Persons nor all the things of the World can give him comfort If the Lord helps not who can help The world usually deceives her Confidents The Rock of Worldlings is not as the Rock of Believers Carnal confidences in the issue render ashamed God hath blown upon them with his curse Thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt as thou wast of Assyria saith God to his people Jer. 2.36 Our Fathers inherited lies vanity and things wherein there is no profit Jer. 16.19 The very houses of Achzibâ— shall be a lie to the King of Assyria Mic. 1.14 Aâ— wicked man hath no hope and all the help hâ— hath will prove but a vain and deceitfull help There is a weakness and infirmity an uncertainty and instability an unfaithfulness and inconstancy a vanity and vexation attends all Creatures They are crackt Cistorns Jer. 2.13 Lying vanities Jonah 2. empty duggs and dry breasts failing Brooks Egyptian reeds which do not only fail but pierce God hath put a perishing nature into all created supports and sufficiencies and over and above cursed such as make flesh their arm Men of low degree are vanity and of high degree a lie may promise much but perform little or nothing like the Indian Tree the Leaves of their professions are as big as a Target but the Fruit of their actions as small as a Bean. They are broken staves deceitfull bowes the portion of Jacob is not like them Jerem. 10.15 16. Take the choicest of created helps and a man cannot promise himself any safety in them or help from them Friends and Relations may fail Estates and Possessions may fail health and strength comforts and accommodations favour and friendship supplyes and assistances may and will fail yea Kings and Princes may and have failed their deâ—endants It 's better to trust in the Lord than in â—rinces Psal 118.8 9. Multa cadunt inter caliâ—em Methinks I see every wicked man bringâ—â—g as once a Noble and Learned person was 〈◊〉 his finall execution with those as his last dyâ—â—g words in his mouth spoken in the bitterness 〈◊〉 â—is Soul Put not your trust in Princes nor the â—on of Man in whom there is no help What a â—d disappointment did that Noble and worthy â—arl meet with who thought he had assurance 〈◊〉 his Princesses favour only by the intervening miscarriage of a treacherous person What said that great Cardinal when under Attainder and given up into his Enemies hand as a sacrifice If I had but taken that care to have pleased my God which I have done to serve my Prince he would not have left me now in mine old age The World deals with her familiars and favourites as great men with their servants keeping them while young healthy and able but turning them off when they grow old infirm and unserviceable All meer Creatures will fail external priviledges high profession it 's not Jacobs profession but his God that is his help choice parts common graces and usefull gâ—fts great confidences yea a mans flesh and heart will fail Wit and wealth will not help in the day of present trouble or eternal wrath Gold and Silver will not deliver then Lo this is the man proclaimed he stands to all the world that made not God his trust Psal 52.7 Aids and allies cannot help Who can stand before much less against Omnipotâ—ncy What Jerusalem complains of under her Captivity will bâ— sooner or later the sense and expression too of aâ— that trust in any thing on this side God the greâ— Jehovah and stay short of Heaven Lam. 4.17 Aâ— for us our eyes as yet failed for our vain help Iâ— our watching we have watched for a Nation thâ— could not save us What Senacherib told Hezekiâ— upon this accompt will prove most true 2 King 18.21 Now behold thou trustest upon the staffeâ— this bruised reed even upon Egypt on which if 〈◊〉 man lean it will goe into his hand and pierce it so is Pharaoh King of Egypt to all that trust iâ— him We may cry to these Idols but they cannâ—â— answer nor save us out of our trouble Isa 46.7 Thâ—y were all ashamed saith the Prophet of a people that could not profit them nor be an help Isa 30.5 Let a private distress a publick calamity come a Sword a Plagâ—e a Famine a Fire Creatures cannot help how much less when death and damnation comes to seize on the poor undone sinner What will they do in the day of that their Visitation in the desolation which comes from farr to whom will ye flâ—e for help and where will ye leave your glory as the Prophet speaks Isa 10.3 O the dreadfull and desperate case of every
Providences gracious and mercifull Benedictions he hath a right to all spiritual blessings pardon of sin peace of Conscience Joy in the Holy Ghost grace and glory and all temporal mercies too the fatness of the Earth as well as the dews of Heaven the Nether as well as the Upper Springs All is his by right and inheritance and shall be by possession if good for him As a stranger from God is universaily cursed so is one united to him universally blessed He may say God hath dealt graciously with me and I have enough Gen. 33.11 Secondly He is also happy in all Estates and Conditions Nothing amiss can befall and betide a Christian Though never so evil in it self Gods Power and Providence can work it for good Art thou under desertions yet thou art happy His lest hand is under thee and his right hand embraceth thee Thou art graven upon the palms of his hands so as to be no more defaced or obliterated and thy walls are continually before him Hast thou lost thy hold of God he hath still his hold on thee canst thou not cast thy self and roll thy Soul on Christ in the Promise yet when thou comest out of the Wilderness thou mayst lean on the arm of thy beloved Though thy Soul be never so much in the dark thou hast the staffe of Jacob to lean on and needest never fear stumbling especially falling for the Lord also upholds thee by his hand Psal 33.24 Art under Temptations still thou mayst be happy Thy Redeemers Intercession is a shore of thy Faith and pillar of thy Perseverance Luk. 22.32 Though weak in thy self with the Conies thou mayst fly to the Rocks When pursued by that mighty Nimrod and hunter of Souls and furiously chased by the avenging Executioner of Divine wrath haste into the arms and bosom of thy Saviour which stand extended on the Cross and are now wide open to receive thee When these proud waters overwhelm thee swim to that impregnable Rock of his Merits which is higher than thou and then thou mayst like a man gotten on the top of a rock in the midst of the Sea outbraving with an invincible courage and undaunted resolution all the waves and billows about him dare Satan to do his worst against thee Though the Beast makes warre against thee being a follower of the Lamb God is on thy side and stands by thee in the combat this Dragon shall not swallow thee up the Lord will rebuke him yea tread him under thy feet shortly Though thy own heart be a Traitor thy God is thy Keeper Art thou engaged with strong and violent corruptions do these Masters of misrule bid controll to Gods grace in thee and is the battell so sharp as sometimes the flesh seems to overcome the Spirit thy pride passion unbelief earthly-mindedness are too hard for thee be not discouraged Though thou beest foiled thou shalt not be overcome sin shall not have dominion over thee though it may tyrannize against thee but those thine enemies that will not bow before the Scepter of Christs Soveraignty shall be slain before his face and very shortly those Egyptians thou seest to day thou shalt see no more for ever Art thou exposed to wants and exigencies The Lord is thy Shepherd and he will supply thee as to thy spiritual and also thy temporal condition Dost thou want the presence of Divine Ordinances are all these Conduits stopt and windows shut God will himself be a Tabernacle to thee he will prepare a Table for thee in the Wilderness spread with all the delicious sweet-meats of grace and comfort and the Sun of Righteousness shall arise on thee with healing in his wings Dost thou want Creature-comforts The Earth is the Lords Granary and the fullness thereof and the Sea thy Fathers Fish-pond and therefore thou shalt have what either can afford thee Art thou sequestred of all that is dear and precious in thine eyes Thou hast yet a Deus providebit to live on a Promise to bear thee up that God will never forsake thee all things shall be added to thee Qui majora curat non minora negliget The Accessory follows the Principal There is no Promise indeed of adding Spirituals upon our seeking Temporals but there is of adding the things of Earth if we seek the Kingdom of Heaven Thou shalt have food and raiment in the way wherein thou art to goe enough though not too much according to Gods will though it may be not thine own bread for thy body though not for thy lusts to satisfie thee though not surfeit content though not cloy thee God will give thee the World as a blessing though not lade thee with this thick clay as a burden As thou hast the sure Mercies of David whereof none can deprive thee so thou shalt have all external accommodations or at least a proportion between thy Heart and Condition wherein the only comfort of life consisteth Art thou compassed about with fears and dangers of enemies or evils imminent or impendent Let not thine heart be troubled for Mercy compasses thee about on every side As Elisha told his servant 2 King 6.16 There are more with thee than are against thee Thou hast a guard of Angels round about thee yea Christ himself for thy Protector And Fortior est Christus caput Ecclesiae ad protegendum quam Diabolus hostis Ecclesiae ad oppugnandum Cyprian This may be a bottom of confidence and sufficient ground and encouragement to the People of God in the darkest and gloomiest day the most evil and discouraging time and serve to allay and antidote all their fears and misgivings of heart that they have an infinite and everlasting God for their help and have everlasting strength wisdom faithfulness mercy and compassion engaged for them Men count it an happiness to have a Cottage of their own to hide their heads in God is his Peoples shelter Sanctuary and hiding-place under all their scatterings and dispersions oppressions and oppositions they meet with in the World The Lord knows how to deliver the Godly out of all their temptations The Apostle brings it down to an experience He delivered Lot and he knows how to deliver us It 's all one to have no storm or to have an hiding-place Under all private injuries and oppressions we may trust in God who is a present help and go to him with the Prophet Jeremiah's words in our mouths when the men of Anathoth sought his life Jer. 11.20 To thee O Lord do I reveal my cause and be confident as he was cap. 20.11 of deliverance or as Hezekiah when Rabshaketh opened his mouth so wide against Heaven he went and spread the Letter before the Lord. Though a man meets with nothing but incivilities unkindnesses discouragements disappointments reproaches persecutions and violences from men yet there is enough in one God to counter-ballance all God will work all mischiefs about for good and as for Enemies in the Name of the Lord we may go
complotted and conspired against me saying Come let us blot her name out of the book of remembrance they shall neither know nor see till we come in the midst of them and cause the work to cease I had been long ago overthrown and overturned It was not my own bow or sword saved me but thy right hand that helped me out of all my distresses It is our great duty to rejoyce in the confession of Gods Name in all our deliverances and salvations and to ascribe to him the glory that is his right and due This Psalm is Eucharistical penned on purpose as a grateful acknowledgement We should erect standing Monuments of his goodness and love and say Hitherto hath he helped us shewing to the generations to come the praises of the Lord and the wonderful works he hath done for our souls Psal 66.16.71.18.78.4 5 6. That they might also hope in God And as there alwaies appears that in mercy which calls aloud for praises so there are some deliverances that have such signal remarks upon them as we cannot possibly pass over without special observation How oft does mercy come undeserved unexpected undesired and unprayed for is distinguishing we are pluckt as fire-brands out of the fire and taken when others are left yea exceeding and superabundant to all our hopes or thoughts How many deliverances do we know before we know our dangers the danger was only to be read in the deliverance How many mischiefs do we escape that by all our forecast and prudence we could never have prevented nor yet by our power opposed how many mercies come pouring upon us not one of which by all our diligence and industry we could have purchased or procured what good often ariseth to us out of our evils and that proves our greatest advance which we thought would have been our fatal and final downfall and conduceth to our salvation which seemed to promise nothing but utter and irrecoverable ruin and destruction Gods mercies thus renewed on us every morning and his faithfulness every moment require a constant return of the sacrifices of thanksgiving but our sin and misery is that our thankfulness for mercy granted is no way proportionable to our importunity for mercy wanted and desired In our straits and afflictions we promise a great deal to the Almighty but when once gotton out of those depths we sacrilegiously rob the God of our salvation and put him off with the farthing candle of a little lip-devotion instead of a thank-offering of heart and life wherein only lies the life of thankfulness But where there is an Ark for deliverance there should be an Altar for thankfulness Secondly Let this draw and engage us to a constant access to God in all conditions under all emergencies and occurrences of providence Goâ— to this God for help at all times Trust in him at all times and pour forth your prayers before him Have recourse to him for spirituals to his promises for temporals to his providence Do your souls want pardon of sin peace of spirit assistance to duty strength against corruptions grace for trials and sufferings fly to your God Does Satan tempt the world frown friends prove unkind hopes disappoint all creatures fail enemies compass you about yet go to him your help and cry with David Plead my cause O Lord with them that strive with me and fight with those that fight against me Whatsoever condition befalls you your state is never hopeless why should it not then be fearless never desperate why should you be disconsolate There 's hope at the bottom dum spiro spero may be your Motto The Royal aid of Heaven will assist and enable you against all oppositions on Earth Whom should a people go to but to their God He is the confidence of the whole world The Isles shall wait upon him and on his arm shall they trust Isa 51.5 It 's the great duty and safety too of the soul to trust to and hope in the Lord. It 's the character of a Saint to depend on God Psal 33.20 Our soul waiteth on the Lord for he is our help and shield It 's a sign of sincerity to trust in the Lord and the evidence of an Hypocrite to trust to any thing besides him Job 8.15 Isa 14.31 The poor of his people shall trust in him and Zeph. 3.11 Thou shalt leave in the midst of them a poor afflicted people and they shall trust in the Name of the Lord. Not patience but faith is the highest commendation of a Christian This was Hezekiahs grand Encomium given him by the Spirit of God himself 2 King 18.4 He trusted in the Lord God of Israel and clave to him God takes pleasure and delights in them that hope in his mercy Psal 147.11 God hath cursed all creature-confidence He hath pronounced them blessed which hope in himself Yea Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed It 's the highest piece of honour and happiness that any created being is capable of to receive influence from and exercise dependance upon its Creator There is an utter insufficiency in all creatures to help they may give painted comfort ape a counterfeit happiness but never afford real or lasting consolations Yea the soul may be reduced to such st aits and exigencies as all the power wisdom and industry of all creatures cannot give him relief none but God help him as under troubles of conscience and perplexity of spirit none else can succour A wounded spirit none can bear and only God can heal If help comes there it must come 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 immediately from Heaven Friends cannot help Ministers not help experimental Christians not help prayers tears and duties not help only the God of Heaven And as he is sometimes only able so he is himself alwaies able when none else can either on the right hand or on the left It 's all one with him to help by many or by few or by none at all He can destroy by friends making the Governours of Judah to their subjects as well as theâ—r enemies like an hearth of fire among the wood and like a torch of fire in a sheaf so as they shall devour all people round about on the right hand and on the left He can make the choicest and most hopeful instruments to prove our vexers and not our Saviours He can cut off the spirit of Princes and be terrible to the Kings of the Earth An Host without him much more against him is a vain thing for safety and a multitude as insignificant as a single person he can smite heaps upon heaps with the touch of his little finger as Sampson did once the Philistines with the Jaw-bone of an Ass He can blow on the most likely projects used for help and supply so as they shall utterly fail Jam. 1.11 The rich man shall fade away in his waies not only the careless Prodigal in his waies of profuseness but the most careful Usurer diligent Merchant
veho in his mouth if I perish I perish and can confidently look danger bonds death in the face being willing with Paul for the hope of Israel to be bound with this chain Act. 28.20 As holy fear so this invincible faith and undaunted courage is an evident token of salvation and that from God Phil. 1.28 Whom in the world should God help if not them that help with him or stand close to if not those who stand fast to him distinguishing duty shall certainly be rewarded with distinguishing mercy Secondly At what special times may Gods People look for help in time of mens violence and oppression Let me resolve that one question in case the cause of the People of God should be brought to an extremity and leave it with them as a fortification of their hopes and spirits Now though as it 's impossible for us infallibly to determine the periods of Gods grace to sinners when abused so the times and seasons of his giving out mercy and salvation to his People when wanted times being in his hand yet so far as we have the Scripture for our guide we may assign some particular and extraordinary cases wherein help is promised and so may be justly expected As First When Gods Cause lies a bleeding and the general concern and interest of Religion is at stake God is jealous for his great Name Thus Joshua pleads when Israel fell before their enemies in battel cap. 7.9 And Jeremiah cap. 14.9 We are called by thy Name leave us not and vers 21. Do not abhor us for thy Names sake do not disgrace the Throne of thy glory When the enemy houted Gods People pointing with the finger at them These are the People of the Lord he had pity for his holy Name Ezek. 36.21 When the whole interest of Religion and Gods people must go off at a blow God will step between the Axe and them We have such a memorable example of this in Gods deliverance of the whole body of the Jews from Haman's conspiracy as the defeatment thereof may be a standing encouragement to his people in all ages Secondly When a cloud of reproach and scandal is cast upon his Peoples innocency and integrity and thereupon ariseth an unjust oppression of them This was Job's case all along his Friends falsly accused him but his God did compurgate him and so Davids as appears almost in every Psalm where he now appeals to God and makes protests of his innocency as Psal 7.3 then prays for relief Psal 38. ult and 71.11 12. and 109.26 professeth his hope in God notwithstanding Psal 35.15 promiseth himself redress Psal 37.6 So Jeremiah cap. 20.11 and the Church Mic. 7.8 10. who promise themselves salvation and prophesie their enemies destruction upon their slanders and scandals cast upon them God will take part with his people what is done to them he takes as done to himself whether in way of kindness or abuse As they vindicate his Name and glory in the World so will he theirs from all reproach put upon it Thirdly When there is a failure and disappointment of all humane help This is the Psalmists argument Psal 44. ult and the ground of his plea Psal 79.8 Let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us for we are brought very low When Pharaoh said The Israelites were intangled the Wilderness had shut them in God comes and cuts a passage for them Exod. 14.3 God commonly helps his People at the lowest the taking the weakest part is to him no disadvantage When vain is the help of man and the cause is concluded desperate for want of an Advocate then God is called in by our Prophet Psal 12.1 Help Lord for the godly man ceaseth Cum nemini obtrudi potest Psal 116.6 I was brought low and he helped me When Sion is called an Outcast and no man seeks after her then God chooseth to have mercy on her Jer. 30.17 Fourthly When the Enemies of Gods Truth and Cause blaspheme his Name and insult and triumph over his people Whom hast thou reproached saith God to Rabshaketh Isa 37.23 There 's the ground of his appearance against him The King of Heaven may pardon his Peoples rebellions but revilings are too saucy for subjects to give or the infinite and eternal God to bear from a vile worm a sinfull and mortal creature It 's time for God to arise when wicked men thus make void his Law and so far usurp upon his Supremacy and Prerogative as to offer a competition with him who he or they shall be Lord Controller in the World When the Assyrians talked blasphemously that God was the God of the hills and not of the valleys therefore did he deliver them into Israel's hand 1 King 20.28 God dare wrastle or engage with them though on disadvantagious ground This argument the Church useth for deliverance Psal 74.10 and strongly urgeth Psal 79.10 11 12. and the cruelty and blasphemy of the enemy may prevail with God sometimes when cannot the Prayers of his Saints and People Isa 47.6 7 8. God will save the afflicted People and bring down the high and proud looks Psal 18.27 It 's observable when God assigns to his people the reason of the expulsion of the Nations and the introduction of Israel in their room he gives it thus Not for your righteousness but their wickedness Deut. 9.5 when Saints holiness cannot avail for mercy sinners iniquity may call for justice Fifthly When the spirits of the Saints begin to despond and fail and yet are carried out with serious humiliation for their sin and recovering these fits and qualms with out-goings of Faith and Prayer to Heaven When Christ comes there will scarce be Faith in the Earth when the hearts of Gods people begin to swoon he will contend no longer lest their spirits should fail before him When the wicked are flesht and pufft up with vain hopes God breaks their bones asunder and their horn in pieces when Gods people are as dry bones he lifes and fleshes them Ezek. 37. When the Question is asked By whom shall Jacob arise for he is small the answer is The Lord repented for this Amos 7.2 3. God will not always suffer the rod of the wicked to rest on the lot of the righteous lest he puts forth his hand to iniquity Psal 125.3 God passes by his People when as tall Cedars and beholds them when low and weak Shrubs he delights in them when in an abject low condition and shews them mercy When the Locusts do most over-run the Cassians then the Seleucidian Birds come and are their devourers and destroyers God is willing his people sometimes should be brought to that pass that they know not whither to turn that so they may know what their God can and will bring about for them When Gods people are laid upon their backs then is a fit time for him to take them up into his arms and put them into his bosom Especially when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled by their
deliverances for Jacob. Yea this is a firm coâ—clusion of her faith Isa 33.22 The Lord is oâ— Judge our Law-giver our King he will save 〈◊〉 They are stiled his portion and heritage Isa 54 1â— Deut. 32.9 As he is their so they his portioâ— and he will not suffer that to be wasted and eâ—bezelled His Jewels in comparison of whom aâ— the world besides are but as so much lumbeâ— Mal. 3.17 He will not admit their spoil oâ— plunder His Turtle Psal 74.19 which hath aâ—waies a sympathy with its mates affliction Hiâ— beloved favourites for whom he hath a choicâ— respect and endeared affection in whom hâ— takes singular delight and complacency Psaâ— 18.19 and 60.5 Their heart is set on God and his heart on them and because he loveth them he compasseth them with favour as with a shield Psal 5.12 The apple of his eye Zach. 2.8 Now as the eye is the tenderest part of the body so is the apple of the eye They are his hidden ones for privacy and value worth and excellency more excellent than their neighbours the least meanest of them more worth than all the world a people of whom the world is not worthy Heb. 11.38 His precious ones Isa 43.4 In comparison of whom all other are but vile in his account His holy ones Psal 86.2 which he will not suffer the world to prophane His chosen ones or the people of his choice The Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself and Israel for his peculiar Treasure Psal 135.4 His redeemed ones or the people of his purchase Isa 43.3 which he will in no wise lose either by fraud or violence his Garden or Paradise wherein he delights Isa 58.18 His Vineyard which he both â—â—ters and watches every moment Isa 27.3 〈◊〉 a word his Jacob and Israel against whom â—â—ere is no inchantment or divination Numb 13. â—nd the work of his hands which he will in â—o case forsake Psal 138. ult And concerning â—hich he will not only be intreated but also comâ—anded Isa 45.11 There is a mutual interest â—â—d propriety between God and his People God â—â—th made over himself to them in the Covenant 〈◊〉 Grace and they have reobliged themselves to 〈◊〉 They are said to have surrendred or given â—o themselves to the Lord 2 Cor. 8.5 He shall â—â—â—se our inheritance for us saith the Psalmist â—sal 47.4 They have a stock of prayers going â—â—th God and he hath a stock of mercy and â—ory going with them Their interests are so â—â—ited and twisted together as they cannot be â—â—vered His cause is concern'd in his People â—â—d his own honour highly ingaged upon their â—ccount yea the vindication of all his Attriâ—utes his Power Wisdom Holiness Mercy and Goodness Truth and Faithfulness is obliged in â—heir sublevation which else would be wholly â—â—â—t and utterly impaired in the world They â—re so linked in an holy league and sacred conâ—â—deracy with him That it 's observable in â—heir addresses to him in prayer against their â—nemies they level them as against Gods interest and not their own and all they need request is only that God may be glorified So Daâ—id Psal 83.2 Lo thine enemies make a tumult and they that hate thee have lift up the head He doubts not to call his Gods enemies And so Asa in his solemn supplications put up to God oâ— the approach of that innumerable host against him 2 Chron. 14.11 O Lord saith he thou art 〈◊〉 God let not man prevail against thee Not us buâ— thee As Gods glory is bound up in the samâ— bundle with his Peoples eternal so is it also witâ— their temporal salvation Secondly In respect of the manifold Promise and Engagements he hath made to them Goâ— hath ingaged for their security and bounâ—â— himself for their protection as well as thâ— provision so far as is necessary They are stiled The People of his Covenant Psal 111.12 And thâ— stipulation is mutual They are in covenanâ— with God obliged to his service and devoted tâ— his fear O Lord truly I am thy Servant I aâ— thy Servant saith David Psal 116.16 They are engaged to walk in his waies and to be founâ— faithful And God is a God in covenant witâ— them and as they never leave him so will he never leave them in their enemies hand Psal 37.33 As they defend his glory so will he their intereâ—â— and cause If God be a God keeping Covenant even with them while in lesser things they some times break with him Psal 89 34. Much more will he keep Covenant with them while aâ— they fear him Though salvation be far from thâ— wicked his salvation is with them that fear him And as they are included in a general Covenant so have they entailed upon them many graciouâ— promises of special protection He hath said He will never leave nor forsake them Heb. 13.5 The same promise he made to all Israel Deut. 31.8 and made good to Joshua in person he also accomplisheth to all Believers He will not forâ—â—ke his People or cast off his Inheritance He will have compassion on his dwelling-place he will comfort Sion and chuse Jerusalem They have Gods promise for help and deliverance in the day of trouble Psal 50.15 which is good security They are under a reserved promise under the Judgements of Sword Famine or Pestilence Amos 9.8 Isa 33. Psal 91.10 Which kind of promises though not absolute engagements yet are seasonable directions and comfortable incouragements 〈◊〉 times of calamity and affliction They are alwaies prisoners of hope for by the blood of the Covenant God will send them out of the pit wherein there is no water Zach. 9.11 Covenants of old were confirmed by Sacrifices Psal 50.5 Jer. 34. Et caesa jungebant faedera porca Virgil The Lord Jesus Christ by the blood of his Covenant hath bought outward and common as well as saving and eternal mercies for his People Thirdly In regard of those conditions of obtaining Divine Help which are ever found in them They are under a fitness and aptitude of disposition to receive it There are four conditions or qualifications especially which make them meet for this divine influence which are to be found in them The first is of Humility or spiritual Poverty Psal 34.8 The Lord is nigh to them that are of a broken heart and saveth them that be of a contrite spirit He beholds the proud afar off as scorning his tuition but he graciously beholds the humble Isa 66.2 In him the fatherless finde mercy A Father of the fatherless and Judge of the Widow is he out of his holy habitation Psal 68.5 6. The Lord helpeth those that are cast down The Lion puts as it were into his bosome those that bow before him or he down at his feet but tears in pieces them that run away from him or bid resistance to him so generous and noble is his nature and disposition satis est prostrasse And so doâ—s the Lion of the Tribe of Judah he