abate and yet Noah by faith knew he should see them quite down at length though long first And surely through his faith these waters hasted away to their proper places for in the last day they abated eleven Cubits which abated but one in four Days before By this which hath been said we see that Faith looketh through matters temporal though never so dark and difficult Secondly Faith looketh through matters spiritual though never so dark and difficult As the power of natural corruption the sense of God's wrath c. Faith can look through the power of natural corruption than which what is a greater Mountain in the eye of an enlighten'd Soul O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 7.24 25. Faith hath a strong and clear eye that can look through such a big and black Mountain as the body of death is Satan and corrupt nature are called the strong man and his goods Mat. 12.29 and Christ spoils them both and this faith seeth when both natural corruption and Satan are at strongest But I see another Law in my members willing against the Law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the Law of sin which is in my members O wretched man what a wretched state am I in And who can or who will deliver me out of this slavery and faith answers this hard question I thank God Christ can and will he that is mighty to save on whom help for me is laid To this may properly be added Rom. 6.11 Likewise reckon ye your selves also to be dead indeed to sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Faith doth reckon the body of fin dead and all the Powers of it because that is done by Christ's death to procure it a Cure that never failed What shall we then say if God be for us who can be against us or what can be against us But God be thanked ye were the servants of fin but now ye have obeyed from the heart the forme of Doctrin into which ye were delivered Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my Mother warm me behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts and in that inward hidden part thou shalt make me to understand wisdome that is experience the power of grace for by wisdom is meant grace Psal 51 5.6 By wisdom is meant grace and by knowing of wisdom means experiencing of grace Which sheweth to us that he by faith saw thorow the power of natural corruption and all the grieving operations and prevalencies of it and that the state of his inward man which was so ungracious and which had so deceived him and betrayed him in that matter of Vriah should notwithstanding be brought to a better and a more sincere frame for time to come Hence it is likewise that the Apostle Paul speaks of the work of Mortification as done which yet is still but a doing as long as we are on this side Heaven as seeing by faith every accursed thing in his heart slain They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts That is certainly they shall The Beasts of the Field shall honor me the Dragons and Owles because I give this and that in the Wildeâ—ness Isa 43.20 That is Creatures by Nature as blind as Owles and yet as confident and fiery as Dragons these shall see and become as tame that a little Child may lead them Jacob blessed Ruben that went up to his Fathers Bed and Simeon and Levy which had been such Brethren in evil and this he did by faith saith the Author to the Hebrews which sheweth that he saw thorow those corruptions wherwith they were over-taken the one with lightness the other with passion and fury and that God would change all their hearts both of the one and of the other and make them gracious and doubtless in his light the Children come at length to see light and by his faith were helped to believe Secondly Faith looketh thorow the sense of God's wrath which is he darkest and most dreadful thing or all Christ did so and he did it by faith when he cryed My God my God c. David's sin in the matter of Bathsheba as much clouded his Soul as any thing and filled his soul with the sense of Gods displeasure and yet he saw thorow that dark Cloud by faith as you may see 2 Sam. 12.23 But now he is dead wherefore should I fast Can I bring him back again I shall go to him but he shall not return to me By faith he saw God reconciled as to this foul business yea reconciled to the Childe that was smitten dead or else he would not have wiped his eyes and have said I shall go to him but would have continued weeping and after the death of the Child most of all as he did for Absalom whom he gave up for a castaway They made the figure or the Sun upon Joshua's Tomb to preserve the Memorial of that great Miracle of causing the Sun to stand still Therfore also the place of his dwelling was called Timnath Serath or Here 's which witâ— some Letters transpos'd is as you should say the sign of the Sun upon the Tomb of a believer you may make the figure of Gods face and favour for when he is in the belly of Hell as Jona yet from thence he espies a reconciled God and his own everlasting mercies sure though these here be all uncertain Wilt thou be angry with us for ever wilt thou draw out thy wrath to all generations wilt thou not revive us again that thy People may rejoyce in thee I will hear what the Lord God will say for he will speak peace to his People and to his Saints but let them not return again to folly Psal 85.8 The People of God were very low at this time even as in their Graves and Tombes and yet there is the figure of Gods countenance even on their Graves they saw peace when there was nothing but War Who will bring me into the strong City Who will bring me into Edom Wilt not thou O God which hadst cast us off and thou O Lord which didst not go forth with our Armies Psal 60.10 Thirdly Faith looks thorow matters National as well as Personal though never so dark and difficult Thou will save the affâ—â—â—cted People but wilt bring down high looks for thou wilt light my Candle the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness for by thee I have ran thorow a Troop Psal 18.27 This Esaluâ— was made saith the Title when David was deliver'd out of the hands of all his Enemies and out of the hands of Saul so that it hath a National reference and respect David saw thorow all National conflicts as to the godly that how much distressed soever they were yet that God would own them and save them For thou wilt save the afflicted People
give him a stone This is reason But much more can faith help it self by experience I am a man in authority and I say to one man go and he goeth and I say to another come and he cometh c. This is experience and faith is wonderful weak indeed when it cannot thus help up it self experiences are such sensible and such impressive things upon all powers within and without O ye of little faith do ye not remember the five loaves and how many Baskets ye took up Mat. 16. Christ takes it for granted that faith is very little and very weak indeed when it cannot help it self by experiences things which the Man hath had done for him in his wants He delivered me from the Lyon and the Bear and he will deliver me from this uncircumcised Philistim The Lord even Jesus who appeared to thee in the way he hath sent that thou mightest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost Act. 9.17 Doubtless that experience which he had of such an escape going to Damascus advantaged his faith all his days to look thorow and to run thorow all the storms and perils which afterward he met withall Some great sickness the Apostle Paul had by the ill usage of Men who oppressed him and yet God preserved and how he raised faith by experience to look thorow all evils present and to come see 2 Cor. 1.9 10. We would not have you ignorant of the troubles which happen'd unto us in Asia how that we were pressed out of measure above strength insomuch that we despaired ever of life but we had the sentence of death in our selves that we should not trust in our selves but in God that raiseth the dead who deliver'd us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us Mordecai is called Pethakia because saith the Jews he opened and expounded all matters and understood 70 Languages Experience may be called Pethakiah it doth so interpret all Ridles and dark matters both of the word and works of God it explains and interprets 70 and 70 Languages if there be so many worth the interpreting it makes a Man with ease and triumph to look thorow and over all before it though never so dark and difficult as David over Goliah and Zerubabel over that great Mountain which was before him and Joshuah the High Priest over sin and Satans occasions Is not this a brand pluckt out of the Fire Fourthly By Prayer doth a believer come to this good eye-sight to look thorow all dark and difficult matters When I cry to thee then shall mine enemies turn back this I know for God is for me Psal 56.9 David had cryed to God as one once did a little before an engagement and he knew he should have the day and that his enemies would turn their backs great clearing of fight is made by prayer and tears in dark days to see thorow matters A little wind overthrows not only Houses but States and Kingdoms saith Seneca A little of this wind I mean the pantings and prayings of God's People to Heaven overthrows Persons and Nations indeed and is a sure prognostick of good to whom a praying spirit is given and makes in the heart an assurance of good coming My soul followeth hard after thee thy right hand upholdeth me then observe what he saw Those that seek my soul to destroy it shall go into the lower parts of the Earth Psal 63.8 9. Whether that were Hell or the Grave or both 't was well the Church and David were rid of them Prayer is an Ordinance by which the Soul goeth to Heaven and then gets a new life and strength before it comes down again Christ found the blessing of this Ordinance oft and hath surely sanctified it to all his for the same end to lift up their heads and hearts above all troubles He shall cry unto me thou art my Father my God the Rock of my Salvation and I will make him my first born higher than the Kings of the Earth Psal 89.26 The whole course of Nature began with the motion of the Heavens and continues still vigorous according to the continued motion of them Now as the motion of the Heavens is to the whole course of Nature so is Prayer to all the graces of the Soul and to the whole course and state of the new World it is this that sets all graces a going and going true and strong let weather be what it will Hence are those pertinent words of David Trust in the Lord at all times ye People pour out your hearts before him God is a refuge for us Selah Psal 62.8 He maketh these subservient one to another faith to prayer and prayer to faith as indeed they are Would you trust in the Lord at all times then pour out your souls to God Would you pour out your souls to God and pray alway then trust in the Lord at all times Hence it is that the Apostle Paul when he had spoken at a great height of faith Who hath delivered and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver c. You also helping together for us by Prayer 2 Cor. 1.11 Prayer mounts faith upon its high places and faith mounts prayer and makes one pray in his praying Unbelief is soul-fainting and prayer is a fetching fresh life from the Fountain of Life Have mercy upon me O Lord consider my troubles which I suffer of them that hate me thou that liftest me up from the gates of death Psal 13. that is Soul and Body Vse 1 Learn from hence that if faith looketh through the most dark and difficult things then where faith is not troubled People and distressed People must needs be at a great loss especially in great distresses yea the truth is in every little distress every little tryal will sinck them in whom is no faith I cannot well give the reason of it some things contemptible are very vertual to cure great diseases of which none are able to give a reason Unless this that faith twines it self with God to do for Man and all other natural abilities bear up little because they lead not the sinner out of himself but to trust in some thing of the Creature and very little burdens will break the back of a meer Man though his reason and parts and outward helps may be many Saul was bid to stay till Samuel came to him and Samuel stayed but a little beyond his time consequently his tryal was but little and he falls upon things and ways unlawful to his ruine He that believes not will make hast because he cannot see through any strait The Philistines were neer and thou didst not come and therefore 't was in vain for me to wait so Saul reasoned within himself and so will every Man that is destitute of faith Achan having no faith could not forbear but would be providing for himself when as God was before them and
only to roar and cry out when we are beaten and over-burden'd he teacheth us to believe and to expect Songs to be given in the darkest Night Job 35.9 The true state and life of man is not to be shaken with tumults and distresses nor be lifted up with prosperity and ease said the Heathen and what can poise and even the Soul thus in all conditions but faith by which we know how to abound and how to want how to be high when low and how to be low when high if faith have its perfect work so will patience and then the Soul is entire and wanteth nothing no though all the things of this World he wanting Likewise we may learn from hence that we are never gone and quite undone till faith be gone For loe they lie in wait for my Soul the mighty are gathered against me they return at Evening they make a noise like a Dog and go round about the City behold they belch out with their mouth Swords are in their Lips for who saith he doth hear But thou O Lord shalt laugh at them thou shalt have all the Heathen in derision because of his strength will I wait upon thee for God is my defence Psal 59.9 The God of my mercy shall prevent me he shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies Things were very bad indeed when the wicked were at this height that they could belch out any thing and run every where as Dogs and tear God and Man and yet David was not quite ruined Because of thy strength I will wait upon thee A believer is strong enough as long as God is strong and wise enough as long as God is wise and rich enough as long as God is rich and lively enough as long as God lives Hanibal offered himself to make War with the Romans without an Army saith Seneca And truly a believer will himself make War with all enemies in the World and without any Army only by the strength of God and is never at a loss for an Army nor Counsel nor Provisions but saith as that Father of believers God will provide God will fight for you and ye shall hold your peace said Moses in a great strait Cain was not utterly lost when he had committed murder for so had David done But when he rejected the offer of grace and desired death as a despairing Creature He had a most glorious offer of grace Gen. 4.7 And if thou dâ—st well shalt thou not be accepted or certainly accepted and though thou dost not well yet a sin-offering lieth at the door so it should be read saith a great Scholar in the Languages of the Scripture Dr. Lightfoot And this great offer of grace he despised and so forsook his own Mercy and desired Death through a proud dogged spirit having lost the honour which was given to Abel Now therefore let it be that any one that fudeth me may kill me So should these words be read saith the same Author And now and not till now was Cain quite undone Use 2 This Doctrine in the next place may be for reproof and it may be for reproof of unbelief upon any account whatsoever seeing faith looks through all matters whatever As for the Jebusite the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Children of Israel could not drive them out but they dwell there to this day Judg. 15.63 David along while after drove them out And why could not these lame and blind be driven out It was their unbelief The enemy had gotten a strong Fort and the advantage of that City Jerusalem and yet had they had faith they might have lookt thorow these Forts and Rocks of Jerusalem and have conquer'd it as they did Jerico and other places as strong by faith Their sin was the same with Rubens Dan and Asher Sisaâ—'s Host was great and therefore they could not see through them and over them For the divisions of Ruben there were great thoughts of heart Gilead abode beyond Jordan and why did Dan abide in Ships Ashar continued on the Sea shore and abode in his breaches Judg. 5.16 17. Distresses are of several magnitudes but yet how great soever they be faith should be such as to master them and look thorow them but when it is not so then men betake them to their self ish shifts and every one is but for one Why did Ashar abide in his breacher 'T is a grand evil of this time every Man seeks his own and stands with all he hath to make up his own breaches but as to the publick and the common calamity of others Who hath a Heart or a Purse or a Hand which speaks plainly our unbelief and that we do not see through the dark Clouds which are come upon us but say in our hearts as David I shall one time or other surely perish by this and that great tryal and these Sons of Anack are walled up to Heaven and no dealing with them Necessity saith one of the Heathen maketh us more violent than valorous There are amongst us through many necessities many violencies both inward and outward spiritual and corporal unto great hurt every way but little true valour that which flows from faith which is that that doth business as we have seen Secondly This Scripture reproveth giving way to unbelief We flatter our selves in our unbelief as Jona in his passion and in many cases very desperately we think we do well to be unbelievers whereas the greater the difficulties be the more our duty is to believe Curse ye Meros curse ye bitterly that they came not out in a plunge to help the Lord against the mighty Judg. 5.23 If thou think some great tryal shall encounter thee â—aith Seneca do not flinch but comfort thy self with this that surely thy death and suffering is of some great importance Great distress is no warrant for us to make great consult with flesh and blood but great consults with the promises and with our own experiâ—nces and to call much upon a cowardly and deceitful heart Why art thou cast down O my Soul hope in God for I shall yet see better things than these If unbelief were as profitable as it is self-pleasing and that it would further escapes out of distresses one might through self-love give way to it as Men do to many gainful sins but it doth not this but rather obstrucâ—e caâ—â—s as our Fathers unbelief in the Wilderness upon every occasion it caused God to swear against them that they should dye in the Wilderness It is not the giving way to unbelief but the exciting faith what ever the difficulty be that is the likely way to make escape As Caleb and Joshua said We be well able to deal with them for God is departed from them and they are bread for us and this is called following of God fully which God took well and honoured them with escapes from all dangers and they enjoyed the good Land To this agrees that Psal 37.40 And
to quench the Spirit of Christ quite but it seemeth that he is under such a Law and such an assistance from the Father that he must know no discouragement but must on with the work against all opposition and set and establish judgment that is the state of the new Creature or the work of grace he must make the new Creature and he must establish it i. e. so make it that it may never be marred again as the Image of God in the first Adam was Christ threw out filth so that the Devil cannot easily fetch it in again And Christ build so upon himself the Chief corner Stone and firm Rock that no stormes can overturn Job is a great instance The Apostle saith That Charity never faileth If our love never fail it is because that God's love to us in Christ never faileth The love of Christ is unchangeable and so he maketh ours that much water cannot quench it Christ ordains us to bring forth much fruit and our fruit to remain Joh. 15.16 When Polycarp was set on an Ass and carried to his doom he heard a voice from Heaven saying be of good chear O Polycarp and play the Man the Speaker no Man saw but the voice was heard by many of us saith the History And if any one did play the Man in his suffering he did Have respect to thine age tender thy life swear by the fortune of Caesar repent of what is past and say remove the wicked But he looking about with a stedfast countenance upon the wicked Multitude said Remove O Lord these wicked Fourscore and six years have I served Christ and he never offended me in any thing And how then can I revile my King that hath thus kept me The pro-consul still urged him but he still as stoutly resisted him and replyed I am a Christian and there was no turning of him with all that they could say or do The first Work of grace in our first Parents was lost but the grace we now have by Christ eating of that Tree of Life is preserved for ever and none can pluck out of his hand Secondly Christ doth this excellent work of the new Creature alone But now once in the end of the World hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Heb. 9.26 What sacrifices soever have been used they did not mean that any could remove Man's guilt or filth but all pointed at Christ the sacrificing of himself and that this and this alone is the remedy of fallen and sinful Man He trod the Wine press of the wrath of God alone and of the People none with him Isa 63.3 David duell'd it with Goliah and had nothing but a contemptible weapon a Sling and a Stone And so Christ duell'd it with all the Enemies of Man's salvation and had nothing but a contemptible weapon a body subject to infirmities Christ would not put any of this work out of his own hands to be done Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the Tree that we being dead to sin should live to righteousness by whose stripes we are healed 1 Pet. 2.24 Christ had none to help him to bear the Cross which God laid on him though he had one to help bear the Cross which Men laid on him The weight of our sins as punished with infinite wrath and torment Alass who could bear this Cross or be compelled to it and yet all the damned are compelled to bear this Cross and so will all reprobates As in one part of our restoration Christ was alone so in all the parts of it foundation and top-stone he layeth both alone and none of the People with him None offered to him first not last Look to Abraham your Father and to Sarah that bare you for I called him alone and increased him and blessed him Isa 51.2 I think the scope of this Scripture was to strengthen faith that though they were but few yet that God was able to deliver them from all their Enemies as he did Abraham in a very lonely state in Canaan from the Kings that fought with him But take the place more spiritually and strictly for Gods calling of him out of the state of Heathenisme and so the bringing him to a state of grace the bringing him to a new Country and Religion and State all this God did for Abraham alone and subdued all his inward enemies alone and made him an Heir of Eternal Salvation alone God would trust Abraham's best estate with none but himself I desire but this saith Mr. Rutherford that Christ would take me in hand to cure me and undertake for a sick man I know I should not die under his hand sorrow which hath no eyes hath put a Vail upon my Soul that I cannot see him If Christ undertake a sick sinners cure let his disease be what it will never so desperate never so long standing he cureth him without any more Physicians and none die under his hand Thirdly Christ doth this great service for Man of making a better state freely for Jew and Gentile for great sinners and little sinners if there be any such Christ doth all freely He cured Naman that his skin came as if it had been the skin of a young Child and did it for nothing though a very rich Man and would have given much for his Cure Our Fathers had Manna from Heaven and Physick the brazen Serpent which cured them and supported them for nothing and all that was Christ The Manna that fed them was Christ the Serpent that healed them was Christ Where there is neither Greek nor Jew circumcision nor uncircumcision Barbarian Scythian bond nor free but Christ is all and in all Col. 3.11 In all sorts Jews and Gentiles Christ works for the Cure of natural corruption and doth many Cures of this kind but takes nothing no mony nor monys worth he cursed Gehazi that would be medling this way The Samaritan poured in Oil and Wine and healed the wounded Man of all his wounds and all freely And so brought the Prophet's Widdow out of debt freely such Samaritans are now much wanting for Prophets Widdows in debt and he frankly forgave a Debtor many Talents GOD lookt upon every of the Five Days Work and said it was good But on the Sixth Days Work when he had made Man he beheld and said it was very good to shew what special delight God had to make his own Image and to draw his own likeness in Man so doth Christ still not only do this work of restoring fallen Man and do it for nothing but delights to conform us to his Image and when this Days work is done for any wretched Man he saith it is very good and all the Angels rejoyce with him Vse 1 Learn from hence that our Soul-ruines and miseries by our Fall are very great in that none but Christ God-man is able to remedy them 'T is a strong Prison that which none can open but
nature make a kind of Kindred and so consequently love much more friendship makes a kind of Kindred yea neer Kindred a brother A friend is as my Text saith a brother as a very neer Kinsman or as a neerest Kinsman And you may as well say a brother is a brother without love as say a friend is a friend without love A friend loveth c. that is purely Pure love is that which springeth from pure Principles which are two love to GOD and love to Man as some way or other bearing his Image either by Creation or Regeneration and so not upon any self-account Thus David loved Saul and was much pleased with the Men of Jabesh Gilead that buried Saul and much offended with the Amalechite that killed him although he was his great and implacable Enemy And thus Jonathan loved David although David dethroned him Jonathan was grieved that his Father had done David shame so Jonathan arose from the Table in fierce anger and did eat no meat the second day of the Moneth for he was grieved for David because his Father had done him shame I Sam. 20.34 A friend loveth a friend upon his honour as he would be found answering the will of God and the Creatures true good and for no bribe of applause or profit The Men of Israel were angry with the Men of Judah for stealing David home from his exile without them And the Men of Juda made this ingenuous reply The King is neer of Kin to us Wherefore then be ye angry for this matter Have we eaten at all of the King's cost Or hath he given us any gift 2 Sam. 19.42 Have we as if they had said any self-end in our kindness to David but shewing pure love as such a neer Relation requires The love of sympathy is pure love The Iron moveth to the Load-stone not from knowledge consequently not from design but from some hidden similitude in property between them which is as love in rational Creatures and from the hand of the first mover which inclines this Creature to that as pleaseth him and no more else can be said of the matters of friendship no gifts nor this nor that make it We love not yours but you saith the Apostle Secondly A friend loveth c. that is really not in word only but in deed as the Apostle saith And David said to Abiathar I knew how it would be when Doeg the Edomite was there I have occasioned the death of all these Persons of thy Fathers house abide thou with me fear not for he that seeketh thy life seeketh my life but with me thou shalt be in safety I Sam. 22.23 I will take care of thy life and livelihood as of my own as of he had said A friend is alter ego another self Hushai is called David's friend and he made David's case and condition his own and adventured himself far as far as his life and laid down his life for his friend Beasts love one another and will fight for one another to the death whose friendship is but a love of sympathy There are in England 9725 Parishes how many thousand Souls may be in these Parishes If I should be asked by Men in Place what is true friendship to all these Souls I would answer To love them really What is that I answer To love them in words and in deeds to do as he we read of in the Acts of the Apostles He loved our Nation and built us a Synagogue to provide able and faithful Preachers for every Parish through these Kingdomes that is to love their Souls and to feed them and so to love their Bodies who are in want and to feed them and to cloath them my meaning is to set good Ministers and good Magistrates over them this were to love really and so to be a true friend to the Nation and to all in it To give titles of honour and complements this is not that which filleth up the definition of friendship Cannot a City and all Places study plaucibility of carriage and must this by and by be called friendship But as Absalom said to Hushai that stuck not to him in his distress Is this thy kindness to thy friend to talk and to give goodly complements Why wentest thou not-with thy friend 2 Sam. 16.7 A poor Widdow a Ministers poor Widdow of which there be many now complained to the Prophet Elisha and he became a friend to her what was that Answ He loved her really And Elisha said to the Widdow of the Prophet What shall I do for thee 2 Kings 4.2 and did do for her to purpose as much as her condition needed Set her out of debt and gave her and hers wherewith to live upon Pliny tells us of a Sea that doth Accipere amnem in rotam sed non recipit That is takes in such a River but doth not connaturalise it self with it doth not incorporate it as with other waters but as it goeth in so it goes out And just so do we open our Doors and Gates of our Houses and Towns and accipere take in poor Ministers and poor People but do not recipere receive them i. e. welcome in with What shall I do for you and for yours and make their wants as our own and mingle tears and sighs and cares and travels and spirits and purses with them Thirdly A friend loveth c. that is strongly or unexpressibly I am distressed for thee my brother Jonathan very pleasant hast thou been unto me thy love to me was wonderful passing the love of Women 2 Sam. 1.26 Niphla from Pala it signifies saith the Critick high and hidden such as Man's power cannot reach nor perform nor reason attain unto Used Exod. 33.16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy People have found favour in thy sight Is it not in that thou goest with us So shall we be separated I and thy People from all the People that are upon the Face of the Earth Separated this is the word that is so shall we be a People above all expression admired and beloved and honoured c. So did Jonathan honour and esteem David beyond all expression And such is the love of a friend it should seem as set forth to us by the Word There is a Hauke which they call accipiter humipeta because it lies hovering over Mice and little Vermin on the Earth and petty small Birds as they peep in Hedges and Furrowes and useth not to soar and seek any noble and great Game as some other kind of stately Hawkes do So there is a love of Man to Man attended with some small realities of action giving some small Mony as one goeth the Streets and broken meat from the Table and such like little low things of kindnesses and love which may well be spared and no prejudice but this kind of love though it hath a reality in it and doth good and would there were more of this in these times
but wilt bring down high looks They that seek my Soul to destroy it shall go into the lowest parts of the Earth they shall fall by the Sword they shall be a portion for Foxes but the King shall rejoyce in God every one that sweareth by him shall glory but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped Psal 63.10 11. Noah came out of the Ark about November the very beginning of Winter when nothing was to be had but what he had in the Ark for support and to begin the World withall and yet he lookt thorow this great strait which respected not a Nation but the whole world and sacrificed at the beginning of the new world as Adam did at the beginning of the old and so did cast all his care on Christ who well cared for him and for all the matters in his hand which respected the constituting of this World If you ask me how a believer doth make such prospect and perspect I answer by these four things First By the Promise The best Mens eyes fail in dark days and it is well they do so for then he betakes himself to the promise and by this Trunk beholds afar off A foolish or weak action failing Actione inepta succumbens recurrit ad aptam maketh way to an action that is valid A believers own sight failing maketh him to have recourse to the promise and by this he maketh prospect through all The Title of the Fifth Psalm tells us that it was made when the Philistines took David in Gath mine Enemies would daily swallow me up for they be many that fight against me but how did he look through this Cloud I answer by the promise as you may see Verse the 6. In God I will praise his word in God I will put my trust I will not fear what Man can do thou tellest my wanderings put thou my tears in thy Bottel In God I will praise his word vers 10. This word which he so much speaks of was that which we read 2 Sam. 23.5 By which he lookt through sin and death These be the last words of David although my House be not so with God â—et he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure for this is all my salvation c. that is inward and outward temporal and spiritual The promise is so ordered and made in all things that in all matters whatsoever faith may see by it thorow and thorow be it sin of what kind soever Such sins as David committed before or after conversion or be it punishment spiritual or corporal desertion of Soul sickness of body distraction and troubles in the affairs of this World bad Family bad Kingdom as never any Man could have greater plunges of all sorts than he and yet by this promise so ordered in all things he saw still thorow all To the promise is added the Seal and Oath to make a strong and clear sight in the darkest case And this also David made use of when he fought with Aram Naharaim and Aram Zoba Psal 60.6 God hath spoken in his holiness I will rejoyce I will divide Sechem and mete out the valley of Succeth Who shall bring me into Edom wilt not thou which hast cast us off God hath spoken in his holiness or by his holiness that is hath engaged himself by oath and surely he will not break his word and his oath The Church likewise makech use of this Medium to see clearly and strongly through trials Psal 89.35 My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my mouth once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David And in what a dark case the People of God were then we may see by the following words But thou hast cast us off and abhorred thou hast made void the Covenant of thy Servant this is the Prayer of the Church urging the Covenant and Oath to David Thou hast broken down all his hedges all that pass by spoil him thou hast made his glory to cease and cast his Throne down to the ground Psal 89.44 Thus did the Church look thorow their dark condition by the Promise and Oath Secondly By Christ doth a believer look through all difficulties of what kind soever inward or outward The Lord said to my Lord sit thou at my right hand till I make thine Enemies thy Foot stool What enemies Ans All Enemies inward and outward The Psalmist by vertue of Christ saw natural corruption guilt of sin and all Men and Devils opposing destroyed By the death of Christ he saw guilt in all the Elect destroyed he shall drink of the brook in the way that is the black Book Kedron meaning that he should undergo a cursed death and so satisfie the justice of God and therefore in the Person of all the Elect lift up his head Likewise by the life intercession and ministry of Christ he saw all corruptions of nature destroyed in the Elect. Thy People shall be willing in the day of thy power in the beauties of holiness that is by the administration of thy holy Ordinances Thou hast the dew of thy youth to supply them and to moisten them Likewise by the death of Christ he saw all outward enemies vain and Devils destroyed The Lord at thy right hand shall smite through Kings in the day of his wrath he shall judg among the Heathen he shall fill the places with the dead Bodies he shall wound the heads over many Countrys Psal 110. Many things have their greatness not according to their nature but according to their skill and humility saith Seneca so a believer hath his greatness and honour not according to his nature and birth from Men but according to such a skill which God hath given to him to make use of Christ and to renounce still all in himself and by vertue of this he is very great and mighty and able to do all things I can do all things through Christ saith Paul and so can see through all things by him 'T was through Christ that the Church saw through that dark state before mentioned Psal 87. When all that passed by spoiled and all hedges down Then thou spakest in a Vision to thine holy one and saidst I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have exalted one chosen out of the People with whom mine Hand shall be established mine Arme shall strengthen him the enemy shall not exact upon him nor the Sons of wickedness afflict him and I will beat down his foes before his face and plague them that hate him which though true of David yet specially and principally of Christ and him did the Church then see in David as he by whom all their enemies inward and outward should be destroyed Thirdly By experiences doth a believer look through all difficulties and miseries Faith can help it self by reason What Father if his Child want bread Experiences will