though in the fire yet unconsumed The Church of God was hot yea all in flames and yet not consumed Let the fire be never so hot so fierce so furious so spreading the Church shall have a being and live and bear up in the midst of the flames If the Church like the Sea loose in one place it gits ground in another when the worst of men and Devils and Informers have done their worst the Lord will have a name among his People on Earth The Church with the Lamp in the story laughes at all those winds that would blow it out Well may we stand amazed and wonder that so flaming and terrible a fire falling upon so contemptible a Bush and so dry and despicable a shrub should not presently turn it into ashes for why is the fire too weak O no. Is the Bush so strong as to defend and secure it self against devouring flames O no. Or is the Bush not apt to burn and consume by so fierâ—e a fire O no. It is not from the impotency of the fire nor from the strength or constitution of the Bush for a dry Bramble-bush in the matter of it is as combustible as any chaff and as easily destroyed as any stubble but because the natural force thereof was râ—strained by the glorious power of God for if God concur not with the nature of things they cannot work nor shew their kind There are two inseparable qualities of fire 1. To give light 2. To burn And yet Divine power divides and separates these two for this fire giveth light but burneth not O what a mighty what an astonishing preservation is here The afflictions and sufferings of the Church are not a consuming fire but a trying fire as the fire in a Furnace consumes the dross but tryes the gold and puts a new lustre beauty and glory upon it Hesiod speaks of thirty thousand Demy-Gods Psalm 121. 4 Isa 27. 3. Mal. 3. 17. Zach. 2. 8. Psalm 31. 20. that were keepers of men but what are so many thousand Gods to that one God that neither slumbers nor sleeps but day and night keeps his People as his Jewels as the apple of his eye that keeps them in his Pavilion as a Prince his Favorite There is a Dialogue between a Heathen and a Jew after the Jews return from captivity all Nations round about them being enemies unto them the Heathen asked the Jew how he and his Contrey-men could hope for any safety because saith he every one of you is as a silly sheep compassed about with fifty wolves I but saith the Jew we are kept by such a shepherd as can kill all these wolves when he pleases and by that means preserve his sheep But Fifthly consider how this eminent preservation of his People from dangers in the midst of dangers is effected and brought about and that is by the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ the great Angel of the Covenant for Moses saith expresly of this Vision that the Lord appeared unto Moses and God calleth unto him out of the midst of the Bush said Moses Moses c. This calling of Moses by his Verse 4. name the doubling of his name in such a familiar loving manner was a sign of Gods singular favour to Moses Choice Favorits God frequently called by name as Scipio by way of favour call'd the Citizens by their names and so Cyrus upon the same ground called his Souldiers by their names you may see in those instances of Abraham Isaac and Jacob c. and so our Lord Jesus Christ called Peter by his name Nathanael by his name Mary by her name c. The same presence of the Son of God that preserved the three Children or rather Champions in that furious furnace of Nebuchadnezzar from burning or singeing preserved the Bush though not from burning yet from consuming by restraining the natural force of the fire and strengthning the Bush against it The Bush the Church in the fire came forth of the hottest Furnace that ever was kindled not blacker nor worser but brighter and better more glorious than the Sun in his strength and all this from the presence of the Angel of the Covevenant that dwelt in the Bush Divine presence can preserve a flaming Bush from being consumed Witness our preservation to this day though we have been as a burning Bush God is in the midst of her she shall not be Psalm 46. 5. moved God shall help her and that right early Heb. When the morning appeareth that is in the nick of time when help shall be most feasonable and best welcom The presence of the Lord in the midst of his Church will secure her from being greatly moved in the midst of all those great dreadful confusions that are abroad in the world Hence the Church is called Jehovah shammah The Lord is Ezek. 48. 35. there His presence in Heaven makes it heaven his presence in the Church makes it happy and safe Nothing shall disturb or harm them that have the presence of God in the midst of them The Church is built upon Mat. 16. 18. a rock she is invincible Jer. 1. 8. Be not afraid of their faces for I am with thee to deliver thee saith the Lord. Opposition is as Calvin writes to the French King Evangelii genius the black Angel that dogs the Gospel at the heels Verse 17. Thoâ— therefore gird up thy loyns and arise and speak â—nto them all thaâ— I command thee be not dismayed at their faces lest I 〈◊〉 thee before them Verse 18. For behold I have made thee this day a defenced City and an iron pillar and brasen wall against the whole Land against the Kings of Judah against the Princes thereof against the Priests thereof and against the people of the Land Verse 19. And they shall fight against thee but they shall not prevail against thee for I am with thee saith the Lord to deliver thee Gods presence with his Messengers is a guard and a safe-guard all-sufficient against all opposition whatsoever Earthly Princes and Soveraigns are not wont to go with those whom they send on Embassage but God always goes along with those whom he sends will by his powerful presence protect defend them against opposers at all times in all places when all others fâ—il and forsake us Christs presence is security sufficient for If he be with us who can be against us They must first prevail against him before they can prevail against them that withstand and oppose those whom he standeth by to back and protect How comes this to pass that In some cases a man were better loose his life than be cowaâ—dly Aristotle Eth. 3. cap. 1. Jeremiah a man a man alone should bear up so stoutly and stand so strong against Kings Princes Priests People 't is from the signal presence of God with him I am with thee And what can all the great ones of
God laid upon Esau Gen. 33. 1 2 3 4. and upon Abimelech Gen. 20. 6 7 8 17 18. and upon Benhadad 1 Kings 20. 1 10 29 30. and upon Haman as you may see by comparing the 3. and 6. chapters of Esther together and upon Pharaoh Exod. 15. 9 10. and upon Senacherib Isa 37. 28 29 33 34 35 36. and upon Herod Acts 12 Maximinus set forth a proclamation engraven in History of the Council of Trent pag. 417. brass for the utter abolishing of Christ and Religion he was eaten up of lice Valens being to subscribe an order for the banishment of Basil was smitten with a sudden trembling of his hand that he could not subscribe the order afterwards he was burned to death by the Goths Domitian the author of the second persecution against the Christians having drawn a catalogue of the names of such as he was to kill in which was the name of his own Wife and other Friends upon which he was by the consent of his Wife slain by his own houshold servants with daggers in his privy Chamber his body was buried without honour his memory cursed to posterity and his Arms and Ensignes where thrown down and defaced Julian vowed to make a sacrifice of the Christians upon his return from the wars but in a Battel against the Persians he was deadly wounded and throwing his blood in the air in a high contempt of Christ he dyed with that desperate blasphemous expression in his mouth Vicisti tandem Galiaee Thou Galilean 〈◊〉 overcome me Faelix Earl of Wurtenburg was a great persecutor of the Saints and did swear that ere he dyed he would ride up to the spurs in the blood of the Lutherans but the very same night wherein he had thus sworn and vowed he was choaked in his own blood The Judgments of God were so famous and frequent upon the persecutors of the Saints in Bohemia that it was used as a proverb among the Adversaries themselves That if any man were weary of his life let him but attempt against the Piccardines so they called the Christians and he should not live a year to an end By these short hints you may see that all along God has made good that Word that is more worth than a world Psalm 76 10. Heb. Gird that is keep it within compass as with a Girdle Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee and the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain Heb. Shalt thou gird that is curb and keep within compass or as the Greek hath it It shall keep holy day to thee that is cease from working or acting outwardly how restless soever it be within The remainder of wrath shall thou restrain that is those that are left alive of thy wrathful enemies that have still any malice against thy People thou wilt curb and restrain and not suffer their wrath to be so great as formerly or if they go about to recruit their forces and to set again upon thy People thou wilt set such bounds to their wrath that they shall not accomplish their desires nor shall they proceed one step further than shall make signally for thy glory and thy Peoples good so some carrie the words The more eager and furious the enemies are against Gods People the more honour and glory will God get in protecting and securing his People and in girding binding and tying up their enemies were it not for this favourable signal and eminent presence of God with his People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers Wicked men would still be a multiplying of their sorrows increasing their troubles and adding of burden to burden 't is this favourable presence of God that binds wicked men over to their good behaviour and that chaines them up from doing that mischief that they design and intend But Fifthly The Lord does manifest his favorable signal and eminent presence with his People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers by guiding and leading them into those paths and wayes which make most for their own peace and quiet safety Exod. 13. 21 22. Isa 63. 12 13 14. Psalm 5. 8. The Apple of the eye is the tenderest piece of the tenderest part Heb. Ishon of Ish as pupilla of pupa because therein appears the likeness of a little man or because a man is to be prized above all other Creatures as so God esteemeth his people above all the world Heb. 11. 38 and security contentation and satisfaction happiness here and blessedness hereafter Deut. 32. 10. He found him in a desert land and in the wast bowling wilderness he led him about he instructed him he kept him as the apple of his eye A Wilderness condition is you know a condition of straits wants deep distresses and most deadly dangers now when his People were in this condition he instructs them by his words and works and he takes them by the hand as I may say and leads them with all care tenderness gentleness and sweetness as a man would do a poor helpless Infant which he should find in a desert in a wast howling wilderness God never left leading of his People till he had brought them at last through the wilderness to the land of Canaan Ah this leading presence of God turns a wilderness into a Paradise a desert into a Canaan let a Christians troubles distresses and dangers be never so many or never so great yet as long as he has the guiding presence of God with him he is safe from dangers in the midst of dangers the fire shall not burn him nor the waters overflow him Isa 43. 2. Psalm 107. 4. They wandred in the wilderness in a solitary way they found no City to dwell in Verse 5. Hungry and thirsty their soul fainted in them Verse 6. Then they cried unto the Lord in their troubles and he delivered them out of their distresses Here you see their great troubles deep distresses and most deadly dangers and now God gives them his hand Verse 7. And he led them forth by the right way that they might go to a City of habitation that is to a state of settlement say some to Jerusalem say others or to that City which hath foundations whose builder and maker is Heb. 11. 10. God saith another In that 32. Psalm you may see David's great troubles deep distresses and most deadly dangers Verse 3. When I kept silence my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long Verse 4. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me my moisture is turned into the drought of summer Selah But will God be his guide now O yes Verse 8. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go I will guide thee with mine eye Let the hand of the Lord be never so heavy upon a person yet the presence of God guiding and instructing Isa 30. 21. Psalm 73. 24. of him will keep him from utter
being come early the next morning Verse 4. to beg this of the King had not God kept him from sleep and directed him to read in that place of the Chronicles were Mordecai's service was recorded and so made way to his advancement and Haman's ruine Gods favourable presence shin'd upon his People in keeping the King from sleep for excellent ends in putting small thoughts into his heart for great purposes God will appear for his poor People 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the nick and opportunity of time when there is but a step between them and death and further the power providence presence and goodness of God was made evident in the behalf of his People in directing the Reader to that very place where Mordecai's Esther 6. 2. singular service in discovering the barbarous and murderous plot that was laid against the Kings life and Crown was recorded That Mordecai should have no present reward but that it should be defer'd till a fitter opportunity when God might be more glorified in the signal preservation of his People in the famous overthrow of their Enemies was from that mighty hand of God that was stretched out for the good of his People In this great Story we may as in a mirrour see how the Lord by his wisdom providence presence and grace brings about and over-rules the wills of men the affairs of men the counsels of men the designs of men the words speeches of men to the fulfilling of his own will and decree and the promoting of his own honour and glory and the good of his People when vain men think least of doing his will or serving his providence Here you may see the wisdom prudence and courage of Esther striking whilest the Iron was hot charging the bloody decree upon Haman to his face and that before the King that thingâ— might the better stick and work and painting him out in his own proper colours The adversary Heb. the maâ— adversary the Lycanthropos the man of might that distresseth us And Enemy that is the cruel Enemy the bloody Enemy the Gen. 3. 15. utter Enemy the worst Enemy that sworn sword-man of Satan from whom Haman hath drawn his ancient enmity Is this wicked Haman that is as wicked a wretch as goes â—n two legs a man of blood a man made up of mischief and malice a sink of wickedness a very mystery of iniquity a breathing Devil Tiberius was rightly characterized by his Tutor Theodorus Gadareus dirt knod with blood Haman was such another if not worse and now Queen Esther is plain and round with him and calls a spade a spade though others stiled him Noble Great Serene Magnificent c. Esther gives him his own with a witness The Adversary and Enemy is this wicked Haman but what a mighty courage had Esther to speak at this rate before the King and of his grand Favourite and before his face Surely all this was from the signal presence of God with her Soul this was a great work of Faith and a singular fruit of prayer And now Haman stood up to make request for his life O what a strange turn of things is here all upon a sudden He that a little before was bowed unto by all men is now upon his knees before a woâ—an he that was the very day before a professed Enemy of the Jews is now suppliant to a Jewess he that a few weeks before had contrived the death and ruine of the Jews is now begging hard for his own life he that had provided a Gallows for Mordecai fears nothing more now than that himself should be hanged on it Yesterday O the caps knees and bows that Haman had and now the same Esther 7. 8. Man covers his face in token of his irrecoverable ruine The Turks cast a black gown upon such as they sit at supper with the Great Turk and presently strangle them Many of their Visiers or greatest Favourits die in this sort which makes them use this Proverb He that is greatest in Office is but a Statue of glass Plutarch wittily compareth great Men to Counters which now stand for a thousand pound and anon for a farthing this was Haman's case And so Sejanus the same Senatours Courtiers shift their sails to the sitting of every wind A cubit was half a yard at least in those parts they had trees very small or they might piece one to another but why so high a Gallows but for the greater disgâ—ace to Mâ—rdâ—cai and terrour to all that should slight the Kings grand Favourit who accompanied him to the Senate conducted him to Prison they which sacrificed to him as to their God which kneeled down to adore him scoffed at him seeing him dragged from the Temple to the Gaol from supreme honour to extreme ignominy When once the Emperour frowned upon him they shewed themselves most passionate against him saying that if Caesar had clemency he ought to reserve it for men and not to use it toward Monsters this is Courtiers custom to adore the rising Sun and when great Favourits fall into disgrace all about Princes will be ready to pluck them up by the roots if the season be fair to clear the Court or Land of such noisom weeds The Kings indignation being up the Courtiers point at the Gallows fifty Cubits high that Haman had set up for Mordecai All are now for Mordecai there is not a Courtier that has one good word for Haman Ah what a rare hand of God was there in all these things for the good of his People and the utter overthrow of their grand Enemy To sum all up in a little room the breaking of the Kings sleep was the breaking of one of the most bloody designs that ever was laid against the People of God Well what though the King could not sleep could he not lye still in his bed No he must have a book and that book must be the book of Chronicles and that book must be opened where accidentally not by turning to that place purposely yet surely by Gods Providence directing him that read to that very story concerning Mordecai where was registred his faithfulness in discovering and disappointing of a murther intended against the King whereupon God sets this act of faithfulness so close upon the Kings heart that he could not rest till Mordecai was nobly rewarded for it and this reward must be Haman's ruine his advancement Haman's abasement and this was the rise of Haman's disappointment In this famous instance you may run and read the favourable signal and eminent presence of the Lord in the miraculous preservation of his Church from a total ruine and destruction and in the disappointing the plots designs and counsels of their greatest Enemies and in taking of them in the very snares that they had-laid for others sutable to that of the Psalmist He made a pit and digged it and Psalm 7. 16 17 is fallen into the ditch which he made his
out of the hand of the terrible God engages himself to protect him against all the might malice of his most terrible enemies and though he should fall into their hands yet he would deliver him out of their hands Psalm 33. 3. They have consulted against thy hidden ones The Saints are 1. Hid in Gods decree 2. Hid in Christs wounds 3. Hid in the chambers of Divine providence 4. Hid in common dangers as Noah was hid in his Ark and as Lot was hid in Zoar Isa 26. 20. and as Daniel was hid in the Lyons den and as the three Children were hid in the fiery Furnace and as Jonah was hid in the Whales belly 5. Hid with Christ in God in Colos 3. 3. times of greatest trouble the Saints are hid under the hollow of Gods hand under the shadow of Gods wing Psalm 27. 5. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in Psal 91. 1 4. his Pavilion The Hebrew Succoh is written with a little Samech to shew say some that a little pavilion or cottage where God is shall be sufficient to save-guard the Saints in the day of adversity He shall hide me in his hut as a Shepherd doth his sheep in a stormy day In the secret of his Tabernacle shall he hide me I shall be as safe as if I were shut up in his holy Ark Tabernacle or Temple whither they use to flee for shelter to the horns of the Altar yea as if a man were hid in the most holy Place where none might enter but only the High-Priest once a year which is therefore called Gods secret place A Ezeck 7. 22. Shepherd should not be more careful to shelter his sheep in a Tent or Tabernacle from the heat of the Sun nor a King should not be more ready to protect a Favorite in his pavilion whence none durst venture to take him than God would be careful and ready to shroud and shelter his People from the rage madness and malice of their enemies How did God hide his Church in Aegypt Exod. 3. 2 3. the Bush was still burning and yet was not consumed and how did he hide seven thousand in Eliah's 1 Kings 19. 18. time that had not bowed their knees to Baal Though the Woman the Church be driven to flee into the wilderness Rev. 12. 6. yet there she is hid and there she had a place prepared of God that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and three-score dayes Let our Enemies do their worst they shall not hinder us of Divine protection no power nor policy can hinder our being preserved and secured by God in the greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers that can attend us But Fourteenthly If God be with us who can be against us I answer None so as to deprive us of our union with Christ as to dissolve that blessed union that is between Joh. 15. 1 2 3 4 5. Christ and our souls When Men and Divels have done their worst our Mariage union with Christ holds good this union is indissoluble this union between Christ Believers is not capable of any separation they are so one that all the violence of the world nor all the power of darkness can never be able to make them two again Hence the Apostle's triumphant challenge Who shall separate us from the love of Christ If the question Rom. 8. 35. did not imply a strong Negation the Apostle himself doth give us a negation in words at length Neither death Verse 38 39. nor life nor Angels nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor heigth nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us c. Here you have a long Catalogue consisting of a large induction of various particulars But none of all these can dissolve the union between Christ and Believers None can untie that knot that is tied by the Spirit on Christs part and by Faith on ours Christ and Believers are so firmly joyned together that all the powers on earth and all the united strength of Hell shall never be able to put them asunder or to separate them one from another look as no distance of place can hinder this union so no force or violence from Devils or Men shall ever be able to dissolve this union and herein lies the peculiar transcendent blessedness of this union above all other unions they all may cease be broken and come to nothing every one of them is soluble The head may be separated from the members and the members from the head the Husband must be separated from the Wife and the Wife from the Husband the Parents must be separated from the Children and the Children from the Parents and bosom friends must be separated one from another The foundation and the house may be separated and the branches may be cut off from the vine yea the soul and body may be disunited by death but the mystical union stands fast for ever Christ and a gracious soul can Matth. 19. 6. never be separated God hath joyned them together and no mortal shall ever be able to put them asunder there is not only a continuation of it all our life but also in death it self Our very bodies sleeping in the dust are even then in union with Christ There are two abiding things in the Saints their unction and their union their unction abides But the anointing 1 John 2. 27. which ye have received of him abideth in you and their union abides for it follows and ye shall abide in him Christ earnestly prayes that we might be one as he John 17. 20 21 22 23. and his Father are one not essentially nor personally but spiritually so as no other Creature is united to Christ There can be no Divorce between Christ and Malach. 2. 19. the believing Soul Christ hates putting away Sin may for a time seemingly separate between Christ and the Believer but it can never finally separate between Christ and the Believer Look as it is impossible for the leaven that is in the dough to be separated from the dough after it is once mixed for it turneth the nature of the dough into it self so it is impossible for the Saints ever to be separated from Christ for Christ is in the Saints as Rom. 8. 10. Coloss 1. 27. 1 John 3. 21. John 17. 23. nearly and as really as the leaven is in the dough Christ and Believers are so incorporated as if Christ and they were one lump Our nature is now joyned to God by the indissolvible tye of the Hypostatical union in the second Person and we in our persons are joyned to God by the mystical indissolvible bond of the Spirit the third Person Our union with the Lord Jesus is so near so close and so glorious that it makes us one spirit with him In this blessed union the Saints are not only joyned to the graces and
Will the Lord be signally present with 4. Inference his People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers then from hence you may see the Lords singular love and admirable kindness to his People in gracing them with his presence in their greatest Isa 43. 2. 4. troubles that is a Friend indeed that will stick close to a man in the day of his troubles as Jobs friends did Job 2. 11 12 13 1 Sam. 20. 30 31. 32 33. stick close to him in the day of his troubles and as Jonathan did stick close to David in his greatest dangers and as the primitive Christians did sticâ— close one to another though with the hazard of their lives and to the amazement of their Enemies Behold said they how the Christians love one another and stand by one another The People of God in their greatest troubles are a People of his special love when they are in distress he lyes them in his very bosom and his banner over Cant. 2. 4. them is love The love of God to his People is engraven upon the most afflictive dispensation they are under when he smartly rebukes them even then he dearly loves them Hear ye the rod. Oh the rod speaks love Rev. 3. 19. Micha 6. 9. many of the Saints have read much of the Lords love written in letters of their own blood they have read love in Priâ—â—ns and love in flames and love in banishment and love in the cruellest torments their Enemies could invent When a Christians wounds are bleeding Mal. 4. 2. then God comes in with a healing plaster when a Christian is in a storm then the presence of the Lord makes all calm and quiet within The presence of the Lord Matth. 8. 26. with his People in their troubles and distresses speaks out the reality of his love the cordialness of his love the greatness of his love and the transcendency of his love The truth and strength of Relations love one to another doth best appear by their presence one with another when either of them are in the Iron Furnace or in bonds or in great straits or wants or deep distresses The Parents shew most of their love to their sick and weak Children by their daily presence with them and the Husband shews most of his dear and tender love by keeping his Wife company when she is in greatest straits and dangers so here But Fifthly Will the Lord be signally present with his 5. Inference People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers then this may serve to justifie the Saints and to encourage the Saints to write after this fair copie that Christ has set them O visit them O stand by them O stick close to them in all their troubles distresses and dangers let the same mind be in you one towards another as is in Christ towards you all Phil. 2. 5. Job 11. 12 13. Are there any Jobs upon the dunghil visit them are there any Pauls in chaines find them out and be not ashamed of their chaines 2 Timoth. 1. 16. The Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus for he oft refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain Verse 17. But when he was in Rome he sought me out diligently and found me Verse 18. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day and in how many things he ministred unto me at Ephesus thou knowest very well He oft refreshed me Greek Poured cold water upon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 me As that Angel did upon the wracked limbs of Theodorus the Martyr mentioned by Socrates and Ruffinus in the dayes of Julian the Apostat 't is a Metaphor taken from those who being almost overcome with heat are refreshed by cooling And was not ashamed of my chain Learned Antiquaries observe that the Apostle at this time was not in prison with fetters but in the custody of a Souldier with whom he might go abroad having a chain on his right arm which was tyed to the Souldiers left arm Paul at this time was not in prison much less a close Prisoner for then Onesiphorus needed not to have made any great search to find him but was a Prisoner at large going up and down with his Keeper to dispatch his affairs and therefore he speaks not of chains in the plural number but of a chain in the singular with which he was tyed to the souldier that kept him It no wayes becomes the Saints to be ashamed of the bonds or chains that may be found upon the Ambassadours of Christ in an evil day The primitive Christians were not ashamed of the Martyrs chains but owned them in their chains and stood by them in their chains and frequently visited them in their chains and freely and nobly relieved them and refreshed them in their chains And will you will you be ashamed to visit the Saints in bonds O let not this be told in Gath 2 Sam. 1. 20. nor published in the streets of Askelon that the high-flown Professors and Christians of these times are ashamed to own relieve and stand by the Saints in bonds So Matth. 25. 36. I was sick and ye visited me I was in See Exo. 2. 11 12. compared with Acts 7. 23. to 29. only remember the case was extraordinary and his call was extraordinary prison and ye came unto me It is very remarkable that the last definitive Sentence shall pass upon men according to those acts of favour and kindness that have been shewed to the Saints in their suffering state and that the Sentence of absolution shall contain a manifestation of all their good works In this great day Christ sees no iniquity in his People he objects nothing against them and he only makes honourable mention of the good that has been done by them O Sirs all the visits you give to sick Saints and all the visits you give to imprisoned Saints Christ takes as visits given to himself suffering Saints and you are Brethren and will you not visit your own Brethren suffering Saints and Christ are Brethren Matth. 25. 40. John 20 17. Psalm 119. 63. 2 Cor. 8. 19. and will you not visit Christs Brethren suffering Saints and you are Companions and will you not visit your own Companions suffering Saints and you are travelling Heaven-wards and will you not visit your Fellow-travellers suffering Saints and you are Fellow-citizens and will you not visit your Fellow-citizens Ephes 2. 19. suffering Saints and you are Fellow souldiers Phil. 2. 25. and will you not visit your Fellow-souldiers suffering Saints aâ—d you are Fellow-heirs and will you not visit Rom. 8. 17. your Fellow-heirs O never be ashamed of those that Christ is not ashamed of O never fail to visit those whom Christ daily visits in their suffering state O never turn your backs upon those to whom Christ hath given the right hand of fellowship O be not
with Christ to accept of Christ and to enter into a marriage-covenant a marriage-union with Christ that so they may enjoy his singular presence with them whilst they are on this sea of glass There is no presence so greatly desirable so absolutely necessary so exceeding sweet comfortable as the presence of Christ therefore before all above all secure this presence of Christ by matching with the person of Christ then you will be safe happy on a sea of glass Ninthly will the Lord be signally present with his 9 Inference People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers then let me infer that unbelief infidelity and despondency of spirit in an evil day does very ill become the People of God Is the Lord present with you in your greatest troubles and will you flag in your faith and be crest fallen in your courage when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall Isa 25. 4. what is this but to tell all the world that there is more power in your troubles to sink and daunt you than there is in the presence of the Lord to support and encourage you when a Christian is upon the very banks of the Red Sea yet then the Divine presence should encourage him To stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. It would Exod. 14. 13. be good for timerous Christians in an evil day to dwell much upon the Prophets commission Isa 35. 3. Strengthen ye the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees Say to them that are of a fearful heart be strong fear not Ah but how shall weak hands be strong and a timorous heart cease to fear and saint Why Behold your God will come with vengeance even God with a recompence he will come and save you he is on his way he will be suddenly with you yea he is already in the midst of you and he will save you If you cast but Isa 41. 10. c. 43. 2 Heb. 13. 5. Jer. 32 40 41. cap. 31. 31 to 38. Gen. 41. 35 36 48 49. Col. 1. 19. cap. 2. 3. your eye upon precious promises if you cast but your eye upon the new Covenant which is Gods great store-house there you will find all supports all supplyes all helps and all comforts laid up and laid in for you and therefore never despond never faint never be discouraged in an evil day in a dark time As Joseph had his store-houses to give a full supply to the Egyptians in time of famine so dear Jesus of whom Joseph was but a type has his store-houses of mercy of goodness of power of plenty of bounty out of which in the worst of times he is able to give his People a full supply according to all their needs and therefore be not discouraged don't despond in a day of trouble O my Friends how often has the Lord hid you in the secret of his presence Ps 27. 5. Ps 31. 20 from the pride of men and kept you secretly in his pavilion from the strife of tongues And therefore be strong and lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees When David was in a very great distress Heb. 12. 12. he does not despond nor give way to unbelief but encourages himself in the Lord his God The Hebrew word is 1 Sam. 30. 6. derived from Chazack which notes a laying hold on God with all his strength as men do when they are in danger of drowning who will suffer any thing rather then let go their hold When David was almost under water when he was in danger of drowning then by a hand of faith he layes hold on the rock of ages and encourages himself in the Lord his God What heavenly gallantry of spirit did good Nehemiah shew from that Divine presence that was with him in that great day of trouble and distress when the remnant of the captivity were in great affliction and reproach and the wall of Jerusalem broken down and the gates thereof burnt with Neh. 1. 3. fire You know Shemajah advises him to take Sanctuary in the Temple because the enemy had designed to fall upon him by night and slay him and cause the work to cease but Nehemiah having a signal presence of God Cap. â— 11. Cap. 6. 10. with him gives this heroick and resolute answer Should such a man as I flee and who is there being as I am would go into the Temple to save his life I will not go in Should I flee into the Temple like a malefactor to take sanctuary there How would God be dishonoured Religion reproached the People discouraged the weak scandalized and the wicked imboldned to insult and triumph over me saying Is this the man that is called by God and qualified by God for this work and service Is this the man that is countenanced and encouraged by the King to build the walls and gates and city of Jerusalem Is this the man that is the chief Magistrate and Governour Neh. 2. 5. to the 10. of the City Is this the man that is sent and set for the defence of the People and that should encourage them in their work O what a mouth of blasphemy would be opened should I make a base retreat into the Temple to save my life This is a work that I will rather dye than do I have found the face of God the presence of God in bowing the heart of King Artaxerxes to contribute his Royal aid and commission me to the work and in the bending of the hearts of the Elders of the Jews to own my authority and to rise up as one man to build and therefore I will rather dye upon the spot than go into the Temple to save my life Oh my Friends it becomes not those that have the presence of God with them in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers to sink so low in their faith and confidence as to cry out with the Prophets Servant Alass Master what shall we do Or with the 2 Kings 6 15. Mat. 8. 25. Ez. 37. 11. Lament 3. 18. Isa 49. 14. Disciples when in a storm We perish Or with the whole house of Israel Our bones are dryed and our hope is lost and we are cut off for our parts Or with weeping Jeremiah My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord Or with Sion The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me Oh 't is for a lamentation when Gods dearest Children shall bewray their infidelity by a fainting sinking discouraged spirit in an evil day But Tenthly and lastly will the Lord be signally present 10 Inference with his People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers then let the People of the Lord be very thankful for his presence with them in their greatest troubles c. O Sirs this Divine presence is Exod. 33. 13 14 15 16.
Priests with sounding Trumpets to cry alarm against you O Children of Israel Num 23. 23. Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob neither is there any Divination against Israel That is there is none against Israel that shall be of force or that shall take any effect to do the posterity of Jacob or Israel any hurt any harm any prejudice But why because the Lord his God is with him and the shout of a King is among them The presence of God with his Israel blasts all Balaams enchantments and makes null and void all his Divinations God is with his People to counsel them in all doubtful and difficult cases and to defend them and secure them Num. 23. 1 13 28 29. Cap. 24. 1. 2 Sam. 16. 7 9 11 12. Jer. 15. 10. Cap. 1. 17 18 19. against all their enemies and opposers Balaam had a moneths mind to curse the People of God as his wearied endeavours to that purpose do abundantly evidence But the presence of God with his People prevented all his mischievous designs Shemei curses David but his curses could not hurt him for God was with him The People generally cursed Jeremiah but all their curses could not harm him for God was with him The Jews in their prayers daily curse the Christian Exod. 20. 24. Churches but all their curses can't prejudice them because God is in the midst of them And who will say that the reformed Churches are one pin the worse for all the Popes excommunications and execrations with Bell Book and Candle The signal prefence of God with his People is a most soveraign antidote against all the curses and cursings of cursed men and therefore what ever you part with be sure you don't part with your God let him be but in the midst of you and then no curses shall be prevalent against you This age abounds with such monsters whose mouths are full of curses but if every curse should stick a visible blister on the cursers tongue as it doth insensible ones on the cursers soul their tongues would quickly be too big for their mouths and they would soon grow weary of cursing the People of God the things of God the wayes of God the providences of God and the faithful dispensers of the mysteries of God but the best of it is when they have done their worst and spit out all their curses the curse causeless shall not come for the ever blessed God is in his People Prov. 26. 2. and with his People and among his People and a Zach. 2. 5. wall of fire alwayes about his People and therefore they are safe and secure enough when men and Devils have done their worst But Tenthly and lastly To move you so to order demean 10 Motive and carry your selves as that you may enjoy the gracious presence of God with you in your greatest troubles and deepest distresses consider that the Divine presence will make up the absence of all outward comforts this gracious presence will supply and fill up the place of a friend a child a father a husband Some of the Rabbies write that Manna had all sorts of tasts and all sorts of sweets in it Sure I am that the favourable presence of God has Psal 4. 6 7. all sorts of sweets in it it has the sweet of all ordinances in it it has the sweet of all duties in it it has the sweet of Prov. 4. 23. all Church priviledges in it it has the sweet of all Relations in it it has the sweet of all your outward comforts in it and therefore above all keeping keep the presence of God with you Many in their distresses and miseries are full of complaints one cries out he wants a faithful Friend another cries out he wants an active Relation a third cries out that he wants necessaries both â—or back and belly a fourth cries out he wants the means that others enjoy but he that enjoyes the gracious presence of God finds all these wants made up to him Yea he finds the Divine presence to be infinitly better 1 Sam. 1. 8. than the presence of all outward comforts As Elkanah said to Hannah Am not I better than ten Sons So assuredly the presence of the Lord is wonderfully better than all other things to every soul that has tasted the sweetness of it You know that one Sun is more glorious delightful useful and comfortable than ten thousand Stars so here Seneca tells a Courtier that had lost his Son Fas tibi non est salvo Caesare de fortuna tua queri c. That he had no cause to mourn either for that or ought else so long as his Soveraign was in safety and he in favour with his Soveraign he had all things in him and he should be unthankfull to his good fortune if he were not chearful both in heart and look so long as things stood so with him as they did How much more may we say to every sincere Christian that enjoyes the gracious presence of God with him Let thy wants and thy crosses be never so great thy afflictions never so pressing thy necessities never so biting thou hast no just cause to be troubled or dejected so long as thou art in favour with God and enjoyest the presence of God All mercies all comforts all contentments all enjoyments they meet and center in the gracious presence of God as all lights meet in the Sun and as all waters meet in the Sea and therefore let not that soul mourn or complain of the want of any thing who enjoyes that gracious presence of God that is better than every terreâ—e thing Thus much for the motives But some may say O Sir what means should we use that we may enjoy the gracious presence of the Lord with us in our greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers I answer first there are some things that you must carefully shun and take heed off As First take heed of high sinnings take heed of scandalous sins High sinnings do greatly dishonour God wound conscience reproach Religion stagger the weak grieve the strong open the mouths of the wicked and provoke God to withdraw his gracious presence Psalm 51. 11 12. Exod. 32. 8. Cap. 33. 3. Isa 63. 10. Turn to these Scriptures and seriously ponder upon them Great transgressions do eclypse the favour of God as well as the honour of God In great transgressions we turn our backs upon God and God turns away his face from us Gross sins will provoke God to withdraw his presence both in respect of vigour and strength as also in respect of peace and comfort But Secondly take heed of impenitency Next to our being preserved from sin it is the greatest mercy in the world when we are fallen by our transgressions to make a quick and speedy return to God When by your sins Hosea 6. 1. Exod. 3â— 9. to 15. you have made work for repentance for hell or for the
Physician Souls immediatly make up the breach take up the controversy between God and your souls humble your selves judge your selves and speedily return to the most high Thus Peter did and recovered the favourable Mat. 26 â—5 Mar. 16. 7. presence of God presently But if men will commit sin and lye in it if they will fall and have no mind to rise God will certainly withdraw his favourable presence from them as you see in David and Solomon This Psal 51. 11 12. 1 Kings 11. 9. Josh 7. 1 2 3 4 5 is further evident in that case of Achan Josh 7 The Israelites they came to fight with the men of Ai and fled before them for the Lord was not with them Why what was the cause of Gods withdrawing himself See Verse 11. Israel hath sinned And Verse 12. Therefore the Children of Israel could not stand before their enemies but turned their backs Their sins having betrayed them into the hand of Divine Justice and into their enemies hands also Mark what followes Neither will I be with you any more except ye destroy the accursed from amongst you If we will not stone our Achans our sins by the lively exercise of faith and repentance If we will keep up our lusts in despite of all that God does against us we must never expect to retain the gracious presence of God with us But Thirdly take heed either of neglecting Gospel-worship or of corrupting Gospel-worship Omissions will damn as well as commissions and omissions will provoke God to withdraw his presence as well as commissions When persons are careless in their attendance on Cant. 5. 2 3 6. Cant. 4. 1 2 3. Gospel ordinances no wonder if God withdraw his presence from them in their distresses Cain went off from ordinances Gen. 4. 15 16. and the Lord set a mark upon him O the black and dismal marks of misery that God has set upon many that have neglected Gospel-worship and for profits sake and for Diana's sake are fallen roundly in with the 2 Tim. 4. 10. Acts 19. 24 36. worship of the world O Sirs the great God stands upon nothing more in all the world than upon purity in his worship There is nothing that doth so provoke exasperate God against a People as corrupt worship corrupt worship sadly reflects upon the Name of God the honour of God the truth of God and the wisdom of God and therefore his heart rises against such worship and worshippers and he will certainly withdraw from them and be a swift and terrible witness against them as you may see by comparing the Scriptures in the margin together Psal 106. 39. to 43. Psal 78. 58. to 64. 2 Chro. 7. 19 20 21 22. Cap. 32. 16. to 21 Deu. 29. 22. to 29 Corrupt worship is contrary to the unity of God Now deny his unity and you deny his Deity For the Lord is one and his Name is one Zach. 14. 9. 'T is contrary to the soveraignty of God He is the only Ruler the only Potentate 1 Tim. 6. 15. 'T is contrary to the all-sufficiency of God The Heathen worshipped several Gods as thinking that several Gods did bestow several blessings they begged health of one God wealth of another God and victory of a third God thus imagining to themselves several Deities for several supplies their God was but a Jupiter a partial helper an auxiliary God but Our God is Jehovah who is abundantly able to Eph. 3. 20. supply all our wants Now if either we neglect his true instituted worship or fall in with a false worship with a devised worship with a humane worship with a worldly worship he will certainly withdraw his gracious presence from us Will-worship accuses and charges God with weakness and folly as if God were not careful Heb. 3. 4 5 6. John 4. 23 24. enough nor faithful enough nor mindful enough nor wise enough to order direct and guide his People in the matters of his worship but must be beholding to the wisdom prudence and care of man of vain man of sinful man of vile and unworthy man of weak and foolish man to compleat perfect and make up something that was wanting in his worship Now assuredly God will never keep house with them who give in such severe accusations and charges against him But Fourthly take heed of a willing willful and presumptuous running cross to Divine commands to Divine warnings The disobedient child is turn'd out of doors the disobedient servant shall have none of his Masters smiles the disobedient wife has little of her husbands company a willing willful presumptuous running cross to Divine commands speaks out much pride Atheism hardness blindness and desperate security and contempt of the great God It speaks out the greatest disingenuity stoutness and stubornness that is imaginable and therefore no wonder if God turn his back upon such and if he disdains to be in the midst of such Num. 14. 42. Go See Deu. 1. 42 43 44 45 46. not up for the Lord is not among you that ye be not smitten before your enemies Verse 43. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you that is on the top of the hill lying in readiness to set upon you and therefore are said To come down Verse 45 And ye shall fall by the sword because ye are turned away from the Lord therefore the Lord will not be with you Verse 44. But they presumed to go up to the hill-top though they had not the presence of God with them nor the signs of his grace favour with them nor the company of Moses with them but mark they paid dear for their presumption Verse 45. Then the Amalekites came down and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill and smote them and discomfited them even unto Hormah When men are without Gods presence they are without Gods precincts and so out of his protection To act or run cross to Gods express command though under pretence of revelation from God is as much as a mans life is worth as you may see in that sad story 1 Kings 13. 24. We frequently deny our presence unto disobedient Persons and so does God his disobedience to Divine commands shuts the door against the Divine presence and will not suffer God to come in to succour us comfort us or support us under our greatest troubles and deepest distresses But Fifthly Take heed of carnal confidence of resting upon an arm of flesh Psalm 30. 6. And in my prosperity I said I shall never be moved that is when I was prosperously Adam in Paradice was overcome when Job on the dunghil was a conqueror settled in the Kingdom I began to conclude within my self that now there was an end of all my troubles I should now live all my dayes in a prosperous estate David having taken the strong Fort of Zion and having vanquished his Enemies round about and all the Tribes having submitted themselves to