Christ did not many mighty works in his own Countrey because of their unbelief Math. 13.58 If thou dost not beleeve that he can and will help thou canst not expect he should help Secondly When they set about any work without his call The Lord hath been wont to help in those things he hath called his Servants to as might easily be made manifest in Moses Josuah Gideon David and others but when his People have run and he sent them not they have been without his help in such undertakings When the children of Israel would invade the Land of Canaan without Gods call they were smitten and discomfited Numb 14.44 45. And though Josiah was a good man yet going to fight against Pharaoh Necho contrary to the mind of God he dyed for it 2 Chron 35.20 21 22 23. They that act without Christs call are like to act without his help Thirdly When they undertake any work though never so good and excellent in at self in their own strength without engaging him to their help he helps them not as in the case of Peter it was a good work and much conducing to the honour of Christ which Peter undertook but trusting to his own strength Christ left him to miscarry in it John 13.37 38. Fourthly When the eyes of his people are upon some other besides him or when they joyn some other with him to help then he usually leaveth both him that helpeth and him that is holpen to fall together Isa 31.3 The Lord was Israels help when he was their God alone and none other with him Deut 32.12 The LORD alone did lead them and there was no strange God with him When the Spouse shall lean upon Christ her Beloved and upon other Lovers also then Christ withholdeth his help from her Fifthly When they have any sinister ends and aims in what they do for though the work be good yet if a mans end be bad Christ doth not usually further him in it as when a man in Preaching Praying or any part of Religion seeks not so much Christs honour as his own praise and profit he cannot expect neither doth he ordinarily receive such help from the Spirit of Christ therein They that seek not Christs things but their own shall not prosper Jer 10.21 Haggai 1.4 6 9. Sixthly When they refuse to be holpen by him Christs Servants are sometimes more especially in great dangers and straits and stand in need of his help and though Christ shew himself willing and ready to save and deliver them yet such is the folly and untowardnesse of their spirits that they will none of his help but rather chuse to suffer through walking in the wayes and imaginations of their own hearts than to be delivered in their hearkning to his counsel and submitting to his will and then no wonder Christ helps not this was the frame of spirit and sad condition of Jerusalem which Christ lamented over Jerusalem was in danger Christ would have holpen her but she would not Christ lets her alone and the issue is sad Matth. 23.37 38. O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy children together even as an Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings and ye would not behold your house is left unto you desolate Quest What shall Gods people do when Christ helps not First Seriously consider and lay it to heart as a matter of greatest concernment and trouble to us So did Joshua when the Lord withheld his help from Israel Joshua 7.6 8. Josuah rent his cloathes and fell to the earth upon his face before the Ark of the LORD untill the even-tide he and the Elders of Israel and put dust upon their heads and Joshua said Alas O Lord God wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us would to God Hebr O that we had been content and dwelt on the other side Jordan Oh LORD what shall I say when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies We should look upon it as that wherein both God and his People suffer God suffers in his name when he doth not help his people His and their enemies blaspheme his name Sometimes they cast dirt upon his power saying The Lord cannot help nor save sometimes upon his goodnesse and mercy The Lord will not help sometimes upon his Truth and Faithfulnesse The Lord hath forgotten his people Hence saith Joshua What wilt thou do for thy great name And his people they must needs suffer when he with-draws his hand they are endangered and trampled upon by their enemies and the suffering of Gods Name and the distresses of his Servants must not seem a light thing in our eyes Nehemiah's frame and carriage under such a dispensation is worthy of imitation When he heard that the Remnant that were left of the Captivity were in great affliction and reproach that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and the gates thereof burnt with fire he sat down and wept and mourned certain dayes and fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven Neh 1.3 4. And this is that which Jerusalem lamented with much bitterness of spirit Lament 1.15 16. The Lord hath troden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me he hath called an Assembly against me to crush my young men the Lord hath troden the Virgin the Daughter of Judah as a Wine-presse For these things I weep mine eye mine eye runneth down with water because the Comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me It 's just matter of mourning and lamentation when the appointed helper and Saviour doth not help nor save Secondly They should diligently search out the cause and reason why Christ helps not For if the Lord cease to help his People there is some cause for such a dealing as there is for what evil soever the Lord bring upon them Ezek. 14.23 And when the Lord slacks his hand concerning the help of his Servants it s their present work and duty to look narrowly about them and in them to find out the cause thereof When the Lord denyed Israel his help against the men of Ai he told them the cause of it There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee O Israel and commanded and directed them to seek and they found it out Achan was taken and the Silver and the Garment and the wedge of Gold his Sons Daughters Asses Sheep Tent and all that he had and they stoned him and burned them with fire Joshua 7. This was part of Jobs work in his affliction to find out the cause of it and that he might know it he begs of God to shew him wherefore he contended with him Job 10.2 Thus did David also in his distresse Psa 22.1 My God my God why hast thou forsaken me why art thou so far from helping me And we find the Faithful in their
persecution famine nakedness peril sword but in all these things they are more than Conquerours through him that loved them Rom. 8 33 34 35 37. And of this priviledge of the Lords people the Prophets have spoken eminently to be enjoyed in the Reigne of this Mighty One. David Psal 72.7 saith In his dayes shall the righteous flourish and abundance of peace so long as the Moone endureth Isaiah saith Behold a King shall reigne in righteousnesse and Princes shall rule in Judgement and a man shall be an hiding place from the winde and a covert from the Tempest c. Isa 32.1 2. Jeremy saith Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous branch and a King shall reigne and prosper In his dayes Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is the name whereby he shall be called The LORD our Righteousnesse Jer. 23.5 6. And to this agreeth also the Prophesie of Ezekiel which saith I will make with them a Covenant of peace and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the Land and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness and sleepe in the woods They shall be safe in their Land and shall know that I am the Lord when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them out of the hands of those that served themselves of them and they shall no more be a prey to the Heathen neither shall the beasts of the Land devoure them but they shall dwell safely and none shall make them afraid Ezek 34.25 27 28. Thirdly It shewes us the aggravation of the evâ—l of unbeliefe were Christ a meane weak one there might be some plea for unbeliefe the unbeleever might excuse himselfe saying I was afraid to trust him I durst not commit my soule body name estate and concernments into his hand but when a soul refuseth to beleeve on him who is declared and manifested as well by work as word to be so mâ—â—hty in every respect it is inexcusable The men of Nineveh who repented at the preaching of Jonas and the Queene of the South who came from the uttermost parts of the Earth to heare the wisdome of Solomon shall rise up in the Judgement with such and condemne them seeing a Greater than Jonah and Solomon is with them The Evangelist John mentioneth the wonderfull workes which Christ did among the Jewes as the Aggravation of their unbeliefe Joh. 12.37 Though he had done so many miracles before them yet they beleeved not on him Thence Christ is said to Vpbraid the Cities wherein most of his mighty workes were done because they repented not it being a greater evil in them not to repent than in others amongst whom Christ did not shew himselfe so mighty To heare and not to beleeve on Christ the Mighty Lord who speakes from heaven is that which makes unbeliefe to be such a mighty sinne Heb. 12.25 Fourthly It discovers a ground for the Saints Expectation of great things The Saints are in expectation of perfect Redemption and most glorious salvation to be wrought for them by Christ and there is good ground for it for besides the promise of God who is faithfull here is the Ability of Christ who is Mighty to performe the Fathers will Great ones use to be active The Mighty Kings and Princes of the Earth do not alwayes sit still only waite for opportunities for great and weighty undertakings This Mighty One the Lord Christ though he hath done great and marvellous things will shew himselfe yet more glorious than ever for he hath yet but begun to shew his servants his Greatness and his Mighty hand onely he waites till the set time be come and then he will arise and redeeme Israel from all his iniquities and troubles Psal 130.8 The Disciples of Christ who saw his might and power in the dayes of his flesh became expectants of great things to be done by him We trusted said the two Disciples speaking of Jesus of Nazareth a Prophet mighty in deed and word that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel Luke 24.19.21 The Apostles when Christ was assembled together with them asked of him saying Lord wilt thou at this time restore againe the kingdome to Israel Acts 1.4 6. His Answer was no check to their expectation but a reprehension of their over-curious affectation to acquaint themselves with the particular time in which they should behold the glorious accomplishment of so certaine a blessing And seeing this Mighty One is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the Heavens Heb 8.1 his servants may expect that he will appeare in the presence of God for them yea that he shall appeare the second time without sin unto their evident and everlasting salvation Heb 9.28 Paul speaking of himselfe and other faithfull followers of Christ saith Phil. 3.20 21. Our conversation is in heaven from whence also we looke for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himselfe Fifthly For the discovery of false Christs The true Lord Christ hath told us that in the last dayes there shall arise false Christs as well as false Prophets Math. 24.24 And this doctrine doth informe us how to know them from the true The true Christ is thus mighty and it follows that others who are not so mighty whatsoever they may pretend are not the true Christ Therefore when false Christs shall arise and shall come and say I am Christ beleeve them not neither go after them but labour to know their power and not their speech onely 1 Cor. 4.19 for the kingdome of God is not in word but in power vers 20 whether they be mighty as the true Christ is And though they should shew signes and wonders to deceive you try whether they be equall with this Mighty One who thought it no robbery to be equall with God For though some may boast themselves and their mouths speak great swelling words of vanity yet their deficiency and insufficiency for such things as he did speak them to be false Christs and deceivers As there never did heretofore so there never will any one arise in every respect so mighty as Christ by which he may be knowne to be the true Christ from all others Vse 2. Of conviction to false worshippers who neglect and slight this Mighty One. First To the Jews who do not beleeve that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ the Messiah that was promised and the main plea which they have for their unbelief is because he did not appear to be so mighty as become the Saviour of the world he came not in worldly glory he had no stately Palace was not cloathed in Purple did not fare deliciously he was not in form and fashion like the mighty ones of the earth and therefore they expect and look
brought forth to the day of wrath and then Christ will repay them what they have done according to that in 2 Pet. 2.9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of Judgement to be punished Christ doth not presently destroy wicked men Reas 1. That he might magnifie his Justice and righteousnesse in their destruction The Judge of all the Earth will do no iniquity to the worst of men It shall be said of him when he hath executed his fiercest vengeance upon rebellious Ones he hath not done without cause all that he hath done to his enemies though he doth terrible things yet in righteousnesse Psal 65.5 Therefore he doth not cut off his enemies at first but stayes his hand till they have vented all their malice and acted rebellion to the height not that Christ desireth the increase of their sin for he calls upon them to repent but that he will proportion his judgements to their iniquities He will not bring great destruction upon men for a little wickedness and therefore he deferrs it till their transgressions be multiplyed he will not destroy men for a word or a blow or two against his servants but when they have a long time reproached scorned abused troubled and persecuted his faithful ones then it will appear to be a righteous thing with Christ to recompence tribulation to them that trouble them 2 Thess 1.6 Christ doth not at first judge the whore but lets her alone till she hath brought forth her Abominations till the Kings of the Earth have committed fornication with her and the Inhabiters of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of her Fornication till she hath made her self drunken with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus Rev 17.2 4 6. yea till she saith in her heart I sit a Queen and am no widdow and shall see no sorrow and when she hath done thus wickedly then shall her plagues come in one day death and mourning and famine and she shall be utterly burnt with fire for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her Rev 18.7 8. And after these things a great voice of much people was heard in Heaven saying Alleluja Salvation and Glory and Honour and Power unto the Lord our God for true and righteous are his Judgements for he hath judged the Great Whore which did corrupt the Earth with her fornication and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand Rev 19.1 2. Reas 2. That he might magnifie his patience and long-suffering towards them that it might appear that he who is so great in power is also slow to anger and doth endure with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction There is not an enemy that the Lord Christ shall destroy but shall be forced to confess that Christ the Great Lord hath had patience with him Reas 3. Because there are some among his Enemies which are to be brought in some in rebellion against him who will submit to him and therefore he gives a space to them to repent in which he waits for their return to himself Peter tells us that there shall come in the last dayes scoffers walking after their own lusts saying Where is the promise of his coming c. 2 Pet. â— 3 4. They are answered in the 9. vers It is not his slacknesse but his long-suffering it is not his unmindfullness of his promise to his people nor yet of his threatnings against his Enemies but his abounding goodness to impenitent ones being not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance Yea there are some of his people among his Enemies whom he will call and draw out from amongst them and because of his favour to them his judgements upon his enemies are deferred for the righteous God will not destroy the righteous with the wicked God did not destroy the old world with water till he had provided for the security of his righteous Servant Noah he did not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah before he had brought forth Lot and set him without the City Gen 19. And we finde before the Lord bring his plagues upon Babylon he calls his people to come out of her Rev 18.4 Babylons Judgements are deferred that Gods people may depart out of her Reas 4. That he might Exercise the Faith and Patience of his Saints while wicked men live and are spared they will be persecuting of Gods servants as was manifest in Pharaoh and others and that the Lords people may live in the exercise of their Graces especially their Faith and Patience he lets the wicked live become old and mighty The Romans could have destroyed Carthage when they pleased but for the Exercise of their Souldiers they let it stand Christ this Mighty One could soon bring down and cut off all the wicked of the Earth but for the Exercise of his Servants Graces he let them stand a while John mentions the Faith and Patience of the Saints as most conspicuous in their soarest persecution under the Beasts Reigne Rev 13.10 Rev 14.12 saying Here is the Patience and Faith of the Saints Reas 5. That he may shew forth the greatnesse of his power in their destruction He let them continue to plot and design and to get as high a head against him as may be that so his might may be the more visible in their Overthrow that it may be known he can destroy them when they are at the strongest and bring them down when they are at the highest according to the word of the Lord to Edom Obad 4. Though thou exalt thy self as the Eagle and though thou set thy nest among the Stars thence will I bring thee down saith the Lord. Vse 5. Of CAUTION To the Mighty Ones yea to the greatest and mightiest on the earth to take heed what they do for though they be mighty yet they must know Christ is mightier therefore take heed that you oppose not this Mighty One lest ye perish God made David his Mighty One and you know what became of Saul Absolom Sheba and others who lifted up their hands against him Yea take heed what ye do against his servants for the evill which is done against them is done against him and he so accounts of it Matth. 25.35 40.45 what though they be weak he is mighty to avenge all wrongs done to them The Wiseman speaking of the fatherless cautions others against injuring of them upon this account Pro 23.10 11. Remove not the old Land-mark and enter not into the Fields of the fatherlesse for their Redeemer is mighty he shall plead their cause with thee The Prophet Jeremy also speaking of the oppressed condition of the children of Israel and Judah saith Their Redeemer is strong the Lord of Hosts is his Name he shall throughly plead their cause that he may give rest to the Land and disquiet the Inhabitants of Babylon Jer.
his Birth which speaks forth his Mightinesse As First The message of the Angel to the Shepherds Luke 1.10 11. Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all People For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Secondly The praisings of the Host the Shepherds they glorified and praised God for what they had heard and seen but men of the earth are not sufficient for this thing and therefore a Quire is sent from Heaven to rejoyce and sing praises to the Most High for this Heavenly and unspeakable gift Luke 2.13 Suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God These extraordinary praises speak the person born to be some great and Mighty One Thirdly The homage of the Wise men That they should come to tender their homage and service to this Infant and not unto Herod nor Agustus Caesar of whose greatnesse no doubt they had heard but did not esteem nor regard it in comparison of this late born King of the Jews speaks Christ to be a Mighty One especially if we consider First The quality of their Persons if because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wise men is usually taken in the worst sense for men practising Magical and unlawful Arts it should be understood so in this place it shews forth the more of the Mightiness and Power of Christ when men that had been of such a profession become such professors of Christ of any among the Gentiles as to come and do homage to him howsoever forasmuch as they were as is most likely not of the meaner sort nor yet persons of ordinary and common gifts but men of learning understanding wisdome and of high esteem among the People it holds forth the greatness and excelleny of Christ that such should come so early and submit themselves to him Secondly The greatness of their pains without doubt it was a long and tedious journey they took although we cannot tell exactly how far they came because the particular term from whence at which divers have diversly conjectured is not to be found in Scripture onely it is said with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Behold prefixed as a matter of admiration that they should come and come so far They came from the East to Jerusalem and surely they would not have undertaken such a journey with regard to an ordinary common person Thirdly The reality and fulnesse of their homage it was not in word and in tongue onely but in truth and in deed we do not read of any thing they said to him but of what they did and that was much they first gave themselves an oblation to this great King and then made offering of their gifts For they fell down and worshipped him and when they had opened their treasures they presented unto him Gifts Gold and Frankincense and myrrhe Matth. 2.11 They would not have tendered such large homage to a mean one Fourthly The eminent appearing of God for their direction to him and preservation in returning a Star did lead them to the very place where he was for it is said Math. 2.9 Lo the Star which they saw in the East went before them till it came and stood over where the young Child was And for their preservation God did warn them in a dream that they should not return to Herod and they departed into their own Countrey another way Fourthly The dread of the Mighty even of King Herod and all Jerusalem with him for it is said When Herod the King heard these things viz of one born King of the Jews and of persons come to worship him he was troubled terrified yea he shaked with fear Mat. 2.3 so that Christ was a Mighty One in his Birth Eighthly Christ is a Mighty One in his Descent even after the flesh First In respect of his stock in general for he was descended of the Patriarchs he was of the stock of Abraham that Mighty One the Jews counted it a great priviledge above what the Gentiles had That they had Abraham to their Father that they were of his stock branches of that root Christ was also a son of Abraham Secondly In respect of his Tribe out of which he sprang Judah for it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah and it is as evident also that Judah was the mightiest Tribe both according to Jacobs and Moses blessing of him Gen 49.8 Judah thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise thine hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies thy fathers children shall bow before thee Judah is a Lyons whelp c. Deut. 33.7 Let his hands be sufficient for him and be thou an help to him from his eâ—emies Judah was Standard-bearer in the foremost Quarter as the children of Israel encamped about the Tabernacle Numb 2.3 And Judah's Standard Lyon-like marched in the first place as they marched towards the Land of Canaan Numb 10.13 14. and of this mighty Tribe was Christ yea he was the Mighty One of this Tribe The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Rev 5.5 Further Judah was the Royal Tribe the Royalty of a Kingdome appertained to it Gen 49.10 The Scepter shall not depart from Judah c. The Kings and Rulers descended from thence and this speaks the mightinesse and exeellency of Christ that he was of this Tribe hence Mr. Perkins saith That Christ was the most excellent and notable One that ever was descending of the eternall Father as he is the Son of God and as he is man descending of the Patriarchs and of the renowned Kings of Judah And it is storied that it remaineth registred in the Jews Talmud it self That Jesus of Nazareth crucified was of the blood-royal from Zorobabel of the house of David so that he is a Mighty One in his Descent Ninthly Mighty in his Name Isaiah prophecying of him saith Ch. 9.6 His Name shall be called Wonderful Councellour the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Immanuel the Word of God his name speak forth his excellency and might not that there is any might and virtue in the bare name it selfe as consisting of so many letters as some have fondly conceited that the bare name of Christ used had power to drive away the Devil and that the name of Christ written and carried about with them was of efficacy to keep them from danger but his name declare his nature for as his name is so is he it is not with Christ in this respect as with some who had names contrary to their natures and dispositions to hide their weaknesses and wickednesses as the Impius named Pius the Coward Leo the Cruel Clemens the Oppressor Innocentius the Earthly-minded Celestinus Tenthly Mighty in his Titles I shall name a few The Captain of Salvation Ruler in Israel The Consolation of Israel The Horn of Salvation The Deliverer The Power and wisdom of God
and tongue and people and Nation to receive power and riches and wisdome and strength and honour and glory and blessing Rev 5 9-12 Object Some may say as Gideon to the Angel Judg. 6.13 Oh my Lord if the Lord be with us why then is all this befallen us If God hath appointed Christ That Mighty One to be aâ— help to his people why are they in so much trouble and distresse Answ 1. As the Lord hath appointed Christ to be an help so he hath also appointed a time for his people to suffer in For as Christ this Mighty One had a suffering time in respect of HIS PERSON in which he was set at nought and derided and persecuted both by people and Rulers before he entred into his Glory Luke 24.26 so he shall have in respect of his mysticall body the Saints before they enter into the promised rest and Glory Thus much God told Abraham when he appeared to him Gen. 15.13 14. saying Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs and shall serve them and they shall afflict them foure hundred yeares And also that Nation whom they shall serve will I Judge and afterward shall they come out with Great substance So likewise there was a time when the Lord said to Zedekiah King of Judah Bring your necks under the yoke of the King of Babylon and serve him and his people Jer 27.12 And they were to be quiet in that estate till seventy yeares were accomplished And there was a time wherein God would break his yoke from off his peoples neck and burst their bonds that strangers might no more serve themselves of them Jer 30.8 There is a day of Jacobs trouble and there is a time when he shall be saved out of it vers 7. And when the time to favour Zion yea the set time be come God will arise and have mercy upon her Psal 102.13 But the day of the Lords patience and his peoples sufferings must precede the day of his vengeance and his peoples salvation The servant as well as his Lord must suffer before he enter into Glory Rom 8.17 Secondly The Lord hath several wayes of helping his servants his help doth not consist onely in freeing them from sufferings but also in upholding and supporting them under sufferings so that they faint not in the evil day Thus the Lord promised to help Jacob Isa 41.10 Feare thou not For I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness With this way of help from the Lord the Apostle labours to encourage the Saints at Corinth in their Temptations 1 Cor 10.13 God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be Tempted above that you are able but will with the Temptation also make a way to escape that you may be able to beare it Christ doth as well help his servants by keeping them from falling by Temptation as by delivering them out of temptation Thus Christ hath been is and will be the help of his people in their suffering day Thirdly Though Christ be Mighty to help and save to the uttermost all his â—â—rvants out of all their Troubles yet he seeth it meet in his infinite wisdome to help them sometimes but with a LITTLE help God granted Rehoboam and the Princes of Israel some Deliverance but not a full Deliverance a Deliverance from destruction but not from servitude and spoile 2 Chron 12.7 8 9. And thus God helped his people Israel in Ezra's dayes which he thankfully took notice of in his Confession and Prayer Ezra 9.7 8 9. For our iniquities have we our Kings and our Priests been delivered into the hand of the Kings of the Lands to the sword to captivity and to a spoil and to confusion of face as it is this day and now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God to leave us a Remnant to escape and to give us a Nail in his holy place that our God may lighten our eyes and give us a little reviving in our bondage For we were bond men yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the Kings of Persia to give us a reviving c. It was the gracious Promise of God to his People whom he cast far off among the Heathen and scattered among the Countries That he would be to them as a little Sanctuary in the Countryes where they should come Ezek 11.16 It is also said of those persecuted oppressed ones bâ—â—hose Mighty Kings mentioned Dan 11.34 They shall be holpen with a little help And therefore though Christ doth not help so eminently and fully as he will hereafter yet let us not undervalue his present help let us not say he helps not at all because he helps us but with a little help in comparison of what he will do He sees a little help is best for us at present and it is more than we deserve at his hands Fourthly The Deliverances and Salvation of Gods people are commonly carryed on in a Mistery Not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of God Gods Providence towards his Servants is as a Wheel in the midst of a Wheel as Ezek â— 16 whose motion and work and end in working is not discerned by a common eye Christ doth sometimes walk in the dark when he is helping his People as the loving father is contriving good for his child though the child perceiveth it not to this agreeth that of the Prophet Isaiah Ch 45. vers 15. Verily thou art a God that hidest thy self O God of Israel the Saviour Yea God is sometimes in a way of deliverance with his People and their deliverance neer when he seems to ingage them to greater sufferings There is so much contained in that promise of God to Zion Micah 4.10 Be in pain and labour to bring forth O Daughter of Zion like a woman in travel for now shalt thou go forth out of the City and thou shalt dwell in the field and thou shalt go even to Babylon there shalt thou be delivered there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies We must not conclude that Christ doth not help us because we see not his hand lifted up Fifthly There is SOMETHING IN CHRISTS SERVANTS because of which he doth not sometimes help them as sometimes CHRIST DOTH NOT HELP sometimes First When his people do not beleeve do not trust nor stay upon him for help for he is an help to all them that trust in him for any one to distrust the Power and Faithfullnesse of Christ is to exclude himself from partaking of the benefit thereof When the children of Israel beleeved not the word of God the Lord did not help them but lifted up his hand against them to overthrow them in the wildernesse Psa 106.24 26.