fainting and sinking under that hand When the People of God are Psalm 25. 9 12. Psalm 5. 8. in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers he leads and guides them 1. into supernatural wayes Prov. 15. 24. The way of life is above to the Wise He hath his feet where other mens heads are and like an heavenly Eagle delights himself in flying high 2. Into good wayes Jerem. 6. 16. 3. Into strait and strict wayes Mat. 7. 14. Hence they are called right or straight paths which lie betwixt two extremes or if you will which directly lead you to the view of Heaven they are paths which lie level with the rule and with the end a man may see Salvation and Heaven at the end of them 4. Into pleasant wayes Prov. 3. 17. Her wayes are wayes of pleasantness and all her paths are peace such as were those of Adam before his fall strawed with roses and paved with peace some degree of comfort pleasantness peace follows every good action as heat accompanies fire as beams and influences issue from the Sun 5. Into right paths Prov. 4. 11. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom I have led thee in right paths Hosea 1. 9. The wayes of the Lord are right and the righteous shall walk in them The wayes of his will the wayes of his Word and the wayes of his worship are all right wayes they carry us on in a straight line unto a right end 6. Into old and ancient wayes Jer. 6. 16. Ask for the old paths where is the good way and walk therein and ye shall find rest to your souls Jerem. 18. 15. They have caused them to stumble in their way from the ancient paths The wayes of holiness are of the greatest highest and ancientest antiquity the first wayes of Adam were wayes of holiness the wayes of sin are of a later Edition than the wayes of holiness God stampt his Image of holiness upon Man before ever Satan assayed to tempt him holiness is of the ancientest house of the greatest antiquity sin is but an upstart holiness is the first born the way of holiness is the eldest way the way of holiness is gray-headed and of ancientest institution all other wayes are but of yesterday they are but new wayes to the wayes of holiness The stamp of Antiquity upon many things is a praise and an honour to them as old gold old friends old manuscripts old monuments old scars and old holiness the stamp of Antiquity upon the wayes of holiness is the praise and honour of the wayes of holiness 7. Into paths of righteousness Psalm 23. 3. He leadâ— me in paths of righteousness for his names sake or in plain smooth easie paths or in sheeps tracts wherein I may walk unweariedly and unblamably herein he alludes to the Shepherds care in leading his sheep gently in fair and and plain wayes and not through deep mire brambles and briars or over craggy wayes that must needs be hard and troublesome for them to go in The word here used is Metaphorical sometimes respecting the blind who cannot walk without a guide sometimes little or weak children who cannot go without a leader and here the weak and wandring sheep which stand in need of the Shepherd to go in and out before them 8. Into paths of Salvation Acts 16. 17. Thâ—se men are the servants of the most high God which shew unto us the way of salvation 9. Into wayes of truth 2 Petr. 2. 2. And many shall follow their pernicious wayes by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken off The way of truth that is the true Christian Religion reveiled from heaven which shews the way to true happiness to Eternal salvation 10. Into wayes of uprightness Prov. 2. 13. Who leave the paths of uprightness to walk-in the way of darkness Now when the People of God are in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers the Lord by leading them 1. Into supernatural wayes 2. Into good wayes 3. Into strict and straight wayes 4. Into pleasant wayes 5. Into right wayes 6. Into old and ancient wayes 7. Into righteous wayes 8. Into wayes of salvation 9. Into wayes of truth and 10. Into wayes of uprightness does gloriously manifest his favourable his signal and his eminent presence with them There is nothing below a mighty presence of God that can enable a Christian especially when he is under great troubles and in deep distresses and most deadly dangers to do these five things 1. To approve of the wayes of God 2. To chuse the wayes of the Lord. 3. Highly to prize them 4. To delight and take pleasure in them 5. To walk in them and to keep close to them and yet in all these five things the Lord doth greatly and graciously help his poor People when they are as it were in the very mouth of the Lion But Sixthly The Lord doth manifest his favourable presence his signal and eminent presence with his People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers by encouraging imbolding animating and heartning up his People in the midst of all their troubles distresses and dangers and by putting new life spirit and mettle into them when they are 2 Chron. 13. 12. Numb 13. 32. 33. compared with 14. 9. even in the very mouth of the Lion Josh 1. 6. Be strong and of a good courage Verse 7. Only be thou strong and very couragious Verse 9. Be strong and of a good courage be not afraid neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest Joshua was a sword-man as well as a book-man he had his name changed from Oshea to Joshua from Num. 13. 16. let God save to God shall save Christ will never want a Champion tostand up for his Church if Moses dies Joshua shall stand up There shall be a succession of sworâ— men and book-men of Rulers and Teachers to caâ—â—y on Christs work in the world till the top-stone Zach. 4. 7. Mâ—iach 2. 15. be laid with grace unto it The residue of the Spirit is with the Lord and therefore he can and will put such an anointing of his Spirit upon one and another as shall fit them to carry on his works in the World Joshua was very valiant and a man of singular good Moses had a special command from God to charge Joshua to be couragious Deut. 1. 38. cap. 3. 28. God himself also layes the same command upon him Deut. 31. 23. mettle yet because he was sure to meet with such troubles deep distresses and dealy dangers as would put him to it therefore he is prest so frequently to be couragious Verse 6. Be strong and of good courage Verse 7. Only be thou strong and very couragious Verse 9. Be strong and of a good courage Verse 18. Only be strong and of a good courage Deut. 31. 7. And Moses called unto Joshua and said unto
the World and all the wicked ones of the World do against one Messenger of the Lord that is armed with his glorious power The Ambassadours of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords must not be terrified with the multitude of opposers nor with the grandure or greatness of opposers but set the presence of the Lord against them all and say as that noble Souldier Paedarelus in Erasmus did to them that told him of that numerous and mighty Army which came against him Tanto plus gloriae referemus quoniam â—o plures superabimus The number of opposeâ—â— makes the Christian conquests the more illustrious The more the Pharisees of old and their Successors of late time have opposed the Truth the more it hath pâ—evailed and â—is observable that the Reformation in Germany was much furthered by the Papists opposition yea when two Kings amongst many others wrote against Luther viz. Henâ—y the eight of England and Ludovicus of Hungary this kingly title being entred into the controversie making men more curious to examine the matter stirred up a general inclination towards Luther's opinion So Jerem. 15. 20. And I will make thee unto this People a fenced brasen wall and they shall fight against thee but they shall not prevail against thee for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee saith the Lord. When the Messengers of the Lord go on constantly and couragiously in the faithful discharge of their duties not relenting or yielding or complying with their greatest opposers then they shall have such a signal presence of the Lord with them as shall sufficiently protect them against all their enemies might and malice wrath and rage Verse 21. And I will-deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible or violent ones Though thou shouldest fall into the hand of the wicked id est power and into the hand of the terrible and violent ones yet they shall not hurt thee nor harm thee they shall not have their wills upon thee when thou art in their hands I will lay a law of restraint upon their hearts that they shall not mischief thee nor triumph over thee I will be sure to secure thee and rescue thee from dangers in the midst of dangers A gracious Messenger of the Lord in the midst of all oppositions as Chrysostome said of Peter is a man made all of fire walking in stuble he overcomes and consumes all opposition all difficulties are but whetstones to his fortitude The Moon will run her course though the dogges bark at it so does the Traveller and so will the faithful messengers of the Lord hold on in their way and work let men and devils bark do their worst Moulin speaking of the French Protestants said When Papists hurt us for reading the Scriptures we burn with zeal to be reading of them he is a fool we say that will be laughed out of his coat but he 's a fool in folio that will be laughed out of his skin out of his profession out of his Religion out of his principles out of the wayes of God nay out of his soul out of his salvation because he can't endure to be opposed derided or laughed at by lewd and wicked men The Divine presence will make a man set light by such paper-shot A gracious spirit is raised by opposition the more opsition it meetes with in a way of duty the more resolute he is for it So far is he from being afraid of the threatnings of men of the frowns of men or of losing this mans favour or of incurring such a mans displeasure that his spirit riseth far more for it It is with such a man as it is with the fire in Winter the fire burns the hotter because of the coldness of the air So it is with all the Messengers of the Lord who are inflamed in the way of their duty Come to David and tell him O there is a Goliah and he is come out with a spear like a weavers beam and 1 Sam. 17. 4. to the 11. compared with Ver. 26 27. there is one that bears his target goes before him where is he saith David I will fight with him saith he Difficulties and dangers do but whet and raise his spirit he is not afraid of any uncircumcised Philistin Ah my Friends this is a true noble spirit Holy greatness of mind lies in this when a mans spirit is born up upon the greatness of his God and the goodness of his cause and if that will not bear me out saith such a soul let me sink in it I am content to perish That 's a good word more worth than a world in a faithful Ministers eye Ezek. 3. 8. Behold I have made thy face strong against their faces and thy forhead strong against their forheads Verse 9. As an Adamant harder than a flint have I made thy forehead fear them not neither be dismayed at their looks though they be a rebellious house The Adamant is the hardest of stones it is Lapis servabilis because it keeps it self by its hardness from all injuries no weather no violence of hammer or fire will break it or conquer it God engages himself to give the Prophet such undaunted boldness and invincible courage and constancy as neither shame nor fear should prevail against Divine presence Divine assistance does alwayes accompany a Divine call such whom God sends he seconds such whom he calls he encourages against all difficulties and discouragements such as are called by Christ and sent by Christ shall never want the strengthning comforting coroborating animating and preserving presence of Christ It is this Divine presence that makes them stand it out and shew themselves like men like men of courage like men of God and that secures them from dangers in the midst of dangers in the greatest storms the Adamant shrinks not it fears not it changeth not its hue no not in the least Divine presence will keep gracious men from shrinking fearing and changing their way their work their Lord and Master in the worst of storms that can beat upon them in all winds and weather the Adamant is still the same and so will all the faithful Messengers of the Lord be what ever wind may blow upon them The signal presence of God with them will keep them from fearing fainting flying and preserve them from dangers in the midst of dangers But Eightly The Lord doth manifest his favourable signal and eminent presence with his People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers by frustrating and disappointing the plots designs counsels and contrivances of their powerful subtil secret and malicious Adversaries who would fain be multiplying of their troubles sorrows sufferings The Thebanes had a band of men they called Sacra Câ—hors consisting of such only as were joyned in bonds of love and resolved to live and dye together these Jews under Nehemiah's command
a prosperous condition God speaks to us Jeâ— 2. 21. and we mind him not I spoke to thee in thy prosperity but thou wouldest not hear and this hath been thy manner from thy youth upwards Pope Martin reported of himself that whilst he was a Monk and lived in the Cloister he had some evidences for Heaven when he was a Cardinal he began to fear and doubt but after he came to be Pope he utterly despaired The Lord never shews more of his favourable signal and eminent presence than by teaching of his People many gracious and Gospel lessons by their great troubles deep distresses and most deadly dangers But Thirdly the Lord doth manifest his favourable his signal his eminent presence with his People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers by raising strenthening and acting their suffering graces viz. their faith hope love patience prudence courage boldness zeal constancy Thus in the Text The Lord stood by me and strengthened me He put new life and strength and vigour into all my graces although there are habits of grace alwayes resident in the Isay 64. 7. hearts of the Saints yet those habits are not alwayes in exercise The habits of grace cannot act of themselves there must be renewed strength imparted to set them on Psalm 119. 35. Christ is the divers winds both cold hot moist and dry binding and opening North South and therefore what wind so ever blowes it shall blow good to his People work Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments for therein do I delight Though David had a spirit of new life within him yet he could not actually walk in the path of Gods precepts till by an additional force he was set a going Cant. 4. 16. Awake O North wind and come thou South wind blow upon my garden that the spices thereof may flow out By the garden we may safely understand a sanctified soul and by the spices in this garden we may understand the several graces planted in the soul now these spices can never flow out and send forth their fragrant smell till the North and South wind blowes upon them Habitual grace cannot operate and dilate and put forth it self into exercise till by the concurrent presence and assistance of Christ it is educed into act no Saint can act that grace he hath received by his own strength without the presence and assistance of Christ 1 Cor. 15. 16. But by the grace of God I am what I am and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain but I labour more abundantly than they all yet not I but the grace of God which was with me He does not say the grace of God which was in me that habitual grace which I had but The grace of God which was with me So then it is not the strength of habitual grace that will carry a man through doing or suffering work but the auxiliary the assisting the conquering grace of Jesus Christ it is his grace with us more than his grace in us So John 15. 5. Without me ye can do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 separate from me or apart from me Erasm sine me Beza seâ—rsim a me Members divided from the â—ead cannot live so here nothing Ye that are my Disciples ye that have the spirit of Jesus Christ Without me ye can do nothing the habits of grace the actings of grace and the perfecting of grace are all from Jesus Christ It is more emphatical in the original for there you have two negatives cannot do nothing He do's not say without me ye cannot do many things but Without me ye can do nothing nor he do's not say Without me ye can do no great thing but Without me ye can do nothing nor he do's not say Without me ye can do no difficult thing but Without me ye can do nothing nor he do's not say Without me ye can do no spiritual thing but Without me ye can do nothing What ever a Saint may do by the power of gifts or habits of grace received yet he can do nothing in a lively spiritual acceptable way without the presence of Christ without a constant dependence upon Christ without a sweet and special communion and fellowship with Christ if we cannot put forth a natural action without him for in him we live move and have our being how much less can Acts 17. â—8 we perform a spiritual action in a spiritual manner without his presence and assistance Let the King sit Cant. 1. 12. but at his table and then our spicknard will send forth a sweet smell that is let Jesus Christ be but present with us and then our graces which are compared to spicknard will send forth a sweet smell sitting at the table with King Jesus intimakes the sweetest friendship 1 Kings 10. 8. and fellowship with him It was held a great honour and happiness to stand before Solomon what is it then to sit with Christ at his table My spicknard sendeth forth the smell thereof that is My faith is actuated and all my other graces are exercised and increased Christs presence puts life into all our graces Fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will Isa 41. 10. Luke 21 14 15. strengthen thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness 2 Cor. 12. 10. When I am weak then am I strong When I am weak in my self then am I strong in Christ If the Sun shine upon the Mary-gold Mal. 4. â— how soon do's the Mary-gold open so when the Sun of righteousness do's but shine upon a Christians graces how do they open and act To shew how the presence of Christ has acted the faith love courage boldness and patience c. of the Saints in the Old and New Testament the primitive Christians and the Martyrs in the latter ages of the world when they have been in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers would take up more than a little time besides in my other writings I have opened these things more fully to you and to them I must refer you And therefore Fourthly the Lord doth manifest his favourable signal and eminent presence with his People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers by laying a Law of restraint upon every wicked man and by bridling and checking their fury and insolency that they shall not add afflictions to the afflicted as otherwise they would as he did upon Laban Gen. 31. 24. And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night and said unto him take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad Verse 29. It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt but the God of your Fathers spake unto me yester night saying take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad See what a law of restraint
him in the sight of all Israel be strong and of a good courage c. And why all this not because Joshua had discovered any faint-heartedness or cowardise but because the work he was to undertake was so weighty and perillous in regard of those many and mighty Nations whom he was to destroy and plant the Israelites in their room the work that Joshua was to undertake was attended with many great difficulties and dangers in respect of the Enemies he was to encounter as being men of vast and Giant-like statures and strength and dwelling in Cities with high walls and strongly fortified Now the main Argument to raise his courage and mettle is drawn from Gods special presence and assistance Joshua 1. 9. For the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest We are not to understand it of Gods general presence in all places but of his special favourable signal and eminent presence which God would manifest in his preservation and protection notwithstanding all the difficulties enterprises dangers and Enemies that he was to encounter with So 2 Chron. 32. 7. Be strong and courageous be not afraid nor dismayed for the King of Assyria nor for all the multitude that is with him for there be more with us than with him Verse 8. With him is an arm of flesh but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battels c. At this time the King of Assyria was the greatest Monarch in the world and the most formidable Enemy Israel had he had a mighty Army for there was a hundred fourscore and five thousand of them slain in one night Verse 21. Now the great thing they were to mind and attend was to look narrowly to it that the favourable signal and eminent presence of God with them did raise all their hearts above all discouragements fears and dismayedness what is the chaff to the whirl-wind what are thorns and briars to a consuming fire what is an arm of flesh to the arm strength and power of a God what is weakness to strength and the nothing Creature to the Lord of Hosts Now if the special signal presence of God with his People in their greatest troubles and most deadly dangers won't put singular courage life and mettle into them what will Acts 23. verse 10. And when there arose a great dissention the chief Captain fearing lâ—â—â— Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them commanded the Souldiers to go down and take him by force from among them and to bring him into the Castle Verse 11. And the night following the Lord stood by him namely in a vision or in a dream or in an extasie and said be of good cheer Paul for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem so must thou bear witness also at Rome The favourable signal presence of the Lord with him turned â—is Prison into a Palace Mr. Philpot being a Act. and Mon. 1663. prisoner for the testimony of Jesus writes thus to his Friends Though I tell you that I am in hell in the judgement of this world yet assuredly I feel in the same the consolation of heaven I praise God and this loathsome and horrible prison is as pleasant to me as the walks in the garden of the Kings-Bench When Paul was in See Actâ— 27. â—3 24. great danger the Lord stood by him to cheer comfort and encourage him Now God claps him on the back and puts new life and mettle into him When Dionysius was given up by the Executioner to be beheaded he remained constant and couragious saying come life come death I will worship none but the God of Heaven and Earth When Chrysostom had told Eudoxia the empress that for her covetousness she would be called a second Jezebel she thereupon sent him a threatning message to which he gave this stout and resolute answer Go tell her Nil nisi peccatum timeo I fear nothing but sin When the Executioner had kindled the fire behind Jerom of Prague he bad him kindle it before his face for said he if I had been afraid of it I had not come to this place having had so many opportunities offered me to escape it At the giving up of the ghost he said Hanc animam in flammis offero Christe tibi This soul of mine in flames of fire O Christ I offer thee The Emperour coming into Germanie sent for Luther to Worms but many of his friends from the danger they apprehended hanging over his head disswaded him from going to whom he gave this prudent couragious and resolute answer That these discouragements were cast in his way by Satan who knew that by his profession of the Truth in so illustrious a place his Kingdom would be shaken and that therefore if he knew that there were as many Devils in Worms as there were tiles on the houses yet he woulâ— go The German Knight in his Apologetical Letter for Luther against the Pontifical Clergy saith I will go through with what I have undertaken against you and will stir up men to seek their freedom I neither care nor fear what may befal me being prepared for either event either to ruine you to the great benefit of my Country of my self to fall with a good conscienee c. William Flower the Martyr said That the Heavens should assoon fall as I will forsake my profession or budge in the least degree from it Apollonius being asked If he did not tremble at the sight of the Tyrant made this answer God which gave him a terrible countenance hath given also unto me an undaunted heart When Gardiner asked Rowland Taylor If he did not know him c. To whom he answered Yea I know you and all you greatness yet you are but a mortal man and if I should be afraid of your Lordly looks why fear ye not God the Lord of us all Basil affirms of the primitive Christians that they had so much courage and magnanimity of spirit in their sufferings that many Heathens seeing their heroick zeal resoluteness and undauntedness turned Christians When one of the ancient Martyrs was terrifyed with the threatnings of his persecutors he replyed There is nothing of things visible nor nothing of things invisible that I fear I will stand to my profession of the Name of Christ and contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints come on 't what will By these instances which may be of great use in this trying day you may clearly see how the Lord has manifested his favourable signal and eminent presence to his People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers by raising up in them a spirit of courage magnanimity and holy gallantry But Seventhly the Lord doth manifest his favourable signal and eminent presence to his People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers by preserving them from troubles in the midst of troubles from dangers in the midst of dangâ—rs Dan. 3.
Rom. 8. 31. If God be for us who can be against us That is none but this is a more forcible denying Who can Doest thou Paul ask Who can I 'll tell thee The Devil can and Tyrants can and Informers can and Persecutors can and the whole World can but ridendus est furor inanis They are as nothing and can do nothing against us Wicked men may set themselves against the Saints but they shall not prevail against the Saints What if all the world should strive to hinder the Sun from rising or shining or the wind from blowing or the rain from falling or like those Pigmies which went with their arrows and bows to repress the flowing of the Sea Ludibrious acts and meer follies All that wicked men can do against the People of God will be but as throwing stones against the wind If God be with us who can be against us Me thinks these are words of great resolution as if he should say we have many enemies and powerfulenemies and daring enemies and malitious enemies and designing enemies and enraged enemies yet let the proudest of them shew their faces and lift up their banners I fear them not I regard them not Who can who dare be against â—â— Let me give a little light into this precious Scripture If God be for us who can be against us that is none First None can be so against us as to hurt us or harm us therefore Aquinas well expounds that Quis contra Dan. 3. 25. 27. Cap. 6. 22. nos i. e. Quis efficaciter and others Quis laesivè prevalenter who can be against us so as to hurt us Acts 18. 9. Then spoke the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision be not afraid but speak and hold not thy peace Verse 10. For I am with thee and no man shall set on thee to burt thee for I have much people in this City God had many Souls in this ity to convert and What said Justin Martyr to his murtherers in the behalf of himself and his fellow-Mortyrs you may kill us but you can never hurt us to bring in to Christ and therefore he animates and encourages Paul to preach boldly and to go on in his work undauntedly I but Lord there be many in the City that will set themselves against me I but I am with thee I but Lord there be many in the City that will hate me I but there is no Man that shall set on thee to hurt thee They may kill me said Socrates of his Enemies but they cannot hurt me It was the speech of Anaxarchus a Heathen when as he by the Tyrant he was commanded to be put in a Mortar and be beaten to pieces with an Iron pestel he cries out to the Persecutors you do but be at the vessel of Anaxarchus you do not beat me nor hurt me you do but beat the case the husk the vessel that contains another thing his body was to him but as a case a husk he counted his soul himself which his persecutors could not reach nor hurt Though there were many in the City of Corinth that would be ready furiously to set on Paul yet there should not be a man that should be able to hurt Paul God would be his life guard to protect him and he would make void all the mischievous designs and endeavours of his adversaries against him When in a City the Lord hath those that are ordained to Salvation he will bless the labours of his faithful Servants with happy success so that faithful Ministers may not yea must not for fear of the invincible malice of some neglect the Salvation of others All the Arrows that Men of might and malice should shoot at Paul in the City of Corinth should never reach him they should never hurt him nor harm him 1 Pet. 3. 13. And who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good They may oppose you but they cannot harm you they may hate you but they cannot harm you they may plot and devise mischief against you but they cannot harm you they may persecute you but they cannot harm you I know Caesar told Metellus that he could as easily take away his life as bid it be done but these were only bravado's for that is a Royalty which belongs to God only To whom belong the issues Psalm 68. 20. of death or the goings out from death that is deliverances from death and deadly dangers It is an allusion to one that keepeth a passage or a door that is God hath all the wayes which lead out from death in his own keeping Christ hath the keys of death the sole Revel 1. 18. 2 Pet. 2. 9. dominion and disposal of it the Lord knows how to deliver his People from the most desperate and deadly dangers he can deliver them out of the mouth of the Lion he can pull them out of the jaws of death and so secure them from all harm or hurt none can be so against the People of God as to harm their souls as to hurt their happiness But If God be with us who can be against us I answer Secondly None can be so against us as to prevail 2. Matth. 16. 18. Heb. 2. 10. Jer. 1. 19. Cap. 20. 11. over us the Gates of hell may fight against us but the Gates of hell cannot prevail against us Christ is the Captain of your Salvation God hath made him General of the Field and therefore you may be sure that he will stand by you and bring you off with honour you need never fear having the day who have Christ your Captain for your second though your persecutors are as so many roaring Lions yet Christ who is the Lion of the Tribe of Judab will make you victorious over Revel 5. 5. Psalm 129. 2. them all In all storms and tempests the Church will stand fast because it stands upon a rock God is on Zions side and the Enemies of Zion must first prevail against Zions God Before they can prevail over Zion her self Zions God will be a wall of fire about her and Zach. 2. 5 Dent. 33. 26 27 28 29. therefore Zions Enemies shall never prevail over her Were Zions shelter stones these might be battered were it walls of lead these might be melted were it a defence of waters these might be dryed up were it garrisons of mighty men these might be scattered were it engines of war these might be defeated were it trenches these might be stopped were it bulwarks these might be overthrown But Zion is guarded with a wall of fire round about her and therefore all her opposers can never prevail over her The Enemies of Zion 2 Chron. 32. 7 8 Rom. 8. 37. Genes 3. 12. Num. 14. 9. are weak Enemies they are infatuated Enemies they are conquered Enemies they are limited Enemies they are chained Enemies they are cursed Enemies and they are naked Enemies and therefore
improvement of this great and seasonable Truth Explication is the drawing of the Bow but application is the hitting of the mark the white Is it so that when the People of the Lord are in great troubles deep distresses and most deadly dangers that then the Lord will be favourably signally and eminently present with them Then let me briefly infer these ten things First that the Saints are a People of Christs special 1 Inference care 2 Chron. 16. 9. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro through the whole Earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him The words contain 1 The universality of Gods providence his eyes walk the rounds they run to and fro through the whole Earth to defend and secure the sincere in heart Diana's Temple was burnt down when she was busied at Alexander's birth and could not be at two places together but God is present at all times in all places and among all persons and therefore his Church which is 1 Cor. 3. 16. cap. 6. 19. his Temple can never suffer through his absence The Egyptians had an Idol called Baal-Zephon which is by interpretation Dominus speculae Lord of the Watch-tower Exod. 14. 2. his office was to fright such fugitive Jews as should offer to steal out of the Country but when Moses and the People of Israel past that way and pitched their camp there this drowsy God was surely fast a sleep for they all marched on their way without let or molestation Psalm 121. 3 4 5 Isa 27. 3 4. Whereas he that keepeth Israel Neither slumbreth nor sleepeth he kept his Israel then and he hath kept his Israel ever since he made good his title then and will make good his title still he ever was and he ever will be watchful over his People for their good 2. The efficacy of his providence to shew himself strong God fights with his eyes as well as his hands he doth not only see his Peoples dangers but saves them from dangers Zach. 2. 5. in the midst of dangers When the Philosopher in a starry night was in danger of drowning he cried out Surely I shall not perish there are so many eyes of providence over me King Philip said He could sleep safely Psalm 3. 5 6. because his friend Antipater watched for him O how much more may the Saints sleep safely who have always a God that keepes watch and ward about them God Prov. 18. 10. is so strong a Tower that no cannon can pierce it and he is so high a Tower that no ladder can scale it and hâ— is so deep a Tower that no pioneer can undermine it and therefore they must needs be safe and secure who lodge within a Tower so impregnable so inexpugnable Now this is the case of all the Saints the fatherly care and providence of God is still exercised for the good of his People Deut. 32. 10. He found him in a desart Land and in Isa 49. 16. c. 31. 5. and cap. 32. 1. 2. See my Heavenly Cordial after a wasting Plague much of the special care of God the wast howling wilderness he led him about he instructed him he kept him as the apple of his eye Verse 11. As an Eagle stirreth up her nest fluttereth over her young spreadeth abroad her wings taketh them beareth them on her wings Verse 12. So the Lord alone did lead him c. The Eagle carries her young ones upon her wings and not between her talons as other birds do openly safely swiftly and so did God his Israel being choice and chary of them all the way securing them also from their enemies who could do them as little hurt as any can Isa 63. 4. 5. 6. cap. 59. 16. do the Eagles young which cannot be shot but through the body of the old one See at what a rate God speaks in that Isa 40. 27 28. Observe how God comes on with his high interrogatories Hast thou not known What an ignorant People Hast thou not heard What a deaf People what keep no intelligence with Heaven 1 Pet. 5. 7. Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you I will now with you sing away care said John Careless Act. and Mon. fol. 1743. Martyr in his letter to Mr. Philpot for now my soul is turned to her old rest again and hath taken a sweet nap in Christs lap I have cast my care upon the Lord which careth for me and will be careless according to my name It was a strange speech of Socrates a Heathen Since God is so careful of you saith he what need you be careful for any thing your selves Gods providence extendeth to all his Creatures it 's like the Sun of universal influence but in a special manner it 's operative for the safety of his Saints In common dangers men take special care of their Jewels and will not God will not God take Mal. 3. 17. Heb. 3. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 5. special care of his Jewels surely yes The Church of God is the house of God and will not God take care of his house surely that shall be well guarded whatsoever be neglected his house is every moment within the view of his favourable eye and under the guard of his almighty arm his thoughts and heart is much upon his house God hath a peculiar and paternal care over his Saints that disâ—ich of Museulâ—s cometh in fitly Est Deus in caelis qui providus omnia curat Credentes nunquam deseruisse potest A God there is whose Providence doth take Care for his Saints whom he will not forsake His eyes run implying the celerity and swiftness of God in hastning relief to his People his eyes run through the whole Earth implying the universality of helps there is not a Saint in any dark Corner of the world under any straits or troubles but God eyes him and will take singular care of him God will alwayes 〈◊〉 his care to his Peoples conditions to which his eminent appearances for them in dayes of distress and trouble give signal testimony It is our work to cast care it is Gods work to take care let not us then by soul dividing thoughts take the Lords work out of his hand But Secondly Will the Lord be signally present with his 2. Inference People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers then here you may see the true reason why the Saints are so comfortable cheerful and joyful Acts 5. 40 41. Cap. 16. 25. Rom. 5. 3. 2 Cor. 7. 4. Cap. 12. 10. 1 Pet. 4 12 13 14 these Scriptures are already opened and improved in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers it is because of that signal presence of God with them It was this signal presence of God with the Martyrs that made them rejoyce in the midst of their greatest sufferings and that made them endure great
145 146 5. Fifthly God the Father promiseth to Jesus Christ Rule Dominion and Soveraignty pag. 146 147 6. Sixthly God the Father promiseth to accept of Jesus Christ in his Mediatory Office pag. 147 148 7. Seventhly God the Father promiseth highly to exalt Jesus Christ and nobly to reward him and everlastingly to glorify him pag. 148 149 150 151 152 Secondly of the Articles of the Covenant on Christs part Now there are six observable things on Christs side that we are to take special notice of 1. First Christ having consented and agreed with the Father about our Redemption accordingly he applies himself to the discharge of that great and glorious work by taking a body by assuming our Nature pag. 152 153 154 155 156 157 2. Secondly Jesus Christ promiseth to God the Father that he will freely readily and cheerfully accept undertake and faithfully discharge his Mediatory Office to which he was designed by him in order to the Redemption and Salvation of all his chosen Ones pag. 158 159 3. Thirdly Jesus Christ promises and engages himself that he will confide depend rely and trust upon his Father for help and assistance to go through his work c. pag. 159 160 161 162 4. Fourthly Jesus Christ promises and engages himself to the Father that he would bear all and suffer all that should be laid upon him and that he would ransome poor Sinners and fully satisfy Divine Justice by his blood and death c. pag. 162 163 5. Fifthly The Lord Jesus Christ was very free ready willing and careful to make good all the Articles of the Covenant on his side and to discharge all the works agreed on for the Redemption and Salvation of the Elect. pag. 163 164 165 6. Sixthly Christ having performed all the Conditions of the Covenant on his part he now peremptorily insists upon it that his Father should make good to him and his the Conditions of the Covenant on his part Christ having finished his work looks for his reward pag. 165 166 167 168 169 7. Seventhly and lastly The whole Compact and agreement between God the father and our Lord Jesus Christ about the Redemption of poor Sinners souls was really and solemnly transacted in open Court or as I may say in the high Court of Justice above in the presence of the great publick Notary of Heaven viz. the Holy Ghost c. pag. 169 170 Of Divine Assistance None can be so against us as to hinder the Assistance of God at a dead lift II. Part pag. 77 78 79 B. Of special Blessings Some special Blessings are alwayes annexed to the signal presence of God II. Part pag. 209 210 Six several Books mentioned in the Scripture First the Book of Nature is mentioned in the Scripture pag. 184 185 Secondly there is the Book of Providence wherein all particulars are registred even such as Atheists may count trivial and inconsiderable pag. 185 Thirdly there is the Book of Mens afflictions this some account as an entire Book of it self pag. 185 186 187 Fourthly there is the Book of Conscience pag. 187 188 Fifthly there is the Book of Scripture and of all Books this Book is the mâ—st precious Book pag. 188 189 190 Sixthly there is the Book of Life pag. 190 191 192 193 Bow None can be so against us as to bring us to their Bow II. Part. p. 66 67 68 C. Of the special Care of God The Saints are a People of Gods special Care II. Part pag. 143 144 145 Of Comfort The signal presence of the Lord with his People in their greatest Troubles yields them the greatest Comfort II. Part pag. 145 146 147 208 209 Of Communion with God None can be so against us as to hinder our Communion with the Father Son and Spirit II. Part pag. 72 73 74 Of the testimony of Conscience None can be so against us as to hinder the testimony of our renewed Consciences II. Part pag. 74 75 76 77 Of Crowns First of a Crown of Righteousness II. Part pag. 95 96 97 98 Secondly of the Crown of Life This Crown of Life signifies six things II. Part pag. 98 99 100 101 102 103 3. Of an incorruptible Crown II. Part p. 103 to 106 4. Of a Crown of Life II. Part 106 107 Of the two Covenants First that God hath commonly dealt with Man in the way of a Covenant pag. 1 2 Secondly all Men are under a Covenant of Grace or a Covenant of Works pag. 2 Thirdly that the Covenant of Grace was so legally dispensed to the Jews that it seemes to be nothing else but the repetition of the Covenant of Works pag. 2 3 Fourthly that a right notion of the Covenant according to the Originals of the Old and New Testament will conduce much to a right understanding of Gods Covenant the Originals of the Old and New Testament largely opened pag. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Fifthly that there was a Covenant of Works or a reciprocal Covenant betwixt God and Adam together with all his Posterity pag. 10 11 Q. But how may it be evidenced that God entred into a Covenant of Works with the first Adam before his fall there being no mention of such a Covenant in the Scripture that we read of Five Answers are returned to this Question pag. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Sixthly there is a new Covenant a second Covenant or a Covenant of Grace betwixt God and his People pag. 18 19 Of the Covenant of Grace That the Covenant of Grace is the same for substance now to us since Christ was exhibited as it was to the Jews before he was exhibited but the manner of administration is different upon three grounds pag. 3 That there is a Covenant betwixt God and his People is evinced by 8. unanswerable Arguments pag. 19. to 25 Seventhly and lastly that it is a matter of high importance for all mortals to have a clear and right understanding of that Covenant under which they are pag. 25 26 27 28 29 First the Covenant of Grace is stiled an everlasting Covenant in two respects pag. 31 32 33 34 The Covenant which God makes for himself to us consists mainly in six things pag. 34 35 The Covenant which God doth make for us to himself consists mainly in ten things pag. 35 36 Secondly the Covenant of Grace under which the Saints stand is sometimes stiled a Covenant of Life pag. 36 Thirdly the Covenant of Grace under which the Saints stand is sometimes stiled a Holy Covenant pag. 36 37 Fourthly the Covenant of Grace under which the Saints stand is sometimes stiled a Covenant of Peace pag 37 38 39 Fifthly the Covenant of Grace under which the Saints stand is sometimes stiled a new Covenant and that in eight respects pag. 39 40 41 Sixthly the Covenant of Grace under which the Saints stand is sometimes stiled a Covenant of Salt pag. 41 42 Seventhly the Covenant of Grace under which the Saints stand is sometimes stiled a sure