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
is a gracious a favorable a The compassionate Parent is most with the sick child so here signal or eminent presence of the Lord with his faithful People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers as the Scriptures do every where evidence Take a tast of some Gen. 39. 20. And Josepâ—'s â—aster took him and put him into the prison a place where the Kings prisoners were bound and he was there in the prison Verse 21. But the Lord was with Joseph and shew'd him mercy and gave him favour in the Acts 16. 25. sight of the keeper of the prison A prison keeps not God from his witness the Apostles and Martyrs whose prisons by Gods presence became Palaces and their stocks a Musick-school Bradford after he was put in prison Act. and Mon. f. 1489. ibid. 1457. had better health than before and found great favour with his keeper who suffered him to go whither he would upon his promife to return by such an hour to his prison again If men knew by experience the sweet that is in suffering for Christ they would desire with Chrysostome if it were put to their choice rather to be Paul a prisoner of Jesus Christ than Paul rapt up in the third Heaven Basil in his Oration for Barlaam that famous Martyr faith He delighted in the close prison as in a pleasant green meadow and he took pleasure in the several inventions of tortures as in several sweet flowers Luther reports of that Martyr S. Agatha that as she went to prisons and tortures she said she went to Banquets and Nuptials The Sun enlightens the World saith Cyprian but he that made the Sun is a greater light to you in prison c. Fire sword prisons famins are pleasure they are all delightful to me saith Basil Paul rattles his chain which he beares for the Gospel and was Eph. 6. 20. 2 Tim. 1. 16. Act. 15. 26 29. Phil. 1. 7 13 14 16. Colos 4. 3. 18. 2 Tim. 2. 9. c. as proud of it as a woman of her ornaments saith Chrysostome Paul and Silas in a prison found more pleasure than pain more joy than sorrow and when they were whipt it was with Rosemary branches as I may say Paul greatly rejoyced in his sufferings for Christ and therefore often sings out I Paul a prisoner of Jesus Christ not I Paul wrapt up in the third Heaven Christ shew'd his great love to him in wrapping him up in the third Heaven and he shew'd his great love to Christ in a cheerful suffering for him Eusebius tells of one that writt to his Friend from a stinking Dungeon and dated his Letter from my delicate Orchard Mr. Glover the Martyr wept for joy of his imprisonment Anâ— God forgive me said Mr. Bradford when a prisoner my unthank fulness for this exceeding great mercy that among so many thousands he chuseth me to be one in whom he will suffer I was carried to the Cole-house saith Mr. Philpot the Martyr where I with my fellowes do Act. Mon. fol. 16â—3 rouze together in the straw as chearfully we thank God as others do in their beds of down Philip Landgrave of Hesse being a long time prisoner under Charles the Fifth was asked what upheld him in his long imprisonment He answered that he felt the divine consolations of the Martyrs Gen. 49. 23. The Archers or as the Hebrew here hath it the Arrow-masters have sorely grieved him and shot at him and hated him These Arrowmasters were his barbarous Brethren that sould him his adulterous Mistriss that harlot-like hunted for his precious life his injurious Master that without any desert of his imprisoned him the tumultuating Egyptians that pined with hunger perhaps spake of stoning of him and the envious Courtiers and inchanters that spake 1 Sam. 30. 6. Jun us Mercer Not that his arms were adotned with bracelets gold as the Chalde saith c. evil of him before Pharaoh to bring him out of favour but by divine assistance and Gods favourable presence he proved too strong for them all Ver. 24. But his bow abode in strength and the armes of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob c. Joseph is likened to a strong Archer that as his other enemies as archers shot at him so his bow was stedfast and his armes strong by the signal presence of God with him Such an eminent presence of God had Joseph with him that he never wanted courage comfort or counsel when he was at the worst The divine presence will make a man stand fast and firm under the greatest pressures 2 Cor. 1. 9 12. it made Joseph use his bow against his adversaries As David did his sling against Goliah he slung saith one Eucholcâ—r as if he had wrapt up God in his sling Psalm 23. 4. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me thy rod and thy staff they comfort me The prefence of the Lord with his People in the most deadly dangers fills their souls full of courage confidence and comfort That darkness which comes upon a dying man a little before he gives up the Ghost is the greatest darkness and yet let a Christian then have but God by the hand and he will not fear the most hideous and horrid representations of death Dan. 3. 24. Then Nebuchadnezzar the King was astonied and rose up in hast and spake and said unto his Counsellers did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire They answered and said unto the King true O King Verse 25. He answered and said Lo I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God The presence of the Son of God turn'd the fiery Furnace into a garden of delights a gallery of pleasure This divine presence in the midst of fire and flame kept them from fainting sinning and shrinking and sill'd their souls with comfort peace ease and heavenly refreshing One of the Ancients rhetorically speaking to Nebuchadnezzar Augustin who said He saw one like the Son of God whence came this saith he who told thee that this was the Son of God what Law what Prophet he is not yet born into the world and the similitude of him that was to be born is known to thee whence came this who told thee this but the divine fire enlightening thee within that whilest thou beholdest these three as thine enemies in the fire thou mightest give testimony to the Son of God This heathenish Prince look't upon the fourth person as one like a Son of the Gods or like some young God most bright and glorious exceeding fair and excelling in beauty as if he were not of humane but of divine off-spring But what ever notions or apprehensions Nebuchadnezzar had we may very safely understand this
that may pass upon him How many Martyrs have ventured into the Heb. 11. 34. very flames to meet with Christ and that have many other wayes made a sacrifice of their dearest lives and all to meet with Christ O the cruel mockings the scourgings Rev. 12. 11. Heb. 11. 36 37 38 the bonds the imprisonments the stoning the sawing asunder that many of the Lords worthies have ventured upon and all to meet with the presence of the Lord and why then should any of you be afraid to enter into an afflicted condition where you shall be sure to meet the singular presence of the Lord that will certainly turn your afflicted condition into a comfortable condition to you The great design of the Lord in afflicting of his People is to meet with them and to draw them into a nearer communion with himself it is that they may see more of him than ever and taste more of him than ever and enjoy more of him than ever in order to which he subdues their corruptions by afflictions Isa 1. 25. c. 27. 8 9 Heb. 12â— 10 11. Hos 2. 14. and strengthens their graces and heightens their holiness by all their troubles and trials When ever he leads his Spouse into a wilderness it is that he may speak friendly and comfortably to her or that he may speak to her heart as the Hebrew runs The great design of the Lord in bringing her into a wilderness was that he might make such discoveries of himself of his love and of his soveraign grace as might chear up her heart yea as might even make her heart leap and dance within her Or as some sence it I will take her alone for the purpose even into a solitary wilderness where I may more frâ—ely impart my mind to her that she having her whole desire she may come up from the wilderness leaning upon her beloved and so be brought into the bride-house with all Cant. 8. 5. solemnity By all which it is most evident that there is no such evil in a wilderness estate in an afflicted condition as many imagin But Eightly will the Lord be signally present with his 8 Inference People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers then what a high encouragement should this be to poor sinners to study Christ to acquaint themselves with Christ to embrace Christ to chuse Christ to close with Christ to submit to Christ Joh. 1. 12. Ps 112. 2 3. Ps 2. 12. 2 Cor. 8. 5. and to make a resignation of themselves to Christ and to secure their interest in Christ that so they may enjoy his signal presence in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers O how many mercies are wrapt up in this mercy of enjoying the singular presence of the Lord in all the troubles and tryals of this life It is a mercy to have the presence of a Friend it is Psalm 23. 4. a greater to have the presence of a near and dear relation with us in a day of distress in a day of darkness But what a mercy is it then to have the presence of the Lord with one in a dark day That 's excellent counsel that the wisest Prince that ever swayed a scepter gives in that Eccles 11. 8. Remember the days of darkness for they shall be many When light shall be turned into darkness pleasure into pain delights into wearisomness calms into storms Summer dayes into Winter nights and the lightsome dayes of life into the dark dayes of old age and death O now the singular presence of the Lord with a man in these dayes of darkness will be a mercy more worth than ten thousand worlds To have a wise a loving Psalm 71. 20 21. a powerful a faithful Friend to own us in the dark to stand by us in the dark to uphold us in the dark to refresh us in the dark to encourage us in the dark c. is a very choice and singular mercy O then what is it to have the presence of the Lord with us in all those dark dayes that are to pass over our heads What David said of the sword of Goliath in another case There is none 1 Sam. 21. 8 9. like that that I may say of the Divine presence with a man in the dark There is none like that The Psalmist Psal 73. 26. The Greek saith The God of my heart c. hit the mark the whit when he said My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever When his flesh that is his outward man and when his heart his courage that is his inward man failed him then God was the strength of his heart or the rock of his heart as the Hebrew runs at the very last gasp God came in with his soveraign Cordial and revived him and recovered him and brought new life and strength into him When a Saint is at worst when he is at lowest when he is even overwhelmed with troubles and sorrows and when the dayes of darkness so multiply upon him that he seems past all hope of recovery then the Divine presence does most gloriously manifest it self and display it self in supporting strengthning comforting and encouraging of him In the Rev. 4. 6. you read that the world is like a sea of glass I saw before the Throne a sea of glass The world is transitory very frail and brittle as glass and it is instable tumultuous and troublesome as the sea Here the world is shadowed out to us by a sea of glass and how can we stand on this sea how can we live on this sea how can we walk on this sea if Christ don't take us by the hand and lead us and support us and secure us O Sirs we can't uphold our selves on this sea of glass nor others can 't uphold us on this sea of glass it is none but dear Jesus it is no presence but his singular presence that can make us to stand or go on this sea of glass And if this world be a sea of glass oh what infinit cause have we to secure our interest in Christ who alone can pilot us safe over this troublesome dangerous and tempestuous sea Oh that I could prevail with poor sinners to take Christ into the ship of their souls that so he may pilot them safe into the heavenly Harbour the heavenly Canaan No Pilot in Heaven or Earth can land you on the shore of a happy eternity from off this sea of glass but Jesus When on this sea of glass the winds blow high storms arise and the bold waves beat into the ship O then the sinner cryes a Kingdom for a Christ a world for a Pilot to save us from eternal drowning Oh that before eternal storms and tempests do beat upon poor sinners they Ps 11. 6. Ps 9. 17. Hos 2. 19 20. 2 Cor. 11. 2. would be prevailed with to close
2 Tim. 4. 22. Ps 16. ult a great mercy It is a peculiar mercy it is a distinguishing mercy it is a big-bellied mercy it is a mercy that hath many mercies in the womb of it it is a mercy greatning mercy it greatens all the mercies we do enjoy it is a mercy sweetning mercy it sweetens health strength riches honours trade relations liberty c. It is a soul mercy a mercy that reaches the soul that cheeres the soul that lifts up the soul that quiets the soul that satisfies the soul that will go to Heaven with the soul And will you not be thankful for such a mercy will you be thankful for temporal mercies and will Eph. 1. 3. you not be thankful for spiritual mercies will you be thankful for left-handed mercies and will you not be thankful for right-handed mercies will you be thankful for the mercies of the foot-stool and will you not be thankful for the mercies of the Throne will you be thankful for the mercies of this lower world and will you not be thankful for the mercies of the upper world Ps 103. 1. 2 3. 4. To enjoy the presence of God when we most need it is a mercy that deserves perpetual praises O it is infinit mercy not to be left alone in a day of trouble 'T is very Eccl. 4. 10 11. uncomfortable to be left alone Wo to him that is alone If a man fall and be left alone who shall help him up If a man be in danger and alone how miserable is his case But this is the support and comfort of a Christian Heb. 13. 5. Ps 37. 24. Ps 31. 3. Ps 73. 24. Exod. 33. 2. 14 15 16. in all his distresses that he is never left alone but his God is with him when he is at the lowest ebb for God to afford us the presence of our Friends in a day of trouble is a very great mercy But what is it then to enjoy the presence of God in a day of trouble what is the presence of a Friend a Favorit in a day of distress to the presence of a Prince yea what is the presence of an Angel to the presence of God in an evil day To enjoy the presence of God in an afflicted condition is a more transcendent mercy than to enjoy the presence of twelve legions of Angels in an afflicted condition The Divine presence is the greatest good in the world 't is life eternal 't is the bosom of God the gate of glory the beginning of Heaven the suburbs of happiness and therefore be much in blessing of God in admiring of God for his presence with you in a dark and trying day There is no gall no wormwood no affliction no judgment to Lam. 3. 19 â—0â— that of Gods departing from a People Jer. 6. 8. Be thou instructed O Jerusalem lest my soul depart from thee lest I make thee desolate a Land not inhabited When God departs nothing followeth but desolation upon desolation desolation of persons desolation of peace of prosperity of trade and of all that is near and dear unto us Hosea 9. 12. Though they bring up their children yet will I bereave them that there shall not be a man left yea wo also to them when I depart from them All terrible threatnings are summed up in this Wo unto them when I depart from them Surely even wo to them he puts a sureness upon this Wo to them when I depart from them As if the Holy-Ghost should say What do I threaten this or the other evil the great evil of all the rise of all evils is Gods forsaking of them Hell it self is nothing else but a separation from Gods presence with the ill consoquents thereof and were hell as full of tears as the sea is full of water yet all would not be sufficient to bewail the loss of that beatifical vision How miserable was Gen. 4. 1 Sam. 28. 15 16. They that are out of Go is care are under his curse Cain when cast off by God! and Saul when the Lord departed from him it was a most dreadful speech of Saul I am sure distressed for the Philistins make war against me and God is departed from me When God left the Israelites though for a little while the Holy-Ghost saith they were naked Exod. 32. 25. How naked Non veste sed gratia praesidio Dei Not for want of rayment Jun. in loc or weapons of war but for want of Gods presence and protection When God departs from a People that People lyes naked that is they lay open for all storms tempests dangers Now if it be the greatest evil in the world to be shut out from the gracious presence of Christ then it must be the greatest mercy in this world to enjoy the gracious presence of God in our great troubles and desperate dangers And therefore let all sincere Christians be much in thankfulness to the Lord and in blessing and praising the Lord for his signal presence with them in their low and afflicted estate O the light the life the love the holyness the peace the grace the comforts the supports that alwayes attends the gracious presence of the Lord with his People in their deep distresses c. therefore let the high praises of God for ever be in their mouths who enjoy this signal presence of God The 46 Psalm is called by some Luther's Psalm that is a Psalm that Luther was wont to call to his Friends to sing when any danger trouble or distress was near when the clouds began to gather Come saith Luther let us sing the 46 Psalm and then let our enemies do their worst Observe the confidence and triumph of the Church in the face of the greatest dangers Verse 1. God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble We may translate it He is found that is God is present at hand as Gen. 19. 15. God is a present help The Hebrew word in a secondary sence signifies Tobe sufficient Num. 11. 22. A sufficient help you need no other Verse 2. Therefore will not we fear though the Earth be removed and though the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea Verse 3. Though the waters thereof rore and be troubled though the Mountains shake with the swelling thereof Selah Verse 6. Though the Heathen rage and the Kingdoms were moved to remove and root out the Church with great force and fury Now mark by the change of the Earth and removing of the Mountains are often meant the greatest alterations and concussions of States and Polities Hag. 2. 22 23. Jer. 51. 25. Revel 6. 14. Now saith the Psalmist all these dreadful turns changes shakings and concussions of States and Kingdoms shall never trouble us nor daunt us they shall never make us fret faint or fear Why what 's the ground The Lord of Hâ—â—ts is with us The God of Jacob is our refuge Verse 7. and
15. Josh 1. 5. Heb. 13. 5. Exod. 3. 12. Genes 26. 3. Sojourn in this land and I will be with thee and will bless thee Cap. 28. 15. And behold I am with thee and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest and will bring thee again into this land for I will not leave thee c. Don't talk of thy loss of Friends for I will be with thee nor don 't talk of thy Countrey for I will give thee this Land which is the Paradise of the world nor don 't talk of thy poverty for thou shalt spread abroad to the West and to the East and to the North and to the South Verse 14. Nor don 't talk of thy solitariness and aloneness for I will not leave thee Isa 91. 10. Fear 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 Suppose a man was injuriously dealt with by this man or that would it not be a comfort to him that a just and righteous Judge stood by and was an eye witness of all the violences that were offered to him Suppose a man were in exile with David or in prison with Joseph or in a Dungeon with Jeremiah or in the stocks with Paul and Silas or in banishment for the testimony of Jesus with John yet would it not be a singular comfort to him to have the presence of a kind Father a bosom Friend a wise Counseller an able Physician with him O Christian be thou in what place thou wilt and with what Company thou wilt and in what condition thou wilt yet thy loving God thy kind Father thy bosom Friend c. will be still with thee he will never leave thee nor forsake thee and O! what a spring of comfort should this be to thee But Secondly Know for your comfort that there is alwayes some special favours and blessings annexed to this signal presence of God as I will be with thee and bless thee Genes 26. 3. I am with thee and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest Genes 28. 15. I will be with him in trouble and honour him Psalm 91. 15. I will be with him and strengthen him Isai 41. 10. I will be with thee and the flames shall not kindle upon thee Cap 43. 2. I will be with thee and there shall not a man be able to stand before thee Joshua 1. 5 I will be with thee to deliver thee Jerem. 1. 19. I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked and out of the hand of the terrible Cap. 15. 20 21. Hushai's presence with David was a burden Jobs Wifes presence was but 2 Sam. 15. 33. Job 2. 9. 10. and Matth. 8. 28. 34. a vexation unto him and Christs presence among the Gergesens was a terrour to them and the presence of talkative Friends is many times a trouble to us O but this signal this favourable presence of the Lord with his People in their greatest troubles and deepest distresses is a sweet presence a comfortable presence a delightful presence a blessed presence yea such a presence as has many singular blessings annexed to it But Thirdly Know for your comfort that you shall have mercy and kindness and what ever good you need in due season at that very instant at that very nick of time wherein you most need mercy God will time your Psalm 145. 18. Deut. 4. 7. Gen. 22. 10 11 12 13. mercies and your blessings for you he is nigh and will not fail you at a dead lift When Abraham had bound his Son and bent his sword and the knife was up then comes a voice from Heaven Abraham Abraham hold thy hand At that very nick of time when the four hundred and thirty years were expired Israel was delivered Exod. 12. 41. 51. out of their captivity and slavery Deut. 11. 14. I will give you the rain of your land in his due season the first rain and the latter rain that thou mayest gather in thy corn and thy wine and thine oyl God gives rain to all by a Providence but he gives rain to his Israel by vertue of Acts 14. 18. Job 38. 26. a promise God engages himself not only to give rain but to give it in due season he will give the first rain after the sowing of the seed that it might take rooting in the Earth and he will give the latter rain a little before Harvest that the cars might be full O my Friends it is wonderful mercy that God will time our mercies for us When Jehoshaphat was put to a hard pinch at that 2 Chron. 20. 12. 22 23 24 25 26. very nick of time God ownes him stands by him and gives him a great victory When David was at a great 1 Sam. 23. 26 27 28. Let him saith Augustinâ— chuse his own opportunity that so freely grants the mercy plunge Saul being at his very heels at that very nick of time tydings were brought to Saul that the Philistines had invaded the land and so David escapes When all humane help failed God came in and help't at a dead lift So Julian was cut of by the Persian War at that very nick of time when he had vowed at his return to make a Sacrifice of the Christians lives And so Charles the Fifth was diverted from persecuting of the Protestants by the Turks breaking into Hungary at that very nick of time when his heart was set upon a warm persecution And so Justice Gilford a violent Papist Acts and Mon. 1880. in Queen Marie's dayes going up the stairs to Mistriss Roberts her Chamber to compel her will she or will she not to go to Mass at that very nick of time he was suddenly taken with his old disease the Gout and so grievously tormented that he swore he would never trouble her more When Faux was giving fire to the match that should have given fire to the Powder that should have blown up King Lords and Commons at that very nick of time he that never slumbers nor sleeps Psal 121 3 4 5. prevented him and so turned our intended Funeral into a Festival O Christian are thy troubles many in number strange in nature heavy in measure much in burthen and long in continuance yet remember that thy God is near whose mercies are numerous whose wisdom is wonderous and whose power is miraculous The nearness or remoteness of a Friend is very material and considerable in our troubles distresses wants dangers c. I have such a Friend and he would help me but he lives so far off And I have another Friend that has a great love for me that is able to counsel me and to speak a word in season to me and that in my distress would stand close to me but he is so remote I have a special Friend
me Suidas saith Job was clouded and to his sense and feeling forsaken seven â—ears But you are not bound to make this an Article of your Faith not utterly Christ was forsaken for a few houres David for a few months and Job for a few years for the tryal and exercise of his faith and patience but then they all sent up a mighty cry to Heaven Leave them God did to their thinking but forsake them he did in regard of vision but not in regard of union The promise is that God will draw near to us if we draw near to him Jam. 4. 8. Draw nigh to God in duty and he will draw nigh to you in mercy Sanctify him and he will satisfie you Prayer is the only means to supply all defects it gets all and makes up the loss of all as a gracious poor women said in her distress I have no Friend but I have prayer that will get favour with my God so long as I can find a praying heart God will I am sure of that find a pittying heart and a helping hand It is not the length but the strength of prayer it is not the labour of the lip Jer. 29. 12 13 14. but the travel of the heart that prevails with God it is not the Arithmetick of our prayers how many they are nor the Rhetorick of our prayers how eloquent they be nor the Geometry of our prayers how long they be nor the Musick of our prayers how sweet they be nor the Logick of our prayers how methodical they be that will carry the day with God it is only fervency importunity in prayer that will make a man prevalent with God Fervent prayer hits the mark carries the day and pierceth the walls of Heaven though like those of Gaza Jam. 5. 16 17. Luk. 18. Isa 45. 2. made of Brass and Iron The Child has got many a kiss and many a hug by crying if God has withdrawn his presence the best the surest and the readiest way to recover it is to send up a mighty cry to Heaven But Sixthly Be sure you don't take up your rest in any Jer. 50. 6. Creature in any comfort in any contentment in any worldly enjoyment When the presence of God is withdrawn from you say as Absalom What is all this to me 2 Sam. 14. 24 28 32 33. so long as I am banished my Fathers presence so long as I can't see the Kings face When the Mother sees that the Child is taken with the baby the rattle the fiddle she comes not in sight If you take up your rest in any of the babies in any of the poor things of this world God will certainly keep out of sight he will never honour them with his countenance and presence who take up in any thing below himself below his favour below his presence I have read of a devout Pelgrim who going up to Jerusalem was very kindly and nobly entertained in several places but still he cryed out O but this is not Jerusalem this is not Jerusalem So when you cast your eye upon thiis Creature or that O then cry out This is not the presence of God this is not the presence of God when you begin to be tickled taken with this and that enjoyment with this or that contentment O then remember this is not the presence of God this is not the presence of God! Here is a gracious yoke-fellow here are hopeful Children here is a pleasant habitation here is brave air here is a gainful trade c. but what are all these to me so long as my Sun is set in a cloud and God has withdrawn his presence from me Remember this once for all that the whole world is but a barren Psal 63. 1 2 3. wilderness without the countenance and presence of God But Seventhly and lastly Patiently and quietly wait upon him in the way of his Ordinances for the recovery of his Exod. 20. 24. Mat. â—8 20. Isa 64. 5. Psal â—7 4. Psal 65. 4. Revel 2. 1. Psal 40. 1 2 3. Isa 8. 17. Mich. 7. 7 8 9. Isa 26. 8 9. presence Consult the Scriptures in the margin Here God dwells here he walks here he makes known his glory here he gives forth his love here he vouchsafes his presence when God is withdrawn your great business is to prize Ordinances and to keep close to ordinances till God shall be pleased to lift up the light of his countenance and vouchsafe his presence to you you will never recover the Divine presence by neglecting ordinances nor by slighting ordinances nor by turning your back upon ordinances nor by entertaining low thoughts of ordinances He that thinks ordinances to be needless things concludes 1. That the taking away of the Kingdom of Heaven from the Jews was no Mat. 21. 43. Joh. 5. 2. to 10. great judgment 2. That the bestowing of it upon other People is no great mercy If God be gone 't is good to lay at the pool till he returns There are many dear Christians who have lost their God for a time but after a time they have found him again in the way of his ordinances and therefore let no temptation draw thee off from ordinances say here I will live here I will lie here I will wait at the pool of ordinances till the Lord shall return in mercy to my soul I shall follow this Discourse of the Divine presence with my earnest prayers that it may from on high be so signally blest as that it may issue in the furtherance of the internal and eternal good both of Writer Reader and Hearer Thus ends the SECOND PART of the Golden Key Soli Deo Gloria in Aeternum FINIS THE TABLE A. Of Adam THAT there was a Covenant of Works or a reciprocal Covenant betwixt God and Adam together with all his Posterity before Adam sell from his primitive Holyness c. Is proved by five Arguments pag. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Of Christs Appearance Three Reasons of Christs Appearance in the presence of the Father for us pag. 168 169 Of the Articles agreed on between the Father and the Son First of the Articles on the Fathers part Now there are seven Things which God the Father promiseth to do for Jesus Christ upon his undertaking the work of our Redemption 1. First That he will give him the Spirit in an abundant measure pag. 129 130 131 132 2. Secondly That he will invest Jesus Christ with a threefold Office and that he will anoint him and furnish him with what ever was requisit for the discharge of those three Offices pag. 132 133 See the Offices of Christ 3. Thirdly That he will give to Jesus Christ assistance support protection help and strength to carry on the great work of Redemption pag. 142 143 144 4. Fourthly That he shall not labour in vain and that the work of Redemption shall prosper in his hand c. pag. 144
Covenant a firm Covenant c. p. 42 43 44 45 Three springs from whence the Covenant of Grace flowes may assure us that the Covenant of Grace is a sure Covenant pag. 45 46 47 The sureness of the Covenant is further demonstrated from the blood of the everlasting Covenant pag. 47 48 49 50 Eightly and lastly the Covenant of Grace is stiled a well ordered Covenant pag. 50 51 52 The reason why the new Covenant is call'd a Covenant of Grace pag. 52 53 54 55 None can make void our Covenant-relation our Covenant-interest II. Part pag. 107 108 Of the Covenant of Redemption What is the substance of the Covenant of Redemption pag. 66 67 68 The Covenant of Redemption defined pag. 68 69 Scripture proofs of the Covenant of Redemption pag. 69 to 97 The Covenant of Redemption differs from the Covenant of Grace in five particulars pag. 97 98 Of the Covenant of Works The woful misery of men that live and dye under a Covenant of Works pag. 27 28 29 First the Covenant of Works in the nature of it requires perfect personal and perpetual Obedience under pain of the curse and death 29 30 Secondly such as are under a Covenant of Works their best and choicest duties are rejected and abhorred for the least miscarriages or blemishes that do attend them pag. 30 Thirdly this Covenant admits of no Mediator pag. 30 31 E. Of Embracing Christ Poor Sinners should embrace Christ as they would have his signal sence with them in their greatest troubles and deepest distresses II. Part pag. 155 156 157 158 Of Enemies The Enemies of the Church are weak and contemptible II. Part p. 212 213. F. Of base slavish Fears The signal presence of God with his People should arm them against all slavish Fears of Men. II. Part pag. 152 153 154 Of Fighting against God To Fight against God is labour in vain II. Part p. 213 G. Of the Graces of the Spirit None can be so against us as to deprive us of the Graces of the Spirit II. Part p. 85 86 Of Growth in Grace None can be so against us as to hinder our growth and increase in Grace II. Part p. 108 109 110 111 112 H. Of Harming the Saints None can Harm the Saints II. Part p. 61 62 63 Of being Hid in an evil day None can be so against the Saints as to hinder them from being Hid in an evil day II. Part p. 90 91 92 I. Of Imitating Christ The Saints should Imitate Christ in visiting of the Lords People in their greatest troubles II. Part p. 150 151 152 Of Holy Joy None can be so against us as to hinder the springs of Holy Joy from rising and flowing in our souls II. Part p. 79 to 85 The presence of God with his People is the true ground of their Ioy in all their troubles II. Part p. 145 146 147 Of the general Judgment Scriptures that refer to the general Iudgment opened pag. 177 to 184 L. Of Lessons Six great Lessons the poor Heathen might have learned out of the Book of Nature pag. 184 185 Of Life A man in the Covenant of Grace hath three degrees of Life pag. 36 Of Losing the presence of God and of the means to recover it First observe how you lost the Divine presence II. Part p. 218 219 Secondly enquire where when and why God has withdrawn himself II. Part p. 219 Thirdly stand not with Christ for any thing II. Part p. 219 Fourthly let your hearts lye humble and low under the losâ— of the Divine presence and why II. Part p. 220 Fifthly send up a mighty cry to Heaven II. Part p. 220 221 Sixthly take not up your rest in any outward comfort II. Part. p. 221 222 Seventhly patiently and quietly wait upon him in the way of his Ordinances II. Part p. 222 Of the Fathers Love and the Sons Love Of admiring the Fathers Love in entring into the Covenant of Redemption pag. 174 175 Of Christs matchless Love pag. 175 176 177 Nothing can separate us from the Fathers or the Sons Love II. Part p. 64 65 66 Gods signal presence with his People in their greatest troubles speaks out the Lords singular Love to his People c. II. Part p. 149 150 First God loves his People with a first Love II. Part p. 214 Secondly he loves his People with a free Love II. Part p. 214 215 Thirdly he loves them with an everlasting Love II. Part p. 215 Fourthly he loves them with an unchangeable Love II. Part p. 215 Fifthly he loves them with a peculiar Love II. Part p. 215 Sixthly he loves them with the greatest Love II. Part p. 215 216 M. Means to retain the presence of God with us in our greatest troubles and deepest distresses First take heed of high sinning II. Part p. 181 Secondly take heed of impenitency II. Part p. 181 182 Thirdly take heed of neglecting Gospel-worship or of corrupting Gospel-worship II. Part p. 182 183 Fourthly take heed of a willing willful and presumptuous running cross to Divine Commands to Divine Warnings II. Part p. 183 184 Fifthly take heed of carnal confidence of resting upon an arm of flesh II Part p. 184 185 Sixthly take heed of barrenness under Gospel-ordinances II. P. p. 185 186 Seventhly take heed of pride and haughtiness of spirit II. Part p. 186 187 Eightly take heed of a slothful lazy trifling spirit in the things of God II. Part p. 187 188 189 Ninthly take heed of a covetous worldly spirit under the smarting Rod. II. Part p. 189 190 191 192 Tenthly take heed of a cross froward irflexible spirit under the Râ—d II Part p. 192 193 But then as these ten things are to be avoided so there are eight things to be put in pâ—actice as ever you would enjoy the signal presence of God with you in your greatest troubles and deepest distresses First be sure that you are brought under the bond of the Covenant II. Part p. 193 194 Secondly look to the practical part of Holyness keep up the power of Godliness in your hearts and lives II. Part p. 194 195 196 197 Thirdly keep close to instituted worship keep close to your Church state II. Part p. 197 198. 199 Fourthly be sure you make much conscience of five things when you are not in troubles II. Part p. 199 Fifthly then maintain uprightness and integrity of spirit with God II. Part p. 199 200 201 Sixthly be importunate with God not to leave you II. P. p. 201 202 203 Seventhly keep humble walk humbly with your God II. P. 203 204 205 Eightly labour more and more after greater measures of Holyness II. Part p. 205 206 207 208 Of Mercies God will time his Peoples Mercies for them II. Part p. 210 211 Ten Motives to perswade Christians to keep the signal presence of God with them in their greatest troubles and deepest distresses c. First consider the signal presence of God with his People puts the greatest honour dignity and glory
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.