you say her destruction is come already but you know not the thought of the thoughts of the Lord I will work unexpectâ—dly Thirdly God he works sometimes suddenly that he might give convâ—ction to men when God gives mercies he doeâ— it sudâ—â—nly when God brings judgements upon the wicked oâ— the world he doth it suddenly their destâ—uction is liâ—e wâ—arlewâ—nde it shall not come like oâ—her windes that â—o rise by degrees but as a whirlewind it shall come suddainly and carry them away before they think of it aâ—d so sometime he compares the judgments that he brings upon wicked men as the bâ—â—ach or a wall that cometh suddainly See the 30 of â—aiâ—h and the 13. verse Therâ—fore this iâ—iquity shall be to you as a breach â—eâ—dy â—o fâ—ll sweâ—ling oâ—t in a high wali whose breaking comâ—th sâ—â—daâ—nly at an instant And so when God works deâ—iverance for his people many times God works it in a sudden way look into the 1 6. Psâ—lm you shall see how suddainlâ— God wrought for his people how suddainly he brought them forth from Bâ—bâ—lon Verse 1. Wâ—â—n the Lâ—rd turâ—ed again our Captivity we were like to them tâ—aâ— dreamed Verse 2. Thâ—n was our mouth filled with lâ—ughter and our â—â—ngue with singing then said they among the Heathen the Lorâ— hath done great thâ—ngs for them Verse 4. Turn again our Captivity O Lord as the streams in the south He prays and beâ—eeves that God would turn again their Captivity as the streams in the souâ—h the streams of the South they come suddenly the streams there they do not arise as other Rivers they come from several Heads and so they increase aâ—d come broader and broader that when the rain falls mightily then the land floods come down suddainly Why in such a way doth God work for his people their deliverances shall be as the Rivers in the South as streams in the south that shall come suddainly in a moment before enemies are aware And thus doth God many times work conviction Fourthly God he works soliâ—arily he doth it by his own Arme when eâ—emies can see none to roule away the stone none to open a door of deliverance why then God himself he stretches out his Aâ—me when there is none to bring salvation his own Aâ—m shall bring salvâ—tion he will role away the stone he will open a door of deliverance and when God doth thus work this tends mightily to the conviction of those that are by-standers Quest If you ask but wherefore doth God thus work Wherefore doth God make very enemies to confess that he deals graciously with his people Why should they be eye-witnesses oâ— it Answ First of all because their eye looks upon the afflictions of the Servants of God and therefore God he will make them to look upon their mercies they look upon the mâ—sery of the Saints and they look upon them with delight and therefore God he will 〈◊〉 them to look upon their mercies and see theâ—â—â—eliverances They say â—et â—ur eye look upon Sion and let her he defâ—led Let our eye look upon her that is let us behold her ruin-in let us glut our sense and say thus we would have it Let our eye look upon Sion so in the 22. Psalm you shall finde how the wicked do look upon the affliction of Jesus Christ for 't is spoken of Christ Psalm 22. vers 17. I may tâ—ll all my bones they stare upon me they look and stare upon me When Christ was upon the Cross they stood looking upon him and did stare upon him the word signifies they looked with delight to stand gazeing insatiably When a man looks upon an object that pleaseth him he thinks he never looks enough he doth enlarge his sense to take in the speciousness of the thing and he thinks he never sees enough the same word is used by the Propet Isaiah 53. verse 11. He shall see the travel of â—is soul and be satisfied He shall see the travel of his soul he shall look upon it with delight he shall gaze greedily upon it it shews his wonderful affection that Chriâ—t looks upon his Spouse with wonderful desire that he looks upon the travel of his soul to see the fruit of his righteousness to see the benefit of his death he shall look upon the travel of his soul he shall gaze upon it with delight and so do enemies they look upon the affliction of his people and gaze upon it with delight and therefore God makes them to look upon the mercies of his people the deliverances of his people they shall see their glory God will make them eye-witnesses God will make them to confess that he hath dealt graciously with his people Secondly God doth 〈◊〉 mercy to the sons of men God would do even wicked men good and doth them good even by this while he works such conviction upon their heart by eyeing the mercies and deliverances that he doth give out to his people God by this he would allure them he would make them to stand and wonder while God not only in word but in his providence doth proclaim before them Thus shall bâ— done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour At least God doth this out of pitty to men that they might not go on to contemn the Gospel God he will give a check for this and therefore he works glorious deliverances that he might restrain them in the ways of persecution and thus doth the Lord pitty his very enemies he is better to them then they are to themselves God he would lay rubs in their way that they might not go leaping and jumping to Hell God he will not let wicked men dâ—â—â—ne themselves as they would if God should leave them to themselves And thus doth the Lord pitty his enemies A word for Application And so I conclude First of all Here is ground of patience and incouragement to the Saints in all tribulations in all adversities in the midst of your greatest afflictions in the midst of all the persecution you meet with for Christs sake for his Gospel sake for his truths sake though the world cast shame upon you timâ— is a coming that the Lord will roul away reproach and he will make your very enemies to see it and they that have stood looking upon your misery with delight they shall be forced to look upon your mercy and therefore here is a ground of patience to you in al daversity what ever you suffer from the world for Christs sake time is coming that God will make them to condemn themselves and to acquit you they shall see your mercy and they shall say of a truth God is with his people 'T is a ground of great comfort to the Churches of Christ in the midst of all the opposition that they meet with for the keeping of the word of his patience Oh see the promise that is made to the Churches in tâ—â— 12. of Zachariah verse 5. And the Gouernours of Judah
shall say in â—hâ—ir hearts the Inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of Hosts their God I will put glory upon my people saith God and I will maâ—e their Governours to acknowledge it and they shall say The Inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength they are the Pillars they are those that bear up the Land they are our Chariots they are our Bulwarks the Lord Jehozah is with them they shall be my strength Secondly Let it be an Item to the men of the world Oh take heed how you look with delight upon the miseries of the Saints upon the afflictions of the Saints I tell you God will not bear with it he will punish you for it how did God threaten Edom because he stood and looked upon his brother in the day of adversity he stood in the high-way gazeing upon his brothers misery and delighted in it I tell you you that laugh at the misery of the Saints God he will make you lament and they shall not only rejoyce but they shall shout for joy the time is a coming that he will make you to see the mercy and that he is with them and deals graciously with them Thirdly Let Gods people acknowledge this as a great mercy that God should work conviction many times in the hearts of the wicked that he should deal in such a way with them that might convince the hardest heart that God is with his people I tell you 't is a great mercy 't is no ordinary mercy admire God in it bless God for it that God should thus reprove men and convince men for your sakes The Jews did look upon it as a great mercy in the 126. Psalm When God turned again our Captivity our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with singing Then said they among the Heathen the Lord hath done great things for them They looked upon it as a great mercy that the Lord should thus convince the Heathen 't is a mercy for they writ it they pen'd it as a great mercy worth the singing worth the glorifying of God for that God should work so powerfully upon the hearts of men and make the Heathen say The Lord hath done great things for them In the last place to conclude all Doth God make enemies confess that he hath done great things for his people why then the people of God should much more confess that the Lord hath done great things for them if enemies say it you may well say it you have more cause to say it that 126. Psalm verse 2. They say among the Heathen the Lord hath done great things for them and what say the people of God will not they say so yes in the very next words The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad shall the Heathen say it and shall not we say it yes we are bound to say it and to acknowledge The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad Remember I beseech you remember God cannot endure his mercies should be slighted he loves that you should have great thoughts of him and of his mercies that you should say he hath done great things When God works deliverance for you he will make the very Heathen to say so he will make by standers to say so and shall not we honour him for the mercy who are the receivers of the mercy shall not we say so The Lord hath donâ— great things for us shall Nebuchadnâ—zzar say The Lord haâ—h donâ— great things for thâ—m and shall not the three children say so yes sure they will lift up the name of God in their song And therefore I beseech you all you that have received mercy from God you should aggravate the mercy as much as you can though not compulsively you should freely say The Loâ—d hath done great things for us you shall find this always hath been the frame of Gods people to aggravate the mercy to aggravate the deliverance that God hath wrought for them See the 40. Psalm and tâ—e 5. verse Many O Lord my God are thy wonderful works which tâ—ou hast done anâ— thy thoughts which are to us ward they cannot bâ— reckoned up in order unto the if I would declare and speak of them they are more then can be numbered See what an aggravation there is of the mercy received they are many and they are wonderâ—ul and very many more then can be numbred they cannot be reckoned up in order and so Ezra when he and the people received mercies see how they do aggâ—avate it how they do acknowledge it in the 9. Chap. verse 13. And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great trespass seeing thou â—ur God hast punished us lâ—ss thâ—n our iniquities deserve and hast given us such deliverance as this should we again break thy Commandmeâ—t He knows not how to speak it Oh 't is a great mercy he stands and wonders at such a deliverance such a mercy and so aggravate all our mercies we should say with Ezra seeing thou hast wrought such deliverance such salvation seeing thou hast wrought in such and such a way this is a great ingagement to God when mercies are thus eyed and reviewed when a man looks into the depth of them and eye the mercies seeing thou hast given such deliverance should we again sin against thee he looks upon it as an ingagement to stand close seeing it was great mercy And Oh so should we in all our mercies as Ezra saith so we should say Seeing thou hast wrought such deliverance for us should we again sin against thee Oh no let thine mercies be an ingagement us to to love thee and serve thee and for ever to cleave to thee THE Sixth Sermon on DAN III. XXV 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 I Have made some further progress in the words We considered who it was that gave testimony unto this miraculous Deliverance that God wrought for his servants It was Nebuchadnezzar a proud and an insolent man an enemy to God and his people and so he continues still in his heart for 't is probable he was not converted not really brought home to God for in the next Chapter you may sâ—e he did return to his very old ways of Idolatry he sent for the Magicians to interpret his dream and yet God makes him here bear witness what he hath done for his people So then we observed this Proposition That God sometimes works such deliverances for his people as he makes his very enemies and their very enemies to acknowledge that God hath done great things for them It was â—aid among the Heathen in the 126. Psalm Whâ—n God turned again the Captivity of Sion They saâ—d amongst the Heathen the Lord hath done great things for them The Lord Jesus many times did
to the glorious Fathers and Because he pâ—ured out his soul as an offring for sin his Father gave him a portion with the great and mighty so that the number of Beleevers were increased and not diminished by this mischievous device against â—im The Primitive Churches persecution that was raised in Jerusalem it did help to the increase of the Gospel and number of Believers The Apostles and Brethren were scattered in the eighth of the Acts so they carryed the word up and down and by their means many were brought in to God Samaria a great City many in it were converted They with one accord gave heed to what Philip spake and there was great joy in that City I shewed you out of Ecclesiastical story that all the persecutions those bloody persecutions the Church meâ— with did not diminish but did increase the number of Believers The Lord delights to walk contrary to wicked men to cross the corrupt imaginations of the men of the world In those things wherein their deal proudly he will be above them he will let them know that his thoughts are above thy thoughts and his ways above thâ—ir wayâ— When they say concerning Sion Let her be defiled and let our eyes â—ook upoâ— her let us see her desolation They know noâ— the thoughts of the Lord nor understand his Counsel for the event shall be quite contrary their expectations The Lord Jesus is a great King and therefore it shall be so All power is given into his hand in Heaven and in Earth and he will order all for the advancement of his own Kingdom all is his and he hath given all to the Saints All is yours all shall do them good all shall further and increase their graces and the increase of his Kindom There is none can hinder the Lord from pouring out of his spirit there is none can hinder the Spirit from working and therfore all opposition cannot hinder the increase of Believers The wind blows where it lists and so the Spirit of the Lord breaths where it it pleaseth Man may as well stop the Sun in the Firmament or hinder the Sun from shining and the winde from blowing as the Spirit of the Lord from working grace he darts in beams of light beams of conviction to the hearts of Creatures and his work is an irresistable work all the powers of Hell and darkness shall not be able to hinder his work Therefore I conclude this Point with an Item to the men of the world To take heed how they seek to oppose the truth of Christ and the people of Christ this is not the way to diminish their number no the Lord he will out reach them in all their designâ— of persecution the hottest peâ—secution shall but increase the â—umber of the Saints they shall but sow the blood of Christ and their ashes the thicker and if one fall to the ground a hundred shall rise up in their stead But I entred into a second Point in which I shall proceed After we considered who this fourth man was Nebâ—chadnezzâ—r saw four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and tâ—ey have no hurt and the form of the foâ—rth is like thâ— Son of God it was indeed the Son of God It was the Angel of the Covenant the Lord Jesus who did assume a body at this time and came down to refresh his Servants in the fire It holds forth this That he would in time come to deliver poor servants from the flame of his Fathers wrath That he would be present with his people in all afflictions in the midst of all their fiery tryals The Proposition then entred into is this That the people of God never enjoy more of the presence of Christ then in their lowest conditions When they are in great afflictions and fiery tryals the Son of God is with them Here you see it in this fiery tryal Israel never saw more of God then when they were in the barren Wilderness Jacob never had such glorious visions as when he was driven from his house and home when he was separated from all creature comforts had not so much as a Bed to ly on nor a Pillow to lay his head upon but layd him down upon a heap of stones then had he those glorious Visions of the Ladder set up to Heaven and of the Angels ascending and descending Stephen never saw such glorious Visions of Jesus Christ but when he was vnder a showre of stones that took away his life He looked up then and he saw the Heavens opened and the Son of God at the right hand of the Father ready to recieve him The Apostle John never had so glorious Visions as when he was bâ—nished to the Isle of Paâ—mos then did Christ reveal those glorious Mysteries written in the Book of Revelations concerning the Churches to the end of the world The Primitive Churches enjoyed most of Christ in the times of persecution they enjoyed most of the presence of Christ and most of the mind of Christ most purity and most holiness they had most of the supporting presence of Christ then his left hand is put under to support a poor Creature when it is in a low condition in a sinking condition in an afflicted condition He supports the inward man and he supports the outward man he makes a little strength to go a great way as the Oyl in the widows cruse till such time as he sends deliverance unto his people They have never more of the enlightening presence of the teaching presence of Christ then in such conditions Affliction is Christs School in which he teaches his people many precious Lessons they have never more of the quickening presence of Christ then in such conditions never more of the Sanctifying presence of Christ he is pleased to make use of affliction to knock off that unevenness many times that is upon their Spirits and make them partake â—â— of his own nature They have never more of the comforting presence than in such conditions he brings his people into the Wilderness there he allures them and there he speaks to them then he puts under his left hand to support them and then his right hand embraces them But What are the grounds of the Point Why doth Jesus Christ manifest most of himself to his people in their afflicted conditions The Grounds of the Point First of all he knows that then they have most need of his presence If ever they have need of comfort if ever they have need of strength of teaching quickening guiding 't is then when they are in afflicted and low conditions then is a mercy sweet when 't is in seaâ—on and then 't is seasonable when a poor creature stands in need of it The Lord Jesus knows that they have need of his presence in low conditions First because of the weakness of the flesh And Secondly Because of the strength of temptation 1. Because of the weakness of the flesh He knows his peopâ—es framâ—
evils of their lives 53 3. For the prolonging of their lives amplified in three particulars 54 55 4. For spiritual Mercies 57 Quest When mercies received may be helps to trust God for the future shewed in six particulars 58 Quest How to improve mercies so as to strengthen faith for the future in two particulars 62 Two things premised and two Cautions how to rest on former experiences 63 The fourth Sermon Wherein is shewed who it was that bare witness to this Miracle viz. Nebuchadnezar And a Question propounded whether he was hereby truly converted Arguments for the Affirmative given by some p. 73. And determined in the Negative 74 Doct. 2. That it is not in the power of greatest Miracles to convert a soul to God unless the spirit of Christ step in 75 This is cleered by Scripture-examples ibid. By Scripture testimony 76 And by experiences in our own times 78 First Ground of the Point To put the greater glory on the word 80 2. From the desperate hardness of mans heart 81 Use 1. Take notice what a Miracle of iniquity there is in mans nature 82 Use 2. What a Miracle it is that any soul is converted 83 A three-fold Miracle is shewed in the conversion of every sinner Of Wisedom Of Power Of Mercy 84 Use 3. Bless God for his word and look to it more then to Miracles 87 The fift Sermon Doct. 3. God many times makes his peoples enemies to acknowledg and confess that the Lord is with them and that he hath dealt graciously with them 92 The Point cleared by five Demonstrations 1. Christ put up a petition to his father for it 94 2. Christ hath promised it to his people 95 3. God hath put a power into his Word to convince enemies though it convert them not 96 4. God makes enemies oft to be the eye and ear witnesses of his peoples mercies and Agents therein 97 5. God works for his people in such away that enemies are forced to acknowledg the same so freely unexpectedly suddenly solitarily 98 Two Reasons why God will make enemies to acknowledg this truth 101 Use 1. A ground of Patience and encouragement to the Saints in tribulation 103 Use 2. Let not wicked men look with delight on the miseries of the Saints 104 Use 3. Let the people of God acknowledg this as a very great mercy ib. Use 4. Let the people of God much more acknowledg the gracious dealing of God toward them 105 The sixt Sermon Doct. 4. That all the persecutions which the Devil or his Instruments raise against the Saints shall not diminish their number but rather increase them 111 The point evidenced by manifold examples out of the history of the Church in all ages 112 The first Reason God delights to walk contrary unto men 115 2. Reason The Lord Jesus is a mighty King and will improve his power for the Saints ibid. 3. Reason From the impotency of enemies to hinder Christs Kingdom 116 Use 1. To let us see the vanity of all attempts of men against the truth and people of Christ with an item to the Powers of the world concerning it ibid Use 2. To give a ground of patience and comfort to the Saints against opposition of men 119 Doct. 5. That the Lord Jesus Christ is never nigher to his people then when they are in great afflictions in fiery tryals 121 Some instances given to prove it ibid Quest What presence of Christ the Saints may expect in their tryals 121 1. His supporting presence 2. His enlightening and teaching presence 3. His sanctifying presence 4. His quickning presence 5. His comforting presence A warning to the Saints to improve this Doctrine they not knowing what tryals the Lord may ere long bring them into 126 The further handling of this Point is in the eighth Sermon The seventh Sermon Wherein is considered the restraint the Lord layd upon the fire it could not hurt them only loosed their bonds whence note Doct. 6. At the command of the Lord the fiercest of Creatures shall not only not hurt his people but shall take part with them and do them good 130 Two Branches of the Point 1. They shall not hurt them 2. They must do them good both illustrated from Scripture instances 131 132 1. Reason The Creatures are Gods Host they go along with him where he is a friend they are friends 134 2. Reas From the Covenant and League made with the Creatures which hath two Branches 1. To do no hurt 2. To take part and do good 137 3. Reas God hath a special providence over his people 139 4. Reas The Creatures are all reconciled in Jesus Christ 140 Use 1. Take notice of the mighty power of the Lord what a great King he is that hath all Creatures at his command ibid. Use 2. What a shame to man that he should not be at the command of God 141 Vse 3. A strong Motive to those that be strangers to God to come in and submit to him till then they are lyable to be harmed by the Creatures 142 Use 4. It is not in tho Creatures power to do good without God 143 Use 5. Comfort to the people of God and encouragement to their faith 145 The eighth Sermon Wherein the fifth Doctrine is further handled Concerning the presence of the Lord Jesus with his people in afflictions 150 1 Reason The Lord Jesus knows they have most need of his presence then 1. Because of the weakness of the flesh 152 2. Because of the strength of Temptations 154 2. Reason The Lord Jesus remembers his Fathers kindness to him in being near to him in his afflictions 155 3. Reas Christ remembers his engagement to his people 158 1. By promise 2. By a Law of Love written within him 3. By the Law of friendship 4. That he may see to his work he is doing upon his people by afflictions Quest By what way doth Christ communicate so much of himself to his people in affliction 161 c. Answ 1. He raises up his peoples faith to an high pitch 2. He pours upon them the Spirit of Supplication 3. He draws the hearts of his people nigher to him 4. He manifests much of himself by his word which he sends with affliction Objections Answered of such as complain they have found little of Christ in their Afflictions 164. The ninth Sermon Use 1. To shew the unparrallell'd love of Jesus Christ who will never forsake his in afflictions no friend on earth like him 173 Use 2. To draw in those that be strangers to Christ to submit to him and get interest in him that they may have a friend in an evil day 174 Use 3. There is not so much evil in affliction then as men apprehend 176 Two things may make the people of God not to fear afflictions 176 1. Because they shall certainly injoy the presence of Christ in affliction 177 2. The presence of Christ will countervail the bitterness of affliction 180 Use 4. Let
Kâ—ngs for their sakes Touch not mine Anointed and do my Propâ—ets noâ—â—arm you know what command God gave to Laban and what restraint he laid upon Esau concerning Jacob in Gen 31 33. though it was in the heart of Laban to destroy him and though Esâ—u came out with an intention to take away his life the Lord laâ—d a restraint upon them Again Sometimes you shall finde that God Sixtly upon deadly Diseases hath laid a restraint upon deadâ—y Diseases upon violent sicknesses such as would have been destructive to the bodies of his Servants God hath laid a restraint upon them that though vâ—olent Diseases and Dâ—stempers have pulled down his Servants from their strength to great weakness to the grave God hath given command that they should not destroy them And thus God dealt with David and with Hâ—â—zekiah and David doth acknowledge it in the 30. Psalm 3. saith he O Lord thoâ— hast brought up my soul from the nrave thou hast kept me alive that I shoâ—ld got go dâ—wn â—o the pit He was at the very grave and he Lord delivered him and then a remarkable instance you have of Hezekiah at the 38. of I aâ— at the beginning of the Chapter there is the very sentence of death gone out against him and a deadly Disease seizes upon Hâ—zekian he was gone and quite gone by the course of nature he could not have lived and yet the Lord rescues his life as you shall read in that Chapter at the fift verse Again Sometimes you shall finde that God Seventhly upon the Divel hath laid a restraint upon the very Devil himself and hath given him a charge that he should not meddle nor touch the lives of his Servants and thus God dealth with Job as you may see in the second of Iob there the Divel sought after nothing more then the life of Iob fain would he have had his life but God would not grant it in the 6. vers of that Chapter in the 5. verse saith Satan Put forth thy hand now and touch his bone and his flesh and he will curse thee tâ— thy face vers 6. And the Lord Answered Behold he is in thine hand only save his life There is nothing the Divel thirsts more after then the taking away the precious life and therefore he set upon Christ with this temptation If thou beest the Son of God cast thy self down and so the Devil doth set upon many of the poor Servants of God many times with this Temptation Cast thy self down make away thy self and take away thine own life Yet the Lord is pleased to lay a restraint upon him and keep up his people notwithstanding all those stormes and temptations and they are yet in the land of the living and thus you see what care God takes for the lives of his Servants and in what a wonderful manner he doth sometime rescue them from death and destruction But you will say What end hath God in this Wherefore doth God do this First of all and above all in respect of his own Name He respects his own glory in it therefore The first ground of the Point he suffers his people to be brought into such great straits and low conditions as none but God can deliver thence He suffers them to be brought down sometime even to the very dust that it may appear that none can deliver but God that doth raise from the dead and call things that are not as if they were Now Gods name is glorified these 3. ways by such kind of deliverances as these Fâ—rst of all God doth thereby draw forth great praises from his people I say such deliverances How Gods Name is glorified iâ— delivering of his Servants draw forth great praises from his people When God gives great mercies into the hands of his people he is pleased to put high praises into the mouths of his Servants in Ps 149. at the 5. and 6. v. Lâ—t the Saints be â—oyful in glory let them sing aloud upon their beds Let the â—igh praises of God be in their mouth Now my brethren know this That there is nothing on earth that God doth more delight in then in the praise of his people he is pleased to account it as a glory done to him Who so offereth prâ—ise glorifieth me and therefore it is that God is said to dwâ—ll in the praises of his people See that expression in the 22 Psalm it is an expression of Jâ—sus Christ in his Agony 22 3. v. Oh thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel To inhabit the praises of Israel 't is one of the most glorious Titles that is given to God O thou that inhabitâ—st the praises of Israel The Lord delights more in the praises of Israel then in all the world beside He delights there more then in Heaven if it were not for the presence of his Son therefore it is one of the dwellings of God the praises of his people Great Princes and Nobles have their several Palaces so hath God sometime they leave the City and go into the Country and places of Recreation Why thy Lord he is said sometime to come down among his people and he is pleased to dwell there that he may refresh himself in the praises of his people 'T is a house that God doth delight to dwell in for ever and for ever when Faith shall cease and Prayers shall cease the Praises of the Saints the Halelujahs shall never cease but the Saints shall compass the Throne round about with their Praises with their Songs with their Hallelujahs and there shall God delight to dwell there shall God delight to inhabit for ever and therefore because that God doth thus delight in the praises of his people he works great deliverances that so he may greatly draw forth the praises of his people that their hearts may be abundantly inlarged to him He will work such deliverances as there shall be a great deal of God in them that so their hearts may be greatly drawn forth in praises to God 2. Again God gets himself the glory in the second place by confuting the blasphemies of the enemies and therefore 't is that God doth carry on such works of deliverance that he may stop the mouth of enemies and confute all their blasphemies When God brings his people into a low condition many times enemies they rise high in their blasphemies against God and his people sometimes they cry out where is now thy God and sometimes they condemn the generation of the righteous and judge rashly as those in Act. 28. did of Paul when they saw the Viper on his hand they said among themselves No doubt this man is a murderer whom though he hath escaped the Sea yet vengeance suffereth him not to live Now God many times he works great deliverance that he may confute the enemies of the Saints that they shall see if they will not willfully blinde their eyes they shall see that God was in the generation of
the flames should devour them all and â—o their number is increased since they began to suffer there were but three cast in and now there are four Again these four men were loose And there is another Miracle they were cast in bound with their Cords and Chains and Fetters but what ever they were they were dissolved See hear God makes the very fire to fight for them to loose them to set them at liberty from death Again they were walking in the midst of the fire there is another Miracle The Adversaries thought it should have been a place of torment to them but lo it proves to them a place of pleasure 't is to them a sweet walking place They walk together and confer together and praise the Lord together and that 's another Wonder Again To walk in the fire that the fire should be fire and should not burn them it was still fire the fire was not put out as some imagine but the fire did remain fire so the Text saith they were in the midst of the fire and the fire remained fire and the fire did consume their bonds they fell down in the midst of the fire and their bonds were burned by the fire that the fire should continue fire and that the Lord should suspend the burning act of it that it should not burn them here was another Wonder Again they had no hurt the flames consumed their Adversaries and there was not so much as the smell of burning upon their clothes besides the Son of God was among them there were four and the form of the fourth was like the Son of God It was the Son of God Christ took a body he made himself a body when he pleased He came down to walk with them to refresh them to deliver them Here was held forth what Christ would be to his people that he would deliver them that he should come to do his Fathers work here was the promise fulfilled that Christ would be with his people in every fiery tryal in every affliction and in every Tribulation The Son of God he came down and he makes a fellow sufferer in all their affliction so he makes good his promise to his people that if they goe through the fire and water he will be with them The Point insisted upon is this That God doth oftentimes in a wonderful manner rescue the lives of his Servants from death and destruction The observation insisted upon ¶ He lays a restraint sometimes upon the waves of the Sea they shall not take away the lives of his people You know Israel went through the red Sea and the Lord did lay a restraint upon the fire somtime So in the Text and somtime the Lord did lay a restraint upon the fishes of the Sea so in the case of Jonah and somtime the Lord did lay a restraint upon the devouring beasts the Lions their mouths were shut up they could not eat the flesh that was set before them when Daniel was cast into their Den He laid a restraint upon violent men in the world He laid a restraint upon violent sicknesses and diseases David was delivered and so was Hezâ—kiah when the sentence of death was gone out He laid a restraint upon the very Divâ—l himself Behold he is given into thy hand only save his life and God he doth this of his own accord to be lift up to be the praise of his people and that it may unanswerably confute the blasphemies of enemies he delights in the praises of his people Oh thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel God comes many times out of Heaven to refresh himself with the praises of his people He delights to dwell there it is the House that God will take up into all eternity the Saints shall compass the Throne with Hallelujâ—hs and there shall God be praised Again God he will give great matter of rejoycing to his people and therefore he works great Deliverance many times though they cannot whilest they are here on earth They cannot enter into their Masters joy yet their Masters joy enters into them When the Lord turned again our Captivity then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with rejoycing I come to the Application of the Point Is it so that God doth in a wonderful manner rescue the lives of his Servants The Application of the Point from death and destruction It let us see First of all That the lives of the Saints are precious Use 1 in the eyes of God they are Jewels that God will not easily part with that he might have great Incomes of glory He will not part with them See what is said in Psal 116. v. 15. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints not that God delights in the death of his Saints he means their lives are precious and therefore their life shall not be taken from them but upon good ground they are very precious in his sight the Lord knows that he hath the greatest Income of glory that way yea all the glory that God hath in this visible world is by the lives of his Saints if it were not for them God should have none to lift up his name in the world he should have none to make his name glorious here he should have none to pay him rent for all his great Farm the world now that would be a great loss if God should loose all his Rent in the world the men of the world they pay God no Rent they bring nothing to God that God can accept they deal with God as those Husbandmen did in the Gospel instead of paying Rent they fall upon his Servants and beat them when God sends and demands his Rent and Glory from them they seize upon the Inhabitants as their own and seize upon all as their own so that if God should not have a portion from his people that do from day to day bring in his Rent of Glory he should loose all his glory in this visible world and therefore it is that the Saints they have made this as an Argument when they have been in low conditions when they have pleaded with God for their lives they can tell God of the glory he shall have thereby So Hezekiah when he was sick unto death in Isa 38. v. 18 19. For the grave cannot praise thee death cannot celebrate thee c. as much as to say Oh Lord if thou takest me away how wilt thou do for thy Rent of glory in the world Thou hast Thousands of Thousands of Saints in Heaven to lift thee up but there are but a few a very few to lift thee up in the world this visible world and if thou takest away my life and I go down to the dust that dust cannot praise thee though I shal praise thee among the Saints and Angels yet I shall not praise thee here in the land of the living nor shall I lift thee up here in the midst of the
that time when he was driven from his fathers House when he was forced to fly to save his life he was in a sad conditihn he had not a bed to lye on he had not a pillow to lay his head upon but took a heap of stones to lay his head upon and yet in that condition did God come and manifest himself most gloriously to him he dreamed a Dream and saw a Vision of the Ladder set up to Heaven and of the Angel Ascending and Descending God was there in a special manner so he saith The Lord was there and he was not aware never did he enjoy more of God then in that condition Stephen the first Martyr never enjoyed more of God he never enjoyed more glorious Visions of Jesus Christ then when he looked through a showr of stones that came about his ears and took away his life he saw the arme of the Lord Jesus ready to receive him to embrace him in the everlasting armes of his love he had heard much of Christ in his everlasting Gospel but he never saw him before with his eye John the Evangelist there is another instance if you look into the first Chapter of the Revelation of John about the 9. vers you shall see there where he was and in what condition he was in when he received those gloriouâ— Revelations he said he was banisht into the Isle of Patmos for bearing witness to the Name of Christ and the truth of Christ he was a Martyr and fellow sufferer and when he was banished from all friends and comforts and left naked and destitute of all comforts the Lord Jesus doth draw nigh and doth reveal the most glorious Mysteries concerning his Churches to John The primitive Churches never enjoyed more of God then at that time when they were most persecuted by men in the times of those 10. bloody pâ—rsecution the Churches had abundance of the presence of Christ abundance of the Spirit of Christ and abundance of the grace of Christ abundance of holy zeal and abundance of activity for God it was poured out upon them the Lord Jesus never took so much delight to walk among them as when they were in the midst of the fiery persecution What presence of Christ the people of God enjoy in pâ—rsecution Quest If you ask me But what presence of Christ is it that the people of God do enjoy in their great afflictions and in the midst of their fiery tryals Answ 1. First of all they have most of the supporting presence of Christ never more of the supporting presence of Christ then in sad conditions he supports the inward man and he supports the outward man he upholds the spirits of his people in sad conditions and he makes their spirits able to bear their infirmity Now here is a wonderful work of the Lord that he should strengthen the spirit of a poor creature with such mighty power as to resist and to keep out the violence of such mighty tryals such great afflictions There is nothing that the Devil seeks more then to drive affliction home to the spirit that so he might crush the spirit and conquer the spirit when he can get in and ceaze upon the spirit then he becomes master and creats a deal of smâ—rt and vexation Now the power of the Lord Jesus is seen in that he doth support and strengthen the spirits of his people that when they have but a little strength no strength and yet are able to hold out notwithstanding they are so strongly besieged and so straitly girt many times round about with afflictions yet he makes that little strength to hold out at that time that so he is pleased to renew their strength to give fresh supplies and to remove the disease and so the power of Christ is seen in supporting the outward man many times in the midst of great afflictions when the Saints meet with great afflictions afflictions of the body crosses such afflictions as might even overwhelm the outward man and they have but little strength many times yet the Lord doth so blesse that little strength that though they meet with crosses that little strength shall not fail till such time as the Lord do bring deliverance to them Secondly As they have the supporting presence of Christ in the affliction so they have the inlightening presence of Christ and that 's a great mercy commonly the Lord never teaches his people more then in affliction when Christ gets them into the School of affliction then he instructs them there he doth open mens ears and he doth seal up mens instruction to them when Christ draws nigh in affliction I know afflictions in themselves cannot teach but when Christ draws nigh they learn a great deal in affliction they never see more of God and of themselves never more of their corruptions and vileness that is within them never see more of the power and way of God and the mysteries of Christ at that time when Jesus Christ draws nigh with his enlightening presence Thirdly Jesus Christ draws nigh with his sanctifying presence his people have more of his sanctifying presence in their greatest tryals when Christ draws nigh to sanctifie their afflictions to subdue their corruptions and to strengthen their graces the fruit of their affliction shall be to purge them from sin afflictions themselves cannot do it afflictions themselves harden but when the Lord Jesus Christ draws nigh in affliction the Saints do enjoy abundance of the sanctifying presence and through their afflictions they are made partakers of the Divine Nature their corruptions are subdued and mortified Again fourthly They never injoy more of the quickening presence of Christ then in affliction I say the quickening presence of Christ many times dead hearts how are they raised up when Christ draws nigh to them how are they elevated above themselves and their own strength because they are mightily acted by the Spirit of Christ in the fifth of Hosea you may see there how God doth promise his quickening presence in the time of their affliction Hosea 5 last verse I will go and return to my place till they acknowledge their offence and seek my face in their afflictions they will seek me early They were dead-hearted people and they had lost all activity for God they were not carryed out with desire after God they would not stir up themselves to take hold of him Well says God I will make them prize me I will fling them into affliction and then in their affliction I will draw nigh to them with my quickening presence and in their afflictions they will seek me early Again fiftly and lastly The Saints never injoy more of the comftoring presence of Christ then they do in the time of their great affliction in the 2. of the Song of Solomon vers 6. what says the Spouse there in her greatest afflictions His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth embrace me As Christ doth support in
the people of Christ expect the presence of Christ in their afflictions 183 Object But we have no promise of it now as the Saints had formerly 84. Answ 1. Though God speaks not now from Heaven yet we have a larger word written 2. We have the spirit given more abundantly then at that time to particularize the Promises to us Where is shewed how we may know it is the Spirit that brings the Promises to us 185 186 Object But sure Christ is not with one in affliction Why is it so and so with me then Answered in three particulars Use 5. To teach the people of God thankfulness 1. Because God leaves them not alone in their low conditions 2. Because he affords them his presence therein 187 Objections of such as say they finde not Christs presence with them in afflictions answered and directions given in such a case 190 c. THE First Sermon On DAN III. XXV 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 School of Discipline which God trains up his Children in teemeth to have very severe Staâ—utes and strict Orders that are not joyous to the flesh but they are exceeding profitable for the Spirit there is no School in the world in which there is more to be learned the Lord Jesus himself is the head Master in this School who learned obedience perfectly by the things that he sufferd and so he knew how to teach his School â—s I may say the Lord Jesus will teach his Scholars all kind of weapons that they may be fit for all assaults he will make them good at any exercise before he leave them In the 11. of Hebrews you have a Role of the several exercises they were put upon beginning at the 36. verse Others had tryals of cruâ—l mockings and scourâ—ings yea moreover of bonds and imprisonments thâ—y were stoned they wâ—re sawn asunder were tempted were slain with the sword they wandred about in sheeps skins and goats skins being destitute afflâ—cted tormented and he teaches them how to conquer all these The Apostle here doth speak of these as Conquerors through faith in the verses foregoing see what gloâ—ious Conquests they had In the 33 34. verses Who through faith subdued Kingdomes wrought Rigâ—teousness obâ—ained promises stopped the mouths of Lyons quenchâ—d the violence of fire escaped the â—dge of the sword out of weakness were made strong wâ—xed valiant in fight turned to flight the Armies of the Aliâ—ns Here are glorious victories that the Saints had through faith over all the evil that they met with in the world you have an instance of this in the Text. In the Chapter where the Text is you shall read there of three Schollars of Jesus Chrisâ— â—hat were put to hard exeâ—cises they were put to it to grapple with he flames of fire and they had all manner of disadvantage and yet they went on Coâ—querors they had to deal with the wrath of the King He was exceeding wrath and his countâ—â—â—â—câ— câ—â—nged Tâ—ey had to deal with the flames of fâ—re and flames tâ—at were made seven times hotter than ordinary So the King gave commandmâ—nt as you read in the 19. verse thâ—t they should heat the Furnace seven times hotter than ordinary Again they wâ—re bound hand and foot for so the King gave commandment in the 20 21 vers And they took them and bound them and cast them bound into the Furnace yet the Lord he made his servants Conquerors notwithstanding all their disadvantages You have in the Text the confession of the very enemies themselves tâ—e King said Did I not cast three men bâ—â—â—nd into the Furnace and Lo I see your men walking I see four men walking in the midâ—â— of the fire and they have no hurt So then in the Text you have witness given by the mouth of an enemy unto that great deliverance that God wrought for his three Servants Lo said the King himself I see four men loose c. where take notice of the several wonderful things that God wrought for these three children See how many wonders there were in this deliverance of theirs First of all there was this wonder That the The first Wonder iâ— the delivering of the three Children light of the fire continued and not the heat â—iz so as to work upon them this seems to be a great Miracle that light and heat should be seperated from the fire there was light the King saw them walking in the midst of the fire and yet that fire did not burn I say this could not be done without a great Miracle 'T is true they shall be separated in Hell light shall be separated from the flames of Hell When God will shew and testifie the greatness the fierceness of his wrath upon the disobedient there will be heat but no light â— flames there shall be burning and yet there shall be nothing but utter darkness Now when God will shew a Miracle of Mercy to his Servants here upon earth God so disposeth and orders it that there shall be light and no heat Secondly There was this Miracle that their number was not diminished but increased Lo I The Second Miracle see four men saith the King Did we not cast in three and lo I see four They had thought to cut off at once all that were disobedient to the sinful command of the King they had thought that the flames would have consumed them all three that there should not have been one left behoâ—d their number is increased since they begun to suffer their number is increased they have a fellow Martyr a fellow sufferer that is in the midst of them Again Thirdly Here was this Wonder this Miracle That the fire did burn their bones asunder â—he Third Miraâ—le but did not burt them I see four men loose say's the King â—id we not cast three men bound into the furnace and lo I see four men loose And what a wonderful work of God was this that the flames that were prepared to devour them should help them that the flames should burn their bonds and not hurt them Again Fourthly Here was yet another Miracle The Fourth Mirâ—cle that these men were seen walking in the midst of the fire The fire was prepared to be a Torment to them but the Lord made it a sweet walking fire that which was pretended to torment them it becomes a blessing to them they were walking each with other and lifting up the Name of the Lord â—n the midst of the fire Fiftly Here was this Miracle That the fire should remain fire and yet it should not burn tâ—em The Fifth Miracle I fee four men loose walking in the midst of the fire say's the King So that the fire was still fire it was not quenched some conceive that the Angel did quench the heat of the fire with some sweet dew or