benefits which flow 1 Cor. 6. 17. from Christ but to the Person of Christ to Christ himself all the powers on Earth and all the powers in John 1. 16. Rom. 8. 32. 1 Cor. 3. 21 22 23. Hell can never separate Christ from the Believer nor the Believer from Christ when all other unions are dissolved this union holds good I readily grant that the sense and apprehension of this union may in this life be much interrupted and many times greatly darkned but the substance of the union still remains And I readily grant that a Believer may be much assaulted and tempted to doubt of his union with Christ and to question his union with Christ and yet nevertheless a Believers union with Christ continues and abides for ever And I readily grant that the influences of it for some time may be suspended but yet the union it self is not nay cannot be dissolved As it was in the Hypostatical union for a time there was a suspending of the comforting influences of the Divine nature in the humane in so much that our Saviour cried out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Yet for all this the union between the two natures was not Matth. 27. 46. in the least abolished so here in the Mystical union the sensible effects comforts and benefits of our union with Christ may sometimes be kept in and not appear but yet the union it self abides and shall abide firm and inviolable for ever 't is an inseparable and insuperable union Look as no power on earth is sufficient to over-power the Spirit of Christ which on Christs part makes John 10. 27. 31. 1 John 4. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 5. Luke 22. 31 32. the union so no power on earth shall be able to conquer Faith which on our part also makes the union Satan and the world may make attempts upon this union but they will never be able to break this union to dissolve this union yea though death be the bane of all natural unions yet death can never be the bane of this Mystical union though death puts a period to all other unions yet death can never put a period to this union when the Believer is in his grave his union with Christ holds good But Fifteenthly If God be with us who can be against us I answer None so as to deprive us of our crowns there is no power nor policy on Earth or in hell that can deprive a Christian First Of his crown of righteousness 2 Tim. 4. 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing 'T is a Metaphor say several from the Estius Scultetus c. custom in war who used to crown the Conquerors with honour c. It is a similitude taken from fighters or Combatants who for a prize received a Crown when they had contended lawfully The reward of Eternal life here is called a Crown of righteousness 1. Because 't is purchased for us by the righteousness of Christ by his perfect and compleat righteousness obedience dear Jesus hath merited this for us and so in Christ it is due to us by way of merit though in respect of us 't is of meer grace of rich grace of soveraign grace of infinite grace of glorious grace 2. Because he is righteous that hath promised Rev. 2. 10. Rev. 3. 21. 1 John 2. 25. 2 Thess 1. 5 6 7 10. this Crown Though every promise that God makes is of free and rich grace yet when once they are made the truth and justice of God obligeth him to keep touch with his People for as he cannot deny himself so he cannot do any thing unworthy of himself Men say and unsay they promise one thing and mean another men many times eat their words as soon as they have spoke them but thus God can never thus God will never do God can never â—epent of his promises he can never waver he can never go back from his word God is not a man that he should lie neither the Son of man that he should repent Hath he said Num. 23. 19. and shall he not do it or hath he spoken and shall he not make it good All the promises that refer to this life and a better are sure firm Faithful unchangeable immutable All the promises are the word of a God and given upon the honour of a God that they shall be made good O my Friends the all-sufficiency of God the Promissa haec tua sunt Demiâ—e saith Austin quis falli timet cum promittit ipsâ— veriâ—as omniscience of God the omnipotency of God the loving kindness and faithfulness of God yea and the Oath of God may fully yea abundantly satisfie us and socure us that God will certainly make good all his precious promises to us We commonly say when an honest man passeth his word for a little money O it is as sure as if it were in our purse but Gods word of promise is abundantly more sure for as his Nature is Eternal so his word of promise is unchangeable the promises are a firm foundation Hab. 2. 3. Jeâ— 32. 41. Psalm 89. 3â— to build our hopes and happiness upon they are an Anchor both sure and stâ—dfast Memorable is that saying of David Psalm 138. 2. For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy Name Which words are to be understood as David Kiâ—hi saith Hysteron proteron that thou hast by thy word that is by performing thy word and promises magnified thy Name above all things 3. Because it is a just and righteous thing with God to crown them with glory at last who have been crowned with shame reproach and dishonour for his Name and interest in this world so that Eternal life is a Crown of righteousness ex parte Dei God hath promised it to such as overcome and ex parte rei 't is just with God to give unto his suffering Servants rest and peace 4. Because it is given only to righteous men all that wear this crown come to it in a way of righteousness a righteous Crown cannot be had but in the use of righteous means The Chaldean the Persian the Grecian and the Roman Princes commonly gained their Crowns by fraud flattery policy blood c. so that their Crowns were bloody Crowns and not righteous Crowns 5. and lastly The Apostle calls it a Crown of righteousness which the righteous Judge shall give him the more fitly to follow the Metaphor taken from Runners and Wrestlers for prizes at their solemn eâ—â—ercises or games in Greece in which there were certain Judges appointed to observe those that proved masters and give just Sentence on the Conquerors side if he strove lawfully and fairly won the prize Now this Crown is laid up the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 importes
out of the hand of the terrible God engages himself to protect him against all the might malice of his most terrible enemies and though he should fall into their hands yet he would deliver him out of their hands Psalm 33. 3. They have consulted against thy hidden ones The Saints are 1. Hid in Gods decree 2. Hid in Christs wounds 3. Hid in the chambers of Divine providence 4. Hid in common dangers as Noah was hid in his Ark and as Lot was hid in Zoar Isa 26. 20. and as Daniel was hid in the Lyons den and as the three Children were hid in the fiery Furnace and as Jonah was hid in the Whales belly 5. Hid with Christ in God in Colos 3. 3. times of greatest trouble the Saints are hid under the hollow of Gods hand under the shadow of Gods wing Psalm 27. 5. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in Psal 91. 1 4. his Pavilion The Hebrew Succoh is written with a little Samech to shew say some that a little pavilion or cottage where God is shall be sufficient to save-guard the Saints in the day of adversity He shall hide me in his hut as a Shepherd doth his sheep in a stormy day In the secret of his Tabernacle shall he hide me I shall be as safe as if I were shut up in his holy Ark Tabernacle or Temple whither they use to flee for shelter to the horns of the Altar yea as if a man were hid in the most holy Place where none might enter but only the High-Priest once a year which is therefore called Gods secret place A Ezeck 7. 22. Shepherd should not be more careful to shelter his sheep in a Tent or Tabernacle from the heat of the Sun nor a King should not be more ready to protect a Favorite in his pavilion whence none durst venture to take him than God would be careful and ready to shroud and shelter his People from the rage madness and malice of their enemies How did God hide his Church in Aegypt Exod. 3. 2 3. the Bush was still burning and yet was not consumed and how did he hide seven thousand in Eliah's 1 Kings 19. 18. time that had not bowed their knees to Baal Though the Woman the Church be driven to flee into the wilderness Rev. 12. 6. yet there she is hid and there she had a place prepared of God that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and three-score dayes Let our Enemies do their worst they shall not hinder us of Divine protection no power nor policy can hinder our being preserved and secured by God in the greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers that can attend us But Fourteenthly If God be with us who can be against us I answer None so as to deprive us of our union with Christ as to dissolve that blessed union that is between Joh. 15. 1 2 3 4 5. Christ and our souls When Men and Divels have done their worst our Mariage union with Christ holds good this union is indissoluble this union between Christ Believers is not capable of any separation they are so one that all the violence of the world nor all the power of darkness can never be able to make them two again Hence the Apostle's triumphant challenge Who shall separate us from the love of Christ If the question Rom. 8. 35. did not imply a strong Negation the Apostle himself doth give us a negation in words at length Neither death Verse 38 39. nor life nor Angels nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor heigth nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us c. Here you have a long Catalogue consisting of a large induction of various particulars But none of all these can dissolve the union between Christ and Believers None can untie that knot that is tied by the Spirit on Christs part and by Faith on ours Christ and Believers are so firmly joyned together that all the powers on earth and all the united strength of Hell shall never be able to put them asunder or to separate them one from another look as no distance of place can hinder this union so no force or violence from Devils or Men shall ever be able to dissolve this union and herein lies the peculiar transcendent blessedness of this union above all other unions they all may cease be broken and come to nothing every one of them is soluble The head may be separated from the members and the members from the head the Husband must be separated from the Wife and the Wife from the Husband the Parents must be separated from the Children and the Children from the Parents and bosom friends must be separated one from another The foundation and the house may be separated and the branches may be cut off from the vine yea the soul and body may be disunited by death but the mystical union stands fast for ever Christ and a gracious soul can Matth. 19. 6. never be separated God hath joyned them together and no mortal shall ever be able to put them asunder there is not only a continuation of it all our life but also in death it self Our very bodies sleeping in the dust are even then in union with Christ There are two abiding things in the Saints their unction and their union their unction abides But the anointing 1 John 2. 27. which ye have received of him abideth in you and their union abides for it follows and ye shall abide in him Christ earnestly prayes that we might be one as he John 17. 20 21 22 23. and his Father are one not essentially nor personally but spiritually so as no other Creature is united to Christ There can be no Divorce between Christ and Malach. 2. 19. the believing Soul Christ hates putting away Sin may for a time seemingly separate between Christ and the Believer but it can never finally separate between Christ and the Believer Look as it is impossible for the leaven that is in the dough to be separated from the dough after it is once mixed for it turneth the nature of the dough into it self so it is impossible for the Saints ever to be separated from Christ for Christ is in the Saints as Rom. 8. 10. Coloss 1. 27. 1 John 3. 21. John 17. 23. nearly and as really as the leaven is in the dough Christ and Believers are so incorporated as if Christ and they were one lump Our nature is now joyned to God by the indissolvible tye of the Hypostatical union in the second Person and we in our persons are joyned to God by the mystical indissolvible bond of the Spirit the third Person Our union with the Lord Jesus is so near so close and so glorious that it makes us one spirit with him In this blessed union the Saints are not only joyned to the graces and
17 18 19. Cap. 37. 15. ult Dan. 3. 23 24 25. Cap. 6. 22 23. in prison Jeremiah was in Covenant with God and God kept him company in the Dungeon The three Children or rather Champions were in Covenant with God and God was signally present with them in the fiery Furnace Daniel was in Covenant with God and God was wonderfully with him in the Lions Den. Job was in Covenant with God and God was with him in six troubles and in seven David was in Covenant Job 3. 18 19. Psal 89. 33 â—4 Psal 23. 4. with God and God was with him in the valley of the shadow of death Take not up in a name to live nor in a form of godliness nor in common convictions nor in an outward reformation take up in nothing below a Covenant-relation as you would enjoy the precious presence Deâ—t 26. 17 18 19. of the Lord with you in your greatest troubles and deepest distresses if you chuse him for your God you shall then assuredly find him to be your God if he be the God of our love and fear he will be the God of our comfort and safety if God be your God in Covenant then in distress the cities of refuge are open to you he will stick close to you he will never leave you nor forsake you you have a Father to go to a God to flee Heb. 13. 5 6 7. to a God that will take care of you Come my People enter thâ—u into thy Chambers and shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpast Here are Chambers withdrawing rooms provided not open Chambers but with doors and doors shut round about intimating that guard of protection which the People of God shall find from him even in a common inundation But Secondly if you would enjoy the gracious presence of God with you in your greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers then look to the practical 2 Chron. 15. 2. part of holyness keep up the power of godlyness in your hearts and lives Joh. 14. 21. He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him Ver. 23. If a man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him He that frames his heart and life according This is evident throughout the whole Boâ—k of the Prophet Eâ—ekiâ—l See Cap. 2. 4. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. to Christs rule shall be sure of Christs presence Ezekiel was a man that kept up the power of holyness and godliness in his heart and life And O the glorious visions and deep mysteries and rare discoveries of God and of his presence and of the great things that should be brought about in the latter days that was discovered to him Daniel kept up the power of holyness and godliness in his heart and life And O what secrets and mysteries did God reveal to him Many of those great and glorious things which concerns the destruction of the four last Monarchies and the growth increase exaltation flourishing durable invincible and unconquerable estate of his own Kingdom was discovered to him Paul was a person that kept up the power of holyness and godliness in his heart and life And O what a mighty presence of God had he with him in all his doing suffering and witnessing work And O what glorious revelations and discoveries of God had he when he was caught up into the third Heaven into Paradise heard unspeakable words or wordless words such as words were to weak to utter Such as was not possible for man to utter and that either because they transcended mans capacity in this life or else because the Apostle was forbid to utter them they being revealed to him not for the publick use of the Church but only for his particular encouragment that he might be the better able to encounter with all hardships difficulties dangers and deaths that did or might attend him in his Ministerial 3 Cor. 1. 7 8 9 10 work Some of the Ancients are of opinion that he saw Gods essence for say they other things in Heaven might have been uttered but the essence of God is so great and so glorious a thing that no man or Angel can utter it But here I must crave lieve to enter my dissent from these learned men for the Scripture is express in this That no man hath thus ever seen the Lord at any time that no man Joh. 1. 18. 1 Tim. 6. 16. 1 Joh. 4. 12. Exod. 33. 20 21 22 23. can thus see the Lord and live And as great a Favourite of Heaven as Moses was yet he could only see the back parts of God he could only behold some lower represâ—ntations of God Some say that he heard the Heavenly singing of Angels and blessed Spirits which was so sweet so excellent and glorious that no mortal man was able to utter it and this of the two is most probable But no man is bound to make this opinion an Article of his Faith This I think we may safely conclude that in this rapture besides the contemplation of Celestial mysteries he felt such unspeakable delight and pleasure that was either like to that or exceeded that which Adam took in the Terrestrial Paradise Doubtless the Apostle did see and hear such excellent things as was impossible for the tongue of any mortal man to express or utter John was a burning and a shining Light both in John 5. 35. life and doctrine he was a man that kept up in his heart and life the power of holyness and godliness and Christ reveales to him the general estate of his Church and all that should besal his People and that from John's time unto his second coming Christ gives John a true representation of all the troubles tryals changes mercies and glories that in all times and in all ages and places should attend his Church until he came in all his glory About sixty years after Christs Ascension Christ comes to John and opens his heart and unbosomes his soul 'T is the general opinion of the learned that this Book of the Revelation was penned about the latter end of the reign of Domiâ—ian the Emperour which was about sixty years after Christs Ascension and makes known to him all that care that love that tenderness that kindness and that sweetness that he would exercise towards his Church from that very time to the end of the world Christ tells John that though he had been absent and seemingly silent for about threescore years that yet he was not so taken up with the delights contents and glory of Heaven as that he did not care what became of his Church on earth O no! and therefore he opens his choicest secrets and
Rehoboam the Son of Solomon when Rehoboam was young and tender-hearted and could not withstand them Rehoboam was no warriour he was no expert Prince in the use of 2 Chron. 12. 13. He was one and forty years old when he came to the Crown Arms he was but young not in age but in experience policy and valour he was hen-hearted he had no courage no mettle Jeroboam takes hold of these advantages and gathers eigth hundred thousand Racha's brainless fellows light and empty yoakless and masterless persons men of no piety civility ingenuity or common honesty Now see what a mighty spirit of Faith God raised in the children of Judah verse 17. And Abijah and his People slew them with a great slaughter so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men A monstrous and matchless slaughter the greatest number that ever we read slain in any battle far beyond that of Tamerlan when he took Bajazet or Aetius the Roman Prefect when he fought with Attilas and his Hunnes in the Fields of Catalaunia where were slain on both sides one hundred sixty five thousand Verse 18. Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time and the children of Judah prevailed because they relied upon the Lord God of their Fathers Faith at a dead lift never miscarrieth God never has nor never will fail those that place their confidence upon him in their greatest dangers Esher 4. 14. For if thou altogether hold thy peace at this time then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place but thou and thy Fathers house shall be destroyed and who knoweth whether thou art come to the Kingdom for such a time as this Their great trouble their deep distress and their most deadly danger you have in that 3. Esther 13. And the Letters were sent by the posts into all the Kings provinces to destroy to kill Here are great aggravations of his cruelty in that neither sex not age are spared Rage and mallce knows no boâ—nds and to cause to perish all Jews both young and old little children and women in one day even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth which is the moneth Adar and to take the spoil of them for a prey Haman that grard Informer with his wicked crew would have spoiled them of their lives and goods but that they were prevented by a miraculous providence as you know now in this deep distress and most deadly danger at what a rate doth Mordecai believe For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time then shall there enlargement Heb. respiration and deliverance arise Heb. Stand up as on its basis or bottom so as none shall be able to withstand it This Mordecai speaketh not by a spirit of prophecy but by the power and force of his faith grounded upon the precious promises of Gods defending his Church hearing the crics of his People arising for their relief and succour and grounded upon all the glorious attributes of God viz. his power love wisdom goodness and allsufficiency c. all which are engaged in the Covenant of grace to save protect and secure his People in their greatest troubles and most deadly dangers Mordecai's faith in this black dark dismal day was a notable faith indeâ—d and worthy of highest commendation Faith can look through the perspective of the promises and see deliverance at a great distance salvation at the door what though sense saith Deliverance will not come and what though reason saith Deliverance cannot come yet a raised faith gets above all fears and disputes and sayes Deliverance will certainly come Redemption is at hand Num. 13. 30. And Caleb stilled the People before Moses and said let us go up at once and passess it for we are well able to overcome it Cap. 14. 9. Only rebel not ye against the Lord neither fear ye the people of the Land for Num. 13. 32 33. they are bread for us their defence is departed from them and the Lord is with us fear them not The Spies by their lyes did what they could to daunt and discourage the People by crying up the strength of the Anakims and â—um 13. 23. to the 28. the impossibility of the conquest these hollow-hearted hypocritical Spies blow hot and cold almost in a breath First they make a narrative of the fruitfulness of the Land and presently they conclude that it was a Land that was not sufficient to nourish the inhabitants yea a Verse 32. Land that did devour the inhabitants Liars have no Iron memories But now behold to what a mighty pitch Caleb's faith is raised Let us go up at once and possess it for we are able to overcome it Or nearer the Hebrew Marching up march up subduing subdue Let us saith believing Caleb march up to the land of Canaan couragiously resolutely undauntedly for the day is our own the Land is our own all is our own They are bread for us we shall make but a break-fast of them we shall easily and as surely root them out and cut them down with our swords as we cut the bread we eat Their defence is departed from them In the Hebrew it Psalm 91. 1. Ps 121. â— 6. is Their shadow is departed from them the shadow you know guards a man from the scorching heat of the Sun Caleb by faith saw God with drawn from them by the eye of his faith he lookt upon them as a people without a fence a shadow a guard a covert a protection and therefore as a people that might easily be subdued and destroyed His faith told him that it was not their strong Cities nor their high walls nor their sons of Anack that could preserve shelter secure or defend them seeing the Lord had forsaken them and would be no longer as a shadow or a shelter to them And the Lord is with us to make us victorious to trâ—ad down our enemies and to give us a quiet possession of the good Land So Dan. 3. 16. Shadrach Meshach and Abednego answered and said to the King O Nebuchadnezzar we are not careful to answer thee in this matter Ver. 17. If it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery Furnace and he will deliver us out of thy hand O King In the fiery Furnace they are protected by Josephus Antiq. p. 259 260. a divine providence they escape death beyond all mens expectations for the fire touched them not neither could it burn during their aboad in the Furnace for God so fortified their bodies that they could not be consumed by fire which accident made them in great estimation with the King for that he saw that they wâ—re vertuous and beloved of God and for that cause they were highly honoured by him Here is a fiery Furnace before them and a proud boasting tyrannical enraged Prince domineering over them for not obeying his Idolatrous will Now to what a
were such and were therefore insuperable and miseries upon them Nehem. 4. 8. And conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to hinder it Verse 11. And our adversaries said they shall not know neither see till we come in the midst amongst them and slay them and cause the work to cease Verse 15. And it came to pass when our Enemies knew that it was known unto us and God had brought their counsels to nought c. The craft of the Churches Enemies is never but accompanied with cruelty and their cruelty is seldom without craft the Devil lends them his seven heads to plot and his seven horns to push but in the things wherein they deal proudly God is above them and by his presence with his People he brings all their plots counsels and enterprises to naught The Gunpowder Traitors betrayed themselves and all came to light though they had digged as low as hell to hide their counsels from the Lord. The Enemies of the Jews in Nehemiah's time made great brags at first what they would do but when they saw their plots discovered and their purposes defeated they are presently crest-fallen and have no mind nor courage to advance at all so that to these Plotters may be fitly applyed that which Guicciardin saith of Charles the Eight King of France in his expedition against Naples That he came into the field like thunder and lightning but went out like a snuff more than a Man at first and less than a Woman at last In all the Ages of the World the heads the wits the hands the hearts and the tongues of the wicked have been engaged against the Just they have been still a plotting and devising mischief against the favourits of heaven as if Rebels could medle with none but the Children of a King and yet Gods signal presence with his People in point of affection and protection has blasted all their designs and frustrated all their counsels as the rage of wicked Men against the Saints have been endless so it has been fruitless because God has been in the midst of them Haman Esther 3. 8. ult plots against the lives liberties and Estates of the Jews but his plot was timely discovered and seasonably prevented and the grand Plotter and Informer detected debased condemned and executed Esther 7. 10. So they hanged Haman on the Gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai then was the Kings wrath pacified The Kings of Persia had absolute and unquestionable power to do whatsoever they listed Quicquid libuit licuit all their Subjects except their Queens where no better than Slaves whom they would they slew and whom they Dan. 5. 19. would they kept alive whom they would they set up and whom they would they put down Haman is here Esther 7. 9. without order of Law more than the Kings command adjudged to be hanged the truth is it was a clear case and the Malefactor was self condemned Hang him therefore saith the King a short and just Sentence and soon executed Ah how soon is Haman fallen from the Palace to the Gallows from the highest Stage oâ— honour to the lowest stair of disgrace from feasting with the King to be made a feast for crows and so lies wrapt up in the sheet of perpetual infamy So let all thine Enemies perish O Lord. It is a good observation of Josephus Vnde mihi contigit mirari nomen Dei sapienâ—iam justiâ—iam ejus â—gnoscere c Joseph Ant. lib. 1. cap. 6. upon Esther 7. 10. I cannot saith he but admire the Lords wisdom and acknowledge hiâ— Justice in that he not only punished him for his malice to the Church but by turning his own mischief upon himself hath made him an example to all posterity hanging him up in gibbets that others may take warning Let all Plotters and Informers beware of making a match with mischief they may have enough of it in the end Haman was a main stickler for the Devil who paid him his wages at last with a witness or if you will with a halter Let all the Enemies of the Saints tremble at such ends and be careful to avoid them by flying such like foul and flagitious practices The bloody plot being thus laid by Haman the Kings Minion behold the footsteps of Gods favourable signal and eminent presence for his People and Esther 4. with his People in their deadly dangers and that in raising up in them a very great Spirit of faith prayer and mourning and by raising an undaunted courage and resolution in Esther And so I will go in unto the Verse 16. King and if I perish I perish This she speaks not rashly or desperately as prodigal of her life but as one willing to sacrifice the same for the honour of God his cause and People saying as that Martyr can I die but once for Christ Esther had rather die than shrink from her duty she thought it better to do worthily and perish for a Kingdom than unworthily and perish with a Kingdom here was a mighty presence of God in raising Esther's heroical courage and resolution above all those visible dangers that did attend her attempt of going in to the King against the known Law of the Land And the King held out to Esther the golden Cap. 5. 2. Scepter He did not kick her out of his presence as some Cambyses would have done neither did he command her to the block as Henry the Eight did his Ann Bullen upon a meer misprâ—sion of disloyalty neither yet did he cashier her as he had Vashti for a less offence but by holding out his Scepter shews his gracious respects unto her This was the Lords own work and a great demonstration of his signal preseâ—ce with her in giving her favour in the eyes of the great King So Esther drew near and touched the top of the Scepter with her hand saith the Chaldee with her mouth saith the Vulgar translation this she did either in token of submission or as a sign of reverence and subjection or for the avoiding of danger For as Josephus saith He that touched the Kings Scepter was out of the reach of evil or according to the custom of the times Gods favourable presence is transparent in the Kings extended favour to her On that night could not the King Esther 6. â— sleep Heb. the Kings sleep fled away and like a shadow it fled away so much the faster as it was more followed Crowns have their cares thistles in their arms and thorns in their sides lo he that commanded one hundred and twenty seven Provinces cannot command one hours sleep The Kings head might perhaps be troubled with thinking what great request it should be that Esther had to make that was so hardly drawn from her but herein appeared the signal presence of God in keeping the King awake for Mordecai might have been hanged before Esther had known any thing of it Haman
of their sufferings their bonds their burdens their oppressions their dangers c. he presently runs to their relief and succour Psalm 33. Our soul waiteth for the Lord he is our help and our shield Psalm 49. 17. Thou art my deliverer God is the Lord of Hosts with him alone is strength and power to deliver Israel out of all his troubles He may do it he can do it he will do it he is wise in Psalm 9. 7 8. Esay 43. 11. Psalm 5. 12. Psalm 22. 12. 2 Kings 6. 26 27 heart and mighty in strength besides him there is no Saviour no deliverer he is a shield to the righteous strength to the weak a refuge to the oppressed he is Instar omnium All in all who is like him in all the world to help his People at a dead lift when Friends can't help when power can't help when policy can't help when riches can't help when Princes can't help when Parliaments can't help yet then God can and will help his People when all humane help fails For the Lord shall judge his People and repent himself for his Servants when he seeth that their power or hand is Deut. 32. 36. gone and there is none shut up or left When Gods People are at the very brink of ruin then God wilâ— come in seasonably to their help their extremity shall be his opportunity to succour his People and to judge their Enemies no men no divels no power no policy can hinder God from helping aiding assisting and succouring of his People when they are at a dead lift But. Tenthly If God be with us who can be against us I 10. answer None so as to hinder the springs of joy and comfort from rising and flowing in their Souls Psalm 71. 20. Thou which hast shewed me great and sore troubles shalt quicken me again and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the Earth Verse 21. Thou shalt encrease my greatness and comfort me on every side The Psalmist was in those desperate dangers that he seemed to be as a man that was dead and buried and yet he had faith enough to believe that God would surround him with cordials and supply him with comforts from all sides there is no true comfort to be drawn out of the standing pools of outward sufficiences but out of the living fountains of the all-sufficiences of the Lord Almighty Thou shalt comfort me on every side Psalm 94. 19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me or of my careful troubled perplexed thoughts as the word properly signifies thy comforts delight my soul As the Psalmist alwayes found God a present help so he alwayes found him a present comfort in the day of troubles God never did nor never will want a cordial to revive and keep up the Spirits of his people from fainting and sinking in an evil day when the Psalmist was under many griefs cares fears and perplexities of Spirit God came in with those comforts that did delight his soul and chear up his Spirits The word of the Lord is never Psal 119. 49 50. more a word of comfort nor the Spirit of the Lord is never more a Spirit of comfort than when the Saints are in their deepest distresses and sorest perplexities John 14. 16. And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever Verse 26. But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my Name Hudson the Martyr being at the stake he went from under his chain and having prayed earnestly he was so comforted and refreshed by the Holy Spirit that he suffered valiantly and cheerfully The Holy Ghost is called again and again the Comforter because his office is to work consolation in the hearts of Gods People in all their troubles and distresses Spiritual comfort is therefore called joy in the Holy Ghost because the Holy Ghost doth Rom. 14. 17. create it in the soul When a man suffers for righteousness sake God comes with his cordials in the very nick of time 1 Pet. 4. 13. when a mans suffering is upon the account of Christ God seldom fails to send the Comforter for the refreshing and relieving of his Spirit When a man is under bodily confinement Isa 12. 3. cap. 66 11. for the cause of Christ God will never fail to be a Spring of life a Well of Salvation and breasts of consolation to him When a Christian is brought to a piece of bread then is the season for God to feed him with heavenly Mann I have told you of Mr. Glover who found no comfort in the time of his imprisonment but when he was going to the stake he cried out to his Friend He is come he is come meaning the Comforter Hab. 3. 17. Although the fig-tree shall not blossom neither shall fruit be in the vines the labour of the olive shall fail and the fields shall yield no meat the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no herd in the stalls Vers 18. Yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation In these words you have these two parts 1. A sad supposition Although the fig-tree shall not blossom c. 2. A noble and comfortable resolution yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation Let me first hint a little at the sad supposition Although the fig-tree should not blossom c. First though there should be a famin in that Land that of all Lands was the most plentiful fruitful Land yet Habakkuk would rejoyce in the Lord and joy in the God of his salvation The Land of Canaan of all Lands was the fruitfullest 't was as the garden of God 't was a Land that flowed with milk and honey a Land of vineyards the best of all Lands as Moses describes it A Land that brought forth to Isaac no less than a hundred fold It was so rich a Land that it was the granary of other Dent. 8. 7 8 9. cap. 32. 13 14 Gen 26. 12. 1 King 5. 11. Acts 12. 20. neighbouring Cities and Countries it had not only plenty for it self but bounty for others Yet now when God shall turn a Paradise into a Wilderness Habakkuk will rejoyce in the Lord and â—oy in the God of his salvation But Secondly when the anger and wrath of God shall cause a dearth in those fruits that naturally are most yielding and pleasant yet then Habakkuk would rejoyce in the Lord and joy in the God of his salvation The fig-tree of all trees is most fruitful bringing forth of its own accord with the least care and culture fructifying in the most barren and stony places bearing twice a year soonest ripening and rarely failing So the vine that 's a fruitful plant 't is made the emblem of plenty and fruitfulness Now when there shall be a dearth upon these
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.
stand before the powerful presence of God with his People and a spirit of prayer upon his People Hezekiah prays and finds such a powerful presence of God with him as bears up his heart and as strengthens his faith and as cuts off his enemies Isa 37. 14. to 21. with Verse 36. O beg hard of the Lord that he will stay with you do as they did when Christ made as though he would have gone from Luke 24. 28. Equivocators abuse this place greatly but they must know that Christ did not pretend one thing and intend another but as he made an offer to depart so without question he would have gone further if the importunity of the Disciples had not staid him them Luke 24. 29. But they constrained him saying abide with us for it is towards evening and the day is far spent and he went in to tarry with them By prayer and importunity lay hold on Christ say Lord night is near the night of trouble the night of distress the night of danger the night of death is near stay with us depart not from us They over-intreated him by their importunity they compelled him by intreaty Night is near and the day is far spent Some conjecture that Cleophas observing Christ to be very expert in the Prophets and to discourse so admirable well-of Christs person sufferings and glory his heart burning in him with musing who this should be he is marvellous importunate with him to stay at his house and at last prevailes O lay a hand of holy violence upon God as Jacob did and say as he Gen. 32. 25 26. Hos 4. 12. I will not let thee go Jacob though lamed and hard laid at yet will not let Christ go Jacob holds fast with both hands when his joynts were out of joynt being fully resolved that what ever he did let go he would not let go his Lord till he had blest him O be often a crying out with Jeremiah Leave us not Lord though in our great Jer. 14. 9. troubles and deep distresses friends should leave us and Relations leave us and all the world leave us yet don't thou leave us O don't thou leave us Lord though all Creatures should desert us yet if thou wilt but stand by us we shall do well enough But wo wo unto us if God depart from us O leave us not But Seventhly keep humble and walk humbly with your Mic. 6. 8. Psal 25. 9. God The highest Heavens and the lowest hearts are the habitation of Gods glorious presence Isa 57. 15. For saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity whose Name is Holy I dwell in the high and holy Place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones He that would in good earnest enjoy the gracious presence of God with him in his great troubles deep distresses and most deadly dangers he must keep humble and walk humbly with his God God will keep house with none but humble souls there are none that feel so great a need of the Divine presence as humble souls there are none that so prize the divine presence as humble souls there are none that so love the divine presence that are so enamoured with the Divine presence as humble souls there are none that so thirst long for much of the Divine presence as humble souls there are none that so lament and bewail the loss of the Divine presence as humble souls there are none that make such a singular and through improvement of the Divine presence as humble souls and therefore no wonder that of all the men in the worl God singles out the humble Christian to make his heart the habitation where his honour delights to dwell Abraham is but dust and ashes in his own Gen. 18. 27. eyes and what man on earth had ever more of the Divine presence of God with him than he Gen. 15. 12. Gen. 32 10. to 19. Gen. 17. 1. to 10. Gen. 18. 17 18 19 c. Jacob was less than the least of all mercies in his own eyes he had a mighty presence of God with him Gen. 32. 24. to 31. c. David in his own eyes was but a worm no man Psal 22. 6. The word in the Original Tolagnath signifieth a very little worm which breâ—deth in scarlet it is so little that no man can hardly see it or preceive it and yet what a mighty presence of God had David with him in the many Battels he fought and in the many dangers he was in and in the many miraculous deliverances he had See them all summed up in that 18 Psalm it is his triumphant song after many victories won deliverances vouchsafed and mercies obtained and therefore worthy of frequent perusal Paul was the least of all Saints in his 1 Cor. 15. 8. 1 Cor. 4. 9. 1 Tim. 1. 15. own eyes yea he was less then the least of all Saints 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this is a double diminutive and signifies lesser then the least if lesser might be here you have the greatest Apostle descending down to the lowest step of humility Great Paul is least of Saints least of the Apostles and greatest of sinners in his own eyes and never had any mortal more of the gracious presence of God with him in all his services and in all his sufferings in all his afflictions and in all his temptations in all his trials and in all his troubles which were many and great See Acts 16. 23 24 25. Acts 23. 10 11. Acts 27. 23 24 25. 2 Cor. 1. 8 9 10. 2 Cor. 4. 8 9 10 11. 2 Cor. 7. 4 5 6 7. 2 Cor. 11. 21 ult 2 Cor. 12. 7 8 9 10. Is your condition low then let your hearts be low he that is little in his own account is great in Gods esteem and shall be sure to enjoy most of his presence God can dwell God will dwell with none but those that are lowly in heart and therefore as ever you would enjoy the signal presence of God with you in your greatest troubles and deepest distresses be sure you walk humbly with your God Many may talk much of God and many may profess much of God and many may boast much of God but he only enjoys much of God who makes conscience of walking humbly with God But Eightly and lastly If you would enjoy the signal presence of God with you in your greatest troubles deepest Ponder upon these Scriptures Isa 58. 8. 9 10 11 2 Cor. 6. 16 17 18. Cap. 7. 1. Deut. 23. 13 14. distresses and most deadly dangers then labour every day more and more after greater measures of holiness the more holiness you reach to the more you shall have of the presence of a holy God with you in all your straits and trials If the Scriptures be narrowly searched you will find that