Apostle Paul had such confidence of the Philippians welfare because he had them in his heart what confidence may we have in all our troubles from Christs having us in his heart and bearing us upon his heart continually and ever living to make intercession for us 2 Our Lord Jesus Christ in his intercession represents to his Father our troubles and dangers that we are exposed to while we are in the World and our shiftless condition and the hatred we meet with from the World and prays his Father to keep us by his divine power he prays not that we should be taken out of the World while we have service to do in the World but that we may be kept from the evils we are liable to in the World Joh. 17.9.11 14 15. Where observe 1. The Persons for whom Christ interceedeth and they are all that are his ver 9.10 I pray for them I pray not for the World but for them which thou hast given me for they are thine and all mine are thine and thine are mine 2. He represents to his Father the dangers they are in by being in the World where they are hated and want his presence with them ver 11.14 And now I am no more in the world but these are in the world I have given them thy Word and the world hath hated them 3. He commits them to his Fathers care and prays him to keep them by his divine power ver 11. Holy Father keep through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me That which he mainly prayed for was not that they should be taken out of the world but kept from the evil ver 15. I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the World but keep them from the evil 4. The Arguments he useth in Prayer they are all mine and all thine and they glorifie me ver 10. All mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them 5. This Prayer of Christ for his wherein he hath prayed to his Father to keep them in his name whilst they are in this world was recorded on purpose to comfort our hearts under our troubles ver 13. These things I speak in the world that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves And this Prayer of Christ was made not only for his Disciples that were then living but for all that should afterward believe on him to the end of the World ver 20. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word And what Christ prayed for God will assuredly grant Joh. 11.42 I know that thou hearest me always Obj. But how is the intercession of Christ a ground of comfort against the troubles of the world when notwithstanding the Prayer of Christ that they that are his may be kept from the evil they fall into as many and as great troubles as other men A. 1. Many troubles and afflictions are kept off at the intercession of Christ from those that are his For such is the malice of Satan and wicked men against the Saints that they would do them an hundred fold more mischief than they do if God should not restrain them Ps 124.2.3 4 5. Laban would have done Jacob much hurt but God would not suffer him to hurt him Gen. 31.7 Your Father hath deceived me and changed my wages ten times but God suffered him not to hurt me The Israelites when few in number when they went up and down from one place and one Kingdom to another were liable to many injuries but God prevented the malice of their adversaries Psal 105.14 He suffered no man to do them wrong 2. When God doth not keep off troubles and afflictions from the Members of Christ which is not absolutely prayed for God at the intercession of Christ keeps off the evil of trouble from the members of Christ The evil of trouble is when troubles make us sin against God and forsake the ways of God Mat. 13.21 VVhen Tribulation or Persecution ariseth because of thy word by and by he is offended that is falleth away as another Evangelist expresseth it 2 King 6.33 Behold this evil is of the Lord why should I wait for the Lord any longer The evil of troubles is when men fret and curse and blaspheme the name of God because of their troubles as Isa 8.21 Rev. 16.10.11 Now the Members of Christ are kept from these evils under their troubles 3. At the intercession of Christ the nature of troubles and afflictions are changed they are not evils but good things to the People of God Psal 119.71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted 4. At the intercession of Christ they that are Christs are upheld under their troubles and kept from fainting Keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me Though we be not kept from trouble yet Christs Prayer is answered if we be kept by the power of God in our troubles kept from falling kept from fainting Now God for Christs sake keeps his people from falling and fainting under their troubles Psal 94.18 VVhen I said my Foot slippeth thy Mercy O Lord held me up Psal 116.8 Thou hast delivered my feet from falling Psal 118.13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall but the Lord helped me 3. The intercession of Christ is a ground of comfort under all our troubles because he interceedeth with his Father that the Spirit the comforter may be sent down into our hearts to abide with us for ever Joh. 14.1.16 17. Let not your heart be troubled I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth The Lord Jesus foreseeing that his Disciples would meet with many Tribulations that their hearts might not be troubled proposeth many grounds of comfort to them among others this is a principal one that he would interceed with his Father to give them his holy Spirit to be their Comforter to make his abode with them for ever But some may say though the Spirit the Comforter be sent down into our hearts to abide with us for ever yet many of the Servants of Christ that have the comforter want the comforts of the Spirit in their troubles Q. What shall we do that we may get the comforts of the Spirit in our afflictions A. 1. Walk in the fear of God both before trouble comes and when you walk in the midst of trouble for such as walk in the fear of God enjoy the comforts of the holy Ghost Act. 9.31 VValking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost 2. Give your selves to prayer in the day of trouble Joh. 16.24 Ask and ye shall recieve that your joy may be full Christ told his Disciples ver 20. That they should weep and lament and be sorrowful but their forrow should be turned into joy and here he directs them the way to get comfort under their
thy strength O Lord and in thy Salvation how greatly shall he rejoyce 3. As Christ comforts his afflicted people by the gracious visits which he gives them so also by raising and strengthning their Faith in times of trouble and causing them to stay themselves upon God in an evil day For the staying the mind upon God is a means to keep the Soul in peace under the greatest dangers Isa 26.3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee 4. Jesus Christ comforteth his afflicted people with the hope of Eternal Life which he promiseth to such as are in a suffering condition if they continue faithful to the death Rev. 2.10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer be thou faithful unto Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life 2 Tim. 2.12 If we suffer we shall also reign with him Rom. 5.2 And rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Vse I. If an interest in Christ be such a ground of Consolation then here is reproof 1. For those that content themselves with a Worldly Interest and take no care no pains to get an interest in Christ but neglect Christ Such mens case is sad For 1. The world is a poor portion for all worldly enjoyments abstracted from God and Christ are nothing but vanity and vexation of Spirit 2. All the world will avail a man nothing when he comes to dye It will give no ease to a troubled Conscience no pardon of Sin no help to Heaven 1 Tim. 6.7 We can carry nothing of it away with us into another world 3. They that have neglected Christ and the Salvation purchased by Christ shall not escape the wrath of God in the other World Heb. 2.3 2. For those that have an interest in Christ and yet live very discontentedly either for want of some things which they desire as Parts Riches Friends a setled Condition or for the loss of some things which God hath taken away from them or because of some crosses or troubles that they meet with in the World Vse II. Of Examination Have we a true saving interest in Christ can we say Christ is ours and we are his Quest How may we know whither Christ be ours A. 1. If we love him Cant. 2.16 My Beloved is mine and if our love to him exceed our love to all other things and persons in the World if he be our best Beloved Christ doth not own those as having an interest him that love any thing above him Mat. 10.37 He that loveth Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me That such as love God and Christ above all things have a saving interest in Christ is evident because eternal Life is promised to them Jam. 2.5 Heirs of the Kingdom which God hath promised to those that love him Quest How shall we know that we love Christ above all things A. 1. When we desire Christ above all things in the world Psal 73.25 So that if God should ask us as he did Solomon what shall I give thee we would say Lord give us thy self for our God and thy Son for our Saviour 2. When we esteem Christ above all things so as that we count them as dung in comparison of Christ and are willing to part with any thing so that we may win Christ Philip. 3.8 3. VVhen the love of God in Christ puts more joy and gladness into our hearts than the enjoyment of all the world or it would be a greater joy to us than the whole world if God would manifest his love to us Psal 4. 6 7. 2. If we are Christs then Christ is ours that 's another Character in the Text. Cant. 2. 16. My Beloved is mine and I am his Now we may know we are Christs 1. If we have solemnly given up our selves to Christ with a sincere heart without any secret reserves of any Lust resolving that by the help of his grace we will deny our selves take up our Cross and follow him 2 Cor. 8.5 Mark 8.34 2. If his interest will prevail with us beyond our own interest and his will above our own wills if his word be our rule and his glory our end that is a good evidence that we are Christs Isa 63.19 VVe are thine thou never bearest rule over them As much as to say they are the Lords over whom the Lord bears rule Psal 119.94 I am thine I have sought thy precepts When in doubtful Cases we seek out the will of Christ and follow the will of Christ that shews us to be his 3. When we are Christs Servants Act. 27. 23. VVhos 's I am and whom I serve And the great end why we desire to live is to do service for Christ Phil. 1.21 4. When we are tender and careful of Christs glory John 17.10 I am glorified in them that are mine and thine 3. The Spirit of Christ sent down into our Hearts is a certain Evidence of an interest in Christ 1 John 3.24 Hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit that he hath given us Rom. 8. v. 9. Q. How shall we know that we have the Spirit of Christ A. 1. If we have an obediential frame of heart Ezek 36.27 compared with Rom. 8. 7. The carnal heart is enmity to the Law of God and therefore when we are caused to obey Gods Statutes that is from the Spirit put within us 2. We may know we have the Spirit by the fruits of the Spirit which are Faith Love Peace Joy Long-suffering c. Gal. 5. 22 23 c. Vse III. Of Exhortation Exhort 1. To such as want an interest in Christ that they would above all things seek to get Christ What Solomon saith of Wisdom Prov. 4.7 The same may I say of Jesus Christ who is called the Wisdom of God Jesus Christ is the principal thing therefore above all things get Jesus Christ Exhort 2. To such as have an interest in Christ to labour for the knowledge of it that every one may be able to say Christ is mine and I am his Q. How shall we attain to the knowledge of our interest in Christ A. 1. Examine your selves by those Characters the Scripture gives of an interest in Christ and more particularly about your Faith 2 Cor. 13.5 And if you cannot make any clear work hereof at one time try what you can do at another 2. Pray earnestly to God to manifest your interest in Christ It is in his light that we see light Psal 36.9 Pray as David Psal 35.3 Say unto my Soul I am thy Salvation And if you can't obtain the knowledge of your interest in Christ by much seeking to God yet follow on to seek him and then in Gods good time you shall know the Lord to be your God in Christ Hos 6.3 Isa 24.9 Zech. 13.9 3. Accustom your self to trust in God in all your straits fears dangers and temptations For the more you trust in God the
sorrows which was by Praver Ask and ye shall recieve that your joy may be full 3. Call to mind apply and meditate upon the gracious promises of God The Spirit comforts us by and through the word and more especially by the promises It was through the word that David had the Spirits comforts in his affliction Psal 119.49 50. Remember thy word unto thy Servant wherein thou hast caused me to hope this is my comfort in mine affliction So also the Prophet Jeremiah had the comforts of the Spirit through the word Jer. 15.16 Thy words were found and I did eat them and thy word was unto me the joy and the rejoycing of my heart 4. Keep up and act your Faith in God through Christ in all your troubles for trustings in God brings the joys and comforts of the Holy Ghost into our hearts Psal 13.5 I have trusted in thy Mercy my heart shall rejoyce in thy Salvation In the 3d. verse he complained of his sorrows that he had sorrows in his heart dayly but having strengthned his Faith by the consideration of the mercy of God he concluded that God would put joy and gladness into his heart My heart shall rejoyce Rom. 15.13 The God of Peace fill you with all joy and peace in believing There is joy all joy a fulness of all joy comes in by believing 4. The intercession of Christ is a ground of comfort against the troubles of the world because it is our security that they shall not cause our Faith to fail Luk. 22.31 32. And the Lord said Simon Simon behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as Wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not Peter was greatly affrighted at the sufferings of Christ The fear of the Cross made him fall in a dreadful manner three times he denyed his Master and cursed and swore that he did not know the man But though he was grievously foiled yet by the Prayer of Christ his Faith was supported that it did not fail Not only our Flesh and our Hearts would fail but our Faith also if it were not preserved by the intercession of Jesus Christ § All troubles are sanctified to those that are Christs This is a ground of great Consolation III. All troubles and afflictions whatsoever befall those that are Christs are sanctified to them and shall work together for their good and this is a ground of comfort under all the troubles of this World that they shall be sanctified to us and work for our good Jesus Christ is made of God Sanctification to all such as are in him 1 Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us VVisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption When Christ is said to be made of God sanctification to such as are in him the meaning is that he is appointed by God to sanctifie our persons and our conditions Our Lord Jesus hath taken the curse from our Crosses and turned them into Blessings So that we are not now to look upon our corrections as our misery but rather as conducing to our happiness Job 5.17 Behold happy is the man whom God correcteth That all our afflictions are sanctified by Jesus Christ appeareth thus because none of them shall do us hurt but they shall all work together for our good Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose There is a threesold good which is wrought for us by our afflictions 1. They purge out our sins Isa 27.9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away their sin And this is greatly for our good to be purged from our sins which are the chiefest of evils 2. They promote and increase the graces of the Spirit of God in our hearts and make us partakers of his Holiness and that is much for our profit to be made more Holy Heb. 12.10 They verily for a few days chastned us after their own pleasure but he for our profit that we might be partakers of his Holiness 3. They encrease our glory in the world to come for ever 2 Cor. 4.17 For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding etâ—â—nal weight of glory Now the knowledge of this that all our afflictions are sent to do us good and that they shall all work together for our good is a ground of great comfort under all our troubles Rom. 5.3 4. VVe glory in Tribulations also knowing that Tribulation worketh Patience and Patience Experience and Experience Hope Upon this account the Apostle James exhorteth us to count it joy yea all joy when we fall into divers temptations because we know that our Tryals shall work patience in us Jam. 1.2 3. My Brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers Temptations knowing this that the trying of your Faith worketh Patience Now if this single benefit the encreasing of our Patience be such a ground of joy how may it encrease our joy when we consider that not only Patience but our other graces also and not our graces but our glory in Heaven shall be augmented for ever by our momentary afflictions which we go through in this World The Apostle writing to the Hebrews encourageth to chearfulness in their sufferings because they were for their profit Heb. 12.10 11. He chastneth us for our profit Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees Though a man was in a dejected condition with hands hanging down and in a fainting condition his knees waxing feeble under his burdens yet the consideration that he is chastned for his profit may revive him and make him lift up his hands that hang down and strengthen his feeble knees § The Lord Jesus will not leave us comfortless in our troubles How Christ comforts his people IV. Though we meet with many troubles in the World this may chear our hearts under all of them that our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised he will not leave us comfortless in our troubles but he will give us peace and comfort in himself and from himself when we meet with troubles in the World Joh. 14.18 I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you Joh. 16.33 These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace in the world ye shall have Tribulation Isa 66.13 As one whom his Mother comforteth so will I comfort you and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem The Affections of a Mother are very great and tender towards her Child especially towards her sick and afflicted Child she will spare no pains no cost for that which may comfort her sick Child The affections of a Nurse are great 1 Thes 2.7 8. But of a Mother far greater Now as readily as affectionately as a Mother comforts her afflicted Child so hath the Lord
promised to comfort his afflicted people And ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem That is to be observed for this Prophet had foretold great judgments and desolations should come upon Jerasalem As Isa 3.8 Jerusalem is ruined and Judah is fallen Isa 24.3 11. The Land shall be utterly emptied and utterly spoyled All joy is darkned and the mirth of the Land is gone Isa 64.10 Thy Holy Cities are a Wilderness Zion is a Wilderness Jerusalem a desolation Yet though these Ruines and Desolations were coming upon Jerusalem that the Land should be utterly spoiled all joy be darkned and the mirth of the Land quite gone yet the Lord promiseth to comfort his people in Jerusalem We that have such promises may rest upon God that for Christs sake he will comfort us in all our tribulations Mich. 7.8 VVhen I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me Afflictions and troubles are set out by the name of darkness Isa 45.7 Joy and Comfort are expressed by the name of light Psal 97.11 So that the meaning is when I am in trouble and distress the Lord shall give me comfort Ps 38.7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble thou wilt revive me Obj. But do we not see that notwithstanding these promises and the confidences of the people of God that God will comfort them in their afflictions yet they are oft times under very great sorrows and heaviness A. 1. The people of God have Flesh as well as Spirit though the Spirit be willing to love the cross the Flesh is weak though the Spirit rejoyceth in God the Flesh feeling the smart of the Rod mourns 2. Their sorrows do not last alwayes but are soon turned into joy Joh. 16.20 Ye shall weep and lament but your sorrow shall be turned into joy Christ doth not promise his Disciples that they shall have no sorrows no cause of weeping but this he promiseth that they shall not be left comfortless under their sorrows for their sorrow shall be turned into joy Psal 30.5 11. VVeeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning 3. Even while the people of God are mourning they are sowing the seeds of joy and comfort and shall doubtless reap the fruit of their sorrows in more abundant consolations Ps 126.5 6. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with rejoyceing bringing his sheaves with him There is much more reaped than was sown A little quantity of seed yields whole Cart-loads of Corn. To open this more fully of Christs promising not to leave his people comfortless in their troubles I will shew you several wayes whereby Christ comforts his Members and gives them peace under their greatest troubles 1. By shedding abroad the love of God in their hearts by the Holy Ghost which he gives unto them Rom. 5.3 5. VVe glory in tribulation because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us By shedding abroad the love of God in our hearts understand the manifesting of Gods love to our souls the giving us the knowledge and understanding of the love of God which doth wonderfully affect the heart with joy and gladness Psal 42.7 8. All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me yet the Lord will command his loving kindness in the day time and in the night his Song shall be with me Two things are here worthy of our observation 1. David did believe that in his greatest distresses when all Gods waves and billows went over him God would express and manifest his love to him yet the Lord will command his loving kindness The commanding his loving kindness implyeth the powerful expressions of his love VVhere the word of a King is there is power Eccl. 8.4 And the abiding impressions of his love Ps 33.9 He commanded and it stood fast And the speedy manifestation of his love For when God gives a command to things to be done it implyeth speed Ps 147.15 He sendeth forth his Commandment upon the Earth his word runneth very swiftly 2. David did believe that the manifestation of the love of God would be such a comfort to him that it would make his heart to sing for joy in his greatest distresses yet the Lord shall command his loving kindness and in the night his song shall be with me 2. Jesus Christ comforts and refresheth his Members in their troubles by those gracious visits which he gives them in their afflictions Job 10.12 Thy visitation hath preserved my Spirit John 16.22 And ye now have sorrow but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoyce and your joy no man taketh from you A visit from a good man is very comfortable in a day of trouble 2 Cor. 7.5 6. Our flesh had no rest we were troubled on every side without were fightings within were fears Nevertheless God that comforteth them that are cast down comforted us by the coming of Titus If a visit from a good man be so refreshing that it will comfort us when we are troubled on every side when we have fightings without and fears within then how comfortable is a visit from Christ in the day of trouble But how doth Christ visit his afflicted people what are those visits of Christ which he gives his people in their affliction A. 1. Christ visiteth his people with his word by bringing suitable and encouraging promises to them in a day of distress Lam. 3.54 57. Waters flowed over mine head then I said I am cut off Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee thou saidest fear not Thus the Lord visited Abraham with a suitable word of promise Gen. 15.1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abraham in a Vision saying Fear not Abraham I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward And these are sweet visits which do greatly rejoyce the heart Psal 119.162 I rejoyce at thy word as one that findeth great spoil 2. Jesus Christ visiteth his people in their afflictions by his Spirit the teachings the revivings the supports of his Spirit Cant. 2.6 His left hand is under my head his right hand doth embrace me Isa 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee I will strengthen thee I will uphold thee Isa 57.15 I dwell with him that is of a contrite and an humble Spirit to revive the Spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones 3. The Lord Jesus visits his afflicted people when he answers their Prayers and fulfils his own promises Gen. 21.1 And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken 4. The Lord visits his afflicted people when he raiseth up deliverance for them out of their troubles Psal 106.4 O visit me with thy Salvation And such visits when God saves his people out of their troubles cause great joy Psal 21.1 The King shall joy in
and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of sin which is in my Members Rom. 7.17 19 21 23. Yet at the same time that he uttered these complaints he did look upon himself to be Christs and did bless God for his interest in Christ and the benefits he had by Christ ver 25. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Galatians felt in themselves the lustings of the Flesh against the Spirit whereby they were hindred in well-doing Gal. 5.17 The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would Yet these Persons that felt these conflicts between the Flesh and the Spirit were the Children of God through Faith in Jesus Christ Gal. 3 26. Ye are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus 5. A man may be sensible of much dryness and be under a great want of the influences of the Spirit of Grace and yet he may have a saving interest in Christ and God may be his God and Father in Christ Psal 119.83 94. I am become like a bottle in the smoke I am thine save me When the Psalmist found himself like a bottle in the smoke that is in a withered drie parched condition he did notwithstanding his drie and withered condition believe himself to be the Lords I am thine save me So also Psal 32.4 7. My moisture is turned into the drought of Summer Thou art my hiding place He did believe his interest in God though he found himself in such a dry condition that he complained his moisture was turned into the drought of Summer that is was so gone as he could not discern any remaining in him An example of believing God to be our Father in and through Christ under a suspension of influencees we have Isa 63.15 16. VVhere is thy zeal and thy strength and the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies towards me are they restrained Doubtless thou art our Father Thou O Lord art our Father our Redeemer 6. A man may be under the withdrawings of God the Lord may hide his face from him and though he seek the Lord he may give no answers to his Prayers and yet God may be his Father in Christ and he may have a saving interest in Christ Isa 64.7 8. Thou hast hid thy face from us But now O Lord thou art our Father Cant. 2.16 Compared with Cant. 5.6 My beloved is mine and I am his I opened to my beloved but my beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone I sought him but I could not find him I called him but He gave me no answer 7. A man may be succesless in Holy Duties he may not find what his Soul seeks after in Gods Ordinances and yet Christs may be his and he may be Christs Cant. 2.16 Compared with Cant. 3.1 My beloved is mine and I am his By night on my bed I sought him whom my Soul loveth I sought him but I found him not Here is earnestness and continuance in seeking Christ I sought him I sought him it 's mentioned twice Here is sincerity in seeking Christ a seeking him out of love and yet no success but I found him not Isa 49.4 I have laboured in vain and spent my strength for nought yet surely my judgment is with the Lord and my work with my God Here is labour in vain as to men and a spending our strength for nought and yet a claiming an interest in God 8. A man that hath a saving interest in Christ may be under various and different tempers and frames of Spirit He may have his Ups and his Downs sometimes his heart may be in a raised elevated frame he may have such an high measure of Faith as to fear nothing Isa 12.2 Behold God is my Salvation I will trust and not be afraid Ps 27.1 The Lord is my Light and Salvation whom shall I fear At another time the same person may be in a very low and dejected frame that his Soul may as it were cleave to the dust Ps 119.26 My soul cleaveth to the Dust Psal 42.6 O my God my Soul is cast down within me At one time he may have sweet peace and comfort Ps 94.19 Thy comforts delight my Soul Another time he may be in a disturbed disquieted frame and go mourning all the day long Ps 42.11 VVhy art thou cast down O my Soul and why art thou disquieted within me Ps 38.6 I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long At one time he may be in a lively frame and have earnest longings and breathings after God Ps 42.1 2. As the heart panteth after the water-brooks so panteth my Soul after thee O God My Soul thirsteth for God At another time he may be in a dead dull and stupid frame Ps 73.22 I was as a beast before thee Ps 143.3 4. He hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been long dead My heart within me is desolate Ps 102.4 My heart is smitten and withered like grass At one time he may be in a melting broken frame at another time in such an hardned frame that he may wonder to see how hard his heart is Isa 63.16 17. Doubtless thou art our Father O Lord why hast thou made us to err from thy wayes and hardned our hearts from thy fear At one time he may walk in the light of Gods countenance Psal 21.6 Thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance At another time he may be under the hidings of Gods face and that for so long a time as to fear that God will never return to him again Ps 13.1 How long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever How long wilt thou hide thy face from me Thus we see how the Children of God are liable to variety of changes in their Spiritual state and in the frame of their hearts only let this be added also when ever their hearts are out of frame they are unquiet and troubled and can't be at rest till they get into a good frame again Psal 30.7 Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled 9. A man may be in a very dark and distressed condition and want the presence of God and think himself forsaken of God and yet be one that hath a saving interest in Christ Isa 50.10 Who is there among you that feareth the Lord that walketh in darkness and seeth no Light let him stay himself upon his God The Lord is his God that heareth him though he walk in darkness and can't apprehend it Joh. 6.17 It was now dark and Jesus was not come to them They were Christs own Disciples that wanted Christs presence when they were at Sea in a dark night when there was a great Tempest that endangered their Lives See also Isa 49.14 15 16. § It is a great help to hold in our interest in Christ to commune often with our own
them her love to them and delight in them was as strong and fresh in her old age as in the day of her Espousals when she first set out and began to tast that the Lord was gracious It is not to be spoken how she hazarded her weak body to hear Sermons to attend upon the Lord in all opportunities enjoyable â—t was generally observed in Stratford that â—he was sick indeed if she was not at the word either on the Lords day or at Church meetings on the week day Nothing but a very afflictive hand of God kept her at home It was her daily study how to glorifie God in every condition and under every dispensation that was either prosperous or adverse that was principally her study how and in what way God might be most honoured and his name advanced by her She had a heart for Vniversal Obedience walking as Elizabeth in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless She evidenced that she was a friend to Jesus Christ by doing whatever he commandded her and through that friendship between Christ and her she found she could do nothing so well as the will of Christ and found that obedience easie loved Jesus Christ with a superlative love and served him not with half an a heart but sincerely with the whole heart yea delighted in serving of him she had a Law within suitable to the Law without which rendred it natural to her to act graciously Jesus Christ was her Life his Grace and Image were implanted in her Soul that from a Spirit of love to him even in old age when weak and sickly she acted for Christ yea above her strength he was in her so much by his Spirit that she thought nothing too much to do for him and his She was full of good projects and designs for Jesus Christ loved to visit the sick and afflicted and those who walked in darkness as to their spiritual conditions loved to acquaint themselves with her who by a great treasure of experiences was able to afford Counsell and comfort to them A Christian able to speak a word in season to the relief of any soul under spiritual burdens and pressures And as ready to impart what Jesus Christ had Communicated unto her and the Lord Communicated the more to her because she was so free to Communicate to others laying up her experiences as for her own good so for others that they might be comforted with the same comforts that she was comforted with-all Her discourse never tended to self applause or commendation neither was it burthensome frothy or unsuitable but always savoury Christian and profitable commanding the ears of all about her In her Family she was frequently taking opportunities in the day time and evening and when ever she thought it seasonable to be speaking of the things of God of the excellency of Jesus Christ of the way of Life by him opening the miserable condition of a soul out of Jesus Christ setting forth the evil of sin the immortality of the Soul the sufferings and eternity of the punishment of Hell to her Children Servants and those that lived with her and was daily dropping in and working upon them to make them serious and considerate and as God had given her a choice gift that way so he made a great use thereof her counsels warnings threatnings invitations and holy instructions were made singularly advantagious and useful to the convincing quickning and edifying those committed to her charge so as they had cause for ever to bless God for the gracious words which proceeded out of her mouth She was always taking of opportunities to be calling upon those in a natural estate to mind the great concerns of their Souls and to be exciting provoking encouraging and strengthning those whose face was Zion ward her words were as choice Silver seasoned with Grace mostly Scriptural The Sermons that she heard on the Lords day or Week day were much the Subject matter of her discourse The Light of Gospel Grace and Truth did so shine in her as that her presence laid a restraint upon Sinners it was a curb unto vain Persons if they came into the Room where she was present She was exact and much in private Duties every day and yet so prudent in the singling out of the time as that the place in the Family wherein she stood never missed her She had at all times a due respect to the duties of both Tables and both in her Life and Discourses shewed how inseparable they were commending to all persons with whom she had to do the necessary and indispensible observation of both She looked upon time as a precious thing that was not to run waste and was diligent in the improvement of the Sands of every hour so as there was no part of her Life from Morning unto Evening that was an empty space but was laid out either in doing or recieving good Like the Summer she brought forth every thing in its season wisely forecasting and timeing whatsoever she had the ordering of She studied to excel in faithfulness and uprigh ness in all she undertook like Nathaniel she was without allowed guile had the Testimony of her Conscience that in simplicity and Godly sincerity she had her Conversation in the World very zealous for the truth of Jesus Christ following the Lamb whithersoever he went She had a very publick Spirit minding the good of others where she lived much taken up about the welfare of the Nation and was deeply concerned for the interest of Christ all the world over daily bore Zion and the work that God was doing in the world upon her heart and laid out her self much in Prayer for those things She had a large heart for Jesus Christ and for all that were his though of differing perswasions always putting the best construction upon every thing but sin was no way censorious or ready harshly to judge others but did most fairly coustrue their actions and carriaages speaking modestly and moderately of them Gospel Charity ruling her Spirit in all wonderful affable and courteous so as the Grace and sweetness in her words and carriage did win upon all that she conversed with that they loved her and said that she was made up of love She by Grace was enabled to Regulate her affections had a choice poise continually upon her Spirit that she seldom or never roiled or was disturbed but walked in an even and composed frame though none more sympathizing loving tender and affectionate than she yet were her affections always in order and under command free from excessive and disturbing passions that do often put the strings of the Spirits of most men and women out of tune and so render them unfit for what they are called too in the place wherein the Lord hath set them She had a fresh remembrance of the means and methods of the Lords dealing with her in bringing her Soul unto him and of her many experiences she had of