extort confession from the mouths of his greatest enemies Nevar man spake like this man And of a truâ—h this was the Son of God And then for this thing did Christ pray in the 17. of John that his Father would manifest so much of himself unto us his people and pour out so much of his Spirit upon them that the very world might know that he hath sent the Son and that he hath loved his people with the same love that the Son is loved and this did Christ promise unto his people to the Church of Philadelphia in the 2. of the Revelations and the 9. verse Behold I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan which say they are Jews and are not but do lye behold I will make them to come and worship before thy feet and to know that I have loved thee Therefore hath Christ put so much power into his word that at least it might lay chains upon wicked men and convince men many times that God is in his word and that God is in his people When you Prophesie saith the Apostle and there comes in one that is unlearned the secrets of his heart is made manifest and so falling down on his face he will worship God and report that God is in you of a truth Therefore it is also that when God works great deliverances he doth so order it in his providence that his peoples enemies should be eye-witnesses and ear-witnesses of what God hath done for them yea sometimes Agents against their wills in doing good to the Saints So Haman was an Instrument in the promotion of Mordecai Yea Therefore it is that God works in such a glorious manner as must needs convince he works freely He works suddenly he works unexpectedly and he works solitarily Now Gods very manner of working deliverance for his people doth carry a great deal of conviction along with it As First of all wicked men they look upon the afflictions of the Saints they say Let our eye look upon Sion and let her be defiled Therefore doth the Lord make them to look with astonishment upon their mercies and deliverances God hath gracious ends even towards wicked men he would convince them by this he would lay blocks in their way thâ—t they might not take the running leap into Hell that they might not go on in their violence and persecution of the Saints I proceed to what remains Loe I see four men and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God There were three cast in and now there are four Now before we come to consider who this fourth man was By way take notice of the wonderful providence of God that a fourth man should be added to them that while they were in the midst of the siery Furnace while they were bearing witness against the Idolatry of Nebuchadnezzar and his peopâ—e while they were suffering Martyrdome for the Truth and for the Name or God here is a fourth added to them Certainly their enemies supposed that fire would soon have devoured them all that there should not be one of the three left to bear witness any longer against their wickedness and idolatry but how contrary doth God work to the expectation of them their number is not diminished but Loe there were three cast in and now thâ—re is four four men loose walking in the midst of the fire Therefore we shall consider this Proposition by the way before we come to the Main Observat 4. That all persecutions that the Devil or his Instruments do raise against the Saints shall not diminish their number but shall rather increase them I say all the opposition and persecution that the people of God meet with for the name and cause of Christ shall not diminish their number but shall rather increase them I shall make it evident to you Look upon Israels oppression by the Aegypâ—ianâ— which you read of in the 1 of Exodus 10. 11 12 13. Come say they let us deal wiseâ—y with them let us increase their task let us lay heavy burdens vpon thâ—m c. Thus they thought to have weakened their strength and to have brought them low but did this stratagem prevail no you shall read in the 12. verse That the more they afflicted them the more thâ—y encreased And therefore God did appear to that Church unto Moses in the 3. of Exodus God shews Moses there the vision of a Bush that was not consumed this did hold forth the state of Israel then a Bush all on fire and was not consumed such Bushes are all the Churches of Christ that men of the world may set them on fire many times but though they burn they shall not be consumeâ— yea the hotter any fire of persecution be against the Saints the more green shall this Bush be the more shall it flourish take root and grow and spread abroad her branches till it fill the whole earth This was represented unto Daniel in a vision in the third of Daniel The Kingdom of Christ is set forth there by a little stone cut out of the Mountains without hâ—nds the stone was a growing stone and although there were many hammers at work to break this stone in pieces yet they have not nor shall not prevail but the stone grew more and more and became a Mountain and filled the whole earth Under the Gospel I shall give you some instances of of it To begin First with Jesus Christ It was a main design that the Pharisees had to keep men from beleeving in Christ therefore they resolved that they would take some course to lessen the number of Believers to lessen the number of his followers See in John 11. what they feared and what course they resolved to set upon 11. 48. verse Oh say they if we let him alonâ— all men will beleeve in him and the Romans will come take away our place Therefore you shall read in the 52. verse that they gave counsel to put him to death to smite the Shepheard and the Sheep shall be scaâ—tered they would put him to death that they might not beleeve on him Behold how contrary doth God work to the imaginations of these foolish men for by that very thing by the death of Jesus Christ is so many thousand thousand brought in to believe in him they would put the Lord of life to death that they might not believe in him and it was the Fathers way to make men beleeve in him if I be lifted up Ioh. 12. 32. And I if I be lifted up will draw all men to me And they say if he be lifted up there shall be none drawn to him ay but If I be lifted up I will draw all men if I be lifted up upon the Cross if I be Crucified by this means will I draw all men to me For First Christ became a suitable object for a poor sinner a poor guilty sinner could never have looked upon a glorious Saviour but Jesus Christ he is clothed
where I was saith he whether I was in the body or was taken out of the body I cannot test the Lord he knows and therefore still I say there is no cause why any of Gods people should inordinately fear affliction seeing you may meet with the presence of Christ in that condition and the presence of Jesus Christ will countervail the loss of all Creature comforts and the sweetness of it will be equivalent to the bitterness of it let thy condition be never so low That 's the third Use Fourthly Let the people of God expect the presence of Christ in their affliction in their low condition seeing Christ hath promised his presence do you expect his presence look for his presence Oh that we might labour to improve our affliction for this end that we may meet with more of Christ that we may enjoy more of the presence of Christ in our affliction truly there is a great deal lost Gods people loose abundance of sweetness which they might enjoy both in Ordinances and in afflâ—ction if their hearts were raised up to look for the performance of that which Christ hath promised if we would believe that Jesus Christ will be as good as his word did our souls expect the fuâ—lfilling of this word that â—e shall see the presence of Christ in affliction why then should we be so loth to suffer for Christ and be unwilling to submit to low conditâ—ons seeing it is the will of God that we should suffer Therefore I beseech you you that are the people of God get your hearts enlarged in affliction that so you may get above your â—ffliction if that you shall certainly meet with the presence of Jesus Christ in your afflicted conditions he hath spoken it he hath given out the word and therefore he will fulfill it what confidence had the people of God in their affliction when they remembred this I will fear none ill though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death And see what David saith in the 27. Psalm the beginning of it The Lord is my light and my salvation whom should I fear the Lord is the strength of my liâ—e of whom should I be afraid I cannot tell who the enemy is who is it he looks and he fiâ—des none in all the world whom should I fear and be afraid of so long as the Lord is with me I see no such enemy and therefore I beseech you that you would look after the presence of Christ expect the presence of Christ in all your afflictions that you meet with Object But you will say I have no such word as David had David might well belâ—eve that the Lord would uphold him for David had a particular word God spake to David he â—ware to David He swore by his Holiness that he would not fail David and so others of the Sainâ—s they had a particular word the Lord spake to Joshua Fear not I will not leave thee be couragious but we have no such word and therefore how should we expect to meet with Christ in afflicted conditions Answ I Answer first of all Though God does not speak now from Heaven by Visions he doth not reveal himself by Vrim and Thuâ—mim as unto David yet we have a larger word then David had and Joshuah had the Scripture is larger now we have abundance of the word there was but little of the Scripture writ in Daâ—ids time and less in Joshuahs time there was none of the written word but only the Book of Moses but now we have the word of God compleat we have a sure word a large word and 't is full of gracious invitations and incouragements and therefore the Saints now may be incouraged as well as they to whom God spake Secondly Yea Secondly I say God hath sent forth more of his spirit now in a Gospel way in a way of Gospel dispensation there is a great deal more of the Spirit of Christ poured out Now 't is the work of the Spirit the Office of the Spirit to particularize those promises to the soul to take thâ— promises and bring them home to this and that particular soul Now where the Spirit of God comes â—â— comes with evidence and he brings home the word of grace to thâ— soul that the soul cannot gainsay it nor resist it Object But you will say How shall I know 't is the Spirit of God that doth speak to me Answ I Answer The Spirit of God always speaks according to the word of God I say it speaks according to the written word that is given to us it speaks according to the word of grace for the spirit and the word do bear mutual testimony one of another But I Answer 'T is in the power of the Spirit to resolve the soul the Lord Jesus sends forth the Spirit with so much evidence â—s to convince the heart that it is the spirit that speaks the Lord Jesus he is able to perswade the soul that it is not a delusion but speaking according to the word of grace it is indeed the voice of the Father the voice of the Spirit that speaks Objct. But you will object further If the Lord Jesus be present with mâ— according to his promise if the Lord were present with me in affliction why how is it possible that it should be thus with me as it is How is it possible that there should be so much deadness and so much of the world and unbelief Surèly the presence of Christ is not with me in my affliction Answ I Answer to such a poor soul that looks after the presence of Christ and fain would enjoy the presence of Christ but cannot see him in affliction I say first of all Undoubtedly there is the presence of Christ with thee and thou canst not but thou mayst see something if unthankfulnesse doth not lye before thine eyes he is there the Lord Jesus is there and he will make good his word certainly if he hath promised to be with his people in afflicted conditions he will make good his word anâ— he is with thee at the door though he may be behind the Curtain and undoubtedly he is not far as I said before Joseph was with his Brethren when they did not know him and so the Lord Jesus is present with his people and they do not see him he doth feed them support them and maintain their lives and they not know it Secondly Yea I say secondly That if thou dost not see more of the presence of Christ the fault is in thee 't is not in the Lord not in the word of the Lord he is present according to the word that he hath spoke and therefore Christ may be present and thou seest him not because through negligence thou dost not stir up thy self to take hold of him thou givest way to a slothful spirit and so thou dost not stir up thy self to take hold of him or else thou dost not exercise faith in thy afflicted
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
enemies though I shall bring glory to thee another way yet I shall not bring glory to thee in this world And therefore Oh Lord do this for thy servant remember me for thine own name and for thine own glory and so the Psalmist David did use the same Argument with God in Psal 30. when he there was sick and ready to go down to the grave he pleads with God in the 8. and 9. vers What profit is there in my blood when I go down to the pit as much as to say Oh Lord what wilt thou not look to thine own glory What shall become of thy gain of thy Rent that should be brought in here in the land of the living if I go down to the pit I cannot lift thee up here in this world there is a long time indeed even for eternity when thou shalt be lift up by the Saints in Heaven but it is but a short time that thou shalt be glorified in the land of the living and thou hadst need spare the life of thy servant to lift up thy name in the land of the living What profit is there in my blood if I go down to the pit So that still you see the lives of the Saints are very precious in the eye of God Oh that you that are the people of God that you would believe this it is worth the pressing it upon you that you would fix this truth upon your heart that your lives are very precious in Gods sight if you be Some particulars to make out to the Saints that their lives are precious in Gods sight not perswaded of it I beseech you consider these particulars First of all consider What a charge God hath given to all his Creatures concerning the lives of his Saints do but remember their former charge He hath given charge to the water and charge to the fire and charge to the beasts in the earth and fishes in the sea he hath given charge to the earth he hath given a charge to violent men he hath given a charge to the Devil to Diseases and Sicknesses surely doth God take such pains and give such charges surely the lives of his Saints must needs be precious to him did a man go up and down in his family and give charge to every one from the greatest to the least Take heed you do not meddle with such a Box take heed that none of you touch it why then certainly 't is precious there is som precious thing in it such a charge haâ—h God given concerning the lives oâ— the Saints he hath taken pains to go up and down in all his family even the whole world Heaven and Earth is his Family and he hath spoken to every one of his Creatures to the highest and to the lowest Take heed you do nothing against the lives oâ— my servants the very meanest of all the Creatures in the whole family shall not say but that they were warned he commands the very stones in the field as it is in Iob making a League with the stones in the field not to hurt his servants doth God take such pains and give such charges you must needs conclude that your lives are precious in his sight Again Secondly Consider what a guard God hath set about the lives of his Servants He hath set a guard of Angels about them He shall give his Angels charge over thâ—e that they shall keep thee in all thy ways See what the Apostle saith in the first of the Hebrews he speaks of the great priviledge of the Saints in the last verse Are they not all Ministring spirits sent forth to Minister to them There is not one of the Angels in Heaven but hath a charge to guard the lives of his Saints are they not all Ministring Spirits Why brethren the best of them have a charge given them from the highest to the lowest they have all a charge given them concerning the lives of his Saints and they are as watchful as may be what says our Saviour Christ in Mat. 26. 53. do you think says he that man can take my life from me whether I will or no I go according as it is written of me I go because my father â—ath decreed it no man can take my life from me if I would rescue my self I could pray to my father and he should send a Legion of Angels to rescue me rather then my life should be taken away from me before my time be come And so the like may be said of all the Saints God would send more then twelve Legions of Angels to rescue the lives of his servants out of every danger and out of the hand of every enemy rather then their lives should be taken from them before it was determined of God certainly the lives of his servants are precious to him he hath set such a guard about them a guard of Angels that God should be pleased rather to want attendance in Heaven then hiâ— Sainâ—s lives on earth should be in jeopardy God he will spare them all out of Heaven for to rescue the lives of his Saints before they shall be cut off before his time appointed â—e come Yea further in the third place Consider that the Lord himself takes a special care of the lives of his children he will not trust the lives of the Saints with the Angels though the Angels be watchful and as faithful as can be desired in creatures yet God himself he will have to do with the lives of his Servants his eye shall be upon them and his hand under them there is never a moment in which God doth not watch over them and himself take a special care of them what he says of his Vineyard in Isa 27. 3. may be said of every particular Saint I the Lord will kâ—ep it I will water it every momâ—â—t least any hurt it I will kâ—ep it night and day See here is a gracious promise I will keep it and I will water it and this shall be every moment this shall be night and day there is not a moment in the night nor a moment in the day in which God hath not special care of his people from first to last from the womb he hath a care of them and so the Psalmist doth confess in Psalm 22. speaking of the watchful care of the Lord of the goodness of the Lord Ps 22. 9 10. Thou art he that took me out of the womb thou didst make me hope when upon my Mothers breasts I was cast upon thee from the wombe thou art my God from my mothers belly See here from the very womb from the very beginning God begins to take the care of his people he brings this to strengthen his faith on God for the future to uphold his soul now in his suffering 't is spoken of Christ surely the Lord he can do it he hath not left me he took care of me when I was in the womb he began then to take the
of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God YOu know what Proposition was raised the last day viz. That God doth often times in a wonderful manner rescue the lives of his Servants from death and destruction You had then the Doctrinal part I have since that in another place made some Application which I shall finish God willing at this time time we learned by way of Instruction First That the lives of his Servants are precious in Gods sight All the Income of glory that God hath brought in from this world it comes in this way from the lives of his Servants if it were not for them God should loose all his Rent and therefore the Psalmist doth plead with God when his life was brought nigh to the grave In Psalm 30. Lord saith he what profit is there in my bloâ—d if I go down to the pit as if he should say Lord thou art like to loose thy Profit thy Rent if I go down to the grave I shall not bring thee in that Rent of glory Though I shall glorifie thee in another way yet I shall not lift thee up here in this world I shall not make thy name glorious before the eyes of the sons of men in the midst of thy adversaries therfore Lord look to thine own Profit saith he The lives of the Servants of God are very precious to him and therefore he hath given such charges concerning their lives He hath laid a charge upon all his creatures Fire Water Wild beasts upon Fishes of the Sea upon violent men upon violent Diseases Sicknesses upon the Divels themselves he hath châ—rged them all concerning his Servants that they are not able to lift up a hand against them and therefore God hath set such a guard about the lives of his Servants are they not all Ministring Spirits so 't is said of the Angels Hebrews â— Are they not all miâ—istring Spirits sent forth for the good of the Saints God will spare all his Angels out of Heaven rather then the lives of any of his Servants should be lost yea the Lord he wil not trust the Angels themselves but he takes special care of the lives of his Servants I the Lord do keep it I watch over it every moment And therefore also you find that men have paid dear for his Jewels when they have taken away the lives of his Servants he hath always made Hue and Cry after them and where ever he hath found the blood of his Servants he hath made them to pay dear for it It is said of Babylon That when God made search for blood he found the blood of his Prophets there and how suddenly was Babylâ—n brought down all Babylons goods were forfeited presently they were seized upon as â—elons goods and â—he was brought down with all violence and she was cast down as a Milstone into the bottome of the Sea Now if life be so precious to God how precious is the soul to God Oh the care that God takes of the souls of his people Oh the pains that Jesus Christ took to fetch the souls of his people What a journey did he come And what a Sea of blood did he pass through What an Ocean of his Fathers wrath did he dive into He was content to go to the bottome when all the billows of his Fathers wrath lay upon him that so he might fâ—tch up the souls of his people and therefore if the soul be precious unto God and Christ it should be precious unto you What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and to loose his soul and therefore what ever you do neglect not those great Matters of Eternity those matters that concern the soul Again If life be so precious with God why then you should prize your lives It is the wil of God that you should look upon your life as precious take heed that you speak not against your lives It was the Prophets failing he would needs dye in a passion Lord I am no better then my Fathers and take heed that you act nothing against your lives it is the greatest sin that you can sin Improve your lives to the utmost gain as much knowledge of God and communion with God in this tearm of life as possibly you may do as much for God act as much for God in the tearm of life as possibly you may This is the way to put oâ—â— your lives for the best advantage Though man hath never so much of the world never so much oâ— outward honour yet if his life be not spent in this in seeking after God in acting for God he looseth all his honor at last become as the beasts that perish In the last place We should trust God for the future and I shall now press this Use of Exhortation more fully upon Gods people When eveâ— you have seen God in a way of deliverance you should trust God for the future 't is part of the Rent that God doth expect for mercy that they that have received mercy should for ever cleave unto God and in all conditions put their trust in him Psal 62. v. 11 12. God hath spoken once anâ— twice have I heard this saith the Psalmist thaâ— power belongs to Gâ—d he hath spoken once and I have heard it twice When God speaks in some remarkable providence why this is the voice oâ— God That power belongs to God and free grace belongs to God 1. Trust God first of all for all the comforts oâ— What we should trust God for life for whatsoever may make your lives comfortable and that because that life is more then alâ— the comforts of it and God that gives the greater will not deny the lesser it is our Saviourâ— Argument to his Disciples in Mat. 6. 25. Therefore I say unto you take no thought for your life what you shall eat or what you shall drink nor yâ—t for your body what you shall put on is not the life more then meat and the body then raiment Is not life more then meat Is not the life of greater vâ—lue then meat drink and clothing more then aâ— the comforts of life it is more in the eye of God the life of one Saint is more unto God then all the creatures in the world Now where God gives life he takes care for life he takes care for the comforts of life See what provision God did make for the beasts in the old Law there was a Law given in the 25. of Deut. v. 4. That they should not muzzle the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the coâ—n and the Apostle does apply it doth the Lord take care for Oxen and so doth he not abundantly care for men and so our Saviour he tells us the Lord takes care of the Ravens and he feeds them Does the Lord take care of Ravens and will he not take care of his Saints Certainly those that fear the Lord he
danger eminent danger at such a time they were nigh to death and what great promises and what great purposes came into their hearts and mouths and yet notwithstanding all that God hath done for them they have turned again to folly nay sometime they have seen and tasted as it were of the power of the world to come that God hath convinced them many times of the excellency of the way and the necessity of walking with him and the happy condition of the Saints they it may be have had some tasts some drops to cool their tongue and though they have had that Miracle of Mercy yet notwithstanding their hearts have gone back again and they have not bin converted and perswaded to come to Christ after a hearty draught of his love and good ness which might abundantly satisfie them others that have seen even Miracles of judgment God many many times hath wrought strong conviction in their conscience they have been as it were for the present hung over the flames of Hell and great thoughts have been darted into their spirits convincing thoughts of the necessity of seeking after faith they have seen as it were the mighty consequence of the soul the mighty consequence of the things of Eternity and yet have worn out all hints that have been made upon conscience and soon returned to their former ways of folly to folly desperate madnes others taken up in vanity taken up in the world others taken up in their own righteousness and think themselves whole and need no Physician notwithstanding all these Miracles of judgment how many are there that have seen them and have felt them and have not been brought home savingly by them But you will say how come this to pass what cannot miracles of works bring home a soul to God what then what miracles I answer first of all God would have it so that he might put a great glory upon his word he will Reason 1 have it known what the word of the Lord is he will make known the power and efficacy of it his word is more dear to him then his work more then all his works of Creation of Providence or Miracles though all perish yet the word of the Lord that endures that abides God will put a great deal of glory upon his word and therefore he hath chosen his word rather then Miracles though men think Oh Miracles are glorious and surely if God shew miracles that will convert that will bring home the soul to God but Gods thoughts are not our thoughts his waies are not our waies he knows that miracles cannot do it therefore he hath chosen his word he will make that glorious in the Conversion of sinners for the most part God works by his word it is true the word it self neither cannot do it the word without the Spirit is a dead letter but God is pleased to send his spirit along with his word when hee intends this work the spirit of the Lord shall come with some word from heaven that shall be effectual to turn the heart of a sinner when Miracles of judgment or mercy cannot do it it seems a weak thing to men but the word of the Lord is mighty and powerful When God is intended to catch any soul to bring it home commonly this is his Net he takes his word and throws that over them and that shall catch them When he is intended to beat down strong holds mighty Towers of lusts sinful imaginations that do exalt themselves against Himself and his Son and his Gospel why God is pleased to use his word as the battery which will do this great and glorious work Secondly It comes to pass from the desperate Reason 2 hardness that is in mans heart that aversness that is in the soul naturally to God it is the hardest matter in the world to bring God and the soul together Oh what striving is there in the gracious heart before it is brought to God it flies off from God and the soul is forced to put Arguments upon himself it may be again and again Why art thou cast down Oh my soul why art thou disquieted why trust in God Why trust in God He repeets it again and again and all too little to trust in God and to have confidence in God but there is much more aversness in a natural mans heart to God there is an infinite distance there is a contrariety and 't is a hard matter to bring off a soul to close with God to submit to him the greatest Miracle in the world cannot do it why when there is much peace in Gods heart there is war in the sinners heart yea when there is peace in Gods mouth too there is war in the sinners mouth when God doth call upon them come and behold the face of my Son and behold the face of my righteousnes I give thee leave to look to either me so thou look to me through my Son yet still he will have his heart draw back and he wil look to God through his own righteousness that of a creature or else run away from God hide himself in his own shame and confusion and dare not come to God And truly 't is a very hard thing to overcome the heart in this cause to trust God to rely upon him the heart is fille'd with slâ—very and 't is a very hard matter to overcome that slavery that is in the heart I tell you Miracles will not do it though it should see never so many Miracles when it is in that condition Miracles would not overcome the heart to trust in God to beleeve in God Miracles they declare tâ—e power of God and the glory of God hold forth the beams of his Majesty ay but there must be a declaration of the love of God and the mercy or God in Christ there must be a discovery of this to the soul before he can come in and submit to God and trust in him before the slavery can be overcome that is in the heart I tell you you must have a word a sure word to go upon for the soul dare not go to God he looking upon himself as stubble and upon God as a consuming fire and still he keeps off from God and therefore nothing but the word of the Lord can perswade the heart to come in and to trust and Application of the Point rely upon God Now let us make some Application Is it so that the greatest Miracle cannot convert a soul to God Why then First of all take notice what a Miracle of iniquity Vse 1 of sin is in every mans heart a stâ—aâ—ge thing that the heart of a man should be so haâ—dned against God and his own good who would think it that there should be so much stoutness in such a poor thing as the heart of man so small a pâ—ece of flesh to be so stout and so hard against God that no sword should be able to pierce it it
work of Christs own hand he sends afflictions for that end to work something in the heart of his people and therefore he is ingaged to see what becomes of his labour and pains that he may not loose his cost and labour When a Physician gives a Purge to a Pâ—tient he is ingaged to see what becomes of his Physick how it works So the Lord Jesus Christ the great Physician he never gives any bitter Purge any bitter Pill of affliction to his servants but he looks upon himself as ingaged to look after it that he may look after his Physick and see how it works the very presence of Jesus Christ will help the Physick if it work too much or too little if the soul dispise the chastening of the Lord or faint under the chastening of the Lord the Lord Jesus can by his presence heâ—p When the Gold Smith puâ—s his Gold into the Furnace then he is ingaged to be present to look after his Gold and so is Jesus Christ when he duts his people into the Furnace of affliction he is ingaged to look after his precious Gold that so none may be lost and consumed in the fire You see the Grounds of the Point Quest If you ask me how doth Christ give out much of himself in affliction By what way or means doth Christ communicate much of himself in affliction Briefly for answer Answ First of all he doth raise up his peoples faith unto a high pitch many times I say he raiseth up their faith to a more then ordinary pitch he clears the eye of faith and strengthens the eye of faith Now the more the eye of faith is cleared and strengthened the more it sees of Jesus Christ Now the Lore he doth mightily strengthen faith many times in affliction faith is strengthened for faith is left alone many times and then it works best all props are taken away God takes away all sence many times and leaves faith to work alone now faith never works better then when 't is alone it meets with a great deal of opposition and faith is strengthened by opposition the nature of faith doth take his rise by opposition the more opposition it meets with the higher it rises The woman of Canaan what opposition did her faith meet with that wâ—ich was a discouragement to her yet from that discouragement her faith takes a rise and because Christ says she is a dog therefore she is confident that she shall have Crumbs of mercy before she goes away When faith is put to extremity then it becomes strong When faith is exercised in extremity I having wavered a long time at last it sees that it must either beleeve or perish beleeve or sink it fares in such a condition as with a man that is to pass over a River he being afraid that the Bridge should not bear him stays long before he dare venture at last he sees the River swell higher and higher he goes to make an offer and puls back his foot he dare not venture at last the water swels up to the neck of the Bridge and he sees there is no way but one with him either he must venture upon the Bridge or else perish in the water and then he considers that many have gone over that way and many have been saved that way and it hath born up many thousands have gone over before well he ventures and so doth many a poor soul waver many times draw back his foot dares not venture upon Christ can he bare me up and will he bear me up may I venture God he puts faith many times to it puts it to such a strait that the soul must venture or perish believe in Christ alone or perish faith here many times takes a rise that 's the first way whereby Christ doth coummunicate much of himself in affliction he many times lifts up faith and strengthens faith Now the more strong faith is the more it sees the more it apprehends of God Secondly He pours out the Spirit of Supplication many times upon his people when they are in low conditions he makes them to cry out to cry a main to him as he cryed to his Father in his distress he puts up his cries He puts up his requâ—sts with strong cries and tears and he was heard of his fathâ—r And so the Lord Jesus he doth pour out of his spirit upon his people that he may stir up their souls in such a way as Christ is taken with Lâ—t me see thy face and let me hear thy voice saith he for sweet is shy voice and thy countenance is comely 't is melody to Christ Christ draws nigh to hear the melody and the nigher Christ draws the more evidently the soul sees him Thirdly The Lord Jesus by affliction or in affliction he draws the hearts of his people nigher Then he doth bring them back many times from their wandrings from their straglings Before I was afflicted I went astray saith David The Lord Jesus by affliction he brings them nigher to himself he causes them to wait more upon him to eye him more to keep closer unto him and to take heed of stragling Now the nigher the soul is brought to Christ the more it sees of him though it be not for our waiting not for our beleeving our walking that Christ doth manifests himself Commonly when Jesus Christ manifests much of himself he will draw his peoples heart to look towards him and wait upon him Fourthly He manifests most of himself in affliction by his word which be sâ—nds along with affliction Commonly I say when Christ doth afflict his people he sends his word along with affliction some word of instruction or some word of promise or some word of Counsel there is some word or other that goes along with affliction that so Christ may teach them before they go out of that stiâ—g Now the word of grace the word of Promise it is the Chariot on which Christ rides he doth by them draw nigh by his word he draws nigh to the soul and therefore when the word comes with evidence Christ comes along with the word and then the soul sees most of Christ because Christ sends such a word to the soul in affliction which word he comes along with in which word he conveys himself to them Quest It may be some of God people will say Alas if this be true that Christ manifests most of himself in affliction what shall become of me I have had no such experience I cannot say that I have had most of God in affliction I have not enjoyed the presence of Christ in many afflictions Answ Why art thou one that hast closed with Christ and received the mercy of the Gospel Why then certainly it cannot be but that thou hast seen something or thou mightest have seen something of Christ in affliction do not say thou seest nothing of Christ in affliction do not say thou hast not enjoyed any of the presence of Christ