afflict or annoy the People of God for God himself is very sensible of it and accordingly he will certainly requite it Acts. 9. 4. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me They that persecute the Servants of Christ they persecute Christ himself who liveth in them and is mystically united to them Look as there is by virtue of the natural union a mutual sympathy betwixt the head and the members the Husband and the Wife so 't is here betwixt Christ and his Saints for he is a most Heb. 4. 15. c. 5. 2. Col. 1. 24. Heb. 13 13. Isa 53. 4. sympathizing compassionate tender-hearted Saviour Those that shoot at the Saints hit Christ their sufferings are held his and their reproaches are counted his He that bore the Saints griefs when he was on Earth really and properly he â—ears them still now he is in Heaven in a way of sympathy Christ in his glorified state hath a very tender sense of all the evil that is done to his Children his members his Spouse and looks upon it as done to himself A great Lord said to another great Lord of the Council in King Henry the Eighths dayes concerning Cranmer Let him alone for the King will See the first part of my Golden Key p. 277 278. 279. more of this not suffer his finger to ake So say I to the persecutors of the day Let the People of God alone for if you do but make their finger ake God will make your heads and hearts ake for it before he has done with you But Tenthly the Lord doth manifest his favourable signal and eminent presence with his People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers by pouring out upon them a greater spirit of prayer and supplication in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers than formerly they have had Isa 26. 16. Lord in trouble have they visited Before they would say a Prayer but now they poured out a Prayer thee they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them They poured out their still prayer The Hebrew word Lachus signifieth properly a soft or low kind of muttering which can hardly be heard The Prophet hereby would intimate to us that in their great troubles and deepest distresses they sighed or groned unto God and prayed in a still and silent manner Saints never visit God more with her prayers than when he visits them most with his rod. Saints never pray with that seriousness that spiritualness that heavenlyness that humbleness that brokenness that servency that frequency as they do when they are under the mighty hand of God and all this is from that signal presence of God that is with them in their greatest troubles deepest distresses c. When it was a day of great trouble of great distress of great danger to the People of God in Germany God poured out a very great spirit of prayer upon Luther at length he comes out of his closet triumphingly saying to his Fellow-labourers and Friends Vicimus vicimus We have overcome we have overcome At which time it is obâ—â—rved that there came out a proclamation from Charles the Fift that none should be further molested for the profession of the Gospel In dayes of â—roubles and distress Luther was so warm zealous and powerful in prayer that made one of his best Friends say Iste vir potuit quod voluit That man could have of God what he pleased Being once very warm in prayer he let fall this transcendent rapture of a daring faith Fiat mea voluntas Let my will be done and then falls off sweetly Mea voluntas Domine quia tua My will Lord because thy will It is reported in the life of Luther that when he prayed it was tanta reverentia ut si Deo tanta fiducia ut si amico It was with so much reverence as if he were praying to God and with so much boldness as if he had been speaking to his Friend I have read of a fountain that at noon day is cold and at midnight it growes warm so many Christians are cold in praying in hearing c. in the day of prosperity but yet are warm and lively in praying and wrestling with God in the day of adversity Manasseh got more by 2 Chr. 33. 11 12 13. Jonah 2. Dan. 6. Ps 84 Luke 23. 42. 2 Ch. 20. 1. to the 13. Isa 37. 14. to the 12. Gen. â—2 6. to the 13. and from v. 24. to 3â— now he oyles the Keâ— of prayers with tears Hos 12. 4. prayer in his iron-chains than ever he got by his golden Crown Afflictions are like the prick at the Nightingals brest that awakes her and that puts her upon her sweet and delightful singing A sincere Christian never prayes so sweetly as when under the rod. One reports of Joachim the Father of the Virgin Mary that he would often say Cibus potus mihi erit oratio Prayer is my meat and drink When a Christian is in trouble then prayer is his meat and drink O what a spirit of prayer was upon Jonah when he was in the Whales belly and upon Daniel when he was among the Lyons and upon David in his wilderness-state and upon the Thief when he was on the Câ—oss and upon Jehoshaphat when Moab and Ammon and others came against him to battel and upon Hezekiah when Sennacherib had invaded Judah and upon Jacob when his brother Esau came to meet him with four hundred bloody cut-throates at his heels As there be two kind of antidotes against poyson viz. hot and cold so there are two kind of antidotes against all the troubles of this life viz. fervent Prayer and holy Patience the one hot the otehr cold the one quenching the other quickning When a Christian under great troubles deep distresses and most deadly dangers prayes more for the sanctification of affliction than the removal of affliction when he prayes more to get off his sins than to get off his chains when he prayes more to get good by the rod than to get free from the rod when he prayes more that his afflictions may be a refining fire than a consuming fire and that his heart may be low and his graces high and that all his troubles may wean him more from this World and ripen him the more for the glory of that upper World It is a great demonstration of the signal presence of God with him in all his troubles and deep distresses But Eleventhly the Lord doth manifest his favourable signal and eminent presence with his People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers by drawing the hearts of his People nearer and closer to himself by all the afflictions troubles distresses and dangers that do attend them in this World Psalm 119. 67. Before I was afflicted I weut astray but now have I kept thy Word God brought David nearer to Chrysostom himself by weeping cross Affliction is fire to purge
place into the Land of the Caldeans for their good To be carried captive to Babylon was doubtless a very sore and matchless affliction Dan 9. 12. And he hath confirmed his words which he spake against us and against our Judges that judged us by bringing upon us a great evil for under the whole Heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem This may be the abridgment of Jeremiah's Lamentations Lam. 1. 12. Is it nothing to you all ye that pass by Behold and see If there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow which is done unto me wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger Cap. 4. 16. For the punishment of the iniquity of the Daughter of my People is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom that was overthrown as in a moment and no hands stayed on her Sodom sustained not any siege from forreign forces they were not vexed and plagued with the Armies of the Chaldeans there was no hand of man in the destruction of Sodom but a hand of Heaven only Sodom was not kept long in pains and misery as I and my People have been but was suddenly overwhelmed and in an instant dispatched all which shews that their miseries and sufferings were incomparable and matchless and that they were so indeed will evidently appear if you please but seriously to consider either the antecedents of it or the consequents of it The antecedents of it what went before their captivity viz. blood and slaughter and dreadful devastations Or if you consider the consequents of it as 1. The enslaving of their persons under a fierce and most cruel enemy 2. The loss of their estates 3. The leaving of their Country and the Land of their nativity 4. A deprivation of the ordinances and worship of God 5. The scorns and reproaches the exaltations and triumphs of their adversaries that pleased and delighted themselves in their captivity and misery These were the See Psal 137. 7. Obadjah 12. 13 14 15 16. Ezek. 25. 6. Psal 44. 13 14. woful consequences of that captivity and yet all the power and malice of men in the world could not hinder these amazing and astonishing tryals from working together for the spiritual and everlasting Deut. 8. 15 16. Psal 119. 71 75. Heb. 12. 10. good of his captive People That God will do his People good by the most terrible dispensations that they are under you may see more and more evident by comparing the Scriptures in the margin together As the Apothecary of poyson makes Triacle to drive out poyson so can God make the poyson of afflictions which in themselves are the curse of the Law to drive out the poyson of sin All the world can never hinder the affliction troubles and evils that befal the People of God See my London's Lamentations p. 34. to P. 53. See also my Mute Christian under the smarting Rod. from working for their good for God do's and wiâ—â—â—y these means 1. Discover sin 2. Prevent sin 3. Imâ—â—tter sin 4. Mortify sin And God will by afflictions troubles c. 1. Revive quicken and recover his Childrens decayed graces 2. Exercise his Childrens graces 3. Increase his Childrens graces 4. Make a further tryal and discovery of his Childrens graces Let the enemies of Sion storm and rage plot and combine c. yet they shall never be able to hinder the greatest troubles the deepest distresses and most deadly dangers from working for the internal and eternal good of all the sincere lovers of God I have read a story of one Pereus who running at another with a sword to kill him by accident the sword only run into his impostume and broke that and so he was instrumental to save him whom he design'd to have kill'd And so all the afflictions and troubles that the righteous meet with they do but serve to cure them of the impostume of pride or of the impostume of earthly mindedness or of the impostume of self love or of the impostume of hypocrisy Look upon the revolution of the Heavens how every Planet moves in its proper orb their motions are not alike but various nay opposite each unto the other hence those different conjunctions oppositions and aspects of the Planets yet by the wheeling round of the primum mobile they are brought about to one determinate point The People of God have many enemies in the World whose course and scope whose aims and ends and actions are not the same yea divers nay advers one thwarting and crossing the other yet the overruling providence so swayes all subordinate and inferiour instruments and enemies that in the midst of their mutual jars they conspire in a sacred harmony as if they were entred into a holy-league or some sacred combination for the good of his Chosen where ever our Enemies be in respect of their places whosoever they be in regard of their Persons and however they are disjoyned in regard of their affections yet all their projects and pracâ—â—â—s shall tend and end in the good of those that love God But Sixthly If God be with us who can be against us I answer None as to hinder our communion and fellowship with the Father Son and Spirit 1 John 1. 3. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ Nunâ—uem minus sâ—lus quam cum selus never less alone than when aloâ—e said the Heathen and may not a Saint say so much more that has communioâ— with Father Soâ— and Spirit My God and I are good company said famous Doctor Sâ—â—s Mans summum bonum stands in his Communion with God as Scripture and experience evidences A Man whose soul is conversant with God shall find more pleasure in a desart in a den in a dungeon in a fiery furnace yea and in the valley of the shadow of death than in the Palace of a Prince There is a sweet and intimate Communion which Believers have with God hence they are said to walk with God Genes 5. 24. cap. 6. 9. and to talk with God as Moses frequently did and to dwell in God 1 John 4. 15. And to sup with God Rev. 3. 20. And to lodge with God Cant. 7. 11. The nearness of this fellowship which we have with the Father is represented by a gradation of allusions in Scripture all which do excellently illustrate this truth There is some kind of participation that a Servant hath with his Master yet greater is that which one Friend hath with another but yet greater is that which a Son hath with the Father but greatest of all is that which the Bride hath with the Bridegroom Now in all these relations we stand to the Father we are his Servants and he is our Lord Exod 12. 7. We are his friends John 15. 14 15. Jam. 2. 23. And he is our friend Cant.
out our dross and to make virtue shine It is a potion to carry away ill humours better than all the benedicta Medicamenta as Physicians call them Master Ascham was a good Schoolmaster to Queen Elizabeth but affliction was a better c. By afflictions God humbles the hearts of his People and betters the hearts of his People and drawes the hearts of his People nearer and closer to himself V. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted The Laced emonians of old grew rich by war and were bettered by it when all other Kingdoms were undone by it The Saints gain by their crosses troubles and distresses Their graces are more raised their experiences are more Rom. 5. 3 4. 2 Cor. 1. 3 4. 5. Hos 2. 14. multiplyed and their comforts are more augmented and their communion with God is more heightned The waves did but lift Noah's Ark nearer to Heaven and the higher the waters grew the more the Ark was lifted up to Heaven The troubles and distresses that the Saints Psalm 73. 13 14 28. meet with do but raise them in their fellowship with the Father Son and Spirit When Tyribazus a noble Persian was arrested at first he drew out his sword and defend himself but when they charged him in the Kings name and informed him that they came from the King to carry him to the King he yeelded willingly So when afflictions arrest a noble Christian he may murmur and struggle at the first but when he considers it is sent from God to bring him to the sight of God the King of glory he willingly and readily submâ—ts to the rod and kisses the rod. All the stones that came thick about Stephens ears did but knock him the closer to Christ the Acts 7. 55. 60. Corner-stone Tiburtius saw Paradise when he walked upon burning coals If there be any way to Heaven on horse back 't is by the cross said Bradford Hos 2. 6. Therefore behold I will hedge up thy way with thorns and make a wall that she shall not find her paths By afflictions difficulties and distresses God hedges up his Peoples way Well what then Mark v. 7. I will go and return to my first Husband that is to God I have run away from him by my sins and now I will return to him again by repentance The grand dessign of God in all the afflictions that befal his People is to bring them nearer and eloser to himself The Church could have no rest at home nor no comfort abroad till by affliction she was brought into the presence and company of her first Husband Hos 6. 1. Come and let us return unto the Hos 5. 14. Lord for he hath torn and he will heal us be hath smitten and he will bind us up The great design of God in playing the Lyons part with his People is to bring them nearer closer to himself and behold how sweetly this blessed design of God did take Come let us return unto the Lord c. The power of God the presence of God and the grace of God is most gloriously manifested by bringing the hearts of his People nearer and closer to himself by all the troubles distresses and dangers that do attend them In the Winter-season all the sap of the tree runs down to the root anâ— when a man is sick all the blood goes to the heart so in the winter of affliction when the soul is running out more and more to God and a getting closer and nearer to God it is all most sure evidence of the signal presence of God with that soul But Twelfthly and lastly the Lord doth manifest his favourable signal and eminent presence with his People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers by rendering them invincible and unconquerable under all their troubles distresses and dangers Rev. 12. 11. And they overcame him by the blood of Rev. 14. 1 2 3 4 2 Chr. 32. 7 8 21 22. the Lamb and by the word of their tâ—stimony and they loved not their lives unto the death By vertue of Christ's blood the Saints are made victorious both over Satan and all his instruments they set little by their lives in respect of Christ his truth yea they despised them in comparison Sulpitius Rupertus saith that God did more gloriously triumph in Saint Lowâ—ence his patience and constancy when he was broiled on the Gridiron than if he had saved his body from burning by a miracle His faith and patience made him invinâ—ible of Gods glory and the great things of the Gospel they made so little account of them that they exposed them to all hazards and dangers for the cause of Christ In the dayes of that bloody persecutour Diocletian the Christians shewed as glorious power in the faith of Martyrdom as in the faith of Miracles The valour of the patients and the savagness of the persecutors striving together till both exceeding nature and belief bred wonder and astonishment in beholders and readers It was a good saying of Cyprian speaking of the Saints and Martyrs in those dayes Occidi poterant sed vinci non poterant They may kill them but they cannot overcome them Rev. 17. 14. These shall make war with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them for he is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful The presence of the Lamb has and will make the Saints victorious in all the ages of the world Modestus Lieutenant to Julian the Emperour said to Julian While they suffer they deride us saith he and the torments are more fearful to them that stand by than to the tormented there is no end instances of this nature There is nothing more clear in Scripture and in History than this that the signal presence of the Lord with his People in all their great troubles deep distresses and most deadly dangers hath made them invincible and unconquerable But now others that have been destitute of this favourable signal and eminent presence of the Lord in times of great troubles deep distresses and most deadly dangers how have they fled when none have pursued them how faint-hearted how greatly daunted and how sadly discouraged have they been how have they turn'd their backs and quitted the field and run from their colours without striking one stroke Many in Cyprian's time were overcome before the encounter for they revolted to Idolatry before any persecution once assailed them In the Palatinat when there was a warm persecution scarce one Professor of twenty stood out but fell to Popery as fast as leaves fall from the trees in Autumn And so in the persecution under Decius many Professors that were rich and great in the World they soon shrunk from Christ and turn'd their backs upon his wayes It is Gods favourable signal and eminent presence with his People that makes them stand to it in an evil day
5. 1. an able friend a sure friend a faithful friend a close friend a constant friend Plutarch's reasoning is good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Friends have all things in common But God is our Friend Ergo we cannot want a most rare speech from a poor Heathen He is our Father Isa 63. 16. cap. 64 8. And we are his children Isa 63. 8. He is our Bridegroom and we are his Bride Isa 61. 10. Hosea 2. 19 20. Isa 62. 5. And therefore it is no pride nor presumption for Believers to say our fellowship is with the Father Our fellowship with Jesus Christ is set forth by the Parable of Matth. 22. 1 2 3. Luke 15. the Wedding-Feast and by the Entertainment of the Prodigal Son and by such relations or various similitudes as carry communion in their bosoms as of the head and the members root and branches foundation and building husband and wife The head hath communion with the body by sense influence motion The root with the branches by leaf sap and juice The foundation with the building by support and strength The husband with the wife by love and consent Thus it is betwixt Christ and the Believers 1 Cor. l. 9. God is faithful by whom ye are called to the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ All Believers have fellowship with Christ whether they be strong or weak rich or poor Gal. 3. 28. 1 Pet. 2. 2. John 17. 20 21 22 23. high or low ripe and well grown or new born babes and very tender The head hath conjunction with all the members and an influence into all the members even the little Toes as well as into the strongest Arms and the root in the vertue of it extends to the weakest branches as well as to the strongest limbs of the Tree Communion is as large as union all Believers are united to Christ and all Believers have communion with Christ Though one star exceeds another in magnitude yet all are alike seated in the heavenly Orb and though one member be larger in the body than another yet every one hath an equal conjunction with the head And as Believers have fellowship with the Father and the Son so they have fellowship with the Spirit also every Believers communion extends to all the Persons in the Trinity 2 Cor. 13. 14. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen Now no Men no Devils no wrath no rage no malice no enmity no afflictions no oppositions do persecutions no troubles no trials no bonds no banishment can interrupt or hinder a Believers communion with the three Persons in Trinity But Seventhly If God be with us who can be against us I answer None so as to hinder our private Trade to Heaven All the world can never hinder a sincere Christian from driving a secret Trade with Heaven as you may see by comparing the Scriptures in the Margin together Psalm 3. 2 3 4. Psalm 6. 8 9 10. Psalm 138. 3 Lan. 3. 55. to 59. A Christian â—an as well hear without ears and live without food and fight without hands and walk without feet as he is able to live without secret Prayer Secret Prayer is the life of our lives the soul the sweet the heaven of all our enjoyments of all the duties of Religion Secret Prayer is the most soul-sweetning soul-strengthning soul-nourishing soul-fatning soul-refreshing soul-satisfying and soul-encouraging duty in all the Ages of the world the Saints have kept the Trade in spite of all opposers and persecutors in prisons in dungeons in dens in bonds in banishments on racks and in the very flames the Saints have still kept up this secret Trade as you may see at large in my Treatise on closet Prayer called The privy Key of Heaven to which I refer you But Eightly If God â—e with us who can be against us I answer None so as to deprive us of the sweet Testimonie of our renewed consciences 2 Cor. 1. 12. For our rejoycing or boasting is this the testimony of our conscience 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 boasting or glorying that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world and more abundantly to you-ward They were in great and pressing troubles in Asia Verse the 8. and yet they boasted in the testimony of their consciences they were under a Sentence of death in themselves Verse 9 and yet gloried in the testimony of their consciences Joy of conscience is the greatest joy as trouble of conscience is the greatest trouble when conscience bears its testimony with us and for us how full of joy is the soul even in the midst of the deepest sorrows and greatest sufferings Conscientia pura semper secura a good conscience hath sure confidence and he that hath it sits Noah like mediis tranquillus in undis Quiet in the greatest combustions freed if not from the common destuction yet from the common distraction A good conscience is an impregnable Fort it fears no colours it will enable a man to stand against the fiercest batteries of men and divels A good conscience will fill a man with courage and comfort in the midst of all his troubles and distresses Paul had enough to say for himself when standing before the Council he could say Men and brethren I have lived in all good conscience Acts 23. 1 2. before God until this day And though as soon as he had said so Ananiâ—s commanded to smite him on the mouth yet he bears up bravely because his conscience did not smite him but acquit him That man can never want musick whose conscience speaks in consort and is harmonious with himself A good conscience is a Paradise in a wilderness it is riches in poverty and health in sickness and strength in weakness and liberty Isa 38. 3. in bonds and life in death A good conscience will enable a man to triumph over innumerable evils yea over death it self Death to such a person is not the King of terrors but the King of desires A good conscience Phil. 1. 23. will be a Christians best friend in the worst times it will be a sword to defend him a staff to support him a pillar of fire to lead him a Joseph to nourish him a Dorcas to cloath him a Canaan to refresh him and a feast to delight him He that is of a merry heart hath a Prov. 15. 15. continual feast Now there is nothing that can make a man Divinely merry below a good conscience A good conscience saith one is Thalamuâ— Dei palatium Aug. Ser. 10. ad Fratres in Eâ—em Christi habitaculum Spiritus Sancti Paradisus delitiarum The bed of God the palace of Christ the habitation of the holy Ghost the Paradise of delights and wherein every Tree yieldeth a Feast Tranquillitas conscientiae Ambros Offic. l. 2. c. 1.
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
men of the greatest measures and degrees of holiness have alwayes enjoyed the greatest measures of the Divine presence witness Enoch Genes 5. 24. Noah Genes 6. 8 9 17 18. So Abraham Jacob Joseph Job David Daniel John Paul c. they were all famous for holiness and accordingly they had a famous presence of God with them as hath been shewed in part and might more fully have been discovered but that the press calls upon me to hasten to a conclusion and therefore I shall now but hint at things consider First That the more holy any person is the more excellent that person is all corruptions are diminutions of excellency the more mixt any thing is the more abased it is the more you mix your wine with water the more you abase your wine and the more you mix your gold with tin the more you abase your gold But the purer your wine is the richer and better your wine is and the purer your gold is the more glorious and excellent it is so the purer and holier any person is the more excellent and glorious that person is Now the more Divinely excellent and glorious any person is the Dan. 9. 23. more he is beloved of God and the more he is the delight of God and the more he shall have of the presence of God Consider Secondly The more holy any person is the more that person pleases the Lord Fruitfulness in holiness fills Heaven with joy the Husbandman is not so much pleased with the fruitfulness of his fields nor the Wife with the fruitfulness of her womb as God is pleased with the fruitfulness of his People in grace and holiness Now certainly the more God is pleased with any person the more he will be present with that person they commonly have most of our presence that most please us Heb. 11. 5. Genes 5. 24. The Hebrew word ' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from ' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is in Hithpael and notes a continual walking with God without ceasing Enoch had this testimony before his translation that he pleased God or gave God content as the original word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports Enoch eyed God at all times in all places and in all companies and this pleased God Where ever Enoch was his eye was still upon God Enoch walked constantly with God his whole life was but one continued day of walking with God and this pleased God Enoch kept himself from the corruptions and pollutions of the times which were very great he was not carried away with the stream of the times he kept a constant counter-motion to the corrupt courses of the times and this pleased God Enoch maintained and kept up a clear choice and standing communion with God and this pleased God Enoch made it his business his work his Heaven to approve his heart to God and his wayes to God and this pleased God Enoch was very serious and studious to avoid every thing that might be a dishonour to God or displeasing to God and this pleased God Enoch had great and high and honourable thoughts of God and this pleased God God was so pleased and taken with Enoch that he translates God took him up in a whirl wind say the Hebrew Doctors as Elias was he changed his place but not his company for he still walked with God as on Earth so in Heaven him from Earth to Heaven from a gracious to a glorious presence It was a singular mercy for God to be with Enoch on Earth but it was a far more glorious mercy for Enoch to be with God in Heaven The gracious presence of God is very desirable but the glorious presence of God is most comfortable Enoch pleases God and God translates Enoch We can never have those Friends near enough to us who take a pleasure and delight to please us So here Enoch was a bright morning Star a rising Sun for vertue and holiness and therefore God could not satisfie himself to speak after the manner of men that he should live at so great a distance from him and therefore translates him from Earth to Heaven Well my Friends the greater measures of holiness you reach too the more you will please God and the more you please God the more you shall be sure to enjoy of the presence of God Consider Thirdly The more holy any person is the more like to God he is and the more like to God he is doubtless 1 Pet. â— 15 16. Leâ—ir 11. 44. Can. 19. 2. and 20. 7. the more he is beloved of God it is likeness both in nature and grace that alwayes draws the strongest love Though every Child is the Father multiplied the father of a second Edition yet the Father loves him best and delights in him most who is most like him and who in feature spirit and action does most resemble him to the life and so does the Father of Spirits also he alwayes loves them best who in holiness resemble him Heb. 12. 9. most There are four remarkable things in the beloved Disciple above all the rest 1. That he lay nearâ—st to John 13. 23. Cap. 18. 16. Cap. 19 26 27. Mark 14. 50. Christ's bosom at the Table 2. That he followed Christ closest to the high Priests Palace 3. That he stood close to Christ when he was on the Cross though others had basely deserted him and turned their backs upon him 4. That Christ commended the care of his Virgin Mother to him Now why did Christs desire love and delight run out with a stronger and a fuller tide towards John than to the rest of the Disciples doubtless it was because John did more resemble Christ than the rest it was because John was a more exact picture and lively representation than the others were Now the more any man in holiness is like to Christ the more any man in holiness resembles Christ the more that man shall enjoy of the presence of Christ the more that man shall lay in the bosom of Christ The Father loves to be most with that Child that is like him most So here As ever you would enjoy the presence of God in your greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers be sure that you keep up holiness in your hearts and lives be sure that you grow in holiness and flourish in holiness and then you shall be sure of the presence of God with you in all your troubles and deep distresses A holy God will never leave the holy Christian and thus much for this use of Exhortation The last use of all is a use of comfort and consolation to all the Pâ—â—ple of God in their greatest troubles and deepest distresses Now here consider First of all That God himself hands out this as a rare comfort of his People in all their troubles distresses and dangers viz. That he will be graciously present with them in the midst of all their sorrows and sufferings Isa 43. 2. Psalm 91.
me Suidas saith Job was clouded and to his sense and feeling forsaken seven â—ears But you are not bound to make this an Article of your Faith not utterly Christ was forsaken for a few houres David for a few months and Job for a few years for the tryal and exercise of his faith and patience but then they all sent up a mighty cry to Heaven Leave them God did to their thinking but forsake them he did in regard of vision but not in regard of union The promise is that God will draw near to us if we draw near to him Jam. 4. 8. Draw nigh to God in duty and he will draw nigh to you in mercy Sanctify him and he will satisfie you Prayer is the only means to supply all defects it gets all and makes up the loss of all as a gracious poor women said in her distress I have no Friend but I have prayer that will get favour with my God so long as I can find a praying heart God will I am sure of that find a pittying heart and a helping hand It is not the length but the strength of prayer it is not the labour of the lip Jer. 29. 12 13 14. but the travel of the heart that prevails with God it is not the Arithmetick of our prayers how many they are nor the Rhetorick of our prayers how eloquent they be nor the Geometry of our prayers how long they be nor the Musick of our prayers how sweet they be nor the Logick of our prayers how methodical they be that will carry the day with God it is only fervency importunity in prayer that will make a man prevalent with God Fervent prayer hits the mark carries the day and pierceth the walls of Heaven though like those of Gaza Jam. 5. 16 17. Luk. 18. Isa 45. 2. made of Brass and Iron The Child has got many a kiss and many a hug by crying if God has withdrawn his presence the best the surest and the readiest way to recover it is to send up a mighty cry to Heaven But Sixthly Be sure you don't take up your rest in any Jer. 50. 6. Creature in any comfort in any contentment in any worldly enjoyment When the presence of God is withdrawn from you say as Absalom What is all this to me 2 Sam. 14. 24 28 32 33. so long as I am banished my Fathers presence so long as I can't see the Kings face When the Mother sees that the Child is taken with the baby the rattle the fiddle she comes not in sight If you take up your rest in any of the babies in any of the poor things of this world God will certainly keep out of sight he will never honour them with his countenance and presence who take up in any thing below himself below his favour below his presence I have read of a devout Pelgrim who going up to Jerusalem was very kindly and nobly entertained in several places but still he cryed out O but this is not Jerusalem this is not Jerusalem So when you cast your eye upon thiis Creature or that O then cry out This is not the presence of God this is not the presence of God when you begin to be tickled taken with this and that enjoyment with this or that contentment O then remember this is not the presence of God this is not the presence of God! Here is a gracious yoke-fellow here are hopeful Children here is a pleasant habitation here is brave air here is a gainful trade c. but what are all these to me so long as my Sun is set in a cloud and God has withdrawn his presence from me Remember this once for all that the whole world is but a barren Psal 63. 1 2 3. wilderness without the countenance and presence of God But Seventhly and lastly Patiently and quietly wait upon him in the way of his Ordinances for the recovery of his Exod. 20. 24. Mat. â—8 20. Isa 64. 5. Psal â—7 4. Psal 65. 4. Revel 2. 1. Psal 40. 1 2 3. Isa 8. 17. Mich. 7. 7 8 9. Isa 26. 8 9. presence Consult the Scriptures in the margin Here God dwells here he walks here he makes known his glory here he gives forth his love here he vouchsafes his presence when God is withdrawn your great business is to prize Ordinances and to keep close to ordinances till God shall be pleased to lift up the light of his countenance and vouchsafe his presence to you you will never recover the Divine presence by neglecting ordinances nor by slighting ordinances nor by turning your back upon ordinances nor by entertaining low thoughts of ordinances He that thinks ordinances to be needless things concludes 1. That the taking away of the Kingdom of Heaven from the Jews was no Mat. 21. 43. Joh. 5. 2. to 10. great judgment 2. That the bestowing of it upon other People is no great mercy If God be gone 't is good to lay at the pool till he returns There are many dear Christians who have lost their God for a time but after a time they have found him again in the way of his ordinances and therefore let no temptation draw thee off from ordinances say here I will live here I will lie here I will wait at the pool of ordinances till the Lord shall return in mercy to my soul I shall follow this Discourse of the Divine presence with my earnest prayers that it may from on high be so signally blest as that it may issue in the furtherance of the internal and eternal good both of Writer Reader and Hearer Thus ends the SECOND PART of the Golden Key Soli Deo Gloria in Aeternum FINIS THE TABLE A. Of Adam THAT there was a Covenant of Works or a reciprocal Covenant betwixt God and Adam together with all his Posterity before Adam sell from his primitive Holyness c. Is proved by five Arguments pag. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Of Christs Appearance Three Reasons of Christs Appearance in the presence of the Father for us pag. 168 169 Of the Articles agreed on between the Father and the Son First of the Articles on the Fathers part Now there are seven Things which God the Father promiseth to do for Jesus Christ upon his undertaking the work of our Redemption 1. First That he will give him the Spirit in an abundant measure pag. 129 130 131 132 2. Secondly That he will invest Jesus Christ with a threefold Office and that he will anoint him and furnish him with what ever was requisit for the discharge of those three Offices pag. 132 133 See the Offices of Christ 3. Thirdly That he will give to Jesus Christ assistance support protection help and strength to carry on the great work of Redemption pag. 142 143 144 4. Fourthly That he shall not labour in vain and that the work of Redemption shall prosper in his hand c. pag. 144
145 146 5. Fifthly God the Father promiseth to Jesus Christ Rule Dominion and Soveraignty pag. 146 147 6. Sixthly God the Father promiseth to accept of Jesus Christ in his Mediatory Office pag. 147 148 7. Seventhly God the Father promiseth highly to exalt Jesus Christ and nobly to reward him and everlastingly to glorify him pag. 148 149 150 151 152 Secondly of the Articles of the Covenant on Christs part Now there are six observable things on Christs side that we are to take special notice of 1. First Christ having consented and agreed with the Father about our Redemption accordingly he applies himself to the discharge of that great and glorious work by taking a body by assuming our Nature pag. 152 153 154 155 156 157 2. Secondly Jesus Christ promiseth to God the Father that he will freely readily and cheerfully accept undertake and faithfully discharge his Mediatory Office to which he was designed by him in order to the Redemption and Salvation of all his chosen Ones pag. 158 159 3. Thirdly Jesus Christ promises and engages himself that he will confide depend rely and trust upon his Father for help and assistance to go through his work c. pag. 159 160 161 162 4. Fourthly Jesus Christ promises and engages himself to the Father that he would bear all and suffer all that should be laid upon him and that he would ransome poor Sinners and fully satisfy Divine Justice by his blood and death c. pag. 162 163 5. Fifthly The Lord Jesus Christ was very free ready willing and careful to make good all the Articles of the Covenant on his side and to discharge all the works agreed on for the Redemption and Salvation of the Elect. pag. 163 164 165 6. Sixthly Christ having performed all the Conditions of the Covenant on his part he now peremptorily insists upon it that his Father should make good to him and his the Conditions of the Covenant on his part Christ having finished his work looks for his reward pag. 165 166 167 168 169 7. Seventhly and lastly The whole Compact and agreement between God the father and our Lord Jesus Christ about the Redemption of poor Sinners souls was really and solemnly transacted in open Court or as I may say in the high Court of Justice above in the presence of the great publick Notary of Heaven viz. the Holy Ghost c. pag. 169 170 Of Divine Assistance None can be so against us as to hinder the Assistance of God at a dead lift II. Part pag. 77 78 79 B. Of special Blessings Some special Blessings are alwayes annexed to the signal presence of God II. Part pag. 209 210 Six several Books mentioned in the Scripture First the Book of Nature is mentioned in the Scripture pag. 184 185 Secondly there is the Book of Providence wherein all particulars are registred even such as Atheists may count trivial and inconsiderable pag. 185 Thirdly there is the Book of Mens afflictions this some account as an entire Book of it self pag. 185 186 187 Fourthly there is the Book of Conscience pag. 187 188 Fifthly there is the Book of Scripture and of all Books this Book is the mâ—st precious Book pag. 188 189 190 Sixthly there is the Book of Life pag. 190 191 192 193 Bow None can be so against us as to bring us to their Bow II. Part. p. 66 67 68 C. Of the special Care of God The Saints are a People of Gods special Care II. Part pag. 143 144 145 Of Comfort The signal presence of the Lord with his People in their greatest Troubles yields them the greatest Comfort II. Part pag. 145 146 147 208 209 Of Communion with God None can be so against us as to hinder our Communion with the Father Son and Spirit II. Part pag. 72 73 74 Of the testimony of Conscience None can be so against us as to hinder the testimony of our renewed Consciences II. Part pag. 74 75 76 77 Of Crowns First of a Crown of Righteousness II. Part pag. 95 96 97 98 Secondly of the Crown of Life This Crown of Life signifies six things II. Part pag. 98 99 100 101 102 103 3. Of an incorruptible Crown II. Part p. 103 to 106 4. Of a Crown of Life II. Part 106 107 Of the two Covenants First that God hath commonly dealt with Man in the way of a Covenant pag. 1 2 Secondly all Men are under a Covenant of Grace or a Covenant of Works pag. 2 Thirdly that the Covenant of Grace was so legally dispensed to the Jews that it seemes to be nothing else but the repetition of the Covenant of Works pag. 2 3 Fourthly that a right notion of the Covenant according to the Originals of the Old and New Testament will conduce much to a right understanding of Gods Covenant the Originals of the Old and New Testament largely opened pag. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Fifthly that there was a Covenant of Works or a reciprocal Covenant betwixt God and Adam together with all his Posterity pag. 10 11 Q. But how may it be evidenced that God entred into a Covenant of Works with the first Adam before his fall there being no mention of such a Covenant in the Scripture that we read of Five Answers are returned to this Question pag. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Sixthly there is a new Covenant a second Covenant or a Covenant of Grace betwixt God and his People pag. 18 19 Of the Covenant of Grace That the Covenant of Grace is the same for substance now to us since Christ was exhibited as it was to the Jews before he was exhibited but the manner of administration is different upon three grounds pag. 3 That there is a Covenant betwixt God and his People is evinced by 8. unanswerable Arguments pag. 19. to 25 Seventhly and lastly that it is a matter of high importance for all mortals to have a clear and right understanding of that Covenant under which they are pag. 25 26 27 28 29 First the Covenant of Grace is stiled an everlasting Covenant in two respects pag. 31 32 33 34 The Covenant which God makes for himself to us consists mainly in six things pag. 34 35 The Covenant which God doth make for us to himself consists mainly in ten things pag. 35 36 Secondly the Covenant of Grace under which the Saints stand is sometimes stiled a Covenant of Life pag. 36 Thirdly the Covenant of Grace under which the Saints stand is sometimes stiled a Holy Covenant pag. 36 37 Fourthly the Covenant of Grace under which the Saints stand is sometimes stiled a Covenant of Peace pag 37 38 39 Fifthly the Covenant of Grace under which the Saints stand is sometimes stiled a new Covenant and that in eight respects pag. 39 40 41 Sixthly the Covenant of Grace under which the Saints stand is sometimes stiled a Covenant of Salt pag. 41 42 Seventhly the Covenant of Grace under which the Saints stand is sometimes stiled a sure