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
and remembers that they are but dust and therefore he pities them He knows how unable they are to bear and how little time they are able to hold out and therefore somtimes the Lord Jesus hath spoken comfortable words to his people when they have expressed a great deal of weakness in them See in Mat. 26. when the Disciples could not watch with him at the 41 verse they could not watch with him one houre though he was in great extremity and they might have expected a sharp reproof from him the Lord Jesus he looks upon them and he pities them he rather excuses them and comforts them Oh The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak He knows what the weakness of flesh is for he was partaker of our flesh and blood he remembers it since he was in the days of his flesh how weak the flesh is he is partaker of our flesh and blâ—od saith the Apostle he knows what it is for a poor creature to grapple with fears with inward fears ever since he poured out his strong cries unto his Father with tears none in the world are so sensible of afflâ—ction as they that have gone under the same affliction themselves the Lord Jesus he is sensible of all the weakness of all the sorrow of his people he knows by experience what they mean he knows what it is to be weak and he knows what it is to be in fear he knows what it is to grapple with the wrath of his Father he knows what it is to want his Fathers Countenance he knows what it is to be acquainted with sorrow with grief there was none so acquainted with them as he See what the Prophet Isaiah says of him in Isaiah 53. vers 3. He was despised and rejected of men a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief and we hid as it were our face from him A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief grief and sorrow were his greatest acquaintance when he was upon earth they were his acquaintance from the beginning of his life and they were his companions from first to last from the wombe to the Cross they were the acquaintance that Christ could never shake off his old acquaintance when all his friends lest him when his Disciples leâ—t him in affliction did they leave him but his grief did not leave him he was always acquainted with it and he was acquainted with all sorrows with all grief grief of all sorts he knows what spiritual sorrows are and therfore he wil pity people his under them a natural man cannot pity a poor creature that groans under spiritual sorrow he knows not what they mean what it is for a poor creature to groan under corruption and cry out of the want of a believing heart and of the want of Gods presence but now the Lord Jesus is acquainted with these sorrows also he had experience of them in his own person The woman that hath been in Travel pities another that is in the same case the Lord Jesus he newly come out of Travel he remembers his pangs still and therefore he pities door creatures when they groan under grief and sorrows for he was acquainted with them himself 2. Again secondly He knows they have most need of his presence in afflicted conditions because they are most nigh to temptations and he knows what temptations are he knows the strength of Tempâ—â—tions he knows that it is the Divils policy to drive home temptation to the spirit of a poor creature at that time when it groans under affliction and therefore he knows that then a poor creature if ever stands in need of the presence of the Lord Jesus when Satâ—â— stands at the left hand to resist Christ had need to stand at the right hand to comfort and support and strengthen and therefore the Apostle saith that he was tempted in the days of his flesh in that 2 of Hebrews vers 18. Being tempted he â—â— able to succour those that are tempted he knows by experience what it is for a poor creature to bâ— tempted he knows that temptations are most grievous to a gracious heart Temptations are worse then afflictions and therefore though a poor creature stands in need of succour in affliction yet much more in temptation When temptation goes along with affliction Oh then the Lord Jesus knows that there is need of his prâ—sence When a City is besieged and the Inhabitants within it be disquieted and the enemie hath raised their Batteries and makes breat â—s upon the Walls and their Provision grows low Then if ever they have need of relief Truly so it is with a pour tempted soul when it is afflicted Batteries are made against the Spirit provision strength is little knows not how to hold out then the Lord Jesus he is their friend and therefore in such conditions he usually makes hast to afford his presence That the first Groâ—nd of the Point The Lord Jesus knows if ever then they have need of his presence when they are in low conditions for then the flesh is weak and then temptations are strong Again secondly The Lord Jesus manifests most of himself to his people in low conditions because he remembers the kindness of his Father when he was in the same condition I say he remembers the kindness of his Father unto him when he was in low conditions now he will requite this kindness upon them that kindness that God the Father did shew to Jesus Christ when he was in affliction and in low conditions I say be will requite it upon his people it makes deep impressions upon the heart of Christ the love that his Father shewed him when he was here in the days of his flesh when he was in weakness and was in perplexity and was in distress he can not forget it You know what impression Jonanathans kindnesse made upon David because Jonathan shewed him kindnesse when he was in distress his kindness made impression upon his heart thaâ— he could not forget it he inquired for some of his children that he might requite the love of their Father which he shewed to him when he was in low conditions Jonathan shewed him kindness when Saul persecuted David Jonathan stept between David and him and was as a faithful friend to David and therefore saith David I will requite his kindnesse if I can finde but one poor Mephibosheth that calls himself a dead Dog yet David shews a great deal of kindnesse to him to requite the kindnesse of Jonathan And so doth Jesus Christ he goes up and down to inquire in the world where is the Seed of God the Sons and Daughters of the most High that I might shew them kindness for my Fathers sake Oh he shew'd me kindnesse when I was in distress and therefore I will do the like to them when they ere in affliction and low conditions Oh saith the Lord Jesus I remember since your Father and my Father took care of me when I was helpless he
formed me in the womb and he took me out of the womb he guarded me all my life loâ—g Thirty years and upward when I was in the midst of the world with Bears and Tygers I remember how he sent his Angels to comfort me when I was wearied out by Satans temptations Nay I remember when he stood by me when all left me and fled when all left me that I had none in the world to stand by me the Fatheâ— stood by me and therefore I will lay all this kindness upon you his seed The last kindnesâ— that the Father shewed to the Son it took mighty impression upon him that his Father did not leâ—ve him alone but was always with him And therefore Christ he often makes mention of it iâ— that 16 of John vers 32. The Father hath not lefâ— me alone but he is with me all my life long he never left him alone yea when he was in his affliction and low conditions the Father did not leave him alone See that 16. of John vers 32. Bâ—hold the hour comes yea is now come that ye shaâ—â— be scattered every man to his own and shall leave me alone and yet I am not alone because the Father is with me This made deep impression upon the heart of Christ that the Father did not leave him alone when he was in his affliction when he was persecuted when all his freinds upon earth fled from him then the Father did not leave him And therefore the Lord Jesus Christ he did often retain this Kindnesse and he will not leâ—â—â— thâ— Sons and Daughters of God alone in low conditions but he will be present with them though they be in the fire and water he will be sure to comfort them with the same consolation wherewith his Father comforted hâ—m when he was in the same distress That 's the second Ground of the Point Thirdly Christ will shew most of his presence iâ— afflicted conditions because he remembers his Ingagement he is ingaged then to manifest most of himself First of all He is ingaged by his Promise and Câ—venant He hath promised to be with them always he hath promised never to leave them nor forsake them as the Father promised to be with him in trouble so he hath promised to be with them You may see his Fathers promise to him in Psalm 91. 15. He shall call upon me and I will answer him I will be with him in trouble I will deliver him and honour him Now as the Father made a promise to be with the Son in trouble so hath he made a promise to be with his people in trouble See that promise in the 43. of Isaiah vers 1. 2. how he hath promised to be with his people in all Tribulations in the midst of the fire and water and fiery try al 's nothing shall separate betwixt him and them he is always making good his Promise and therefore he will fulfill it to them Secondly He is ingaged by a Law of Love There is a Law of Love written in the heart of Christ he takes delight in his people they are â—â—e joy of his soul in the 16. Psalm at the bâ—ginning of it it is spoken there of Christ All my delight is in the Saints saith Jesus Christ and these that are excellent upon Earth All my delight is in them next to the delight that Christ hath in his Father to that Infinite Incomprehensible Light his delight is in his Saints in his people and therefore because he loves them because he delights in them he will be present with them he loves their presence whereever they are he loves to be with them though their condition be never so sad though they be in prison it shall be a Heaven to Christ because he bears dear love to them he loves to see their face he loves to hear their voice he loves to injoy Communion with them he loves to be giving out of himself to them and therefore be made it his great request before he went to Heaven that his Father would make room for his people as you may see in John 14. beginning of the third verse And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there you may be also he tells them he would have them with him in the same place they shall enjoy the same glory and they shal have no worse room then he And he besought his Father John 17. 24. That those who were given him of his Father might be with him Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me for thou â—o â—eâ—st me before the foundations of the world Father I desire that they may be with me I desire thou shouldst bid them as welcome to Heaven as thou bidst me and that they may pâ—â—take of the same glory as I do that they may â—e in the same place that they may always see â—y 〈◊〉 and I may see their faces for my delight is in them Heaven could not content Christ withâ—â—â— the presence of his Saints and it is a second Heaven unto Christ to be present with them here upon earth wherever they are or whatever their condition though be never so low though they be in prison in chains in the stocks the Lord Jesus loves to be with them he carries them about in his heart and therefore he cannot be absent from them Again Thirdly He is ingaged by a Law of Friendship to be most of all present with them in their low conditions the Law of friendship binds him to it Affliction is a Touch-stone it discovers fained friends and real friends it shews whether a friend be Cordial or no By the Law of Friendship a man is bound to stick to a friend in the midst of all his adversity and then there is most need of a friend It was a reproof unto Hushai that Absalom gave him in that second of Samuel 16. 17. Is this thy kindness to thy friend why went you not along with your friend David was a friend to Hushai and saith Absolom to Hushai Is this thy kindness to thy friend why wentest thou not along with thy friend This shall never be said of the Lord Jesus Christ that he broke the Law of friendship It shall never be said of Christ is this thy kindness to thy friend Why wentest thou not along with thy friend Thov wentest not along with thy friend but thou forsookest thy friend when thy friend had most need of thee no the Law of Friendship is iâ— Christs heart and he will keep it and therefore he will stick close and most close to his people when they are in low conditions Again Fourthly There is a fourth ingagement He is present with his people most of all in low conditions in afflicted conditions because he is ingaged to lâ—ok after hâ—s work 't is the
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
Jonathans son took him and set him at his Table so doth Jesus Christ deal he remembers the kindness of his Father the kindness the Father shewed him in his low condition says he is there none of the seed of God are there none of the children of the most high that I may shew kindness to for the fathers sake Because he shewed kindness to me in my low condition and though he can hear of none but poor lame Mephibosheth yet he shews kindness to them takes them into communion with himself sets them at Table with him and in the midst of their low conditions will afford his presence because his Father their Father did not leave him alone when he was in low conditions Again The Lord Jesus he is bound unto this by many ingagements I say he is bound to be present with his people in low conditions He is bound by his Word by his Promise by the Law of love that is in his heart All my delight is in the Saints and those that be excellent it is a second Heaven to him next to the presence of the Father he delights to be in the presence of his Saints and therefore because he delights in them he will be present with them though they be in the prison in chains and fetters though they be in the fiery Furnace yet it is a Heaven unto Christ to be with them for all his delight is in his Saints He is bound also by the Law of friendship to be with them in low conditions a friend is tryed in adversity it was a reproof to Hushai when he left David in straits and therefore says Absolom is this thy kindness to thy friend that thou wouldst not go along with thy friend It shall never be said so of the Lord Jesus it shall never be said of him Why didst thou not go along with thy friend for he will go along with his friend in the greatest adversity he will not leave them but afford them his presence Again He is bound because his work is in hand A Physician is bound to look after his Patient because he hath given him a Purge And so the The Lord Jesus is bound to look after his Patient when he hath given him a Purge Gold-Smith is bound to look after his Gold when he hath put it into the Furnace And so the Lord Jesus is bound to look after his Gold when 't is in the Furnace of affliction But I come to the Application First of all for Instruction This lets us see the wonderful unparalel love of Jâ—sus Christ I beseech Vse you take notice of it and get your hearts affected with it here is such love as creatures cannot shew a friend that will never leave one a friend that will always afford his presence in the greatest straits afford his presence that 's a friend indeed a man may be brought into such conditions as all his friends may forsake him all men upon earth may leave him David was left of his best friends Father and Mother forsook him and Jesus Christ was left of his best frsends they all forsook him and fled and truly this may be the condition of any man upon earth cast out and forsaken of friends of most friends of best friends will a friend venture his own life for a friend will a man keep his friend when some deadly infectious disease is upon him when he hath a plagâ—e sore upon him will he â—hen lye down in the bosome of his friend when a man is condemned to the flames of fire when a man is cast into the fire will a friend follow him into that condition Truly such friends you will hardly finde upon earth but this is the friendship of Jesus Christ to his people when he first lookt upon them he saw how many plague sores infectious diseases were upon them and yet that could not hinder him from drawing nigh and affording his presence and from working mightily by his spirit upon their hearts Nay when they are brought to fiery tryals to great afflictions yet even then he will not leave them and he will not forsake them and this makes the love of Christ the more remarkable that he should thus condescend when he was at the highest for he is now advanced above the Heavens he sits down at the right hand of the Father he is at the highest condition and yet he is pleased to condescend to the lowest condition he is pleased to come down when they are in the depths in the greatest straits that possibly can be what love was that the Spouse speaks of in the 5. of Canticles and the last verse she speaks a great deal of the beauty of Christ and in the last words she makes her boast of her Beloved This is my Beloved and this is my Friend Oh Daughters of Jerusalem I will compare with you all I will compare my friend to all the friends in the world This is my Belovâ—d and this is my friend she compares him for for his beauty and so you may compare him for his love you may make your boast of the Lord Jesus you may say This is my Beloved and this is my friend Secondly What a strong Motive may this Doctrine be unto such as are strangers unto Jesus Vse Christ to come in and submit unto him What glorious Benefits may you be partakers of What a desireable thing is it to have such a friend as Christ is which will be present with his friends in their lowest conditions Oh that every man would set down and consider that which Solomon speaks of to remember the days of darknesse which will be many many days of darknesse may come upon the earth what a favour will it be to have a friend in the darknesse a friend that will stick by thee when thou art in the dark a friend that thou mayst take hold of his skirts when thou art in the dark Entry a friend that will hold thee fast when thou art in the dark such a friend is Jesus Christ to all that do embrace him Oh what a favour what a mercy will it be to have a friend stand by thee that is both able and willing to help thee when all Creature-comforts shall fail when the very strength of body shall fail to have a friend stand by to help and succour and truly such a friend is the Lord Jesus what saith the Psalmist in the 73. Psalm vers 26. My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever heart and flesh fail and then there is a strength above nature the Lord then is the strength of my heart and of my flesh and blood What a mercy will it be to have one stand by you when you go through the valley of the shadow of death a friend then to comfort a friend then to uphold such a friend is the Lord to his people David was confident of this therefore you see how his
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