unloose Mat. 3.11 Whose shooes I am not worthy to bear 2. When it is in our hearts to do any service for God or our Generation God approves of what is in our hearts though we are not able or want opportunity to effect and bring to pass what we desired to do for the advancing of the Glory of God and promoting our own or others good 2 Cor. 8.12 If there be a willing minde it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not Though God did not permit David to build him an house yet God was pleased that there was a desire and purpose in his heart to have done this thing and commends him for it 1 Kings 8.18,19 The Lord said unto David whereas it was in thine heart to build an house to my name thou didst well that it was in thine heart nevertheless thou shalt not build the house 3. God is the Lord and master of the whole world and it belongs to the master of the house to take what servants he pleaseth and to set them about what work he pleaseth and put them out of his service when he pleaseth We that are masters of Families take this liberty to our selves and shall not we grant that to God which we take to our selves 3. If you are troubled because you are disabled from serving God and your Generation use what means you can to prevail with God to call you again into a way of service and to render you useful in your Generation I will commend to you some means whereby you may prevail with God to make use of you to do him service in your Generation 1. Purge out your sins and labour for sanctified hearts and lives Sanctified persons are meet for Gods use and he delighteth to employ them in his Service 2 Tim. 2.21 If a man purge himself from these he shall be a vessel unto honour sanctified and meet for his masters use and prepared unto every good work 2. Act your faith upon the promises of God wherein God hath promised to make his people useful in their places and serviceable to him in their Generation I shall name one or two to this purpose Deut. 30.9 The Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand for good Here are two blessings promised the one is that we shall be full of employment the other is that good shall come of what we take in hand Something of this nature is implied in that promise Mine Elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands Isa 65.22 God hath promised to make us serviceable all the dayes of our life Luke 1.72,74,75 To perform the mercy promised that he would grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of our life 3. Mourn over your unserviceableness and cry unto God to admit you into his service and offer your selves to undertake any employment that he shall cut out for you and promise the Lord that if he will put you into his service that you will serve him with an upright heart as David did Psal 75.2 When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly When the Lord seeth such a spirit as this in us he will soon employ us in some way of service as Deborah said Judg. 5.9 Mine heart is toward the Governourrs of Israel that offered themselves willingly among the people So is Gods heart towards such persons as freely offer themselves unto his Service the Lord ordained it for a Law that if a Levite came to minister with all the desire of his minde he should be admitted to minister in the name of the Lord Deut. 18.6,7 God will assuredly provide work for those that do so highly prize his service as to cry and mourn after it 4. If you are by this providence disabled from following your former Calling then follow some other Calling for God would have no man live without a Calling When Adam was in Innocency God would not permit him to be out of employment but gave him a Calling to employ himself in Gen. 2.15 And the Lord took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it Chuse rather the meanest Calling than to live without a calling And if God so order it that you must of necessity take a meaner less honourable and more laborious calling than you had before be not discontented at it but comply thereto with a ready and quiet minde Moses that was delicately brought up in a Kings Court by the space of forty years and was so tenderly nursed up by Pharaohs Daughter as if he had been her own Son did not disdain to serve his Generation for several years in a very mean Calling viz. the Calling of a Shepherd Exod. 3.1 Now Moses kept the Flock of Jethro his Father-in-law It is said of David that he served his Generation according to the will of God Acts 13.36 When it was the will of God that he should serve his Generation as a Shepherd he was content to be a Shepherd and when it was the will of God that he should serve his Generation as a King he was content to be a King when afterward God drove him from his Kingdom and put him into the condition of an Exile he was content with that condition also 2 Sam. 15.25,26 It is probable that our Saviour himself wrought in the Calling of a Carpenter some time before he entered into the Calling of the Ministry and that is both a mean and laborious Calling and this may be gathered from his Countrey-mens upbraiding him with this Calling Mark 6.2,3 From whence hath this man these things and what wisdom is this which is given to him that even such mighty work are wrought by his hands Is not this the Carpenter the Son of Mary If you say we would willingly follow some other Calling now we are disabled from following our former Callings but we do not know what Callings to fix upon How shall we come to understand our way and to know what Callings God would have us make choice of now he hath disabled us from following our former Callings Answ 1. Ask counsel of God what Callings he would have you make choice of that so you may serve your Generation arcording to the will of God and not according to your own will The Lord hath promised to direct you in your choice if you seek to him for counsel Prov. 3.6 In all thy wayes acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths Psal 25.12 What man is he that feareth the Lord him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose 2. Consider your own abilities both in respect of parts and skill and also in respect of your stock that you have left to trade withal and what Calling you finde your self best able to manage that you may make choice of and look
happiness is it not unreasonable for any man to doubt whether there be that in God which may give him full and compleat satisfaction in all estates and conditions whatever 7. As there is full satisfaction to be had in God so true rest and contentment is to be had no where but in God Take every creature upon the face of the Earth a-part or take them all together adorned with all their excellencies and if you consider them abstracted from God and Christ they are all vanity and vexation of spirit Eccles 1.2 Vanity of vanities saith the Preacher vanity of vanities all is vanity Eccles 2.17 All is vanity and vexation of spirit This judgment and determination concerning what is in all creatures was given by Solomon one of the wisest of men that ever lived it was given by Solomon that had as much as his heart could wish of the things of this world and made it his work business to search into and study what was in the Creatures that might delight and content the heart of man Eccl. 2.3 and in this his scrutiny he tells us V. 10. Whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them I withheld not my heart from any joy Yet after all his diligence and all his experiments to try what was in the creatures he gives this account All is vanity and vexation of spirit yea which is more than what hath been said He was a Pen-man of holy Scripture he was inspired by the Holy Ghost when he gave this judgment of the creatures that all is vanity and vexation of spirit Now what wise man would seek for his rest in that which is vanity and vexation of spirit As it was with Noah's Dove when gone out of the Ark Gen. 8.9 The Dove found no rest for the sole of her foot and she returned unto him into the Ark. So it will be with us though we seek for rest every where we shall find it no where but by returning to God in Christ It is said of the Jews Jer. 50.6 They have gone from Mountain to Hill they have forgotten their resting place If we think to find rest in any place or any condition and do not seek it in God we do but delude our selves with vain hopes for it is to be found only in him Mat. 11.28,29 Come unto me and ye shall finde rest for your souls Seeing then that satisfaction is to be had in God and no where else 〈◊〉 in God it is impossible that any man should have â—…nd lasting contentment that doth not take up his 〈◊〉 in God and therefore whosoever would learn to be content in all estates must learn how to satisfie himself in and with the Lord and that is the next thing I am to enquire into namely How we may come to take up our rest and satisfaction in God in all Estates and Conditions 1. We must get acquaintance with God We must acquaint our selves with his greatness his transcendent goodness his infinite mercy and loving kindeness and the rest of his glorious attributes Raised and right apprehensions of God lay a good foundation for our taking up our rest in God Job 22.21 Acquaint thy self with him and be at peace and thereby good shall come unto thee John 14.8 Shew us the Father and it sufficeth us We can desire no more in order to our satisfaction than to be filled with all the fulness of God Now the knowledge of Gods loving kindeness conduceth much towards the obtaining of this fulness Eph. 3.19 And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God 2. We must oft-times set our selves in a solemn and serious manner to meditate upon the glorious attributes of God the more we think and contemplate upon God the more sweetness and satisfaction we shall finde in him Psal 63.5,6 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness when I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches Psal 17.15 I will behold thy face I shall be satisfied Psal 104.34 My meditation of him shall be sweet Our contemplating on God will change us into the image of God and make us like God 2 Cor. 3.18 We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Now the more of Gods image is found upon us the more like we are to God the more satisfaction we shall finde in him Psal 17.15 I shall be satisfied with thy likeness But here it will not be amiss to mention two or three cautions to be observed when we set our selves to contemplate on God as 1. We must not be curious to pry into Gods Essence but must content our selves to contemplate on his Attributes When Moses desired to see the Glory of God he tells him Exod. 33.20 Thou canst not see my face which many expound thou canst not see or know my Essence and in way of answer to Moses his request he proclaims his name and thereby discovers his Attributes Exod. 33.19 Exod. 34.5,6,7 which teacheth us that if we desire a sight of God the best course that we can take to behold him is to take a view of his glorious Attributes whereby he hath discovered and made known his name to us 2. We must regulate all our conceptions of the Attributes of God by the Scriptures This caution is necessary because Satan can transform himself into an Angel of Light and present false Idea's or Representations of God to our mindes instead of true ones he dealt thus with our Parents in innocency he mis-represented God to them as though he had envied their happiness and were not a God of his Word Gen. 3.1,4,5 and he will much less fear to try us with the like temptation in our fallen estate It is necessary also because of the vanity and corruption of our mindes which are apt to form strange idolatrous notions concerning God divers instances might be given of this Some have thought God to be altogether such an one as themselves are Psal 50.21 Others have fancied God to be like the Birds or Beasts Rom. 1.22,23 But when we conceive of God according to that revelation which he hath made of himself in his word then we may be sure we conceive of him aright 3. We must contemplate on God according to that discovery which he hath made of himself in Christ Jesus of which the Apostle speaks 2 Cor. 4.6 God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ for we cannot finde sweetness in God out of Christ it will fare with us when we consider God out of Christ as it did with the Psalmist Psal 77.3 I remembred God and was troubled A man that hath been a finner can take no comfort in God
and Gomorrah and ye were us a Fire brand pucked but of the burning yet have ye not roturned unto me faith the Lord. I might give you several reasons why this judgment should put you upon repentance and reforming your lives ponder upon these two or three 1. If you will not be reformed by this judgment though this was a great and sore punishment God will lay far greater and heavier afflictions upon you Lev. 26.23,24 If ye will not be reformed by these things but will walk contrary unto me then will I also walk contrary unto you and will punish you yet seven times for your sin 2. If this judgment will not lead you to repentance nor any other means that God shall use with you to turn you from your iniquities you will perish eternally and be cast both body and soul into Hell fire and that is a far more dreadful fire than that which consumed your houses and goods Luk. 13.3 Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish 3. God lays his command upon such as are under affliction to depart from iniquity Job 36.8,9,10 If they be bound in fetters and be holden in cords of affliction then he sheweth them their work and their transgression that they have exceeded he openeth also their ear to discipline and commandeth that they return from Iniquity Now 't is a contemning of God to rebel against his Commandment and it must needs be a great provocation for a man to go on in his sins when God commandeth him to return from iniquity Wherefore let this affliction prevail with you to set upon the work of Repentance and Reformation and that you may do it the more effectually take these few directions 1. See that you turn from and cast away not only some or most of but all your transgressions Ezek. 18.30,31 Repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed for why will ye die O House of Israel 2. Your affliction should cause you to cast away your sins for ever Some deal with their sins as Felix did with Paul Act. 24.25 Go thy way for this time when I have a convenient season I will call for thee They put away their sins for a little time but afterwards when their afflictions are removed and they have a convenient season for the commission of their sins they call for them and imbrace them again When Pharaoh saw the Lightnings and heard the mighty Thunderings he was willing to let Israel go out of Egypt and humbled himself for his sin but when he saw that the Hail and the Lightnings and Thunders were ceased he hardened his heart and sinned as much or more as ever Exod. 9.27,28,34,35 But this is not such a repentance as God expects in a time of affliction he would have us abandon our sins for ever Job 34.31,32 Surely it is meet to be said unto God I have born chastisement I will not offend any more that which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more Hos 8.14 I will send a Fire upon his Cities and it shall devour the Palaces thereof and what fruit did God expect that this fire should produce Such a forsaking of their sins as to return to them no more Hos 14.8 Ephraim shall say What have I to do any more with Idols 3. Let this affliction cause you to reform your hearts as well as your lives Jer. 4.14,15 O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee for a voyce declareth from Dan and publisheth affliction from Mount Ephraim Ezek. 18.31 Make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will ye die O House of Israel 4. Reform your Families as well as your own Souls If you discern any thing amiss in your Wives or in your Children or in your Servants or in any that sojourn with you endeavour as much as lieth in you to reform it for this God expects of all those that return to him by true repentance that they should put away all iniquity far from their Tabernacles if they be such as have Families committed to their charge Job 22.23 If thou return to the Almighty thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy Tabernacles Job 11.13,14 If thou prepare thine heart and stretch out thine hands toward him if iniquity be in thine hand put it far away and let not wickedness dwell in thy Tabernacles Gen. 35.2 Jacob said unto his houshold and to all that were with him put away the strange gods that are among you and be clean Joshua did not think it sufficient to serve God himself but resolveth to engage all his family to serve the Lord Josh 24.15 As for me and my House we will serve the Lord. 5. Set upon the work of Reformation speedily make no delay not so much as one day Psal 119.60 I made hast and delayed not to keep thy Commandements Heb. 3.7 Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts Sin is of that subtil insinuating nature that though a man be under convictions of an absolute necessity of reforming his life and take up as he thinks firm and strong resolutions to repent of his sins if he do not presently set upon the work of repentance if he put it off but a day he is in danger of having his heart hardned and of continuing in an impenitent condition Heb. 3.13 Exhort one another daily while it is called to day lest any of you be hardned through the deceitfulness of sin 6. You had need look to your selves that your hearts be sincere and real with God in the exercise of repentance for some that seem to be very forward and zealous in humbling of their souls and reforming their lives in times of affliction do but flatter and dissemble with God and do not turn to God with their whole hearts but only in a feigned manner Psal 78.34,35,36,37 When he slew them then they sought him and they returned and enquired early after God and they remembered that God was their Rock and the high God their Redeemer Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth and they lyed unto him with their tongues for their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his Covenant Jer. 3.10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart but feignedly saith the Lord. Now you had need take good heed to your selves that you do not let this judgment pass away without being brought to a true and unfeigned repentance by it for repentance is a very hard work and few persons are wrought upon by their afflictions to forsake their sins and reform their lives though God follow them with one affliction after another till he hath even consumed and destroyed them Rev.
themselves could not but acknowledge Neh. 6.15,16 So the wall was finished And it came to pass that when all our Enemies heard thereof they were much cast down in their own eyes for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God Now that God which helped the Jews to build Jerusalem under all their difficulties and oppositions that they met withal is able also to help you under what ever difficulties do or may beset you in your work 3. Consider what promises God hath made to his servants to encourage them in this work of building when he calls them to it He hath promised to be with them in building Ezek. 36.9,10 Behold I am for you and I will turn unto you And the Cities shall be inhabited and the wasts shall be builded Though their Cities and dwellings have been laid wast a long time he promiseth to help them to build them up again Isa 61.4 They shall build the old wasts they shall raise up the former desolations and they shall repair their wast Cities the desolations of many generations He promiseth that after their dwellings have been laid wast they shal be built in the same places and in as good a manner as before Jer. 30.18 Thus saith the Lord Behold I will bring again the Captivity of Jacobs Tents and have mercy on his dwelling places and the City shall be builded on her old heap and the Palace shall remain after the manner thereof He hath promised that after they have laid the foundation they shall go on to finish their work Zech. 4.9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this House his hands shall also finish it 1 Chron. 28.20 David said unto Solomon his son Be strong and of good courage and do it fear not nor be dismayed for the Lord God even my God will be with thee he will not fail thee nor forsake thee until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the House of the Lord. Though these two last Promises relate to the building of the Temple yet they are applicable by Gods servants in such works as they are called out to by the Lord. He hath promised that when they have built them houses they shall dwell in them and enjoy them a long season Isa 65.21,22,23 They shall build houses and inhabit them they shall not build and another inhabit for as the dayes of a tree are the dayes of my people and mine Elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands they shall not labour in vain nor bring forth for trouble for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord and their off-spring with them The Lord hath promised that after they have built them houses they shall dwell in them with safety and confidence Ezek. 28.26 They shall dwell safely therein and shall build Houses and plant Vineyards yea they shall dwell with confidence when I have executed judgments on all those that despise them round about them and they shall know that I am the Lord their God He hath promised to make their habitations prosperous Job 8.5,6 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes and make thy supplication to the Almighty if thou wert pure and upright surely now he would awake for thee and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous After Jerusalem was burnt with fire and laid waste by the Caldeans the Lord doth not only promise that it shall be built again but that he would put the Jews into a setled and better estate than they were in before Ezek. 36.10,11 The Cities shall be inhabited and the wastes shall be builded and I will settle you after your old estates and will do better unto you than at your beginnings 3. If you would carry on the work of rebuilding your houses successfully humble your selves for your lins which caused God to lay them desolate and get them washed away in the Blood of Christ and then you may expect success and a blessing upon what you take in hand Ezek. 36.33,35,36 Thus saith the Lord God In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the Cities and the wasts shall be builded And they shall say This land that was desolate is become like the Garden of Eden and the wast and desolate and ruined Cities are become fenced The Lord promised also in the 32. verse that he would give them an heart to loath themselves for their sins and after he had humbled and pardoned them he promiseth the re-building of their desolate Cities And as you must humble your selves for your sins so you must put away your sins and return unto God with your whole hearts if you would carry on this work successfully Jer. 24.6,7 I will set mine eyes upon them for good and I will build them and not pull them down and I will plant them and not pluck them up for they shall return unto me with their whole heart Job 22.23 If thou return to the Almighty thou shalt be built up 4. Use no unrighteousness but deal truly and faithfully with all men with whom you have to do in building your houses Whomsoever you employ in this work pay them their full wages for if you use any fraud or unrighteousness you will bring the curse of God upon your persons and habitations Jer. 22.13 Wo unto him that buildeth his house in unrighteousness and his chambers by wrong that useth his neighbours service without wages and giveth him not for his work Hab. 2.11,12 The stone shall cry out of the wall and the beam out of the timber shall answer it Wo to him that buildeth a Town by blood and establisheth a City by iniquity And as you must pay all whom you employ their full wages so also at the set time for which you make your agreement Deut. 24.14,15 Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy whether it be of thy brethren or of thy strangers that are within thy land within thy gates at his day thou shalt give him his hire neither shall the Sun go down upon it for he is poor and setteth his heart upon it lest he cry against thee unto the Lord and it be sin unto thee Incroach not upon anothers right but keep within your own bounds and limits Deut. 19.14 Thou shalt not remove thy neighbours land-mark which they of old time have set in thine inheritance Deut. 27.17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbours land-mark and all the people shall say Amen Prov. 22.28 Remove not thy ancient land-mark which thy fathers have set Eccles 10.8.9 Whoso breaketh an hedge a Scrpent shall bite him whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith And take this counsel not only in reference to your equals that are able to contend with you but also be careful that you incroach not upon the right of the Widows and the Fatherless that are not able to plead their own cause for God will plead their cause with
new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby Meditation on the word built up David wonderfully in knowledge Psal 119.99 I have more under standing then all my teachers for thy testimonies are my meditation The Apostle Paul recommends meditation on Gods word to Timothy as an excellent means to promote his growth in grace 1 Tim. 4.15 Meditate upon these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear unto all So also when he took his leave of the Elders of the Church of Ephesus he commends them to the word of the Lord as the means whereby they might be built up in that grace which they had already received Acts 20.32 And now brethren I commend you to God and to the the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified I might have added in the tenth place After God hath prospered you in this work of building and you have finished your houses dedicate them to God It was a custom among the Jews after they had built a new house to dedicate it unto the Lord as you may see Deut. 20.5 but of this I shall have occasion to speak afterward Quest 3. Sect. 7. p. 313. where I shall shew how we should dedicate our Houses to God and therefore I shall adde no more upon this Question but proceed to the third QUEST 3. What shall they render to the Lord for his Mercy whose Houses and Goods were preserved from being consumed by the late Dreadful Fire BEfore I answer this Question I shall premise five or six things 1. It was Gods Providence not your own prudence or diligence or any other act of yours that preserved you from sustaining any loss or damage by the late Fire Psal 16.5 Thou maintainest my lot Psal 3.8 Salvation belongeth to the Lord. Psal 40.17 Thou art my help and my deliverer When ever a righteous man is delivered from any trouble his deliverance proceedeth from the Lord Psal 34.17 The righteous cry and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles As God ordereth the rain where it shall fall and where it shall not fall Amos 4.7 I caused it to rain upon one City and caused it not to rain upon another so it is he also that ordered this Fire what City and what Houses and Goods it should consume and what it should not consume The Fire the Winds and all other Creatures do nothing but at Gods appointment Psal 148.7,8 Praise ye the Lord from the earth ye Dragons and all deeps fire and hail snow and vapour stormy wind fullfilling his word The fire and the wind are ruled by God they spare those whom God appoints them to spare they afflict those whom God appoints them to afflict they do nothing but by commission from God The same God that sets the bounds of the Sea and saith Hitherto shalt thou come and no farther and here shall thy proud waves be stayed Job 38.11 did set bounds to this raging Fire and appointed how far it should proceed and where its flames should be stayed wherefore such as were preserved from suffering damage by this Fire must not ascribe their safety partly to Gods Providence and partly to themselves but must give all the glory to God and say as David did of his deliverances Psal 4.8 Thou Lord only makest me to dwell in safety Psal 62.2 He only is my rock and my salvation 2. We ought to look upon it as a great mercy to be spared from Gods judgments Neh. 13.22 Spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy Lam. 3.22 It is of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed especially we should account it a great mercy to be spared from Gods judgments in a time of common calamity when multitudes as good or better than we are have been great sufferers When Lot escaped with his life out of Sodom though he sustained some loss by the burning of that City yet he looked upon it as an exceeding great mercy that his life was preserved Gen. 19.19 Be hold now thy servant hath found grace in thy sight and thou hast magnified thy mercy which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life 3. When the Lord hath given us any remarkable deliverance or bestowed any other signal mercy upon us it should put us upon enquiring what return we should make unto God for his benefits When David had received a great deliverance he maketh enquiry what he should render to God for so great a mercy Psal 116.12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me This is needful because God expects that when he hath done great things for us we should be returning something to him Isa 5.1,2 My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill and he fenced it and he looked that it should bring forth grapes Luke 17.17,18 Jesus answering said Were there not ten cleansed but where are the nine There are not found that returned to give glory to God save this stranger Where we may observe 1. The Lord Jesus expects that when we have received any eminent favour from him we should return something for what we receive else why did he ask Where are the nine 2. The Lord takes notice who they are that do and who they are that do not return according to the mercies that they receive from God The Samaritan returned to give glory to God the others did not 3. There are very few scarce one in ten that make a return according to the mercies that they receive There were ten cleansed and only one returns to give glory to God 4. When any man faileth to return according to the benefits which he hath received though he be a good man God is much displeased at it 2 Chron. 32.25 But Hezekiah rendred not again according to the benefit done unto him for his heart was lifted up therefore there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem God had in a wonderful manner delivered Hezekiah from death and though he was a good man so eminently good that he excelled all the Kings that lived before him and came after him according to what we finde 2 Kings 18.5 He trusted in the Lord God of Israel so that after him was none like him among all the Kings of Judah nor any that were before him Yet this good man Hezekiah failed to reader again according to the benefit done unto him and what followed thereupon wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem for this very thing 5. It is not every return will answer Gods expectation but there must be some suitableness some proportion between the mercies that we receive from God and the returns that we make to God Hezekiah was not wholly wanting in making return to God for he praised God for recovering him from his sickness Isa 38.19 The living the living he shall praise thee as I do this
Counsel to the Afflicted OR INSTRUCTION AND CONSOLATION for such as have suffered Loss by FIRE With Advice to such as have escaped that sore JUDGMENT Contained in the Resolution of three Questions occasioned by the Dreadful FIRE in the City of LONDON in the Year 1666. Viz. 1. How may such Persons as have sustained great loss by the said Fire bear their Affliction with a contented cheerful Spirit 2. What use should they make of their Affliction who have lost their whole or any part of their Estates by the said Fire 3. What use should they make of Gods Mercy whose Houses and Goods were preserved from the said Fire In the discussing of which Questions are handled several profitable Cases of Conscience concerning Self-Murder preparing for Afflictions taking up our rest in God c. which are inserted in the Contents By O. S. Isa 25.15 Glorifie ye the Lord in the Fires LONDON Printed by E. Cotes and are to â—e sold by H. Brome in Little Britain 1667 TO THE READER WHat the Prophet Joel saith of the Famine that came upon Judea Joel 1.2 The like may I say of the late deplorable FIRE which the Lord hath sent upon London the Metropolitan City of this Nation Hear this ye old men and give ear all ye inhabitants of the land hath this been in your dayes or even in the dayes of your Fathers God hath often contended with this Land by Fire but neither in our dayes nor in the dayes of our Fathers hath there been any such dreadful Fire as this which began in London Sept. 2.1666 and continued raging for the space of three or four dayes together with that fury and violence that none was able to quench it until it had consumed the greatest part of that renowned City and had made of a City an heap of a defenced City a ruine Elihu speaking of Thunder and Lightning saith Job 37.1 At this my heart trembleth and is moved out of his place And calleth to Job to consider seriously these great works of God ver 11. Hearken unto this O Job stand still and consider the wondrous works of God If Elihu were thus affected at the sight of Lightning and hearing of Thunder and would have Job stand still and consider these wondrous works of God how should the hearts of all that saw or heard of this dreadful Fire tremble and be as it were moved out of their places How should they be awakened to stand still and consider this wondrous judgment of God It thunders and lightens every year these are Gods ordinary works but it is very rare and unusual for God to send such great and terrible Fires There may be and oft-times are mighty Thunders and Lightnings and no man suffereth any damage by them but many thousands have sustained great loss by this Fire Now the more unusual and afflicting any judgment is the more it ought to be laid to heart and the more we ought to fear and tremble before that God that sent it When the Fire had devoured the pastures of the Wilderness and the trees of the Field this made Joel go and cry before the Lord Joel 1.19 O Lord to thee will I cry for the Fire hath devoured the pastures of the Wilderness and the flame hath burnt all the trees of the Field If the Prophet bemoaned the burning of the pastures of the Wilderness and the trees of the Field how ought we to bemoan the burning of this famous City When Hanani told Nehemiah that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and the gates thereof burnt with Fire and his Brethren the Jews were in great affliction see how he was affected with it Nehem. 1.3,4 It came to pass when I heard these words that I sate down and wept and mourned certain dayes and fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven They that are of Nehemiahs disposition that is men fearing God can do no less upon the sight or hearing of Londons desolations then he did at Jerusalems namely sit down and mourn and fast and pray to the God of Heaven that he would turn away from the fierceness of his anger which is kindled against us even as the Prophet Isaiah also did in the like case Isa 64.9,10,11,12 As for such as are of a Gallio like spirit caring for none of these things Londons Ruines call out to them as Jerusalem did in the day of her distress 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 From above hath he sent Fire into my bones and it prevaileth against them Yea God himself speaketh dreadfully to such persons Psal 28.5 Because they regard not the works of the Lord nor the operation of his hands he shall destroy them and not build them up Besides being duly and deeply affected with this sad and solemn providence of God it is every mans concernment to make a good use of it No man should let such great judgments as this Fire and the late Pestilence pass away without being some way bettered in his spiritual Estate by them The best use that we can make of this and those other Judgments of God which of late have fallen upon us is to turn every one of us from all our sins unto the Lord with all our hearts and all our souls For this is the design of all Gods Judgments to lead us to repentance If the fall of the Tower of Siloam wherein but eighteen persons suffered be interpreted by Christ to be a call to all the Inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem to repent upon pain of eternal damnation Luke 13.4.5 With what a loud voice doth God call to all the Inhabitants of this Land to repent of their sins by the fall of this great City wherein many thousands have been great sufferers The rod calls to repentance but it seldom works repentance unless it be accompanied with the word but when instruction goeth with correction it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby Whilst Ephraim was only chastised he was like a Bullock unaccustomed to the yoke but after he was instructed he repented he smote upon his thigh he was ashamed Jer. 31.18,19 The world never beheld such an amazing sight as when the Lord Jesus the Lord of life and glory suffered death from the sixth to the ninth hour of the day there was darkness over the whole earth the Sun was darkned and the Vail of the Temple was rent in the midst c. Yet how few were brought to repentance by these things One of the Thieves is converted and a Centurion gives glory to God but as for the generality of the people though they were struck with some amazement and remorse for the present they return every one to his own way Luke 23.48 And all the people that came together to that sight
in a quiet frame and one great means whereby he quieted himself was by getting and keeping his affections weaned from worldly things Psal 131.2 Surely I have behaved and quieted my self as a childe that is weaned of his Mother my soul is even as a weaned child SECT 5. 5. Give up your selves to the doing of works of righteousness Do all the service that you are able for God and for your generation Abound alwayes in the work of the Lord and be ready as far as you have opportunity and ability to do all the good you can for all men hereby you shall obtain a quiet peaceable frame of spirit under all your troubles and afflictions Isa 32.17 The work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever The Prophet had threatned great troubles and of many years continuance ver 9 10 11. and then tells them how they might retain quietness under all their troubles namely by working righteousness v. 17. and then tells them farther of the blessedness of such as did sow besides all waters that is who took hold of all opportunities to be doing good they should enjoy peace and quietness when Gods judgements came down as thick as hail round about them ver 18 19 20. Working of righteousness promotes contentment in all estates several wayes I will mention one or two 1. As it produceth the joy of the Lord in our souls God is wont to put joy and gladness into the hearts of those that work righteousness Psal 45.7 Thou lovest righteousness and hatest wickedness therefore God thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows Psal 97.11 Light is sown for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart Now when God puts joy and gladness into our hearts we do not much feel the sorrows and troubles that we meet with in this world Eccles 5.20 He shall not much remember the dayes of his life because God answereth him in the joy of his heart What Solomon saith of wine and strong drink Prov. 30.6,7 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish and wine to those that be of heavy hearts let him drink and forget his poverty and remember his misery no more The like I may say of the joyes of the Holy Ghost when God hath made us to drink of the rivers of his pleasures though we be poor and heavy of heart and ready to perish they will make us forget our poverty and remember our sorrow no more 2. Working righteousness promotes contentment on this account because they that work righteousness have many sweet visits from God and enjoy much of Gods presence and the soul is never better at ease or enjoyes more contentment than when it enjoyes God Isa 64.5 Thou meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh righteousness those that remember thee in thy wayes John 14.23 If a man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him SECT 6. 6. Take up your rest and contentment in God and and that will keep you from fretting and vexing and being discontented under your losses and all other afflictions Psal 37.7 Rest in the Lord fret not thy self There is no better way to prevent fretting and vexing at cross providences than for a man to take up his rest in God for he shall finde such sweetness in God that he shall not feel any great bitterness in affliction When the Spouse was a Lilly among Thorns encompassed with sharp and piercing troubles when she was scorched with heat of Persecution she found such sweetness in solacing her Soul with Christ that she makes no complaints of her Sufferings but maketh her boast of what she found in him Cant. 2.3 I sate down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste She spoke this when Christ resembled her to a Lilly among Thorns ver 2. Now in regard it conduceth much to the helping of us to be contented under all the troubles of this life for a man to take up his rest and satisfaction and contentment in God I shall enlarge a little upon this Head and shew first That there is enough in God to give the soul of a man full satisfaction and contentment in every state and condition 2. I shall shew how a man may take up his rest and contentment in God 1. There is enough in God to give the soul of a man full and compleat satisfaction how poor how afflicted how desolate soever his condition be in this world and this may be demonstrated several wayes 1. God is a suitable good he answers all the wants all the desires all the workings and breathings and motions of the soul of man All that the soul wants is to be found in God Phil. 4.19 My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ All that the soul desires is in God Isa 26.8,9 The desire of our soul is to thy name with my soul have I desired thee in the night Psal 73.25 There is none upon earth that I desire besides thee Now where there is a supply of all wants and an accomplishment of all the desires of the soul there is full satisfaction That which the soul travelleth after that which it laboureth for that which it mainly pursueth and followeth after is that it may enjoy God Psal 63.8 My soul followeth hard after thee which shews that satisfaction is to be had in God for when a man hath obtained that which his soul travelleth after he is satisfied Isa 53.10 He shall see of the travel of his soul and be satisfied God is the center to which all the motions of a sanctified soul do tend The enquiries of the soul are after God Cant. 3.3 Saw ye him whom my soul loveth John 12.21 Sir we would see Jesus The pantings and thirstings and breathings of the soul are after God Psal 42.1,2 My soul panteth after thee O God my soul is athirst for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before God The mournings of the souls are after the Lord Zech. 12.10 They shall mourn for him 1 Sam. 7.2 All the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. The seekings and cryes of the soul are after God Psal 63.1 O God thou art my God early will I seek thee Psal 84.2 My heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God The main thing the soul hopeth and waiteth for is God Psal 71.5 Thou art my hope Psal 39.7 Now Lord what wait I for my hope is in thee Psal 130,5 6. I wait for the Lord my soul doth wait in his word do I hope my soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning I say more than they that watch for the morning The expectations of the soul are from him Psal 62.5 My soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is
why hast thou made me thus 2. It is for our good to pass through variety of conditions for thereby God awakens the fear of his Name in our hearts and shakes off our security and promoteth the holiness of our hearts and lives A continued course of prosperity without some changes oft-times breeds a great deal of security and forgetfulness of God Psal 55.19 Because they have no changes therefore they fear not God Jer. 48.11 Moab hath been at ease from his youth and he hath settled on his lees and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel neither hath he gone into captivity therefore his taste remained in him and his scent is not changed If God by this change beger or promote the fear of his Name in your souls that will be better treasure than any that you lost by the late Fire Isa 33.6 The fear of the Lord is his treasure 3. The Lord would have us be so far from being dejected at our crosses that he would have us esteem them a ground of joy Jam. 1.2 My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations He would have men of high degree rejoyce when they are brought low as well as men of low degree to rejoyce when they are exalted James 1.9,10 Let the brother of low degree rejoyce in that he is exalted but the rich in that he is made low 3. Remember how contentedly our Lord Jesus Christ bore his state of humiliation Though he was Lord of all things yet for our sakes he became poor and took upon himself the form of a Servant and made himself of no reputation to bring us unto eternal glory 2 Cor. 8.9 Ye know the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his poverty might be rich Phil. 2.5,6,7 Let this minde be in you which was in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant Yet there never came one discontented word out of Christs month neither did there arise one repining thought in his minde throughout all the dayes of his humiliation Observe also how contentedly the servants of God have born their changes when God hath brought them from an high to a low condition When David was driven from his Kingdom and necessitated to flee to save his life he quietly submits himself to God 2 Sam. 15.26 When he that was honoured by all the Princes and Elders of Israel had a man of Belial came and cursed him to his face David puts up all his railing language with a meek and quiet spirit 2 Sam. 16.5,6,7,8,9,10,11 5. Though you be brought very low and those that were your friends in the day of your prosperity should now slight and dis-regard you yet if you continue to serve the Lord he will respect and regard you as much as ever he did Psal 136.26 Who remembred us in our low estate for his mercy endureth for ever Psal 106.43,44,45 They provoked him with their counsel and were brought low for their iniquity nevertheless he regarded their efftiction when he heard their cry and he remembred for them his Covenant and repented according to the multitude of his mercies If your hearts be lowly as well as your conditions low the most high God will respect you more than all the great men upon the face of the earth that are of a proud spirit Psal 138.6 Though the Lord be high yet hath he respect unto the lowly but the proud he knoweth afar off Whatever account men may have of the Servants of God the Lord esteemeth very highly of them He counts them his Jewels Mal. 3.17 It is said of them Isa 62.3 Thou shalt be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord and a royal Diadem in the hand of thy God This high esteem that God hath of you may abundantly satisfie you under all the slights and dis-respect that you meet with from men 6. If you be brought to fare hard and meanly by this providence whereas before you had a very plentiful table this should not trouble you for 1. God can make a course and mean diet conduce as much to your health and nourishment as the richest fare in the world Daniel and his three companions who eat nothing but pulse and drank water were of a fairer countenance and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the Kings meat Dan. 1.12,13,14,15 2. Though you should be brought to fare very hard yet as good and better men than you are have fared harder than you and yet did not murmur against God We read of an hundred men that were the Lords Prophets that lived in a cave with bread and water 1 Kings 18.13 John the Baptist was a great person Our Saviour telleth us that among them that were born of women there was not a greater than John the Baptist Matth. 11.11 Yet both his habit and diet were very mean John had his raiment of Camels hair and a leathern girdle about his loins and his meat was locusts and wilde honey Mat. 3.4 and he drank neither wine nor strong drink Luke 1.15 Our Saviour himself eat very course diet and yet was thankful for it When many of his friends were about him that came to hear his word he had nothing better to refresh himself after his labours and to give to his Disciples and those that followed him but Barley Bread and Fish and they had no seats to sit upon at their meat but the grass yet Jesus Christ lift up his eyes and gave thanks John 6.9,10,11 Another time being weary and thirsty he had nothing better than water to quench his thirst and he could not with once asking obtain a draught of water to quench his thirst John 4.6,7,9 Jesus being wearied with his journey sate on the well There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water Jesus saith unto her give me to drink then saith the woman How is it that thou being a Jew askest drink of me which am a woman of Samaria 3. The meaner your diet is the less will be your temptation to excess Such as fare deliciously every day are under a great temptation to make their belly their God which is a fin that will bring unavoidable destruction Phil. 3.19 whose end is destruction whose belly is their God 4. God hath given such of you as are his servants his Son who is the bread of life the bread that came down from heaven John 6.48,51 and the water of life John 4.10 and why should you be discontented because your dyet is mean who have meat to eat that the world knows not of hidden Manna yea who have the bread of life and the water of life SECT 9. Obj. 9. I had a very sweet and commodious dwelling where I lived very comfortably and now I am greatly unsettled I
16.10,11 They gnawed their tongues for pain and blasphemed the God of Heaven because of their pains and their sores and repented not of their deeds Rev. 9.20,21 The rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands that they should not worship Devils and Idols of Gold and Silver neither repented they of their Murders and of their Sorceries nor of their Fornication nor of their Thefts Prov. 27.22 Though thou shouldest bray a Fool in a Morter with a Pestel yet will not his foolishness depart from him And this is not only the case of profane men but of most that profess themselves to be the people of God many of them when they are corrected for their sins do yet go on still in their trespasses When God sent such heavy calamities upon the Jews that they were more bitter than death notwithstanding they were by Profession the people of God and their calamities were so great yet scarce any of them were led to repentance by them Jer. 8.3.6 Death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of them that remain in this evil family But were they bettered by these great afflictions Not a man of them are brought to repentance as you may see Vers 6. I hearkened and heard but they spake not aright no man repented him of his wickedness saying what have I done every one turneth to his course as the Horse rusheth into the battel The like complaint the same Prophet brings against the Jews Jer. 2.30 In vain have I smitten your children they received no correction The Prophet Isaiah complains also of the Jews that lived in his days that they were not at all reformed by their afflictions Isa 1.5 Why should ye be stricken any more ye will revolt more and more and yet their afflictions were exceeding great as the following words shew The whole head is sick and the whole heart faint from the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it but wounds and bruises and putrifying sores Your Country is desolate your Cities are burnt with fire your Land strangers devour it in your presence and it is desolate as overthrown by strangers I may add this farther that it doth exceedingly anger the Lord when such as are under affliction do not turn to the Lord that smiteth them and provokes God many times to send upon them sudden and utter destruction Isa 9.12,13,14 His anger is not turned away but his hand is stretched out still for the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them neither do they seek the Lord of Hosts therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail branch and rush in one day It may be some will say Seeing it is such an hard matter even for such as are in affliction to be brought to repent of and turn from their sins what means shall we use that we may be brought to repentance now the afflicting hand of God is upon us I answer 1. Sit down and consider your wayes that you may see what is amiss in them and wherein you have gone astray from God consider also seriously with your selves into what endless and unspeakable misely and torments your sins will plunge you if you do not repent of them The Scripture hath many passages to this purpose Rom. 6.21,23 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed for the end of those things is death for the wages of sin is death Rom. 8.13 If ye live after theflesh ye shall die Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God When David was in affliction he was reformed by his afflictions Psal 119.67 Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy Word And by what means was he brought to a more diligent observation of Gods Word when he was afflicted It was by reflecting upon and considering his wayes as we may see vers 59. I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy Testimonies There is a great efficacy in consideration of our wayes to produce Reformation Prov. 4.26 Ponder the path of thy feet and all thy wayes shall be ordered aright so that Text is rendered in the margent of our Bibles It will not only make good men to reform what is amiss in their wayes but if a man that hath lived a wicked and ungodly life would sit down and seriously consider his wayes it might be a means of turning even of a wicked man from his sins Ezek. 18.27,28 When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed and doth that which is lawful and right he shall save his soul alive because he considereth and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed he shall surely live he shall not die This Scripture sheweth plainly that consideration because he considereth and turneth will help a wicked man to turn from all his sins by such a repentance as shall surely save his soul he shall surely live he shall not die 2. Give your selves much to hearing reading and meditating upon the Word of God The Rod seldom doth good without the Word but when the Word of God is accompanied with his Rod when in our afflictions we give our selves to search into and meditate upon Gods Word this will make our afflictions to work kindly upon us There is a divine power goeth along with the Word and therefore it must needs be an effectual means to lead us to repentance to converse much with the Word see some places of this Scripture to this purpose Psal 19.7 The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul Joh. 15.3 Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you Ephes 5.26,27 Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word Who are harder to be reclaimed then young men who have strong and unruly passions And who are more hardly kept from sin than great men who can do what they please and none can controul them yet both the one and the other may be brought to repentance and kept from sin by taking heed to Gods Word As for young men we may see the power of the Word to reclaim them Psal 119.9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy Word David was a King and stood in awe of no man yet was he awed by Gods Word Psal 119.161 My heart standeth in awe of thy Word And though he was a King yet he was so awed by the Word that he durst not sin against God Psal 119.11 Thy Word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee 3. Confess to God and bemoan the refractoriness and incorrigibleness of your hearts and pray to the Lord that he would turn you from your sins unto himself Jer. 31.18,20 I have surely
what should befal the third part that should be left I will bring the third part through the fire and then adds a gracious promise that they should be refined by passing through the fire that is God thereby would purge and purifie their hearts and conversations urge God daily with these promises plead them at the Throne of Grace and rest upon God for the performance of them SECT 6. 6. Comply with Gods ends and designs in sending this affliction upon you The Lord doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men Lam. 3.33 but when ever he sends any affliction upon any man he hath gracious ends and designs in those afflictions and therefore as the Jews made enquiry when they were brought into great distress Wherefore doth the Lord our God all these great things unto us Jer. 5.19 And as the Apostle Paul when he was struck blinde with the vision that appeared to him as he was going to Dumascus enquires of the Lord Lord what wilt thou have me to do Acts 9.6 So should we make enquiry when the Lord afflicts us wherefore it is that he afflicts us and what it is that he aims at what he would have us to do when his afflicting hand is upon us We are enemies to our own good when we do not study the minde of God in our afflict ons and labour to comply with his ends for he alwayes chastneth us for our profit Heb. 12.10 and aims at the doing of us good Deut. 8.16 If you ask what are Gods ends and designs in sending this affliction upon us I answer The resolving of this question concerning Gods ends in afflicting us what he aims at and what he would have us learn when his rod is upon us may be gathered from Sect. 3. I shall adde a few things more besides what are mentioned there 1. Gods design in this affliction is to take away all pride and to make and keep you humble Isa 2.11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day This may refer to the day of affliction spoken of Isa 1.7 Your countrey is desolate your Cities are burnt with fire In that day when God should bring this desolation the lofty looks of man should be humbled c. When God afflicted the Israelites in the Wilderness with fiery Serpents that and all other afflictions were sent for this end to humble them Deut. 8.15,16 That he might humble thee and prove thee and do thee good in the latter end Elihu tells us that when God speaks once and twice to men It is that he may hide pride from man Job 33.17 When the Apostle Paul was afflicted he telleth us twice that the end of God was to prevent his being exalted above measure 2 Cor. 12.7 If then you would comply with Gods design in this affliction you must be no more proud of your riches beauty parts duties or any other thing but must put away all pride of spirit all high conceits of your selves and all proud looks and all pride of life and you must be of a lowly heart and go alwayes clothed with humility 2. God aims at the making of you more zealous Christians by this affliction Lukewarmness is a very odious detestable sin Rev. 3.15,16 I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot I would thou wert cold or hot so then because thou art luke-warm and neither cold nor hot I will spew thee out of my mouth this being so odious in Gods sight for a man to be luke-warm in his Religion When God findes any whom he loves to be in a luke-warm temper he chastens them for this very end to make them more zealous lous Rev. 3.19 As many as I love I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore Now this is one way and a very sharp one of rebuking us when God contends by Fire Isa 66.15 The Lord will come with fire to render his anger with fury and his rebuke with flames of fire If therefore you were cold or if not wholly cold yet but luke-warm before God sent this Fire it concerns you now to grow zealous If you ask in what your affliction should make you zealous I answer 1. Be zealous in all acts of service and all religious duties which you perform to God shake off all drowsiness and formality and slightness of heart in prayer and in hearing and reading Gods Holy Word and be fervent in spirit when you are about these or any other holy duties Rom 12.11 Not slothfulness in business fervent in spirit serving the Lord. What is said of the Apostle Paul Acts 22.3 I was zealous towards God and of Phinehas Numb 25.13 He was zealous for his God Let the same be true of you put on an holy zeal for God and shew your zeal for God in all that you do either for or to the Lord. 2. Be zealous against sin strive against sin not in a faint cold manner but with all your might Be zealous and repent Rev. 3.19 Your zeal must be manifested in your repentance When a man is zealous against his sins and zealous in his repentance his zeal will breed indignation against sin a vehement desire to be rid of it a fear and carefulness that he do not commit it again See an example of zealous repentance 2 Cor. 7.11 Behold this self same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal yea what revenge 3. Be zealous of good works Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works We should not only do good works but be zealous of and in doing good works We should be so zealous of good works as not only to embrace opportunities of doing good when they come in our way but we should covet earnestly and follow diligently after opportunities of doing good works 1 Tim. 5.10 If she have diligently followed every good work We should not only do good works but be careful to excel and continue constant therein whatever difficulties and discouragements we meet with in doing of them Tit. 3.8 This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works You see if you would answer Gods design in your affliction that you must be zealous and in what you must be zealous only let me adde here two or three cautions 1. Look that your zeal be regulated with knowledge There may be a zeal which is not guided by knowledge Rom. 10.2 I bear them record that they have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge Zeal without knowledge is dangerous Paul in a blinde zeal persecuted the people of God thinking therein
and people saying with a loud voice fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment is come If this judgment that is come upon you will not prevail with you to give glory to God God will curse your blessings Mal. 2.2 If ye will not hear and if ye will not lay it to heart to give glory unto my name saith the Lord of hosts I will even send a curse upon you and I will curse your blessings yea I have cursed them already because ye do not lay it to heart If you ask how and wherein you should glorifie God under this affliction which he hath laid upon you I answer 1. Accept of the punishment of your iniquity and acknowledge that the Lord is just and righteous in all that is come upon you Then we give God the glory of his Judgments when we confess him to be just and righteous therein Rev. 15.3,4 Just and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name Thus Daniel gave glory to God when Jerusalem was laid waste and the Jews spoiled of their goods and carried captive into Babylon Dan. 9.14 The Lord hath watched upon the evil and brought it upon us for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works that he doth for we obeyed not his voice Yea do not only confess God to be righteous but also acknowledge him to be gracious in this dispensation say whereas our Houses and Estates are consumed by this Fire it is of the Lords mercies that we our selves are not consumed even because his compassions fail not Thus Lot gave glory to God when his house and goods were consumed in Sodom he looked upon it as a great mercy that he himself was not consumed also Gen. 19.19 Behold now thy servant hath found grace in thy sight and thou hast magnified thy mercy which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life 2. Though your sufferings have been very great yet give God thanks and praise his Holy Name for what he hath done for you by so doing you shall glorifie God Psal 50.23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me Isa 42.12 Let them give glory unto the Lord and declare his praise in the islands This relates to a time of Judgment I will destroy and devour at once I will make waste mountains and hills ver 14. 15. Even when God is rising up to judgment and devouring and destroying we must declare his praise and so give him the glory of his Judgments Let not this seem strange to you that I exhort you that have suffered great lostes by this Fire to praise God and give him thanks for 1. Job did thus when God had taken away all his Estate and Children he blesseth God Job 1.21 The Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord and Job did not sin or act imprudently in blessing God for his losses for it is said in the next words In all this Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly 2. It is the will of God that in every estate and condition and under every dispensation of his providence we should give thanks 1 Thess 5.18 In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you 3. There is much mercy mingled with the affliction it is mercy that your Estates were consumed and not your Lives it is mercy that your Houses only were burned whereas you might have been cast both body and soul into everlasting burnings and if you cannot give God thanks for the affliction it self yet at least give him thanks for the mercy that was mingled with the affliction 3. Let this affliction put you upon searching and trying your wayes and renewing your repentance and returning unto God of which you heard before for in so doing you shall give glory to God Rev. 16.9 They repented not to give him glory 4. Let this Judgment awaken in your souls a more lively fear and dread of God let it cause you to stand in such awe of God as to be afraid to offend him for then we give glory to God when we are afraid to sin against him Rev. 14.7 Fear God and give glory to him 5. You shall give glory to God by this Judgment if you be stirred up by it to live a more holy and righteous life Isa 60.21 Thy people shall be all righteous that I may be glorified If also it make you fruitful in good works John 15.8 Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit 6. Let this Judgment awaken you to a more diligent practice of what is commanded 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God It was your duty ever since you were born to make Gods glory the highest and chiefest end of all your actions if you have not done so you have great cause to humble your souls before God for you have neglected the great end of your Creation Isa 43.7 Every one that is called by my name for I have created him for my glory If you did seek to advance the glory of God before this Judgment came upon you yet now be awakened hereby to seek Gods glory more zealously with more singleness of heart and do all your works both the works of your Calling and your natural Actions as your eating and drinking and your Religious Actions with more explicite intentions to glorifie God SECT 8. 8. Let the losses which you have sustained by this dreadful Fire take you off from laying up your Treasure upon the earth and put you upon laying up treasure in heaven That treasure which you lay up on earth may be taken from you several wayes you may lose it all in one day or if you do not lose it you must leave it all behinde you when you dye But that treasure which is laid up in heaven can by no means be taken from you but you shall enjoy the benefit of it to all eternity Remember therefore and follow the counsel and command of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Mat. 6.19,20,21 Lay not up for your selves treasures upon earth where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal but lay up for your selves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through and steal for where your treasure is there will your heart be also If you ask What is that treasure which we should lay up in heaven I answer All the good thoughts which you think and all the good words that you speak are treasure laid up in heaven Mal. 3.16 They that feared the Lord speak often one to another and the Lord hearkined and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his name You see here that God treasureth up in his book of remembrance all the good words which we speak when
afffliction of Joseph Pray for them that God would comfort and support them under and bring them out of their distresses Psal 25.22 Redeem Israel O God out of all his troubles Psal 132.1 Lord remember David and all his afflictions Counsel and help them in the management of their affairs and carry your selves like a father to them Job 29.15,16 I was eyes to the blind and feet was I to the lame I was a father to the poor Visit them and comfort them in their afflicted condition Jam. 1.27 Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world Relieve them that are in want Eccles 11.1,2 Cast thy bread upon the waters for thou shalt find it after many dayes Give a portion to seven and also to eight for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the Earth Job 31.16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23 If I have withheld the poor from their desire or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail or have eaten my morsel alone and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof for from my youth he was brought up with me as with a father and I have guided her from my mothers womb If I have seen any perish for want of clothing or any poor without covering if his loins have not blessed me and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep If I have lift up mine hand against the fatherless when I saw my help in the gate then let mine arm fall from mine shoulder-blade and mine arm be broken from the bone for destruction from God was a terror to me and by reason of his highness I could not endue Lend to them that would borrow any thing of you in their necessity Matth. 5.42 Give to him that asketh thee and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away Lending as well as giving is a duty enjoyned by God but both the one as well as the other must be managed with discretion Psal 112.5 A good man sheweth favour and lendeth he will guid his affairs with discretion And to make you willing to lend upon all occasions unto those that come to borrow ought of you if they be such persons as your Conscience tells you it is your duty and your discretion that it is meet to lend to them consider that for this very thing God will greatly bless you in all that you set your hands unto Deut. 15.7,8,10 Thou shalt not harden thy heart nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need in that which he wanteth Thou shalt surely give him and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto yea God will not only bless you but your posterity also for this thing Psal 37.26 He is ever merciful and lendeth and his seed is blessed In all respects carry your selves towards those that are in a suffering condition as you would desire they should have carried themselves towards you if they had been in your condition and you had been in theirs for this is according to the rule which is given us by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Matth. 7.12 All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them for this is the Law and the Prophets When you see any in distress and find your selves backward to relieve them say to your own hearts as Mordecai did to Esther in anothers case when she was unwilling to put forth her self for the help of the distressed Jews Esth 4.14 Who knoweth whether thou art come to the Kingdom for such a time as this Who knoweth whether my Estate was preserved from the fire for such a time as this When therefore you are considering with your selves what you shall render unto the Lord for his great mercy towards you in preserving your substance from the fire determine with your selves to do what I have been exhorting you unto namely to put on bowels of compassion towards all that are in distress and to do all the good you can for them according as God shall Minister ability and opportunity unto you for God is al-sufficient and needeth not any thing that you can do for him Act. 17.25 Neither is worshiped with mens hands as though be needed any thing seeing he giveth to all life and breath and all things Your goodness extendeth not unto him Psal 16.2 neither can you be profitable to God as you may be profitable to his people Job 35.7,8 If thou be righteous what givest thou him or what receiveth he of thine hand Thy righteousness may profit the Son of Man God expects this from us that when he hath bestowed any eminent mercy upon us we should express our gratitude by doing good to others that are in distress Luke 22.32 When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren As it is in respect of comfort when God gives us comfort it is not only for our selves but also to enable us to comfort others 2 Cor. 1.4,6 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God Whether we be comforted it is for your consolation and salvation So it is with riches they are not given to us only for our own use but also to enable us to relieve the wants and necessities of others We are not Lords but Stewards of our Estates and must one day give an account of our stewardship And it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful 1 Cor. 4.2 Stewards must not dispose of what is committed to their charge according to their own but according to their Lords will SECT 6. 6. Seeing God hath so mercifully spared you beware that you deal not rigorously or cruelly with any that have been sufferers by this Fire do not speak or do any thing that may add to the affliction of the afflicted and instead of oyl pour vinegar into their wounds God is sorely displeased with those that add to the affliction of the afflicted Zech. 115. I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease for I was but a little displeased and they helped forward the affliction Psal 69.24,25,26 Pour out thine indignation upon them and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them let their habitation be desolate and let none dwell in their tents for they persecute him whom thou hast smitten and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded Therefore do not use any insulting language or speak any bitter words to such as are brought low Rom. 11.17.18 If some of the branches be broken off boast not thy self against the branches Jer. 48.26,27 Moab shall wallow in his
houses and upon all persons that dwell in them and upon all affairs that are transacted in your houses You know it is said Psal 93.5 Holiness becometh thy house O Lord for ever If therefore you would give your houses to God let those that are the masters of the house in the first place look unto themselves that they be holy in all manner of conversation and follow the example of David Psal 101.2,3,4 I will walk within my house with a perfect heart I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes I hate the work of them that turn aside it shall not cleave to me A froward heart shall depart from me Then endeavour to bring your Children and your Servants and all that live in your houses to serve God in holiness and righteousness Josh 24.15 As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Endeavour to get godly servants into your houses or at least to make them such after they are come under your roof Psal 101.6,7 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land that they may dwell with me he that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me he that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house he that telleth lyes shall not tarry in my sight Let holiness be written not only upon all persons but upon all your houshold affairs Be holy in your eating and drinking govern your Children and Servants and follow your Calling in an holy manner entertain all that come to your houses in a godly sort In a word be holy in all manner of conversation and do not think this to be too great preciseness for 't is no more than what is commanded 1 Pet. 1.15 As he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation God would have us so eminently holy in managing our civil employments that all that converse with us may see holiness so evidently in what we do as if it were written upon our employments Zech. 14.20,21 In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses holiness unto the Lord and the pots in the Lords house shall be like the bouls before the Altar yea every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness to the Lord of Hosts 3. Suffer none that come to or dwell in your houses to speak or do any thing that may tend to the dishonour of God but endeavour as much as in you lieth to glorifie God your selves and to bring all that live with you so to speak and so to walk as that God in all things may be glorified Psal 29.9 In his Temple doth every one speak of his glory If you would have your houses become as it were Temples of God you must suffer no cursing no lying no scoffing no back-biting no rotten communication in your houses but every one must speak and walk so as God may be glorified When David dedicated his house to the Lord he begins the Psalm that he composed at the dedication thereof with a purpose and resolution to extol and glorifie God Psal 30.1 I will extol thee O Lord. Extol God in your hearts extol God in all your discourses extol God in your conversations extol God in all your wayes After David had been delivered from the hands of his enemies he thought it not enough to give glory to God himself but calleth upon others also to magnifie God with him Psal 34.3 O magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together Do you follow his example seeing God hath so graciously preserved your houses and substance from this fire do not only glorifie God your selves but call upon your Wives and Children and Servants and all that are in your Families O magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his Name together 4. If you would dedicate your houses to God make them houses of prayer pray with your Family every morning and every evening and besides praying with your Family go into your Closet and pour out your souls to God in secret and call to your Servants and Children to pray in secret as well as to joyn in family prayer Matth. 21.13 My house shall be called the house of prayer 5. Entertain with a willing and chearful minde all Gods friends and ghests that he at any time sends to your houses After you have dedicated your houses to God you should be as willing to entertain Gods friends and Gods ghests as your own If you ask who are Gods friends and who are his ghests I answer 1. All godly men John 15.14 Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you When God puts it into the hearts of any of his servants to come to your houses you should most gladly receive them for they leave a blessing behinde them Matth. 10.41 He that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous mans reward 2. All godly Ministers when you receive them into your houses the Lord Jesus taketh it as kindly as if you received himself or his Father John 13.20 Verily verily I say unto you he that received whomsoever I send receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me 3. Such as are strangers Matth. 25.35 I was a stranger and ye took me in Heb. 13.2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained Angels unawares Job 31.32 The stranger did not lodge in the streets but I opened my doors to the traveller 4. Such as are driven from their own Houses or their own Countrey for Conscience sake Isa 16.3,4 Hide the out-casts bewray not him that wandereth let mine out-casts dwell with thee Moab be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler When we see any persons harbourless that are honest and well disposed we should take pity on them and receive them into our houses Isa 58.6,7 Is not this the fast that I have chosen Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house when thou seest the naked that thou cover him and that thou hide not thy self from thine own flesh SECT 8. 8. Seeing God hath spared and preserved your Estates from this Fire by way of gratitude devote and dedicate your Estates to God and resolve to spend them according to his will and employ them for his glory We are commanded to honour God with our substance and we shall be no losers by spending any part thereof for the advancing of his glory Prov. 3.9,10 Honour the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of all thine increase so shall thy barns be filled with plenty and thy presses shall burst out with new wine If you ask how you should honour God with your Estates I answer 1. Do not spend them upon your lusts what is spent for the satissying of pride sensuality curiosity vain glory or the like that is spent upon your lusts and you may be sure that what
abide in thy Tabernacle for ever I will trust in the covert of thy wings Psal 4.5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put your trust in the Lord. God was much displeased with the Israelites when they did not trust in him notwithstanding he had done great things for them Psal 78.21,22,23,24 Anger came up against Israel because they believed not in God and trusted not in his salvation though he had commanded the clouds from above and opened the doors of heaven and had rained down Manna upon them to eat see also ver 32 33. For all this they sinned still and believed not for his wonderous works therefore their dayes did he consume in vanity and their years in trouble We render that which is very pleasing and acceptable to God when we put our trust in him for The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him in those that hope in his mercy Psal 147.11 If you ask For what should great and remarkable deliverances cause a man to trust in God I answer 1. When a man hath had any remarkable deliverance out of any trouble it should encourage him to trust in God under all his straits and troubles that come upon him all the dayes of his life Psal 18.50 Great deliverance giveth he to his King and sheweth mercy to his anointed to David and to his seed for evermore This Psalm was penned upon the occasion of that deliverance which God gave David out of the hands of Saul as you may see in the title of the Psalm and from this deliverance he concludeth that God would deliver him for ever Psal 6.9 The Lord hath heard my supplication the Lord will receive my Prayer see the fore-quoted Scriptures 1 Sam. 17.37 2 Cor. 1.10 But some may say How can this be That deliverance from one trouble or calamity should cause us to trust in God for deliverance from another when as we see they that escape one judgment are cut off or suffer deeply by another I answer 1. When God cuts off and destroys those whom he hath formerly delivered it is usually such as distrust him and turn away from him Jude 5. The Lord having saved the people out of the land of Egypt afterward destroyed them that believed not Josh 24.20 If ye forsake the Lord and serve strange gods then he will turn and do you hurt and consume you after that he hath done you good 2. When God brings his servants who trust in him into new troubles their faith is not vain but brings down a great blessing for when they are not delivered from troubles they are delivered in trouble and are kept from the evil of trouble that it doth not hurt them and this is a great deliverance Job 5.19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles yea in seven there shall no evil touch thee 2. Deliverance from temporal evils should encourage the servants of God to trust in the Lord for deliverance from spiritual evils and the bestowing upon them spiritual blessings As for instance 1. When they have had deliverance out of trouble they should conclude that God will also deliver them from all their sins and preserve them in a state of grace till he hath brought them to himself in glory Thus Paul concludes from his deliverance that he had from Nero that God would deliver him from every evil work 2 Tim. 4.17,18 I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion and the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom 2. The servants of God that have escaped great calamities and been delivered from great dangers should trust in God for a broken heart to mourn for their sins for God promiseth this mercy to such as escape great judgments Ezek. 7.16 They that escape of them shall escape and shall be on the Mountains like Doves of the Valleys all of them mourning every one for his iniquity 3. When the servants of God escape out of great troubles it should cause them to trust in God to deliver them from the deceit of their own hearts and to direct the work of faith and repentance in truth in their souls Isa 10.20,21 The remnant of Israel and such as are escaped of the House of Jacob shall no more again stay upon him that smote them but shall stay upon the Lord the Holy One of Israel in truth the remnant shall return even the remnant of Jacob unto the mighty God This remnant unto whom God promiseth faith and repentance in truth are such as should escape the great calamities that were coming on the Jews as you may see ver 21 22. 4. When the servants of God have received any eminent deliverances they should be encouraged thereby to trust in God for power and strength to walk before God in holiness and righteousness as long as they live Psal 56.13 Thou hast delivered my soul from death wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling that I may walk before God in the light of the living If any say What grounds have the servants of God to take encouragement from temporal deliverances to trust in God for all spiritual blessings Amongst others that may be named I will mention these two 1. Redemption from outward troubles is given to the servants of God by vertue of the Covenant of Grace as well as spiritual blessings Psal 111.9 He sent redemption unto his people he hath commanded his covenant for ever Psal 106.44,45 Nevertheless he regarded their affliction when he heard their cry and he remembred for them his Covenant Now when we finde God remembring his Covenant in one kinde it may encourage us to trust in God for all the other blessings which are promised to us in Gods Covenant 2. Redemption from outward troubles is given to the servants of God from the same love of God that spiritual blessings are bestowed upon them Isa 63.9 In all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them in his love and in his pity he redeemed them and he bare them and carried them all the dayes of old Isa 38.17 Behold for peace I had great bitterness but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption Psal 18.19 He brought me forth into a large place he delivered me because he delighted in me Now even outward deliverances being tokens of Gods love to his Servants they may thereby be encouraged to trust in God for spiritual blessings Psal 36.6,7,8 There is much of Gods love seen in his preserving our persons and goods O Lord thou preservest man and beast how excellent is thy loving kindeness his loving kindness should cause us to trust in him therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings And this loving kindeness of God should cause us to trust in him not only for outward but also for spiritual blessings as appears from the eighth verse SECT 12. 12. Let this deliverance cause you to prepare
need not fear any thing though an host of men should set themselves against him Psal 27.1,3 The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid Though an host should encamp against me mine heart shall not fear though war should rise against me in this will I be confident yea though all the world should set themselves against us if we have God with us we need not fear any thing Psal 118.10 All Nations compassed me about but in the Name of the Lord will I destroy them Rom. 8.31 What shall we then say to these things If God be for us who can be against us Though the whole world should be turned upside down and all places should be full of trouble and confusion and there should be no peace or safety either on the Sea or Land that man that hath God for his strength need not fear any thing Psal 46.1,2,3 God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble Therefore will we not fear though the Earth be removed and though the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea though the waters thereof roar and be troubled though the Mountains shake at the swelling thereof If then you would bear up comfortably under all your afflictions rememember the exhortation of the Apostle Ephes 6.10 Finally my Brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Do not trust to your own strength but seek to be strong in the Lord and to get his mighty power to assist you It may be some will say What shall we do that we may get Gods strength to support us under and to carry us through all the troubles of this life I answer 1. Be sensible of your own weakness and renounce all confidence in your own strength God is wont to communicate his strength most eminently to his servants when they have lowest thoughts of their own strength and are under deepest apprehensions of their own weakness 2 Cor. 12.9,10 My strength is made perfect in weakness When I am weak then am I strong Isa 40.29 He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength When we grow conceited of our own abilities God withdraws himself from us and leaves us to fall under small tryals Peter being over confident of himself that he could suffer any thing yea death it self for the sake of Christ and that though all men should deny Christ he would not Matth. 26.33,35 fell under the first temptation that assaulted him a Damsel did but say Thou wast with Jesus of Galilee and he denyed Christ in the presence of all that were in the Palace ver 69 70. God is so far from helping proud persons that he is wont to set himself against them Jam. 4.6 God resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble I will mention three ways whereby you may be convinced of your own weakness and of the absolute necessity of Gods strength to carry you through your afflictions 1. Weigh well what the Scripture saith of mans impotency we are such weak creatures that without divine assistance we cannot do or suffer any thing though it be never such a small matter Joh. 15.5 Without me ye can do nothing Thinking is much easier than either doing or suffering yet of our selves we have not ability so much as to think any thing 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think anything as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God 2. Observe how unable you have been when God hath withdrawn himself to bear those small and light troubles wherewith God hath exercised you Hath not a trifle that which hath been an affliction and a trouble in your imagination rather than in reality dejected and cast you down If you have fainted under small troubles what will you do when great ones come if you have not the Lords help Jer. 12.5 If thou hast run with the footmen and they have wearied thee then how canst thou contend with Horses And if in the Land of Peace wherein thou trustest they wearied thee then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan 3. Consider what great men have fainted under small tryals when the Lord hath left them but a little to themselves Jonah a Prophet of the Lord for the loss of a gourd which sprung up and withered in a day fell into such a fret that he was even angry with God and weary of his life and wished that he might dye The Apostle Peter upon the speech of a maid denyed Christ and swore that he did not so much as know the man If such eminent persons as these fainted under such small tryals what shall we do without the help of God 2. Being sensible of your own weakness cry unto God to give you his strength Psal 86.16 O turn unto me and have mercy upon me give thy strengh unto thy servant Psal 119.28 Strengthen thou me according to thy Word But will this do Will God give us his strength if we cry to him for it yea he will Psal 138.3 In the day when I cryed thou answeredst me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul 3. Rest and rely upon God for the communicating of his strength to your souls The way to engage God to help and strengthen you is to trust in him 1 Chron. 5.20 They were helped for they cryed to God in the battel and he was entreated of them because they put their trust in him 2 Chron. 13.11 Help us O Lord our God for we rest on thee Psal 28.7 The Lord is my strength and my shield my heart trusted in him and I am helped Gods power is communicated in an eminent manner to those that believe in him Ephes 1.19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power Though we are never so weak in our selves we may become strong by resting upon God Heb. 11.33,34 Who through faith out of weakness were made strong If you ask What ground have we to rely upon God that he will give us his strength to support us under all our troubles I answer We have a sure Word of Promise we have not only one promise but many to assure us that God will not leave us destitute of his help and strength Isa 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness Zech. 10.12 I will strengthen them in the Lord and they shall walk up and down in his Name saith the Lord. Psal 29.11 The Lord will give strength unto his people Joel 3.15,16 The Sun and Moon shall be darkened and the Stars shall withdraw their shining the Lord also shall roar out of Zion and utter his voyce from Jerusalem and the Heavens and the Earth shall shake but the Lord will be the hope
should then have perished in mine affliction It was by the help of the word of truth that the Apostle went through his manifold troubles with great patience 2 Cor. 6.4,5,7 Now there are variety of promises which do relate to an afflicted condition which may be of great use to us in our afflictions which we shall do well to store up against an evil day I will mention some of them 1. God hath promised to moderate our afflictions and to lay no more upon us than he will enable us to bear 1 Cor. 10.13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it Isa 27.8 In measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it he stayeth his rough wind in the day of his East wind Jer. 15.11 The Lord said Verily it shall be well with thy remnant verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction This promise is added after the mentioning of Gods unalterable purpose to send four sore Judgments upon the Jews Death the Sword Famine and Captivity verse 1 2. So also after mention of a time of trouble such as there had not been the like God comforts his people with his promise that he would not correct them out of measure though he suffered them to partake of the common calamity Jer. 30.7,10,11 Alas for that day is great so that none is like it it is even the time of Jacobs trouble Yet the Lord encourageth Jacob not to be afraid Fear thou not O my servant Jacob saith the Lord neither be dismayed O Israel for I am with thee saith the Lord to save thee though I make a full end of all Nations whether I have scattered thee yet will I not make a full end of thee but I will correct thee in measure and will not leave thee altogether unpunished 2. God hath promised us his presence in our afflictions Psal 91.15 He shall call upon me and I will answer him I will be with him in trouble Isa 43.1,2 But now thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob and he that formed thee O Israel Fear not When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee This promise hath dependance on the last verse where the Prophet telleth us what calamities were come upon Israel He hath poured upon him the fury of his anger and the strength of battle and it hath set him on fire round about and then addeth but now thus saith the Lord Fear not When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee God would not have his people fear any trouble because he will be with them in all their troubles in one as well as another and that not only when they first enter into them but till they are safely passed through all the troubles of this life 3. God hath promised to strengthen and support and uphold us in all our troubles I have mentioned several promises to this purpose already as Joel 3.15,16 Isa 41.10 I will add two or three more Nahum 1.7 The Lord is good a strong hold in the day of trouble and he knoweth them that trust in him Psal 37.39,40 The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord he is their strength in time of trouble And the Lord shall help them and deliver them he shall deliver them from the wicked and save them because they put their trust in him Isa 41.14 Fear not thou worm Jacob and ye men of Israel I will help thee saith the Lord and thy redeemer the Holy One of Israel see also Isa 25.4 4. God hath promised to comfort and revive our souls when we are in affliction Psal 138.7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble thou wilt revive me thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies and thy right hand shall save me Micah 7.8 When I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me Psal 71.20,21 Thou which hast shewn me great and sore troubles shall quicken me again and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth thou shalt encrease my greatness and comfort me on every side Isa 66.13 As one whom his mother comforteth so will I comfort you and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem John 14.18 I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you 5. God hath promised to sanctifie our afflictions and he hath promised they shall purge out our sins and make us more holy and shall be all of them so blessed unto us that they shall work together for our good Isa 27.9 By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away their sin Zech. 13.9 I will bring the third part through the fire and will refine them as silver is refined Rom. 8.28 We know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose 6. God hath promised in due time to deliver us out of all our afflictions 1 Pet. 5.6 Humble your selves under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time Job 5.19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles yea in seven there shall no evil touch thee Psal 34.19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all God hath promised when he seeth it to be most for our good and for his own glory to preserve us from afflictions Psal 121.7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil he shall preserve thy soul Psal 32.7 Thou art my hiding place thou shalt preserve me from trouble thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance but when he doth not preserve us from trouble he hath promised to deliver us out of trouble Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me SECT 13. 13. Endeavour to demean your selves in such sort towards God that you may prevail with him to continue still to watch over and preserve both your persons houses and substance If you ask what you should do that you may engage the Lord to continue his preservation of your persons and substance I answer 1. Walk in the fear of the Lord and serve him with an upright and sincere heart Satan saith of Job who was an upright man one that feared God and eschewed evil Job 1.9,10 Doth Job fear God for nought Hast not thou made an hedge about him and about his house and about all that he hath on every side Thou hast blessed the work of his hands and encreased his substance in the land Prov.