evils of their lives 53 3. For the prolonging of their lives amplified in three particulars 54 55 4. For spiritual Mercies 57 Quest When mercies received may be helps to trust God for the future shewed in six particulars 58 Quest How to improve mercies so as to strengthen faith for the future in two particulars 62 Two things premised and two Cautions how to rest on former experiences 63 The fourth Sermon Wherein is shewed who it was that bare witness to this Miracle viz. Nebuchadnezar And a Question propounded whether he was hereby truly converted Arguments for the Affirmative given by some p. 73. And determined in the Negative 74 Doct. 2. That it is not in the power of greatest Miracles to convert a soul to God unless the spirit of Christ step in 75 This is cleered by Scripture-examples ibid. By Scripture testimony 76 And by experiences in our own times 78 First Ground of the Point To put the greater glory on the word 80 2. From the desperate hardness of mans heart 81 Use 1. Take notice what a Miracle of iniquity there is in mans nature 82 Use 2. What a Miracle it is that any soul is converted 83 A three-fold Miracle is shewed in the conversion of every sinner Of Wisedom Of Power Of Mercy 84 Use 3. Bless God for his word and look to it more then to Miracles 87 The fift Sermon Doct. 3. God many times makes his peoples enemies to acknowledg and confess that the Lord is with them and that he hath dealt graciously with them 92 The Point cleared by five Demonstrations 1. Christ put up a petition to his father for it 94 2. Christ hath promised it to his people 95 3. God hath put a power into his Word to convince enemies though it convert them not 96 4. God makes enemies oft to be the eye and ear witnesses of his peoples mercies and Agents therein 97 5. God works for his people in such away that enemies are forced to acknowledg the same so freely unexpectedly suddenly solitarily 98 Two Reasons why God will make enemies to acknowledg this truth 101 Use 1. A ground of Patience and encouragement to the Saints in tribulation 103 Use 2. Let not wicked men look with delight on the miseries of the Saints 104 Use 3. Let the people of God acknowledg this as a very great mercy ib. Use 4. Let the people of God much more acknowledg the gracious dealing of God toward them 105 The sixt Sermon Doct. 4. That all the persecutions which the Devil or his Instruments raise against the Saints shall not diminish their number but rather increase them 111 The point evidenced by manifold examples out of the history of the Church in all ages 112 The first Reason God delights to walk contrary unto men 115 2. Reason The Lord Jesus is a mighty King and will improve his power for the Saints ibid. 3. Reason From the impotency of enemies to hinder Christs Kingdom 116 Use 1. To let us see the vanity of all attempts of men against the truth and people of Christ with an item to the Powers of the world concerning it ibid Use 2. To give a ground of patience and comfort to the Saints against opposition of men 119 Doct. 5. That the Lord Jesus Christ is never nigher to his people then when they are in great afflictions in fiery tryals 121 Some instances given to prove it ibid Quest What presence of Christ the Saints may expect in their tryals 121 1. His supporting presence 2. His enlightening and teaching presence 3. His sanctifying presence 4. His quickning presence 5. His comforting presence A warning to the Saints to improve this Doctrine they not knowing what tryals the Lord may ere long bring them into 126 The further handling of this Point is in the eighth Sermon The seventh Sermon Wherein is considered the restraint the Lord layd upon the fire it could not hurt them only loosed their bonds whence note Doct. 6. At the command of the Lord the fiercest of Creatures shall not only not hurt his people but shall take part with them and do them good 130 Two Branches of the Point 1. They shall not hurt them 2. They must do them good both illustrated from Scripture instances 131 132 1. Reason The Creatures are Gods Host they go along with him where he is a friend they are friends 134 2. Reas From the Covenant and League made with the Creatures which hath two Branches 1. To do no hurt 2. To take part and do good 137 3. Reas God hath a special providence over his people 139 4. Reas The Creatures are all reconciled in Jesus Christ 140 Use 1. Take notice of the mighty power of the Lord what a great King he is that hath all Creatures at his command ibid. Use 2. What a shame to man that he should not be at the command of God 141 Vse 3. A strong Motive to those that be strangers to God to come in and submit to him till then they are lyable to be harmed by the Creatures 142 Use 4. It is not in tho Creatures power to do good without God 143 Use 5. Comfort to the people of God and encouragement to their faith 145 The eighth Sermon Wherein the fifth Doctrine is further handled Concerning the presence of the Lord Jesus with his people in afflictions 150 1 Reason The Lord Jesus knows they have most need of his presence then 1. Because of the weakness of the flesh 152 2. Because of the strength of Temptations 154 2. Reason The Lord Jesus remembers his Fathers kindness to him in being near to him in his afflictions 155 3. Reas Christ remembers his engagement to his people 158 1. By promise 2. By a Law of Love written within him 3. By the Law of friendship 4. That he may see to his work he is doing upon his people by afflictions Quest By what way doth Christ communicate so much of himself to his people in affliction 161 c. Answ 1. He raises up his peoples faith to an high pitch 2. He pours upon them the Spirit of Supplication 3. He draws the hearts of his people nigher to him 4. He manifests much of himself by his word which he sends with affliction Objections Answered of such as complain they have found little of Christ in their Afflictions 164. The ninth Sermon Use 1. To shew the unparrallell'd love of Jesus Christ who will never forsake his in afflictions no friend on earth like him 173 Use 2. To draw in those that be strangers to Christ to submit to him and get interest in him that they may have a friend in an evil day 174 Use 3. There is not so much evil in affliction then as men apprehend 176 Two things may make the people of God not to fear afflictions 176 1. Because they shall certainly injoy the presence of Christ in affliction 177 2. The presence of Christ will countervail the bitterness of affliction 180 Use 4. Let
with garments of blood that so by that means he became a reconciler Without shedding of blood there is no remâ—ssion Here is encouragement given to poor guilty sinners that apprehend nothing due unto them but wrath yet by the blood of Jesus Christ by that new and living way they come in and then God the Father too he made a promise to the Son that because he laid down his life he should have a multitudinous off-spring in that 53. of Isaiah In the day that he pours out his soul to death he should see the travel of his soul and he should have a large portion because he poured out his soul to death for transgressors so you see that the killing of Jesus Christ and putting him to death is so far from lessening believers that this is the way to draw in all those multitudes of souls that were gâ—ven to Christ of his Father Secondly Again If you look upon the primitive Churches you shall finde that the worlds persecution had the same effect upon them there waâ— a great persecution a mighty storm which you reaâ— of in the 8. of Acts persecution begun fiâ—st aâ— Jâ—rusalem and by that means the Churches were scattered Well did this tend to the hindrance of the Gospel and lessen the number of Beleevers No you shall read in that Chapter thaâ— God made this a means to carry the Gospel to many other Countries were brought in to bebeleeve in Christ the great City of Samaria you read in the 6. vers Pâ—ilip went down and Preached to Samaria and this did tend to the furtherance oâ— the Gospel in the 8. verse They gave all heed aâ—d there wâ—s great joy in that City If you look upon tâ—e Churches in those Ages for the first thâ—ee hundred years after Christ there was a most â—errible persecution there were ten persecuâ—oâ—s ten bloody Emperours that sought to root out the Name or Châ—ist and to destâ—oy the Saint and therefore those that write of Ecclesiastical History they tell us they devised all manner of torments some speak of about twenty seven deaths they devised to torment the poor Christianâ— Many thouâ—ands many millions suffered in the time of thoâ—e persecutions and yet this was so far from â—iminishâ—ng the number of Bâ—leevers tâ—at they were encreaâ—ed the more they were oppressed and persecuted the more they encreased and thereâ—ore sâ—me of them did observe that Juliâ—n he used all means to â—uppresse them shut up all their Schools that they might not have learning aâ—d yet never had they more learning then then He devised all manner of torments to terrifiâ— them and yet he saw they encreased and multiplied so fast that he thought at last his best course was to give over his persecution not out of love but out of envy because that through his persecution they encreased And thus you see the Point cleared That the persecution of the Saints shall not diminish the number of them but shall encrease them For the Grounds of it Bâ—iefly Fiâ—st of all God delights to walk contrary to The Grounds of the Point men therefore he will have it thus He loves to cross the imaginations of the hearts of men of the world and to set his ways against their tâ—oughts and their ways in the fourth of Micah the latter end they say Let our eye look upon Siâ—n but what saith God in the next verse They know not thâ— thoughts of the Lord neither understand â—â— counsel When men dream that such a way it shall be the utter rooting out of the Gospel they aâ—e might ly mistaken saith God my thoughes are abâ—ve yours my ways above yours You know not the thoughts of the Lord for this very way shall encrease multitudes God delights to walk contrary to men and to oppose his gracious thoughts to their cursed imaginations Secondly The Lord Jesus is a mighty King all 2. Ground power is given into his hand both in Heaven and earth and all this power he will improve for the Kingdom of Saints all is given to him and â—e will give all to them Neither life nor death things present nor things to come they are all yours He hath given all to them and all shall make for their advantage In this the power of the Lord Jesus King of Saints is mightily seen that he can turn aâ—l opposition to advantage the greatest persecution that the Devils can raise shall all turn to the advantage of Christs Kingdom It is so with particular souls all is yours all is yours to do you good life and death is yours all given you to serve you and they shall work together for your good for your best good for your eternal good the Lord makes an advantage of all unto his people the Devil casts blocks in their way to hinder them he turns it to their advantage and so they are helped nigher to himself all the evil of the world yea all the evil of sin and the Devil himself shall though against their wills help forward the salvation of Gods people and so Christ cause all to be for the good of his Church for the good of his Kingdom all opposition and persecutions which are raised to blow down the Kingdom of Jesus Christ shall but establish it for 't is rooted 't is a Kingdom that cannot be shaken And then Thirdly Men cannot hinder the increase of Christs Kingdom for there is no man able to hinder the work of the Spirit of Christ from working 3. Ground The wind blows where it lists and so the Spirit of God that breaths where it lists and where ever he please to breath It is not possible for man to resist his work The work of Christ by his Spirit upon mens hearts is a mighty work an irresistable work and all the powers of Hell shall not be able to hinder the work 't is a mighty work and none shall let it To apply this briefly First of all It lets us see the vanity of all the Application attempts of men against the truth of Christ and the people of Christ they are but vain imaginations Vse 1 men do but imagine a mischiefous device that they shall never be able to bring to pass it is a vain thing for a man to go about to silence the truth of Christ or to destroy the Saints of Christ I tell you the more the truth is troden on the more it shall shine and as it goes with truth so it goes with Saints the more troden on in the world the more loved of God all the winde of opposition that the Devils can raise from the world it shall never be able to shake them though it may shake some particular grains and ears that they may fall to the earth but yet they shall rise again every grain that falls shall bring forth fruit some thirty and some a hundred fold the more thy are opposed the more they encrease persecution shall but sow the blood of Christ the
and do them good First of all they cannot hurt The water of the Red Sea it could not destroy the Israelites The Lyons though fierce creatures yet they could not open their mouths against Daniel The most violent men of the world cannot hurt when God lays a restraint upon them you know Laban was not able to speak so much as a hurtful word to Jacob because God met him and layd a restraint upon him Take heed that thou speak to Jacob neitâ—er good nor evil God would perswade his people of this in that 54. of Isaiah verse 15 16. God would let them know that they were not able to lift up a weapon without him nay they could not so much as make a weapon without him the Smith could not so much as blow the fire to form a weapon without the Lord Thus saith God I have power over all creatures and over all the actions of creatures a weapon cannot be lifted up for the workman cannot so much as lift up his hand to blow the fire unless God permit him â— Dog cannot bark against a man unless God give leave the barking of a Dog will do little â—urt yet a Dog could not so much as bark against Israel when the Lord lay a restraint upon them God would carry them quite out of the land of Aegypt and not one Dog should move his Tongue at them as you may see in the 11. of Exodus vers 7. you see the creature cannot do the least hurt for a Dog cannot do so much as bark he cannot do so much as move his Tongue when God lays a restraint upon them Secondly The creature cannot hurt but they must do good to Gods people at his command if the Lord will make choice of any creature to do his people good he will effect his own design it cannot be hindered he will do them good by any thing he will do them good by any creature by the most violent creature Who would have thought that the fire should have done these three children good that the fire should take their part and yet the fire at the command of the Lord does loose their bonds and sets them at liberty Who would have thought that the waters at the red Sea should have done the Israelites good and yet they were abundantly useful to them in their passage through the red Sea you shall read in the 14 of Exodus vers 22. that the children of Israel walked through the Sea and the waters were a wall to them on the right hand and on the left the creature that might have been their destruction became security to them their way was made strait to them they could not go out of their way for the Sea was a wall to them on the right hand and on the left Who would have thought that the Ravens should have done Eliaâ— so much good that the hungry Ravens creaturâ— that are of so greedy an appetite should sparâ— meat out of their own bodies to feed the Prophet yet so it was as you may read in the first book of Kings 17. vers 6. God makes the very Ravens to be careful Nurses to Elias when he was in the Wilderness they brought him his meat in the morning and in the evening Who would have bin thought that the belly of the Whale should have a protecting place to Johah that it should save him from destruction yet God he made use of it and he made the belly of the Whale to be a place of safety to Jonah the Whale kept him safe till she carryed him and set him on shore So that you see God can do his people good by any creature he can make them all to be useful Sometimes he works by improbable means and sometimes by impossible means I say sometimes God doth his people good by improbable means to have Honey out of the Rock and Oyl out of the Rock you will say this is improbable and yet this is his promise that is made to Israel in the 32. of Deuteronomy vers 13. And he made him to suck Honey out of the Rock and Oyl out of the flinty Rock He speaks of the fruitfulness of the Land of Canaan God made the barren places fruitful and he made the very Rocks to bring forth yea the very flinty Rocks to be fruitful the Rocks gave them Honey and the Rocks gave them Oyl That is as I conceive God made the very Rocks to bring forth trees and trees brought forth pleasant fruit the Rocks brought forth the Olive Trees and the Date Trees and so they had Honey out of the Rock and Oyl out of the Rock You know that it was impossible that Israel being carryed into Babylon they should be carryed again into their own Country and while they were in Babylon they seem to be in the grave What a mercy was it that God should stir up their enemies to be a defence to them and to have them to be assisting of them and to stir them up to the work of the Lord to work in the Temple you know God wrought by that means And so how improbable was it that Josephs accusation by his Mistress that his fetters his chains should be his advancement and you know God wrought that way and he made Joseph to be lift up and made the second man of Pharaohs Kingdom Yea God works sometimes by Impossible means you see it was impossible that the fire should have been a protection to these three Children to loose their bands and set them at liberty and be a place to walk in and yet it was at the command of the Lord. He can turn the very stones into bread He can send bread out of Heaven as to Israel and give water out of the Rock as to them in the Wilderness He cannot only work without means but by impossible means And thus you see at the command of the Lord all creatures must obey He can do his people good by Improbable means and by Impossible means For the Grounds of the Point Why creatures The Grounds of the Point cannot hurt but they must do good to the people of God First of all Because they must all go along with God and where God is a friend they must be a freind where God will not hurt they will not hurt for they all go along with him Balaam could not go against the word of the Lord If Balack would have given him his house full of Gold and Silver he could not go against the word of the Lord and therefore when he would have had him cursed the people Oh says Balaam How should I curse when God hath not cursed and defie whâ—n God hath not defied This is the voice of all Creatures how shall we curse when God hath not cursed and how shall we hurt when God hath not hurt they are all obedient to the word of the Lord to the command of the Lord all creatures obey that word of the Lord that he gave them
to the glorious Fathers and Because he pâ—ured out his soul as an offring for sin his Father gave him a portion with the great and mighty so that the number of Beleevers were increased and not diminished by this mischievous device against â—im The Primitive Churches persecution that was raised in Jerusalem it did help to the increase of the Gospel and number of Believers The Apostles and Brethren were scattered in the eighth of the Acts so they carryed the word up and down and by their means many were brought in to God Samaria a great City many in it were converted They with one accord gave heed to what Philip spake and there was great joy in that City I shewed you out of Ecclesiastical story that all the persecutions those bloody persecutions the Church meâ— with did not diminish but did increase the number of Believers The Lord delights to walk contrary to wicked men to cross the corrupt imaginations of the men of the world In those things wherein their deal proudly he will be above them he will let them know that his thoughts are above thy thoughts and his ways above thâ—ir wayâ— When they say concerning Sion Let her be defiled and let our eyes â—ook upoâ— her let us see her desolation They know noâ— the thoughts of the Lord nor understand his Counsel for the event shall be quite contrary their expectations The Lord Jesus is a great King and therefore it shall be so All power is given into his hand in Heaven and in Earth and he will order all for the advancement of his own Kingdom all is his and he hath given all to the Saints All is yours all shall do them good all shall further and increase their graces and the increase of his Kindom There is none can hinder the Lord from pouring out of his spirit there is none can hinder the Spirit from working and therfore all opposition cannot hinder the increase of Believers The wind blows where it lists and so the Spirit of the Lord breaths where it it pleaseth Man may as well stop the Sun in the Firmament or hinder the Sun from shining and the winde from blowing as the Spirit of the Lord from working grace he darts in beams of light beams of conviction to the hearts of Creatures and his work is an irresistable work all the powers of Hell and darkness shall not be able to hinder his work Therefore I conclude this Point with an Item to the men of the world To take heed how they seek to oppose the truth of Christ and the people of Christ this is not the way to diminish their number no the Lord he will out reach them in all their designâ— of persecution the hottest peâ—secution shall but increase the â—umber of the Saints they shall but sow the blood of Christ and their ashes the thicker and if one fall to the ground a hundred shall rise up in their stead But I entred into a second Point in which I shall proceed After we considered who this fourth man was Nebâ—chadnezzâ—r saw four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and tâ—ey have no hurt and the form of the foâ—rth is like thâ— Son of God it was indeed the Son of God It was the Angel of the Covenant the Lord Jesus who did assume a body at this time and came down to refresh his Servants in the fire It holds forth this That he would in time come to deliver poor servants from the flame of his Fathers wrath That he would be present with his people in all afflictions in the midst of all their fiery tryals The Proposition then entred into is this That the people of God never enjoy more of the presence of Christ then in their lowest conditions When they are in great afflictions and fiery tryals the Son of God is with them Here you see it in this fiery tryal Israel never saw more of God then when they were in the barren Wilderness Jacob never had such glorious visions as when he was driven from his house and home when he was separated from all creature comforts had not so much as a Bed to ly on nor a Pillow to lay his head upon but layd him down upon a heap of stones then had he those glorious Visions of the Ladder set up to Heaven and of the Angels ascending and descending Stephen never saw such glorious Visions of Jesus Christ but when he was vnder a showre of stones that took away his life He looked up then and he saw the Heavens opened and the Son of God at the right hand of the Father ready to recieve him The Apostle John never had so glorious Visions as when he was bâ—nished to the Isle of Paâ—mos then did Christ reveal those glorious Mysteries written in the Book of Revelations concerning the Churches to the end of the world The Primitive Churches enjoyed most of Christ in the times of persecution they enjoyed most of the presence of Christ and most of the mind of Christ most purity and most holiness they had most of the supporting presence of Christ then his left hand is put under to support a poor Creature when it is in a low condition in a sinking condition in an afflicted condition He supports the inward man and he supports the outward man he makes a little strength to go a great way as the Oyl in the widows cruse till such time as he sends deliverance unto his people They have never more of the enlightening presence of the teaching presence of Christ then in such conditions Affliction is Christs School in which he teaches his people many precious Lessons they have never more of the quickening presence of Christ then in such conditions never more of the Sanctifying presence of Christ he is pleased to make use of affliction to knock off that unevenness many times that is upon their Spirits and make them partake â—â— of his own nature They have never more of the comforting presence than in such conditions he brings his people into the Wilderness there he allures them and there he speaks to them then he puts under his left hand to support them and then his right hand embraces them But What are the grounds of the Point Why doth Jesus Christ manifest most of himself to his people in their afflicted conditions The Grounds of the Point First of all he knows that then they have most need of his presence If ever they have need of comfort if ever they have need of strength of teaching quickening guiding 't is then when they are in afflicted and low conditions then is a mercy sweet when 't is in seaâ—on and then 't is seasonable when a poor creature stands in need of it The Lord Jesus knows that they have need of his presence in low conditions First because of the weakness of the flesh And Secondly Because of the strength of temptation 1. Because of the weakness of the flesh He knows his peopâ—es framâ—