and they discover men sometimes for the better sometimes for the worse many persons that fear God have worse thoughts of themselves then they ought to have c. Now God brings them to a fiery tryal and they see through the help of God they are inabled to stand out against all opposition then they begin to think there is something of good in my Soul and they manifest the truth of grace And then sometimes for the worse many a man and woman hath better opinions of themselves then they have ground for and the troubles they meet with in the World they plainly discover it God brings them to this pass you must either disown the truth or deny your selves as to the World you must either lay down that godliness you seem to have or lay down your livelyhood or lay down your lives and now they see or may see they were not the men they took themselves for they see how that the truths of Jesus Christ lay not so near their hearts as they thought for they are willing rather to part with that faith and love they have then to part with those good things they have many a person it is thus with Sometimes they discover the weakness of grace sometimes the want of grace sometimes the weakness of grace Peter thought when the Lord told him of suffering That all should be offended because of him that he should never be offended Though all men forsake thee yet will not I and yet Peter when he comes to trial his Faith staggers and so sometimes it discovers the total want of grace that people are other manner of persons then they took themselves for times of affliction they manifest that many are of another manner of Spirit then they did imagine Secondly Afflictions discover not only persons to themselves but they discover them to others discover them to the World make it known what people are and so sometimes for the better many are thought worse of in the World then indeed they do deserve the people of God are often judged a company of Hypocrites there is no such thing as goodness faith and holiness in them and if they come to suffer you shall see what they will do many are their evil surmises and the Devil if he cannot Persecute them will reproach them now God lets the World see that these people are mistaken his Servants were such as loved him in truth when it comes to this that they must leave all or not follow Christ they count not their life dear to them all is nothing then to Christ The stedfastness of Gods people in times of suffering testifies to the World that they that were called Hypocrites were the most upright persons that lived 1 Cor. 11.18 19. ver There are divisions among you and I partly believe it For there must be also Heresies among you that they which are approved may be made manifest among you That it may appear that they are indeed lovers of the Truth they will own it in such a time when it is so much opposed that they that are approved of God may be made manifest to the World that the wicked may say though some are covetous yet all are not bad men as they would think And sometimes for the worse to many because they are not openly profane are judged by the multitude that they are religious persons but when the Profession of Religion becomes dangerous they then begin to be troubled the World then sees what they are In hazardous times good men are made a spectacle to the World and Angels and Men the Angels the good and bad the Angels of light and the Feinds of darkness and the World both of godly and ungodly see what men they are who were not before acquainted with them God makes it manifest that many that professed much never yet loved him c. Many saith Christ in that Parable of the seeds they received the Word with joy but they had no root in themselves they endure but for a while and when Persecution ariseth by and by they are offended What must I serve God and suffer Truly if this be the fruit of this service I shall have no mind to it many their hearts say as those wicked ones Job 21.14 15. vers What is the Almighty that we should serve him and what profit should we have if we pray unto him What shall we get by suffering why if this be the way they will not walk in it c. The Jews would not admit of Proselites in the days of David because then the fear of David was upon all round about him nor would they admit of them in the days of Solomon because then out of love to the peace and prosperity that he had in the World they might imbrace the truth of Religion which in their hearts they did not delight in Many men do make use of Religion sometimes out of fear and sometimes out of love out of fear of suffering when Religion is not owned and out of hopes of getting by Religion when it is in esteem The falseness of peoples hearts is seen in this in love to their neighbour they have a great love for them that are rich but none for them that are poor The rich hath many friends but the poor is hated of his neighbour This discovers the falsness of peoples hearts in reference to their love to God their love to the people of God is discovered in this that they will speak well for them and associate with them when God is pleased to bless them in the World but if God once come to afflict them they desire to have no more to do with them Amongst many professing Israelites there are but few Nathaniels few that are Israelites indeed and the times of suffering manifest what people are Again There is a great deal of need of trouble and trials to bring Gods people to more earnest praying to God that they may more firmly and constantly seek him when Gods people are involved in trouble cannot tell which way to turn themselves then they will go to God for help when Jehoshaphat said 2 Chron. 20.12 speaking of his enemies in Prayer to God Wilt not thou judge them for we have no might against this great company that cometh up against us neither know we what to do but our eyes are to thee our eyes are upon thee Truly when people are at this pass in referance to Personal or National suffering when they do not know what to do then their eyes are upon God and then their hearts are to God then God shall hear always of them c. The Lord knows if prosperity drives us away from him that affliction will bring us in to him the Prodigal that cared not for his Father while his estate lasted when poverty was come I will arise saith he and go to my Father As long as we can have Friends Comforts and Mercies to delight in we do not take so much delight and pleasure in drawing near to God God will let us have nothing else to delight in Isa 26.16 vers Lord in trouble they have visited thee when thy chastning was upon them they that would not come at God before they would visit him in trouble and they powred out Prayer they that did but say a Prayer before they now shall Pray a Prayer and Pray it heartily too Crosses and troubles will make men mind Religious Duties that before they little regarded Upon the worst of men it hath this influence sometimes the Persian Messenger said thus when the Grecians hotly pursued our Host and we must needs venture over that great River that was now frozen but was beginning to thaw Then saith he did I behold many of those Gallants who denyed before and so boldly maintained that there was no God I saw every one upon his knees raying that the Ice might hold untill he got over O then nothing but Prâ—…yer will serve their turn I will go and â—…eturn to my place and I will distress and disturb them and in their affliction they â—…ll seek me early FINIS
unto God that great Prophet of the Church our Lord Jesus Christ himself did not only reveal his Fathers mind to his Disciples but often prayed and that earnestly for them as in that 17. Joh. and other places Vse And if this be so then by way of equity People ought to pray for their Minister but to pass to the second after his exhorting them to stedfastness he goes to Prayer and it shews thus much that Paul's exhortations to them were not sufficient of themselves to stablish these Saints without the grace of God in as much as these things given in command to stedfastness is backt by Prayer it intimates how little these will prevail unless God touch the Heart from whence we have this Doctrine Doct. II. That Ministers Preaching without Godâ—s blessing will do Peoples souls no good The voice of Ministers in Preaching is but an empty sound and though it come into our ears will never reach the Heart unless the doctrine have efficacy from the Spirit of Truth Neither Paul or any of his fellow-labourers in the work of the Gospel will bring people into or keep them in the ways of the Lord unless God bless their labours to that end none of these blessed Apostles could by any of their own power by the height or strength of arguments prevail with them to obey the Gospel they could never convert to the Truth or keep them in the Truth unless God were pleased to turn their Hearts this is clear by the Jews under the Old Testament and the people under the New the Word of God that came to the Jews how often doth Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel and other Prophets tell them of their sins but they would not hear see how the Lord complains in the 17. Jerem. 25. Since the day that your Fathers came forth out of the Land of Egypt unto this day I have sent unto you all my Servants the Prophets daily riseing up early and sending them yet they hearkned not unto me c. for all they had so many messengers from God to them and this too afterward repeated in several places yet they did not hearken to God neither when they were in their own Countrey nor in a strange Land and so in the New Testament Peter and Paul here That laboured more abundantly then they all yet how inefficatious was it to many when he Preached to the Jews 13. Acts 45. ver They were filled with envy and spake against those things that were spoken by Paul contradicting and blaspheming And so among the Gentiles instead of prevailing with them to bring them to the Truth he was persecuted by them 1 Cor. 3.5 6. Who is Paul or who is Apollo but Ministers by whom you believe and though he did prevail with many it was not of themselves but it was the Lord that gave the increase your believing your getting grace your growing and increasing in holiness is only through the blessing of God Therefore when Paul tells us of several places where he did good he saith when he came to such or such a place there was a door opened to him as a door of utterance to the Apostle so a door of entrance to the People that they received the Word of God and though his commission runs That he might turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Sathan unto God c. 26. Acts 18. yet he is only the instrumental cause God is only the efficient cause God alone commanded the light to shine out of darkness he alone that is the heart searcher is the heart changer he opened Lydias heart we need not go far to evidence this Truth we need not go abroad but stay at home to see this sad spectacle how many faithful Preachers hath God sent to this Land of ours for many scores of Years together scarce any Nation under Heaven hath had that plenty of Ministers and Ordinances that England hath had and that powerful Preaching since the Apostles days that we have had and yet what little fruit to be seen How many setled upon their Lees and will not be brought off he that was filthy is filthy still How great are the abominations Lying Swearing Whoring Drunkeness c. How doth the love of many wax cold How many back-sliding from the Truth and ways of God what ever Ministers say to the contrary People time after time have been call'd on to walk after the Spirit and not after the Flesh yet they refuse to return may not the Lord say to us as to the Jews Isa 5.4 5 6. verses What could have been done more to my Vine-yard that I have not done in it Wherefore when I looked that it should bring forth Grapes brought it forth Wild-grapes I wish we have no occasion to take notice of the words following vers 5. And now go to I will tell you what I will do to my Vine-yard I will take away the hedge thereof and it shall be eaten up and break down the wall of it and it shall be troden down vers 6 And I will lay it wast it shall not be pruned nor digged but there shall come up briers and thornes I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it which judgment God in his mercy prevent it is true Ministers may do thus much save their own souls by taking heed to their Doctrine and their lives and by warning people of their sins and though Ministers by Preaching may leave people without excuse they cannot say at the last day Lord if we had known our duty we would have done it Ministers Preaching may add to Peoples sufferings they may increase their condemnation another day but alas it is not in the power of Ministers to affect Peoples hearts or reform their lives how earnest then should Ministers and People be that when the Word of God is Preached they should pray that the power of God might accompany it Peoples prayers should be that as God would send forth Labourers into his harvest so that God would make that food that 's sent them to nourish their souls in spiritual life unto life eternal for man lives not by bread only but by the Word of God as natural life is not preserved through bread without the concurance of Gods providence so neither spiritual life without the influence of his Spirit the Sword of the Spirit is only able to strike through our lusts the weapons of our warfare are only mighty through God People had need pray as for their Ministers that they may have a door of utterance so for themselves that they may have a door of entrance that with readiness of mind they may be brought to and built up in their most holy Faith that when the Gospel comes by Preaching to them it may come not only in word but in power of the Holy Ghost Thirdly Whereas he prays not only to God the Father but to the Lord Jesus Christ for these Saints comfort and establishment we
166. Lord I have hoped for thy salvation and done thy commandments Then indeed if we make it our business design and endeavour to keep the commandments of Christ we may then hope to see the salvation of God then and not till then 2 Titus 11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared ver 12. mark Teaching us to deny ungodlyness and worldly lusts and that we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world ver 13. Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ ver 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 Now this is as well the command of Christ that they make conscience of their duty to him as well as to look for salvation from him therefore if you would have Christ for your Jesus be sure that he be your Lord that you do him homage observe his Laws and reverence his Name not by bowing at the name Jesus bowing is a note of subjection and sheweth that all creatures are subject to Jesus Christ unto the authority of Christ have respect to all his commands if people will not but walk after their lusts will do wickedly remember this that instead of salvation you must expect or how ever you will find destruction and perdition as it 's call'd 1 Tim. 6.9 and Psal 11.6 Vpon the wicked he shall rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest c. For God is angry with the wicked every day Psal 7. ver 11. Christ hath plainly told people he will be no Saviour to them that refuse obedience to him Mat. 13.41 Christ tells you what he will do The Son of man shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them which do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire c. Oh that sinners would believe what they shall one day feel that they would now fear and tremble that they may then be delivered from wrath to come therefore though thy sins be never so pleasing and delightful to thee cast it from thee Mar. 9.43 It is better for thee to enter into life maimed then to bo cast into Hell c. Oh let us be wise for our salvation willing to part with our most pleasing sins rather then to have our souls destroyed and cast into Hell into everlasting burnings think not that Jesus Christ will save you unless you turn from sin and therefore pray earnestly that you may be converted and have your sins blotted out the 73. Psal 24. Oh let this be our earnest prayer That we may be guided by Gods counsel that Jesus Christ may be ours Joh. 17.6 Thine they were and thou gavest them me and they have kept my word then may you be sure he hath promised and prayed for you ver 22 24. Father I will that those whom thou hast given me those that have kept my word may be where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me c. If Christ be our Lord he will be our Jesus but not else Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father who hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work Afternoon Sermon The 2 of the Thessalonians 2. Cap. 16 17. Vers 16. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father which hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace 17. Comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work YOU may Remember in the morning we took notice of four things first the Persons praying Paul Silvanus and Timotheus secondly the Persons prayed for c. thirdly the Persons prayed to and that 's first God the Son and secondly God the Father whose love we have first asserted and secondly declared fourthly the blessings prayed for and the first is Consolation secondly Confirmation We made entrance on the first Person prayed to Our Lord Jesus Christ not the Lord Jesus but our Lord Jesus Doct. I. Faith applies Jesus Christ to it self Doct. II. Again Christ is our Jesus And from the connexion Our Lord Jesus we noted that Doct. III. To whom Christ is a Jesus to them he is a Lord. Whom Christ saves them he Rules To proceed and God even our Father God is often call'd as here so in other places frequently our Father not only of Paul Silvanus and Timotheus but yours and ours together you that are Saints thence note this point Doct. God is the Father of the righteous or He is the Father of the Saints God is the Father of all that are truly religious Persons of all the Disciples of Jesus Christ Christ after his resurrection in 20. of Joh. 17. saith to Mary go to my Brethren and say I ascend to my Father and to your Father the Father of our Lord Jesus and our Father Object But how shall I know whether God be my Father or no Answ By these two marks or signs by our Repentance and by our Faith God is the Father of repenting believing sinners though he be the Father of all in respect of creation and common mercies yet God is only the Father through Iesus Christ of those that repent 2 Cor. 6.17 Come out from amongst them and be you separate saith the Lord and touch none unclean thing c. And I will be a Father unto you and you shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord God Almighty They that leave their sins and cleave to God with full purpose of heart have just ground to call God Father Secondly To them that believe Joh. 1.12 To as many as received him he gave power to become the Sons of God even to as many as believe on his name Gal. 3.26 ver For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus thou that hast an heart to repent of sins and to believe in the Lord Iesus may'st have comfort to go to God as thy Father Vse I. But to apply this if this be so then we may see first the Saints dignity 1 Sam. 18.23 David speaks of this as a great priviledge that he was related to the King and what do you take no notice of it seemeth it a small thing to you that I call the King Father Oh then what priviledge is it to be the adopted Sons and Daughters of the King of Kings Secondly We may see the Saints safety consider what God is and then we shall see what cause of comfort they have that are Gods people Consider first he is of great power Job 42.2 ver He can do any thing though never so difficult nothing is too hard for the Lord he is the mighty Potentate he doth whatsoever he pleases he is mighty in strength
who hath hardened himself against him and prospered He can bind mens hands and rule mens hearts and do what ever he will Ephes 3. ver 20. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above what we can ask or think who is so great a God as our God we that fear him Psal 77.13 14. Thy way oh God is in the sanctuary who is so great a God as our God thou art the God that dost wonders thou hast declared thy strength among the people Job 11.7 Canst thou by searching find out God canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection Here 's thy priviledge if thou have the work of grace wrought in thee here 's thy safety God is thy Father that God that never wants power to defend his people that is seen in the mount and will not many times help till we are in extreamity that his power may then be manifest safe they are that have God for their Father he is sufficient to protect them Consider secondly God is very wise a wise Father and that in regard of his knowledge and in regard of his prudence he knoweth what ever men do in the World Job 34.21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man and he seeth all his goings Ver. 22. Ther 's no darkness or shadow of death where the workers of iniquity can hide themselves Iob 12.22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness and bringeth out to light the shaddow of death He knoweth men better then they know themselves God needeth none to give him intelligence he knoweth what is done in the secret closet of every one of our hearts Nay secondly he is very prudent too he knoweth how to order his affairs he is wise in heart saith Job that man is wise indeed that knows how to out-wit the wisest of men God knoweth how to ensnare the wicked in the works of their own hands 1 Cor. 4.5 Isa 44.25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars and maketh the diviners mad that turneth wise men backward and maketh their knowledge foolish Come on saith Pharaoh let us deal wisely but he was out-witted Exod. 14.28 God turns the counsel of Achitophel into foolishness God is never at a loss he knows what to do Consider thirdly He is a very tender Father too he is very pittiful very merciful a very tender Father that lays to heart the miseries of his people when they were in Egypt he pittied them Isa 63.9 In all their afflictions he was afflicted and the angel ef his presence saved them c. speaking after the manner of men they that lay the troubles of others to heart as their own and he is not thus pittiful only to his Israel but to all his people Psal 103.13 Like as a Father pittieth his Children so doth the Lord pitty those that fear him Nay Consider fourthly He is a very careful Father he minds how it goes with his children 1 Pet. 5.7 Cast all your care upon him saith the Apostle for he careth for you you are never out of his eye or thoughts when Zion said The Lord hath forsaken me and my God hath forgotten me Isa 49.14 15. saith God Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet will not I forget thee c. The condition and troubles and miseries thou art in are always in my thoughts Psal 9.18 The needy shall not always be forgotten the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever That 's the second but Use III. Hence we may learn our Duty If God be the Saints Father and what 's that First duty To pray to him whom should they go to but to their Faither Be careful for nothing saith the Apostle but in every thing let your request be made known to him by prayer and supplication Phil. 4.6 and Mat. 7.24 Psal 145.18 ver The Lord is nigh unto all that cal upon him Second duty Trust in him whom should we trust if not our Father therefore trust in him Psal 146.3 Put not your trust in Princes nor in the son of man in whom there is none help ver 5. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose hope is in the Lord his God The Scripture denounceth a woful curse to him that trusteth in any thing but in God Jer. 17.5 Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm and ver 7. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is God takes notice of those that trust in him Psal 33.17 An horse is a vain thing for safety neither shall he deliver any by his great strength So long as we trust to our selves at any time for any thing our case is sad but none that trusted in the Lord have any cause ever to be ashamed Thirdly Let us Honour him if a Father and that in three respects first in our thoughts have always good thoughts of God what ever his providences be towards us Psal 145.17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways c. what ever God doth is good he is just he is righteous in all those ways that are most cavil'd at by men Job 34.21 He will not lay upon man more then is right everyman may say in the bitterest cross in the World God hath not dealt with me after my sins it 's a mercy we are on this side Hell Secondly Honour God as in our thoughts so in our words speak well of God Psal 118.1 Give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever Psal 146.1 2. ver Praise the Lord oh my soul while I live will I praise the Lord I will sing praises to God while I have a being Now praising God is honouring of him He that offers me praise glorifieth me Psal 50.23 Thirdly Honour him in all our ways 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God and Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Phil. 1.11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory of God Be very obedient obey him willingly constantly universally in all his commands because he is our Father Lastly We that profess our selves to be Gods children be like him Be ye merciful as he is merciful holy as he is holy But to go on Who hath loved us Doct. God loves his People Psal 145.8 ver Psal 147.10 11. The Lord loves his Saints Love I here 's love indeed 1 Joh. 3.1 Behold what manner of love is here that we should be called the Sons of God And if this be so Vse Then bless him for his love thank him for it Psal 103.1 Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me praise his holy Name And that in this respect First God loves us undeserved and that
of Jesus Christ and 2. Thes 3.3.4 The Lord is faithful who shall stablish you and keep you from evil Means IV. The last direction I shall give you look to recompence of reward Heb. 11. that made Moses leave all the pleasures of the World the pleasures of sin which were but for a season look to that reward to them that keep close to his commands Psal 84. vers 11. For tht Lord God is a Sun and Shield the Lord will give grace and glory no good thing will he withhold from those that walk uprightly now what would you have more what can you desire more Walk but uprightly God will never disappoint you you may believe him Jam. 1.12 Blessed is the man that endureth Temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the Crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him I shall conclude all this Exhortation with the Direction and Exhortation of the spirit of God Rev. 2.7 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of life and vers the 10. Be faithfull to the death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Oh take notice of the advice given to the Church of Philadelphia Rev. 3.11 Hold fast that thou hast that no man take thy Crown and Rev. 22.12 Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man according as his Work shall be God will render to every man according to his Workes Rom. 2.7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory honour and immortality eternal life Eternal life should be the end of all our Preaching and your hearing so the Apostle Rom. 10.1 Brethren my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved this was the portion of Scripture I first took to discourse upon when I first came amongst you and the desire of my Soul was that your Soules should be saved and I desire still that I and my People may serve the Lord and therefore I wish the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all and the Lord grant that they which love not grace may have grace wrought in their hearts and that you that have grace may grow in grace more and more I wish even your perfection I dare not appeal unto Heaven as Paul Act. 20. but this I pray that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and in all judgment 1 Thes 5.23 And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God that your whole Spirit Soul and Body may be perserved blamless unto the â—omming of our Lord Jesus Christ Heb. 13.20 21. and the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepheard of the Sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father who hath loved us and hath given us Everlasting consolation and good hope through grace comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and Work Amen FINIS 1 Pet. 1. vers 6. Wherein ye greatly rejoyce though now for a season if need be ye are in heaviness through manifold Temptations THough many Saints have but a small Portion in this World yet there is alotted to them a goodly heritage in another world though they are not filled with the good things of the earth yet they are promised which is better the glory of Heaven though they have but a little in Possession yet they have much in reversion and though many of them be Poore many times as to the things they have in hand ye they are very Rich as to what they have in hope These Saints to whom Peter Writes were Pilgrims and Strangers here on Earth scatttered up and down the World they had no certaine abode no continuing City yet they sougâ—… on that was to come they looked for a City whose Builder and Maker was God Silver and Gold many of them either had none or very little and as to the Possessions of the Earth their Portion was not great Houses and Lands they were either denyed or deprived of they suffered the Spoiling of their goods yet they were begotten to a lively hope unto an inheritance better then this world affords unto an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for them and that they might know it was not only reserved for them but to be obtained by them the Apostle tells them They should be kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation which now as it was promised them should ere long be manifested ready to be revealed in the last time and the Apostle having shewed what they had hopes of he shews what effect this their hope had upon them namely much joy and Alacrity in the minds of their present Sufferings and Calamities as the words I have read do declare unto you Wherein ye greatly rejoyce c. In which Verse we may Observe First The Christians great Joy Secondly The Christians great Sorrow I. You have here believers great Joy arising from hopes of their future Salvation in these words Wherein you greatly rejoyce II. The Christians or the Saints great Sorrow arising from sense of their present tribulation Ye are in heavyness through manifold temptations Which Heaviness or which Temptations are set forth First By the time of them Secondly By the ground of them I. By the time of them and that is declared in these words Now for a season II. By the ground of them and that is supposed or intimated If need be Wherein you c. Wherein that is in the hopes of Heaven in the hopes of their inheritance in the hopes of the glory of God and that eternal Salvation that was promised to them and expected by them as the 4. and 5. verses do declare Wherein you greatly rejoyce you though others do not yet you rejoyce others do not rejoyce in the hopes of Heaven they have no right to it no hope of it they have no ground to expect it it is not promised to them nor no ground have they to look for it but you that are the elect the chosen the called people of God you that were as elected by the love so sanctified by the Spirit of God 2. ver Wherein that is in hopes of the glory of God you rejoyce you greatly rejoyce you triumph for joy Though now for a season or though now for a little time you are in heaviness or in grief through manyfold temptations troubles and trials you have in the World The words are not difficult they may afford us these six Instructions From hence we might Observe You are in heaviness through manyfold temptations First That the people of God in this world are exercised with manyfold temptations Secondly That the Saints of the most high
the cause but only occasion through some mens imbracing of it whom God gives grace to and others rejecting and opposing of it it doth occasion divisions amongst those that are naturally most united there is a caution given Jer. 9.4 take ye heed every one of his neighbour and trust ye not in any brother for every brother will utterly supplant and every neighbor will walk with slanders i. e. raise false reports of you and bring you to suffer unjustly though every brother and every neighbour will not yet many neighbours and many relations will do so That 's one great temptation that the people of God have in reference to wicked mens persons Secondly In regard of Sathans temptations they have many troubles too For those whom Sathan knows he cannot destroy for ever he will do what he can to disturb here and though he cannot destroy them yet he will afright them here Temptations of troubles are the portion of God's people in this world Vse The meditation or thought of this truth may be useful both to those that are in a prosperous and them that are in a suffering Condition If God's people be under many troubles many temptations in this world then you that fear God and yet prosper let the consideration of this stir you up to a two-fold duty First To expect troubles to expect temptations how ever you flourish in your out ward man yet do not think prosperity will always last While God blesses his people with comfort and mercy bless him and praise him but look for an alteration expect a change They that at present enjoy their ease and safety and liberty and have many comforts and delights in the world O use the world but do not abuse it in those blessings God gives you but rejoyce as though you rejoyced not remembring it will not be always thus with you Think upon this truth temptations and trials will befall you sooner or later troubles will be all our portion remember the daies of darkness are a coming the time of suffering will come before we go out of this world Saith Christ in the World you shall have trouble but in me you shall have peace Though hitherto many of God's people may have met with no considerable temptations yet they may have their share of them they may have many of them let not those that are in a prosperous Condition in any respect let them not always expect Halcyon days the clouds may soon gather a storm may come before we are aware and trouble is many times nearest when we think it furthest off Secondly As we should expect temptation and expect trouble so let us prepare for trouble Get your selves furnished with those graces that may sure your conditions that you may not be overcome by temptation O pray get a stock of holiness that may stand you in stead in the evil day and in the hour of temptation O be not without faith and meekness c. that we shall have so much need of in the time of trouble The Scripture tells that we are pilgrims and strangers here on earth as all the godly were in all times we have a long journey to take from Earth to Heaven we must pass through the Sea of this World and the Winds will blow O let us be prepared against a storm for we must meet with fowl weather Acts. 20.22.23 Paul tells the Elders of the Church of Ephesus behold I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall befall me there only one thing he knew Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bonds and afflictions abide me What success I shall have in Preaching I cannot tell or what other things may happen but I am sure to meet with troubles here and why should we expect otherwise then this good man did Now we had need be prepared against them for in every place we are like to find them Secondly Let them that suffer in the world take heed of rash judging themselves let no Person think that his case is bad because his condition is sad let no Person think he his none of God's people because he meets with so many troubles you saith the Apostle are in heaviness through manyfold temptations Let us not think that God doth not love us because he doth afflict us Paul was a pretious servant of Jesus Christ one that knew Jesus Christ and loved him and yet afflictions and troubles every where were his portion Heb. 12.7 If you endure Chastisements God deals with you as sons for what son is he whom the Father Chastens not It is not a sign of the hatred but of the love of God whom the Lord loves he Chastens and whatever troubles we may meet withal in this world 1 Pet. 5.9 remember this the same afflictions are accomplished in our brethren in the world Secondly You are in heaviness through manyfold Temptations not only have them but you are sensible of them from whence the Doctrin is Observe That the Saints may be in heaviness through their manyfold temptations You are in heaviness or you are sadned you are grieved God's people may have their spirits much sadned through the variety of troubles they meet with in the world The word in the Text you are in Heaviness or you are sadned comes from a word that signifies such grief as brings tears into the eyes such a grief as is expressed by weeping you are those that even cry your grief is such that causes tears I the thought of the great troubles you meet with hath such sorrow and grief not only the troubles of the soul but the troubles that God's people meet with in the world they much sadden their spirits and much grive their hearts Psal 6 6 7. David speaks of his Temptations saith he I am weary with my groaning all the Night make I my Bed to swim I water my Couch with my tears day and night he was full of griefe full of weeping Myne eye is consumed beeause of grief it waxeth old because of all my enemies not only the troubles that he had as to his Soul the thought of his sins but the troubles of the world did much affect him Psal 38.6 I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long 8. vers I am feeble and sore broken I have roar'd by reason of the disquietness of my heart And so the Church Lam 1.16 the Church having spoken of her misery what a sad case she was in in the world saith she For these things I weep myne eye runneth down with water because the comforter that should relieve my Soul is far from me and how great the trouble was that was then the Churches portion the whole book of Lamentations verifies Grace doth not make people insensible they whose hearts are sanctified may lay to heart their troubles Though grace doth correct and abate mens passions and rectify nature yet it doth not destroy nature or
by the hand of Saul and yet Saul died and he lived Gods people I say manytimes they are delivered in this World out of eminent dangers though great though long troubles though soar and though lasting yet they are not everlasting they do not continue as long as their days continue Many have been under great temptations soar persecution and yet have outlived their persecutors David did Saul and Paul did even when they were past hopes 2 Cor. 1.9 10. vers We were pressed out of measure above strength insomuch that we despaired even of life but we had the sentence of death in our selves that we should not trust in our selves but in God which raiseth the dead Who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us and he tells Timothy 2 Tim. 3.10 11. vers of the great troubles and persecutions that came to him but out of them all the Lord delivered him and so in the same Epistle 2 Tim. 4.16 17. ver when he was brought before Nero all men forsook me yet God did not forsake me the Lord stood with me and strengthened me and I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lyon though he was very near unto death yet his life was preserved God did make with that soar temptation a way to escape The troubles of Gods people shall be but for a season sometimes they are but for a season in this life Secondly At the most they shall be but for the season of this life they shall last no longer so one Paraphrases upon the words they are but for a season as long as this short life lasts so long you may be afflicted if there be occasion for it but then there is an end of all 2 Cor. 4.17 vers Our light affliction which is but for a season but for a moment it shall not be hereafter it shall be but here while the moment of this life lasts then it vanishes away when our lives go if we fear God all our troubles will go away with them there is a time for every thing this present time is the time of the Saints afflictions the time that Gods people suffer this is the time of temptation of all that fear God when this life is at an end afflictions will be out of season there will be none of them when this life ends the suffering of the godly will then be at an end death puts a period to all their troubles they continue but while they have their abode in this earthly tabernacle no longer shall any cross or affliction be their portion Revel 14.13 vers Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them Blessed are they though they seem the most cursed of any people in some respects while they live yet blessed are they when they dye for they rest from their labours that is though not from their labour of service and love to God and his people yet from their labour of sorrow they shall then have no burden of persecution or affliction to bear as no evil shall be done by them so no evil then shall be suffered by them as they shall not know what sin means in another World so neither shall they understand what sorrow means weeping and wailing all tears then shall be wiped from their faces and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads no disturbance of Spirit shall be the Saints lot in another World no evil work nor work of iniquity shall ever follow them mens Pesecutors may follow them to the grave but then they must leave them then your bodies shall go into your graves in peace and your souls shall go to God that gave them to the Spirits of just men made perfect that are without sin and without suffering that are for ever serving God and continually injoying God In Gods presence where Gods people shall be after this World there is no part of their lives that is imbittered to them there is fulness of joy and their is pleasure for evermore at Gods right hand it is not only some little comfort is given them aâ—… this World to bear up their Spirits but there the joy shall be everlasting pleasure for evermore O well may believers say as God by the Prophet Say you to the righteous it shall be well with him though it be very ill with him whiles he lives yet it shall be well with him when he dyes his troubles he shall see they were but for a season though he may have many inconveniences in his earthly tabernacle yet he shall find nothing of dislike when he comes to Gods everlasting habitation Secondly Why is it so Why shall the temptations of the Godly be but for a season Why shall their affliction not last allways I will give you a two fold account of it I. Because of the mercifulness of God he is a God of tender mercy he compassionates all his creatures in all respects but much more them who are not only the work of his hands but the delight of his heart as all that fear and love him are he hath great kindness for them and this account is given why the Lord will not always chide his people he is a merciful God Psal 103.8 9. vers The Lord is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and then it follows he will not always chide neither will he keep his anger for ever angry he may be with his children when they are faulty and disobedient But he will not keep his anger forever Why the verses following declare Like as a Father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him for he knows our frame he remembers we are but dust God knows what frail creatures his people are and though some chiding they may bear yet his frowns they are not able to undergo that is the reason God gives why he would not shew himself always displeased with his people he should break their hearts with such thoughts Isa 57.16 17. vers I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wroth why for the Spirit should fail before me and the Soul which I have made the very heart of Gods people would be broken with a long continuance of their troubles and therefore he will in wrath remember mercy as it follows For the iniquity of his covetuousness was I wroth and smote him I hid me and was wroth and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart I have seen his ways and will heal him I will lead him also and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners I know that he is not able always to bear my afflicting hand I will take it of it shall be but a little while the rod is upon his back but it shall not rest there I will manifest my love again to him Isa 54.7 8. vers For a
small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee In a little wrath I hid my self from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer A little wrath but a great deal of Love a little while a moment God hides himself but eternally will he manifest himself and his love to his people Beloved the mercy and compassion of God is such that he will provide a way for his peoples deliverance out of their troubles As God will not himself more immediately afflict his people always so neither will he suffer others to afflict his people but he will be sure not to suffer The rod of the wicked to rest upon the back of the righteous Why Least the righteous put forth his hand to iniquity least their temptations be too strong for them and so saith the Apostle God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able but will with the temptation make a way to escape that you may be able to bear it You shall have such troubles as may sometimes afflict and humble you but you shall not have such troubles as shall quite deject and cause your spirits to fail before him that is the first Reason because of the mercifulness of God II. Because of the faithfulness of God God hath said he will deliver his people and he will be as good as his word though men break God will keep his Covenant he is a God of truth he hath methods to deliver his people out of temptation he will make a way to escape Now God hath made I cannot stand to shew God hath made many pretious promises for the redeeming of his people out of their adversity he will shew kindness to them though he may be angry yet he will not always chide and though he may afflict them yet he will not forsake them c. Now as Solomon said in regard of his Father David What thou hast spoken with thy mouth thou hast fulfilled it with thine hand as it is this day and so it is true of all persons that fear God what God speaks he will fulfil Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one jot or title of Gods Word shall pass away unfulfilled as Gods threatning of Judgment against the wicked shall be made good so certainly shall the promises of mercy made to the righteous All the promises of God are yea and amen in Christ Jesus Applicat Now then to apply this in a word If this be so as we hear the temptations of the godly the afflictions and troubles they meet with will be but for a season Let this quiet our hearts under sufferings viz. the consideration of this That they will be but for a season they will be but for a short time they will not be always are we afflicted remember the time is coming we shall be comforted hath God laid any trouble upon us as to our inward or outward man upon our persons or relations in private or other respects it will not be always so these troubles they shall be but for a season and this season will not last always let us not be troubled or though we be troubled let this keep us from being overtroubled let this quiet our spirits under trouble the consideration of this truth That they will be but for a short time for a season Two things may quiet our Spirits under the greatest of miseries and crosses in this World if we consider either how just they are or how short they be First If we consider the equity of them all the troubles we meet with in the World they are very just upon us God doth not afflict us but there is a cause for it there is need of it and cause for it God is never displeased but we have provoked him he never hides his face but we have given him cause for it nay God is never so angry with his people as he might be we may all say with the Psalmist Psal 103.10 ver He hath not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities What ever sad condition we are in besure it is not so sad as we deserve is God angry with us why he might manifest his hot displeasure against us is he very angry why truly he might be more angry then ever he shews himself in this World to any of his people God might to the best of men render his anger with fury and his rebukes with flames of fire Ezra speaking of the calamities of the Jews which were very great Ezra 9.13 ver saith he Thou O God hast punished us less then our iniquities deserve How did God cut of thousands of them how many perished by the Sword Plague and other Judgments and those that were left alive were carried into captivity we were punished I but not so as we deserve our troubles were great but they might have been greater Thou hast punished us less then our iniquities deserve our trespass is grown up unto the Heavens and we might all of us have been thrown into Hell God suffers us to live and hath not punished us as our iniquities deserve so that we are on this side the Grave nay that we are on this side Hell it is a mercy alas are our troubles great our sins are greater are our temptations our afflictions many our sins are more there is no body that hath so many troubles but he may sit down and soon count the number of his crosses but who can count the number of any mans sins our crosses our troubles are soon numbred but our impieties nay our iniquities are innumerable they are more then the hairs of our head and cannot be numbred have we many crosses remember we might have had more crosses remember our sorrows are not so many as our sins we may well therefore ask the question when any persons heart is disquieted so as to be discontented and fret at providence that is so afflicting as the Church Lam. 3.39 vers Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sins Thou art punished what then what cause to complain it is for thy sin thy sin deserves this punishment and What a living man complain thou mightest have been in the grave thou art here yet on Earth thou mightest have been long ago in Hell and What a living man and complain for the punishment of his sin and as they say we may all say under any of our troubles It is of the Lords mercy that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not Secondly As our troubles are very Just so they shall not be very long they shall be but for a little while as the pleasure of sinners so the perplexity of Saints shall be but for a season but for a season Our light afflictions which are but for a moment if any of our troubles should last as long as our lives last