they shall never be prevalent Enemies over Zion Pharaoh followed the Exod. 14. Israelites but he and his mighty men were drowned and Israel delivered for God was with them Saul 1 Sam. 26. 20. hunted David as a Partridge iâ— the Mountains but Saul perisheth and David was crowned for God was with him Haman hated Mordecai and plotted against Mordecai Hesther 6. 7. but Haman is hanged and Mordecai advanced for God was with him The Presidents and Princes inform Dan. 6. against Daniel and plot against Daniel but they are by the Lions torn and devouâ—ed and Daniel is delivered and exalted for God was with him Herod kills Acts 12. James with the sword and imprisons Peter but Herod is devoured by worms and Peter is delivered out of prison by an Angel for God was with him Let Atheists Papists and Persecutors cease from plotting against Zion from persecuting of Zion for it is utterly impossible to prevail against Zion Let all Zions Adversaries remember once for all that if any Policy counsel lying cursing strength or cruelty could have prevailed against Zion Zion had been rooted out of the world long ago If Balaam was at our Enemies elbows he would tell them roundly and plainly That it is in vain to curse those whom God blesseth It is hard to Num. 23. 8. Acts 9. 5. kick against the pricks It is high madness for men to run their naked Bodies against a swords point Let Zions Enemies remember that God who takes pleasure in Zion sits upon the Circle of the Earth and all the Inhabitants Isa 40. 22. 15. 17. are as Grashoppers yea all the Nations as a drop of a Bucket and less than the dust of the Ballance and therefore he can easily revenge all the wrongs and injuries Some observe that Fauls Stile is so beautified with wonderful Eloquence and Rheâ—orick that not Tully nor Deâ—â—oâ—â—henes could ever haâ—e so spoken August Erasmuâ— Some report of Augustin that he wished for three things â— To see Christ in the flesh 2. To see Rome in the pride of it 3. To have heard Paul preach that is done to Zion by those that would fain prevail over her and triumph in her ruin But Thirdly If God be with us who can be against us I answer None can be so against us as to be able to separate us from the love of God and the love of Christ Rom. 8. 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distresses or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword Verse 36. As it is written for thy sake are we killed all the day long we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter Verse 37. Nay in all these things we are more than conquerers through him that loved us Verse 38. For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come Verse 39. Nor height nor depth nor any other Creature shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus It is not the pleasures of life nor the pains of death it is not evils felt nor evils feared it is not the height of prosperity nor the depth of adversity it is not bonds nor banishment it is not power nor policy honour nor baseness it is not violent persecutions nor multiplyed tribulations it is not the scorns of men nor reproaches of men nor revilings of men nor designs of men nor any thing else that can separate us from the love of the Father or the love of the Son In the 35. Verse is a position that no crosses nor creatures can deprive us of the love of God which is set down in a double interrogation that he might add the more force and life to it and ravish the Readers Who shall separate us That is none can But he speaks with contempt Who shall shall tribulation as if he should say I scorn it As Goliah defied David saying Doest thou come to me with a staff so Paul with a better Spirit defies all crosses sufferings trials c. as things not able to deprive sincere Christians of Christs love shall tribulation c. He had before spoken of Persons now here he speaks of things because Satan and his sworn Slaves think by such things to separate between God and his People Chrysostome observes Paul's wisdome in three things 1. That he saith not Shall the love of riches pleasures honours c. which have a mighty force in them to bewitch us but shall tribulation distress c. 2. That he begins with the lighter and so riseth to greater troubles placing them in this order not casually but by singular art 3. That though these which he here rehcarseth consist of a certain number yet every one as a General hath special Troops under it As when he saith Tribulation he saith imsprisonments bonds slanders banishments c. Shall tribulation distress persecution c. No They are blessed which endure these Matth. 5 10. 11. things Shall famine He which feeds on Christ shall never perish for hunger Shall nakedness Christs righteousness is my cloathing I shall willingly follow him even naked who when he was cloathed with infinit glory as with a garment was content to be born naked and to be stript on the Cross for my sake Shall peril I know the hardest Shall the sword Christ is to me in life and death advantage But Fourthly If God be for us who can be against us I answer None can be against us so as to bring us to their bow their bâ—â—k their will their humour their lusts 1. Kings 19. 18. Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal and every mouth which hath not kissed him That is I have Kissing was an outward token 1. of great and entire affection 2. of submissive reverence 3. of willing and ready subjection many thousands that have not worshipped Baal Here a set number is put for an indefinite number he means a very great number Idolaters used not only to bow kneel before their Idols but also to kiss them according to that Hos 13. 2. Let the men that sacrifice kiss the Calves Cicero saith that the chin of the image of Hercules was much worn with the kisses of them that adored him Now God had several thousands of true Israelites indeed that had not in the least kind polluted themselves with the Idolatrie of Baal The denial of bowing the knee and kissing with the mouth shewes that Gods faithful Servants were so far from setting their hearts upon Baal as that they would not make the least shew of any affection or subjection to him These good souls had too great spirits to be conformable to the Idolatry of the times Jeroboam with his eight hundred thousand 2 Chr. 113. 3 20. chosen men his Popish Priests and his golden Calves could not bring Judah to his bow
a prosperous condition God speaks to us Jeâ— 2. 21. and we mind him not I spoke to thee in thy prosperity but thou wouldest not hear and this hath been thy manner from thy youth upwards Pope Martin reported of himself that whilst he was a Monk and lived in the Cloister he had some evidences for Heaven when he was a Cardinal he began to fear and doubt but after he came to be Pope he utterly despaired The Lord never shews more of his favourable signal and eminent presence than by teaching of his People many gracious and Gospel lessons by their great troubles deep distresses and most deadly dangers But Thirdly the Lord doth manifest his favourable his signal his eminent presence with his People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers by raising strenthening and acting their suffering graces viz. their faith hope love patience prudence courage boldness zeal constancy Thus in the Text The Lord stood by me and strengthened me He put new life and strength and vigour into all my graces although there are habits of grace alwayes resident in the Isay 64. 7. hearts of the Saints yet those habits are not alwayes in exercise The habits of grace cannot act of themselves there must be renewed strength imparted to set them on Psalm 119. 35. Christ is the divers winds both cold hot moist and dry binding and opening North South and therefore what wind so ever blowes it shall blow good to his People work Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments for therein do I delight Though David had a spirit of new life within him yet he could not actually walk in the path of Gods precepts till by an additional force he was set a going Cant. 4. 16. Awake O North wind and come thou South wind blow upon my garden that the spices thereof may flow out By the garden we may safely understand a sanctified soul and by the spices in this garden we may understand the several graces planted in the soul now these spices can never flow out and send forth their fragrant smell till the North and South wind blowes upon them Habitual grace cannot operate and dilate and put forth it self into exercise till by the concurrent presence and assistance of Christ it is educed into act no Saint can act that grace he hath received by his own strength without the presence and assistance of Christ 1 Cor. 15. 16. But by the grace of God I am what I am and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain but I labour more abundantly than they all yet not I but the grace of God which was with me He does not say the grace of God which was in me that habitual grace which I had but The grace of God which was with me So then it is not the strength of habitual grace that will carry a man through doing or suffering work but the auxiliary the assisting the conquering grace of Jesus Christ it is his grace with us more than his grace in us So John 15. 5. Without me ye can do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 separate from me or apart from me Erasm sine me Beza seâ—rsim a me Members divided from the â—ead cannot live so here nothing Ye that are my Disciples ye that have the spirit of Jesus Christ Without me ye can do nothing the habits of grace the actings of grace and the perfecting of grace are all from Jesus Christ It is more emphatical in the original for there you have two negatives cannot do nothing He do's not say without me ye cannot do many things but Without me ye can do nothing nor he do's not say Without me ye can do no great thing but Without me ye can do nothing nor he do's not say Without me ye can do no difficult thing but Without me ye can do nothing nor he do's not say Without me ye can do no spiritual thing but Without me ye can do nothing What ever a Saint may do by the power of gifts or habits of grace received yet he can do nothing in a lively spiritual acceptable way without the presence of Christ without a constant dependence upon Christ without a sweet and special communion and fellowship with Christ if we cannot put forth a natural action without him for in him we live move and have our being how much less can Acts 17. â—8 we perform a spiritual action in a spiritual manner without his presence and assistance Let the King sit Cant. 1. 12. but at his table and then our spicknard will send forth a sweet smell that is let Jesus Christ be but present with us and then our graces which are compared to spicknard will send forth a sweet smell sitting at the table with King Jesus intimakes the sweetest friendship 1 Kings 10. 8. and fellowship with him It was held a great honour and happiness to stand before Solomon what is it then to sit with Christ at his table My spicknard sendeth forth the smell thereof that is My faith is actuated and all my other graces are exercised and increased Christs presence puts life into all our graces Fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will Isa 41. 10. Luke 21 14 15. strengthen thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness 2 Cor. 12. 10. When I am weak then am I strong When I am weak in my self then am I strong in Christ If the Sun shine upon the Mary-gold Mal. 4. â— how soon do's the Mary-gold open so when the Sun of righteousness do's but shine upon a Christians graces how do they open and act To shew how the presence of Christ has acted the faith love courage boldness and patience c. of the Saints in the Old and New Testament the primitive Christians and the Martyrs in the latter ages of the world when they have been in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers would take up more than a little time besides in my other writings I have opened these things more fully to you and to them I must refer you And therefore Fourthly the Lord doth manifest his favourable signal and eminent presence with his People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers by laying a Law of restraint upon every wicked man and by bridling and checking their fury and insolency that they shall not add afflictions to the afflicted as otherwise they would as he did upon Laban Gen. 31. 24. And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night and said unto him take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad Verse 29. It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt but the God of your Fathers spake unto me yester night saying take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad See what a law of restraint
the Lord but this place was long ago destroyed 2. For the blessed Angels Ye are come to mount Sion to the heavenly Jerusalem to an innumerable company of Angels 3. For the congregation Psalm 87. 2. of Saints of Believers of which it is said The Lord loves the Gates of Sion more than all the habitations of Jacob. The believing Jews being sorely oppressed afflicted by a long captivity and by many great and matchless miseries that did befal them in their captive state they Dan. 9. 22. Lam. 4. 6. look upon God as one that had quite forsaken them and forgotten them but they were under a very high mistake and very erronious in their complaint as appears by Gods answer to Sion Verse 15. 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 I not forget thee Verse 16. Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands thy walls are continually before me In these words as in a christal glass you may see how pathetically how sweetly how graciously how readily how resolutely God â—oth engage himself that he will neither forsake Sion nor yet forget Sion in her captive state Now let us a little observe how this singular promise is amplified and that 1. By an emphatical illustration Gods compassionate remembring of Sion far transcends the most compassionate remembrance of the tendrest Mother to her dear sucking Babe Now this is laid down First interrogatively Can a Woman the most affectionate sex forget her sucking Child from having compassion on the Son of her womb Can a Woman can a Mother so forget as not to compassionate a Child which she naturally inclines to pity A sucking Child that hangeth on her breast such as Mothers are wont to be most chary of and to be most tenderly affected towards her sucking Child which together with the milk from the breast draws love from her heart her sucking Child of her own womb which her bowels do more yearn over than they do over any sucking Nurs-child in the world and this the Son of her womb which the Mother usually embraceth with more warm affections than the Daughter of her womb Can a Woman yea can a Mother forget to exercise love pity and compassion to such a poor Babe surely very rarely 2. Affirmatively Yea they may forget It s possible that a Woman may be so unwomanly and that a Mother may be so unmotherly in some cases and in some extremities as to forget her sucking Child yea as to eat the fruit of 2 Kings 6. 24. to 30. Lan. 4. 10. her womb as the pitiful Women did boil and eat their own children in the siege of Samaria and Jerusalem Extremity of hunger overmastred natural affections and made the pitiful Mothers require of their children those lives which not long before they had given them laying their children not in her bosoms but in their bowels Thirdly negatively Yet will I not forget thee God will be more constantly unmovably and unchangeably mindful of Sion and tender of Sion and compassionate of Sion and watchful over Sion than any Mother could be over her youngling yea he would be more motherly to his poor captives in Babylon than any Mother could be to her sucking Babe 2. This precious promise is amplified by a convincing argumentation and that parâ—ly from his engraving of them upon the palms of his hands This is an allusion say some to those that carry about with them engraven on some tablet or on the stone of some ring which they wear on their finger the mark name or picture of some person they entirely affect their portraiture their memorial was like a signet graven upon his hand God will assoon blot out of mind and forget his own hands as his Sion and partly from his placing their walls still in his fight the ruined demolished walls of Jerusalem were still before him as to their commiseration and to their reparation God being fully resolved in the fittest season to raise and reedifie them Look as the workman hath his model or pattern constantly either before his eye or in his thoughts or in his brain that he is for to work by So saith God Sion is continually in my eye Sion is still in my thoughts I shall never forsake her I shall never forget her But Sixthly the Lord will be signally present with his 6 Reason People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers because of his propriety and interest in them and his near and dear relation to them Isa 43. 1. But now thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob and he that formed thee O Israel fear not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine Thou art mine for I have made thee thou art mine for I Esa 15. 16. 1 Cor. 6. 20. 1 Pet. 1. 18. have chosen thee thou art mine for I have bought thee I have purchased thee thou art mine for I have called thee thou art mine for I have redeemed thee thou art mine for I have stampt mine image upon thee thou art Ph. 4. 23 24. 36. 26 27. miâ—â— for I have put my Spirit into thee Now mark what follows Verse 2. When thâ—â— 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 God will certainly keep his own People his own Children company both in the fire and in the water that is in those various tryals and troubles that they are incident Isa 54 5. P. â— 103. 13 14. Exod. 15. 3. Mal 4. 2. Mat. 9. 12. Psalm 23. 1. tâ— in this World When should a Husband be with his wife but when she is in greatest troubles and a Father with his child but when he is in deep distresses and a General with his Army but when they are in greatest dangers When should the Physician be most with his Patient but when he is most desperately sick and when should the Shepherd be nearest his sheep but when they are diseased and the wolf is at hand Now God you know stands in all these relations to his People and therefore he will not fail to be near them when troubles distresses and dangers are growing upon them But Seventhly the Lord will be signally present with his 7 Reason People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers because such times are commonly times of great and sore temptations when â—ods hand is heaviest then Satan will be busiest the Devil is never Job 2. 7 8. Mat. 9 4. Heb 2 18. more violent in his temptations than when the Saints are under afflictions Jam. 1. 2. My Brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations that is afflictions Verse 12. Blessed is the man that endureth
mighty man of valour Ver. 13. And Gideon said unto him Oh my Lord if the Lord be with us why then is all this befallen us and where be all his miracles which our Fathers told us of saying Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt but now the Lord bath forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites God may be really present with his People they may have his favourable presence with their inward man when it goes very ill with their outward Man Certainly we must frame a new Bible ere we can find any colour out of Gods afflicting us to prove that he doth not love us or that he hath withdrawn his presence from us Christ had never more of the real presence of his Father than when he had least of his sensible presence of his comfortable presence My God my God why hast thou forsaken Matth. 27. 46. me Here is first a compellation or invocaton of God twice repeated My God my God Secondly the complaint it self or matter complained of touching Gods forsaking of him Christ was forsaken of God in some sort and he was very sensible of his Fathers withdrawing though it was but in part and for a time Why hast thou forsaken me This forsaking is not to be understood of his whole person but of his humane nature only according to which and in the which he now suffered on the Cross Though the person of Christ suffered and was forsaken yet he was not forsaken in or according to his whole Person but in respect of his humane nature only The Godhead of Christ could not be forsaken for then God should have forsaken himself which is impossible The personal union of the God head with the Man-hood of Christ continued all the time of his passion and death it was never dissolved nor ever shall be yea the Godhead did uphold the manhood all the time of Christs sufferings so that he was not forsaken when he was forsaken he was not forsaken wholly when he was forsaken in part The love and favour of God the Father towards Jesus Christ did not ebb and flow rise and fall for God never loved Jesus Christ more or better than at the time of his passion when he was most obedient to his Fathers will Therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my life John 10. 17. for my Sheep Christ had never more of the supporting presence of his Father than when he had least of his comfortable presence when Christ was in his grievous agony and distress of body and mind the Godhead did withdraw the comfortable presence from the manhood and so far and so far only was Christ forsaken Though the union was not dissolved yet there was a suspension of vision for the time so as the humane nature did neither see or feel any present comfort from God Now so far as the Godhead did withdraw its comfortable presence so far our Saviour was forsaken and no further that was but in part and therefore he was but in part forsaken God was really present with Christ when in respect of his comfortable presence he was withdrawn from him So here The Husband may be in the house and the Wife not know it the Sun may shine and I not see it there may be fire in the Room and I not feel it so God may be really present with his People when he is not sensibly present with his People But The second Proposition is this That the favourable 2. Proposition signal and eminent presence of God with his People in their greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers is only to be extended to his Covenant people to those that are his People by special grace Jer. 32. 38. And they shall be my People and I will be their God Verse 40. And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Verse 41. Yea I will rejoyce over them to do them good There are many precious promisses of the Divine presence as I have already shewed but they are all entailed upon Gods Covenant-people We are all the People of God by Creation both good and bad sinners and saints bond and free rich and poor high and low and we are all the People of God by outward profession All that do make an outward profession of God and perform external worship to God they are all the People of God in this sence all the Carnal Israelites are frequently called the People of God as well as the spiritual Seed thus Cain was one of Gods People as well as Abel and Esau as well as Jacob. Now such as are only the People of God by creation or by profession these are strangers to God these are enemies Ephe. 2. 12. to God and will he be favourably present with these Such as are only the People of God by creation Eph. 2. 1. Col. 2. 13 and outward profession they are dead in trespasses and sins and can the living God take pleasure in being among Gal. 3. 10. the dead such are under all the threatnings of the Law and under all the curses of the Law even to the uttermost extent of them such are not one moment secure the threatnings of God and the curses of the Law Lev. 26. Deut. 28. may light upon them when in the house when in the field when waking when sleeping when alone when in company when rejoycing when lamenting when sick when well when boasting when despairing when upon the Throne when upon a sick-bed and will God grace these with his presence surely no. Such say to Job 21 1â— 15. God Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes What is the Almighty that we should serve him and what profit should we have if we pray unto him Such queryings as this carry greatest contempt in them and would lay the Almighty quite below the required duty as if Almighty were but an empty Title and will God ever honour such with his favourable presence who bid him be packing who reject his acquaintance and are willing to be rid of his company surely no. Such as are only his People by creation and an outward profession such are under the wrath Psalm 7â— 11. and displeasure of God God is angry with the wicked every day not with a paternal but with a Prov. 3. 32. cap 1â— 9. judicial anger even to hatred and abhorment The wicked is an abomination to him and he hates all workers of iniquity And therefore to these he will never vouchsafe his signal presence such may well expect that God will pour on them the fiercenâ—ss of that wrath and indignation that they can neither decline nor withstand such wrath is like the tempest and whirlewinds that breakes down all before it It is like burning fire and devouring flames
may tast of the same honey But Fourthly To move you so to order demean and carry 4. Motive your selves as that you may enjoy the gracious presence of God with you in your greatest troubles and deepest distresses consider the excellent properties or qualities of this favourable this signal presence of God with his People this I can but hint at because I must hasten all I can to a close 1. It is the best presence Ps 63. 3. 't is better than the presence of Friends of Relations of Saints of Angels c. 2. 'T is the greatest presence 't is the presence of the 1 Kings 8. 27. Revel 17. 14. Cap. 19. 16. Numb 24. 4. 16. Ruth 1. 20. 24. great King 't is the presence of the King of Kings Lord of Lords 't is the presence not only of a mighty but of an Almighty God 3. It is the happiest presence 't is a presence that makes a man really happy presently happy totally Psalm 144. 15. 1 Kings 10. 8. Deut. 33. 29. Prov. 3. 18. happy eminently happy and eternally happy he can never be truly happy that wants this presence he can never be truly miserable that enjoyes this presence true happiness is too great a thing to be found in any thing below this favourable this signal presence of God he that enjoyes this presence enjoyes all he that wants this presence enjoyes nothing at all he that wants this presence may write nothing or nought upon his honours riches Amos 6. 13. pleasures dignities offices Relations Friends c. All a man has are but ciphers without a figure if he be not blest with this Divine presence This Divine presence was Jacob's enough yea Jacob's all Li-col Genes 33. 11. I have all Esau had much Li-zab I have much my brother Verse 9. But Jacob had all Habet omnia qui habet habentem omnia He hath all who hath him that is Augnstine Coloss 3. 11. all in all Omne bonum in summo bono All good is in the chiefest good Secure this Divine presence and you secure all 4. It is the most desirable presence consult these Psalm 42. 1 2. Psalm 63. 1 2 8. Psalm 27. 4. Genes 28. 20. Psalm 84. Scriptures in the margin Job 23. 3. O that I knew where I might find him that I might come even to his seat Exod. 33. 15. If thy presence go not with me carry us not up hence Verse 16. For wherein shall it be known here that I and my people have found grace in thy sight is it not in that thou goest with us Cant. 3. 1. By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth I sought him but I found him not The presence of bad men is never desirable the presence Jer. 9. 1 2. Job 16. 1 2 3 4. Cap. 19. 3 4 5. of good men is not alwayes desirable for there are cases wherein their presence may be a burden to us as Job and others have experienced Job 16. 2. Miserable Comforters are ye all Cap. 19. 2. How long will you vex my soul and break me in pieces with words But the presence of the Lord is very desirable most desirable and alwayes desirable and the more any man has of this Divine presence the more his heart will be inflamed after more and more of it A sound sincere Christian can never have enough power against sin nor never enough strength against temptation nor never enough weannedness from this World nor never enough ripeness for Heaven nor never enough of the presence of the Lord enough of the Divine presence he may have to quiet him and cheer him and encourage him but whil'st he is out of Heaven he can never have enough of the Divine presence to satisfy him so as not to cry out Lord more of thy presence O a little more of thy presence Prov. 30. 15 16. 5. 'T is the most joyful refreshing and delightful presence Psalm 16. ult Acts 5. 40 41. Cap. 16. 25. This Isa 60. 1 2. Psalm 46. 7. Vincentius and many thousand Martyrs and suffering Christians have experienced in all the Ages of the world but of this before 6. 'T is a peculiar and distinguishing Exod. 33 16. presence this favourable signal presence of God is a choice Jewel that he hangs in no breasts a Bracelet that he puts upon no arms a Crown that he sets upon no heads but such whom he loves with a peculiar love with an everlasting love The general presence of God extends Jer 31. 3. Joh. 13. 1. Psalm 139. 7 8 9 10. and reaches to all Sinners and Saints Angels and Devils to all both in that upper and this lower world But this favourable signal presencè of God is peculiar to those that are the purchase of Christs blood and the travail of his soul 7. 'T is an inflamming presence Oh how does it 1. Inflame the heart to duty Psalm 63. 1 2 3. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Isa 53. 11. Ruth 1◠4. to 18. 2. How does it inflame the heart against sin Job 31. 4 5 6 7. Genes 39. 9 10. Rom. 8. 10. 3. To long for the Majestical and glorious presence of God in Heaven Cant. 8. ult Luke 2. 28 29 30. 2 Cor. 5. 8. Phil. 1. 23. Rev. 22 20. 4. How does it inflame their love to the Lord his wayes his worship his interest his glory Cant. 1. 3 4. Cant. 2. 3 4 5 6. Cap. 8. 1 2 3 5 6 7. 5. It inflames against temptations 10. 11. It was this Divine presence that did steel and strengthen Basil Luther and a world of others against the worst of temptations 6. It Heb. 11. inflames the hearts of the Saints into great freeness readiness and willingness to suffer many things to suffer great things to suffer any thing for Christ his Gospel his interest c. O how did this Divine presence make many Martyrs hasten to the flames c. 8. 'T is a soul quieting a soul silencing and a soul stilling presence Psalm 3. 5. Psalm 4. 8. Cant. 2. 3. Cap. 3. 4 5. When Friends can't quiet us when Relations can't quiet us when Ministers can't quiet us when Duties can't quiet us when Ordinances can't quiet us when outward comforts can't quiet us yet then this Divine presence will quiet us when Babies and Rattles can't quiet the Child yet then the breasts can so here 9. This Divine presence is a sweetning presence 1. It sweetens all duties and services publick and private ordinary and extraordinary 2. It sweetens all personal afflictions and tryals 3. It sweetens all our sufferings for righteousness sake 4. It sweetens all Gospel Ordinances Exod. 20. 24. 5. It sweetens all a mans outward mercies and blessings it sweetens health strength riches trade c 6. It sweetens all interchangeable providences here providence smiles and there it frownes here it lifts up and there it casts down this providence is sweet and that is bitter
saith he why Tellus Because said Solon though he was poor yet he was a good man and content with that which he had and having governed the Common-wealth well and brought up his Child honestly and religiously he died honourably Well then said Croesus but who doest thou think the second happy man in the world I think said he those two Brothers that instead of Horses drew their Mother in a Chariot to the Temple Whereupon said Croesus what thinkest thou of me I think says he thou art a very rich man but a man may be happy though he be poor and a man may be unhappy though he be rich for he may lose all his riches before he dye and therefore Ante obitum nemo I think none truly happy but he that lives well and dyes well Whereupon that Wise man Solon was dismissed the Court with neglect But afterward this Croesus making War against Cyrus he was overcome by Cyrus and being taken captive he was laid upon a pile of wood to be burned to death then lying on the pile of wood he cried out and said O Solon Solon Solon Cyrus enquiring what he meant He answered this Solon was a Wise man of Greece that told me that happiness did not consist in riches for they might all be lost and a rich man might die miserable Whose words said he I then neglected but now I find true and therefore now I cry out O Solon Solon Solon Let us now tell the covetous man the worldly man that his happiness lyes not in riches though he looks upon his riches as his strong City he won't mind us he won't regard O but there is a time a coming wherein the worldling will cry out O Solon Matth. 6. 24. Solon Solon Thirdly Our service that is a homage which makes a God when we devote all our pains labour and service to it be it this or that that makes a God Now the covetous man his heart is most upon the world his thoughts are most upon the world his affections are most upon the world and his discourse is most about the world he that hath his mind taken up with the world and chiefly delighted with the world's musick he hath also his tongue tuned to the same Key and taketh his joy and comfort in speaking of nothing else but the world ard worldly things If the world be in the heart it will break out at the lips a worldly minded man speaketh of nothing but worldly things They John 4. 5. are of the world therefore they speak of the world The water riseth not above the fountain out of the warehouse the shop is furnished the love of this world makes men forget God neglect Christ slight Ordinances refuse Matth. 19. 21 22. Heaven despise holiness and oyles the tongue for worldly discourses Ah the time the thoughts the strength the spirits the words that are spent upon the world and the things of the world whilst sinners souls lye a bleeding and Eternity is posting on upon them I have read of a griping Usurer who was alwayes best when he was most in talking of the world being near his end he was much prest to make his will at last he was overcome and then he dictates to the Scrivener after this manner First I bequeath my own soul to the Devil for being so greedy of the muck of this world Item next I give my wifes soul to the Devil for perswading me to this course of life Item I give the Parson of our Parish's soul to the Devil because he did not shew me the danger I lived in nor reprove me for it O the danger of making the world our God when we come to die and to make up our accounts with God Now when men make the world their God and set up their riches pleasures and profits in the place of God no wonder if God withdraws his presence from them and therefore as ever you would retain the gracious presence of God with you take heed of a covetous spirit a worldly spirit But Tenthly and lastly As ever you would enjoy the gracious presence of God with you in your greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers take heed of See my Mute Christian under the smarting rod. a Cross froward and inflexible Spirit under the Rod When the Child is froward under the Rod the Father withdraws so here Isa 57. 17. I was wroth I smote him I hid me and was wroth and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart Though I manifested my displeasure Isa 47. 6. by giving them up to their Enemies and by giving them under the tokens of my anger they persisted in their own cross crooked and rebellious courses refusing to repent and turn to the most High and therefore God changes his countenance hides his face and withdraws his presence from them Deut. 32. 20. And he said I will hide my face from them for they are a very froward generation Heb. A generation of perversnesses When the sick man is froward Friends withdraw and leave him alone Psalm 18. ver 26. With the froward thou wilt shew thy self froward God will meet with froward persons in their own way and make them reap the fruits of their own doings God will walk cross and contrary to the froward opposing and crossing them in all they do God has no delight to grace froward persons with his presence when men begin to be froward under a Divine hand God commonly hides his face and turns his back upon them Men sick of impatiency are no fit company for the God of all patience men that Rom. 15. 5. Prov. 11. 20. are peevish and pettish under the Rod will alwayes see a cloud upon the face of God and thus you see that there are ten things that you must carefully take heed of as you would enjoy the gracious presence of God with you in your greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers But Secondly As there are many things to be avoided so there are several things to be put in practice as you would enjoy the gracious presence of God with you in your greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers let me glance at a few First Be sure that you are brought under the bond of the Covenant This gracious signal presence of God Ezek. 20. 37. Psalm 25. 14. Psalm 50. 5. Jer. 32. 40 41. Gâ—nes 6. 8. 18. with his People under their greatest troubles and deepest distresses is peculiar to those that are in Covenant with God Noah was in Covenant with God and God was with him providing an Ark for him and preserving of him from drowning in the midst of drowning Lot was in Covenant with God and God was with him and secures him in Zoar when he rained Cap. 19. 20 to 26. Hell out of Heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah Joseph was in Covenant with God and God was with Joseph Ge 39. 20 21 22. Jer. 1.
17 18 19. Cap. 37. 15. ult Dan. 3. 23 24 25. Cap. 6. 22 23. in prison Jeremiah was in Covenant with God and God kept him company in the Dungeon The three Children or rather Champions were in Covenant with God and God was signally present with them in the fiery Furnace Daniel was in Covenant with God and God was wonderfully with him in the Lions Den. Job was in Covenant with God and God was with him in six troubles and in seven David was in Covenant Job 3. 18 19. Psal 89. 33 â—4 Psal 23. 4. with God and God was with him in the valley of the shadow of death Take not up in a name to live nor in a form of godliness nor in common convictions nor in an outward reformation take up in nothing below a Covenant-relation as you would enjoy the precious presence Deâ—t 26. 17 18 19. of the Lord with you in your greatest troubles and deepest distresses if you chuse him for your God you shall then assuredly find him to be your God if he be the God of our love and fear he will be the God of our comfort and safety if God be your God in Covenant then in distress the cities of refuge are open to you he will stick close to you he will never leave you nor forsake you you have a Father to go to a God to flee Heb. 13. 5 6 7. to a God that will take care of you Come my People enter thâ—u into thy Chambers and shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpast Here are Chambers withdrawing rooms provided not open Chambers but with doors and doors shut round about intimating that guard of protection which the People of God shall find from him even in a common inundation But Secondly if you would enjoy the gracious presence of God with you in your greatest troubles deepest distresses and most deadly dangers then look to the practical 2 Chron. 15. 2. part of holyness keep up the power of godlyness in your hearts and lives Joh. 14. 21. He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him Ver. 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 He that frames his heart and life according This is evident throughout the whole Boâ—k of the Prophet Eâ—ekiâ—l See Cap. 2. 4. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. to Christs rule shall be sure of Christs presence Ezekiel was a man that kept up the power of holyness and godliness in his heart and life And O the glorious visions and deep mysteries and rare discoveries of God and of his presence and of the great things that should be brought about in the latter days that was discovered to him Daniel kept up the power of holyness and godliness in his heart and life And O what secrets and mysteries did God reveal to him Many of those great and glorious things which concerns the destruction of the four last Monarchies and the growth increase exaltation flourishing durable invincible and unconquerable estate of his own Kingdom was discovered to him Paul was a person that kept up the power of holyness and godliness in his heart and life And O what a mighty presence of God had he with him in all his doing suffering and witnessing work And O what glorious revelations and discoveries of God had he when he was caught up into the third Heaven into Paradise heard unspeakable words or wordless words such as words were to weak to utter Such as was not possible for man to utter and that either because they transcended mans capacity in this life or else because the Apostle was forbid to utter them they being revealed to him not for the publick use of the Church but only for his particular encouragment that he might be the better able to encounter with all hardships difficulties dangers and deaths that did or might attend him in his Ministerial 3 Cor. 1. 7 8 9 10 work Some of the Ancients are of opinion that he saw Gods essence for say they other things in Heaven might have been uttered but the essence of God is so great and so glorious a thing that no man or Angel can utter it But here I must crave lieve to enter my dissent from these learned men for the Scripture is express in this That no man hath thus ever seen the Lord at any time that no man Joh. 1. 18. 1 Tim. 6. 16. 1 Joh. 4. 12. Exod. 33. 20 21 22 23. can thus see the Lord and live And as great a Favourite of Heaven as Moses was yet he could only see the back parts of God he could only behold some lower represâ—ntations of God Some say that he heard the Heavenly singing of Angels and blessed Spirits which was so sweet so excellent and glorious that no mortal man was able to utter it and this of the two is most probable But no man is bound to make this opinion an Article of his Faith This I think we may safely conclude that in this rapture besides the contemplation of Celestial mysteries he felt such unspeakable delight and pleasure that was either like to that or exceeded that which Adam took in the Terrestrial Paradise Doubtless the Apostle did see and hear such excellent things as was impossible for the tongue of any mortal man to express or utter John was a burning and a shining Light both in John 5. 35. life and doctrine he was a man that kept up in his heart and life the power of holyness and godliness and Christ reveales to him the general estate of his Church and all that should besal his People and that from John's time unto his second coming Christ gives John a true representation of all the troubles tryals changes mercies and glories that in all times and in all ages and places should attend his Church until he came in all his glory About sixty years after Christs Ascension Christ comes to John and opens his heart and unbosomes his soul 'T is the general opinion of the learned that this Book of the Revelation was penned about the latter end of the reign of Domiâ—ian the Emperour which was about sixty years after Christs Ascension and makes known to him all that care that love that tenderness that kindness and that sweetness that he would exercise towards his Church from that very time to the end of the world Christ tells John that though he had been absent and seemingly silent for about threescore years that yet he was not so taken up with the delights contents and glory of Heaven as that he did not care what became of his Church on earth O no! and therefore he opens his choicest secrets and
Mary The pure nature of love is more seen in Gods first love to us than in ours to him by nature we were Ephes 2. 12. 19. Rom. 5. 10. Cap. 1. 30. without God and afar of from God we were strangers to God and enemies to God yea haters of God and therefore if God had not loved us firstly we had been undone everlastingly Secondly As God loves you with a first love so he loves you with a free love Hosea 14. 4. I will heal their back-sliding I will love them freely I know they are back-sliden but I will heal their back-slidings I know they have broken their bones by their fall but I will make those broken bones to rejoyce I know there is nothing at all in them that is excellent or eminent that is honourable or acceptable that is laudable or lovely yet I will love them freely Ex mero motu of mine own free rich absolute soveraign and independent grace Thirdly As he loves you with a free love so he loves you with an everlasting love Jer. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee Heb. I love thee with the love of perpetuity or with the love of Eternity My love and my affections continue still the same to thee and shall do for ever or as others carry the words I love thee with an Ancient love or with the love of Antiquity I love thee still with the same affection that in former ages I bare towards thee Fourthly As he loves you with an everlasting love so he loves you with an unchangeable love Mal. 3. 6. I am the Lord I change not therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed Men change and counsels change and occurrences change and Friends change and Relations change and Kingdoms change and Common-wealths change but God never changes as Balaam confesses who was the Devils Numb 3. 19. Hackney and who had a mind to dance with the Devil all day and then sup with Christ at night God is neither false nor fickle he cannot like men say and unsay Psalm 89. 34. he can nor alter his mind nor eat his words The Eternity of Israel cannot lie nor repent for he is not a man 1 Sam. 15. 29. that he should repent Men are so mutable and changeable that there is no hold to be taken of what they say but God is immutable in his nature in his essence in his counsels in his attributes in his decrees in his promises c. He is as the School-men say Omninò immutabi lis Altogether immutable Fifthly As he loves you with an unchangeable love so he loves you with a special P salm 146. 7 8 love with a peculiar love with a distinguishing love with a superlative love The Lord executes judgment for the oppressed he gives food to the hungry he looseth the Prisoners he opens the eyes of the blind he raises them that are bowed down he loveth the righteous and this is more than all the rest Sixthly and lastly As he loves his People with a special love with a peculiar love so he loves them with the greatest love with a matchless love O Daniel greatly beloved John 3. 16. God so loved the world c. Here is a sic without a sicut there being nothing in nature wherewith to parallel it This sic without a sicut signifies the greatness of Gods love the vehemency of his love and the admirableness of his love Now what an unspeakable comfort must this be to his Saints to have the presence of a loving God to have the presence of such a loving God with them in all their troubles and deep distresses If the presence of a loving Friend a loving Relation in our troubles and distresses be such a mercy O! what then is the presence of a loving God Thirdly It is the Psalm 18. 2. 2 Chron. 16. 9. Prov. 18. 10. Jer 32. 40. 41. Isa 30. 18 19. Isa 27. 3. Jer. 31. 23. presence of an active God who will be a defence to you a Shield to you a Sword to you a Buckler to you a Sun to you a strong Tower to you a Salvation to you none can withstand him none can equal him none can out act him Fourthly It is the presence of a wakeful God of a watchful God of a God that never no never slumbers or sleeps God will be so far from sleeping that he will not so much as slumber Psalm 121. 3 4 5. The Phrase is taken from watchmen who stand on the walls in time of war to discover the approaches of Enemies and accordingly give warning Now watchmen have been treacherous and sleepy The Capitol of Rome had been taken by the Gaules if the Geese had not been more wakeful then the watchmen of the walls Iphicrates the Athenian Captain visiting the Guards on the walls of Corinth found one of the watch asleep and presently thrust him thorough with his sword saying Dead I found him and dead I left him though watchmen slumber and sleep yet that God that is present with his People doth neither his seven eyes are alwayes open Fifthly It is the presence of a wise God of an omniscient Ezech. 3. 9. Psalm 33. 10 11. Isa 46. 10. Cap. 40. 28. Rom. 11. 33. 2 Pet. 2. 9. Jonh 1. 5. 1 Kings 14. 6 Matth. 26. 24 25 God God fills all things he encompasseth all things and he sustaineth all things and therefore he must needs know all things God can find Jonah in the bottom of the ship and Jeroboam's Wife in her disguises and Judas inhis Treason and Demas in his Apostacy and the Scribes and Pharisees in their hypocrisie The 2 Timoth. 4. 10. Matth. 23. Rev. 4. 6. Heb. 4. 13. whole world is to him as a Sea of glass Corpus diaphanum A clear transparent body there is nothing hid from his eyes so that he that can but find out a place where God sees not there let that man sin and spare not All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 naked as when the skin is pulled of and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 opened as the entrails of a Sacrifice cut down the back The Apostle say some useth a Metaphor taken from a sheep whose skin is taken off and he hanged up by the neck with his back towards the wall and all his entrailes laid bare and exposed to open view He alludes say others to the Anatomizing of a Creature wherein men are very cautious to find out every little vein or muscle though they be never so close They are naked therefore God sees their outside and opened dissected quartered and cleft asunder through the back bone so that he sees their inside also Opened is more than naked naked is that which is not cloathed or covered opened is that whose inwards are discovered and made conspicuous Some make it a Metaphor from