care of me he delivered me when I was in such straits when I was almost dead strugling to get into this world the hand of the Lord was helping of me The hand of the Lord was more to me then all creatures he helped me See at the beginning from first to last God takes a special care of the lives of his Saints Fourthly It will further appear this great love of God this great care of God will further appear if we consider what a rate he makes men pay for the lives of his Saints when they take their lives away by violence He will make them know they have stolen precious Jewels from him and he will make them pay dear for it you know what it cost Jerusalem there was found the blood of the Prophets slain there was a great deal of blood lay upon them the blood of Abel and the blood of Zacharias and they shed the blood of the Prophets and Servants of God and that blood became their overthrow the blood of them did throw down the Walls and Temple of the City the streams of blood did sweep away all the Inhabitants thereof whensoever the life of a Saint is stolen and taken away God presently sends Hue and Cry after it and wheresoever God hath found the blood of his people he hath declared his wrath against them he hath prosecuted the Law to the uâ—most against them See what is prophesied of Babylon how doth the Lord deal with her in the 18. of Revelation when God came to make inquisition after the blood of the Saints 't is said And in her was found the blood of the Saints There God found his stolen Jewels the blood of his Saints See how God doth prosecute the Law against her in thaâ— 18. Chapter you read of most fearful judgments that came upon Babylon God seizes upon all her Riches all her Glory and they were all brought down in a day she her self was brought to execution she was cast down as a Milstone cast down into the bottom of the Sea never to to rise again what was the cause of all this wrath and diâ—pleasure and fearful judgements that was to come upon Babylon Why this was given as the reason In her was found the blood of the Prophets So then still you see and I beseech you beleeve it there is nothing in all the world more precious to the Lord then the lives of his Servants Well 2ly If the lives of the Servants of God Use 2 be so precious how precious are the souls of his Servants the life is more then rayment saith Christ the life is more then all creatures and the soul is more then life the life of Christ in the soul it must needs be a hundred times more precious a thousand times more precious Oh what a high account hath God of the souls of his people what will not God part with rather then he will loose the souls of his people he will part with the Jewel of Heaven the great Jewel of Heaven to ransome the souls of his people he was content that his Son should come out of his bosome rather then he would loose one of the souls of his people the Son was infinitely dear to the Father more dear to him then all the world yea ten thousand worlds and yet he will part with his son that he may rescue the souls of his people from destruction Oh how precious was the soul in the eye of Christ what did he do what did he suffer to redeem the precious soul how far did he come to fetch them a mighty journey the Lord Christ took from Heaven to Earth that he might bring back poor souls that were taken captive by the Divel and rescue them from death and destruction what great hazard did the Lord Christ run when he was upon Earth Oh what mighty Armies what Troops did Jesus Christ break through Armies of sins and Armies of Divels that was in his way and yet he brake through them all to rescue the souls of his Servants when he had broke through those Troops what depths did he descend into that he might fetch up the souls of his Servants He was content to go into the depths of the Sea the red Sea the Sea of blood yea into the depths of the Sea of his Fathers wrath and indignation that so he might fetch up the souls of his Servants the depth of the wrath of God the depth of the infinite wrath of God it is a Sea that hath no bottom a Sea of wrath that men and Angels should never have found the bottom they shall be descending lower and lower still and never find the bottom and yet the Son of God was content to go to the bottome of wrath of all the billows of his Fathers wrath and displeasure that so be might fetch up the souls of his servants that lay under wrath they could never have lift up their heads above the billows of the displâ—aâ—ure of the Almighty if Christ had not fetcht them up if he had not upon his own back carryed them over Oh how precious were the souls of his Saints in the eye of God! The life of the Son of God was precious to him and yet his life was nothing to him in comparison that he might save the souls of his people if he had a thousand lives he would have layd them all down Now I beseech you think of this you that have a mean account of your souls O how precious is the soul in the account of the Son of God how great was the price that Christ paid for thy soul and why dost thou undervalue thy soul and art willing to part with this most precious treasure in the world it cost the life of the Son of God to purchase thy soul and wouldst thou be content to sell thy soul for a trifle and yet how many thousands in the world do value a thousand things in the world above their souls and many they will part with their souls for a lust for vanity for nothing for a bag of earth for an empty cloud of honour for a little pleasure Oh what undervaluing is this of thy poor soul I beseech you remember the worth of the soul do but consider how precious it was in the eye of God you that do slight your precious souls If 〈◊〉 â—â—ed your body you care not if the soul starve Oh that you would remember you wiâ—l make a hard bargain though you win all tâ—e world and loose your own soul what shall a man gâ—â—e in exchange for his soul I beseech you for the Lords sake have more care of your souls let your souls be precious in your eyes 't is more worth then all the world if you loose the things of the world you may find them again you may gain them again if you loose all the friends in the world you may finde them all in the Son of God he stands in all relations to his people nay
should not be only Musquet proof but Cannon proof stand out not only agaiâ—st afflictions lesser judgments but stands out against great judgments many times against miraculous judgments why here is a strange stoutness and hardness in every mans heart Oh what a dead sleep is every man by nature cast into you will say that man is in a dead sleep that though he be shot at it cannot wake him that he should sleep secure when the house is on fire about his ears truly this is the condition of every man by nature though God do lay Cannon shot against him and though God set on fire the world about his ears yet still he sleeps what a strange condition is the state of nature Let us all take notice of it and set us all bewail it in the presence of God seeing how woful it is and what we are like Secondly If Miracles cannot convert a soul Vse 2 then what a Miracle is it that any soul is converted truly we may stand and wonder that any soul should be brought home to God how many Mâ—racles is in this work of conveâ—sion to convert a soul to God 't is a greater Miracle then to open the eyes of the blind to give strength to lame to give life to the dead a greater Miracle then to turn darkness into light a greater Miracle then to beat down strong Cities with seven Râ—ms horns 't is a greater Miracle then to make the world he spake and it was done it was made he spake his word and the world was created but God speaks again and again once and twice and often before the new creature is formed before Many Miracles in the conversion of a soul to God faith is created in the heart of man and truly Brethren you need not wonder that so few are brought home to God that 's not the Miracle but stand and wonder that any should be brought home to God there are many Miracles in the conversion of the soul to God I beseech you take notice of them there is a Miracle of First Miraclâ— of wisâ—dâ—m of wisdome there is a Miracle of wisdom I say in the conversion of a soul that God should find out a way to reconcile himself to a sinner and then reâ—oncile the sinner to himself here is infinite wisdom to finde out a way to reconcile himself to the sinner to find out a way to satisfie both justice and mercy that they should meet each other and kiss each other and both be satisfied that justice should say I have enough and Mercy should say I am well pleased and both be glorified in Christ Brethren here is a way that men and Angels could never have found out here is a Miracle of wisdome to reconcile the sinner to God also here is abundance of the wisdom of God that God should finde out a way to make a rebellious sinner come in and submit when he had stood out long and stood many batteries that God had layd against him that the Lord should bring him in by a word of his grace that God should come and catch a poor soul and take him before the soul be aware here is abundance of holy wisdom truly none could do this but only God And as there is a Miracle of wisdom so there Secondly Therâ— is a Mirâ—â—le of Power is a Miracle of power in every souls conversion Oh wonderful power hath God put forth to overâ—ome the creature and to overcome himselâ— To overcome the creature to make a stubborn stout hearted sinner relent to shake the Oaks of Bashan and make the Cedars of Lebanon to stoop Yet truly this is the work of God he put abundance of power into a word of his and when an obstinate sinner hath stood out boâ—h the allurements of Mercy and hath out stood all the batteries of Judgment that God hath laid against him God hath sent out many Armies of judgments to bring him in and they have returned back again and have not done their work and that yet the Lord at last should be pleased to arme a word of his a poor naked word of his with so much power â—o give such authority and to give such commission as to go and bring in the stout hearted sinner and make him fall down at the footstole of Jesus Christ here is a Miracle of power and then that God should overcome all his wrath and all his fury and indignation and say it is not in me I give thee leave to draw nigh to me in my Son fury is not in me that God should overcome himself to stoop to the creature that the Majesty of Heaven should first stoop to the creature that the Prince should come and beseech the Rebel to accept of mercy offer the first tearms of peace and not looking to the infinite distance that is between him and the creature but lay that aside and beseech a poor creature to accept of mercy here is a Miracle of power And then there is a Miracle of goodness a Miracle of mercy in every souls conversion a Miracle of mercy that God should pardon the sin of his people from Eternity Oh the Miracles of mercy writes the pardon gives the pardon into the Sons hand that he should work it over by Covenant and make all sure for his people in Christ even from Eternity even to give Christ a pardon for his peoples sins many thousand years before the sins are committed I do not say the pardon is given out to them before they are brought in to submit to Christ but it is given out into the hand of Christ that if they come and submit to Christ 't is in his hand to give it out 't is already written and Sealed here is a Miracle of Mercy Again that the Lord should so freely and so fully bâ—ot out transgressions that he should make the sins committed to be as if they had not been committed there shall no more remain of them as if they had never been acted to bury them to cast them behind his behind his back to throw them into the depth of the Sea to carry them into the wilderness into a land of forgetfulness that when they are sought for they shaâ—l not be found they shall be as if they had never been what a Miracle of mercy is this that God should bear no old grudge to a poor sinner a Rebel one that have stood out against him and yet that God should retain no grudge in his heart but receive a poor soul into his Bosom as if he had never been defiled to receive him into his own boâ—els into intimate communion and acquaintance with himself in love as if he had never bin a Râ—bel to bear no old grudg here 's wonderful rich mercy Again for God to account the soul righteous to look upon him as righteous when he is unrighteous to look upon him as righteous in Christ when he is full of spots and polutions and deâ—ormity
where I was saith he whether I was in the body or was taken out of the body I cannot test the Lord he knows and therefore still I say there is no cause why any of Gods people should inordinately fear affliction seeing you may meet with the presence of Christ in that condition and the presence of Jesus Christ will countervail the loss of all Creature comforts and the sweetness of it will be equivalent to the bitterness of it let thy condition be never so low That 's the third Use Fourthly Let the people of God expect the presence of Christ in their affliction in their low condition seeing Christ hath promised his presence do you expect his presence look for his presence Oh that we might labour to improve our affliction for this end that we may meet with more of Christ that we may enjoy more of the presence of Christ in our affliction truly there is a great deal lost Gods people loose abundance of sweetness which they might enjoy both in Ordinances and in afflâ—ction if their hearts were raised up to look for the performance of that which Christ hath promised if we would believe that Jesus Christ will be as good as his word did our souls expect the fuâ—lfilling of this word that â—e shall see the presence of Christ in affliction why then should we be so loth to suffer for Christ and be unwilling to submit to low conditâ—ons seeing it is the will of God that we should suffer Therefore I beseech you you that are the people of God get your hearts enlarged in affliction that so you may get above your â—ffliction if that you shall certainly meet with the presence of Jesus Christ in your afflicted conditions he hath spoken it he hath given out the word and therefore he will fulfill it what confidence had the people of God in their affliction when they remembred this I will fear none ill though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death And see what David saith in the 27. Psalm the beginning of it The Lord is my light and my salvation whom should I fear the Lord is the strength of my liâ—e of whom should I be afraid I cannot tell who the enemy is who is it he looks and he fiâ—des none in all the world whom should I fear and be afraid of so long as the Lord is with me I see no such enemy and therefore I beseech you that you would look after the presence of Christ expect the presence of Christ in all your afflictions that you meet with Object But you will say I have no such word as David had David might well belâ—eve that the Lord would uphold him for David had a particular word God spake to David he â—ware to David He swore by his Holiness that he would not fail David and so others of the Sainâ—s they had a particular word the Lord spake to Joshua Fear not I will not leave thee be couragious but we have no such word and therefore how should we expect to meet with Christ in afflicted conditions Answ I Answer first of all Though God does not speak now from Heaven by Visions he doth not reveal himself by Vrim and Thuâ—mim as unto David yet we have a larger word then David had and Joshuah had the Scripture is larger now we have abundance of the word there was but little of the Scripture writ in Daâ—ids time and less in Joshuahs time there was none of the written word but only the Book of Moses but now we have the word of God compleat we have a sure word a large word and 't is full of gracious invitations and incouragements and therefore the Saints now may be incouraged as well as they to whom God spake Secondly Yea Secondly I say God hath sent forth more of his spirit now in a Gospel way in a way of Gospel dispensation there is a great deal more of the Spirit of Christ poured out Now 't is the work of the Spirit the Office of the Spirit to particularize those promises to the soul to take thâ— promises and bring them home to this and that particular soul Now where the Spirit of God comes â—â— comes with evidence and he brings home the word of grace to thâ— soul that the soul cannot gainsay it nor resist it Object But you will say How shall I know 't is the Spirit of God that doth speak to me Answ I Answer The Spirit of God always speaks according to the word of God I say it speaks according to the written word that is given to us it speaks according to the word of grace for the spirit and the word do bear mutual testimony one of another But I Answer 'T is in the power of the Spirit to resolve the soul the Lord Jesus sends forth the Spirit with so much evidence â—s to convince the heart that it is the spirit that speaks the Lord Jesus he is able to perswade the soul that it is not a delusion but speaking according to the word of grace it is indeed the voice of the Father the voice of the Spirit that speaks Objct. But you will object further If the Lord Jesus be present with mâ— according to his promise if the Lord were present with me in affliction why how is it possible that it should be thus with me as it is How is it possible that there should be so much deadness and so much of the world and unbelief Surèly the presence of Christ is not with me in my affliction Answ I Answer to such a poor soul that looks after the presence of Christ and fain would enjoy the presence of Christ but cannot see him in affliction I say first of all Undoubtedly there is the presence of Christ with thee and thou canst not but thou mayst see something if unthankfulnesse doth not lye before thine eyes he is there the Lord Jesus is there and he will make good his word certainly if he hath promised to be with his people in afflicted conditions he will make good his word anâ— he is with thee at the door though he may be behind the Curtain and undoubtedly he is not far as I said before Joseph was with his Brethren when they did not know him and so the Lord Jesus is present with his people and they do not see him he doth feed them support them and maintain their lives and they not know it Secondly Yea I say secondly That if thou dost not see more of the presence of Christ the fault is in thee 't is not in the Lord not in the word of the Lord he is present according to the word that he hath spoke and therefore Christ may be present and thou seest him not because through negligence thou dost not stir up thy self to take hold of him thou givest way to a slothful spirit and so thou dost not stir up thy self to take hold of him or else thou dost not exercise faith in thy afflicted
God Improve it for God and be willing to suffer for God Again Fiftly in the fift place We should be willing to lay down our lives when God calls for them again Thus should we express our thankfulness for life given us I say be willing to lay down life freely and voluntarily the next time when God calls When God hath rescued any of our lives from the grave why all those days that are added are freely given and 't is an addition of free grace more then we thought of more then was expected And therefore we should freely be willing to lay it down when God calls for it we should be willing to lay down our own lives and let them depart and so friends should be freely willing to let that life go that was so freely redeemed Thus we should be Volunteers to death we should freely and willingly submit to God as well as dye in obedience as in faith and let it be our wisdom often to look to what Christ hath done for his people in matter of death and the grave and set faith on work every day to see how the sting is taken out by Christ and the grave is made a sweet resting place 't is sanctified 't is perfumed 't is sanctified that it may be a sweet resting place to the Saints Again in the Sixt place When God hath wonderfully saved our lives we should seek to do something extraordinary for God we should not content our selves with ordinary service saith Christ What do you more then others in the 5. of Mat. and the latter end if you onely love those that love you what do you more then others or what singular thing do you he would have his people do some singular thing for him and especially when God hath done some singular thing for them and what says Hezekiah when God had restored his life from the grave in Isa 31. v. 19. The living the living he shall praise thee as I do this day The living the living he shall praise thee he that hath life once given and he that hath life restored to him again he that hath life given from the grave The living the living he shall praise thee he shall speak of thy glory and testifie oâ— thy wonders something more then ordinary is implyed there That the living he should live to God Seventhly In the last place to conclude Look upon all outward Mercies in reference to some spiritual Mercy and never take up in the outward Mercy but let it lead you to the spiritual mercy Alas what is life if it be not in reference to spiritual Mercies if it be not in reference to get more of God to get more glory to God Life what is it a poor empty thing 't is true life it self is a mercy a great Mercy but yet though life be a blessing a man may dye betimes and be blessed Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord And on the contrary though life be a blessing a man may live long and be a cursed creature â—or all this See what is said in the Prophesie of Isaiah the 65 ch 20. v. 't is spoken of the days of the Gospel There shall be no more thence an Infant of days nor an old man that hath not filled his days For the child shall dye a hundred years old but the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed T is a prophecy of Gospel blessings shewing how it should be in the latter days a child dye a hundred years old That is the young men shall have abundance of the glory of God those that are children in years shall be old in grace they shall have as much grace as those that were a hundred years old and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed a curse though he live a hundred years See then life is not desireable but in reference to spiritual Mercies Oh then rest not in outward Mercies if God at any time hath give any of your lives for a prey resâ— not in outwâ—rd Mercies but labour to see further Mercie in it that mercy is given in reference to further Mercy and waite for the Communication of it It was well when Heâ—ekiah could say that God had done it in love to hiâ— soul in Isa 38. 17. Thâ—u hast in love to my soul delivered it from the Pit of corruption for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy bâ—ck He looked more to the spiritual Mercy then to the outward Mercy Alas it had been a poor small thing for life to be given and my sins not pardoned if God had given me life and not given it out of love Oh it had been a curse to my soul and tâ—is doth David blesse the Lord for in Psal 23. 3. He restoreth my soul he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name sake It was after God delivered him from sickness he blesse God he restored my soul and my life he doth not take up there but he leads me in the patheâ— of righteousnes for his name sake I have further mercy my life is given for further Mercy God he will not restore that mercy of life only but he will convey me to further Mercy seeing he hath given me life he will lead me in the paths of righteousness that I may life to the praise of his name And this should all our desires be when God doth such great things for us THE Second Sermon On DAN III. XXV He answered and said Lo I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God I Made entrance into the words the last Lords day There is witness and testimony given of a glorious Miracle and Wonderful Deliverance that was wrought for three servants of God God had brought them forth to exercise their faith And to suffer To suffer the wrath of the King but yet the Lord delivered them he delivered them from the wrath of the King he wa a violent King from the flames of the Furnace and the Furnace was heated seven times hotter then ordinary they were bound hand and foot and cast into the midst of the fire and yet they became Conquerors The very enemies do witness as much The King Answered and said lo I see fouâ— men loose walking in the midst of the fire Here are many Miracles in one here is heat and light separated one from the other sight remains and yet the heat is taken away and it burned not here is the wonder of mercy it shall be a miracle of judgment in Hell there is fire that hath heat but no light the hotter the flames are it shall be the darker it shall be dark that day but here when God will shew a Miracle of mercy he takes away the heat and the light remains Lo says the King I sâ—e four men c. Imagine their number is increased as another Miracle Whereas they thought that
danger eminent danger at such a time they were nigh to death and what great promises and what great purposes came into their hearts and mouths and yet notwithstanding all that God hath done for them they have turned again to folly nay sometime they have seen and tasted as it were of the power of the world to come that God hath convinced them many times of the excellency of the way and the necessity of walking with him and the happy condition of the Saints they it may be have had some tasts some drops to cool their tongue and though they have had that Miracle of Mercy yet notwithstanding their hearts have gone back again and they have not bin converted and perswaded to come to Christ after a hearty draught of his love and good ness which might abundantly satisfie them others that have seen even Miracles of judgment God many many times hath wrought strong conviction in their conscience they have been as it were for the present hung over the flames of Hell and great thoughts have been darted into their spirits convincing thoughts of the necessity of seeking after faith they have seen as it were the mighty consequence of the soul the mighty consequence of the things of Eternity and yet have worn out all hints that have been made upon conscience and soon returned to their former ways of folly to folly desperate madnes others taken up in vanity taken up in the world others taken up in their own righteousness and think themselves whole and need no Physician notwithstanding all these Miracles of judgment how many are there that have seen them and have felt them and have not been brought home savingly by them But you will say how come this to pass what cannot miracles of works bring home a soul to God what then what miracles I answer first of all God would have it so that he might put a great glory upon his word he will Reason 1 have it known what the word of the Lord is he will make known the power and efficacy of it his word is more dear to him then his work more then all his works of Creation of Providence or Miracles though all perish yet the word of the Lord that endures that abides God will put a great deal of glory upon his word and therefore he hath chosen his word rather then Miracles though men think Oh Miracles are glorious and surely if God shew miracles that will convert that will bring home the soul to God but Gods thoughts are not our thoughts his waies are not our waies he knows that miracles cannot do it therefore he hath chosen his word he will make that glorious in the Conversion of sinners for the most part God works by his word it is true the word it self neither cannot do it the word without the Spirit is a dead letter but God is pleased to send his spirit along with his word when hee intends this work the spirit of the Lord shall come with some word from heaven that shall be effectual to turn the heart of a sinner when Miracles of judgment or mercy cannot do it it seems a weak thing to men but the word of the Lord is mighty and powerful When God is intended to catch any soul to bring it home commonly this is his Net he takes his word and throws that over them and that shall catch them When he is intended to beat down strong holds mighty Towers of lusts sinful imaginations that do exalt themselves against Himself and his Son and his Gospel why God is pleased to use his word as the battery which will do this great and glorious work Secondly It comes to pass from the desperate Reason 2 hardness that is in mans heart that aversness that is in the soul naturally to God it is the hardest matter in the world to bring God and the soul together Oh what striving is there in the gracious heart before it is brought to God it flies off from God and the soul is forced to put Arguments upon himself it may be again and again Why art thou cast down Oh my soul why art thou disquieted why trust in God Why trust in God He repeets it again and again and all too little to trust in God and to have confidence in God but there is much more aversness in a natural mans heart to God there is an infinite distance there is a contrariety and 't is a hard matter to bring off a soul to close with God to submit to him the greatest Miracle in the world cannot do it why when there is much peace in Gods heart there is war in the sinners heart yea when there is peace in Gods mouth too there is war in the sinners mouth when God doth call upon them come and behold the face of my Son and behold the face of my righteousnes I give thee leave to look to either me so thou look to me through my Son yet still he will have his heart draw back and he wil look to God through his own righteousness that of a creature or else run away from God hide himself in his own shame and confusion and dare not come to God And truly 't is a very hard thing to overcome the heart in this cause to trust God to rely upon him the heart is fille'd with slâ—very and 't is a very hard matter to overcome that slavery that is in the heart I tell you Miracles will not do it though it should see never so many Miracles when it is in that condition Miracles would not overcome the heart to trust in God to beleeve in God Miracles they declare tâ—e power of God and the glory of God hold forth the beams of his Majesty ay but there must be a declaration of the love of God and the mercy or God in Christ there must be a discovery of this to the soul before he can come in and submit to God and trust in him before the slavery can be overcome that is in the heart I tell you you must have a word a sure word to go upon for the soul dare not go to God he looking upon himself as stubble and upon God as a consuming fire and still he keeps off from God and therefore nothing but the word of the Lord can perswade the heart to come in and to trust and Application of the Point rely upon God Now let us make some Application Is it so that the greatest Miracle cannot convert a soul to God Why then First of all take notice what a Miracle of iniquity Vse 1 of sin is in every mans heart a stâ—aâ—ge thing that the heart of a man should be so haâ—dned against God and his own good who would think it that there should be so much stoutness in such a poor thing as the heart of man so small a pâ—ece of flesh to be so stout and so hard against God that no sword should be able to pierce it it
to the glorious Fathers and Because he pâ—ured out his soul as an offring for sin his Father gave him a portion with the great and mighty so that the number of Beleevers were increased and not diminished by this mischievous device against â—im The Primitive Churches persecution that was raised in Jerusalem it did help to the increase of the Gospel and number of Believers The Apostles and Brethren were scattered in the eighth of the Acts so they carryed the word up and down and by their means many were brought in to God Samaria a great City many in it were converted They with one accord gave heed to what Philip spake and there was great joy in that City I shewed you out of Ecclesiastical story that all the persecutions those bloody persecutions the Church meâ— with did not diminish but did increase the number of Believers The Lord delights to walk contrary to wicked men to cross the corrupt imaginations of the men of the world In those things wherein their deal proudly he will be above them he will let them know that his thoughts are above thy thoughts and his ways above thâ—ir wayâ— When they say concerning Sion Let her be defiled and let our eyes â—ook upoâ— her let us see her desolation They know noâ— the thoughts of the Lord nor understand his Counsel for the event shall be quite contrary their expectations The Lord Jesus is a great King and therefore it shall be so All power is given into his hand in Heaven and in Earth and he will order all for the advancement of his own Kingdom all is his and he hath given all to the Saints All is yours all shall do them good all shall further and increase their graces and the increase of his Kindom There is none can hinder the Lord from pouring out of his spirit there is none can hinder the Spirit from working and therfore all opposition cannot hinder the increase of Believers The wind blows where it lists and so the Spirit of the Lord breaths where it it pleaseth Man may as well stop the Sun in the Firmament or hinder the Sun from shining and the winde from blowing as the Spirit of the Lord from working grace he darts in beams of light beams of conviction to the hearts of Creatures and his work is an irresistable work all the powers of Hell and darkness shall not be able to hinder his work Therefore I conclude this Point with an Item to the men of the world To take heed how they seek to oppose the truth of Christ and the people of Christ this is not the way to diminish their number no the Lord he will out reach them in all their designâ— of persecution the hottest peâ—secution shall but increase the â—umber of the Saints they shall but sow the blood of Christ and their ashes the thicker and if one fall to the ground a hundred shall rise up in their stead But I entred into a second Point in which I shall proceed After we considered who this fourth man was Nebâ—chadnezzâ—r saw four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and tâ—ey have no hurt and the form of the foâ—rth is like thâ— Son of God it was indeed the Son of God It was the Angel of the Covenant the Lord Jesus who did assume a body at this time and came down to refresh his Servants in the fire It holds forth this That he would in time come to deliver poor servants from the flame of his Fathers wrath That he would be present with his people in all afflictions in the midst of all their fiery tryals The Proposition then entred into is this That the people of God never enjoy more of the presence of Christ then in their lowest conditions When they are in great afflictions and fiery tryals the Son of God is with them Here you see it in this fiery tryal Israel never saw more of God then when they were in the barren Wilderness Jacob never had such glorious visions as when he was driven from his house and home when he was separated from all creature comforts had not so much as a Bed to ly on nor a Pillow to lay his head upon but layd him down upon a heap of stones then had he those glorious Visions of the Ladder set up to Heaven and of the Angels ascending and descending Stephen never saw such glorious Visions of Jesus Christ but when he was vnder a showre of stones that took away his life He looked up then and he saw the Heavens opened and the Son of God at the right hand of the Father ready to recieve him The Apostle John never had so glorious Visions as when he was bâ—nished to the Isle of Paâ—mos then did Christ reveal those glorious Mysteries written in the Book of Revelations concerning the Churches to the end of the world The Primitive Churches enjoyed most of Christ in the times of persecution they enjoyed most of the presence of Christ and most of the mind of Christ most purity and most holiness they had most of the supporting presence of Christ then his left hand is put under to support a poor Creature when it is in a low condition in a sinking condition in an afflicted condition He supports the inward man and he supports the outward man he makes a little strength to go a great way as the Oyl in the widows cruse till such time as he sends deliverance unto his people They have never more of the enlightening presence of the teaching presence of Christ then in such conditions Affliction is Christs School in which he teaches his people many precious Lessons they have never more of the quickening presence of Christ then in such conditions never more of the Sanctifying presence of Christ he is pleased to make use of affliction to knock off that unevenness many times that is upon their Spirits and make them partake â—â— of his own nature They have never more of the comforting presence than in such conditions he brings his people into the Wilderness there he allures them and there he speaks to them then he puts under his left hand to support them and then his right hand embraces them But What are the grounds of the Point Why doth Jesus Christ manifest most of himself to his people in their afflicted conditions The Grounds of the Point First of all he knows that then they have most need of his presence If ever they have need of comfort if ever they have need of strength of teaching quickening guiding 't is then when they are in afflicted and low conditions then is a mercy sweet when 't is in seaâ—on and then 't is seasonable when a poor creature stands in need of it The Lord Jesus knows that they have need of his presence in low conditions First because of the weakness of the flesh And Secondly Because of the strength of temptation 1. Because of the weakness of the flesh He knows his peopâ—es framâ—
work of Christs own hand he sends afflictions for that end to work something in the heart of his people and therefore he is ingaged to see what becomes of his labour and pains that he may not loose his cost and labour When a Physician gives a Purge to a Pâ—tient he is ingaged to see what becomes of his Physick how it works So the Lord Jesus Christ the great Physician he never gives any bitter Purge any bitter Pill of affliction to his servants but he looks upon himself as ingaged to look after it that he may look after his Physick and see how it works the very presence of Jesus Christ will help the Physick if it work too much or too little if the soul dispise the chastening of the Lord or faint under the chastening of the Lord the Lord Jesus can by his presence heâ—p When the Gold Smith puâ—s his Gold into the Furnace then he is ingaged to be present to look after his Gold and so is Jesus Christ when he duts his people into the Furnace of affliction he is ingaged to look after his precious Gold that so none may be lost and consumed in the fire You see the Grounds of the Point Quest If you ask me how doth Christ give out much of himself in affliction By what way or means doth Christ communicate much of himself in affliction Briefly for answer Answ First of all he doth raise up his peoples faith unto a high pitch many times I say he raiseth up their faith to a more then ordinary pitch he clears the eye of faith and strengthens the eye of faith Now the more the eye of faith is cleared and strengthened the more it sees of Jesus Christ Now the Lore he doth mightily strengthen faith many times in affliction faith is strengthened for faith is left alone many times and then it works best all props are taken away God takes away all sence many times and leaves faith to work alone now faith never works better then when 't is alone it meets with a great deal of opposition and faith is strengthened by opposition the nature of faith doth take his rise by opposition the more opposition it meets with the higher it rises The woman of Canaan what opposition did her faith meet with that wâ—ich was a discouragement to her yet from that discouragement her faith takes a rise and because Christ says she is a dog therefore she is confident that she shall have Crumbs of mercy before she goes away When faith is put to extremity then it becomes strong When faith is exercised in extremity I having wavered a long time at last it sees that it must either beleeve or perish beleeve or sink it fares in such a condition as with a man that is to pass over a River he being afraid that the Bridge should not bear him stays long before he dare venture at last he sees the River swell higher and higher he goes to make an offer and puls back his foot he dare not venture at last the water swels up to the neck of the Bridge and he sees there is no way but one with him either he must venture upon the Bridge or else perish in the water and then he considers that many have gone over that way and many have been saved that way and it hath born up many thousands have gone over before well he ventures and so doth many a poor soul waver many times draw back his foot dares not venture upon Christ can he bare me up and will he bear me up may I venture God he puts faith many times to it puts it to such a strait that the soul must venture or perish believe in Christ alone or perish faith here many times takes a rise that 's the first way whereby Christ doth coummunicate much of himself in affliction he many times lifts up faith and strengthens faith Now the more strong faith is the more it sees the more it apprehends of God Secondly He pours out the Spirit of Supplication many times upon his people when they are in low conditions he makes them to cry out to cry a main to him as he cryed to his Father in his distress he puts up his cries He puts up his requâ—sts with strong cries and tears and he was heard of his fathâ—r And so the Lord Jesus he doth pour out of his spirit upon his people that he may stir up their souls in such a way as Christ is taken with Lâ—t me see thy face and let me hear thy voice saith he for sweet is shy voice and thy countenance is comely 't is melody to Christ Christ draws nigh to hear the melody and the nigher Christ draws the more evidently the soul sees him Thirdly The Lord Jesus by affliction or in affliction he draws the hearts of his people nigher Then he doth bring them back many times from their wandrings from their straglings Before I was afflicted I went astray saith David The Lord Jesus by affliction he brings them nigher to himself he causes them to wait more upon him to eye him more to keep closer unto him and to take heed of stragling Now the nigher the soul is brought to Christ the more it sees of him though it be not for our waiting not for our beleeving our walking that Christ doth manifests himself Commonly when Jesus Christ manifests much of himself he will draw his peoples heart to look towards him and wait upon him Fourthly He manifests most of himself in affliction by his word which be sâ—nds along with affliction Commonly I say when Christ doth afflict his people he sends his word along with affliction some word of instruction or some word of promise or some word of Counsel there is some word or other that goes along with affliction that so Christ may teach them before they go out of that stiâ—g Now the word of grace the word of Promise it is the Chariot on which Christ rides he doth by them draw nigh by his word he draws nigh to the soul and therefore when the word comes with evidence Christ comes along with the word and then the soul sees most of Christ because Christ sends such a word to the soul in affliction which word he comes along with in which word he conveys himself to them Quest It may be some of God people will say Alas if this be true that Christ manifests most of himself in affliction what shall become of me I have had no such experience I cannot say that I have had most of God in affliction I have not enjoyed the presence of Christ in many afflictions Answ Why art thou one that hast closed with Christ and received the mercy of the Gospel Why then certainly it cannot be but that thou hast seen something or thou mightest have seen something of Christ in affliction do not say thou seest nothing of Christ in affliction do not say thou hast not enjoyed any of the presence of Christ
faith triumpheth in the consideration of it in Psal 23 vers 4. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear none ill Why For thou art with me see what a mighty confidence was raised up in Davids heart and what was the ground of it The presence of the Lord Though I walk in the vally of the shadow of death I will fear none ill why For thou art with me he doth put cases of the most uncomfortablest condition that may befall him valley of the shadow of death though I be brought down from the Mountain and walk in the valley and though this valley be a dark way though it be a shadow of death that is though it be never so dreadful and though it be so nigh that all the world cannot save you even then when I am in such a condition and walk in the valley of death I will fear none ill for thou art with me so long as I have thy presence my soul is upholden you read in the 4. of Revelations at the 6. verse that the world is like a sea of Glass I saw before the Throne a sea of glass there the world is shadowed out unto you and the condition of men that are in the world the world is like to a sea of glass and Oh that men would remember this if it be a Sea of Glass what need have you of a friend to stand by you you that are Travelers in the world you walk upon a Sea of Glass Oh what need have you of a friend to take you by the right hand to uphold you there is none but Jesus Christ none but his presence can uphold you in this Sea of Glass and if this world be a Sea of Glass Oh what need have we to take Jesus Christ into the Ship into the heart that so he may be our Pilot and he may guide you safe Oh do but think in what steed Jesus Christ will stand you when the storms arise and the waves shall beat when it may be the body of the Ship shall be split in pieces Oh what will it be then for a Saviour to uphold the Spirit to bear up the spirit and take the soul upon his own shoulder to bear it above wrath and amazement Now do you apprehend this to be desireable Oh that the Lord would make your hearts to close with Christ to accept of Christ and the tenders of mercy now held forth in these days of grace I tell you the time is coming when you shall see weaknesse written upon the tops of the Mountains they will say look to your selves for we cannot help you now will not the presence of Jesus Christ be desireable to you in such a condition Oh then I say accept of him he freely tenders himself to you now in this day of grace and Oh that the day of grace might not be slighted his presence is desireable in such a strait and is he not now desireable that so you may have him in such a time of need But Thirdly This let 's us see that there is not such great evil in affliction as men apprehend men fear affliction and flee from affliction as from Toads and Serpents and connot endure to think of affliction cannot endure to think of the day of darknesse I say there is not so great an evil in affliction as men apprehend for the Lord Jesus is present with his people in affliction and there is no reason why you that are the people of God should inordinately fear affliction and why you should inordinately seek to be delivered from affliction seeing you may possibly enjoy more of the presence of Jesus Christ in affliction then ever you did in other conditions would â— loving wife be afraid to go into a dark place when she shall meet with her Beloved Why should you be afraid to go into a dark place when you shall meet with the presence of Christ Remember that Expression of tâ—e Martyr when he was ready to suffer death he breaks forth into this expression Come fire and come wild beasts Come rack of the body Come breaking of the bones Come all the torments in Hell that all the Divels in Hell can afflict with I care not so I can meet with the presence of Jâ—sus Christ Remember how many of the Martyrs have ventured into the flames to meet with Christ they have willingly sacrificed their lives that they might meet with Christ shall Peter venture into the water and shall the Martyrs venture into the fire and shall you be afraid to enter into an afflicted condition where you may meet with the presence of Jesus Christ There are two things that make the people of 2 Things that make the people of God to fear affliction God to fear affliction inordinately 1. First of all Either they do not beleeve that they shall meet with the presence of Christ in an afflicted condition Or 2. Secondly They do not beleeve that the presence of Christ will countervail the bitterness of affliction Now I shall endeavour to clear both these and to perswade you that are the people of God First of all that you shall certainly meet with Christ in affliction And then that his presence will countervail the bitterness of affliction First I say You shall certainly meet with Christ in your affliction for first of all he hath spoke it he hath promised it he hath set a part the time and place of his own appointment he hath given out the word the word is out of his mouth and 't is under his own hand written 't is under his hand and seal that he will meet with his people in afflicted conditions he hath said in the 5. of Job vers 19. that he will deliver thee in six troubles and in seven and every Promise is under the Hand and Seal of Christ and so in the 43. of Isaiah God promiseth there to be with his people in all their afflicted conditions in their greatest afflictions In the 43. of Isaiah and the second verse When thou passest through the water I will be with thee and through the Râ—vers they shall not overflow thee when thou passest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee the fire that is in the greatest straits in thy greatest affliction when the waters are ready to overwhelm thee I will be with thee and lift up thy head I will be with thee in fiery tryals when flames are ready to consume thee I will be with thee I say you may be confident of it because the Lord Christ hath given it under his hand and seal that he will give your souls a meeting in such a condition is there any thing that can hinder Christ from performing this his promise he cannot forget his word he cannot mistake the time and place he cannot be hindred by any outward impediment I say 1. First of all He cannot forget his Promise
go forth to seek and save them That is the first thing that doth concern them to know seek after this knowledg and that speedily with all your might Secondly to know the Lord Jesus it concerns the sinner to search after the knowledg of Christ to know that he is the only Mediator between God and man to know that all pardon all peace and all grace and all strength and all holinesse it must come in through the blood of Jesus Christ that this Lord Jesus is freely held forth to lost sinners he is tendred by free promise or Covenant of grace and that men are invited every where to return to the Lord to deny themselves their own works their own righteousness their own worthinesse and to submit to the righteousnesse of the Son of God that everlasting righteousness that Jesus Christ hath brought in by his blood To seek after this knowledg of Jesus Christ is the second great work that sinners have to do Thirdly To beleeve in Jesus Christ this is an other work To believe in the name of Jesus Christ Oh this is the great work when poor sinners came to Christ and askt him what work they should do How they should work the works of God he tells them that this is the work of God To beleeve in the Name of Jesus Christ Joh. 6. 29. this is the work of God this is the great work the first work all other works are not accepted till this be done This is the first born of graces this is the beginning of the souls strength and till this be done all other works are lost because without faith it is not possible to please God All the time of their continuance in unbelief in the wildernesse it was a time of temptation and provocation this is the great work the work of God which meets with most opposition all within a man and all the powers of darknesse do make against it and therefore it concerns poor sinners to seek after this great work of God with all their might they can never begin too soon never begin too speedily it is a mighty work if you had hundreds of years to live you would finde time little enough to beleeve in to exercise faith in I shall go no further with sinners for till this work is done nothing is accepted And therefore Oh that God would perswade the hearts of poor sinners to know that this is their work To know themselves and to know Christ and to beleeve in his Name Oh that the Lord would stir them up to seek after it with their might But what is the work of Beleevers What must What Beleevers must do with their might they do with their might First of all To seek after further knowledge of their God and Communion with him acquaintance with him fellowship with him to know more of him in his Attributes in his Son in his Word the mysteries of his Kingdome to know the truth of the Times the will of God concerning you Oh this is a great work it concerns you to seek after this with all your might to wait upon God in all means for it To wait at wisdoms Posts to climbe upon every Sycamore Tree where Jesus Christ is wont to pass by to set your souls under every Golden-Pipe where there is saving knowledge of Christ to be Communicated to you or further acquaintance with God Breath more after him thus did David in Psal 63. O God thou art my God early will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty Land where no water is He doth not only thirst but he longs Now longing is a mighty strong desire How dangerous is it to the Creature if longing be not satisfied With this desire of longing was Davids soul carried after further acquaintance with God further enjoyment of him That 's the first Secondly The second work that you have to do with your might you that have interest in Christ is to get your hearts fully rooted and fully established upon the promises that you may not be left at uncertainties in the great matters of your everlasting welfares to get your hearts built I say establiâ—hed upon the Promises rooted in Christ to get your Acquittance cleered up to you cleerly written and wait till the Lord shall teach you to read it that you may be able to say as the Apostle in Rom. 8. 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect it is God that justifieth it is Christ that dyed and is risen again and sits at the right hand of God and makes intercession for us I say you had need be perfect in your evidence for Heaven there may come a time of darkness black clouds may come over all your comforts and present enjoyments a black night of temptation may be upon you the Divel may cast a mist before your eyes and therefore you had need be perfect to read your evidence for Heaven that you may be able to read and to know your interest in Christ in such a condition as that is Oh do this make hast to do this do it with your might Third To serve God in your generation is another work you have to do with your might to serve God in your generation is that you have to do and Oh that you would do it with all your might to honour and lift up God upon earth to make him glorious to lift him up by your praises to lift him up by your conversations by your obedience by your shining in the midst of a crooked and sinful generation The Lord he hath put his Name upon you Christians for this end he put his Spirit into you to inable you to this He expects more from you then from others the eyes of the world are upon you and God shall either reap honour or dishonour by you therefore it concerns you I say to do the work of your generation with all your might to seek wherein you may be serviceable to the Lord how you may advance his Name That is the third work to lift up God by the service of your Generation Fourthly It concerns you to get your hearts made sensible of the perishing condition of the Creature of the fading condition of all things under the Sun that you are fading Creatures your life fades and comforts fade The Lord would have you seek with all your might to have such impressions as these made upon your spirits 't is a hard matter to receive them and therefore God bids the Prophet cry in Isa 40. The voice says cry What shall I cry all flesh is grass and the glory of it as the flower in the field the grass withereth and the flower fadeth The Prophet must cry and cry again before men will hear this before this impression will be made upon the spirits of men That they are fading men and their comforts are fading That they are as grass and their comforts