faith will make them present as things new to come Fiftly Mercies become helpful for the future When the soul is careful to keep up his Communion with God when a man is careful to walk with God continually to fix his eye upon God and to follow God fully in every thing to follow God wheresoever he leads him so long as God and the mercy is kept together there will be abundance of lustre and beauty in every mercy but when the soul is careless in maintaining his Communion with God it looseth then the sense of all his goodness that formerly he tasted in every mercy and they become useless even grace it self cannot comfort a man if God be not nigh if God by his spirit do not shine upon it and therefore mercies much less though they be never so great and precious mercies that a man hath received yet they can afford no present comfort nor be a support to him nor incouragement to wait upon God for the future but if so be God and the mercy be kept together then mercies become useful and an help to the soul to trust in God for the future Sixtly Mercies are helps for the future when as the soul is inabled by the Spirit of prayer to urge God with former mercies and to lay them before the Lord as ingagements to help for the future there is such an improvement to be made of former mercies When God doth pour a Spirit of prayer upon his people and then and then only do mercies that are past become a help to the soul or the future you shall see so the Saints have urged this with God they have pleaded with God and put him in mind of his former kindness so you may see in the 51. of Isaiah about v. 9. Awake awake put on strength Oh Aâ—m of the Lord awake as in the ancient days c. And so in the 22. Psal The Psalmist there doth use the right Argument witâ— God he turns former mercies into Arguments to iâ—gage God for the future in the 9 10. verses But thou art he that took me out of the womb thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mothers breasts I was cast upon thee from the womb thou art my God from my mothers belly Thou art he that took care of me when I could not take care of my self and when the care of creatures could do me no good without the care of the Lord and seeing thou hast done this for me I am still incouraged to wait upon thee to trust in thee for future mercies Thus you see when mercies and deliverances may be incouragements for the future and how the soul may make experiences of them Quest But you will say further how should we look upon our mercies so as to make the best improvement of them to strengthen our faith in the Lord for the future I Answer briefly First Look upon them all as the first fruits which God hath promised to you this will mightily help to strengthen the faith of the soul for the How to make the best improvement of mercies to strengthen our faith in the Lord for the future future look upon all as beginnings of that which God doth intend to do for his people as a spark of that flame of love that is in the bosome of God towards his people as drops of the Ocean of love drops of those Rivers that run at Gods right Hand which he hath reserved for his people I say look upon all mercies that you have received as fruits of that which God hath reserved in glory for his people and this will mightily help to strengthen faith for the future Secondly Look upon them all as staies that God hath given staffs to hold in your hands for the present all mercies all deliverances all sights of â—od all manifestations of his love all experiences of his goodness I say look upon them as staies and crutches that God hath given into your hand for the present to lean upon while you are in this your Pilgrimage do not build upon them you cannot build upon the best of your experiences do not lay them as the foundation but only look upon them as helps in your way and so use them as helps for the present that God gives you that you may Two things premised and a Caution how to rest upon former experiences more cheerfully go on to his self and to his son to the rest in him where there is everlasting peace And therefore here will I premise two things and give you a Caution how to rest upon former experiences and so I shall end the Point 1. Know this that it is possible that the soul may loose the sight of all his experiences they may be all out of sight 't is possible that a man may call them all in question the soul may be brought into such a sad condition into such a dark condition that it may call in question all that ever it hath seen of God and those very things that he did take as some special Tokens of love all manifestations given forth of himself all communications of his presence of his grace I say all these they may be darkened out of sight Or Secondly Though they may be in sight yet God doth many times bring his people into such conditions as their former experiences cannot reach them God may come still with further and further tryals and such tryals I say that all a mans former experiences cannot reach them his tryal and temptations may be above them all And therefore here take these two Cautions when as you are thus to follow experiences and to make use of experiences First of all Take heed that you do not make your own experience the first ground of your trust Make not I say any experience that you have had the first ground of your trust or confidence I said before experiences are good helps good Crutches but they will make no foundation for the soul to build upon They are not the first foundation that is to be laid No you must learn to trust God when you see him not you must trust God before your tryals for that is the most blessed thing See what our Saviour Christ says concerning Thomas in that 20. of Joh. 29. Jesus said to him Thomas because thou hast seen thou hast believed but blessed are they that have not seen and yet have beleeved The heart is so backward to faith that it is well if it be by any means at last brought off to beleeve and therefore the Lord hath condescended to reveal himself to his people by experiences but yet our Saviour he saith it is more blessed to beleeve and not to see Blessed are they that belâ—eve and have not seen This kind of faith is that which brings most glory to God to beleeve a man before he try him 't is a great trusting of him and so 't is an honour put upon him now to beleeve in
God before the soul hath tryed him before he hath had experience this is an honour a great honour that is done to God and this is the faith that wil hold out this wil last this kinde of faith it will uphold the soul in the greatest straits in the lowest condition when sense fails and when experiences are gone out of sight why then this kinde of Faith wil hold up the soul when the soul can trust the Lord though he had not tryed him trust him though God had not given experience trust him first of all because of his word because of the word of his grace that is given forth to the soul as a foundation to build upon this is an honour Indeed to God Secondly Be careful throughout all your Caution 2. whole course of life that you rely more upon the word of the Lord then upon your experiences throughout the whole course of your life you will find this more beneficial to rely upon the word of the Lord and here I beseech you to remember that this life it is the life of Faith it is the life of Faith and not the life of sense in Heâ—ven the Saints shall live by sence they shall have no need of Faith the life of Faith is not proper for them but the life of Faith is proper to Gods people on earth to beleeve and not see Faith is the evidence of things nâ—t seen it is taken up with things not seen I say this life it should be a life of Faith unto the Saints 't is not a life of sence And consider moreover if God do give any spiritual sence or if he do give any experiences of his love it is given for this end that so he might help the Faith of his people that he might help their Faith and strengthen their Faith that so he might encourage them for the future to trust in him to trust in him when they see him not when all is dark and sad when God seems to be out of sight I say God gives incouragements for this end that so he might incourage them to beleeve and therefore it is that oftentimes he trains up his people in this way he will strike the Crutches out of their hands he will put them to it they shall walk alone by Faith that all the sence of Gods dealings with them shall be out of sight they shall have nothing to rely upon God will put them to it to rely upon him alone upon a naked word of promise upon the word of grace to rely upon him though they have nothing in the world to rely upon 2. Consider though it be great mercy that the Lord is pleased to condescend so far to the Creature to give spiritual sence and many times experiences by which he will seal up his word and his grace to them yet it is a greater mercy that God hath given a word of promise to rely upon that is the greatest mercy in the world asurer foundation of hope and that which will stand a poor creature in stead when 't is in the dark when all the sence will be in the dark and experiences out of sight but then the word oâ— the Lord wil endure for ever and so then to have a word of grace to rely upon a word of promise this is the greatest mercy that God can shew to poor Creatures My Brethren if it were not for this it were not possible that the soul should be at any certainty though God had given never so many experiences of his love though the soul had seen and though it had felt and tasted of love and though it had layen in the bosome of Jesus Christ and been refresht with his â—ove yet if the Lord had not given a word of grace to rely upon aword of promise to rely upon It would be impossible but that â—t some time or other they would call all in question for 't is not possible that otherwise the soul should be supported in dark conditions for why when the soul begins to look towards God why it is fill'd with the sense of his own vileness with the sence of his own unworthiness Oh that â—s one of the greatest discoveries that the Lord makes shew the soul how vile it is in it self and therefore I say the soul is ready to question all all that God hath done for it though it hath seen God walk in a way of love to him yet still Oh 't is too good for me too good for such a â—ile Creature as I am Again The desire of the soul is carryed mighâ—ily after God when God comes once to set his Face towards Heaven it is fill'd with vast desires to God that it can never have enough never be satisfied and though God do come and manifest himselfe by gracious Experiences yet still it desires more of God It is apt to question Have I any thing of God or no Have I seen God or no it is very solicitous when it is once set towards Heaven God makes it very solicitous concerning the great matters of Eternity 't is fill'd with the weighty thingsof Eternity and the weighty business of Eternity so though God hath come and hath spoke and the soul hath seen God and experiences of God yet because it apprehends such great weighty matters concerning the soul for eternity all experiences are called in question of Gods love and his favour to him A man is so careful in this case that he will scarce beleeve himself nay though he have seen Christ and though he have felt him and seen his goings still he will hardly beleeve himself whether he hath seen him or no you know Mary Magdalâ—u she was very solicitous she stood weeping she saw him and she would not beleeve her own sence and so 't is with a poor Child of God Oh 't is so solicitous that though it have seen Christ and experiences of his goodnesse and his favour and love yet it will scarcely beleeve his own sence and he is apt to call all in question whether he hath seen the Lord or no So that still I say after all experiences and the manifestations of love the soul would call all in question many and many a time if iâ— had not a word of Grace to trust to and therefore the Saints are more beholden to the Lord for his Word of Gruce to them then for all experiences And remember this That though God hath done uever so much for you and you have seen hiâ— goings in your hearts yet doe not you make your experience the first Ground oâ— your trust and do not trust to your experiences so but look to the Promises as thâ— Promises as the onely Foundation that will â—ear up your heart for ever through all dark conditions And so for Experiences look upon them as Crutches to lead you to the word of his Grace but they are not to be rested in THE Fourth Sermon On DAN III. XXV He answered and said Lo
in himself at that very time to look upon him in Christ and behold him as righteous as if he had no spot no defilement in him Brethren all these are Miâ—acles of mercy Again that God should pour out his spirit upon a poor lump of flesh that his spirit should work upon a poor creature and take a poor creature into union with himself and communion with himself that he should be working in the heart and cleanse a poor creature from pollution both of flesh and spirit all these are Miracles Miraracles of Wisdom Miracles of Power and Miracles of Mercy that doth shine in the bringing home of a soul to God And therefore to conclude all in the last place Let us bless God for his Word and look more Vse 3 to the word of God then to Miracles seeing what power God hath put into his word and how he â—s pleased to accompany his word with his spirit and do great things and now why should we look to Miracles and why should we stand upon miracles truly if you will not beleeve the Word of the Lord without Miracles neither would you beleeve though God should work Miracles why there is more power in the word to perswade the heart that it is indeed the word of God and so to overcome the soul to beleeve to rest on it then there is in all Miracles that can be shewed and therefore in this case if any look for a Miracle they may hear Christ say no Miracle shall be given to such a generation He that beleeves nâ—t the word he will not beleeve though one rose from the dead Nebuchadnezzar he saw three men that had a resurrection from the dead they were dead in all their accounts they â—hought that they had been all consumed they have an unexpected life they are all loose walkâ—ng in the midst of the fire and yet I say Nebuâ—hadnezzars heart was not firmly wrought upon by this Miracle but he returned again to hiâ— own folly And therefore Oh praise the Lord for his word bless the Lord for his word if it had not been for the word of his grace how should a poor creature have been brought in and what should poor creatures have relyed upon what foundation to build upon what can give boldness and confidence to a poor soul to draw nigh to God truly it could not be it is impossible that the heart should be overcome to submit to God without the word of his grace Oh bless the Lord for his Word we are more beholden to the Lord for his Word then for all Miracles that possibly can be shewed THE Fifth 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 THere is witness given to a Miraculous deliverance that God wrought for his three Servants who through their faith overcame the violence of the fire Nebuchadnezzar makes a large confession here I propounded this question the last time Whether Nebucadnezzar was truly brought home to God or no he did a great deal he spake a great deal there was a great work of conviction past upon his spirit he doth acknowledge his Error and sin he doth rejoyce in his own disappointment that God did not suffer him to have his will he doth reâ—oyce in the goodness of God that was shewed to his Servants he rejoyces in their constancy that they did not obey the Kings command worship his Gods he did rejoyce in their deliverances he doth acknowledge that it was God that delivered them he takes care of the worship of God to promote it he makes a penal Statute That whosoever did profane the name of God should be cut in pieces and yet notwithstanding for all this we concluded probably That Nebuchadnezzar was not converted for in the next Chapter he â—eturned to his old way of sin of superstition he dreams a dream and he sends for the Sorcerers to tell â—im his dream which belongs to God to reveal secrets as Daniel told him So then we observed that It is not in the poâ—er of the greatest Miracle to convert Observat a soul to God Nebuchadnezzar saw great Miracles Miracles of mercy and Miracles of judgment We told you Pâ—araoh saw Miracles and Israel saw Miracles in Aegypt and at the red Sea in the Wilderness Miracles of mercy and Miracles of judgment sometimes their plagues were wonderfull stung with fiery Serpents and Miracles of mercy God he fed them with Man a and water out of the Rock and notwithstanding for all this they were a stubborn Generation and dwelt in unbelief our Saviour tells us in that Parable in the 16. of Luke but they are the words of Abraham They have Moses and the Prophets and if they will not hear them and bâ—leeve neithâ—r would â—hey beleeve though one rose from the dead Though God should shew the greatest Miracle yet that would not convince them that would not bring off their hearts to believe in the Son of God 't is the hardest matter in the world to bring God and the heart together they are at such a great dâ—stance Infinite distance and the heart of the creature is filled with such slavery and lay under bondage that it dares not go to God when God calls to behold his face in his Son but run to the bush as Adam did but though Miracles will not do it it hath a word of grace a sure word of grace to draw nigh to God and therefore we should look upon that Miracle of iniquity that is in the heart of all the sons of Adam it is a strange thing that the heart of man should out-stand so many blows that so small a piece of flesh as the heart of man is should withstand those great batteries that God many times is pleased to make by judgments wonderful judgments when he declares his wrath from Heaven to sinners and consider what a Miracle of mercy it is that any soul should be converted and brought home to God seeing Conversion is so hard a thing and Miracles will not do it What a Miracle it is for a soul to be brought home to God! I shew how many Miracles were in this work Miracles of wisdom Miracles of power Miracles of mercy Oh we should bless the Lord that hath given us his word we should prefer the word before Miracles we should not look to Miracles but we should look to the word of the Lord God hath made that to bring home souls and therefore we are infinitely beholden to the Lord for the word of his grace that we have the word of his grace to trust in We proceed Consider who it is that bare witness to the Miracle 'T is Nebuchadnezzar that was an enemy to the Saints a persecutor a scorner a contemner of God Who is that God that shall deliver out of my hand and yet the Lord makes him
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
evils of their lives 53 3. For the prolonging of their lives amplified in three particulars 54 55 4. For spiritual Mercies 57 Quest When mercies received may be helps to trust God for the future shewed in six particulars 58 Quest How to improve mercies so as to strengthen faith for the future in two particulars 62 Two things premised and two Cautions how to rest on former experiences 63 The fourth Sermon Wherein is shewed who it was that bare witness to this Miracle viz. Nebuchadnezar And a Question propounded whether he was hereby truly converted Arguments for the Affirmative given by some p. 73. And determined in the Negative 74 Doct. 2. That it is not in the power of greatest Miracles to convert a soul to God unless the spirit of Christ step in 75 This is cleered by Scripture-examples ibid. By Scripture testimony 76 And by experiences in our own times 78 First Ground of the Point To put the greater glory on the word 80 2. From the desperate hardness of mans heart 81 Use 1. Take notice what a Miracle of iniquity there is in mans nature 82 Use 2. What a Miracle it is that any soul is converted 83 A three-fold Miracle is shewed in the conversion of every sinner Of Wisedom Of Power Of Mercy 84 Use 3. Bless God for his word and look to it more then to Miracles 87 The fift Sermon Doct. 3. God many times makes his peoples enemies to acknowledg and confess that the Lord is with them and that he hath dealt graciously with them 92 The Point cleared by five Demonstrations 1. Christ put up a petition to his father for it 94 2. Christ hath promised it to his people 95 3. God hath put a power into his Word to convince enemies though it convert them not 96 4. God makes enemies oft to be the eye and ear witnesses of his peoples mercies and Agents therein 97 5. God works for his people in such away that enemies are forced to acknowledg the same so freely unexpectedly suddenly solitarily 98 Two Reasons why God will make enemies to acknowledg this truth 101 Use 1. A ground of Patience and encouragement to the Saints in tribulation 103 Use 2. Let not wicked men look with delight on the miseries of the Saints 104 Use 3. Let the people of God acknowledg this as a very great mercy ib. Use 4. Let the people of God much more acknowledg the gracious dealing of God toward them 105 The sixt Sermon Doct. 4. That all the persecutions which the Devil or his Instruments raise against the Saints shall not diminish their number but rather increase them 111 The point evidenced by manifold examples out of the history of the Church in all ages 112 The first Reason God delights to walk contrary unto men 115 2. Reason The Lord Jesus is a mighty King and will improve his power for the Saints ibid. 3. Reason From the impotency of enemies to hinder Christs Kingdom 116 Use 1. To let us see the vanity of all attempts of men against the truth and people of Christ with an item to the Powers of the world concerning it ibid Use 2. To give a ground of patience and comfort to the Saints against opposition of men 119 Doct. 5. That the Lord Jesus Christ is never nigher to his people then when they are in great afflictions in fiery tryals 121 Some instances given to prove it ibid Quest What presence of Christ the Saints may expect in their tryals 121 1. His supporting presence 2. His enlightening and teaching presence 3. His sanctifying presence 4. His quickning presence 5. His comforting presence A warning to the Saints to improve this Doctrine they not knowing what tryals the Lord may ere long bring them into 126 The further handling of this Point is in the eighth Sermon The seventh Sermon Wherein is considered the restraint the Lord layd upon the fire it could not hurt them only loosed their bonds whence note Doct. 6. At the command of the Lord the fiercest of Creatures shall not only not hurt his people but shall take part with them and do them good 130 Two Branches of the Point 1. They shall not hurt them 2. They must do them good both illustrated from Scripture instances 131 132 1. Reason The Creatures are Gods Host they go along with him where he is a friend they are friends 134 2. Reas From the Covenant and League made with the Creatures which hath two Branches 1. To do no hurt 2. To take part and do good 137 3. Reas God hath a special providence over his people 139 4. Reas The Creatures are all reconciled in Jesus Christ 140 Use 1. Take notice of the mighty power of the Lord what a great King he is that hath all Creatures at his command ibid. Use 2. What a shame to man that he should not be at the command of God 141 Vse 3. A strong Motive to those that be strangers to God to come in and submit to him till then they are lyable to be harmed by the Creatures 142 Use 4. It is not in tho Creatures power to do good without God 143 Use 5. Comfort to the people of God and encouragement to their faith 145 The eighth Sermon Wherein the fifth Doctrine is further handled Concerning the presence of the Lord Jesus with his people in afflictions 150 1 Reason The Lord Jesus knows they have most need of his presence then 1. Because of the weakness of the flesh 152 2. Because of the strength of Temptations 154 2. Reason The Lord Jesus remembers his Fathers kindness to him in being near to him in his afflictions 155 3. Reas Christ remembers his engagement to his people 158 1. By promise 2. By a Law of Love written within him 3. By the Law of friendship 4. That he may see to his work he is doing upon his people by afflictions Quest By what way doth Christ communicate so much of himself to his people in affliction 161 c. Answ 1. He raises up his peoples faith to an high pitch 2. He pours upon them the Spirit of Supplication 3. He draws the hearts of his people nigher to him 4. He manifests much of himself by his word which he sends with affliction Objections Answered of such as complain they have found little of Christ in their Afflictions 164. The ninth Sermon Use 1. To shew the unparrallell'd love of Jesus Christ who will never forsake his in afflictions no friend on earth like him 173 Use 2. To draw in those that be strangers to Christ to submit to him and get interest in him that they may have a friend in an evil day 174 Use 3. There is not so much evil in affliction then as men apprehend 176 Two things may make the people of God not to fear afflictions 176 1. Because they shall certainly injoy the presence of Christ in affliction 177 2. The presence of Christ will countervail the bitterness of affliction 180 Use 4. Let
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
the Creatures in Heaven and Eearth Oh take not away the lives of my Servants and God hath set Angels over them to keep their lives and dost thou account so meanly of thy life wilt thou put away thy life for a trifle for every cross and discontentment that thou meetest with in this world what dishonour is this to God and what undervaluing of that which God counts so highly of But Secondly Take heed that you act nothing against your lives take heed thou dost not go about to shorten thine own life take heed thou dost not go about to cut off thine own life this is a grievous sin and high provocation there is nothing that the Devil seeks more then this and this many times is a very urging temptation a pressing temptation Oh take away thy life Now I beseech you remember how precious life is what a precious Jewel 't is in the sight of God and will you cast it away for nothing will you cast it away to gratifie the Devil at his request But Oh I live a miâ—erable life say some my life is a burden nothing but crosses nothing but troubles in the world it were a thousand times better for me to dye then to live I say Should'st thou rid thy self of thy affliction or shouldst thou not rather wait till God opon a door unto thee what wilt thou break chains wilt thou break Gods chains wilt thou break prison to be gon before God hath set thee at liberty Oh know God hath worse chains chains of darkness But suppose thou livest in the greatest affliction why wilt thou sin to rid thy self of affliction is not the least sin worse then the greatest evil to sin against God an infinite God and if the least sin be worse then the greatest evil shouldst thou sin to rid thy self of affliction Object Ay but I live to sin against God that makes my life a burden to me Oh I bear about me a body of death and I drag it about with me every day so long as I live it makes me weary of my life and I desire to dye rather then to live Well suppose it Suppose thou livest in sin and suppose by taking away thy life thou dost free thy self from sin yet should'st thou have an eye to the word of God hast thou any such rule that God hath prescribed to free thy self this way Oh why dost thou not look to Christ and fetch it from his righteousness from his blood and from his death should'st thou not go thither to be free from sin is there not pardoning mercy and healing grace and washing for all kind of spots to the utmost thou talkest of freeing thy self from sin and thou sinnest the greatest sin that thou canst sin if thou takest away thy life I tell thee thou had'st better live a thousand years and sin all thy time against God then sin this sin and go about to do any thing agâ—inst thy life why this is the greatest thou canst do to God thou givest God the lye God holds forth grace and mercy in the Gospel and thou givest him the lye he tells thee in his word that he is able to save to the utmost and thou givest him the lye and therefore I beseech you remember your lives are precious Jewels remember what account God hath of them and do not act any thing against them do nothing against your lives Thirdly If you would improve life then gain as much of God as possibly you can in the time of life this is the way to gain by life labour to gain the knowledge of God and of his Son labour to get insight into the Mysteries of the Gospel the great Mysteries of Christ manifested in the flesh Oh there is an Infinite depth 't is worth the seeking after Oh the pâ—ecious Mines of grace in the Gospel truly you cannot improve life better then this way seek the knowledge of God and of his Son seek communion with God and acquaintance with him get more grace from him more strength more spiritual good things this is a rich improvement of a mans life and will you not make the best improvement of such a Jewel as life is you will make the best improvements of your estates put off any commodity for the best advantage and will you not put off your lives for the best advantage I tell you 't is a Stock a precious Stock that God hath given you to use Oh why should you let the Stock lye dead by you and do nothing that may advantage your souls another day Consider again this kind of improvement of life makes a mans life more glorious if a man be not thus exercised and thus lay out life to seek after God and to get more acquaintance with him get more communion with him more fellowship of the Spirit more knowledge of Christ more grace more assurance of his love why it will make him scarce a man without this Oh this makes a mans life a noble life an Evangelical life when as he is exercised in such glorious things as these but when a man doth spend his life and doth nothing this way and does not give more of God and Christ he lives like a beast more then like a man a poor low carnal senceless drossie life though he be never so high and excellent in the world though he be in the greatest outward honour that man lives a low life and he will not continue in his honour but in the conclusion becomes as â—he beasts that perish Fourthly If you would prize your lives labour to act as much as you can for God in the time of life this is a prizing of life an improving of life know that life is given you for action and when a man is dead he doth not act for God Oh therefore remember that there is something that God hath given every one of you to do in this tearm of life thereis some service some work in your generation that God expects at your hand even in this life and I beseech you take the wisemans council that he gives you in the 9. of Ecclâ—s v. 10. Whatsoever tâ—y hand findeth to do do it with all thy mighâ— foâ— there is no working no device nor knowledge nor wisâ—dom in the grave wâ—ither thou art a going Improve your lives saith he and what ever you do do it with all your might consider what is the work you have to do for God in your generation what work you have to do for God and what your hand findeth to do do it with all your might do not neglect but do what your hand finds to do do with all your might life is very short the work is long and life is very short you need work while you have time you need work while the day last the night cometh upon every one of you when there is no time for to work there is no device no knowledge nor wisedom in the grave whither thou art going Oh
there was not a thorow work of grace at this time wrought upon his heart Many works he did but yet they seem to be effects of a temporary faith Nebuchadnezzer notwithstanding all this he fell back again to his old way of supposition for in the fourth Chapter you shall read there of his Superstitious ways He dreams a Dream and he fends for the Sorcerers to tell his dream and he would have cut them off because they could not tell him his dream and reveal it to him which belongs to God to reveal secrets So that though great conviction I say post upon him which did rise from the present sight of the Miracle that was wrought yet Nebuchadnezzer at that time he was noâ— truly brought home to God So then we may observe this Proposition of Doctrine The second Proposition of Doctrine That it is not in the power of the greatest Miracles to convert a soul to God unless the Spirit of Jesus Christ step in I say it is not in the power of the greatest Miracle to convert a Soul to God Neither Miracles of Judgment nor Miracles of Mercy will do it Pharaoh King of the Aegyptians Instances to clear it he saw as many Miracles of judgment as one would have thought would have broken the most stoniest heart and made the most obstinat wretch to submit to God and yet notwithstanding Pharâ—ohs heart was not softened but hardned And all those Miraculous works of Judgment they made him harder The people of Israel they saw Miracles both of judgment and mercy and yet for the most part they were secure hard hearted unbelieving people they were a burden to God and a provocation to his Spirit All the time they were in the Wilderness what Miracles of judgmement did they see God smote some of them with fire from Heaven and consumed them God smote Miriam with Leprosie in the 12. of Numbers for her murmuring And the Lord consumed Corah Dathan and Abiram in Numbers 16. they were consumed and yet the people rebelled against God he sent fiery Serpents amongst them in the 21. of Numbers another Miracle of judgment and yet notwithstanding for all that they rebelled against the Lord They saw Miracles of Mercy also What wondrous works did God do for them in the Land of Aegypt What wonders at the red Sea in dividing the waters and made a path of life and death to go through life to the Israelites and death to the Aegyptians they saw his wonders in the Wilderness God led them in the day time by a pillar of light and in the night time by a pillar of fire He rained Manna from Heaven they eat Angels food he gave them water out of the Rock Moses smote the Rock and the water came out He rained feathered foul into their Camp that they all eat and wâ—re full And many other Miracles of Mercy they saw many Mercies which are expressed in the 78. Psalm but notwithstanding for all this you may see what this people was at the 8. verse of the 78. Psalm A stuborn and rebellious generation a generation that sets not their hearts aright and whose spirit was not stedfast with God This is the description that is given of their fore-Fathers They were a stubborn generaâ—ion rebellious a generation that set not their hearts aright and whose spirit was not stedfast with God Secondly As we have instances to prove it so we have the word of Christ to prove it to make it evident that it is not in the greatest Miracles of the world to convert a soul to God See what our Saviour saith in that 16. of Luke and the 31. 'T is the word of Abraham in the Parable he said unto them if you hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will you be perswaded though one rose from the dead The rich man in Hell he desires that one may be sent from the dead to give them warning why Abraham tells them they have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them and if they hear not Moses the Prophets nâ—ither wil they be perswaded though one rose from the dead The greatest Miracle in the world what ever it wil noâ— turn the heart to God it wil not make them to believe in his name though one should come from the dead thou God should send an Angel a Saint from Heaven that should be as a flying Angel to fly up and down in the world to speak the voice and tongue of an Angel though he should declare this to all the world that the glory of Heaven is unspeakable incomprehensible eternal the joy is everlasting they shall never be able to declare it though he should declare one hours injoyment of the presence of God and the Lamb it is more worth then ten thousand injoyments of all the pleasures of the world though he should declare it that there is but one way to Heaven there is but one door o enter in at and that 's only by Jesus Christ and his Righteousness and should tel you of ten thousands that shal not come there that sought to enter in their own way and by their own works and their own righteousness and they are all shut out though he should further declare that God hath now set Heaven doors wide open and that he is willing that poor sinners the worst of sinners should come to him by his Son and they shall be accepted and all their former iniquities shall be no block no rub in the way he will embrace them as freely as if they had never sinned against him I say if such a thing should be it would be a Miracle of Mercy but yet for all this it would not perswade the heart of one sinner to submit to God This could not overcome the heart of man to Jesus Christ And again on the other side if one should come from the dead God should send one from the pit of destruction to declare to bear witness of the unspeakable Torments that are there and should declare that way is broad and many walk in the way to destruction and that unbelief it is the readiest way Though he should declare that every man and woman living that seek not after Jesus Christ and hath not an interest in him are like sooner or later to come into the same Lake of condemnation It would be a tirrable Miracle of judgment but yet all this would not work upon the heart of one sinner no our Saviour says to such men and women that sit under the Gospel and hear what I speak from day to day and thereby are not wonted to submit to God Why neither would they beleeve though one should come from the dead Thirdly The Point may be further cleered by our own Experiences I say by experiences of our own days are there not many poor Creatures that have seen Miracles of Mercy that have seen God many times in wonderful way of deliverance towards them at such a time they were in
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
and remembers that they are but dust and therefore he pities them He knows how unable they are to bear and how little time they are able to hold out and therefore somtimes the Lord Jesus hath spoken comfortable words to his people when they have expressed a great deal of weakness in them See in Mat. 26. when the Disciples could not watch with him at the 41 verse they could not watch with him one houre though he was in great extremity and they might have expected a sharp reproof from him the Lord Jesus he looks upon them and he pities them he rather excuses them and comforts them Oh The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak He knows what the weakness of flesh is for he was partaker of our flesh and blood he remembers it since he was in the days of his flesh how weak the flesh is he is partaker of our flesh and blâ—od saith the Apostle he knows what it is for a poor creature to grapple with fears with inward fears ever since he poured out his strong cries unto his Father with tears none in the world are so sensible of afflâ—ction as they that have gone under the same affliction themselves the Lord Jesus he is sensible of all the weakness of all the sorrow of his people he knows by experience what they mean he knows what it is to be weak and he knows what it is to be in fear he knows what it is to grapple with the wrath of his Father he knows what it is to want his Fathers Countenance he knows what it is to be acquainted with sorrow with grief there was none so acquainted with them as he See what the Prophet Isaiah says of him in Isaiah 53. vers 3. He was despised and rejected of men a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief and we hid as it were our face from him A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief grief and sorrow were his greatest acquaintance when he was upon earth they were his acquaintance from the beginning of his life and they were his companions from first to last from the wombe to the Cross they were the acquaintance that Christ could never shake off his old acquaintance when all his friends lest him when his Disciples leâ—t him in affliction did they leave him but his grief did not leave him he was always acquainted with it and he was acquainted with all sorrows with all grief grief of all sorts he knows what spiritual sorrows are and therfore he wil pity people his under them a natural man cannot pity a poor creature that groans under spiritual sorrow he knows not what they mean what it is for a poor creature to groan under corruption and cry out of the want of a believing heart and of the want of Gods presence but now the Lord Jesus is acquainted with these sorrows also he had experience of them in his own person The woman that hath been in Travel pities another that is in the same case the Lord Jesus he newly come out of Travel he remembers his pangs still and therefore he pities door creatures when they groan under grief and sorrows for he was acquainted with them himself 2. Again secondly He knows they have most need of his presence in afflicted conditions because they are most nigh to temptations and he knows what temptations are he knows the strength of Tempâ—â—tions he knows that it is the Divils policy to drive home temptation to the spirit of a poor creature at that time when it groans under affliction and therefore he knows that then a poor creature if ever stands in need of the presence of the Lord Jesus when Satâ—â— stands at the left hand to resist Christ had need to stand at the right hand to comfort and support and strengthen and therefore the Apostle saith that he was tempted in the days of his flesh in that 2 of Hebrews vers 18. Being tempted he â—â— able to succour those that are tempted he knows by experience what it is for a poor creature to bâ— tempted he knows that temptations are most grievous to a gracious heart Temptations are worse then afflictions and therefore though a poor creature stands in need of succour in affliction yet much more in temptation When temptation goes along with affliction Oh then the Lord Jesus knows that there is need of his prâ—sence When a City is besieged and the Inhabitants within it be disquieted and the enemie hath raised their Batteries and makes breat â—s upon the Walls and their Provision grows low Then if ever they have need of relief Truly so it is with a pour tempted soul when it is afflicted Batteries are made against the Spirit provision strength is little knows not how to hold out then the Lord Jesus he is their friend and therefore in such conditions he usually makes hast to afford his presence That the first Groâ—nd of the Point The Lord Jesus knows if ever then they have need of his presence when they are in low conditions for then the flesh is weak and then temptations are strong Again secondly The Lord Jesus manifests most of himself to his people in low conditions because he remembers the kindness of his Father when he was in the same condition I say he remembers the kindness of his Father unto him when he was in low conditions now he will requite this kindness upon them that kindness that God the Father did shew to Jesus Christ when he was in affliction and in low conditions I say be will requite it upon his people it makes deep impressions upon the heart of Christ the love that his Father shewed him when he was here in the days of his flesh when he was in weakness and was in perplexity and was in distress he can not forget it You know what impression Jonanathans kindnesse made upon David because Jonathan shewed him kindnesse when he was in distress his kindness made impression upon his heart thaâ— he could not forget it he inquired for some of his children that he might requite the love of their Father which he shewed to him when he was in low conditions Jonathan shewed him kindness when Saul persecuted David Jonathan stept between David and him and was as a faithful friend to David and therefore saith David I will requite his kindnesse if I can finde but one poor Mephibosheth that calls himself a dead Dog yet David shews a great deal of kindnesse to him to requite the kindnesse of Jonathan And so doth Jesus Christ he goes up and down to inquire in the world where is the Seed of God the Sons and Daughters of the most High that I might shew them kindness for my Fathers sake Oh he shew'd me kindnesse when I was in distress and therefore I will do the like to them when they ere in affliction and low conditions Oh saith the Lord Jesus I remember since your Father and my Father took care of me when I was helpless he
condition and then no wonder though Christ be with thee and thou seest him not Faith is the eye of the soul and if that be shut Christ may stand at the right hand and the soul not discern him and therefore I say stir up thy faith go to the Lord to strengthen thy faith and stir up thy faith Faith shews Christ represents Christ to the soul Faith takes hold of Christ and brings the sweetness and the comfort of his presence to your souls Or it may may be 't is through unthankfulnesse that thou dost not see the presence of Christ thank thine unthankful heart I tell thee thou hâ—st a great deal of thanks to give and thou sayst Châ—ist iâ— not with thee who is it that supported thee who is it that put under his hand was there more strâ—ngth in thee then in others Surely there was an everlasting Arm put under to support thee in thine affliction and is not here matter of thankfulnesse And this you may be sure all yee people of God the heart of God is always towards you though his face is not towards you his hand may seem to be against you yet his heart is always towards you and therefore still I say the people of God ought to expect that they shall see and enjoy the presence of Christ and shall meet with him in every affliction Fiftly and Lastly What cause of thankfulnesâ— is here What cause hath the people of God to be thankful to Christ that hath made this comfortable provision for them as this that he is pleased to walk in such a gracious way and to afford them most of his presence at that time that they stand most in need of it Here is matter of thankfulnâ—â—â— that the Lord should not leave you alone but aâ—â—ord you his presence Here is matter of double thankfulness that the Lord Jesus should not leave you alone in your afflicted conditionâ— Oh 't is â—n uncomfortable condition to be left alone Wo to him â—hat is alone saith the wise man if a man fall and be alone who shall help him up and how miserable had it been if we had been left alone in such conditions in afflicted conditions when we were fallen low but the Lord hath not left his people alone Nay here is further matter of Thankfulness that he should afford his own presence to his people If the Lord had sent a Messenger to comfort a poor afflicted Creature we should have thought it a great mercy but that he should afford his own presence in affliction that he should come himself to support and strengthen what a double mercy is this This is more then if he had sent twelve Legions of Angels to comfort in afflicted conditions Oh what is the presence of Christ 't is the greatest good in the world 't is life eternal 't is the beginning of Heaven and shall be the fulness of Heaven hereafter the fulness of joy is the presence of Christ it shall be the greatest misery to loose the presence of Christ and therefore that is a most dreadful threatning when God doth threaten to depart from a people see how God doth threaten Jerusalem in Jeremiah 6. 8. Be thou instructed Oh Jerusalem least my soul depart from thee least I make thee a desolate land not inhâ—bited Least my soul depart fâ—om thee Now when God departs what follows nothing but desolation So in the Prophet Hosea see there what a dreadful threatning 't is for God to depart in Hosea 9. 12. Though they bring up their children yet well I bereave them that there shall not be a man left yea wâ— also to them when I depart from them There is all threatnings summâ—d up in this and more cannot be said wâ— unto them when I depart from them You see it will be the greatest evil in the world to be shut out from the presence of God it shall be the Torment in Hell so depart from Christ Why then 't is the greatest mercy to enjoy the presence of Christ if God go away all blessings go away with him Wo to them if I depart now on the contrary when the Lord Jesus comes unto a soul all blessings come along with him when Christ comes to a poor afflicted creature Oh what sweetness comes along with Christ there is comfort and there is refreshment there is grace and there is holiness and there is support there is life and light all come along with the presence of Christ Object Ay but if I could finde the effects of these may some soul say I shall labour to thirst after Christ if I could finde these effects of Christs presence why then I may be comforted but alass I finde not the effect of his presence and how then should I think it to be his presence that is with me Answ I say Believe Believe that Christ is present with thee I speak to every soul that hath made a close with Jesus Christ in the tenders of grace I say 't is thy duty to believe that he is with thee in thy afflicted condition Believe it though thou seest not the effects of his presence and that is the way to see believe that he is present according to his word and through the grace of God thou shalt see the effect of his presence only Christ would have us to believe his word Christ would have thee believe that he keeps time and place with them and that he is with them in afflicted conditions yea he deals with his people as Jobs friends dealt with him they came to visit Job in his affliction but sate them down seven days and spake not a word unto Job and at last they found an oportunity to speak even so doth Jesus Christ it may be he may sit seven days and not speak a word to his people he may come to the soul and not speak a word to the foul in an afflicted condition all the time he sits by them and looks on them and his heart is toward them and his bowels relent and he will break out at last and he will speak unto them it was long ere Joseph did reveal himself to his brethren when they were in straits but at last he breaks out and says he I am your brother and so the Lord Jesus he may sit long before he speaks a word Oâ— but at last he will break out and then shalt thou see that Christ was present with thee and therefore 't is thy duty to believe that the Lord Christ is with thee in thy affliction though thou seest him not though he be behind the Curtain and believe that thou shalt see the effect of his presence he will not go away and leave no blessing behind him surely where he comes he brings a gift with him he does not come empty and therefore believe that thou shalt see a blessing left behind it may be thou mayst not see â—â—e gracious effects of the presence of Christ in thee but believe the time is
it concerns every living man to do with his might whatsoever he hath to do for God or for his own soul in that great business that doth concern Eternity It concernes every living man and woman to do with all their might what ever they have to do with all their might whatever they have to do for God or for their own souls in the great business that doth concern Eternity I shall here shew you First what it is for a man to do with his might Secondly what are those things that God requires of every one of you to be done with your might And that will make way for the Application First of all What is to do with thy might To do with thy might First is to do with diligence to do diligently to take all opportunities of doing for God yea seek opportunities not only embrace opportunities but seek opportunities of doing for God Our Lord Jesus Christ went up and down doing good in the days of his flesh he sought opportunities to serve his Father and to serve the sons of men The Sun carries his light up and down the world and visits poor Creatures that are in darkness when a man is faithful in taking opportunities to do for God in seeking opportunities when a man works with diligence then he works with his might Again secondly To do with thy might to do with a mans might is to do or work resolutely to do with resolution not to be beaten back by discouragements and by opposition that doth lye in the way never did any work meet with so much opposition as the great work of our Redemption by Christ But he brake through Divels and all the powers of darkness that were in his way he did with his might the work of his Father for he did it with resolution To go on notwithstanding all storms all winds that blow though never so many dangers lay in a mans way though there seem to be Lions in the way great enemies great persecutions losse of name losse of estate losse of friends to go through evil report as well as good to break through the strife of Tongues and the strife of hands This is to work Resolutely this is to do with a mans might Again thirdly to do with a mans might is to do faithfully when a man works faithfully and sincerely when he doth not warp nor turn aside when he is not byassed nor drawn by the allurements of the world In the 33. of Deut. it is said that Levi did not know his own Father nor his own Mother nor his children he did the work of God with all his might for he did it faithfully And when the cause of God was in hand he knew no friend he knew not his Father he knew not his children Get thee behind me Satan saith Christ to Peter a dear friend a chosen Disciple yet when Peter will disswade Christ from doing the work of his Father Peter is a Satan he is an adversary get thâ—e behind me Satan And so what do you mean to vex my heart saith Paul when his friends disswaded him I am ready not only to be bound but to dye at Jerusalem for the name of Christ When a man works faithfully then he works with his might Fourthly when a man works spiritually then he works with his might When his heart goes into the work when the spirit goes into the work when a man is content not only to give God the outside but his heart shall be engaged and that shall bow to God and submit to Christ If he do not find that his heart and spirit is engaged in the work he cannot be satisfied It is said of good Josiah in the 2 of Kings 23. vers 25. there was none like to him there was none like before him that turned to the Lord with all his heart with all his soul and with all his might He turned with his heart and soul his heart and Spirit was engaged in it and therefore now he did it with his might Fiftly when a man works with his might he works speedily I say speedily Our Lord Jesus did the work of his Father with his mighâ— and he began betimes in the morning he was called the Hind in the morning he was hunted betimes in the morning He began betimes to work the works of his Father when he was thirteen years of age he was found disputing among the Doctors and saith he Wist you not that I must do the work of my Father To begin betimes in the day of youth to take the best season the fittest opportunity to do for God when a man doth speedily then he doth with his might Sixthly When a man doth strenuously when he doth with all his strength with all those abilities God hath given him when he is content that God should have all that he hath that God should serve himself of the best he hath and rejoyce that he hath any thing for God when a man lays down himself and lays down all at the foot-stool of God saith Lord take me and take mine and improve me to the utmost of thy self it matters not what become of the Creature so God may be glorified when a man works thus he works strenuously and with all his might Seventhly and lastly when a man works constantly When a man holds out unto the end when he is willing to abide with Jesus Christ yea to abide with Christ in his tribulation when he is willing to serve the Lord all the six days of his life when he is content that his works and his life should be finished together and not one before the other Thus it was with our Lord Jesus Christ when he was upon the Cross his work and his life were finished together when a man works thus to the end this man works with his might That is the first Particular we hasten to the second You have heard what it is for a man to work with his might The second follows What those things are that every man ought to do with his might I shall speak first to Sinners and then to Believers and shew both their works Something the Lord requires of both to be done thus with all their might If Sinners ask what is their work I answer What the work of sinners is to be done with their might First their work is to know themselves To know that they are poor and miserable blind and naked that they are lost and undone that they are without light and without life and without strength and without hope for eternity that they have sinned and cannot satisfie that they have lost themselves and cannot return of themselves that they have done evil and cannot do better of themselves If free-grace do not prevent them they are as poor wandring sheep upon the Mountains they are like to wander and wander and wander for ever till they be separated everlastingly from the Lord if the good Shepherd of souls do not
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
you will seek salvation by works you rest upon your works and if you rest upon your works you break your works and both you and your works are like to be lost for ever and therefore know my Brethren you are to do your utmost for God if you could do ten thousand times more all is too little for God But know that life and salvation is not purchased by your doing work as much and do as much for God be as diligent in doing the work of God as if life were to be purchased by works but when you have done your utmost renounce all and know that by your own works you are no more nigh to Heaven then the very Publicans and Harlots It is by the door of grace only that you must enter into life That is the third Fourthly When God calls you to work with your might he does not call you to work with your own strength I beseech you take this Caution along with you that poor Creatures may not think that they are able to do that which they are called upon to do I say the Lord does not call you to work in your own strength And therefore know that without Christ you can do nothing you are not fit for the least work for the least duty All your sufficiency must come down from Heaven you cannot beleeve you cannot repent you cannot obey you cannot give glory to God unless this power be given you from on high you cannot move towards God in any gracious action unless the Lord comes in with strength O therefore when ever you are to work for God go and set your selves under the promise the promise of strength and assistance Go and look for strength to Christ do not act in your own strength Oh let your souls open to the breathings of the Spirit of Jesus Christ The soul never acts graciously but when it is acted by the Spirit of Christ Oh know that you are as a Ship becalmed upon the Sea and you cannot sayl till the spirit breath upon you and fill the sayle of your affections and carry you God-ward and Heaven-ward and therefore let Christ be your strength wait for his strength that you may say Now I live and yet not I but it is Christ that liveth in me I act and yet not I it is the Spirit of Christ that acts in me I pray and yet not I I beleeve and yet not I I obey and yet not I it is the Spirit of Christ that acts in me it is his strength that helps me This is the fourth Caution I beseech you take heed you do not work in your own strength you will spoil your works Fiftly Take this Caution do not present your works your selves to God When you have done your work go to Jesus Christ and desire him to carry your works home Christians know it is not for you to carry your work home it is the Office of Christ and therefore make use of Christ and say Lord present this Sacrifice this Duty do thou wash it with thine own blood and cover it with thine own righteousness I tell you your works are not pleasing unless they come out of the hands of Jesus Christ Christ must wash your works and perfume your works and sweeten your works and present your works with acceptation to the Father and therefore when you have wrought with all your might let Jesus Christ present it to God your Father and his Father Sixtly Take heed that when you work with all your might you work not for your own end I tell you good works may be spoiled if you work for your own end if self come in a man may work the work of a Magistrate or the work of a Minister but if self come in if vain glory be his end if the praise of men if his own profit If the glory of God be not the end he propounds to himself that man will be called by Christ another day a worker of iniquity We have cast out Devils in thy name and yet saith Christ to them I know you not depart from me ye workers of iniquity Oh this is the dead fly that spoils the Box of Ointment when a man does it for vain glory to be seen of men to get a name in the world and to raise their estates in the world when they do publique works for private ends how ever it seems to be glorious it is abhominable and therefore when ever you work for God make God your principal Begin in his strength and end for his glory The second word is a word of Exhortation and I will conclude with that let me speak in my former order first to Sinners and then to Beleevers and I will be but short First to Sinners You that have not yet wrought the work of God you that have not given up your names to Christ in whose heart the great work of faith is not yet wrought You that are found this day working the works of darkness the works of iniquity Let me speak a word to you let me reason with you thus in the name of the Lord Jesus my Master and yours What do you think of it my dear friends does it not concern you Is not this a work put into your hands to seek after an interest in Jesus Christ to beleeve in his name to give up your selves unto him is not this work that is put into your hands that God hath given you to do in this moment of your life Doth it not concern you to beleeve in the name of Christ think you Without faith it is not possible to please God If you be found in a way of unbelief you are found in the way of wrath It is said the wrath of the Lord does hang over the heads of unbeleevers If in a state of unbelief you are in an estate of wrath if in an estate of unbelief you are lost and your works are lost whatsoever you do without faith your works cannot be accepted without faith you cannot please God without faith you cannot enter into life And now what think you my dear friends is it not a work that concerns you to seek after faith in Jesus Christ If you grant it let me further urge it upon you Oh if this be your work then do it with your might Oh that the Lord would stir up your hearts to do it with your might There is but a moment to seek faith in there is but a moment to seek after an interest in Christ and if this be not done now O when shal it be done If it be not done now it is like to be undone for ever there is no work in this kind in the grave there is no repenting in the grave no beleeving in the grave there is no turning to God in the grave Oh that the Lord would perswade your hearts of a necessity of seeking after Christ and getting an interest in him and do it I beseech you speedily and diligently the
will not curse and if God will not hurt you they will not hurt you for they are all obedient to the command of their Maker Again in the fourth place To make haste This may let us see that it is not in Creatures to do us good without I say 't is not in the power of Creatures to us the least good without God We are apt to look too much upon Creatures you expect too much from Creatures and too little from God and therefore it is that oftentimes we are disappointed I tell you they cannot do us the least good without the command of God the very meat you eat it cannot refresh you unless it have a command from God and a blessing from God and the very clothes that you wear cannot warm you unless they have a command from God there is no creature can do you good unless it have a command from God and a blessing fâ—om God I beseech you take notice of it Oh we are apt to propound such and such things to our selves if we had such a portion of the creature men think Oh if they had such an Estate so much riches and if they were in such places of honour and if they had so much wealth and such and such a creature such and such freinds and relations such meat to eat and such drink to drink and such clothing to put on then they should be satisfied and their lives made comfortable I tell you my Brethren 't is a great mistake if you had those very creatures you would have still they could not satisfie you nor make your lives comfortable If God do not come along with the Creature the Creature cannot satisfie you God he can make your lives comfortable in the want of Creatures 't is as God will come in and 't is as God will bless See what Job propounded to himself in that 7. of Job vers 1â— When I said my bed shall comfort me my Couch shall ease my complaint Though Creatures be never so likely of themselves to comfort a man if God will not make use of them they cannot comfort What more likely to give Job ease then his Couch then his Bed he had wearied his body and his Bed and his Couch is a place of ease but I cannot finde it so saith Job I expected that it should ease me I will lay my head upon my Pillow and take my rest but I could not finde it no it terrified my thoughts and truly freinds you may think of all the Creatures you enjoy you may think that the Creatures will comfort but if God doth not make use of it it cannot comfort you and if God will make use of any Creature it shall comfort you If God make use of imprisonments bonds and fetters they shall be ingagements to you and make you sing in the Stocks at midnight God can say to the Creatures go and comfort You know when God commanded the heaps of stones that Jacob layd his head upon to give him comfortable sleep he slept well that night he slept better upon his heap of stones then he did upon his pillow when God makes use of the Creature to comfort and therefore do not think you have comfort from Creatures as Creatures 't is God that must come in and bring comfort to you for God can make every Creature comfortable and the best of Creatures cannot comfort if God do not come in To Conclude all Fiftly Here is matter of great comfort to the people of God it may be a Prop to their faith to their confidence if they consider this that all the Creatures are at Gods command and God can make use of any Creature to do them good he â—an make use of their Bonds it is a mighty comfort to you that are the people of God to remember this upon all occasions where ever you arâ— in your way in your journey in your voyages whether you be at Sea or Land still remember that all the Creatures they are your Fathers Host they all fulfil his Command they cannot disobey his Law they cannot hurt you without commission Nay though they be hurtful yet he can do you good by them Oh how quietly may Gods people walk in the midst of all Creatures when they are at Sea and when they are on land in the midst of dreadful Creatures they may wall safely for why they are at your Fathers command and they cannot do you the least hurt though they be hurtful in themselves in their own nature and therefore upon all occasions strengthen your faith in the Lord What shall we say to these things saith the Apostle in the 8. of the Romans the latter end If God be for us who can be against us I tell you you may challenge all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth if God be with you if he be your portion if he hath received you into Covenant and you have made a close with God And therefore in all places and dangers walk by faith strengthen your faith in the mighty power and goodness of God that hath the Command and Rule over all Creatures THE Eighth 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 Have handled many Propositions out of these words The last day we considered that Addition that God made unto these Martyrs while they were suffering for his Name sake There were but three cast into the fire where as their enemies looked that they should have been all consumed and none left to bear witness any longer against their Idolatrous ways the Lord makes an addition to them there is a fourth that joyns himself to them to bear witness with them unto the truth of God which they suffered for Hence we raised this Proposition That all the opposition persecution that the peopl of God meet with for the Name and Truâ—h of Christ shall not diminish thâ—ir number but shal increase them I shewed how the children of Israâ—l were multiply'd by those oppressions and heavy burdens â—hat wer layd upon them in Aegypt the more they oppressed them the more they encreased saith the Text I gave you an instance in Christ what counsel did the Scribes and Pharasees use in the 11. of John to hinder the number of beleevers If we let him alone all men will beleeve in him Now they thought they would take a sure course that none should beleeve in Christ They put the Lord of life to death smite the Shepheard and the sheep will soon be scattered but this did not diminish the number of Believers no God did out reach them and made this the way to bring in men to believe in Christ If I be lifted up saith Christ I will draw all men to me The Lord Jesus by dying becomes a suitable Object to poor guilty unclean sinners which durst not else have drawn nigh
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—