Beams of Divine Light, Sermon 8 – Title page 9

Beams of Divine Light · Sermon 8 – Title page 9

p. 65SAINT PAVLS CHALLENGE.

ROM. 8.30.

What shall wee then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

THE words are a glorious conclusion, and triumph of faith: the conclusion upon all the former particulars in the Chapter, and the foundation of all the comforts that follow after, to the end of the Chapter. They are as the center of the Chapter: all the beames of heavenly comfort in this divine Chapter, they meete as it were in one, in this short clause, What shall we say then to these things, &c.

In the words briefly, there is, first a question, What shall we say to these things?

And then a triumph, If God be with us, who can be against us? It is a question answered with another question, What shall wee say to these things? He answers it with another question, If God be with us, who can be against us?

p. 66What shall we say to these things?

To these things before mentioned: If w…e be in Christ, there is no condemnation to us: if wee be led by the Spirit; if we be heires of heaven, and fellow heires with Christ, if we suffer with him, if we have the spirit of prayer to helpe our infirmities in the worst conditions, if all creatures groane with us, and if all worke for our good; if God from all eternity hath written our names in heaven by election, and separated us from the rest of the world in vocation, and hath sanctified, and justified us, and will after glorifie us; what shall wee say to these things?

The heart of man is full of doubtings, and misgiving, full of thoughts, According to the multitude of my thoughts, thy comforts refreshed my soule, a multitude of thoughts, and a multitude of comforts; there is comfort after comfort, because there are thoughts after thoughts, and surmises after surmises. There is no wast comfort set down in this Chapter; and when he hath set down all, he comes, and concludes in a triumphant manner, What shall wee say to these things? He propounds the quaere to himselfe, he catechiseth his own heart, and others, if these things be so, what can be sayd against them? Surely the unbeleeving, doubting, darke, rebellious heart of man, hath many things to say against divine truths, for though divine truths be lighter then the Sunne, and p. 67there is no greater evidence of any thing in the world; yet they find no place in the unbeleeving heart. Let God say what he will, the doubting heart is ready to gain-say it: but these truths are so pregnant and cleare, that it is a wonder, that any thing should be said against them, What shall we say to th…se things?

Againe he meanes,22To shew the greatnesse of our priviledges. what comfort can you have more? what can you desire more? what can be said more? what use will you make of all that hath beene said? what will you sucke out of it? If all this be true that hath beene spoken before; that a Christian is so elevated above the common condition: if God love him from everlasting in election, and to everlasting in glorification; if in the middle time, all shall worke for the best; what comfort can the heart of man desire more? and what use can you make of this for courage, and for comfort for the time to come? these things are implyed in this question, What shall we say to these things?

It is good,Vse. often to propound quaeres and demands to our owne hearts,It is good to propound quaere's to our selves. when we read or heare divine truths, to aske our owne hearts, you have heard these things, what say you to them? For whatsoever God saith in his Word, will doe us no good, till we speake to our owne hearts, and be convinced of it, and say it is so: therefore wee should say to our selves, here are many comforts, and duties pressed; but what sayest thou to it, my p. 68heart, dost thou not stand out against comforts, and advice? It is no matter what God saith, unlesse he over-power the unbeleeving heart, to say, what shall I say to these things? shall I not agree with God, and his Spirit, and his comforts? shall they be best in regard of an unbeleeving heart? o…, no; Therefore let our care be, to store them in the treasury of our memory, which should be like the pot of Mannah, to containe heavenly comforts: let us treasure up all the truths we can, all will be little enough, when we shall need comfort. But when we have them in our memory, let us aske our selves, are these things so, or no? If they be so, beleeve them, if they be not so, then let us give liberty to our selves, and away with hearing, and reading, &c. If they be so, for shame let me yeeld to them.

Let us aske these questions with some fruit, let us deale thus with our owne hearts, often call them to account, whether …beleeve or no; for wee have such a faculty, …nd power, we can reflect upon our selves. And we ought to desire of the Spirit of God▪ to teach our hearts, to reflect upon them selves, to examine whether wee know, and if wee know, whether we beleeve, and what use wee make of these things, and why we should live thus; doth this life, and course of mine, agree with these principles? The best of us all are tardy this way; therefore let not that part, p. 69without making some use of it. But I proceed to that, I will more dwell on.

If God befor …, who can be against us?

Here is first a ground layd, and then a comfort built upon it. The ground that is layd, is▪ If God be with us? when he saith; If God be with us? he doth not put the case, but layes it as a ground; If God be with us? as indeed he is with all his, in electing them, in calling them, in working all for their good, in glorifying them after, &c. If God be with us, as he is, then this comfort is built upon this ground, Who shall, or can be against us?

For the first, the ground that is laid, is that,

God is with his children.God is with his children.

I…de…d hee is with the whole world, hee is every where: but he is with …is Ch…rch, and children, in …. The soule in…pred in the whole body, but it is in the braine …fter another … it understands, and … he is not every where comfo…ting, and directing, and sanctifying, nor every where giving a sweet and blessed issue. So, beside… the generall respect, that will not now stand on: God is with us, that … his, in a more pec…liar manner, in all his sweet Attributes:How God is with them. in his wisedome, to direct us, with his power, to assist, and strengthen us; by his grade, and love, to comfort us; and hee is with us, in all our perplexities to stay our soules: hee is with us by p. 70his sweet, and gracious mercy, to feed … with hidden Mannah, with secret comforts in the middest of discomforts: when there is no comfort else with us, then God is with us. And then he is with us, in the issue of all that a godly man takes in hand in his name, hee is with him in all crosses, to direct and tu…e them to his best good: All things worke for the best, to them that love God. He is with them, in all his sweet relations, as a gracious Father in Covenant, as a Husband. He is with them in those sweet comparisons, as a Hen, as an Eagle, to carry them on his wings, above all dangers, as hee carryed the Israelites in the wildernesse. He is with them in all comfortable relations.

Therefore God, in the Scriptures borrowes … from every thing th… is comfortable: He is with them as a Rocke to build on, as a Shield to defend them: in the time of heate and persecution, he is a shaddow, to keepe them from the heate, hee is with them as a light. Christ is our life in death, our light in darkenesse, our righteousnesse in sinfulnesse, and guilt, our holinesse in impurity, our redemption in all our miseries. There is somewhat of God in every creature, therefore God takes names from his owne creatures: because there is some strength or comfort in them. God gives himselfe variety of names, as there are variety of our distresses. Are we in misery? God is a Rock, a Shield, a p. 71Tower of defence, a Buckler: hee is all that can be said for comfort. He is with us in his Attributes, and sweet relations, and all sweet termes, that may support our faith; that whatsoever wee see comfortable in the creature, we may rise more comfortably to God, and say, God is my Rocke, and Shield, and my light, and defence.

And then God is with us in every condition, and in every place whatsoever; hee is not onelyonly a God of the mountaines, and not of the valleyes, or a God of the valleyes, and not of the mountaines; as those foolish people thought; but he is in all places, and at all times with his. If they be in prison, hee goes with them: Act. 16.Act. 16.Acts 16 He made the prison, a kind of Paradise▪ a heaven. If they be banished into other Countries, he goes with them: I will goe with thee oh Jacob, into Egypt, and bring thee backe againe. If they be in death, he is with us to death, and in death: In the valley of the shadow of death, thou art with …e: at all times whatsoever, and in all conditions, God is with us.

In all our affaires whatsoever, God is with us: Feare not Josua: Feare not Moses: what was the ground of their comfort? I will be with thee. Hee was with Saint Paul in all conditions, therefore hee bids him feare not. So our blessed Sa…iour, the head of all, in Act. 10.38.Act. 10 38.Acts 10:38 in the speech of Peter to Cornelius, hee did all things well, for God was with him: p. 72you see how God is with his children.

Ground of it. From Gods free love.What is the ground, that the great and holy, and pure God, blessed for ever, should be with such sinfull and wretched creatures as we are; that hee should not onelyonly be with us, and about us, and compasse us as a shield, but be in us?

The ground of all, is his free love in Christ, Christ was God with us first. God that hee might be with us, ordained that Chris… should be God with us, Emmanuel, that hee, should take our nature into unity of person with himselfe. Christ being God with us, (that he might satisfie the just wrath of God fo… our sinnes, and so reconcile God, and us together,) he hath made God and us friends: so that this, that God is with us, it is grounded upon an excellent, and sound bot…om…, upon the Incarnation of our blessed Saviour, that for this very end, that God might be with us, was God with us, that is, he was God and man, to bring God and man together, he was God and man in one, to bring God and man, that were at contrary termes, to termes of reconciliation: to recollect and bring us backe againe to God, from whence we fell. So the reason why God the Father, Sonne, and Holy-Ghost, are with us; it is because Christ, the second Person, God and man, is with us: or else there could be no such sweet termes as these are: you see how it is founded. Christ took our nature, and advanced and inriched it. p. 73Now, hee having taken our nature, and our persons to be one with him, how neere are Christ and we together? There is one common spirit in him and us, one common Father, I goe to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. There is one common Kingdome, and inheritance, wee are fellow-heires with him: oh how neere is Christ to us! our soules are not so neere our bodies, as Christ is to us, and God in Christ. So you see this, that God is with us; it is founded upon an excellent, wonderfull, comfortable mysterie. This I suppose is cleare, therefore I come to that I intend further to enlarge, that is, the comfort built upon this ground, If God be with us,

Who shall be against us?The comfort on the former ground.

One would think this a strange question, for a Christian no sooner comes to be one with Christ, and so to be reconciled to God, but he hath against him all the powers of hell, and then he hath the whole world against him presently, Satans Kingdome: and then hee hath an enemy that is worst of all, (that stirres up strife and rebellion, and contention, even in his owne heart) his owne flesh. So that we may say, who is not against a Christian? If God be with us, all else but God, will side against us. There are two grand sides in the world, to which all belong: there is Gods side, and those that are his; and there is another side, that is, Satans, and those that are p. 74his; two Kingdomes, two seeds, two contrary dispositions, that pursue one another, till all the one be in hell: Satan and all his seed together, the Devill, and all that fight under his banner, that are led with his malignant, poyson-full spirit; though it may be they cannot doe more hurt or doe not out of politicke respects; though they have poyson-full hearts: yet these never leave contending till they be in hell: and the other never leave, till they be in heaven together. Christ makes it his prayer, My will is, that where I am, they may be also, and his will must be performed: so that he need not aske the question, If God be with us, who shall be against us? there will be enow against us.

How farre the enemies of Gods children are against them.It is true; but in what sense are they against us, and how farre are they against us?

They are thus farre against us in their wit, in their plots, and policies; in their wills they would devoure all, if they could: they are against us in their indeavours, they doe what they can against the Church and people of God. They are against us in their prevailing likewise: their indeavours are not idle, but prevayle very farre over Gods people, even to insolency: Where is now their God? as it is oft in the Psalmes; and to the dejection of Gods people: The Lord hath forsaken me; The Lord hath forgotten me. Gods people are brought very low, to the pits brinke, the pit almost shuts her mouth upon them. So you see they are p. 75against them many wayes. God gives a great length to their tether.

And many reasons God hath to let them prevaile,Why God suffers them to prevaile. both to draw out their malice the more; and then to shew his people their corruptions the more; and then to exercise their graces in wayting; and for the just confusion of their enemies at the latter end: and for the sweet comfort of his children at the end, (when God sees the fittest time to meet with the enemies) that they might have sweet experience of Gods seasonable care, how ever God put off a long time for some respects: so you see they may prevayle, a long time.No man can be against Gods children. Yet who can be against us in this sense; that is, to prevayle altogether? who shall be against us, so farre as to have their will in the issue? They prevayle a great way: what doe they intend? not to prevayle over the persons of Gods Church and people, but the cause which in spite of Satan, and his instruments, and all must stand invincible to the end of the world.11In respect of Christ… cause. They intend likewise, to prevayle over the courage of Gods people, that they cannot neither: for Saint Paul saith after in this Chapter, In all these things we are more then conquerours ▪ that is, abundant conquerours▪ a strange high terme.22The courage of his children. But in some sense, we are more then conquerours: for if we consider what weake persons Gods children are; what strong enemies they have, and what weake meanes they prevayle with in the sight of the p. 76world, to flesh and blood, that such persons, should prevayle over such enemies, by such weake meanes as they doe, in this respect, they are more then conquerours. So he may say, Who can be against us? that is, to have their wills, to overthrow the cause of Christ, and the courage of Gods children; they may prevayle in this, or that particular, but at the last, all their plots, and counsels, shall proove abortive, and bring forth a lie. All is but to magnifie Gods power the more, in letting them goe so farre: and then to dash all their molds, and plots. Gods children, they have the Devill and all his company, the world, and the flesh: but there is God the Father, Sonne, and Holy-Ghost, for them, the blessed Trinity, that are able to blow away the other three, and all the strength, and support they have whatsoever.

Who shall be against us?

It is not a question of doubting, or inquisition to learne any thing; but it is a question of triumph: he doth (as it were) cast a bancke, and bid defiance to all enemies whatsoever: Who shall be against us? Let them stand out, Satan, and the world, and all Satans supports, let them doe their worst. There is a strange confidence which is seated in the hearts of Gods children that they dare, thus dare hell, and earth, and all infernall powers, they set God so high in their hearts, that they dare p. 77say with a spirit of confidence, Who shall be against us? The meaning is, not, who shall be against us, to take away our lives or liberties, &c. As the speech is, they may kill us, but they cannot hurt us: the worst they can doe is to send us to heaven, and make us partakers of that we desire most. First wee desire that God will be with us here; and secondly, that we may be with God in heaven: they make Gods children partakers of their desires, by killing of them. Let Tyrants, and all persons, that have a malignant disposition to the Church of God, and are armed with power, let them doe their worst, the cause must stand impregnable; Christ will have a Church, and Kingdome in the world, and their spirits will be impregnable against them: they may kill them, but they cannot hurt them; they may kill them, but they cannot kill their courage. As we see in the Martyres, there was the Spirit of God in them, above all the dealings of of the persecutors: there was a fire of Gods Spirit in them, above all outward fire whatsoever. You see it must be taken for granted, that the Church of God, and every particular Christian, hath many enemies against them, as it is, Psal. 129.Psal. 129.Ps 129 From my youth up (saith the Church) they have fought against me, but they have not prevayled. From my youth up, from Abel, to the last Saint that shall be in the world, there will be alway some against Gods people: yet their comfort is that none p. 78shall be against them to prevaile, either over the Spirit of God in them, or over the cause that they manage.

Vse.First of all you see then, that the state of a Christian in this world is an impregnable state,The state of a Christian impregnable. and a glorious condition. Here is glory upon glory, from this clause to the end of the Chapter. If God be with us, who shall be against us? If God gave his Sonne for us, shall hee not with him give us al things else? there is another glorious speech. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods people? another glorious triumphant speech, another glorious speech, Who shall separate us from the love of God founded in Christ? Hee loves Christ first, and us in Christ as members, and as he loves him eternally, so he loves us eternally too. Therefore you see every way the state of a Christian is a glorious condition, Who can be against us? You see the state of Gods people, it is an impregnable and glorious condition.A Christian never alone. Then, by this meanes, those that are strange Paradoxes to flesh and blood, yet they agree in a Christian. He is never alone; when hee is alone, God is with him, the Father, Son, and Holy-Ghost, are with him, Angels are with him, God is not only with him, but his guard is with him, and Gods Spirit is with him, and in him victoriously both in grace, and comfort. Christ saith to his Disciples, when they thought to leave him alone: saith hee, you cannot leave me alone, My Father is with me: and Saint Paul towards p. 79his latter end, that had deserved so well of the Christian world, All forsooke me (saith he) but the Lord forsooke me not, but delivered me out of the mouth of the Lion. So a Christian is not alone, hee is not left to the mercy of his enemies; but God is with him, and who shall be against him to prevayle over him?

Againe though a Christian be a worme,A Christian, though weake in himselfe, strong in God. a person trampled upon: for so the Church is the most afflicted part of man-kind: yet Feare not thou worme Jacob. The world accounts them as wormes, and they account themselves so, they are trodden on as wormes; they are wormes upon earth, yet they have a glorious head in heaven, and a glorious guard about them, strange things agree in a Christian: therefore let us not stumble, though wee see not these things presently, the life of a Christian is a mysterie.

Againe,Christianity grounded strongly. hence we see that a Christian profession; to be a sound Christian, to have true faith in Christ, to be one with Christ, and to be taken out of the state of nature, this condition and the happinesse of it, it hath the strongest foundation of any life in the world. Christianity is founded upon the strongest and the greatest reasons that can bee: Faith stands with the greatest reason, that a thing can doe. Why? The comfort of a Christian is that he hath no enemy that shall prevaile over him, and what is the ground of that? God is with him, God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: p. 80Faith is that that layes hold upon that presence and promise, and covenant of God, and is not faith well bottomed? A Christian that carries himselfe valiantly and couragiously, is not his course grounded on sound reason? Is not God with him? God the Father, is his father; God the Son is his Redeemer; God the Holy Ghost, is his Comforter. There is no other men that have strong reason for their course, for that choise that they make of their Religion and of their wayes, they prove but fooles in the conclusion: onelyonly the sound Christian that by the Spirit of God hath his eyes open to see the cursed estate he is in by nature, and what it is to be in Christ, and by a Spirit of faith is made one with Christ, hee is the truely wise man in his faith and affiance, that the world mockes at, that hee hath no common supports in the world, which hee cares not for, if God be on his side, hee cares not what man can doe against him, as it is Psal. 118. you see on what ground it is founded:Psal. 118.Ps 118 God is with him, and none can be against him.

To lay up principles.Let us labour to lay up these principles, wee worke according as our principles are: Principles are the foundation of all conclusions that arise from them. As our grounds are, so are we in our faith, and working, and grace, and comfort, every way: if wee have rotten principles, if the grounds of our comfort bee rotten, our course will be rotten, and uncomfortable p. 81in the conclusion. Let us build upon the Rocke, to be well bottomed, and founded, that our principles and grounds bee strong, and that they be so to us; for what if God be with his, if he be not so to us? Let us labour to lay up sound grounds. Grounds have influence into the whole course of our lives; this one Text hath influence into all the parts of our lives, in doing, in suffering, in all conditions. I know not a more pregnant fruitfull principle in the Scripture than this, If God be with us, who can be against us? It is like a pearle, little in quantity, few in words; but strong in sence, large in the fruit that issues from it. Therefore as wee may carry pearles or precious things wheresoever we go, because there is a great deale of worth in them, and they be small in quantity: so wee may carry this principle with us, let us bee sure to lay it up, and make use of it. There be these two, That there is a God, and that God is with his children, and so with his children, that hee will subvert and overthrow all their enemies, and all their plots and endevours; a principle of wonderfull comfort.

If this principle be well layd,Ground of Christian courage. it is a ground of a Christians courage, in all conditions whatsoever: it is no matter how many enemies he hath; for as Cyprian saith,Cyprian. Non potest seculum, In opposition.&c. the world cannot hurt him, that in the world hath God for his protectour: for the Divell hee is crushed already, though hee p. 82keepe adoe, and stirre up stormes, he perisheth in the waves (as he saith) hee hurts himselfe more than any body else, hee increaseth his owne torment, and so doe all his children: The flesh likewise it busles against the Spirit, but it looseth, and the spirit gaines upon every …oyle: why? here is the principle, God is with us, there is no power can resist God; for then God should withstand himselfe: the power that the creature hath, it is but a borrowed power; and if by a borrowed power it should withstand Gods purpose, God must be against himselfe, his Kingdome must bee divided, which is a contradiction. Therefore this is the ground of the courage of a Christian in all conditions. What is the reason that the Scripture hath that phrase so often, Feare not, I am with thee; as to Paul, and Ioshua, and the rest? because it is the ground of all courage. We see weaker creatures than man, a Dogge in the sight of his master, hee will fight couragiously, because he hath a superiour nature by him, that he thinkes will backe him: And shall not a Christian when he hath layd up this principle, that God is with him, God incarnate, God in his nature, when he is a member of God (as it were) of that person that is God, shall he not be couragious when he hath him to looke upon him, and to backe him?

And if God be with us, hee is not so with us as to neglect us, he is so with us, as he hath p. 83interest in the cause we have, and in our persons, hee is with us as one with us, nay as in us by his Spirit, and whosoever toucheth us toucheth the apple of his eye. Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Here is ground of courage in whatsoever may befall us, to stand it out in all conditions whatsoever. Nothing can sever Christ and a Christian: this bodie will never be beheaded: Christ will never bee separated from his body, hee will not loose the poorest member he hath. You see it is the duty of a Christian to be couragious, and undaunted in the cause of God, and from this ground, because God is with him, and who can be against him? Let all the world bee against God, and against the cause that a Christian professeth, they doe but kicke against the prickes, they dash against a rocke, as the waves that breake themselves, they doe not hurt the rock a whit, they doe but cast stones upward that fall upon their heads againe. Therefore it is a desperate cause that malicious spirits manage, who have more parts then grace, and arme themselves and their wits to hurt the people and Church of God, and slander his cause, and doe all the hurt they can.

It is a ground likewise of encouragement in our callings;In our callings. when God calls us to any thing in our places, that is good, hee will be with us: therefore in our places and standing, let us doe that that belongs to us; let us not p. 84feare that we shall want that which is necessary, or miscarry any way. When Moses pretended he …ould not speake, Who gives a mouth, saith God to him? Therefore let us take courage, not onelyonly in suffering, and opposition, but in our places and standings. God will bee with us, hee gives his Angels charge, to keepe us in our wayes, wee have a guard over us.

Ground of contentment.Here is a ground likewise of all contentment in any condition in the world, what can be sufficient to him, that God cannot suffice? God All-sufficient is with thee, thou canst want nothing that is for thy good; thou maist want this and that, but it is for thy good that thou wantest it, Those that feare God, shall want nothing that is good: It is a ground of all contentment, God is with them, to fill their souls to the utmost. He is made for the soule, and the soule for him: for our end is to have communion with God in Iesus Christ here, and everlastingly in Heaven; God is fitted for us, and we for him. Here is fresh comfort for the soule alway, hee can fill up every corner of the soule, he is larger than our soules. Therefore let us be content, in what condition soever we are in, God is with us; therefore, let the peace of God which passeth all understanding guard our hearts: even from this very ground and conclusion, God is with us, who can be against us? Let Moses be cast into a basket of Bul-rushes, if God be with him, hee shall not be drowned: p. 85Let Daniel bee cast into the Den, if God bee with him, God will come between the Lyons teeth and him: Let the three blessed men be cast into the fiery Furnace, a fourth shall bee with them, and keepe them from the hurt of the flame▪ Let God be with Noah, hee shall swim upon the waters, and the greater the waters the more safe hee, and the neerer to heaven: Let God be with us, and we may be content with any condition whatsoever.

Againe,Not to be discouraged for our infirmities. let us not be over much discouraged with our infirmities and corruptions; If God be with us, who can be against us? Our corruptions are against us, and they are worse to me than the Devill, and all enemies, saith a poore Christian. Indeed they are, for the devill hath no advantage against us, but by our corruptions: but if thou account thy corruptions thine enemies, they are Gods enemies, and Christs enemies, as well as thine, hee will be with thee, and thy corruptions shall more and more be wasted; for the flesh shall fall before the spirit, this Dagon shall fall before this blessed Arke; stronger is hee that is in us, than he that is in the world. The Spirit of God is stronger in us, than corruption in us, or the world without us; it ministers stronger grounds of comfort than all other can doe of discomfort. If you bee under the spirit and under grace, sinne shall not have dominion over you: It may be in you, but it shall not have dominion, because yee are under the p. 86covenant of grace. Therefore though corruption be in us, for our exercise and humiliation, yet it shall not be against us, to abridge us of comfort; they serve to drive us neerer to God. Let none be discouraged, Christ came to destroy the workes of the Devill; therefore hee came to destroy sinne in us, which is the work of the Devill, hee came to take away, not only the guilt, but the very being of sinne, as he will at last: for if God and Christ be with us, who shall be against us?

Object.But it may be objected by some: But I finde not God with me.

Answer. God sometimes hides himselfe.It is true, sometimes God hides himselfe, Thou art a God that hidest thy selfe; hee seemes as a stranger in his owne Church, to be as a way-faring man, as the Prophet saith; he takes no notice of his Church and their afflictions, hee seemes not to take them to heart, nor to pitty his Church. Oh! but this is but for a time, and for tryall, Can a mother forget her childe? Isai. 49.Isay 49.Isa 49 Put case she should, yet will not I forget thee. God hides himselfe but a while, to try the graces of his children, and to give way to the enemies, to let his children to see their corruptions, & his wise dispensation. And these desertions wee must be acquainted with. God seemes to be away from his children, yet he is with them, and supports them with invisible strength. Hee seemes to bee with wicked men in prospering them in the world, that they have al at their wil in outward p. 87things, yet he is farre from them; hee withdrawes himselfe in spirituall things, they have no grace, no sound inward comfort. And he seemes opposite to his children, hee leaves them outwardly, in regard of assistance, and friends: but they have an invisible inward presence of the spirit, to support and strengthen them; therefore measure not des…ertions, Gods being, or not being with us by outward respects: for so he is with the enemies of the Church oft-times, and not with his children: But hee is with his in the sweetest manner, supporting of them when they are in darkenesse, and see no light of Gods▪ countenance; yet they have so much light, though they thinke they see it not, as makes them trust in God, Let him that is in darknesse and sees no light, trust in the name of God. Therefore, as I said, it is a principle pregnant for comfort, and use: if God be with us, he is with us in life and death; for whom he loves, he loves everlastingly, from everlasting to everlasting.

If this be so,Question. what shall wee doe to God againe? what is the best evidence to know that God is with us?

There is a relation betweene God and his,Answer. he is so with them,Wee may know that God is with us. as that they are with him likewise in all passages. Doth he chuse them? they in time chuse him,11When wee are with him. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none in earth that I desire in comparison of thee. Doth hee call them? they answer. Doth hee justifie and free them from p. 88their sinnes, they make that answer of faith that Peter speakes of, I doe beleeve, Lord help my unbeliefe; they have faith to lay hold upon the forgivenesse. And likewise, if God be with them,22De…ight in Gods presence. they can delight in Gods presence: Can God delight to bee present with them that have not grace to delight in him? Gods children maintaine their communion with him in all the sanctified meanes they can, they are afraid to breake with God. Therefore those that to please and give content to others, and for base ends will displease their God, it is a heavie signe that God as yet hath not shewed himselfe in his gracious mercy in Christ Iesus to them.

If God be with us, wee will be of his side, and his enemies shall be our enemies,33Taking Gods side. and his friends our friends. Hee that claimes this, that God is with him, he will say, I will bee with God, and for God. God hath two things in the world that wee must have a care of, his Church, and his cause; take them out of the world, the world is but a hell upon earth, a company of miscreants, prophane, godless…, impudent, poysonfull creatures; take away the cause of God, Religion, and the people that are begotten by Religion, and what is the rest of mankind? The world would not stand (but be all upon heapes) for a company of sinfull wretches that will have their wills: but it is for the Church, and people of God, that the world stands. Now hee that hath p. 89God with him, and he is in termes with God, that they are friends (as Abraham was the friend of God) he will side with God and Religion, Gods cause shall bee his cause, and Gods people his people, hee will cleave to Gods side as the safest; if hee may have never so much pr…ferment in the world, hee will not joyne with Antichrist▪ hee will not betray the cause of Religion, if hee might have a world for it: Why? because he knows if God be with him, who can be against him? God hath given us understanding, and grace, to maintaine friendship with him, to ha…e common friends, and common enemies: Therefo…e if we stand not for God, let us never talke of Gods presence with us. Hee▪ will bee present to confound us▪ to overthrow us, and pursue us to Hell, but not graciously present, without wee labour to maintaine the cause of Religion as farre as wee may. God is with us, if …e be with him, 2 Chron. 15.2 Chr 152 Chron. 15. if wee be with God to take his part, hee will be with us to protect and defend us▪ to guide and comfort us, and to give issue to all our affaires: Not that our being with him, is the prime cause of his being with us, but it is an evidence to know whether hee be with us (as wee make profession) when as farre as our callings will suffer, wee be with him, and maintaine his cause.

Againe,44By testimony of conscience. If wee would know whether we be with God, and hee with us, aske conscience whether it bee with thee, for conscience is p. 90Gods Vicar. Is conscience with thee, dost thou not sinne against conscience? What conscience saith, God saith; and what it forbids, God forbids, especially when it is enlightned by the word; doth conscience speak peace to thee from the Word? then thou art with God, and God is with thee. Especially in the great point of justification, doth conscience speak peace to thee in the blood of Christ? is thy heart sprinkled with it; that it is not as the blood of Abel that cries for vengeance? ha…t thou a spirit of faith, to beleeve that Christ shed his blood for thee in particular▪ then thou art with God, and he with thee, because God hath sprinkled the blood of Christ upon thy heart.

Quest.What course shall wee take to keep God comfortably with us? Looke thou be in covenant with him,Answer. and not onelyonly at large in covenant:How to have God with us. but looke that continually upon all occasions thou renew thy covenant:11By renewing our Covenants. for sometimes Gods children may be in covenant, they may be his children; yet because they renew not their covenant, especially after some breaches, God is not with them, so comfortably as hee would, to free them from their enemies; as wee see in the case of the Benjamites, Gods people sometimes may have the worst, though they be in covenant because they have committed some sin, and have not renewed their peace and covenant with God. Therefore if we would make a comfortable use of this truth, p. 91that God is with us, and would finde him so in our affaires and businesse, let us renew our covenant upon all occasions, and our purpose to please God.

And then looke to the cause wee take in hand,22Looke to our cause. and to our carriage in that cause, if our persons be good, be in covenant, and the cause good, and our conscience good, and our carriage sutable, then God will be with us. Let us make use of these principles, that we may bee in love with the comfortable secure condition of a Christian; there is no state so glorious, so comfortable, so secure, and free from danger. If we were in heaven and should look downe below upon all snares, and dangers, what would we care for them? Now if he be with us, and we with him, God is our habitation, we dwell in the secret of the Almighty, Psal. 91.Ps 91hee is our high Tower, The way of wisdome is on high, to escape the snares below. Therefore let us raise our soules as high as heaven, and God is, and set our selves where our hopes are, where our God is, and wee have set our selves in our Tower, that we have set God in our hearts, and set our selves in him; then we may overlooke the devill, and men, and death, and danger and all. As a man that stands upon the top of a Rock, that is higher than all the waves, hee overlookes them, and sees them break themselves upon the Rocke: so when wee see God with us, and our selves with him, by a Spirit o… comfort, wee can overlooke all with a holy p. 92defiance, as the Apostle saith here, who can be against us? what can separate us? Oh! the excellent state of a Christian, when he is assured of his condition! Who would not labour for assurance that yields this abundant comfort in all conditions?

Novemb. 5.A word of the occasion, for which I made choyse of this portion of Scripture: Here is a double fitnesse to the occasion, both at home and abroad, If God be with us, who can bee against us?

God was at home in 88. hee was with us in the Powder-Treason: Hee was with us in the great sicknesse to preserve us, and to give us our lives for a prey, hee hath beene with us. And wee ought not to forget this, but upon occasion of this great deliverance, to call all former deliverances to minde, nationall, and personall, to consider how often God hath given us our lives, and how oft he hath pre…erved us from death, and to take occasion to blesse God for all at once, and so to make some speciall use of these meetings.

Then if we looke abroad, God hath beene with us in that he hath been with his Church; for they, and wee, make but one body, that member that hath not a sympathy with the body, it is but a dead member: therefore if we be not affected with the presence of God, with the Armies abroad, wee are dead members. Wee may say, in regard of these outward deliverances, God hath beene with us, and p. 93none hath beene against us. If God had not been with us in the Powder-plot, where had wee beene? Our lives would have beene made a prey, that that would have beene done, would have beene more then the blowing up of the Parliament; they would have blowne up the Kingdome with the King, and Religion with religious persons, and the State with Statesmen: It would have brought a confusion of all, and have molded all after an Idolatrous Antichristian fashion, it would have overthrowne the State, and persons and all; the issues would have been worse than the present thing: And therefore if God had not beene with us, as hee was graciously with us, what would have become of us?Psal. 1…9.Ps 1:9 as it is in Psal. 129. If God had not beene with us, they had made us a prey, and overwhelmed, and devoured us all, there had been no hope.

Have not wee cause to blesse God, and to be thankefull? therefore let us labour to doe it for our selves, and for our neighbours. How shall we shew our thankfulnesse to God? not in outvvard manifestations onelyonly, vvhichwhich is laudable, and a good demonstration of the affections of people: but alas what is that? wee must shew our thankfulnesse in loving that Religion that God hath so witnessed for, and defended so miraculously: Labour to love the truth, to entertaine it in the love of it, and to bring our hearts to a more perfect hatred of Popery▪ For if wee waxe cold and p. 94indifferent, or oppose Gods cause, and undermine it, doe wee think that God would suffer this long, would hee not spue us out of his mouth? (with reverence I speake it.) Though hee have defended us againe and againe, hee will be gone with his truth and religion: It came not alone, nor it will not goe alone; if Religion goe, our peace, and prosperity, and the flourishing of our state; all will goe. It is our Arke, if that goe away, our happinesse goes away, let us make much of Religion, that is the way to be thankfull.

Againe, let us shew our thankfulnesse by giving and doing some good to the poore, by refreshing their bowels, that they may have occasion to blesse God.

And for the time to come, let us trust in God, that God will bee with us, if wee bee with him; and to sticke to him: who then shall bee against us? Let the Devill, and Rome, and Hell, bee all against us, if God bee with us. Bellarmine goes about to prove Luther a false Prophet. Luther as hee was a couragious man, and had a great and mighty spirit of Faith, and prayer: so his expressions were sutable to his spirit: what saith he? The cause that I defend, is Christs, and Gods cause, and all the world shall not stand against it, it shall prevaile; if there be a counsell in earth, there is a counsell in heaven that will disappoint all. God laughes in Heaven at his enemies, and shall wee weepe? p. 95And things are in a good way, if wee can goe on, and helpe the cause of God with our prayers, and faith that God will goe on; and with our cheerefulnesse and joy, that God may delight to goe on with his owne cause. We may encourage our selves; though perhaps wee shall not see the issue of these things, yet posterity shall see it.

FINIS.

THE CHVRCHES ECCHO,

In one Sermon.

By The late learned and reverend Divine, RICH. SIBBS: Doctor in Divinitie, M^r of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes Preacher at GRAYES-INNE.

ISAY 64.1.

Oh that thou wouldst rent the Heavens and come downe, that the Mountaines might flow downe at thy presence.

LONDON, Printed by E. P. for Nicholas Bourne, and Rapha Harford, 1638.