The Son of God Walking in the Fire with the Servants of God, Sermon 4
THE Fourth 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 ſpoken out of theſe words. We have finiſhed one Propoſition: Namely, That God doth oftentimes in a wonderful manner reſcue the lives of his ſervants from death and deſtruction. I preſt you the laſt day, that Chriſtians ſhould therefore truſt in God; ſuch as have ſeen his goings; ſhould truſt him for the future, upon former experiences; when God ſpeaks once in a remarkable providence, he expects we ſhould hear twice, again and again; In every low condition we ſhould hear, That power belongs to God. Truſt him for the comforts of life, and truſt him for the preventing the evil of life; truſt him for the upholding of you in life, till his time be come, and your work be filled; only be not you negligent, make haſt in your work; work the works of God while the day laſts: but yet you may be confident the Lord he will not ſuffer the Candle to be blown out till your work be filled: The righteous ſhall come to his grave as a ſhock of Corn that commeth in, in his ſeaſon; I ſhewed how far we may make uſe of former mercies for the future to become great helps of Faith; when the ſoul is careful to lay up the remembrance of them, when the ſoul can eye the love of God, ſpecial love; when the ſoul is once convinced of that truth, of the unchangeableneſs of the love of God; when the ſoul keeps up the wing of Faith, and holds up its communion with God, can go and lay before God former mercies, and uſe them as Arguments to plead with God for the future; as Gods people have done; then do mercies become helpful for the future.
But how far ſhould we truſt Experinces? Why look upon them as Earneſts of that which God doth intend to give, and look upon them as Crutches, as helps in the way; ſo though all the experiences of God may be out of fight, for God may bring his people into ſome condition that may be above Experience, Experience cannot reach them: And therefore do not make your own Experience the firſt ground of your truſt; but truſt firſt in the Lord, and the word of his grace truſt them more then all your experiences; the life of a Chriſtian, 'tis the life of Faith, and not of ſence; the life of ſence is in Heaven; but the life of Faith is moſt proper here. Bleſſed are they that beleeve, and have not ſeen: and if God do give Experience, and manifeſt his love and goodneſs to thee, it is for this end that he might ſtrengthen Faith; he will learn his children to go alone: and therefore God many times hath ſtruck the Crutches out of their hands, and all ſights of God ſhall be gone, and God will make them to truſt in his naked word: Great uſe may be made of Experience; but yet I ſay, lay the word of the Lord as your foundation, and truſt that, for that will hold in all conditions, in the greateſt darkneſs, when Experience may be out of ſight, and you can ſee nothing.
We proceed.
He anſwer…d and ſaid: Lo, I ſee four …en loo…e, &c. Who is it here that bears witneſs of this Miracle of deliverance? 'Tis Nebuchadnezzer the King: it was one that was a proud inſolent Monarch; one that ſcorned God, and defied the moſt High, in the 15. verſe of this 3. Chap. that commanded the people to fall down and worſhip his Image, that he had ſet up; and in the latte… end, Who is that God that ſhall deliver you out of my hand? a perſecutor of the Saints, one that was filled with wrath againſt them: The King was …xceeding wrath, and comm…nded the Furnace to be heated ſeven times h…tt…r then ordinary: Yet here Nebu-Nebuchadnezzer himſelf is forced to bear witneſs A Queſtion propounded by Inteapreters.of the goodneſs of God to his people; He confeſſes it before all men: Did we not caſt in three? and loe I ſee four men looſe walking in the midſt of the fire, and they have no hurt: There is a queſtion propounded by Inter…eters, neither Nebuchadnezzer was truely converted or no? It ſeems there is much does make for his converſion.
Firſt of all; Here was a ſtrong work of conviction that paſt upon him, he was convinced of his ſin, he was convinced of the glorious Majeſty of God, to ſhine in this Miracle: His conviction makes him cry out before all the world, before all that were about him.
2. There is Secondly, A confeſſion of his Error, and an acknowledgment of his ſin: Now he knows there is no God▪ but the true God: There was alſo in the
3. Third place, A rejoycing in his own diſappointment, he rejoyced in that the Lord had prevented him in the evil that he intended, that he was not able to bring it to paſs, his miſchievous device againſt the Saints: as you may ſee in verſ 28 Then Nebuchadnezzer ſpake and ſaid, bleſſed be the God of Shadrach, Meſhach and Abednego, who hath ſent his Angels, and delivered his ſervants that truſted in him, &c. There is a rejoycing here that they were delivered, and that he was diſapointed, that he did not ſucceed according to his will: Now this ſeems to be a great meaſure of ſelf-denial: What did not Nebucadnezzar do as much in this as David did when he was diſappointed? in the firſt book of Samuel 25. when David had an intention to cut off Nabal: Abigal ſhe comes to p…rſwade him, and in the 32 v. David ſaid to Abigail, bleſsed be the Lord God of Iſrael which ſent thee this day to me. Nebuchadnezzar did ſeem to do as much as David did here; he bleſſeth God for his own diſappointment.
Fourthly, this ſeems to make for him▪ that he did rejoyce in the goodneſſe of God to his people, he does rejoyce in their grace; as you may ſee in the 28. verſe, Bleſſed be the God of Shadrach, who ſendeth his Angels and delivereth his ſervants that truſt in him: He ſeems to rejoyce here in their grace, in that conſtancy of theirs that they did not yeild to his command, and ſerve no God but their own God; and he rejoiceth in the deliverance of the Saints: Bleſſed be the Lord that delivereth his ſervants; yea further, he ſeems to give the glory to God: He does eye God in the deliverance; he takes notice of it as from God, and bleſſed the Lord: Bleſſed be the Lord that ſendeth his Angell, and delivereth his ſervants: Nay further, he takes care of true Religion, and of Gods Name to be exalted; he makes Decrees, and ſends it to all people, and whoſoever does act any thing againſt God, ſhall be cut in pieces, and their houſes thrown down and made a jakes: Thus you ſee what a great way he went, and what a great deal Nebuchadnezzer did ſeemingly for God upon this his conviction; and yet it may be it was but a conviction; and that 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 no… 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 Phar…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 w…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 genera…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. 'Tis 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, n…ither wil they be perſwaded though, one roſe from the dead: The greateſt Miracle in the world what ever, it wil no… 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 'tis 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 'tis a very hard thing to overcome the heart in this cauſe, to truſt God, to rely upon him; the heart is fille'd with ſl…very, and 'tis 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 t…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, Ʋſe 1 of ſin, is in every mans heart! a ſt…a…ge thing that the heart of a man ſhould be ſo ha…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 p…ece of fleſh, to be ſo ſtout, and ſo hard againſt God? that no ſword ſhould be able to pierce it; it ſhould not be only Muſquet proof but Cannon proof; ſtand out not only agai…ſt afflictions, leſſer judgments, but ſtands out againſt great judgments; many times againſt miraculous judgments: why here is a ſtrange ſtoutneſs, and hardneſs in every mans heart: Oh what a dead ſleep is every man by nature caſt into! you will ſay that man is in a dead ſleep, that though he be ſhot at, it cannot wake him, that he ſhould ſleep ſecure when the houſe is on fire about his ears; truly, this is the condition of every man by nature▪ though God do lay Cannon ſhot againſt him, and though God ſet on fire the world about his ears, yet ſtill he ſleeps; what a ſtrange condition is the ſtate of nature? Let us all take notice of it, and ſet us all bewail it in the preſence of God, ſeeing how woful it is, and what we are like.
Secondly, If Miracles cannot convert a ſoul, Ʋſe 2 then what a Miracle is it that any ſoul is converted? truly we may ſtand and wonder that any ſoul ſhould be brought home to God; how many M…racles is in this work of conve…ſion? to convert a ſoul to God; 'tis a greater Miracle then to open the eyes of the blind, to give ſtrength to lame to give life to the dead; a greater Miracle then to turn darkneſs into light, a greater Miracle then to beat down ſtrong Cities with ſeven R…ms horns, 'tis a greater Miracle then to make the world; he ſpake, and it was done, it was made, he ſpake his word, and the world was created: but God ſpeaks again, and again, once and twice, and often, before the new creature is formed, before Many Miracles in the converſion of a ſoul to God.faith is created in the heart of man: and truly Brethren, you need not wonder that ſo few are brought home to God; that's not the Miracle: but ſtand and wonder that any ſhould be brought home to God; there are many Miracles in the converſion of the ſoul to God; I beſeech you take notice of them: there is a Miracle of Firſt Miracl… of wiſ…d…m.of wiſdome; there is a Miracle of wiſdom, I ſay, in the converſion of a ſoul, that God ſhould find out a way to reconcile himſelf to a ſinner, and then re…oncile the ſinner to himſelf; here is infinite wiſdom to finde out a way to reconcile himſelf to the ſinner, to find out a way to ſatisfie both juſtice and mercy, that they ſhould meet each other and kiſs each other, and both be ſatisfied; that juſtice ſhould ſay, I have enough, and Mercy ſhould ſay, I am well pleaſed, and both be glorified in Chriſt: Brethren, here is a way that men and Angels could never have found out, here is a Miracle of wiſdome to reconcile the ſinner to God; alſo here is abundance of the wiſdom of God, that God ſhould finde out a way to make a rebellious ſinner, come in and ſubmit when he had ſtood out long, and ſtood many batteries, that God had layd againſt him; that the Lord ſhould bring him in by a word of his grace; that God ſhould come and catch a poor ſoul, and take him before the ſoul be aware: here is abundance of holy wiſdom, truly none could do this, but only God.
And as there is a Miracle of wiſdom, ſo there Secondly, Ther… is a Mir…le of Power.is a Miracle of power in every ſouls converſion: Oh wonderful power hath God put forth to over…ome the creature, and to overcome himſel…: To overcome the creature, to make a ſtubborn, ſtout hearted ſinner relent, to ſhake the Oaks of Baſhan, and make the Cedars of Lebanon to ſtoop: Yet truly this is the work of God, he put abundance of power into a word of his; and when an obſtinate ſinner hath ſtood out bo…h the allurements of Mercy, and hath out ſtood all the batteries of Judgment that God hath laid againſt him, God hath ſent out many Armies of judgments, to bring him in, and they have returned back again, and have not done their work; and that yet the Lord at laſt, ſhould be pleaſed to arme a word of his, a poor naked word of his with ſo much power, …o give ſuch authority, and to give ſuch commiſſion, as to go and bring in the ſtout hearted ſinner, and make him fall down at the footſtole of Jeſus Chriſt; here is a Miracle of power; and then that God ſhould overcome all his wrath, and all his fury and indignation, and ſay, it is not in me, I give thee leave to draw nigh to me, in my Son, fury is not in me; that God ſhould overcome himſelf to ſtoop to the creature that the Majeſty of Heaven ſhould firſt ſtoop to the creature, that the Prince ſhould come and beſeech the Rebel to accept of mercy offer the firſt tearms of peace, and not looking to the infinite diſtance that is between him and the creature; but lay that aſide, and beſeech a poor creature to accept of mercy; here is a Miracle of power.
And then there is a Miracle of goodneſs, a Miracle of mercy in every ſouls converſion; a Miracle of mercy, that God ſhould pardon the ſin of his people from Eternity; Oh the Miracles of mercy, writes the pardon, gives the pardon into the Sons hand; that he ſhould work it over by Covenant, and make all ſure for his people in Chriſt, even from Eternity, even to give Chriſt a pardon for his peoples ſins, many thouſand years before the ſins are committed; I do not ſay the pardon is given out to them, before they are brought in to ſubmit to Chriſt, but it is given out into the hand of Chriſt; that if they come and ſubmit to Chriſt 'tis in his hand to give it out, 'tis already written and Sealed; here is a Miracle of Mercy.
Again, that the Lord ſhould ſo freely, and ſo fully b…ot out tranſgreſſions; that he ſhould make the ſins committed to be as if they had not been committed; there ſhall no more remain of them as if they had never been acted; to bury them, to caſt them behind his behind his back, to throw them into the depth of the Sea, to carry them into the wilderneſs, into a land of forgetfulneſs, that when they are ſought for, they ſha…l not be found, they ſhall be as if they had never been; what a Miracle of mercy is this? that God ſhould bear no old grudge to a poor ſinner, a Rebel, one that have ſtood out againſt him▪ and yet that God ſhould retain no grudge in his heart, but receive a poor ſoul into his Boſom, as if he had never been defiled; to receive him into his own bo… els, into intimate communion and acquaintance with himſelf in love▪ as if he had never bin a R…bel; to bear no old grudg: here's wonderful rich mercy!
Again, for God to account the ſoul righteous, to look upon him as righteous, when he is unrighteous; to look upon him as righteous in Chriſt, when he is full of ſpots and polutions, and de…ormity 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 Mi…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 Ʋſe 3 to the word of God, then to Miracles; ſeeing what power God hath put into his word, and how he …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 n…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 …hought that they had been all conſumed; they have an unexpected life, they are all looſe, walk…ng in the midſt of the fire; and yet I ſay, Nebu…hadnezzars heart was not firmly wrought upon by this Miracle; but he returned again to hi… 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.