The Son of God Walking in the Fire with the Servants of God, Sermon 9
THE Ninth 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.
YOu may remember the Propoſition in hand; Namely, That Chriſt is never rigler his people th…n when they are in great afflictions, in fi…ry tryals: He entred into the Furnace here; into the fiery Furnace, that he might ſave his people harmleſs: I gave you the Grounds the laſt day; why Chriſt draws nigh to his people, and why he doth communicate moſt of himſelf in their afflicted & lowconditions.
Firſt of all, he knows that they have moſt need of him, they have moſt need of him becauſe of the weakneſs of the fleſh; and becauſe of the ſtrength of temptation; he knows the fleſh is weak; and therefore he expreſſeth pity and compaſſion to his Diſciples, when they could expect nothing but fury from him, they could not watch one hour, when he ſtood in need of them; and yet the Lord Jeſus pities them; The fleſh is weak, but the Spirit is ſtrong; he knows what the weakneſs of the fleſh is; and he himſelf was partaker of our fleſh, that he might know experimentally what the weakneſs of the fleſh is; and therefore well might Iſaiah ſay, He was a man of ſorrow; a man of ſorrow, and acqua…nted with grief; he was a man of ſorrow all his days, and he had no other acquai…tance almoſt but grief and ſorrow when all his acquaintance left him, his grief and ſorrow followed him, even to the very grave; and therefore there is no grief, no ſorrow, but the Lord Jeſus had experience of it, that he might know how to pity his people in their weakneſs, and when they lye under their burdens.
Again, He knows the ſtrength of temptation, he knows what it is for a poor creature to be tempred, for he was in all things tempted like unto us, ſaith the Apoſtle: He had experience of all manner of temptations; he knows how to releeve his people under temptation, he knows, their ſtraits, when they are beſieged; he knows how the force of Satans Batteries are; he knows that in their weakneſſes the Devil takes advantage againſt them, and then above all other times indeavour to drive home the darts of his temptation into their Spirits; and therefore the Lord Jeſus becauſe they have moſt need of him, he pities them, and relieves them at that time.
Again, He remembers the kindneſs of his Father to him in his low condition, and therefore will ſhew the like kindneſs to his people in their low conditions; he remembers that his Father did not leave him in his ſtraits, and therefore he will not leave them in their ſtraits: The kindneſs that God the Father ſhewed to his Son when he was upon earth, took ſuch an impreſſion, made ſuch an impreſſion upon the heart of Chriſt that he can never forget it; but he will always labour to requite it, by ſhewing the like kindneſs to the people of God in their diſtreſs: Oh how was he taken with that kindneſs, that The Father would not leave him alone? how often doth he make mention of it; I am not alone, but the Father is with me? and therefore he enquires for ſome of the Saints of God, that he may ſhew the like kindneſs unto them: David remembers the kindneſs that Jonathan ſhewed him, when he was in his low condition; and therefore David enquires for ſome of his children; Is there none left of the houſe of Soul, that I may ſhew kindneſs to for Jonathans ſake? though there be but one poor lame Mephiboſheth, one that is lame of his feet, that is no fit companion for a King; yet for Jonathans ſake, and for the kindneſs Jonathan ſhewed to David: David ſhews great kindneſs to Jonathans ſon, took him, and ſet him at his Table: ſo doth Jeſus Chriſt deal, he remembers the kindneſs of his Father, the kindneſs the Father ſhewed him in his low condition; ſays he, is there none of the ſeed of God? are there none of the children of the moſt high, that I may ſhew kindneſs to, for the fathers ſake? Becauſe he ſhewed kindneſs to me in my low condition; and though he can hear of none but poor lame Mephiboſheth, yet he ſhews kindneſs to them, takes them into communion with himſelf, ſets them at Table with him, and in the midſt of their low conditions will afford his preſence▪ becauſe his Father & their Father did not leave him alone when he was in low conditions. Again, The Lord Jeſus he is bound unto this by many ingagements; I ſay, he is bound to be preſent with his people in low conditions; He is bound by his Word, by his Promiſe, by the Law of love that is in his heart: All my delight is in the Saints, and thoſe that be excellent; it is a ſecond Heaven to him, next to the preſence of the Father, he delights to be in the preſence of his Saints, and therefore becauſe he delights in them he will be preſent with them, though they be in the priſon, in chains and fetters, though they be in the fiery Furnace; yet it is a Heaven unto Chriſt to be with them; for all his delight is in his Saints; He is bound alſo by the Law of friendſhip, to be with them in low conditions; a friend is tryed in adverſity; it was a reproof to Huſhai, when he left David in ſtraits; and therefore ſays Abſolom, is this thy kindneſs to thy friend that thou wouldſt not go along with thy friend? It ſhall never be ſaid ſo of the Lord Jeſus, it ſhall never be ſaid of him, Why didſt thou not go along with thy friend? for he will go along with his friend in the greateſt adverſity: he will not leave them, but afford them his preſence.
Again, He is bound becauſe his work is in hand; A Phyſician is bound to look after his Patient, becauſe he hath given him a Purge: And ſo the The Lord Jeſus is bound to look after his Patient when he hath given him a Purge: Gold-Smith is bound to look after his Gold when he hath put it▪ into the Furnace: And ſo the Lord Jeſus is bound to look after his Gold when 'tis in the Furnace of affliction.
But I come to the Application.
Firſt of all for Inſtruction: This lets us ſee the wonderful unparalel love of J…ſus Chriſt; I beſeech Ʋſe. you take notice of it, and get your hearts affected with it: here is ſuch love as creatures cannot ſhew, a friend that will never leave one; a friend that will always afford his preſence, in the greateſt ſtraits; afford his preſence, that's a friend indeed; a man may be brought into ſuch conditions, as all his friends may forſake him, all men upon earth may leave him; David was left of his beſt friends; Father and Mother forſook him: and Jeſus Chriſt was left of his beſt frsends, they all forſook him and fled; and truly this may be the condition of any man upon earth, caſt out and forſaken of friends, of moſt friends, of beſt friends: will a friend venture his own life for a friend? will a man keep his friend, when ſome deadly infectious diſeaſe is upon him? when he hath a plag…e ſore upon him? will he …hen lye down in the boſome of his friend? when a man is condemned to the flames of fire, when a man is caſt into the fire, will a friend follow him into that condition? Truly ſuch friends you will hardly finde upon earth; but this is the friendſhip of Jeſus Chriſt to his people: when he firſt lookt upon them he ſaw how many plague ſores, infectious diſeaſes were upon them, and yet that could not hinder him from drawing nigh, and affording his preſence, and from working mightily by his ſpirit, upon their hearts: Nay, when they are brought to fiery tryals, to great afflictions; yet even then he will not leave them, and he will not forſake them; and this makes the love of Chriſt the more remarkable, that he ſhould thus condeſcend when he was at the higheſt, for he is now advanced above the Heavens, he ſits down at the right hand of the Father, he is at the higheſt condition, and yet he is pleaſed to condeſcend to the loweſt condition, he is pleaſed to come down when they are in the depths, in the greateſt ſtraits that poſſibly can be; what love was that the Spouſe ſpeaks of in the 5. of Canticles, and the laſt verſe: ſhe ſpeaks a great deal of the beauty of Chriſt, and in the laſt words ſhe makes her boaſt of her Beloved: This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend, Oh Daughters of Jeruſalem: I will compare with you all; I will compare my friend to all the friends in the world; This is my Belov…d; and this is my friend; ſhe compares him for for his beauty; and ſo you may compare him for his love; you may make your boaſt of the Lord Jeſus; you may ſay, This is my Beloved, and this is my friend.
Secondly, What a ſtrong Motive may this Doctrine be unto ſuch as are ſtrangers unto Jeſus Ʋſe: Chriſt, to come in and ſubmit unto him? What glorious Benefits may you be partakers of? What a deſireable thing is it to have ſuch a friend as Chriſt is, which will be preſent with his friends in their loweſt conditions? Oh that every man would ſet down and conſider that which Solomon ſpeaks of, to remember the days of darkneſſe, which will be many; many days of darkneſſe may come upon the earth, what a favour will it be to have a friend in the darkneſſe? a friend that will ſtick by thee when thou art in the dark a friend that thou mayſt take hold of his skirts when thou art in the dark Entry; a friend that will hold thee faſt when thou art in the dark: ſuch a friend is Jeſus Chriſt to all that do embrace him: Oh what a favour, what a mercy will it be, to have a friend ſtand by thee, that is both able and willing to help thee, when all Creature-comforts ſhall fail, when the very ſtrength of body ſhall fail? to have a friend ſtand by to help and ſuccour? and truly ſuch a friend is the Lord Jeſus: what ſaith the Pſalmiſt, in the 73. Pſalm, verſ. 26. My fleſh and my heart faileth, but God is the ſtrength of my heart, and my portion for ever: heart and fleſh fail, and then there is a ſtrength above nature; the Lord then is the ſtrength of my heart, and of my fleſh and blood: What a mercy will it be, to have one ſtand by you, when you go through the valley of the ſhadow of death, a friend then to comfort, a friend then to uphold? ſuch a friend is the Lord to his people; David was confident of this, therefore you ſee how his faith triumpheth in the conſideration of it, in Pſal. 23, verſ. 4. Yea though I walk through the valley of the ſhadow of death, I will fear none ill; Why? For thou art with me; ſee what a mighty confidence was raiſed up in Davids heart; and what was the ground of it? The preſence of the Lord? Though I walk in the vally of the ſhadow of death, I will fear none ill: why? For thou art with me; he doth put caſes of the moſt uncomfortableſt condition that may befall him; valley of the ſhadow of death, though I be brought down from the Mountain, and walk in the valley; and though this valley be a dark way, though it be a ſhadow of death, that is, though it be never ſo dreadful; and though it be ſo nigh that all the world cannot ſave you, even then, when I am in ſuch a condition, and walk in the valley of death, I will fear none ill, for thou art with me; ſo long as I have thy preſence, my ſoul is upholden: you read in the 4. of Revelations, at the 6. verſe, that the world is like a ſea of Glaſs: I ſaw before the Throne a ſea of glaſs: there the world is ſhadowed out unto you, and the condition of men that are in the world, the world is like to a ſea of glaſs: and Oh that men would remember this; if it be a Sea of Glaſs, what need have you of a friend to ſtand by you? you that are Travelers in the world, you walk upon a Sea of Glaſs; Oh what need have you of a friend to take you by the right hand; to uphold you? there is none but Jeſus Chriſt, none but his preſence can uphold you in this Sea of Glaſs: and if this world be a Sea of Glaſs; Oh what need have we to take Jeſus Chriſt into the Ship, into the heart, that ſo he may be our Pilot, and he may guide you ſafe? Oh do but think in what ſteed Jeſus Chriſt will ſtand you, when the ſtorms ariſe, and the waves ſhall beat when it may be the body of the Ship ſhall be ſplit, in pieces; Oh what will it be then for a Saviour to uphold the Spirit, to bear up the ſpirit, and take the ſoul upon his own ſhoulder, to bear it above wrath and amazement? Now do you apprehend this to be deſireable? Oh that the Lord would make your hearts to cloſe with Chriſt, to accept of Chriſt, and the tenders of mercy now held forth in theſe days of grace! I tell you, the time is coming, when you ſhall ſee weakneſſe written upon the tops of the Mountains; they will ſay, look to your ſelves, for we cannot help you; now will not the preſence of Jeſus Chriſt be deſireable to you in ſuch a condition? Oh then I ſay, accept of him, he freely tenders himſelf to you now in this day of grace; and Oh that the day of grace might not be ſlighted! his preſence is deſireable in ſuch a ſtrait; and is he not now deſireable, that ſo you may have him in ſuch a time of need?
But Thirdly, This let's us ſee, that there is not ſuch great evil in affliction as men apprehend; men fear affliction, and flee from affliction as from Toads and Serpents, and connot endure to think of affliction, cannot endure to think of the day of darkneſſe: I ſay, there is not ſo great an evil in affliction as men apprehend, for the Lord Jeſus is preſent with his people in affliction; and there is no reaſon why you that are the people of God ſhould inordinately fear affliction, and why you ſhould inordinately ſeek to be delivered from affliction; ſeeing you may poſſibly enjoy more of the preſence of Jeſus Chriſt in affliction, then ever you did in other conditions? would … loving wife be afraid to go into a dark place when ſhe ſhall meet with her Beloved? Why ſhould you be afraid to go into a dark place when you ſhall meet with the preſence of Chriſt? Remember that Expreſſion of t…e Martyr, when he was ready to ſuffer death, he breaks forth into this expreſſion. Come fire, and come wild beaſts; Come rack of the body; Come breaking of the bones; Come all the torments in Hell, that all the Divels in Hell can afflict with, I care not ſo I can meet with the preſence of J…ſus Chriſt: Remember how many of the Martyrs have ventured into the flames to meet with Chriſt? they have willingly ſacrificed their lives that they might meet with Chriſt: ſhall Peter venture into the water, and ſhall the Martyrs venture into the fire, and ſhall you be afraid to enter into an afflicted condition, where you may meet with the preſence of Jeſus Chriſt.
There are two things that make the people of 2 Things that make the people of God to fear affliction.God to fear affliction inordinately:
1. Firſt of all, Either they do not beleeve that they ſhall meet with the preſence of Chriſt in an afflicted condition. Or
2. Secondly, They do not beleeve that the preſence of Chriſt will countervail the bitterneſs of affliction.
Now I ſhall endeavour to clear both theſe, and to perſwade you that are the people of God: Firſt of all, that you ſhall certainly meet with Chriſt in affliction: And then that his preſence will countervail the bitterneſs of affliction.
Firſt I ſay, You ſhall certainly meet with Chriſt in your affliction; for firſt of all▪ he hath ſpoke it, he hath promiſed it, he hath ſet a part the time and place of his own appointment; he hath given out the word, the word is out of his mouth, and 'tis under his own hand written, 'tis under his hand and ſeal, that he will meet with his people in afflicted conditions, he hath ſaid in the 5. of Job verſ. 19. that he will deliver thee in ſix troubles, and in ſeven; and every Promiſe is under the Hand and Seal of Chriſt: and ſo in the 43. of Iſaiah, God promiſeth there, to be with his people in all their afflicted conditions; in their greateſt afflictions: In the 43. of Iſaiah, and the ſecond verſe, When thou paſſeſt through the water, I will be with thee, and through the R…vers, they ſhall not overflow thee, when thou paſſeſt through the fire thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee: the fire, that is in the greateſt ſtraits: in thy greateſt affliction, when the waters are ready to overwhelm thee, I will be with thee, and lift up thy head; I will be with thee in fiery tryals, when flames are ready to conſume thee, I will be with thee: I ſay, you may be confident of it, becauſe the Lord Chriſt hath given it under his hand and ſeal, that he will give your ſouls a meeting in ſuch a condition; is there any thing that can hinder Chriſt from performing this his promiſe; he cannot forget his word, he cannot miſtake the time and place, he cannot be hindred by any outward impediment: I ſay,
1. Firſt of all, He cannot forget his Promiſe, though he hath ſpoken many years ago, yet the Lord he cannot forget his promiſe; he is always mindful of his promiſe: See in the firſt of Chron. and the 16. Chapter, and the 15. verſe, He is mindful always of his Covenant, the word which he commanded to a thouſand generations: though the promiſe▪ be given out never ſo long ago, ſuppoſe it be a thouſand generations, yet the Lord he is always mindful of his promiſe, always mindful of his Covenant, to a thouſand generations; a man may promiſe his friend to meet with him, but it is poſſible a man may forget his promiſe, but ſo cannot God, he is ever mindful of his promiſe.
Again, He cannot miſtake the time, happily a man though he hath promiſed, yet he may miſtake the time, he knows not how the time paſſes, and ſo may be deceived; but it cannot be ſo with God, he knows all times, all creatures; Foreknow… unto God are all his works, from the beginning of the world, Acts 15. 18. Nay, he cannot be hindred by any impediment; his Father will not hinder him; he was willing to ſpare him out of Heaven for many years together, that ſo he might be preſent with his people, and all creatures cannot hinder him from performing his promiſe; ſee the 27. of Iſaiah, verſe 4. Fury is not in me, who would ſet the Bryars and Thornes againſt me in battel? I would go through them, I would …urn them together; The greateſt oppoſition was bryars and thorns to Jeſus Chriſt; bryars and thorns before devouring fire, will ſoon be burnt; and therefore upon this you may be confident, ſeeing the Lord Jeſus hath given out his word, he will keep time and place with you.
Again Secondly, You may be confident of his preſence in affliction, becauſe affliction is, for this end, it is the main end that Chriſt in affliction may meet with his people, that he may draw them into …igher communion with himſelf, that they may ſee more of him, & that they may enjoy more of him, and he enjoy more of them; that he may make uſe of affliction to remove that which is in the way between him and the ſoul, to ſubdue corruption, and to ſtrengthen faith, and to draw forth grace, to heighten the holineſs, and the grace of the ſoul; and to comfort the heart, and all that the ſoul may enjoy more communion with Chriſt; he doth take his people into a by-Lane, as I may ſay, in every affliction that he may ſpeak unto them; he took the Spouſe into the wilderneſs that he might ſpeak to her; and ſo doth Jeſus Chriſt when he takes his people into a by-way, it is, that he may ſpeak ſomething more to them, that he may ſpeak freely, and ſpeak ſomething that may be for their good; he doth not ſpeak in affliction, becauſe he delights in affliction, he doth not delight in their afflictions; he doth not afflict that he may be ſatisfied: no, afflictions they are not their puniſhments, for God hath ſatisfaction at the hand of Jeſus Chriſt, and therefore it relates to ſomething to come, that he may with this Chaſtiſement draw the ſoul more nigh, and ſee more of him, and enjoy more of him, more of his preſence, of his love, more communion with him, that he may comfort, ſtrengthen and ſupport, and ſanctifie: and therefore ſeeing it is the end, the main end of affliction, that Jeſus Chriſt and his people may meet and converſe together; certainly Gods people muſt not ſlight this his afflicting them, muſt not ſlight this main end of God.
Object. But if Chriſt do meet with his people in affliction, the preſence of Chriſt cannot countervail the bitterneſs of the affliction.
Anſw. But it will to the full, for there is that in the preſence of Chriſt, which may ſupply the wants of all creatures: I ſay, there is all goodneſſe, all ſweetneſſe gathered together in the Son of God, which is ſcattered up and down in Creatures, and therefore in Heaven the Saints need no creature comforts, they need not the light of the Sun, nor the light of the Moon; and there all recomfortable relations are broken a pieces, there is no husband, nor wife, nor child, Maſter, nor ſervant; why? becauſe the good of …ll theſe lations do meet in Chriſt, and the good of all theſe relations ſhall be ſupplied by the preſence of Chriſt, and therefore Chriſt tells his Diſciples in Mat 22. 30. In the Reſurrection, (ſaith he) they neither marry nor are given in Marriage, but are as the Angels of God in Heaven: they neither marry nor are given in Marriage; that which is the moſt comfortable relation in earth there is no need of in Heaven, 'tis too poor, too needy for Heaven, there ſhall be no marrying nor giving in Marriage; and …o the comfort of all other relations ſhall be found in Chriſt. In him there is a perfection of all goodneſſe, of all ſweetneſſe; now you cannot meet with the fulneſſe of theſe in any condition; there is a fulneſſe of joy in Chriſt, a fulneſſe of good in Chriſt; what ſays the Pſalmiſt in Pſalm 16. v. laſt. In thy preſence is fulneſſe of joy, at thy right hand are pleaſures for evermore. there is a fulneſſe of joy in the preſence of Chriſt, there is not a fulneſſe of ſorrow in any condition, no, there is a mixture of Mercy in every condition; the evil that a Soul meets with is not infinite, there is not a fulneſſe of ſorrow, but in the preſence of Chriſt there is a fulneſſe of joy, there is that which can abundantly countervail the evil that is met with in any condition; if all the evil under the Sun were met together in one condition, and a Soul brought into it, yet it might find in the preſence of Chriſt that which may anſwer that condition, the preſence of Chriſt will comfort, and ſupport, and raiſe up a Soul in that evil condition; and therefore you ſhall find that the preſence of Chriſt hath made the Saints to rejoyce in Tribulations, to joy abundantly. The Apoſtles rejoyced that they were counted worthy to ſuffer for the Name of the Lord Chriſt: it doth fill the Soul with holy joy, heavenly Raptures, yea the preſence of Chriſt hath been aſtoniſhment to the Soul many times when it hath been in a ſad condition: ſee what Paul ſaith of himſelf in 2 Cor. 12. 2. I knew a man in Chriſt about 14 years ago, whether in the Bo…y I canno… t…ll, or whether out of the Body I cannot tell, (God knows) ſuch a man whether in the Body, or out of the Body was caught up into the third Heaven: ſome think this viſion of Paul▪ was when he was in a ſad condition, it was immediately after his converſion, when the light of his Body was taken away by blindneſſe: Now it is ſuppoſed when Paul was blind in hi… Body he had this Viſion of Chriſt; you may ſee what abundance of ſweetneſſe he found in Chriſt, it carried him beyond himſelf, he w…s carr…ed out with holy Raptures; I knew not 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 affl…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 fu…lfilling of this word, that …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 condit…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 …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 li…e, of whom ſhould I be afraid? I cannot tell who the enemy is, who is it? he looks and he fi…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 bel…eve that the Lord would uphold him; for David had a particular word God ſpake to David, he …ware to David, He ſwore by his Holineſs that he would not fail David; and ſo others of the Sain…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 Ʋrim and Thu…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 Da…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 'tis 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 'tis the work of the Spirit, the Office of the Spirit, to particularize thoſe promiſes to the ſoul, to take th… promiſes and bring them home to this and that particular ſoul: Now where the Spirit of God comes, … comes with evidence, and he brings home the word of grace to th… ſoul, that the ſoul cannot gainſay it, nor reſiſt it.
Object. But you will ſay, How ſhall I know 'tis 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, 'Tis in the power of the Spirit to reſolve the ſoul; the Lord Jeſus ſends forth the Spirit with ſo much evidence, …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 m… 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; an… 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, 'tis 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 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 'tis through unthankfulneſſe, that thou doſt not ſee the preſence of Chriſt, thank thine unthankful heart; I tell thee, thou h…ſt a great deal of thanks to give, and thou ſayſt Ch…iſt i… not with thee: who is it that ſupported thee? who is it that put under his hand? was there more ſtr…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 thankfulneſ… 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 thankfuln… that the Lord ſhould not leave you alone, but a…ord you his preſence; Here is matter of double thankfulneſs that the Lord Jeſus ſhould not leave you alone in your afflicted condition…: Oh 'tis …n uncomfortable condition to be left alone; Wo to him …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? 'tis the greateſt good in the world, 'tis life eternal, 'tis 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 inh…bited, Leaſt my ſoul depart f…om thee: Now when God departs, what follows? nothing but deſolation; So in the Prophet Hoſea, ſee there what a dreadful threatning 'tis 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 w… alſo to them when I depart from them: There is all threatnings ſumm…d up in this, and more cannot be ſaid (w… 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 'tis 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, 'tis 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; O… but at laſt he will break out, and then ſhalt thou ſee that Chriſt was preſent with thee; and therefore 'tis 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 …e gracious effects of the preſence of Chriſt in thee, but believe the time is coming when thou ſhalt ſee; a friend may come with a Preſent to a friend, but no… preſently give it him, it may be he will ſit with him a long time, and when he is ready to go away he will give the gift to him; and ſo the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, he never comes empty, and he comes and ſits long before he gives out that grace, that ſtrength, that comfort, that is in his hand ready to give, but undoubtedly Chriſt will give it before he goes away; and therefore 'tis the duty of all his people to wait upon him for the giving of that grace that he hath promiſed to their …ouls; and therefore when Chriſt comes to a ſoul, manifeſting of himſelf is expreſſed to the ſoul by his ſupping with the ſoul, ſee Revel. 20. Behold I ſtand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will com… in to him, and will ſup with him, and he with me: If any man open the door, I will come in and ſup with him; he doth not ſay, I will come in and break-faſt with him, or Dine with him, no, he ſhall have my comforts before I go away, though I be at the laſt Meal, I will be ſure to ſup with him, though he break his faſt with ſowre herbs and dine with ſowre herbs, yet I will be ſure to ſup with him, and he with me; before I go away I will open my Bottels, and pour out my Flagons of Wine, and he ſhall taſte of my D…ties before I go; and therefore the Martyrs cryed out, He is come, he is come, meaning the gracio… preſence of Chriſt to their ſouls; the Lord Jeſus will at laſt manifeſt himſelf to his people, and will be preſent with them in their afflicted conditions, according to his word: and 'tis the Lord Jeſus his will, that his people ſhould expect his preſence, though he do not give it out to them preſently, yet wait for it, and he will abundantly ſatisfie your ſouls before he go… away.
FINIS.