The Son of God Walking in the Fire with the Servants of God, Table of contents
The Table. Shewing ſeveral things obſervable, in every particular Sermon in this Book.
The firſt Sermon.
SEven Wonders or ſeven Miracles diſcovered in the Text.
First, That the light of the fire continued, and not the heat. Page 3
Secondly, That their number was not diminiſhed, but encreaſed. 4
Thirdly, That the fire did burn their bands aſunder, but did not hurt them. ibid.
Fourthly, Theſe men were ſeen walking in the midſt of the fire. ibid.
Fiftly, That the fire did remain fire, and yet not burn them. ib.
Sixtly, That they ſhould be in the midſt of the fire, and have no hurt. 5
Seventhly, There was one among them like the Son of God. ib.
The Obſervation, That the Lord doth oftentimes in a wonderful manner reſcue the lives of his Servants from death. 7
What reſtraints God lays upon the Creatures, that he might reſcue the lives of his Servants. p. 7, 8, 9, 10
The firſt Ground of the Point. 10
How Gods Name is glorified by delivering his Servants. 11, 12, 13
The ſecond Ground of the Point. 15
The third Ground of the Point. 16
Queſt. What God requires when he works Mercies for his people. 17
1. Take heed that we neither forget the Mercy, nor the God of the Mercy. ibid.
2. Not look with a ſlight eye upon great Mercies. 19
3. Give nothing to the Creature, but all to free grace. ibid.
4. Give back again to God, what God lends us. 20
5. Be willing that we lay down our lives, when God calls for them. ibid.
6. We ſhould do ſomething extraordinary for God. 21
7. Look upon all outward mercies in reference to ſome ſpiritual mercy. 22
The ſecond Sermon.
Uſe 1. To teach that the lives of the Saints are very precious to God, p. 28.
This is made out in four particulars. 30.
Uſe 2. To teach, that the ſouls of the Saints are much more precious to God; and therefore our ſouls ſhould be very precious to us. 34
Uſe 3. To teach us to ſet an high price upon our lives. 37
4. Rules how to prize our lives. 39
Uſe 4. To exhort the Saints to truſt God for ever. 45
The third Sermon.
The former Uſe further preſſed, and directions given what to truſt God for.
1. For all the comforts of their lives. 52
2. For overcomming the evils of their lives. 53
3. For the prolonging of their lives, amplified in three particulars. 54, 55
4. For ſpiritual Mercies. 57
Queſt. When mercies received may be helps to truſt God for the future; ſhewed in ſix particulars. 58
Queſt. How to improve mercies ſo as to ſtrengthen faith for the future, in two particulars. 62
Two things premiſed, and two Cautions how to rest on former experiences. 63
The fourth Sermon.
Wherein is ſhewed who it was that bare witneſs to this Miracle, viz. Nebuchadnezar. And a Queſtion propounded, whether he was hereby truly converted?
Arguments for the Affirmative given by ſome, p. 73.
And determined in the Negative. 74
Doct. 2. That it is not in the power of greateſt Miracles to convert a ſoul to God, unleſs the ſpirit of Chriſt ſtep in. 75
This is cleered by Scripture-examples. ibid. By Scripture teſtimony. 76
And by experiences in our own times. 78
First Ground of the Point, To put the greater glory on the word. 80 2.
From the deſperate hardneſs of mans heart. 81
Uſe 1. Take notice what a Miracle of iniquity there is in mans nature. 82
Uſe 2. What a Miracle it is that any ſoul is converted. 83
A three-fold Miracle is ſhewed in the converſion of every ſinner; Of Wiſedom; Of Power; Of Mercy. 84
Uſe 3. Bleſs God for his word, and look to it more then to Miracles. 87
The fift Sermon.
Doct. 3. God many times makes his peoples enemies to acknowledg and confeſs that the Lord is with them, and that he hath dealt graciouſly with them. 92
The Point cleared by five Demonſtrations.
1. Chriſt put up a petition to his father for it. 94
2. Chriſt hath promiſed it to his people. 95
3. God hath put a power into his Word to convince enemies, though it convert them not. 96
4. God makes enemies oft to be the eye and ear witneſſes of his peoples mercies; and Agents therein. 97
5. God works for his people in ſuch away, that enemies are forced to acknowledg the ſame, ſo freely, unexpectedly, ſuddenly, ſolitarily. 98
Two Reaſons why God will make enemies to acknowledg this truth. 101
Uſe. 1. A ground of Patience and encouragement to the Saints in tribulation. 103
Uſe. 2. Let not wicked men look with delight on the miſeries of the Saints. 104
Uſe. 3. Let the people of God acknowledg this as a very great mercy. ib.
Uſe. 4. Let the people of God much more acknowledg the gracious dealing of God toward them. 105
The ſixt Sermon.
Doct. 4. That all the perſecutions which the Devil or his Inſtruments raiſe againſt the Saints, ſhall not diminiſh their number, but rather increaſe them. 111
The point evidenced by manifold examples out of the hiſtory of the Church in all ages. 112
The firſt Reaſon, God delights to walk contrary unto men 115
2. Reaſon, The Lord Jeſus is a mighty King, and will improve his power for the Saints. ibid.
3. Reaſon, From the impotency of enemies to hinder Chriſts Kingdom. 116
Uſe 1. To let us ſee the vanity of all attempts of men againſt the truth and people of Chriſt, with an item to the Powers of the world concerning it. ibid
Uſe 2. To give a ground of patience and comfort to the Saints, againſt oppoſition of men. 119
Doct. 5. That the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is never nigher to his people, then when they are in great afflictions, in fiery tryals. 121
Some instances given to prove it. ibid
Queſt. What preſence of Chriſt the Saints may expect in their tryals, 121
1. His ſupporting preſence.
2. His enlightening and teaching preſence.
3. His ſanctifying preſence.
4. His quickning preſence.
5. His comforting preſence. A warning to the Saints to improve this Doctrine, they not knowing what tryals the Lord may ere long bring them into. 126
The further handling of this Point is in the eighth Sermon.
The ſeventh Sermon.
Wherein is conſidered the restraint the Lord layd upon the fire, it could not hurt them, only looſed their bonds, whence note.
Doct. 6. At the command of the Lord, the fierceſt of Creatures, ſhall not only not hurt his people, but ſhall take part with them, and do them good. 130
Two Branches of the Point. 1. They ſhall not hurt them. 2. They muſt do them good; both illuſtrated from Scripture inſtances. 131, 132
1. Reaſon, The Creatures are Gods Hoſt, they go along with him, where he is a friend, they are friends. 134
2. Reaſ. From the Covenant and League made with the Creatures, which hath two Branches. 1. To do no hurt. 2. To take part, and do good. 137
3. Reaſ. God hath a ſpecial providence over his people. 139
4. Reaſ. The Creatures are all reconciled in Jeſus Chriſt. 140
Uſe 1. Take notice of the mighty power of the Lord, what a great King he is, that hath all Creatures at his command. ibid.
Uſe 2. What a ſhame to man that he ſhould not be at the command of God. 141
Vſe 3. A ſtrong Motive to thoſe that be ſtrangers to God, to come in and ſubmit to him; till then they are lyable to be harmed by the Creatures. 142
Uſe 4. It is not in tho Creatures power to do good without God. 143
Uſe 5. Comfort to the people of God, and encouragement to their faith. 145
The eighth Sermon.
Wherein the fifth Doctrine is further handled, Concerning the preſence of the Lord Jeſus with his people in afflictions 150
1: Reaſon, The Lord Jeſus knows they have moſt need of his preſence then.
1. Becauſe of the weakneſs of the fleſh. 152
2. Becauſe of the ſtrength of Temptations. 154
2. Reaſon, The Lord Jeſus remembers his Fathers kindneſs to him, in being near to him in his afflictions. 155
3. Reaſ. Chriſt remembers his engagement to his people. 158
1. By promiſe. 2. By a Law of Love written within him. 3. By the Law of friendſhip. 4. That he may ſee to his work he is doing upon his people by afflictions.
Queſt. By what way doth Chriſt communicate ſo much of himſelf to his people in affliction? 161 &c.
Anſw. 1. He raiſes up his peoples faith to an high pitch. 2. He pours upon them the Spirit of Supplication. 3. He draws the hearts of his people nigher to him. 4. He manifeſts much of himſelf by his word which he ſends with affliction.
Objections Anſwered of ſuch as complain they have found little of Chriſt in their Afflictions. 164.
The ninth Sermon.
Uſe 1. To ſhew the unparrallell'd love of Jeſus Chriſt, who will never forſake his in afflictions, no friend on earth like him. 173
Uſe 2. To draw in thoſe that be ſtrangers to Chriſt, to ſubmit to him, and get intereſt in him, that they may have a friend in an evil day. 174
Uſe 3. There is not ſo much evil in affliction then, as men apprehend. 176
Two things may make the people of God not to fear afflictions 176
1. Becauſe they ſhall certainly injoy the preſence of Chriſt in affliction. 177
2. The preſence of Chriſt will countervail the bitterneſs of affliction. 180
Uſe 4. Let the people of Chriſt expect the preſence of Chriſt in their afflictions. 183
Object. But we have no promiſe of it now, as the Saints had formerly. 84.
Anſw. 1. Though God ſpeaks not now from Heaven, yet we have a larger word written. 2. We have the ſpirit given more abundantly then at that time to particularize the Promiſes to us. Where is ſhewed how we may know it is the Spirit that brings the Promiſes to us. 185, 186
Object. But ſure Chriſt is not with one in affliction; Why is it ſo and ſo with me then? Anſwered in three particulars.
Uſe. 5. To teach the people of God thankfulneſs, 1. Becauſe God leaves them not alone in their low conditions. 2. Becauſe he affords them his preſence therein. 187
Objections of ſuch as ſay they finde not Chriſts preſence with them in afflictions, anſwered; and directions given in ſuch a caſe. 190, &c.