A Trial of Faith, Sermons · Sermon 17
Matth. 15. 25.
Then came ſhe and worſhipped him, ſaying, Lord help me.
SERMON XVII.
I Come now in this 25the verſe to conſider the behaviour of this Womans ſpirit under her temptations; ſhe doth not ſtand to reaſon about her Election, but ſhe preſently comes and worſhippeth him; She came and worſhipped him, ſaying, Lord, help. This woman ſhe was under great afflictions at this time, ſuch afflictions as made her come and cry to Chriſt, Have mercy on me O Lord, thou Son of David, my daughter is grievouſly vexed with a Devil: And this her affliction was accompanyed with Temptation; and by a ſecond Temptation Chriſt would make tryal of her faith: And though ſhe was under affliction, and this affliction accompanied with temptation, yet ſhe falls down and worſhipped him, She came and worſhipped him, ſaying, Lord, Help. So that I ſhall cloſe with this Truth.
That it is the duty of Saints to worſhip Chriſt,Doctr. yea even then when they are in the midſt of the greateſt afflictions and temptations.
It is clear from the words, and in the opening of the Point I ſhall Firſt, ſhew you, What it is to worſhip the Lord, what is that worſhip which the Lord doth expect from his people, when in affliction and temptation.
Secondly, I ſhall give you Scripture inſtances for the Proof of the Point.
And then Thirdly, Conſider the Grounds of the Point.
And then Fourthly, Make ſome Improvement.
Firſt, What worſhip it is that God requires of his people when afflicted and tempted.To conſider, What is that Worſhip which the Lord requires of his people when afflicted and tempted.
1. This Worſhip it is either the Worſhip of the Spirit, Internal: Or
2. It is the waiting upon God in thoſe Inſtitutions of his own, which he hath appointed for his people to wait upon him in; which is External Worſhip.
This Worſhip firſt, is that of the Spirit. You will ſay wherein doth it conſiſt?
Why it conſiſts Firſt of all,Wherein ſpiritual Worſhip conſiſts. In that holy fear and Reverence which we owe unto the Lord, and ſhould be acting towards God, when God brings into ſuch a condition. Fear and Reverence it is a part of Internal Worſhip: Fathers of our fleſh corrected us, and we gave them reverence, ſhall we not much rather be in ſubjection unto the Father of Spirits? Heb. 12. 9. When as the ſoul is filled with a holy fear, fearful to ſin againſt God, and to diſhonour him in affliction and temptation, when the ſpirit is fearful to grieve the Spirit of God in affliction, when it is fearful to take the name of God in vain in the time of affliction, by unprofitable and unfruitful bearing of affliction; when the ſpirit is thus compoſed to a reverend childe-like fear before the Lord in the time of affliction, this is part of that Internal Worſhip the ſoul owes to God.
Secondly, This Worſhip conſiſts in Love, as well as in fear; when the ſoul is acting in love toward God in time of affliction or temptation, as that it dares not conclude that God loves him the leſs, though he be afflicted, though he be in temptation, ſo alſo he deſires not to love God one jot the leſs, notwithſtanding all afflictions and temptations; when the deſire of the heart is towards God in time of affliction or temptation; O! when wilt thou come unto me? ſaith David, Pſal. 101. 2. And ſaith the gracious heart, let me have God's preſence in affliction, rather then deliverance from affliction; when as the ſoul is carried out to delight in God in the time of affliction, to rejoyce in God, and to glory in God, and to comfort it ſelf in God, as David did when he was ſ…rely diſtreſſed at Ziklag, yet he encouraged himſelf in the Lord his God, 1 Sam. 30. 6. Though God taketh away many comforts, yet if he give himſelf, the ſoul is looking towards his portion as a bleſſed portion; one God is better then all the comforts that I have loſt, I have loſt friends and relations, but one God and Chriſt is more excellent then all the creatures in the world; when the heart is thus breathing in love towards God in time of affliction or temptation, this is a part of that Internal worſhip it owes to God.
Thirdly, This Internal Worſhip is that Truſt and Affiance the ſoul hath, which it placeth in God alone; when the ſoul is acting of faith in the Lord, The Lord is my portion, my ſoul hath ſaid it, and therefore I will hope in him; I will look toward him, I will reſt upon his Arm, doubtleſs thou art our Father, though all this hath befallen us, doubtleſs God's intentions are gracious, it is for my good that he doth thus afflict me; doubtleſs the Lord can and will make a good end of theſe afflictions, for that is his promiſe: Now when the ſoul is thus roling upon God, and reſting upon his promiſe, cleaving to the faithfulneſs of God for the fulfilling of his Promiſe in time of affliction or temptation, this is a great part of that inward worſhip which God doth require of the ſoul, when it ſhall thus believe in hope, above hope, and againſt hope; as Abraham the Father of the faithful did, this is Inward Worſhip.
Fourthly, It conſiſts in the ſubmiſſion of the ſoul to God. That Inward Worſhip that God doth require of his people in time of affliction or temptation, I ſay it conſiſts in the ſubmiſſion of the ſpirit unto God; when a man deſires to make a reſignation of his Will unto God; If this cup may not paſs from me, thy will be done; when a ſoul is content to be at the diſpoſe of God, for the kinde of affliction, and meaſure of affliction, and the time of affliction; well, if God encreaſe my burthen, let him encreaſe my ſtrength, and my ſoul ſhall glory in him; if the Lord will continue my affliction longer, and I muſt drink of this cup again and again, yea the third time, if the Lord will afford his preſence in affliction, my ſoul deſires to ſubmit to the Lord; when thus the heart is affected toward God, ſubmitting, falling down before the Lord, and making a reſignation of his Will to the Lord's Will. This is that ſpecial Worſhip of the Spirit, that Internal Worſhip that the Father of Spirits calleth for from his children in time of affliction.
But ſecondly,External Worſhip, what, and wherein it conſiſts. This Worſhip muſt be External as well as Internal, and it conſiſts in the giving honour to God in thoſe wayes that are of his own appointment, eſpecially in theſe two.
Firſt, In the pouring out of the ſoul in ſupplication before the Lord.
Secondly, In ſpeaking good words of God.
Theſe are two great parts of that external worſhip that God calls his children to in time of affliction; to ſpeak gracious words unto God, and to ſpeak good words of God to his praiſe and honour.
Firſt It is the pouring out the Supplication of the Soul before the Lord in prayer; it is a ſpecial exerciſe that God calleth his people to in time of affliction and temptation, to be much in ſupplication pouring out their ſouls before the Lord. Now this Supplication, this Prayer which the Lord doth require and doth delight in, it is accompanied
Firſt, With Humility; As you ſhall finde in the example of this woman, her prayer in the day of her diſtreſs, it was a humble prayer, a humble ſupplication; one of the Evangeliſts obſerves, (the Evangeliſt Mark, chap. 7. ve?ſ. 25.) that ſhe came and fell at his feet; this woman came and fell at the feet of Chriſt, and cryed to him, Lord help me; It is a humble prayer that the Lord doth delight in, when the ſpirit lyeth low before the Lord, when the creature is ſenſible of his own vileneſs, and ſhall acknowledge with Jacob, That he is leſs then the leaſt of all thoſe mercies which he doth deſire and expect at the hand of God, that if ever the Lord be gracious, it muſt be free grace, ſomthing in himſelf that muſt move him; when the ſoul is enabled by the Spirit of the Lord to put up ſuch a prayer, this is a part of that external worſhip that the Lord requires.
Secondly, You ſhall finde that this womans prayer was accompanied with Fervency; her very expreſſion doth hold forth and declare the ardency of her ſpirit; ſhe cryed before, O Lord, thou Son of David have mercy on me; and now again ſhe breaks forth into this expreſſion, Lord, Help: Why, it is ſuch a prayer that God taketh delight in, ſuch a ſupplication as is ſent up with a holy fervency unto God; and indeed the Lord brings his people into the furnace of affliction and temptation, that ſo he may kindle this holy fire of zeal and fervency in their boſomes; the Lord doth raiſe the ſtorms, that ſo he may make the Diſciples to cry the louder. Now therefore when the ſpirit is thus carried out to God, this is ſuch worſhip as he requires and expects.
Again thirdly, We ſhall finde that this woman ſupplication it was accompanied with Faith; Fervency without faith could not avail; but there is an expreſſion of her faith, that Title which ſhe gave to Chriſt, Lord; Lord help: ſhe looked upon him as the Lord of heaven and earth, ſo ſhe applies her ſelf to him in her diſtreſs; infinite … power, he was the Lord, and had infinite power, he was able to help; ſo ſhe reſteth upon his all ſufficiency: ſure he that is the Lord, the Lord of all, he hath power enough in his hand, and grace enough in his heart, he can do what he pleaſe, why ſuch a prayer the Lord accepts of as is accompanied with faith; the promiſe is made to faith; What-ever you ask in my Name believing, you ſhall receive; and the prayer of Faith ſhall ſave the ſick: the prayer of faith can do great things.
Fourthly, This womans prayer was accompanyed with Conſtancy; ſhe held on notwithſtanding the diſcouragements ſhe met withal, they were very many and great, the Lord (as you heard before) was ſilent to her a long time, when he ſpeaks he ſpeaks a ſad word, that he was not ſent to ſuch as ſhe was, yet ſhe holds on; this diſcouragement might have beaten her off, and made her to have ſaid, well, I ſee that there is no hope, I ſhall loſe my labour; but notwithſtanding all diſcouragements, ſhe doth continue in ſupplication, ſhe worſhips, and ſhe cryes, Lord help: It is conſtancy in Prayer that the heart of God is taken with, Chriſt you know ſpake a parable to this end, Luke 18. 1. That men ſhould pray alwayes. The ſoul ſhould continue with God, and abide with God: Reſolve not to go away from his feet, but there to ſit, and there to wait, and there to cry, till the Lord be gracious; this part of that external worſhip the Lord requires of his people in time of affliction and temptation.
Secondly, The other part of external worſhip is in ſpeaking well of God in affliction and temptation. So doth this woman, ſhe ſpake well of Chriſt when ſhe worſhipped him, ſhe calleth him Lord; by which word ſhe doth Firſt of all, Exalt and honour Chriſt. Secondly, She Juſtifieth him.
Both theſe are good words, which God takes well from his people in the time of affliction or temptation.
Firſt, She doth Exalt him, ſhe ſpake to his honour; thou art the Lord what-ever I be, though I be a poor vile creature, as ſhe acknowledged afterward when Chriſt converted her, yet thou art the Lord; nay, though Chriſt ſhould debaſe her, yet ſhe would exalt him: O this is an excellent frame of ſpirit, an excellent part of that worſhip we owe to God. And as ſhe doth honour God, So
Secondly, She Juſtifieth him; (O Lord) that very word doth juſtifie Chriſt in all his dealings towards her: Thou art the Lord, thou art Jehovah, infinite, free and abſolute, and may do what thou pleaſeſt, and in all this thou haſt done me no wrong, neither canſt thou do wrong, for thou art the Lord, I am thy poor creature, thy vaſſal, but thou art the Lord; thus ſhe juſtifieth Chriſt. Now when the ſoul is thus carried out in time of affliction and temptation, to ſpeak ſuch words as may be to the honour of Chriſt, and ſo to ſpeak, as to juſtifie Chriſt in all that hath befallen it, Lord thou haſt done me no wrong, thou art righteous, though my affliction be very great, though my temptation be very prevalent, yet the Lord is righteous in all that hath befallen me; if he ſhould afflict me ſeven times more, and heat the Furnace ſeven times hotter, I could not ſay thou wert unrighteous: When the ſoul is thus carried out (I ſay) to ſpeak well of God, to ſpeak honourably of God, and to ſpeak to the juſtifying of God in his dealings, this is a great part of that worſhip which we owe to God in time of affliction. And ſo you have ſeen the firſt particular, What it is to worſhip the Lord, or what is that worſhip which the Lord doth expect from his people in time of affliction and temptation.
Secondly, I ſhall give you two or three Inſtances for the proof of the Point; That it is the duty of the Saints thus to worſhip, what-ever the affliction or the temptation be, and that both with Internal worſhip of the ſpirit, and with External worſhip, ſpeaking good words unto God, and of God.
Thus it was with Job, Inſtance 1. of Job.look into Job 1. 20, 21. Then Job aroſe, and rent his Mantle, and ſhaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worſhipped, and ſaid, Naked came I out of my mothers wombe, and naked ſhall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, bleſſed be the Name of the Lord. Job he was under great afflictions at this time, all his ſubſtance was taken away, a ſad and unparallel'd affliction, and no doubt but it was a day of great temptation to Job, for that was the Devil's deſigne to make Job blaſpheme God to his face, and therefore without doubt Sathan did ſuggeſt horrible temptations, or elſe he had not well proſecuted his deſigne; and yet notwithſtanding it was a day of affliction, and a day of temptation, Job worſhipped the Lord, expreſſed holy fear and reverence, expreſſed love, and expreſſed his truſt, his confidence, and his ſubmiſſion; and he prays, and he praiſeth, he ſpake to God, and he ſpake well of God, all parts of worſhip, he fell down and worſhipped, and ſaid, The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken, bleſſed be the Name of the Lord: And ſo David often met with afflictions and temptations,Inſtance 2. of David. and yet you ſhall finde him worſhipping in divers of his Pſalmes.Inſtance 3. of Jonah. Yea look upon Jonah, and take Jonah for an inſtance, and O that God would make theſe his Saints patterns to us; Jonah 2. 2, 3, 4. He was in a ſad affliction, and his affliction was accompanied with temptation, he was as low in his own imagination, as if he had been in the belly of hell, and yet even then, when in the Whales belly, in the depth of affliction, and compaſſed round about with ſore temptations, Then Jonah worſhipped the Lord, verſ 4. Then I ſaid, I am caſt out of thy ſight, yet I will look again toward thy holy Temple. I ſaid I was caſt out of thy ſight; there is a temptation of diſtruſt, when in that ſad condition, in the bottome of the Sea, yet will I look towards thy holy Temple; and at verſ. 7. When my ſoul fainted within me, I remembred the Lord, and my prayer came in unto thee, into thy holy Temple: When he was in this condition, he prayed, and he poured out his ſoul before the Lord.
I ſhall only give you one inſtance more,Inſtance 4. of Chriſt. and that is of Chriſt himſelf, when as he was in a ſore affliction, and his affliction accompanied with temptations, then he prayed, Luke 22. 39, 40, 41, 42. And he came out, and went as he was wont, to the Mount of Olives, and his Diſciples alſo followed him, And when he was at the place, he ſaid unto them, Pray, that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a ſtones caſt, and kneeled down, and prayed, ſaying, Father, if th… be willing, remove this cup from me: Nevertheleſs, not my Will, but thine be done: and at verſ. 44. it is ſaid, being in an Agony, he prayed more earneſtly. His affliction doth increaſe, and his temptations do increaſe, and as they encreaſe, ſo he cries the more earneſtly to his Father: Afflictions do not make Chriſt ceaſe to worſhip; no, he worſhips the more, and he cryeth the louder, and prayeth the more earneſtly.
Thirdly,Grounds of the point, why it is the duty of Gods people to worſhip in time of affliction. We ſhall conſider the Grounds of the Point; Why it is the duty of God's people, to worſhip God in time of affliction and temptation.
Firſt, Becauſe there is no affliction or temptation, but it is from the Lord, it is his Meſſenger, it is of his ſending; we have to deal with God in it and it is fit that we ſhould fall down and worſhip him, when God ſends affliction, Iſa. 45. 7. I form the light, and create darkneſs; I make peace, and create evil; I the Lord do all theſe things: It is not ſpoken of Natural darkneſs, the darkneſs that is of the Ayre, that was not created by God, there is no creating cauſe, withdrawing of light cauſeth darkneſs; but God (ſaith he) creates darkneſs, he creates Metaphorical darkneſs, that darkneſs which he ſends as an affliction to his own people, I create it; there is no darkneſs but that which is of the Lord's forming and creating: In the Creation of the world, God ſaid, let there be light; but God never ſaid, let there be darkneſs: but now, when God will afflict any of his people, he creates darkneſs, and there is no darkneſs, till God ſay, let there be darkneſs; when God ſayes, let there be darkneſs in ſuch a man's eſtate, all his comforts ſhall wither; when God ſays, let there be darkneſs in ſuch a man's family, there ſhall be darkneſs; for he can turn the Sun, or Moon, or Stars into darkneſs; he can take away the head of the Family, the children that are as the Stars of the Family; if God ſpeak the word, though there be never ſo many in the family, he can turn light into darkneſs: and ſo, when God ſayes, let there be darkneſs in ſuch a man's ſpirit, O then, though it was comfortable before, it will be as ſad and as dark in the inward man, even as it is with the Ayr at midnight; darkneſs is of God's creating: and therefore when-ever the Lord brings us into a ſtate of darkneſs, affliction and temptation, either outward or inward, it is time then to worſhip the Lord.
Secondly,Ground 2. We ſhould then worſhip the Lord in time of affliction and temptation, for it is the Lord only that can enable a man to bear temptation or affliction: there is need (I ſay) that we ſhould apply our ſelves to the Lord, for he only can enable a poor creature to grapple with his affliction and temptation; If the Lord help not, the proudeſt helper in the world ſhall ſtoop, and not be able to bear up a man under the leaſt affliction, eſpecially when the affliction is accompanied with temptation, and is wounding; A wounded ſpirit who can bear? It is only everlaſting Armes that can ſupport under ſuch a condition; ſurely therefore it is our duty in affliction and temptation to fall down and worſhip.
Thirdly,Ground 3. The Lord only can give a ſanctified … of affliction; he only can do us good by our manifold temptations; affliction it ſelf cannot profit, ſad experience ſhews it, a man may have ſtroke after ſtroke, and yet receive no profit, no ſpiritual advantage, I am the Lord thy God that teacheth thee to profit, Iſa. 48. 17. God only can teach to profit; Bleſſed is the man whom thou correcteſt and teacheſt, Job 5. 17. When God's inſtruction and teaching go along with his correction, that man is bleſſed, that affliction ſhall be bleſſed: Affliction it ſelf cannot do it, and therefore there is need that we ſhould apply our ſelves to God.
Fourthly,Ground 4. God only can remove the affliction, and he only can rebuke the diſtemper, and ſilence the temptation; for certainly both affliction and temptation (as I ſaid before) they are the Lord's meſſengers, they are the Armies of the Lord of Hoſts, they go, and they come at his command, he gives out the word, and he bids affliction to charge, and it chargeth; and if he bids it to retreat, it ſhall retreat; God only can deliver from affliction, and from temptation; therefore ſurely it is our duty to worſhip in affliction and temptation.
Fifthly,Ground 5. It is the end of all afflictions and temptations to bring the ſoul nearer to God, to drive the ſoul nigher God: We are very prone to content our ſelves to live at a diſtance from God; before I was afflicted, I went aſtray, ſaith David, Pſal. 119. 67. Now the end of affliction and temptation is to fetch home the ſtragling ſheep, to bring God and the ſpirit nigher together; therefore it is fit that we ſhould fall down and worſhip, for therein do we draw nigh to God, when the ſoul falls down and worſhips God with Internal worſhip, fear him, love him, truſt him, and ſubmit to him, and when it is pouring out its ſoul, and lifting up the name of God, ſpeaking good words of the Almighty; ſurely herein the ſoul draws nigh to God, and ſo affliction attains its end.
Sixtly and laſtly,Ground 6. This is the way to eaſe and reſt in our afflictions; we cry out for eaſe and reſt, that is the thing we ſeek after; the way to have eaſe and reſt, is to fall down and worſhip; for by ſo doing, the ſoul doth caſt its burthen upon the Lord. When it doth thus fall down, and worſhip with the worſhip of the Spirit, fear, and love, and truſt, now the ſoul caſteth its burden upon the Lord, and his burden being left there, it bringeth in unſpeakable reſt. I ſay, when the ſoul by inward worſhip hath gone to God, and left his burden upon the Lord, O! it bringeth in eaſe to the ſpirit, whatever the affliction or temptation be.
Well then, to Apply this in a word.
Firſt,Ʋſe 1. What cauſe have we to be aſhamed that we have come ſo far ſhort of this Duty in the time of affliction or temptation? We have been afflicted at one time or other, who hath been free? many of your ſouls have been exerciſed with temptations, but O! What hath been the carriage of our ſpirits under them? Have we fallen down and worſhipped with the worſhip of the Spirit? Have we been putting forth acts of holy fear and reverence? Have we been putting forth acts of love towards God? Have we been exerciſing truſt and affiance in the name of the Lord? which is a ſtrong Tower, the righteous flee into it, and are ſafe: Have we made it our work to be ſubmitting to the Lord, to have our wills caſt into the will of God, to ſubmit to God for kinde, and for meaſure, and for time? O! How far do we come ſhort of this our duty? Have we been pouring forth our ſouls to God in afflicted conditions, and tempted conditions? Have we made it our work to cry the more earneſtly being in an Agony, as Chriſt did? Have we ſpoken well of God at that time? Have we not charged God fooliſhly, and ſpoken unadviſedly with our lips? Truly we have cauſe to be humbled every one, either we have not known our duty, or not minded our duty in the time of affliction and temptation.
Nay, Inſtead of worſhipping, Have not we been diſhonouring God in the time of affliction and temptation? Have not we been diſtruſting, murmuring, repining, entertaining hard thoughts of God, ſpeaking hard words againſt God? Have we not neglected our duty, and ſaid, what profit is there if I pray unto the Almighty? Have we not thought that we have had to excuſe from worſhip, when the afflicting hand of God hath been upon us? We have thought that affliction had been our excuſe from our duty; truly we may take up a ſad complaint againſt our ſelves, we are all guilty before the Lord, and O that he would help us to ſee the evil of our hearts, that hath paſt in the time of affliction and temptation!
But you will ſay, when ſome afflictions are upon us, alas we cannot pour out ſupplications to the Lord; ſurely in time of affliction he doth not require it; he will have mercy, and not ſacrifice.
But can our afflictions be worſe then Jobs were? Can it be greater then Jonahs? he was in the belly of hell; Can our afflictions and agonies be greater then Chriſt's were? yet he prayed, and prayed the more earneſtly; the more his afflictions and temptations encreaſed, the more he prayed: I know the Lord doth ſomtimes exerciſe his people with ſuch conditions, ſuch weakneſſes, as they cannot be much in the performance of this external part of Worſhip; they cannot be much in ſpeaking unto God, nor ſpeaking well of God, becauſe of that weakneſs that is upon the outward man; and if that be the only hinderance, if the ſpirit be not in fault, the Lord Jeſus will make an excuſe; Chriſt doth tender his poor ſervants and children in ſuch a condition, when he ſees the ſpirit is willing, and the fleſh weak; they ſhall not need to excuſe themſelves, Chriſt will. But even then we are called upon to be much in giving to the Lord that inward worſhip of the ſpirit, which may be given when we are in the weakeſt condition; and the more we are hindred from the external part of worſhip, the more ſhould we be in the internal part of worſhip, the more ſhould the ſpirit be reverencing, and loving, and exerciſing acts of Faith and Affiance, and the more ſubmitting to the Lord, and lying low; this the Lord calls for from his people in the worſt condition: and we have cauſe to be humbled that we are not found in the performance of this duty in time of affliction or temptation.
Secondly,Ʋſe 2. If it be a duty to worſhip in time of affliction, it is much more our duty to worſhip when the Lord is pleaſed to free us from affliction and from temptation; if God looks for Worſhip from his people when under affliction and temptation, then much more he looks for worſhip from his people when free from affliction and temptation: This is a duty that lyes upon all Saints, to be worſhipping the Lord, not only with Internal, but External worſhip, to take all opportunities of worſhipping the Lord in publique, and in our families in private, to be pouring out ſupplications, and to be ſpeaking well of God is our duty: if in ſickneſs, then much more in health; and if in adverſity, much more in proſperity; and if under temptation, much more in the day of freedome, when the hand of the Lord is not upon us; it is our duty to take all opportunities, and the beſt opportunities, and the fitteſt opportunities, both in our families, and in publique. Take heed that our incumbrances of the world doth not ſhut out our worſhip of God: Pour out thine indignation upon the Heathen, and the Families that call not upon thy name: O that that Scripture were remembred! Truly we are apt to complain when God lays his hand upon us, and exerciſes us with affliction and temptation, our complaint is, that we cannot worſhip; that is the grief and the burden, that we cannot worſhip the Lord, we are taken off from our duty; if ſo, we had more need to take thoſe fairer advantages and opportunities of worſhipping, while the Lord is pleaſed to continue his courſe of mercy and goodneſs towards us: Seek the Lord while he is near, and call upon him while he may be found; when afflictions come, we cry out, God is far from us, and at a great diſtance, and we know not how to apply our ſelves to him; but examine and ſee whether this may not be the cauſe, becauſe we have not taken our opportunity while he was near, we have neglected to worſhip him while we had ſtrength and ability of body, of pouring out our ſouls to God, and ſpeaking to God; and no wonder the Lord doth take thoſe opportunities from us: and truly that proves a great burthen to many of Gods own people in the day of adverſity, when God brings them into affliction, and exerciſeth them with temptation, and they ſee they cannot worſhip him in that external way; O! that is their grief, that they have not laid forth themſelves in the worſhip of the Lord, both publique and private, while the Lord gave them ſpace and opportunity; and therefore as we deſire not to lie under that preſſure, which will be exceeding heavie to God's own people, take heed how we neglect worſhip, either in our families, or in publique, or in both; for if it be our duty to worſhip under affliction, much more in health, peace, and ſtrength.
To draw to a concluſion, one word of Exhortation, and ſo I end.
Brethren, Let us look up to the Lord to teach us this leſſon,Ʋſe 3. to make Impreſſion of this Divine Truth upon our hearts; there is a time a coming that every one of us may be put to the exerciſe of it; and therefore look up to the Lord now to teach you, that when affliction and remptation come, we may through the Lord's ſtrength be made able to fall down and worſhip, both with Internal and External worſhip; O! that God would make thoſe examples of the Saints that were ſet before us, prevalent with us, to draw us on to our duty; you heard how Job worſhipped, and how Jonah worſhipped, and Chriſt worſhipped in an Agony, in the midſt of affliction, accompanied with great temptations; O that we might look up to God to teach us this duty! that we may be ready to fall down and worſhip, as Job was, when the evil tydings came that all was taken from him, be falls down and worſhipped, and bleſſes the Name of God. O! Know, that we have need then to be pouring out our ſouls before the Lord, and to be crying, as this woman did, Lord help, if ever we had need to cry, then Lord help; when affliction is upon us, eſpecially accompanied with temptations, men and Angels cannot help, we had need to cry, Lord help.
But you will ſay, what is it that we ſhould cry for to the Lord at ſuch a time? It is our duty to worſhip, and to be pouring out ſupplications, but what is it that God expects that his people ſhould cry for in time of affliction and temptation?
Briefly thus,What Gods people ſhould beg for in time of affliction. We ſhould cry, That the Lord would diſcover the cauſe of that affliction, and that tryal which the Lord doth exerciſe his people with: Truly, it is not without cauſe, and therefore it is not without cauſe that God doth afflict us, if need be you are in temptation, it is not without cauſe, and therefore it is our wiſdom and duty to cry to the Lord that he would diſcover to us why it is thus with us, to know what is his minde and will towards us, what God aims at, whether for correction or tryal, or for exerciſe; wait upon the Lord to know what is his end; it is an addition to our affliction, when as our way is hid, and God's way towards us is hid, and we know not what God intends; therefore we ſhould be much in this requeſt, fall down and worſhip him, and deſire the Lord to ſhew us the cauſe, what is his end in this affliction, this tryal and temptation.
Secondly, Fall down, and worſhip, and pray that the Lord would take away the ſting of affliction; the ſting is ſin, the ſting of death is ſin, and the ſting of all leſſer deaths, affliction, is ſin; therefore pray that the Lord would take away the ſting; pray that he would not correct us in wrath, and that he would not chaſten us in his ſore diſpleaſure; that was David's requeſt (Pſal. 6. 1.) that the affliction might not be accompanied with the Lord's diſpleaſure, but that the face of the Lord may be towards us, and the comforting preſence of the Lord with us in affliction; we ſhould cry that the Lord would take away the ſting, and that his preſence may be with us in affliction, that he would not leave us in the fiery furnace alone, but according to his promiſe, would be with us, when we go thorow the fire and water.
Thirdly, We ſhould cry, That the Lord would make us willing to bear our affliction, what-ever it be; that he would make our ſpirits ſubmiſſive to him: that ſhould be the great requeſt of a gracious heart, that the Lord would make our ſpirits ſubmiſſive unto him. O! What a gracious frame of ſpirit was David in, when he was driven out from Jeruſalem by his ſon Abſalom? 2 Sam. 15. 25. The Prieſts would have brought the Ark after him; No (ſaith he) Carry back the Ark of God into the City; If I ſhall finde favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and ſhew me both it, and his habitation; But if he thus ſay, I have no delight in thee, behold, here am I, let him do to me as ſeemeth good unto him: Here was a gracious ſubmiſſive frame of ſpirit under a great affliction; if the Lord will uſe me no longer as an inſtrument, and I muſt Reigne no longer, let the Lord chuſe what inſtrument he pleaſeth, and do with me what ſeemeth good unto him. O! Beg that God would give us a ſubmiſſive frame of heart, that when the Lord leads us into any affliction, we may be found ſubmitting to the Will of God.
Fourthly, We ſhould beg of the Lord, That He would ſtrengthen us to bear our affliction; that he would enable us to grapple with our Temptations, and ſo to bear our affliction, that we may be no diſhonour to his Name; ſo to bear our affliction, as we may be to his praiſe. Surely the leaſt affliction will cruſh us, if we have no other ſtrength then our own, we ſhall be ſoon cruſht, when under temptation: O! We had need cry, Lord help, we had need cry that the Lord would put under everlaſting Armes to bear up the ſpirit, and to enable us ſo to carry it, as we may be an honour to Chriſt.
Fiftly, When we fall down and worſhip, Beg that the Lord would give a ſanctified uſe of the affliction or temptation, whatſoever it be: Our ſpirits ſhould be breathing after a holy improvement of all God's diſpenſations, eſpecially theſe diſpenſations of great afflictions or temptations; truly (as you heard before) it is not in affliction it ſelf to do this, we cannot profit by it if the Lord doth not teach; and therefore we had need go to him, and cry to him, that he would give a ſanctified uſe, that he would make affliction attain its end, that he would bore our ear to inſtruction and correction; that we may hear the rod, and him that hath appointed it, that he would carry on his own work, and would make uſe of this affliction for the ſubduing of our corrupt nature, making us partakers of his Divine Nature. Thus we ſhould fall down and worſhip, and beg that God would give us a ſanctified uſe of all afflictions.
And know Brethren, that we ſhall never have eaſe nor reſt in our ſpirits till we be brought into this poſture, we ſhall be in a woful turmoyl and perplexity, as Noahs Dove, that found no reſt till it came into the Ark; ſo we ſhall finde no reſt till God brings us into this frame, bow the ſpirit, and cauſe it to fall down and worſhip in time of affliction, there will be no ſanctified uſe of affliction; never expect any good by affliction, till God bring the ſpirit into this poſture, to fall down and worſhip, as Job, and Jonah, and Christ did; that is an argument that the affliction is working the right way, when as the ſpirit is thus ſubdued to God: now it is working for good, certainly God will make a good end with that ſoul, when it is brought thus to fall down and worſhip the Lord, to fear, and love, and truſt, and ſubmit to him, and to pray, and praiſe, to ſpeak to God, and to ſpeak well of God in time of affliction: Now the Phyſick works kindly, and the Lord is engaged by his word, that this ſhall work together for good, even all afflictions; when it thus works, you may have aſſurance of it, that all ſhall work together for good, God will make a good end, as he did with Job, and you may be ſure that God will make a good end with you when as the affliction does thus work. And till this be done, never expect deliverance in mercy, if the ſpirit be not thus brought off in time of affliction or temptation, 'tis no mercy to be delivered; and this is a ſure Argument that mercy is at hand, deliverance not far off, when as the Lord ſhall enable the ſoul thus to fall down and worſhip. When Jonah ſhall be looking towards the holy Temple, though in the belly of hell, yet when he looks to God thorow the Mediator, worſhipping, praying, and praiſing, deliverance is not far off: O that God would help us to be looking upon his, and other examples! Yea, the example of this woman, when ſhe was tempted and afflicted, ſhe falls down and worſhipped, ſaying, Lord Help.