The Dead Saint Speaking to Saints and Sinners Living, Treatise 6 · Application 2
2. Uſe.
Let it bee an Uſe of cautional Adviſe to wicked men.2 Uſe is for Caution to the wicked. Let them beware of deſigning or attempting any thing againſt the Church and People of God, ſeeing they have ſuch a one on their ſide, as can, and will do Wonders for the relieving of them.
It was a truth, which Zeriſh Hamans wife told him, Eſther 6.17. — If Mordecai bee of the ſeed of the Jews, before whom thou haſt begun to fall; thou ſhalt not prevail againſt him, but ſhalt ſurely fall before him. It ſeems it was a known truth of thoſe dayes, even among Heathens, that there ſhould bee no power, nor counſel againſt the Church of God. God would do wonders for them.
Gods people are dear to God; they are all the riches hee hath in the World: Hee calls them ſo: His Inheritance, his Portion, his Jewels, his Treaſure. Hee hath a great deal of lumber in the world beſides: but theſe are his Jewels only; and it coſt him dear to make them Jewels. It was no leſſer than the price of his own blood. As the Apoſtle ſaith — You were not redeemed with ſilver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, 1 Pet. 1.19. Gods people are all the Income Chriſt had for his blood and ſufferings: all that Chriſt deſired: all that God promiſed, and all he enjoys. As you ſee, Iſa. 53.11, 12. Hee ſhall ſee of the travel of his Soul and ſhall be ſatisfied, &c.
And do you think then, that God will not preſerve his People? yes certainly, and will not ſtand to do wonders to preſerve them. Aſſure your ſelves, God will never deſert his cauſe, his Church, his People; when things are brought up to their ripeneſſe, that God is, as it were, drawn out to diſcover to the world, in what cauſe hee will ſtand, for what perſons hee will fight: Then he will declare it to the comfort of his Saints, and to the coſt of all thoſe, who are enemies to the Church of God.
God hath promiſed, That hee will never leave us, nor forſake us: Hee hath ſaid — Hee will bee with us, as hee was with Joſeph, in Priſon. And that not onelyonly as a Spectator but as an Actor: not as one to look on, and take notice onelyonly: but as one to relieve and help us. His power ſhall bee with us, his Wiſdome with us, &c.
And as hee is with his Church: ſo is hee againſt the Enemies of it. His Power is againſt them, before whom All the Nations of the Earth are but as the drop of a bucket: And his wiſdome againſt them; his juſtice and truth againſt them. And Woe bee to them whom God is againſt. Thou maieſt ſtand out againſt the power of men: but not of God, if he once prove thine enemy.
Hee hath a rod of Iron, a Scepter of power, an arm of ſtrength to cruſh in peeces all his adverſaries. And therefore as Pilates Wife ſaid to her Husband: — Have nothing to do with that juſt man: ſo I ſay to you, Have nothing to do, by way of offence, againſt the Church, and People of God; you will but ruine your ſelves, in ſeeking their ruine. Gods Church is both too heavy, and too hot for you; ſee them both, Zach. 12.3. There God ſaith of his Church, That hee would make it a burthenſome ſtone: who ever lifteth at it, ſhall bee cruſht in peeces, though all the Nations of the world be gathered together againſt her, yet all will be to no purpoſe.
For God will make his Church a burdenſome ſtone, that whoſoever lifteth at her ſhall be cruſhed in peeces. Hee doth not ſay, whoever lifeth it up, for that cannot bee; but, whoever lifteth at it, whoever ſeeks to hurt it, ſhall cruſh themſelves. Their very attempt ſhall bee their deſtruction.
Haman lifted ſo long at this ſtone, that it fell on him at laſt, and cruſhed him to peeces.
Pharaoh followed the Children of Iſrael ſo long, that there was no return at the laſt: he was buried in the waters.
Julian attempted evil againſt the Church ſo long, till at laſt God from heaven ſtruck him, ſlew him. The Church, God makes too heavy for his enemies, and too hot too. As you ſee in the 6. verſe of that 12th Chapter of Zach. In that day will I make the Governors of Judah, like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a ſheaf: and they ſhall devour all the people round about.
All the encounters of wicked men againſt the Church, is but like a ſheaf of ſtraw encountring with a torch of fire, that burns themſelves.
Whiles the iron is in its own nature you may handle it, and deal with it: but if once the nature of Fire be put to it, then ware your fingers, if you prove ſo bold and hardy as to touch it.
Wee ſay, He that ſhoots in a peece overcharged ſtrikes down himſelf, not that hee aimed at. There was never man, who levelled peece againſt the Church, but hee ſhoots in a peece overcharged, and ſhall be ſure at laſt to be ſtruck down with its own recoil.
They ſhall but lay ſnares, to take themſelves; dig graves to bury themſelves in, make rods for their own backs, and pave a way for their own deſtruction at laſt, Iſa. 54.15, 16, 17. Behold, the enemy ſhall gather himſelf, but without mee: whoſoever ſhall gather himſelf in thee againſt thee, ſhall fall. Behold, I have created the Smith, that bloweth the coals in the fire, and him that bringeth forth an inſtrument for his work, and I have created the deſtroyer to deſtroy. No weapon made againſt thee ſhall proſper: every tongue that ſhall riſe against thee in judgement, ſhalt thou condemn. This is the heritage of the Lords ſervants, &c.
God will work wonders for the deliverance of his Church; and for the deſtruction of the wicked at laſt. Let this bee for caution therefore to the wicked perſecutors.