A Word in Season to this Present Generation, Text (1 of 5)

A Word in Season to this Present Generation · Text (1 of 5)

p. 3THE SIGNAL PRESENCE OF GOD With His PEOPLE, In their greateſt Troubles, deepeſt Diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly Dangers.

2. Tim. 4. 17. Notwithſtanding the Lord ſtood with me, and ſtrengthened me, that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear, and I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion.

IN my Text you have three things that are moſt remarkable.Preached in March and April, 1675.

Firſt, you have Paul's commemoration of that ſingular experience that he had of the favourable preſence Acts 23. 11.Acts 23:11of Chriſt with him, and of his ſtrengthening of him. Notwithſtanding the Lord ſtood with me, or foreign, 1 Tim. 4. 16. 2 Tim. 1. 15.1 Tim 4:162 Tim 1:15by me, and aſſiſted me; though I was deſerted by men, yet I was ayded and aſſiſted by Chriſt; though all men left me to ſhift for my ſelf, yet the Lord ſtood by me, and ſtrengthned me with wiſdom, prudence, courage, and conſtancy, in the want of all outward encouragements, and in the face of all outward diſcouragements.

Secondly, here is the end for which the Lord ſtood by him, aſſiſted; ſtrengthned, and delivered him, viz. Rom. 11. 13. Phil. 4. 22.Rom 11:13Phil 4:22That he might preach the Goſpel to the Nations. That he might have more time, and further opportunity, to ſpread abroad the everlaſting Goſpel among the Gentiles, whoſe Apoſtle he was. Rome at this time, was p. 4the Queen of the World, and in its moſt flouriſhing condition, people from all parts of the World flockt to Rome. Now when they ſhould hear and ſee Paul's prudence, courage, conſtancy and boldneſs, in profeſſing of Chriſt, and in preaching and profeſſing the Goſpel; even before that grand Tyrant, that monſter of mankind Nero, they could not but be wrought upon, and the fame of the glorious Goſpel could not but by this means be ſpread all the World over.

Thirdly, here is the greatneſs of the danger, from which he was delivered; viz. From the mouth of the Calv. In. Eſti…. &c.Lyon. Some Authors do conceive theſe words (and I was delivered from the mouth of the Lyon) to be a Proverbial ſpeech, noting ſome eminent, preſent, devouring danger; I was delivered from the extremeſt hazard of death, even as a man reſcued out of a Lyons Beza. A Lapide. Vide Euſeb. hiſt. l. 2. c. 22.mouth, and pull'd from between his teeth. Others more genuinly and properly by the mouth of the Lyon, do underſtand Nero's rage and cruelty, who for his potency in preying on the flock of Chriſt, is here fitly compared to a Lyon, which devoured and deſtroyed the flock of Chriſt. This cruel Lyon Nero put a world of Chriſtians to death, and made a bloody Decree, That whoſoever confeſſed himſelf a Chriſtian, he ſhould without any more a do, be put to death as a convicted enemy Dedicator damnationis Chriſtianoru…. Tertul.of mankind. Tertullian calleth him, The Dedicatour of the condemnation of Chriſtians. This bloody Monſter Nero raiſed the firſt bloody Perſecution. To pick a quarrel with the Chriſtians, he ſet the City of Rome on fire, and then charged it upon the Chriſtians, under which pretence he expoſed them to the fury of the People, who cruelly tormented them, as if they had been common burners and deſtroyers of Cities, and the deadly enemies of mankind; yea Nero himſelf, cauſed them to be apprehended and clad in wild beaſts skins▪ and torn in pieces with Dogs; others were crucified; ſome he made bonefires off to light him in his night-ſports▪ To be ſhort, ſuch horrid cruelty he uſed towards them p. 5as cauſed many of their enemys to pity them: But God found out this bloody Perſecutor at laſt, for being adjudged by the Senat an enemy to mankind, he was condemned to be wipt to death, for the prevention whereof he cut his own throat.

The words being thus briefly opened, the main point I ſhall inſiſt upon is this, viz.

That when the People of God, are in their greateſt troubles, deepeſt diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers, then the Lord will be moſt favourably, moſt ſignally, and moſt eminently preſent with them.

The Schoolmen ſay that God is five wayes preſent. 1. In the Humanity of Chriſt, by hypoſtatical union. 2. In the Saints, by knowledge and love. 3. In the Church, by his eſſence and direction. 4. In Heaven by his Majeſty and Glory. 5. In Hell, by his vindictive Juſtice.

Hemingius ſaith, There is a fourfold preſence of God. 1. There is a preſence of Power in all men, even in the Reprobates. 2. A preſence of Grace only in the Elect. 3. A preſence of Glory in the Angels and Saints departed. 4. An hypoſtatical preſence of the Father with the Son. But, if you pleaſe you may take notice, that there is a ſixfold preſence of the Lord:

Firſt, there is a general preſence of God, and thus he Pſal. 139. 7. N…; quam eſt Deus, &c. ubiqu… eſt. C…ryſoſt. in Col. 2. H. …. 5.Ps 139:7Col 2is preſent with all Creatures; Whither ſhall I flee from thy preſence? Empedocles the Philoſopher ſaid well, That God is a Circle, whoſe center i… every where, and whoſe circumference is no where. God is included in no place, and excluded from no place, ſaith another, Non eſt ubi, ubi non eſt Deus. They could tell us that God is the ſoul of the World: and that as the ſoul is Tota in tot…, & tota in qualibet parte, ſo is he; his eye is in every corner, &c. To which purpoſe they ſo pourtrayed their Goddeſs Minerva, that which way ſoever one caſt his eye, ſhee alwayes beheld him. Though Heaven be Gods Palace, yet it is not his priſon. Diana's Temple was burnt down, when ſhee was buſie at Alexander's p. 6birth, and could not be at two places together, but God is preſent both in Paradiſe, and in the Wilderneſs at the ſame time. 1 Kings 8. 27. But will God indeed dwell on the Earth, behold the Heaven, and Heaven of Heavens God is higher than the Heaven, deeper than Hell, broader than the Earth, and more diffuſe than the S…a. Bern.cannot contain thee, how much leſs this Houſe that I have builded. By the Heaven of Heavens is meant that which is by the learned called the Empyreal Heaven, where the Angels and the Saints departed do enjoy the glorious and beatifical viſion of God; and it is called the Heaven of Heavens, both becauſe it is the higheſt, and doth contain the other Heavens within its orb, and alſo by way of excellency, as the moſt holy place in the Temple Iſa. 66. 1. Prov. 5. 21. Heb. 4. 13. Job 26. 6.Isa 66:1Prov 5:21Heb 4:13Job 26:6is called the Holy of Holies, becauſe it far ſurpaſſeth all the reſt in ſplendour and glory. Jer. 23. 24 Can any hide himſelf in ſecret places that I ſhould not ſee him? ſaith the Lord. Do not I fill Heaven and Earth? ſaith the Lord. Prov. 15. 3. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. God is foreign, All-eye. The poor Heathen couly ſay, Deus intimior nobis intimo noſtro. God is nearer to us than we are to our ſelves. Repletively he is every where, though incluſively no where. Job 34. 21. For his eyes are upon the wayes of man, and be ſeeth all his goings. V. 22. There is no darkneſs, nor ſhadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themſelves. Sinners ſhall never be able to ſhroud themſelves, nor their actions from Gods all-ſeeing eye. The Rabbins put Makom, which ſignifies Place, among the names of God. Bith…er brings them in expounding that Text in Eſther 4. 14. Deliverance ſhall ariſe from another Place, that is from God, they called him Place, becauſe he is in every place, though in the Aſſemblies of his Saints more eminently and gloriouſly. God is Math. 5. 45. Acts 17. …7, …8. Pſalm 33 13, 14.Matt 5:45Acts 17:7Acts 17:8Ps 33:13Ps 33:14preſent with all his Creatures. 1. Via productionis, by raiſing them up. 2. Via ſuſtentationis, by ſtaying of them up… they are his Family, and he foods and clothes them. 3. Via inclinationi…, by giving unto them power of motion, man could neither live nor move unleſs the Lord were with him. 4. Via obſervationis, by taking notice of p. 7them, he obſerveth and marks both their perſons and their actions, he ſees who they are, and how they are employed. 5. Via ordinationis, by governing and ruling of Acts 4. 25. to 29.Acts 4:25–29them, and all their actions, to the ſervice of his glory, and the good of his poor People. But this is not that preſence that we are to diſcourſe of.

Secondly, there is a miraculous preſence of Chriſt, Mat. 7. 22. Mark. 3. 15.Matt 7:22Mark 3:15and this ſome of the Prophets of old had, and the Apoſtles and others had in Chriſt's time, and by vertue of this miraculous preſence of Chriſt with them, they caſt out Devils, healed diſeaſes, and did many wonderful things. But this is not the preſence that falls within the compaſs of that main point we purpoſe to ſpeak to.

Thirdly, there is a relative preſence of Chriſt, and See Pſalm 46. 4. 5. Cant. 7. 5. Joel 3. 21. Zach. 2. 10. 11. cap. 8. 3. Pſ. 135. 21.Ps 46:4Ps 46:5Song 7:5Joel 3:21Zech 2:10Zech 2:11Ps 135:21that is his preſence in his Ordinances, and with his Churches. Of this preſence the Scripture ſpeaks very largly. Exod. 20. 24. In all places where I record my Name, I will come unto thee, and I will bleſs thee. Exod. 25. 8. And let them make me a Sanctuary, that I may dwell amongſt them. Exod. 29. 45. And I will dwell among the Children of Iſrael, and will be their God. Levit. 26. 11. And I will ſet my Tabernacle amongſt you, and my ſoul ſhall not abhor you. V. 12. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye ſhall be my People. Pſalm 76. 1. In Judah is God known: his Name is great in Iſrael. V. 2. In Salem alſo is his Tabernacle; and his dwelling place in Sion. Iſa. 8. 18. From the Lord of Hoſts which dwelleth in mount Sion. Pſalm 9. 11. Sing praiſes to the Lord which dwelleth in Sion. The Churches are ſaid to 1. Cor. 3. 16, 17. 2 Cor. 6. 16. Heb. 3. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 5. Rev. 2. 1.1 Cor 3:161 Cor 3:172 Cor 6:16Heb 3:61 Pet 2:5Rev 2:1be the Temples, in which the Lord doth dwell, and the Houſe of the living God, and the golden Candleſticks amongſt which he doth walk. O how much do's it concern all the Churches to prize their Churchſtate, and to keep cloſe together; and to walk ſutable to that gracious preſence of God, that ſhines in the midſt of them! But this is not that preſence that falls under our preſent conſideration. But,

Fourthly, there is a Majeſtical and glorious preſence p. 8of Chriſt, and thus he is ſaid to be in Heaven. Pſalm 2. 4. Job 16. 19. 2. Theſ. 1. 9. Pſalm 16. 11. 1 Tim. 6. 14, 15, 16. Rev. 3. 21.Job 16:192 Thess 1:9Ps 16:111 Tim 6:141 Tim 6:151 Tim 6:16Rev 3:21He that ſitteth in the Heavens will laugh, the Lord ſhall have them in deriſion. Heb. 1. 13. But to which of the Angels ſaid he at any time, ſit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footſtool? Cap. 9. 24. For Chriſt is not entred into the boly Pl…oes made with hands, which are the figure of the true, but into Heaven it ſelf, now to appear in the preſence of God for us. Not that Heaven is circulus concludens, a place wherein Chriſt is ſhut up, but Palatium reſplendens, the Court (as it were) where his Majeſty in acts of wiſdom, and power, and mercy, and conjunction of grace and glory doth moſt of all appear. As the ſoul of man, though it be in every part of man, yet it doth principally appear and manifeſt it ſelf in the heart and brain, ſo here, &c. Manica, Auſtin's Mother, ſtanding one day, and ſeeing the Sun ſhine, raiſed this meditation, Oh if the Sun be ſo bright, what is the light of Chriſt's preſence in glory! But this is not the preſence we deſign now to diſcourſe of.

Fifthly, there is a Judicial or wrathful preſence of the See Exod. 9. 14. Iſa. 6., 9, 10. cap 64. 1, 2, 3, 4. Pſal. 81. 12. 2 Theſ. 2. 11, 12. Pſalm 68. 2. Jer. 4. 26. Eze. 38. 20. Hab. 1. 12.Exod 9:14Isa 6Ps 81:122 Thess 2:112 Thess 2:12Ps 68:2Jer 4:26Ezek 38:20Hab 1:12Lord, and thus he is preſent with wicked men, ſometimes blinding of them, ſometimes hardning of them, ſometimes leaving of them to their own hearts luſts, ſometimes giving them up to their own hearts luſts, ſometimes filling their faces with ſhame, and their Conſciences with terrours. He is Judicially preſent with wicked men, by a particular obſervation of their perſons and wayes. Pſalm 33. 13, 14. Job 34. 21, 22. He ſees who they are, and how they are employed againſt his honor, his intereſt, his Saints, his wayes, and by a ſpecial deteſtation of their perſons and wayes, &c. But this is not that preſence that at this time falls under our conſideration, and therefore

Sixthly and laſtly, there is a gracious, a favorable, a The compaſſionate Parent is moſt with the ſick child ſo here.ſignal, or eminent preſence of the Lord with his faithful People, in their greateſt troubles, deepeſt diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers, as the Scriptures do every where evidence; Take a taſt of ſome, Gen. 39. 20. And p. 9Joſep… 's …aſter took him, and put him into the priſon, a place where the Kings priſoners were bound, and he was there in the priſon, Verſe 21. But the Lord was with Joſeph, and ſhew'd him mercy, and gave him favour in the Acts 16. 25.Acts 16:25ſight of the keeper of the priſon. A priſon keeps not God from his, witneſs the Apoſtles and Martyrs, whoſe priſons by Gods preſence became Palaces, and their ſtocks a Muſick-ſchool. Bradford, after he was put in priſon, Act. and Mon. f. 1489. ibid. 1457.had better health than before, and found great favour with his keeper, who ſuffered him to go whither he would, upon his promife to return, by ſuch an hour to his priſon again. If men knew by experience the ſweet that is in ſuffering for Chriſt, they would deſire with Chryſoſtome, if it were put to their choice, rather to be Paul a priſoner of Jeſus Chriſt, than Paul rapt up in the third Heaven. Baſil in his Oration for Barlaam, that famous Martyr, faith, He delighted in the cloſe priſon, as in a pleaſant green meadow, and he took pleaſure in the ſeveral inventions of tortures, as in ſeveral ſweet flowers. Luther reports of that Martyr S. Agatha, that as ſhe went to priſons and tortures, ſhe ſaid, ſhe went to Banquets and Nuptials. The Sun enlightens the World, ſaith Cyprian, but he that made the Sun is a greater light to you in priſon, &c. Fire, ſword, priſons, famins are pleaſure, they are all delightful to me, ſaith Baſil. Paul rattles his chain, which he beares for the Goſpel, and was Eph. 6. 20. 2 Tim. 1. 16. Act. 15. 26, 29. Phil. 1. 7, 13, 14, 16. Coloſ 4. 3. 18. 2 Tim. 2. 9. &c.Eph 6:202 Tim 1:16Acts 15:26Acts 15:29Phil 1:7Phil 1:13Phil 1:14Phil 1:16Col 4:3Col 4:182 Tim 2:9as proud of it, as a woman of her ornaments, ſaith Chryſoſtome. Paul and Silas in a priſon found more pleaſure than pain, more joy than ſorrow, and when they were whipt, it was with Roſemary branches, as I may ſay, Paul greatly rejoyced in his ſufferings for Chriſt, and therefore often ſings out, I Paul a priſoner of Jeſus Chriſt, not I Paul wrapt up in the third Heaven; Chriſt ſhew'd his great love to him, in wrapping him up in the third Heaven, and he ſhew'd his great love to Chriſt in a cheerful ſuffering for him. Euſebius tells of one that writt to his Friend from a ſtinking Dungeon, and dated his Letter from my delicate Orchard. Mr. Glover the p. 10Martyr wept for joy of his impriſonment; An… God forgive me (ſaid Mr. Bradford, when a priſoner) my unthank fulneſs for this exceeding great mercy, that among ſo many thouſands, he chuſeth me to be one in whom he will ſuffer. I was carried to the Cole-houſe, ſaith Mr. Philpot the Martyr, where I with my fellowes, do Act. & Mon. fol. 16…3.rouze together in the ſtraw as chearfully, we thank God, as others do in their beds of down. Philip, Landgrave of Heſſe, being a long time priſoner under Charles the Fifth, was asked what upheld him in his long impriſonment? He anſwered, that he felt the divine conſolations of the Martyrs. Gen. 49. 23. The Archers (or as the Hebrew here hath it the Arrow-maſters) have ſorely grieved him, and ſhot at him, and hated him. Theſe Arrowmaſters were his barbarous Brethren that ſould him, his adulterous Miſtriſs, that harlot-like hunted for his precious life. his injurious Maſter, that without any deſert of his impriſoned him, the tumultuating Egyptians, that pined with hunger perhaps ſpake of ſtoning of him, and the envious Courtiers and inchanters that ſpake 1 Sam. 30. 6. Jun us. Mercer. Not that his arms were adotned with bracelets & gold, as the Chalde ſaith, &c.1 Sam 30:6evil of him, before Pharaoh, to bring him out of favour; but by divine aſſiſtance, and Gods favourable preſence, he proved too ſtrong for them all. Ver. 24. But his bow abode in ſtrength, and the armes of his hands were made ſtrong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob, &c. Joſeph is likened to a ſtrong Archer, that as his other enemies as archers ſhot at him, ſo his bow was ſtedfaſt, and his armes ſtrong by the ſignal preſence of God with him. Such an eminent preſence of God had Joſeph with him, that he never wanted courage, comfort, or counſel, when he was at the worſt. The divine preſence will make a man ſtand faſt and firm under the greateſt preſſures; 2 Cor. 1. 9, 12.2 Cor 1:92 Cor 1:12it made Joſeph uſe his bow againſt his adverſaries. As David did his ſling againſt Goliah, he ſlung, ſaith one, Eucholc…r.as if he had wrapt up God in his ſling. Pſalm 23. 4. Yea though I walk through the valley of the ſhadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, thy rod and thy ſtaff they comfort me. The prefence of the Lord with his p. 11People in the moſt deadly dangers, fills their ſouls full of courage, confidence, and comfort. That darkneſs which comes upon a dying man, a little before he gives up the Ghoſt, is the greateſt darkneſs; and yet let a Chriſtian then have but God by the hand, and he will not fear the moſt hideous and horrid repreſentations of death. Dan. 3. 24. Then Nebuchadnezzar the King was aſtonied, and roſe up in haſt, and ſpake and ſaid unto his Counſellers, did we not caſt three men bound into the midſt of the fire? They anſwered and ſaid unto the King, true O King. Verſe 25. 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. The preſence of the Son of God turn'd the fiery Furnace into a garden of delights, a gallery of pleaſure. This divine preſence in the midſt of fire and flame, kept them from fainting, ſinning, and ſhrinking, and ſill'd their ſouls with comfort, peace, eaſe, and heavenly refreſhing. One of the Ancients rhetorically ſpeaking to Nebuchadnezzar, Auguſtin.who ſaid, He ſaw one like the Son of God, whence came this (ſaith he) who told thee that this was the Son of God, what Law, what Prophet? he is not yet born into the world, and the ſimilitude of him, that was to be born, is known to thee; whence came this? who told thee this, but the divine fire enlightening thee within, that whileſt thou beholdeſt theſe three as thine enemies in the fire, thou mighteſt give teſtimony to the Son of God. This heatheniſh Prince look't upon the fourth perſon, as one like a Son of the Gods, or like ſome young God, moſt bright and glorious, exceeding fair and excelling in beauty, as if he were not of humane but of divine off-ſpring. But what ever notions or apprehenſions Nebuchadnezzar had, we may very ſafely underſtand this fourth to be, as the words do literally bear, the very true Son of God, our Lord and Saviour, who is ſignally preſent with his People, in their greateſt extremities, and moſt deadly dangers. Zach. 1. 8. I ſaw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red Horſe, and p. 12he ſtood amongſt the myrtle-trees that were in the bottom and behind him were there red borſes, ſpeckled and white. The man riding upon the red Horſe, is the Man Chriſt 1 Tim. 2. 5. Joſh. 4. 14. Heb. 2. 10. Among the Romans the Crown, or Garland of thoſe that did ſhout for victory, or ride in triumph was made of myrtle, Plin. lib. 15. cap. 29.1 Tim 2:5Josh 4:14Heb 2:10Jeſus, 'tis the Captain of the Lords Hoſt, and the Captain of our Salvation: Chriſt is here repreſented in his Kingly ſtate, under the Type of a Man riding on a red Horſe, and having his Royal Attendants; for under the Type of red Horſes, ſpeckled and white behind him, is repreſented his having Angels for Miniſters, and all Creatures ready for every diſpenſation; whether ſad, repreſented by red; or comfortable, repreſented by white; or mixed of mercy and judgment, repreſented by ſpeckled Horſes. Chriſt is here repreſented as a Man on horſeback, ready to make out, or ſally forth for the good of his People, when they are at the loweſt: The low, afflicted, and ſuffering ſtate of the Church, is fitly compared to Myrtle-trees, that grow in a ſhady grove, in vallies, and bottoms, and by waters ſides: now when his People are in a very low condition, then Chriſt appears on horſe-back, for his Peoples protection, and their Enemies confuſion. Chriſt will be ſure to lodge with his People when they are at loweſt; when the Church is in danger Chriſt is not aſleep, he is alwayes ready upon his red Horſe, watching all opportunities and advantages, to ſhew his zeal and courage for his People, and his ſeverity and fury againſt their Enemies. The Man that ſtood amongſt the Myrtle-trees, Verſe 10. is that Man Chriſt Jeſus, whoſe ſpecial reſidence is with his People when they are in the moſt low, dangerous, and forlorn condition; no troubles, no diſtreſſes, no dangers can baniſh Chriſt from his People, or make him ſeek another lodging, Iſa. 43. 2. When thou paſſeſt through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers they ſhall not overflow thee: when thou walkeſt through the fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt; neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee. The Iſraelites went thorow the red Sea and were not drowned; and the three Children walked up and Dan. 3. 27.Dan 3:27down in the fiery Furnace, and were not ſo much as p. 13ſinged: By fire and water we may well underſtand the various troubles, diſtreſſes, and …ngers that may attend the People of God; now in all theſe various troubles, &c. the Lord will be ſignally preſent with them, to protect and defend… to ſecure and deliver them out of all their various troubles, their deepeſt diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers, 2 Cor. 4. 9. Perſecuted, but not forſaken; caſt down, but not deſtroyed: Perſecuted by Men, but not forſaken by God; the Saints may be ſhaken not ſhivered; perſecuted, not conquered; caſt down, but not caſt off. Luther ſpeaking of his …nemies, ſaith, They may thruſt me, but not throw me; ſhew their teeth, but not devour me; kill me, but not hurt me, &c. becauſe of that favourable and ſignal preſence of Chriſt that is with me. Now this is that preſence of the Lord, that falls under our preſent conſideration.

But for the further opening of this important point, let us a little enquire, how the Lord does manifeſt his favorable, his ſignal, his eminent preſence to his People, in their greateſt troubles, deepeſt diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers? Now to this Queſtion I ſhall give theſe twelve Anſwers.

Firſt, The Lord does manifeſt his favorable, ſignal, 1and eminent preſence with his People, in their greateſt troubles, deepeſt diſtreſſes and moſt deadly dangers, by raiſing their Faith to more than an ordinary pitch at ſuch a time, Exod. 14. 10. And when Pharaoh drew nigh the children of Iſrael lift up their eyes; The faithful cry unto God in their extremities, but the unbelievers became mad, Pellican.and behold the Egyptians marched after them, and they were ſore afraid: and the children of Iſrael cried out un to the Lord, Verſe 11. And they ſaid unto Moſes, becauſe there were no graves in Egypt, haſt thou taken us away to die in the wilderneſs? wherefore haſt thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth of Egypt? Verſe 12. Is not this the word, that we did tell thee in Egypt, ſaying, Let us alone, that we may ſerve the Egyptians? for it bad been better for us to ſerve the Egyptians, than that we ſhould die in the wilderneſs. Thus you ſee their great troubles, deep diſtreſſes p. 14and moſt deadly dangers, they having a Red Sea before them, an… a cruel, bloody, and enraged Enemy juſt at the heels of them. Now in this extremity ſee to what a high pitch Moſes his Faith riſes; Verſe 13. And Moſes ſaid unto the People, fear ye vide Joſeph. lib. 2. cap. 6.not, ſtand ſtill, and ſee the ſalvation of the Lord, which he will ſhew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have ſeen to day, ye ſhall ſee them again no more for ever. He ſaith, they ſhall never ſee the Egyptians again, that is, in that manner as they ſaw them that day, inſulting againſt them and p…rfuing after them, as the Septuagint do well interpret it, foreign, after what ſort ye have ſeen them, for they ſaw them afterward, Exod. 14. 30.Exod 14:30but drowned, and lying dead upon the ſhore, Verſe 14. The Lord ſhall fight for you and ye ſhall hold your peace. A ſtrong Faith will help a Chriſtian at a dead lift, though Moſes had received no particular promiſe how the Iſraelites ſhould be delivered, yet he reſted upon Gods general promiſe, before that he would get himfelf honour upon Pharaoh and his Hoſt. The Lord ſhall fight for you, and ye ſhall be ſtill; as if he had ſaid, ye ſhall be meerly paſſive, and do nothing at all towards the ſubduing of your Enemies, neither in words, nor deeds, the Lord ſhall fight againſt your Enemies, and defeat them himſelf by a ſtrong hand, and an outſtretched arm, compoſe your ſelves, act faith and hope in God, withour doubting, murmuring, grudging, fainting, or fretting; for God deferreth his chiefeſt aid, until mans greateſt need, when the Enemy is higheſt Salvation is neareſt, when the danger is greateſt, the help of God is readieſt, as at this time they found it.

2 Chron. 13. 3. Abijah ſet the battel in aray, with an Army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thouſand choſen men: Jeroboam alſo ſet the Battel in aray againſt him, with eight hundred thouſand choſen men, being mighty men of valour: Jeroboam had two to one; Verſe 7. And there were gathered unto him vain men, the children p. 15of Belial, and have ſtrengthened themſelves againſt Rehoboam the Son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender-hearted and could not withſtand them. Rehoboam was no warriour, he was no expert Prince in the uſe of 2 Chron. 12. 13. He was one and forty years old when he came to the Crown.2 Chr 12:13Arms, he was but young (not in age) but in experience, policy, and valour, he was hen-hearted, he had no courage, no mettle: Jeroboam takes hold of theſe advantages and gathers eigth hundred thouſand Racha's, brainleſs fellows, light and empty, yoakleſs and maſterleſs perſons, men of no piety, civility, ingenuity, or common honeſty. Now ſee what a mighty ſpirit of Faith God raiſed in the children of Judah, verſe 17. And Abijah and his People ſlew them with a great ſlaughter: ſo there fell down ſlain of Iſrael five hundred thouſand choſen men. A monſtrous and matchleſs ſlaughter, the greateſt number that ever we read ſlain in any battle: far beyond that of Tamerlan, when he took Bajazet, or Aetius the Roman Prefect, when he fought with Attilas and his Hunnes in the Fields of Catalaunia, where were ſlain on both ſides one hundred ſixty five thouſand. Verſe 18. Thus the children of Iſrael were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, becauſe they relied upon the Lord God of their Fathers; Faith at a dead lift never miſcarrieth: God never has nor never will fail thoſe that place their confidence upon him in their greateſt dangers.

Eſher 4. 14. For if thou altogether hold thy peace at this time, then ſhall there enlargement and deliverance ariſe to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy Fathers houſe ſhall be deſtroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the Kingdom for ſuch a time as this. Their great trouble, their deep diſtreſs, and their moſt deadly danger you have in that 3. Eſther 13. And the Letters were ſent by the poſts into all the Kings provinces, to deſtroy, to kill Here are great aggravations of his cruelty, in that neither ſex not age are ſpared; Rage and mallce knows no bo…nds.and to cauſe to periſh, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth monethmonth (which is the monethmonth Adar) and to take the ſpoil of them for a prey. Haman that grard p. 16Informer, with his wicked crew, would have ſpoiled them of their lives and goods, but that they were prevented by a miraculous providence as you know; now in this deep diſtreſs and moſt deadly danger at what a rate doth Mordecai believe. [For if thou altogether holdeſt thy peace at this time, then ſhall there enlargement (Heb. reſpiration) and deliverance ariſe. (Heb. Stand up as on its baſis or bottom ſo as none ſhall be able to withſtand it.) This Mordecai ſpeaketh not by a ſpirit of prophecy, but by the power and force of his faith, grounded upon the precious promiſes of Gods defending his Church, hearing the crics of his People, ariſing for their relief and ſuccour, and grounded upon all the glorious attributes of God, viz. his power, love, wiſdom, goodneſs, and allſufficiency, &c. all which are engaged in the Covenant of grace, to ſave, protect, and ſecure his People in their greateſt troubles and moſt deadly dangers. Mordecai's faith in this black, dark, diſmal day, was a notable faith inde…d, and worthy of higheſt commendation. Faith can look through the perſpective of the promiſes, and ſee deliverance at a great diſtance, ſalvation at the door; what though ſenſe ſaith, Deliverance will not come, and what though reaſon ſaith, Deliverance cannot come: yet a raiſed faith gets above all fears, and diſputes and ſayes; Deliverance will certainly come, Redemption is at hand.

Num. 13. 30. And Caleb ſtilled the People before Moſes, and ſaid, let us go up at once, and paſſeſs it, for we are well able to overcome it. Cap. 14. 9. Only rebel not ye againſt the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the Land, for Num. 13. 32, 33.Num 13:32Num 13:33they are bread for us; their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us, fear them not. The Spies by their lyes did what they could to daunt and diſcourage the People, by crying up the ſtrength of the Anakims, and …um. 13. 23. to the 28.the impoſſibility of the conqueſt, theſe hollow-hearted hypocritical Spies blow hot and cold almoſt in a breath; Firſt, they make a narrative of the fruitfulneſs of the Land, and preſently they conclude, that it was a Land p. 17that was not ſufficient to nouriſh the inhabitants, yea, a Verſe 32.Land that did devour the inhabitants. Liars have no Iron memories. But now behold to what a mighty pitch Caleb's faith is raiſed. [Let us go up at once, and poſſeſs it, for we are able to overcome it.] Or nearer the Hebrew, Marching up, march up, ſubduing ſubdue. Let us, ſaith believing Caleb, march up to the land of Canaan couragiouſly, reſolutely, undauntedly, for the day is our own, the Land is our own, all is our own. [They are bread for us,] we ſhall make but a break-faſt of them, we ſhall eaſily and as ſurely root them out, and cut them down with our ſwords, as we cut the bread we eat. [Their defence is departed from them.] In the Hebrew it Pſalm 91. 1. Pſ. 121. …, 6.Ps 91:1Ps 121is, Their ſhadow is departed from them; the ſhadow you know guards a man from the ſcorching heat of the Sun. Caleb by faith, ſaw God with drawn from them, by the eye of his faith he lookt upon them as a people without a fence, a ſhadow, a guard, a covert, a protection, and therefore, as a people that might eaſily be ſubdued, and deſtroyed. His faith told him, that it was not their ſtrong Cities, nor their high walls, nor their ſons of Anack, that could preſerve, ſhelter, ſecure, or defend them, ſeeing the Lord had forſaken them, and would be no longer as a ſhadow or a ſhelter to them [And the Lord is with us,] to make us victorious, to tr…ad down our enemies, and to give us a quiet poſſeſſion of the good Land.

So Dan. 3. 16. Shadrach, Meſhach, and Abednego anſwered and ſaid to the King: O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to anſwer thee in this matter. Ver. 17. If it be ſo, our God whom we ſerve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery Furnace, and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O King. In the fiery Furnace they are protected by Joſephus Antiq. p. 259, 260.a divine providence, they eſcape death beyond all mens expectations, for the fire touched them not, neither could it burn during their aboad in the Furnace, for God ſo fortified their bodies that they could not be conſumed by fire; which accident made them in great eſtimation with the King, for that he ſaw, that they w…re p. 18vertuous, and beloved of God, and for that cauſe they were highly honoured by him. Here is a fiery Furnace before them, and a proud, boaſting, tyrannical, enraged Prince domineering over them, for not obeying his Idolatrous will. Now to what a mighty pitch is their faith raiſed? [Our God whom we ſerve, is able to deliver us, and he will deliver us.] Their faith was bottomed upon their propriety in God. [Our God,] and upon the power, providence, and all-ſufficiency of God. [Is able to deliver us,] and upon the gracious readineſs, and willingneſs of God. [And he will deliver us out of thy hand, O King.] When dangers are greateſt, then God commonly raiſes the faith of his people higheſt, faith doth moſt and beſt for us, when we are at a dead lift. It Heb. 11. 34.Heb 11:34quenches the violence of fire, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, pointing at the faith of theſe three Children, or rather Champions; though now the fiery Furnace was heat ſeven times hotter, then it uſed to be at other times, yet ſuch was the ſtrength, and might, and power of their faith, that it ſo quenched the flames, that they had not one hair of their heads ſinged, nor their coats changed, Dan. 3. 27.Dan 3:27nor the ſmell of fire found upon them; and thus the bleſſed Martyrs may be ſaid by their faith, patience, and conſtancy to quench the violence of the fire, though their bodies were conſumed to aſhes in the fire. So Dan. 6. 16. Daniel is caſt into the den of hungry, enraged Lions; innocent Daniel is expoſed to the cruel paws, and hungry jaws of Lyons. This Kind of capital puniſhment, was not unuſual among the Babylonians, the Medes, and Perſians, and among the Romans alſo, with whom it was a common ſaying in Tertullian's time, Let the Chriſtians be caſt to the Lyons. The faces of the A…os …. 8.Lyons are ſtern, and their voices are terrible, they are roaring and ravening, they are greedy of their prey; they are vigilant and ſubtil, lying in wait to get their prey, they ſleep little, and when they ſleep it's apertis Pſalm 17. 12.Ps 17:12oculis, With open eyes; they mind their prey much, and are cunning to catch it; the Lyon hides himſelf, and p. 19when the prey comes near he ſuddenly ſurpriſes it: they are proud and ſtately, they go alone, they eat not with the Lyonneſs, much leſs with other creatures, they will not ſtoop to any, or turn away from any, they do what Prov. 30. 3. Nah. 2. 12. 2 Kin 17. 6. Prov. 28. 15 1 Pet. 5. 8.Prov 30:3Nah 2:122 Kgs 17:6Prov 28:151 Pet 5:8they liſt; they are moſt cruel, bloody, devouring creatures; they have terrible claws, ſharp teeth, and are ſtrong and mighty to cruſh and break the bones; and it is very dangerous to meddle with Lyons. Num. 24. 9. He layeth down as a Lyon, as a great Lyon, who ſhall ſtir him up? Lyons if offended and provoked, are very revengful; in the hunting or taking of Lyons, the Lyon obſerves who wounds him, and on him if poſſible he will be revenged. Aelian tells of a Bear that came into a Lyons den, and bit the whelps ſhe found there; the Lyon returning, the Bear to ſhift for her ſelf got up into a high tree, the Lyoneſs watch'd at the foot of the tree: the Lyon ranged abroad in the woods, and meets with a man that had an axe, and us'd to fell trees; this man the Lyon brings to the den, ſhew'd him the wounded whelps, directs him to the tree where the Bear was, which he cut down; the Bear being torn in pieces, the man was ſafely diſmiſt. By theſe hints we may gueſs at the deadly danger, that Daniel was in. Some Writers tell us, that if a cloth be caſt upon the eyes of a Lyon Ariſtot. Pliny, Pererius.to cover them, he will not hurt a man. 2. Or if he be full. Joſephus, to illuſtrate the Hiſtory, ſaith, that theſe Joſephus Antiq. pag. 262, 263.Princes pleaded before the King, ſaying, that the Lyons were full and gorged, and therefore they would not touch Daniel; which he hearing being diſpleaſed with their injurious malice, ſaid, that the Lyons ſhould now be ſed, and then they caſt in to ſee, when they were gorged, whether they could likewiſe eſcape; but this being done they were ſuddenly deſtroyed, before they came Dan. 6. 24.Dan 6:24to the bottom of the d…n. To what a fatal end came theſe Informers? as to their wives and children, that were caſt into the den of Lyons; it is moſt probable, that they were acceſſary to that wicked conſpiracy againſt Daniel, by ſtirring up and provoking their Husbands p. 20and Fathers, to engage all their power, intereſt, and policy againſt him, and never to ſuffer a poor captive to be advanced in honor and dignity above them; and how juſt and righteous a thing was it with God, that they who had plotted together, and contrived together, the ruine and deſtruction of a holy innocent perſon, that theſe ſhould ſuffer together, and go to the den together, and be torn in pieces together. Sinners look to your ſelves: if you will ſin with others, you muſt expect to ſuffer with others. 3. Or if a man hath been beneficial to him. 4. Or if a man lyeth proſtrate before him, in the manner of a ſupplicant; but Daniel was not ſafe, he was not ſecured by any of theſe meanes, but God ſecured him in the midſt of theſe dreadful dangers by the miniſtry of an Angel. [My God hath ſent his Angel, and hath ſhut the Lyons mouths, that they have not hurt me, Dan. 6. 22.] Others ſay, that God ſecured Daniel, by taking away the Lyons hunger from them, at that time, and by cauſing in them a ſatiety. And ſome tell us, that God ſecured him, by raiſing ſuch a phantaſy in the Lyons that they looked upon Daniel, not as a prey, but as on one, that was a friend unto them. But now in the midſt of this dreadful danger, how doth Daniel's faith ſparkle and ſhine, Ver. 23. Then was the King exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they ſhould take Daniel up out of the den; So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, becauſe he believed in his God. Daniel in a fiery Furnace, looks upon God as his God, in the midſt of the flames he acts faith upon the power of God, the promiſes of God, &c. Of all living creatures Lyons are moſt fierce, cruel, and irreſiſtible, and yet ſuch was the ſtrength and force of Daniel's faith, that it ſtopped their mouths; though Daniel See Heb. 11. 33. Judg. 14. 6. 1 Sam. 37, 34.Heb 11:33Judg 14:6was but one man, yet ſuch was the power of his faith, that it ſtopt the mouths of many Lyons. As Luther ſays of prayer, ſo may I ſay of faith; it hath a kind of omnipotency in it, its able to do all things, eſt quaedam omnipotentia precum. Thus you ſee by theſe famous p. 21inſtances to what a mighty pitch the Lord has raiſed the faith of his People, when they have been in the greateſt troubles, deepeſt diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers; And this is the firſt way wherein the Lord doth manifeſt his favourable, his ſignal, his eminent preſence with his People, in their greateſt troubles, deepeſt diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers. But,

Secondly, the Lord doth manifeſt his favourable, his ſignal, his eminent preſence with his People in their greateſt troubles, deepeſt diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers, Feri Domine, feri, ſaid Luther, ſtrike while thou pleaſeſt Lord, only to thy correction, Add inſtruction, ut quod noceat, doceat.by his teaching and inſtructing of them, Pſalm 94. 12. Bleſſed is the man whom thou chaſteneſt, O Lord, and teacheſt him out of thy Law. This divine preſence turns every laſh into a happy leſſon. In this Pſalm the holy Ghoſt uſeth ſix arguments to prove, that a man is bleſt who is chaſtened; Firſt, becauſe he is inſtructed by being afflicted as here. 2. Becauſe the end why God layes affliction on his People is to give them reſt; from the dayes of adverſity, Verſe 13. 3. Until the pit be digged for the wicked in the ſame Verſe, until the cold grave hold his body, and hot hell hold his ſoul. 4. Becauſe God will ſupport them under all their afflictions, when God caſteth his People into the Furnace of afflictions, his everlaſting armes ſhall be underneath them; though God may caſt down his People, yet he will never caſt off his People. 5. Becauſe there ſhall be a glorious reſtauration, Ver. 15. Judgment ſhall return unto righteouſneſs. 6. Becauſe all the upright in heart ſhall follow it, in the ſame Verſe, viz. in their affections they are carried out after it; earneſtly deſiring that dear day, when God will unriddle his providences, and clear up his proceedings with the ſons of men. Jerom writing to a ſick friend, hath this expreſſion: I account it a part of unhappineſs not to know adverſity, I judge you to be miſerable, becauſe you have not been miſerable. Demetrius ſaith, nothing ſeems more unhappy to me, than he to whom no adverſity hath hapned. Impunitas ſecuritatis mater, virtutum noverca, Bern.Religionis virus, tinea ſanctitatis; Freedom from puniſhment p. 22is the mother of ſecurity, the ſtepmother of virtue, the poyſon of Religion, the moth of holineſs. It was a ſpeech of Gaſpar Olevianus.a German Divine in his ſickneſs, In this diſeaſe (ſaith he) I have learned how great God is, and what the evil of ſin is, I never knew to purpoſe what God was …efore, nor what ſin meant before; Gods corrections are our Schola cru…is, ſchola lucis. Iſa. 26. 9. Prov. 3. 12, 13. cap. 6 23.Isa 26:9Prov 3:12Prov 3:13inſtructions, his laſhes our leſſons, his ſcourges our ſchoolmaſters, his chaſtiſements our advertiſements; and to note this the Hebrews and Greeks both expreſs chaſtening and teaching by one and the ſame word foreign muſar foreign, becauſe the latter is the true end of the former, according to that in the Proverb, Smart makes wit, and vexation gives underſtanding. Job 36. 8. And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction. Verſe 9. Then be ſheweth them their work, and their tranſgreſſions that they have exceeded. Verſe 10. He openeth alſo their ear to diſcipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. Sanctified afflictions open mens ears to diſcipline, and turn them from iniquity, which is a piece of learning that a Chriſtian can never pay too dear for; Affliction is verus Scripturae commentarius, An excellent comment upon the Scripture; Afflictions make way for the word of the Lord to come to Affliction ſanctiſied, is Lex practica, a practical Law.the heart. Bernard had a brother of his, who was a riotous and prophane Soldier; Bernard gives him many good inſtructions, and admonitions, &c. but his brother ſlighted them, and made nothing of them; Bernard comes to him, and puts his hand to his ſide, One day (ſaith he) God will make way to this heart of yours by ſome ſpear or launce: and ſo it fell out; for going into the wars, he was wounded, and then he remembers his brothers inſtructions and admonitions, and then they got to his heart, and lay upon it to ſome purpoſe. Job 33. 16. Then he openeth the ears of men, and ſealeth their inſtruction. Oculos quos peccatum claudit, poena aperit, Greg.The eyes that ſin ſhuts, afflictions open. The croſs opens mens eyes, as the …aſting of honey did Jonathan's. By correction God ſeales up inſtruction, God ſets on the p. 23one by the other, as when a Schoolmaſter would have a leſſon learned indeed, he ſets it on with a whipping. As Gideon taught the Elders of the city and the men of Succoth with the thornes and briars of the wilderneſs, ſo Judg. 8. 16.Judg 8:16God teaches his People by affliction many a holy and happy leſſon. By afflictions, troubles, diſtreſſes, and dangers, the Lord teaches his People to look upon ſin as the moſt loathſome thing in the world, and to look upon holineſs as the moſt lovely thing in the world. Sin is never-ſo bitter, and holineſs is never ſo ſweet, as when our troubles are greateſt, and our dangers higheſt. By afflictions the Lord teaches his People to ſit looſe from this world, and to make ſure the great things of that other world. By affliction God ſhewes his People the vanity, vexation, emptineſs, weakneſs, and nothingneſs of the Creatures; and the choiceneſs, preciouſneſs, and ſweetneſs of communion with himſelf, and of inte…eſt in himſelf. Chriſt though he knew yet learned he obedience, by the things which he ſuffered, that is, he Heb. 5. 8. foreign, N…cumenta documenta.Heb 5:8ſhewed obedience more than before; Not as if Chriſt were to go to School to learn, or as if by certain acts he were to fit himſelf for obedience; he did not learn that which he knew not before, but did that which he did not before; he that was put upon the tryal of his obedience, he came to know by experience, what a hard matter it was thus to obey God. By Gods favourable preſence a man comes to learn many leſſons in a time of adverſity, which he never learned in a day of proſperity: for we are like idle boyes and bad ſcholars, that learn beſt when the rod is over us. Hezekiah was better Iſa. 39. 1, 2, 3, 4. 5.Isa 39:1Isa 39:2Isa 39:3Isa 39:4Isa 39:5upon his ſick bed, than when he was ſhewing of his treaſures to the Ambaſſadours of the King of Babylon; and David was a better man, when he was in his wilderneſs Pſalm 30. 6, 7.Ps 30:6Ps 30:7condition, than when he ſet upon his Royal throne; the Jews are ever beſt, when in the worſt condition; the Athenians would never mend tell they were in mourning. When Munſter lay ſick, and his friends asked him how he did, and how he felt himſelf? he pointed to his p. 24ſores and uleers (whereof he was full) and ſaid, Theſe are Gods gems and jewels wherewith he decketh his beſt friends, and to me they are more precious than all the gold and ſilver in the world. Here, as that Martyr phraſed it, we are but learning our A. B. C. and our leſſon is never paſt Chriſts Croſs, and our walking is ſtill home by weeping croſs. Uſually men are worſt in a proſperous condition; in a proſperous condition God ſpeaks to us, Je…. 2. 21.and we mind him not. I ſpoke to thee in thy proſperity, but thou wouldeſt not hear: and this hath been thy manner from thy youth upwards. Pope Martin reported of himſelf, that whilſt he was a Monk, and lived in the Cloiſter, he had ſome evidences for Heaven, when he was a Cardinal, he began to fear and doubt, but after he came to be Pope, he utterly deſpaired. The Lord never ſhews more of his favourable, ſignal, and eminent preſence, than by teaching of his People many gracious and Goſpel leſſons by their great troubles, deep diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers. But,

Thirdly, the Lord doth manifeſt his favourable, his ſignal, his eminent preſence with his People, in their greateſt troubles, deepeſt diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers, by raiſing, ſtrenthening, and acting, their ſuffering graces, viz. their faith, hope, love, patience, prudence, courage, boldneſs, zeal, conſtancy. Thus in the Text, The Lord ſtood by me, and ſtrengthened me. He put new life, and ſtrength, and vigour into all my graces; although there are habits of grace alwayes reſident in the Iſay 64. 7.Isa 64:7hearts of the Saints, yet thoſe habits are not alwayes in exerciſe. The habits of grace cannot act of themſelves, there muſt be renewed ſtrength imparted to ſet them on Pſalm 119. 35. Chriſt is the divers winds, both cold & hot, moiſt and dry, binding and opening, North & South, and therefore what wind ſo ever blowes, it ſhall blow good to his People.Ps 119:35work. Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments, for therein do I delight. Though David had a ſpirit of new life within him, yet he could not actually walk in the path of Gods precepts, till by an additional force he was ſet a going. Cant. 4. 16. Awake, O North wind, and come thou South wind, blow upon my garden, that the ſpices thereof may flow out. By the garden we may ſafely p. 25underſtand a ſanctified ſoul, and by the ſpices in this garden we may underſtand the ſeveral graces planted in the ſoul; now theſe ſpices can never flow out, and ſend forth their fragrant ſmell, till the North and South wind blowes upon them. Habitual grace cannot operate and dilate, and put forth it ſelf into exerciſe, till by the concurrent preſence and aſſiſtance of Chriſt it is educed into act; no Saint can act that grace he hath received by his own ſtrength, without the preſence and aſſiſtance of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 15. 16. But by the grace of God, I am what I am; and his grace, which was beſtowed upon me, was not in vain, but I labour more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God, which was with me. He does not ſay, the grace of God which was in me, that habitual grace which I had: but, The grace of God which was with me. So then it is not the ſtrength of habitual grace, that will carry a man through doing or ſuffering work, but the auxiliary, the aſſiſting, the conquering grace of Jeſus Chriſt; it is his grace with us, more than his grace in us. So John 15. 5. Without me ye can do foreign, ſeparate from me, or apart from me. Eraſm. ſine me. Beza, ſe…rſim a me. Members divided from the …ead, cannot live, ſo here.nothing. Ye that are my Diſciples, ye that have the ſpirit of Jeſus Chriſt, Without me ye can do nothing; the habits of grace, the actings of grace, and the perfecting of grace are all from Jeſus Chriſt. It is more emphatical in the original, for there you have two negatives, cannot, do nothing; He do's not ſay, without me ye cannot do many things; but, Without me ye can do nothing; nor he do's not ſay, Without me ye can do no great thing; but, Without me ye can do nothing; nor he do's not ſay, Without me ye can do no difficult thing; but, Without me ye can do nothing; nor he do's not ſay, Without me ye can do no ſpiritual thing; but, Without me ye can do nothing. What ever a Saint may do, by the power of gifts, or habits of grace received, yet he can do nothing in a lively ſpiritual acceptable way, without the preſence of Chriſt, without a conſtant dependence upon Chriſt, without a ſweet and ſpecial communion and fellowſhip with Chriſt; if we cannot p. 26put forth a natural action without him, for in him, we live, move, and have our being; how much leſs can Acts 17. …8.Acts 17:8we perform a ſpiritual action, in a ſpiritual manner, without his preſence and aſſiſtance? Let the King ſit Cant. 1. 12.Song 1:12but at his table, and then our ſpicknard will ſend forth a ſweet ſmell; that is, let Jeſus Chriſt be but preſent with us, and then our graces, which are compared to ſpicknard will ſend forth a ſweet ſmell; ſitting at the table with King Jeſus, intimakes the ſweeteſt friendſhip 1 Kings 10. 8.1 Kgs 10:8and fellowſhip with him. It was held a great honour and happineſs to ſtand before Solomon, what is it then to ſit with Chriſt at his table? [My ſpicknard ſendeth forth the ſmell thereof,] that is, My faith is actuated, and all my other graces are exerciſed and increaſed; Chriſts preſence puts life into all our graces. Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not diſmayed, for I am thy God: I will Iſa. 41. 10. Luke 21, 14, 15.Isa 41:10Luke 21:14Luke 21:15ſtrengthen thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteouſneſs. 2 Cor. 12. 10. When I am weak then am I ſtrong. When I am weak in my ſelf, then am I ſtrong in Chriſt. If the Sun ſhine upon the Mary-gold, Mal. 4. ….Mal 4how ſoon do's the Mary-gold open, ſo when the Sun of righteouſneſs do's but ſhine upon a Chriſtians graces, how do they open and act! To ſhew how the preſence of Chriſt has acted the faith, love, courage, boldneſs, and patience, &c. of the Saints in the Old and New Teſtament, the primitive Chriſtians and the Martyrs, in the latter ages of the world, when they have been in their greateſt troubles, deepeſt diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers, would take up more than a little time, beſides in my other writings, I have opened theſe things more fully to you, and to them I muſt refer you. And therefore.

Fourthly, the Lord doth manifeſt his favourable, ſignal, and eminent preſence with his People, in their greateſt troubles, deepeſt diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers, by laying a Law of reſtraint upon every wicked man, and by bridling and checking their fury and inſolency, that they ſhall not add afflictions to the afflicted p. 27as otherwiſe they would; as he did upon Laban, Gen. 31. 24. And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and ſaid unto him, take heed that thou ſpeak not to Jacob, either good or bad. Verſe 29. It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt; but the God of your Fathers ſpake unto me yeſter night, ſaying, take thou heed that thou ſpeak not to Jacob either good or bad. See what a law of reſtraint God laid upon Eſau, Gen. 33. 1, 2, 3, 4. and upon Abimelech, Gen. 20. 6, 7, 8, 17, 18. and upon Benhadad, 1 Kings 20. 1, 10, 29, 30. and upon Haman, as you may ſee by comparing the 3. and 6. chapters of Eſther together; and upon Pharaoh, Exod. 15. 9, 10. and upon Senacherib, Iſa. 37. 28, 29, 33, 34, 35, 36. and upon Herod, Acts 12, Maximinus ſet forth a proclamation engraven in Hiſtory of the Council of Trent pag. 417.braſs, for the utter aboliſhing of Chriſt and Religion: he was eaten up of lice. Valens, being to ſubſcribe an order for the baniſhment of Baſil, was ſmitten with a ſudden trembling of his hand, that he could not ſubſcribe the order; afterwards he was burned to death by the Goths.

Domitian, the author of the ſecond perſecution againſt the Chriſtians, having drawn a catalogue of the names of ſuch as he was to kill, in which was the name of his own Wife, and other Friends; upon which he was by the conſent of his Wife, ſlain by his own houſhold ſervants with daggers in his privy Chamber; his body was buried without honour, his memory curſed to poſterity, and his Arms and Enſignes where thrown down and defaced. Julian vowed to make a ſacrifice of the Chriſtians upon his return from the wars, but in a Battel againſt the Perſians, he was deadly wounded, and throwing his blood in the air, in a high contempt of Chriſt, he dyed with that deſperate blaſphemous expreſſion in his mouth, Viciſti tandem Galiaee, Thou Galilean … overcome me.

Faelix, Earl of Wurtenburg; was a great perſecutor of the Saints, and did ſwear, that ere he dyed he would ride up to the ſpurs in the blood of the Lutherans; but p. 28the very ſame night, wherein he had thus ſworn and vowed, he was choaked in his own blood.

The Judgments of God were ſo famous and frequent upon the perſecutors of the Saints in Bohemia, that it was uſed as a proverb among the Adverſaries themſelves, That if any man were weary of his life, let him but attempt againſt the Piccardines (ſo they called the Chriſtians) and he ſhould not live a year to an end. By theſe ſhort hints you may ſee, that all along God has made good, that Word, that is more worth than a world: Pſalm 76, 10. Heb. Gird, that is, keep it within compaſs as with a Girdle.Ps 76:10Surely the wrath of man ſhall praiſe thee, and the remainder of wrath ſhalt thou reſtrain. Heb. Shalt thou gird, that is curb, and keep within compaſs; or as the Greek hath it, It ſhall keep holy day to thee, that is, ceaſe from working, or acting outwardly, how reſtleſs ſoever it be within. [The remainder of wrath ſhall thou reſtrain,] that is, thoſe that are left alive of thy wrathful enemies, that have ſtill any malice againſt thy People, thou wilt curb and reſtrain, and not ſuffer their wrath to be ſo great as formerly; or if they go about to recruit their forces, and to ſet again upon thy People, thou wilt ſet ſuch bounds to their wrath, that they ſhall not accompliſh their deſires, nor ſhall they proceed one ſtep further, than ſhall make ſignally for thy glory and thy Peoples good, ſo ſome carrie the words. The more eager and furious the enemies are againſt Gods People, the more honour and glory will God get in protecting and ſecuring his People, and in girding, binding, and tying up their enemies: were it not for this favourable, ſignal, and eminent preſence of God with his People, in their greateſt troubles, deepeſt diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers. Wicked men would ſtill be a multiplying of their ſorrows increaſing their troubles, and adding of burden to burden, 'tis this favourable preſence of God, that binds wicked men over to their good behaviour, and that chaines them up from doing that miſchief, that they deſign and intend. But,

Fifthly, The Lord does manifeſt his favorable, ſignal p. 29and eminent preſence with his People, in their greateſt troubles, deepeſt diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers, by guiding and leading them into thoſe paths and wayes, which make moſt for their own peace and quiet, ſafety Exod. 13. 21, 22. Iſa. 63. 12, 13, 14. Pſalm 5. 8. The Apple of the eye is the tendereſt piece of the tendereſt part. Heb. Iſhon of Iſh, as pupilla of pupa, becauſe therein appears the likeneſs of a little man, or becauſe a man is to be prized above all other Creatures, as ſo God eſteemeth his people above all the world, Heb. 11. 38Exod 13:21Exod 13:22Isa 63:12Isa 63:13Isa 63:14Ps 5:8Heb 11:38and ſecurity, contentation and ſatisfaction, happineſs here and bleſſedneſs hereafter. Deut. 32. 10. He found him in a deſert land and in the waſt bowling wilderneſs: he led him about, he inſtructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. A Wilderneſs condition is, you know, a condition of ſtraits, wants, deep diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers; now when his People were in this condition, he inſtructs them by his words and works, and he takes them by the hand (as I may ſay) and leads them with all care, tenderneſs, gentleneſs, and ſweetneſs, as a man would do a poor helpleſs Infant which he ſhould find in a deſert, in a waſt howling wilderneſs. God never left leading of his People, till he had brought them at laſt through the wilderneſs, to the land of Canaan. Ah this leading preſence of God turns a wilderneſs into a Paradiſe, a deſert into a Canaan: let a Chriſtians troubles, diſtreſſes and dangers be never ſo many or never ſo great, yet as long as he has the guiding preſence of God with him, he is ſafe from dangers in the midſt of dangers; the fire ſhall not burn him, nor the waters overflow him, Iſa. 43. 2. Pſalm 107. 4. They wandred in the wilderneſs in a ſolitary way, they found no City to dwell in. Verſe 5. Hungry and thirſty, their ſoul fainted in them: Verſe 6. Then they cried unto the Lord, in their troubles, and he delivered them out of their diſtreſſes. Here you ſee their great troubles, deep diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers; and now God gives them his hand, Verſe 7. And he led them forth by the right way; that they might go to a City of habitation; that is to a ſtate of ſettlement ſay ſome, to Jeruſalem ſay others, or to that City which hath foundations whoſe builder and maker is Heb. 11. 10.Heb 11:10God, ſaith another. In that 32. Pſalm you may ſee David's great troubles, deep diſtreſſes and moſt deadly dangers: Verſe 3. When I kept ſilence my bones waxed old, p. 30through my roaring all the day long, Verſe 4. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me, my moiſture is turned into the drought of ſummer, Selah: But will God be his guide now? O yes, Verſe 8. I will inſtruct thee, and teach thee in the way which thou ſhalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Let the hand of the Lord be never ſo heavy upon a perſon, yet the preſence of God guiding and inſtructing Iſa. 30. 21. Pſalm 73. 24.Isa 30:21Ps 73:24of him, will keep him from utter fainting and ſinking under that hand. When the People of God are Pſalm 25. 9, 12. Pſalm 5. 8.Ps 25:9Ps 25:12Ps 5:8in their greateſt troubles, deepeſt diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers, he leads and guides them, 1. into ſupernatural wayes, Prov. 15. 24. The way of life is above to the Wiſe. He hath his feet where other mens heads are, and (like an heavenly Eagle) delights himſelf in flying high. 2. Into good wayes, Jerem. 6. 16. 3. Into ſtrait and ſtrict wayes, Mat. 7. 14. Hence they are called right or ſtraight paths, which lie betwixt two extremes; or if you will, which directly lead you to the view of Heaven: they are paths which lie level with the rule, and with the end, a man may ſee Salvation and Heaven at the end of them. 4. Into pleaſant wayes, Prov. 3. 17. Her wayes are wayes of pleaſantneſs, and all her paths are peace; ſuch as were thoſe of Adam before his fall, ſtrawed with roſes, and paved with peace; ſome degree of comfort, pleaſantneſs & peace follows every good action, as heat accompanies fire, as beams and influences iſſue from the Sun. 5. Into right paths, Prov. 4. 11. I have taught thee in the way of wiſdom: I have led thee in right paths. Hoſea 1. 9. The wayes of the Lord are right and the righteous ſhall walk in them: The wayes of his will, the wayes of his Word, and the wayes of his worſhip are all right wayes, they carry us on in a ſtraight line unto a right end. 6. Into old and ancient wayes, Jer. 6. 16. Ask for the old paths, where is the good way and walk therein, and ye ſhall find reſt to your ſouls, Jerem. 18. 15. They have cauſed them to ſtumble in their way from the ancient paths. The wayes of holineſs are of the greateſt, higheſt, and ancienteſt antiquity; the firſt wayes of Adam p. 31were wayes of holineſs; the wayes of ſin are of a later Edition, than the wayes of holineſs; God ſtampt his Image of holineſs upon Man, before ever Satan aſſayed to tempt him: holineſs is of the ancienteſt houſe, of the greateſt antiquity, ſin is but an upſtart, holineſs is the firſt born: the way of holineſs is the eldeſt way, the way of holineſs is gray-headed, and of ancienteſt inſtitution, all other wayes are but of yeſterday, they are but new wayes to the wayes of holineſs. The ſtamp of Antiquity upon many things is a praiſe and an honour to them, as old gold, old friends, old manuſcripts, old monuments, old ſcars, and old holineſs; the ſtamp of Antiquity upon the wayes of holineſs, is the praiſe and honour of the wayes of holineſs. 7. Into paths of righteouſneſs, Pſalm 23. 3. He lead… me in paths of righteouſneſs for his names ſake; or in plain, ſmooth, eaſie paths, or in ſheeps tracts, wherein I may walk unweariedly and unblamably; herein he alludes to the Shepherds care in leading his ſheep gently, in fair and and plain wayes, and not through deep mire, brambles, and briars, or over craggy wayes, that muſt needs be hard and troubleſome for them to go in: The word here uſed is Metaphorical; ſometimes reſpecting the blind, who cannot walk without a guide; ſometimes little or weak children, who cannot go without a leader; and here the weak and wandring ſheep, which ſtand in need of the Shepherd, to go in and out before them. 8. Into paths of Salvation, Acts 16. 17. Th…ſe men are the ſervants of the moſt high God, which ſhew unto us the way of ſalvation. 9. Into wayes of truth, 2 Petr. 2. 2. And many ſhall follow their pernicious wayes, by reaſon of whom the way of truth ſhall be evil ſpoken off. [The way of truth] that is the true Chriſtian Religion reveiled from heaven, which ſhews the way to true happineſs, to Eternal ſalvation. 10. Into wayes of uprightneſs, Prov. 2. 13. Who leave the paths of uprightneſs, to walk-in the way of darkneſs. Now when the People of God are in their greateſt troubles, deepeſt diſtreſſes, and moſt p. 32deadly dangers, the Lord by leading them 1. Into ſupernatural wayes. 2. Into good wayes. 3. Into ſtrict and ſtraight wayes. 4. Into pleaſant wayes. 5. Into right wayes. 6. Into old and ancient wayes. 7. Into righteous wayes. 8. Into wayes of ſalvation. 9. Into wayes of truth; and 10. Into wayes of uprightneſs does gloriouſly manifeſt his favourable, his ſignal, and his eminent preſence with them. There is nothing below a mighty preſence of God, that can enable a Chriſtian (eſpecially when he is under great troubles, and in deep diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers) to do theſe five things: 1. To approve of the wayes of God. 2. To chuſe the wayes of the Lord. 3. Highly to prize them. 4. To delight and take pleaſure in them. 5. To walk in them and to keep cloſe to them; and yet in all theſe five things the Lord doth greatly and graciouſly help his poor People, when they are as it were in the very mouth of the Lion. But

Sixthly, The Lord doth manifeſt his favourable preſence, 6his ſignal and eminent preſence with his People, in their greateſt troubles; deepeſt diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers, by encouraging, imbolding, animating and heartning up his People, in the midſt of all their troubles, diſtreſſes and dangers, and by putting new life, ſpirit, and mettle into them; when they are 2 Chron. 13. 12. Numb. 13. 32. 33. compared with 14. 9.2 Chr 13:12Num 13:32Num 13:33even in the very mouth of the Lion: Joſh. 1. 6. Be ſtrong and of a good courage. Verſe 7. Only be thou ſtrong and very couragious. Verſe 9. Be ſtrong and of a good courage: be not afraid, neither be thou diſmayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee, whitherſoever thou goeſt. Joſhua was a ſword-man as well as a book-man, he had his name changed from Oſhea to Joſhua, from Num. 13. 16.Num 13:16let God ſave, to God ſhall ſave. Chriſt will never want a Champion, toſtand up for his Church; if Moſes dies Joſhua ſhall ſtand up: There ſhall be a ſucceſſion of ſwor… men, and book-men, of Rulers and Teachers, to ca…y on Chriſts work in the world, till the top-ſtone Zach. 4. 7. M…iach. 2. 15.Zech 4:7be laid, with grace unto it. The reſidue of the Spirit p. 33is with the Lord, and therefore he can and will put ſuch an anointing of his Spirit upon one and another, as ſhall fit them to carry on his works in the World. Joſhua was very valiant, and a man of ſingular good Moſes had a ſpecial command from God to charge Joſhua to be couragious, Deut. 1. 38. cap. 3. 28. God himſelf alſo layes the ſame command upon him, Deut. 31. 23.Deut 1:38Deut 31:23mettle; yet becauſe he was ſure to meet with ſuch troubles, deep diſtreſſes, and dealy dangers, as would put him to it, therefore he is preſt ſo frequently to be couragious, Verſe 6. Be ſtrong and of good courage. Verſe 7. Only be thou ſtrong and very couragious. Verſe 9. Be ſtrong and of a good courage. Verſe 18. Only be ſtrong and of a good courage. Deut. 31. 7. And Moſes called unto Joſhua and ſaid unto him, in the ſight of all Iſrael, be ſtrong and of a good courage, &c. And why all this? not becauſe Joſhua had diſcovered any faint-heartedneſs or cowardiſe, but becauſe the work he was to undertake was ſo weighty and perillous, in regard of thoſe many and mighty Nations, whom he was to deſtroy, and plant the Iſraelites in their room: the work that Joſhua was to undertake was attended with many great difficulties and dangers, in reſpect of the Enemies he was to encounter, as being men of vaſt and Giant-like ſtatures and ſtrength, and dwelling in Cities with high walls and ſtrongly fortified. Now the main Argument to raiſe his courage and mettle, is drawn from Gods ſpecial preſence and aſſiſtance, Joſhua 1. 9. For the Lord thy God is with thee, whitherſoever thou goeſt. We are not to underſtand it of Gods general preſence in all places, but of his ſpecial, favourable, ſignal, and eminent preſence, which God would manifeſt in his preſervation and protection, notwithſtanding all the difficulties, enterpriſes, dangers and Enemies that he was to encounter with. So 2 Chron. 32. 7. Be ſtrong and courageous, be not afraid nor diſmayed, for the King of Aſſyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him. Verſe 8. With him is an arm of fleſh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us, and to fight our battels, &c. At this time the King of Aſſyria was the greateſt Monarch p. 34in the world, and the moſt formidable Enemy Iſrael had: he had a mighty Army, for there was a hundred fourſcore and five thouſand of them ſlain in one night. Verſe 21.Now the great thing they were to mind and attend was, to look narrowly to it, that the favourable, ſignal and eminent preſence of God with them, did raiſe all their hearts above all diſcouragements, fears and diſmayedneſs, what is the chaff to the whirl-wind? what are thorns and briars to a conſuming fire? what is an arm of fleſh, to the arm, ſtrength; and power of a God? what is weakneſs to ſtrength, and the nothing Creature to the Lord of Hoſts? Now if the ſpecial, ſignal preſence of God with his People in their greateſt troubles, and moſt deadly dangers, won't put ſingular courage, life, and mettle into them, what will? Acts 23. verſe 10. And when there aroſe a great diſſention, the chief Captain, fearing l… Paul ſhould have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the Souldiers to go down, and take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the Caſtle. Verſe 11. And the night following the Lord ſtood by him, [namely in a viſion, or in a dream, or in an extaſie,] and ſaid be of good cheer Paul: for as thou haſt teſtified of me in Jeruſalem, ſo muſt thou bear witneſs alſo at Rome. The favourable, ſignal preſence of the Lord with him, turned …is Priſon into a Palace. Mr. Philpot being a Act. and Mon. 1663.priſoner for the teſtimony of Jeſus, writes thus to his Friends: Though I tell you, that I am in hell, in the judgement of this world, yet aſſuredly I feel in the ſame the conſolation of heaven, I praiſe God: and this loathſome and horrible priſon, is as pleaſant to me, as the walks in the garden of the Kings-Bench. When Paul was in See Act… 27. …3. 24.Acts 27:3Acts 27:24great danger the Lord ſtood by him, to cheer, comfort, and encourage him: Now God claps him on the back, and puts new life, and mettle into him.

When Dionyſius was given up by the Executioner to be beheaded, he remained conſtant and couragious, ſaying, come life, come death, I will worſhip none but the God of Heaven and Earth.

p. 35When Chryſoſtom had told Eudoxia the empreſs that for her covetouſneſs, ſhe would be called a ſecond Jezebel ſhe thereupon ſent him a threatning meſſage, to which he gave this ſtout and reſolute anſwer: Go tell her, Nil niſi peccatum timeo, I fear nothing but ſin.

When the Executioner had kindled the fire behind Jerom of Prague, he bad him kindle it before his face, for (ſaid he) if I had been afraid of it, I had not come to this place, having had ſo many opportunities offered me to eſcape it; At the giving up of the ghoſt, he ſaid▪ [Hanc animam in flammis offero Chriſte tibi,] This ſoul of mine in flames of fire, O Chriſt, I offer thee.

The Emperour coming into Germanie, ſent for Luther to Worms, but many of his friends (from the danger they apprehended hanging over his head) diſſwaded him from going; to whom he gave this prudent, couragious, and reſolute anſwer, That theſe diſcouragements were caſt in his way by Satan, who knew that by his profeſſion of the Truth in ſo illuſtrious a place, his Kingdom would be ſhaken, and that therefore if he knew, that there were as many Devils in Worms, as there were tiles on the houſes, yet he woul… go.

The German Knight in his Apologetical Letter for Luther againſt the Pontifical Clergy, ſaith, I will go through with what I have undertaken againſt you, and will ſtir up men to ſeek their freedom, I neither care nor fear what may befal me, being prepared for either event, either to ruine you, to the great benefit of my Country, of my ſelf to fall with a good conſcienee, &c.

William Flower (the Martyr) ſaid, That the Heavens ſhould aſſoon fall, as I will forſake my profeſſion, or budge in the leaſt degree from it.

Apollonius being asked, If he did not tremble at the ſight of the Tyrant? made this anſwer, God which gave him a terrible countenance, hath given alſo unto me an undaunted heart.

When Gardiner asked Rowland Taylor, If he did not know him? &c. To whom he anſwered, Yea, I know you, and all you greatneſs, yet you are but a mortal p. 36man; and if I ſhould be afraid of your Lordly looks, why fear ye not God the Lord of us all?

Baſil affirms of the primitive Chriſtians, that they had ſo much courage and magnanimity of ſpirit in their ſufferings, that many Heathens, ſeeing their heroick zeal, reſoluteneſs, and undauntedneſs, turned Chriſtians.

When one of the ancient Martyrs was terrifyed with the threatnings of his perſecutors, he replyed, There is nothing of things viſible, nor nothing of things inviſible that I fear, I will ſtand to my profeſſion of the Name of Chriſt, and contend earneſtly for the faith once delivered to the Saints, come on't what will.

By theſe inſtances (which may be of great uſe in this trying day) you may clearly ſee, how the Lord has manifeſted his favourable, ſignal, and eminent preſence to his People, in their greateſt troubles, deepeſt diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers, by raiſing up in them a ſpirit of courage, magnanimity, and holy gallantry. But,

Seventhly, the Lord doth manifeſt his favourable, ſignal, and eminent preſence to his People, in their greateſt troubles, deepeſt diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers, by preſerving them from troubles in the midſt of troubles, from dangers in the midſt of dang…rs. Dan. 3. 25. 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. The prefence of the Son of God preſerves theſe three valiant Champions from dangers in the midſt of dangers; They fell down bound in the fiery Furnace (ſaith my Author) and Polanus.they walked looſe in the midſt of the fire without any hurt, for the Angel of the Lord deſcended together with them in the ſame moment, who ſhook the flames of the fire forth out of the Furnace, and preſerved the Servants of God ſafe without any trouble, being cooled as it were with a de… coming upon them in a pleaſant manner. But give me leave to ſay, that theſe words [One like the Son of God,] doth not argue that in this viſion there was not a repreſentation of the Son of God to p. 37come afterwards in the fleſh; but rather, that this great myſtery was here ſhew'd for the greater comfort of the faithful, that they might couragiouſly bear all their ſufferings, having the Prince and Head both of Angels and men preſent with them herein to mitigate their pains and carry them through with joy; this being a greater wonder of grace and love, then to have the protection of a meer Angel; concerning whoſe power alſo, whether he can change the nature of fire, that it ſhall not burn, is very doubtful and queſtionable, ſeeing this argueth omnipotency, which is in God alone, and not communicable to any Creature. Where by the way you may obſerve a ſtrong and ſolid argument, to prove that Jeſus is the Son of God, againſt all gainſayers, thus: He whom Nebuchadnezzar ſaw in the fiery Furnace, was the Son of God in an humane ſhape; but he was typically Jeſus, Verſe 22.ergo, &c. The Major is proved, becauſe he did that which none but God could do, viz. he qualified the moſt fierce and raging fire, which burnt up ſome, coming but near it, and had no power at the ſame inſtant of time, ſo much as to ſing a hair of the heads of others; The Minor is proved alſo, becauſe God appearing in a glorious humane. ſhape at any time, was not God the Father or Holy Ghoſt, but God the Son; for no man 1 John 13. 1 Tim. 6. 16. 1 Joh. 4. 12.1 Tim 6:161 John 4:12hath ſeen God at any time, but the Son hath revealed him; both when in him appearing in a humane ſhape under the Law, and when, under the Goſpel, ſhewing himſelf in the man Jeſus, born of the Virgin Mary, and hypoſtatically united unto him. Exod. 3. 2. And the Angel of the Lord (that is Chriſt Chriſt is called the Meſſenger or Angel of the Covenant. Mal. 3. 1.Mal 3:1the Angel of the Covenant) appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midſt of a Buſh; and he looked, and behold, the Buſh burned with fire, and the Buſh was not conſumed. Verſe 3. And Moſes ſaid, I will now turn aſide, and ſee this great ſight, why the Buſh is not burnt. The Hebrew word Seneh which is he uſed, ſignifies a Dry-buſh, a Bramble-buſh, whence the Mount and Wilderneſs is called Sinai, of the ſtore of brambles that grew there, or p. 38of this Buſh or Viſion. Now for a Buſh, a Dry-buſh, a Bramble-buſh to be all on fire and yet not conſumed, this muſt be a wonder of wonders: but all this is from the good will of him that dwelt in the Buſh. Out of theſe two Verſes we may briefly obſerve theſe few things:

Firſt, the low, and weak, and brittle eſtate of the Church, repreſented by a Buſh, a Dry-buſh, a Bramblebuſh; what more brittle, weak, baſe, low, and deſpicable, than a Dry-buſh, a Bramble-buſh? What is ſuch a Buſh good for but the fire, or to ſtop a gap, or ſome ſuch inferiour uſe? A Buſh is a black, deformed, and uncomely thing. Corruption and affliction, ſin and ſuffering renders the Saints very uncomely. The Church is compared not to a ſtrong ſturdy oke, but to a we…k brittle Buſh, and Elſewhere to a Vine, a Dove, a Lamb, a Sheep, &c. all frail weak Creatures. It is good for all Saints to have low and mean thoughts of themſelves for here they are reſembled to a Dry-buſh, a Bramble-buſh. But,

Secondly, a Dry-buſh, a Bramble-buſh pricks, wounds and vexes them that handle it roughly. This Buſh is in Hebrew called Seneb, (as I have hinted before) which the Hebrews deſcribe to be a ſhrub full of pricks, and without fruit, and ſo thick that a bird cannot enter without the ruffling and pulling off her feathers. Let the proud enemies of the Church look to themſelves, for this Bramble-buſh will vex, prick, wound, tear, and put them to the worſt, when they have done their worſt. In all the Ages of the World this Bramble-buſh, the Church, hath been a cup of trembling unto all the People Zach. 12 2, 3.Zech 12:2Zech 12:3round about, and a burdenſome ſtone; ſo that all that burden themſelves with it, ſhall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the Earth be gathered together againſt it. But,

Thirdly, conſider the cruelties of the Churches enemies is ſignified and repreſented by a fire; The Buſh burns with fire: In this reſemblance is ſhadowed out the oppreſſed, afflicted and perſecuted eſtate of the Iſraelites p. 39in the Egyptian Furnace; and by fire here is meant the moſt painful terrifying and tormenting afflictions and miſeries that ſhould attend them. Great afflictions and perſecutions are in Scripture commonly ſet out by fire, as the fiery tryal, the fire of affliction. Fire is very painful, 1 Pet. 4. 12. Lam. 2. 3, 4. Hab. 2. 13.1 Pet 4:12Lam 2:3Lam 2:4Hab 2:13and tormenting (in which reſpects Hell-torments are compared to fire,) ſo are great afflictions, miſeries, and ſufferings; they are very painful and tormenting; they put perſons into ſore pain and travel. Next to the pangs of Conſcience, and the pains of Hell, there are none to theſe pains and pangs that are bred and fed by ſore afflictions, by terrible tryals. It has been the lot and portion of Gods deareſt Children, to be exerciſed with very great and griveous afflictions, and that in order to the diſcovery of ſin, to the imbittering of ſin, to the preventing of ſin, and to the purging away of ſin, and in order to the tryal of grace, the diſcovery of grace, the exerciſe of grace, and the increaſe of grace; and in order to the weaning of them from this World, and to the compleating their conformity to Chriſt, the Captain of their Heb. 2. 10.Heb 2:10ſalvation, who was made perfect through ſufferings; & to ripen them for Heaven, and to work in them more, bowels of pity & compaſſion to thoſe that are in miſery & that ſigh & groan under their Egyptian task maſters.

Fourthly, conſider the eminence of their preſervation, This fire was a ſuper natural fire for, 1. It continued without fuell to ſeed upon. 2. It kept below & aſcended not. 3. It burned and conſumed not. All which ſhews it to be a ſupernatural work.though in the fire yet unconſumed. The Church of God was hot, yea all in flames, and yet not conſumed. Let the fire be never ſo hot, ſo fierce, ſo furious, ſo ſpreading, the Church ſhall have a being, and live and bear up in the midſt of the flames. If the Church like the Sea looſe in one place it gits ground in another; when the worſt of men, and Devils, and Informers have done their worſt, the Lord will have a name among his People on Earth. The Church with the Lamp in the ſtory laughes at all thoſe winds, that would blow it out. Well may we ſtand amazed and wonder, that ſo flaming and terrible a fire, falling upon ſo contemptible a Buſh, and ſo dry and deſpicable a ſhrub, ſhould not preſently turn p. 40it into aſhes, for why is the fire too weak? O no. Is the Buſh ſo ſtrong, as to defend and ſecure it ſelf againſt devouring flames? O no. Or is the Buſh not apt to burn and conſume by ſo fier…e a fire? O no. It is not from the impotency of the fire, nor from the ſtrength or conſtitution of the Buſh; for a dry Bramble-buſh in the matter of it is as combuſtible as any chaff, and as eaſily deſtroyed as any ſtubble; but becauſe the natural force thereof was r…ſtrained by the glorious power of God: for if God concur not with the nature of things, they cannot work nor ſhew their kind. There are two inſeparable qualities of fire: 1. To give light. 2. To burn; And yet Divine power divides and ſeparates theſe two: for this fire giveth light, but burneth not. O what a mighty, what an aſtoniſhing preſervation is here! The afflictions and ſufferings of the Church are not a conſuming fire, but a trying fire, as the fire in a Furnace conſumes the droſs, but tryes the gold, and puts a new luſtre, beauty, and glory upon it. Heſiod ſpeaks of thirty thouſand Demy-Gods, Pſalm 121. 4, Iſa. 27. 3. Mal. 3. 17. Zach. 2. 8. Pſalm 31. 20.Ps 121:4Isa 27:3Mal 3:17Zech 2:8Ps 31:20that were keepers of men; but what are ſo many thouſand Gods, to that one God that neither ſlumbers nor ſleeps, but day and night keeps his People as his Jewels, as the apple of his eye, that keeps them in his Pavilion as a Prince his Favorite. There is a Dialogue between a Heathen and a Jew; after the Jews return from captivity (all Nations round about them being enemies unto them) the Heathen asked the Jew, how he and his Contrey-men could hope for any ſafety, becauſe (ſaith he) every one of you is as a ſilly ſheep compaſſed about with fifty wolves. I but, ſaith the Jew, we are kept by ſuch a ſhepherd, as can kill all theſe wolves when he pleaſes, and by that means preſerve his ſheep. But,

Fifthly, conſider how this eminent preſervation of his People from dangers in the midſt of dangers is effected and brought about, and that is by the preſence of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the great Angel of the Covenant; for Moſes ſaith expreſly of this Viſion, that the Lord appeared unto Moſes, and God calleth unto him out of the midſt of the p. 41Buſh, & ſaid Moſes, Moſes, &c. This calling of Moſes by his Verſe 4.name, & the doubling of his name, in ſuch a familiar & loving manner, was a ſign of Gods ſingular favour to Moſes. Choice Favorits God frequently called by name, as Scipio by way of favour call'd the Citizens by their names, and ſo Cyrus upon the ſame ground called his Souldiers by their names.you may ſee in thoſe inſtances of Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, &c. and ſo our Lord Jeſus Chriſt called Peter by his name, & Nathanael by his name, & Mary by her name, &c.) The ſame preſence of the Son of God, that preſerved the three Children (or rather Champions) in that furious furnace of Nebuchadnezzar from burning or ſingeing, preſerved the Buſh, though not from burning, yet from conſuming, by reſtraining the natural force of the fire, and ſtrengthning the Buſh againſt it. The Buſh, the Church in the fire, came forth of the hotteſt Furnace that ever was kindled, not blacker nor worſer, but brighter and better, & more glorious than the Sun in his ſtrength; and all this from the preſence of the Angel of the Covevenant that dwelt in the Buſh. Divine preſence can preſerve a flaming Buſh from being conſumed. Witneſs our preſervation to this day, though we have been as a burning Buſh. God is in the midſt of her, ſhe ſhall not be Pſalm 46. 5.Ps 46:5moved, God ſhall help her, and that right early. Heb. When the morning appeareth; that is, in the nick of time, when help ſhall be moſt feaſonable and beſt welcom. The preſence of the Lord in the midſt of his Church, will ſecure her from being greatly moved in the midſt of all thoſe great dreadful confuſions, that are abroad in the world. Hence the Church is called, Jehovah ſhammah, The Lord is Ezek. 48. 35.Ezek 48:35there. His preſence in Heaven, makes it heaven, & his preſence in the Church, makes it happy and ſafe; Nothing ſhall diſturb or harm them, that have the preſence of God in the midſt of them. The Church is built upon Mat. 16. 18.Matt 16:18a rock, ſhe is invincible. Jer. 1. 8. Be not afraid of their faces, for I am with thee, to deliver thee, ſaith the Lord. Oppoſition is as Calvin writes to the French King Evangelii genius, the black Angel, that dogs the Goſpel at the heels.Verſe 17. Tho… therefore gird up thy loyns, and ariſe▪ and ſpeak …nto them all tha… I command thee, be not diſmayed at their faces, leſt I … thee before them. Verſe 18. For behold, I have made thee this day a defenced City, and p. 42an iron pillar and braſen wall againſt the whole Land, againſt the Kings of Judah, againſt the Princes thereof, againſt the Prieſts thereof, and againſt the people of the Land. Verſe 19. And they ſhall fight againſt thee, but they ſhall not prevail againſt thee; for I am with thee, ſaith the Lord, to deliver thee. Gods preſence with his Meſſengers, is a guard, and a ſafe-guard, all-ſufficient againſt all oppoſition whatſoever. Earthly Princes and Soveraigns are not wont to go with thoſe whom they ſend on Embaſſage, but God always goes along with thoſe whom he ſends, & will by his powerful preſence protect & defend them, againſt oppoſers, at all times & in all places; when all others f…il and forſake us, Chriſts preſence is ſecurity ſufficient, for If he be with us who can be againſt us? They muſt firſt prevail againſt him, before they can prevail againſt them, that withſtand and oppoſe thoſe whom he ſtandeth by to back and protect. How comes this to paſs, that In ſome caſes a man were better looſe his life, than be cowa…dly. Ariſtotle Eth., 3. cap. 1.Jeremiah a man, a man alone, ſhould bear up ſo ſtoutly, and ſtand ſo ſtrong againſt Kings, Princes, Prieſts & People? 'tis from the ſignal preſence of God with him. [I am with thee.] And what can all the great ones of the World, and all the wicked ones of the World, do againſt one Meſſenger of the Lord, that is armed with his glorious power? The Ambaſſadours of the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, muſt not be terrified with the multitude of oppoſers, nor with the grandure or greatneſs of oppoſers; but ſet the preſence of the Lord againſt them all, and ſay as that noble Souldier Paedarelus (in Eraſmus) did, to them that told him, of that numerous and mighty Army, which came againſt him, Tanto plus gloriae referemus, quoniam …o plures ſuperabimus. The number of oppoſe… makes the Chriſtian conqueſts the more illuſtrious. The more the Phariſees of old, and their Succeſſors of late time have oppoſed the Truth, the more it hath p…evailed; and …is obſervable that the Reformation in Germany was much furthered by the Papiſts oppoſition, yea, when two Kings (amongſt many others) wrote againſt Luther▪ viz. Hen…y the eight of England, p. 43and Ludovicus of Hungary; this kingly title being entred into the controverſie (making men more curious to examine the matter) ſtirred up a general inclination towards Luther's opinion. So, Jerem. 15. 20. And I will make thee unto this People a fenced braſen wall, and they ſhall fight againſt thee, but they ſhall not prevail againſt thee; for I am with thee, to ſave thee, and to deliver thee, ſaith the Lord. When the Meſſengers of the Lord go on conſtantly and couragiouſly in the faithful diſcharge of their duties, not relenting, or yielding, or complying with their greateſt oppoſers, then they ſhall have ſuch a ſignal preſence of the Lord with them, as ſhall ſufficiently protect them againſt all their enemies might and malice, wrath, and rage. Verſe 21. And I will-deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible, or violent ones. Though thou ſhouldeſt fall into the hand of the wicked (id eſt, power) and into the hand of the terrible, and violent ones, yet they ſhall not hurt thee, nor harm thee, they ſhall not have their wills upon thee; when thou art in their hands I will lay a law of reſtraint upon their hearts, that they ſhall not miſchief thee, nor triumph over thee; I will be ſure to ſecure thee, and reſcue thee from dangers in the midſt of dangers. A gracious Meſſenger of the Lord in the midſt of all oppoſitions (as Chryſoſtome ſaid of Peter) is a man made all of fire walking in ſtuble, he overcomes and conſumes all oppoſition; all difficulties are but whetſtones to his fortitude. The Moon will run her courſe though the dogges bark at it, ſo does the Traveller, and ſo will the faithful meſſengers of the Lord hold on in their way and work, let men and devils bark & do their worſt.

Moulin ſpeaking of the French Proteſtants, ſaid, When Papiſts hurt us for reading the Scriptures, we burn with zeal to be reading of them; he is a fool, we ſay, that will be laughed out of his coat; but he's a fool in folio that will be laughed out of his skin, out of his profeſſion, out of his Religion, out of his principles, out of the wayes of God, nay out of his ſoul, out of his ſalvation: becauſe p. 44he can't endure to be, oppoſed, derided, or laughed at by lewd and wicked men. The Divine preſence will make a man ſet light by ſuch paper-ſhot.

A gracious ſpirit is raiſed by oppoſition; the more opſition it meetes with in a way of duty, the more reſolute he is for it: So far is he from being afraid of the threatnings of men, of the frowns of men, or of loſing this mans favour, or of incurring ſuch a mans diſpleaſure, that his ſpirit riſeth far more for it. It is with ſuch a man as it is with the fire in Winter, the fire burns the hotter, becauſe of the coldneſs of the air; So it is with all the Meſſengers of the Lord, who are inflamed in the way of their duty. Come to David, and tell him, O there is a Goliah, and he is come out with a ſpear like a weavers beam, and 1 Sam. 17. 4. to the 11. compared with Ver. 26, 27.1 Sam 17:4there is one that bears his target goes before him; where is he? ſaith David, I will fight with him, ſaith he. Difficulties and dangers do but whet and raiſe his ſpirit, he is not afraid of any uncircumciſed Philiſtin. Ah, my Friends, this is a true noble ſpirit! Holy greatneſs of mind lies in this, when a mans ſpirit is born up upon the greatneſs of his God, and the goodneſs of his cauſe; and if that will not bear me out, ſaith ſuch a ſoul, let me ſink in it. I am content to periſh. That's a good word, more worth than a world in a faithful Miniſters eye, Ezek. 3. 8. Behold, I have made thy face ſtrong againſt their faces, and thy forhead ſtrong againſt their forheads. Verſe 9. As an Adamant, harder than a flint, have I made thy forehead; fear them not, neither be diſmayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious houſe. The Adamant is the hardeſt of ſtones, it is Lapis ſervabilis, becauſe it keeps it ſelf by its hardneſs from all injuries, no weather, no violence of hammer, or fire will break it, or conquer it. God engages himſelf to give the Prophet ſuch undaunted boldneſs, and invincible courage and conſtancy, as neither ſhame nor fear ſhould prevail againſt. Divine preſence, Divine aſſiſtance does alwayes accompany a Divine call; ſuch whom God ſends he ſeconds, ſuch whom he calls, he encourages, againſt all difficulties and p. 45diſcouragements, ſuch as are called by Chriſt, and ſent by Chriſt, ſhall never want the ſtrengthning, comforting, coroborating, animating, and preſerving preſence of Chriſt: It is this Divine preſence, that makes them ſtand it out, and ſhew themſelves like men; like men of courage, like men of God, and that ſecures them from dangers in the midſt of dangers; in the greateſt ſtorms the Adamant ſhrinks not, it fears not, it changeth not its hue, no not in the leaſt; Divine preſence will keep gracious men from ſhrinking, fearing, and changing their way, their work, their Lord and Maſter, in the worſt of ſtorms that can beat upon them; in all winds and weather the Adamant is ſtill the ſame, and ſo will all the faithful Meſſengers of the Lord be, what ever wind may blow upon them: The ſignal preſence of God with them will keep them from fearing, fainting, flying, and preſerve them from dangers in the midſt of dangers. But,

Eightly, The Lord doth manifeſt his favourable, ſignal and eminent preſence with his People, in their greateſt troubles, deepeſt diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly dangers, by fruſtrating and diſappointing the plots, deſigns, counſels and contrivances of their powerful, ſubtil, ſecret, and malicious Adverſaries, who would fain be multiplying of their troubles, ſorrows, ſufferings, The Thebanes had a band of men they called Sacra C…hors, conſiſting of ſuch only as were joyned in bonds of love, and reſolved to live and dye together: theſe Jews under Nehemiah's command were ſuch, and were therefore inſuperable.and miſeries upon them, Nehem. 4. 8. And conſpired all of them together, to come and fight againſt Jeruſalem, and to hinder it. Verſe 11. And our adverſaries ſaid, they ſhall not know, neither ſee, till we come in the midſt amongſt them, and ſlay them, and cauſe the work to ceaſe. Verſe 15. And it came to paſs, when our Enemies knew that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counſels to nought, &c. The craft of the Churches Enemies, is never but accompanied with cruelty, and their cruelty is ſeldom without craft; the Devil lends them his ſeven heads to plot, and his ſeven horns to puſh; but in the things wherein they deal proudly God is above them, and by his preſence with his People, he p. 46brings all their plots, counſels, and enterpriſes to naught: The Gunpowder Traitors betrayed themſelves, and all came to light, though they had digged as low as hell, to hide their counſels from the Lord. The Enemies of the Jews in Nehemiah's time made great brags at firſt what they would do, but when they ſaw their plots diſcovered, and their purpoſes defeated, they are preſently creſt-fallen, and have no mind nor courage to advance at all; ſo that to theſe Plotters may be fitly applyed, that which Guicciardin ſaith of Charles the Eight, King of France, in his expedition againſt Naples: That he came into the field like thunder and lightning, but went out like a ſnuff; more than a Man at firſt,. and leſs than a Woman at laſt. In all the Ages of the World, the heads, the wits, the hands, the hearts and the tongues of the wicked have been engaged againſt the Juſt; they have been ſtill a plotting and deviſing miſchief againſt the favourits of heaven (as if Rebels could medle with none but the Children of a King) and yet Gods ſignal preſence with his People, in point of affection and protection has blaſted all their deſigns, and fruſtrated all their counſels; as the rage of wicked Men againſt the Saints have been endleſs, ſo it has been fruitleſs, becauſe God has been in the midſt of them. Haman Eſther 3. 8.—ult.Esth 3:8plots againſt the lives, liberties and Eſtates of the Jews, but his plot was timely diſcovered, and ſeaſonably prevented, and the grand Plotter and Informer detected, debaſed, condemned and executed. Eſther 7. 10. So they hanged Haman on the Gallows, that he had prepared for Mordecai, then was the Kings wrath pacified. The Kings of Perſia had abſolute and unqueſtionable power, to do whatſoever they liſted: Quicquid libuit, licuit; all their Subjects, except their Queens, where no better than Slaves, whom they would they ſlew, and whom they Dan. 5. 19.Dan 5:19would they kept alive: whom they would they ſet up, and whom they would they put down. Haman is here Eſther 7. 9.Esth 7:9without order of Law, more than the Kings command, adjudged to be hanged; the truth is, it was a clear caſe, p. 47and the Malefactor was ſelf condemned: Hang him therefore, ſaith the King; a ſhort and juſt Sentence, and ſoon executed. Ah how ſoon is Haman fallen from the Palace to the Gallows, from the higheſt Stage o… honour, to the loweſt ſtair of diſgrace; from feaſting with the King, to be made a feaſt for crows, and ſo lies wrapt up in the ſheet of perpetual infamy: So let all thine Enemies periſh, O Lord. It is a good obſervation of Joſephus Ʋnde mihi contigit mirari nomen Dei, & ſapien…iam & juſti…iam ejus …gnoſcere, &c: Joſeph. Ant. lib. 1. cap. 6.upon Eſther 7. 10. I cannot (ſaith he) but admire the Lords wiſdom, and acknowledge hi… Juſtice, in that he not only puniſhed him for his malice to the Church, but by turning his own miſchief upon himſelf, hath made him an example to all poſterity; hanging him up in gibbets, that others may take warning. Let all Plotters and Informers beware of making a match with miſchief, they may have enough of it in the end. Haman was a main ſtickler for the Devil, who paid him his wages at laſt, with a witneſs, or if you will with a halter; Let all the Enemies of the Saints tremble at ſuch ends, and be careful to avoid them, by flying ſuch like foul and flagitious practices. The bloody plot being thus laid by Haman, the Kings Minion, behold the footſteps of Gods favourable, ſignal, and eminent preſence for his People, and Eſther 4.Esth 4with his People, in their deadly dangers, and that in raiſing up in them a very great Spirit of faith, prayer, and mourning, and by raiſing an undaunted courage and reſolution in Eſther: And ſo I will go in unto the Verſe 16.King, and if I periſh I periſh: This ſhe ſpeaks not raſhly or deſperately as prodigal of her life, but as one willing to ſacrifice the ſame for the honour of God, his cauſe and People; ſaying as that Martyr (can I die but once for Chriſt?) Eſther had rather die than ſhrink from her duty; ſhe thought it better to do worthily and periſh for a Kingdom, than unworthily and periſh with a Kingdom: here was a mighty preſence of God, in raiſing Eſther's heroical courage and reſolution, above all thoſe viſible dangers, that did attend her attempt of going in to the King, againſt the known Law of the p. 48Land: (And the King held out to Eſther the golden Cap. 5. 2.Scepter;) He did not kick her out of his preſence, as ſome Cambyſes would have done; neither did he command her to the block, as Henry the Eight did his Ann Bullen, upon a meer miſpr…ſion of diſloyalty; neither yet did he caſhier her, as he had Vaſhti for a leſs offence, but by holding out his Scepter, ſhews his gracious reſpects unto her: This was the Lords own work, and a great demonſtration of his ſignal preſe…ce with her, in giving her favour in the eyes of the great King. (So Eſther drew near and touched the top of the Scepter) with her hand ſaith the Chaldee; with her mouth ſaith the Vulgar tranſlation; this ſhe did either in token of ſubmiſſion, or as a ſign of reverence and ſubjection, or for the avoiding of danger: For as Joſephus ſaith, He that touched the Kings Scepter, was out of the reach of evil; or according to the cuſtom of the times: Gods favourable preſence is tranſparent; in the Kings extended favour to her: (On that night could not the King Eſther 6. ….Esth 6ſleep) Heb. the Kings ſleep fled away; and like a ſhadow it fled away ſo much the faſter, as it was more followed▪ Crowns have their cares; thiſtles in their arms, and thorns in their ſides: lo he that commanded one hundred and twenty ſeven Provinces, cannot command one hours ſleep. The Kings head might perhaps be troubled, with thinking, what great requeſt it ſhould be that Eſther had to make, that was ſo hardly drawn from her; but herein appeared the ſignal preſence of God, in keeping the King awake, for Mordecai might have been hanged before Eſther had known any thing of it, (Haman being come early the next morning, Verſe 4. to beg this of the King) had not God kept him from ſleep, and directed him to read in that place of the Chronicles, were Mordecai's ſervice was recorded, and ſo made way to his advancement, and Haman's ruine: Gods favourable preſence ſhin'd upon his People, in keeping the King from ſleep, for excellent ends, & in putting ſmall thoughts into his heart for great purpoſes. God will appear for his poor People, p. 49foreign, in the nick and opportunity of time, when there is but a ſtep between them and death; and further, the power, providence, preſence and goodneſs of God was made evident, in the behalf of his People, in directing the Reader to that very place, where Mordecai's Eſther 6. 2.Esth 6:2ſingular ſervice, in diſcovering the barbarous and murderous plot, that was laid againſt the Kings life and Crown, was recorded. That Mordecai ſhould have no preſent reward, but that it ſhould be defer'd till a fitter opportunity, when God might be more glorified, in the ſignal preſervation of his People, & in the famous overthrow of their Enemies, was from that mighty hand of God, that was ſtretched out for the good of his People. In this great Story we may as in a mirrour ſee, how the Lord by his wiſdom, providence, preſence, and grace, brings about and over-rules the wills of men, the affairs of men, the counſels of men, the deſigns of men, the words & ſpeeches of men, to the fulfilling of his own will and decree▪ and the promoting of his own honour and glory, and the good of his People, when vain men think leaſt of doing his will, or ſerving his providence. Here you may ſee the wiſdom, prudence, and courage of Eſther, ſtriking whileſt the Iron was hot, charging the bloody decree upon Haman to his face, and that before the King: that thing… might the better ſtick and work, and painting him out in his own proper colours. (The adverſary) Heb. the ma… adverſary; the Lycanthropos, the man of might that diſtreſſeth us. (And Enemy) that is the cruel Enemy, the bloody Enemy, the Gen. 3. 15.Gen 3:15utter Enemy, the worſt Enemy, that ſworn ſword-man of Satan, from whom Haman hath drawn his ancient enmity. (Is this wicked Haman) that is as wicked a wretch as goes …n two legs, a man of blood, a man made up of miſchief and malice, a ſink of wickedneſs, a very myſtery of iniquity, a breathing Devil. Tiberius was rightly characterized by his Tutor Theodorus Gadareus, dirt knod with blood; Haman was ſuch another, if not worſe; and now Queen Eſther is plain and round with him, and calls a ſpade, a ſpade, though others ſtiled him, Noble, p. 50Great, Serene, Magnificent, &c. Eſther gives him his own with a witneſs. (The Adverſary and Enemy is this wicked Haman) but what a mighty courage had Eſther to ſpeak at this rate before the King, and of his grand Favourite and before his face? Surely all this was from the ſignal preſence of God with her Soul; this was a great work of Faith, and a ſingular fruit of prayer. And now Haman ſtood up to make requeſt for his life,) O what a ſtrange turn of things is here all upon a ſudden! He that a little before was bowed unto by all men, is now upon his knees before a wo…an; he that was the very day before a profeſſed Enemy of the Jews, is now ſuppliant to a Jeweſs; he that a few weeks before had contrived the death and ruine of the Jews is now begging hard for his own life; he that had provided a Gallows for Mordecai, fears nothing more now than that himſelf ſhould be hanged on it: Yeſterday O the caps, knees, and bows that Haman had, and now the ſame Eſther 7. 8.Esth 7:8Man covers his face in token of his irrecoverable ruine. The Turks caſt a black gown upon ſuch, as they ſit at ſupper with the Great Turk, and preſently ſtrangle them: Many of their Viſiers or greateſt Favourits die in this ſort; which makes them uſe this Proverb, He that is greateſt in Office, is but a Statue of glaſs. Plutarch wittily compareth great Men to Counters, which now ſtand for a thouſand pound, and anon for a farthing; this was Haman's caſe: And ſo Sejanus, the ſame Senatours Courtiers ſhift their ſails to the ſitting of every wind: A cubit was half a yard at leaſt, in thoſe parts, they had trees very ſmall, or they might piece one to another; but why ſo high a Gallows, but for the greater diſg…ace to M…rd…cai, and terrour to all that ſhould ſlight the Kings grand Favourit.who accompanied him to the Senate, conducted him to Priſon; they which ſacrificed to him as to their God, which kneeled down to adore him, ſcoffed at him, ſeeing him dragged from the Temple to the Gaol, from ſupreme honour to extreme ignominy. When once the Emperour frowned upon him, they ſhewed themſelves moſt paſſionate againſt him; ſaying, that if Caeſar had clemency, he ought to reſerve it for men▪ and not to uſe it toward Monſters; this is Courtiers cuſtom to adore the riſing Sun, and when great Favourits fall into diſgrace, all about Princes will be ready to pluck p. 51them up by the roots; if the ſeaſon be fair to clear the Court or Land of ſuch noiſom weeds. The Kings indignation being up, the Courtiers point at the Gallows fifty Cubits high, that Haman had ſet up for Mordecai. All are now for Mordecai, there is not a Courtier that has one good word for Haman: Ah what a rare hand of God was there in all theſe things, for the good of his People, and the utter overthrow of their grand Enemy! To ſum all up in a little room, the breaking of the Kings ſleep, was the breaking of one of the moſt bloody deſigns that ever was laid againſt the People of God. Well, what though the King could not ſleep, could he not lye ſtill in his bed? No, he muſt have a book, and that book muſt be the book of Chronicles, and that book muſt be opened where accidentally (not by turning to that place purpoſely) yet ſurely by Gods Providence directing him that read, to that very ſtory concerning Mordecai, where was regiſtred his faithfulneſs, in diſcovering and diſappointing of a murther intended againſt the King; whereupon God ſets this act of faithfulneſs ſo cloſe upon the Kings heart, that he could not reſt till Mordecai was nobly rewarded for it, and this reward muſt be Haman's ruine; his advancement, Haman's abaſement, and this was the riſe of Haman's diſappointment. In this famous inſtance you may run and read, the favourable, ſignal and eminent preſence of the Lord, in the miraculous preſervation of his Church from a total ruine and deſtruction, and in the diſappointing the plots, deſigns, and counſels of their greateſt Enemies, and in taking of them in the very ſnares, that they had-laid for others; ſutable to that of the Pſalmiſt: He made a pit and digged it, and Pſalm 7. 16, 17Ps 7:16Ps 7:17is fallen into the ditch which he made; his miſchief ſhall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing upon his own pate. Henry the Third of France, was ſtabbed in the ſame Chamber, where he had helped to contrive the French Maſſacre: And his Brother Charles the Ninth, had blood given him to drink, for he was p. 52worthy; there is no end of Stories of this nature, ſo Pſalm 9. 15. The heathen are ſunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid, is their own foot taken. The wicked are compared to Hunters for their cruelty, and to Fowlers for their craft; but ſee their ſucceſs, they are ſunk down in their own pit, caught in their own net; thus it befel Pharaoh, Jabin, and Siſera, Exod. 9. 15. Judg. 10. 4. 2 Chron. 32. Euſeb. lib. 9. c. 9.Exod 9:15Judg 10:42 Chr 32Senacherib, Antiocbus Epiphanes, Maxentius the Tyrant, who fell into the Tiber, from his own falſe bridge laid for Conſtantine; the Spaniſh Azmado, and our Powder-plotters. Ver. 16. The wicked is ſnared in the work of his own hands. Higgajon, Selah. Goliah was killed with his own ſword: Chriſts juſtice hath two acclamatory Notes, Higgajon, Selah, the like is not found in all the Scripture, as worthy of preſent admiration, and of deep and perpetual meditation. I have been the longer a glancing at this famous Story of Eſther, becauſe of its ſeaſonableneſs, and ſutableneſs to the dayes and times wherein we live.