The Excellency of Holy Courage in Evil Times, Chapter 15
CHAP 15. Containing the Firſt Uſe, Which teacheth us to entreat God not to take the advantage of us when our hearts are low.
USE, 1.
THis ſhould teach us all to entreate God, not to take the advantage of us when our hearts are low, when we are in a diſpoſition to that which is naught, or an indiſpoſition to that which good, but that God would pitty us, and favor us, and that God would never cal us to do any great ſervice, or ſuffer for him, but when he ſees we are in a diſpoſition for it: it is a wonderful mercy of God, not to call out his people, but at ſuch a time when they are fit. And ſo for temptation to ſin: God ſees what diſpoſitions there are in the beſt of us all, he knows how corruption is working many times, and if a temptation to ſin ſhould come at that time, what ſhould become of us, we could not but forſake God, and his cauſe, and wound our conſciences, acknowledg the mercy of God towards you, in keeping the temptation from you at ſuch a time, ſometime we are wandering from God, if the roaring Lyon ſhould meet us then how like were it that we ſhould be devoured; ſomtimes we are ready to ſtumble upon every ſtraw, and if God ſhould lay ſtumbling blocks before us then, what ſhould become of us, this is a mercy that God doth not grant unto others, for thus God very frequently deals with wicked men, when there is an opportunity for them to enjoy the greateſt good, at that very time there ſhal be ſomthing fall out that ſhal put them in an oppoſition to that Good: as perhaps ſomtimes God in his providence orders it; that a miniſter ſhould be partly upon ſuch a ſubject as ſhould be marveilous uſeful, and God is more then ordinary aſſiſting of him, then ſomthing ſhal fall out to keep them from the exerciſe, or the corruption ſhal be up to harden their hearts, or there ſhal be ſome occaſion to take up their minds, more than at another time, that they ſhal not get that good they might: but this is the mercy of God, to thoſe he intends good to, that he will give them an opportunity to receive Good, when they are fit for it: there was ſuch a time if ſuch a point had been handled, their hearts would have been unfit, but at ſuch a time ſuch a point ſhal be handled and preſſed on, and ſays God I will order it ſo, they ſhal break through difficulties to come to the exerciſe; and though corruption wil be ſtirring, I will order it ſo that corruption ſhal not be ſtirring at that time: And ſo ſometimes for temptation to ſin, God ſees many times how a corruption is up, and he is fitted for a temptation, and if temptation ſhould come at that time, he would be drawn, and would revive himſelf; now thoſe that God wil curſe, he lets Sathan eat upon them, and lets them go on at that time when their corruption is moſt up: As now in the cauſe of Ahab, when Ahab, would go to Ramouth Gilead, (ſays God) in 1 Kings, 22.21.22.23. Who ſhal perſwade Ahab, that he may go, there came forth a ſpirit, and ſaid I will perſwade him, how I will go, and I wil be a lying ſpirit in the mouth of all his prophets, goe ſays God and thou ſhalt do it. Now had Ahab been a Godly man, God would have ſtopped him in his way, as many Godly ſomtimes are in ſuch a diſpoſition to ſin, as if they had any encouragement, they would do it, but ſays God to Sathan do not go. It is very obſervable how God takes advantages upon wicked men; as in Gen. 34.25. Simeon and Levi, …ame upon the Sichemites when they were ſore; So when many men are in ſuch a diſpoſition, as they have no ability to reſiſt a temptation, then the Devil comes upon him, as that is obſervable we have in thoſe Pſalms, Pſalm. 35.6. Pſalm. 73.18. In the 35, Pſalm. 6. It is, let their way be ſlippery and dark, and let the Angel of the Lord perſecute them: ſee how God takes the advantage of wicked men, they are in a Dark way, and upon ſlippery ground, then the Angel of God perſecuted them, when a man is upon a ſlippery ground, he had need to have ſomething to leane upon, but when he is in a ſlippery place to have his enemy perſecute him, that is dangerous, ſo God deales with the wicked; it is otherwiſe with the Godly, when the Godly are weak, and their way is ſlippery, God pities them, and the good Angel preſerves them: ſo when men are in a ſlippery way, and ready to fall into a ſin, ſays God to the evil Angel, now follow them in that ſin, So in Pſalm, 37.18. Surely thou didſt ſet them in ſlippery places, thou caſteſt them down into deſtruction. Learne for ever from this point, to entreat God that he would conſider of your frame, and ſay, Lord thou knoweſt I am in a ſlippery place, and not in the good temper I am in at other times, Lord keep me from temptation now; do not caſt me down now: God hath promiſed: In 1 Cor. 10.13. He wil not ſuffer his people to be tempted above their ſtrength. Somtime the Godly can ſay my heart is fixed, ſpeak Lord here I am to do thy will, ſome times Gods people are able to endure any danger, and then God brings his people to the tryal; As the diſciples after the holy ghoſt came upon them then they were called to ſuffer, they never were put to ſuch tryals before; and when God grants mercy to his people this way, it is a mercy indeed.