stroy the work of God in our souls, or hinder us as to the kingdom, which God hath prepared for those that seek him. For, as He that hath promised is faithful, neither can He repent, or lie; so is He powerful and hath a dominion over all beings, persons, things, and events. "My Father," saith Christ, "is greater than all; none can pluck you of my Father's hand." Lastly, it affords us a relief against the sad prospect, we have almost continually before our eyes, of the malicious actions of ungodly men. There is, and always was a generation in the world, which rest not unless they do mischief: they are continually devising mischievous devices against the flock of Christ; their counsels, designs, works, have a plain tendency to the ruin of the whole interest of God in the world, and if possible, not to leave Christ a name in the earth, nor the gospel a footing in any place. He that runs may read, that, the malice of some is against no particular form of religion, but against the life, the power, the practice of holiness. But trouble not yourselves, christians, "The Lord reigneth;” the frogs out of the bottomless pit, may, through God's permission, get out, and croak awhile, but to the pit they must return again. A sad time it was when the enemy of souls said to the man after God's own heart, "Flee as a bird to the mountains :" when "the wicked bent their bows, and made their arrows ready upon the string, that they might privily shoot at the upright in heart," Psalm xi. 1, 2. When the foundations were destroyed, and the godly knew not what to do. Observe the same Psalmist, in ver. 4, says, "The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try the children of men." In Psalm xcix. 1, 2, it is said, "The Lord reigneth, let the people" [that is the ungodly] "tremble; He sitteth between the cherubims, let the earth be moved. The Lord is great in Zion, and he is high above all people." What an encouragement is here to the people of God, under his severest dispensations towards them, to go on and do good, Psalm xxxvii. 3-5. Do not defame the great God of heaven, by saying or thinking that you cleanse your hands in vain, nor that he taketh a long day to answer our prayers, "Behold," saith the Lord, "I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every one according as his work shall be," Rev. xxii. 12. It will not be long before Christ will come with his great reward of grace; but as he punisheth the ungodly, so he rewardeth his own children every day. It may be, He doth not reward thee with length of days -an healthful body—a plentiful estate-and other comforts of this life; His wisdom sees that these things are not fit for thee, He knoweth thy heart-thy temper; but hast thou not a peace and calm within thee, the gift of His own Holy Spirit?-Art thou not strengthened with might in the inner man?-Doth not Christ dwell in thy heart by faith?-Art thou not rooted and grounded in love, and able, in some measure, to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that thou mayest be filled with all the fulness of God? Thou art, it may be, troubled on every side, but art thou distressed?—thou art perplexed, but art thou in despair?-thou art persecuted, but art thou forsaken?-thou art cast down, but art thou destroyed? Thou bearest "about in the body, the dying of the Lord Jesus Christ, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in thy body," 2 Cor. iv. 8-10. Is this no reward? It may be, it is not the reward thou lookedst for, but it is that reward which God seeth fittest for thee. It is not all that thou shalt have, when He shall come, whose reward is with him (and he telleth thee that will be quickly), then thou mayest expect fuller and greater things; in the mean time thou hast enough for thy passage through the wilderness. The work of God is wages to itself, but God gives the wages besides; yea, and "eye hath not seen, nor hath ear heard, nor can it enter into the heart of man to conceive, what great things God hath further prepared for them that love him." Say not then, that thou servest God for nothing, and faint not, neither be weary of well-doing, for thou shalt reap if thou faint not. CI. Th' Almighty reigns, exalted high O ye, that love his holy name, Immortal light, and joys unknown, Rejoice ye righteous, and record The sacred honors of the Lord; None but the soul that feels his grace, Can triumph in his holiness. CII. Whatever thy condition may be, whatever strait thou art in, be not discouraged, but seek to thy heavenly Father "who seeth in secret." "The Lord's Prayer" is concluded with this, "For thine is the kingdom, power, and glory, for ever and ever." As if that were the ground of all the petitions that went before. So, if the Lord is Almighty, and hath an almighty power, then, in the most desperate case, when there is no help, or hope in the creature, that you can discern, pray to Him, pray earnestly and confidently, as men full of hope to obtain what they desire. And remember this for your comfort; at that time, when you are in affliction, and in so great a strait, that you are so hedged about, that there seems no hope, no possibility to escape, that is the time that the Lord will show forth his power; for man's extremity is God's opportunity; how often have I seen this in my own experience, that when the case hath been desperate, when there seemed no hope, yet when God hath been sought to by prayer, there hath been an alteration above all thought, according to that expression used—” He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” Eph. iii. 20. That is, when they could not enlarge their thoughts so far, nor were able to see there could be any way devised, yet enlarging their prayers, the Lord hath oftentimes "made a way to escape." How many instances of this doth scripture give us. When Esau came against Jacob, was he not then in a fearful strait? there seemed no hope and no possibility; Esau was too strong for him; what should Jacob do now? he exposeth himself to the enemy, there seemed no other remedy; and it was an enmity of twenty years continuance; and the text saith, "Jacob feared," Gen. xxxii. 7, and yet the Lord delivered him, when he had prayed to him. So Daniel, when he was cast into the lion's den, when : they were ready to devour him, yet the Lord stopped their mouths, that they could do him no hurt. Thus it is with ourselves, in many cases, when we think our enemies are ready to devour us, God comes in, as it were, between the cup and the lip, and works a way for our deliverance. Therefore never be discouraged― He that died for thee, will take care of thee-He, that pardoned thine aggravated offences, will heal thine infirmities only believe, that the Lord can do it, though to thy fearful nature it appear impossible: for "with God all things are possible," Matt. xix. 26. See the faith of the three children in Dan. iii, when the fire was prepared for them, and there was no resistance; and the king was wroth, yet they said, "The Lord is able to save us out of thy hand, O king!" The Lord did hear their prayer, and did help and save them. On the contrary, when a man doth doubt of God's power, you shall see of how much moment it is, as that noble said to Elisha, "Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?" Now the Lord was so displeased with the saying, that he destroyed him for it. So the Israelites did not believe that the Lord could bring them into the land of Canaan, therefore the Lord's anger was kindled against them: "because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation," Psalm lxxvii. 22. Learn then to bring your hearts to this, whatsoever your case may be, still to believe his power, and say still, "The Lord can do it ;" for it argues a strong faith to be able to do so under all circumstances. When your state is low-when there seems no hope, no help at hand, then go to God, with such cheerfulness, such earnestness, such confidence, as knowing it would be the easiest thing in the world for Him to help thee: which X |