fire. Tliis forlorn consists of a few files picked out of the whole army of saints. Secondly, The consolations he gives them then (in exceedings) above other of their brethren, that are not called out to such hard service. That part of an army which is \ipon action in the field is sure to have their pay, if their masters have any money in their purse, or care of them ; yea, sometimes when their fellows left in their quarters are made to stay. I am sure there is more gold and sil^ser (spiritual joy, I mean, and comfort) to be found in Christ's camp, among his suffering ones, than their brethren at home in peace and prosperity ordinarily can shew. What are the promises but vessels of cordial wine, tunned on pvu'pose against a groaning hour, when God usually broacheth them? ' Call upon me,' saith God, 'in the day of trouble,' Psa. 1. 15. And may we not do so in the day of peace ? Yes ; but he would have us most bold with him in a day of trouble. None find such quick despatch at the throne of grace as suffering saints. ' In the day that I cried,.' saith David, ' thou an- sweredst me, and gavest me strength in my soul,' Psa. cxxxviii. 3. He was now in a strait, and God comes in haste to him. Though we may make a well friend stay, that sends for us, yet we will give a sick friend leave to call us up at midnight. In such extremities we usually go with the messenger that comes for us ; and so doth God with the prayer. Peter knocked at their gate, who were assembled to seek God for him, almost as soon as their prayer knocked at heaven gate in his behalf. And truly it is no more than needs, if we consider the temptations of an afflicted condition ; we are pi'one then to be suspicious our best friends forget us, and to think every stay a delay, and neglect of us ; therefore God chooseth to shew himself most kind at siich a time ; ' As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation aboimdeth also by Christ,' 2 Cor. i. 5. As man laid on trouble, so'Chiist laid in conso- lation : both tides rose and fell together ; when it was spring-tide with him in affliction, it was so with him in his joy. We relieve the poor as their charge increaseth : so Christ comforts his people as their troubles multiply. And now, Christian, tell me, doth not thy dear Lord deserve a ready spirit in thee to meet any suffering with, for, or from him, who gives his sweetest comforts where his people use to expect their saddest sorrows? Well may the servant do his work cheerfully when his master is so careful of him as with his own hands to bring him his breakfast into the fields. Tlie Christian stays not till he comes to heaven for all his comfort. There indeed shall be the full supper, but there is a break- fast. Christian, of previous joys, more or less, which Christ brings to thee into the field, and shall be eaten on the place where thou endurest thy hardship. Thirdly, In the seasonable succours which Christ sends to bring them off safe. He doth not only comfort them in, but helps them out of, all their troubles. There is ever a dooi; more than the Christian sees in his prison, by which Christ can with a turn of his hand open a way for his saint's escape. And what can he desire more ? All is well that ends well. And what better security can we desire for this than the promise of the great God, with whom to lie is im- ■possible? And I hope the credit which God hath in his people's hearts is not so low but a bill under his hand will be accepted at sight by them in ex- change of what is dearest to them, life itself not excepted. Look to thyself when thou hast to do with others. None so firm but may crack under thee, if thou layest too much weight on them. One would have thought so worthy a captain as Uriah was might have trusted his general, yea, his prince, and he so holy a man as David was ; but he was unworthily betrayed by them both into the hands of death. Man may, the devil to be sure will, leave all in the lurch that do his work. But if God sets thee on, he will bring thee off; never fear a ' look thee to that' from his lips, when thy faithfulness to him hath brought thee into the briers. He that would work a wonder rather than let a runaway prophet perish in his sinful voyage, because a good man in the main, will heap miracle upon miracle rather than thou shalt miscarry and sink in thy duty ; only be not troubled if thou art cast overboard, like Jonah, before thou seest the provision which God makes for thy safety : it is ever at hand, but sometimes lies close, and out of the creature's sight, like Jonah's whale, sent of God to ferry him to shore under water, and the prophet in his belly, before he knew where he was. That which thou thinkest come to devour thee, may be the messenger that God sends to bring thee safe to land. Is not thy shoe,
THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 407
Cliristian, yet on ? art thou not yet ready to march ? canst fear any stone now can hurt thy foot through so thick a sole ?
CHAPTER XV.