VIII. Ei{/hthly, Sometimes beforethe soulis deeply engaged in sore con- flicts with Satan, the Lord is graciously pleased to visit hisjjeople with his loving-kindness, and to give them scnne sv;eet assurance, that thovgh they are tempted, yet they shall not he worsted; though they are tried, yet tliey shall he crowned, 1 John x. 28 ; though Satan doth roar as a lion upon the soul, yet he shall not make a prey of the soul; for the Lion of the tHhe of Judah will hold it fast, and none shall pluck it out of his hand. Rev. v. 5. God first fed Israel with manna from heaven, and gave them water to drink out of the rock, before their sore fight with Amalek, Exod. xvii 8, &c. Before Paul was buffeted by Satan, he was caught up into the third heaven, where he had very glorious visions and revelations of the Lord, even such as he was not able to utter, 2 Cor. xii. 1-8. Before Jesus Christ was led into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan, to question and doubt of his Sonship. he heard a voice from heaven, saying, ' This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' Mat. iii. 17. The Spirit of the Lord did first descend upon him as a dove, before Satan fell upon him as a lion. God walks with
' Exclamat tanquam victus, lie cries out as conquerpd. — Burgends.
* Suetonius. ^ This truth many choice Chribtians have found by experience.
Rom. VIII. 32-34.] heaven on earth. 373
his people some turns in paradise, and gives them some tastes of his right-hand pleasures, before Satan, by his tempting, shall do them a dis- plea-sure, Ps. xvi. 11. But I must hasten to a close of this chapter ; and therefore,
IX. Ninthly, and lastly. After some sharp conflicts vAth Satan, Ood is ffraciously pleased to lift up the light of his countenance upon his people, and to ivarm and cheer their hearts with the beams of hi a love, :^ Mat. iv. 11, 'Then the devil leaveth him, and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.' When Christ had even spent himself in foiling and quelling, in resisting and scattering Satan's temptations, then the angels come and minister cordials and comforts unto him. So after Paul had been buffeted by Satan, he heard that sweet word from heaven, ' My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness,' 'Z Cor. xii. 7-10, which filled his heart with joy and glad- nessv The hidden manna, the new name, and the white stone, is given to the conqueror. Rev. vii. 17 ; to him that hath fought 'with principa- lities, and powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places,' lilph. vi. 12, and is come off with his garments dipped in blood. After the Roman generals had gotten victory over their enemies, the senate did use not one way, but many ways, to express their loves to them. So after our faith hath gotten victory over Satan, God usually takes the soul in his arms, and courts it, and shews much kindness to it. Now the soul shall be carried in triumph, now the chariot of state attends the soul, now white raiment is put upon the soul. Rev, iii. 5, and vii. 9 ; now palms are put into the conqueror's hands, now the garland is set upon the conqueror's head, and now a royal feast is provided, where God will set the conqueror at the upper end of the table, arvd speak kindly, and carry it sweetly towards him, as one much affected and taken with his victory over the prince of darkness. Conflicts with Satan are usually the sharpest and the hottest ; they spend and waste most the vital and noble spirits of the saints ; and therefore the Lord, after such conflicts, doth ordinarily give his people his choicest and his strongest cordials.^
And thus, by divine assistance, we have shewed you the special times and seasons wherein the Lord is graciously pleased to give his people some tastes of his love, some sweet assurance, that they are his favour- ites, that all is well, and shall be for ever well between him and them ; and that, though many things may trouble them, yet nothing^ shall sepa- rate them from their God, their Christ, their crown.
Containing the several hindrances and impediments that keep poor souls from assurance ; with the means and lielps to remove those impediments and hindrances.
(1.) The first impediment. Now the first impediment and hindrance to assurance that we shall instance in, is, DespaiHng thoughts of mercy. Oh !, these imprison the soul, and make it always dark with the soul ;
' Non tanquam misericordes indigenli, sed tanquam suljecti omnipotenti. — Augastine, Horn. viii. * Aa many have found by experience.
374? HEAVEN ON EARTH. [ROM. VIII. 32-34.