mistress that, harlot-like, ' hunted for his precious life,' his injurious master that, without any desert of his, imprisoned him, the tumul- tuating Egyptians, that pined with hunger, perhaps spake of ston- ing of him, and the envious courtiers and enchanters that spake evil of him before Pharaoh, to bring him out of favour ; but by divine assistance, and God's favourable preference, 1 Sam. xxx. 6, he proved too strong for them all. Yer. 24, ' But his bow abode in strength, and the arms 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 steadfast, and his arms strong by the signal presence of God with him. i 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 |ast and firm under the greatest pressures. It made Joseph use his bow against his adversaries, as David did his sling against Goliath. He slung, saith one, as if he had wrapped up God in his sling. Ps. xxiii. 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 presence of the Lord with his people 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 dark- ness ; 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. iii. 24, ' Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake and said unto his counsellors. Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire ? They answered and said unto the king. True, 0 king ;' ver. 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 turned 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 filled their souls with comfort, peace, ease, and heavenly refreshing. One of the ancients [Augustine] rhetorically speaking to Nebuchadnezzar, 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 pro- phet ? 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 whilst thou beholdest these three as thine enemies in the fire, thou mightest give testimony to the Son of God ? ' This heathenish prince looked 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 human, but of divine off'spring. But whatever 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 :
' Junius, Mercer. Not that his arms were adorned with bracelets and gold, as the Chaldee saith, &c.
462 THE SIGNAL PRESENCE OF GOD
Zech. i. 8, 'I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood amongst the myrtle-trees that were in the bottom ; and behind him were three red horses, speckled, and white.' The man riding upon the red horse is the man Christ Jesus ; it is the captain of the Lord's 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 white5* behind him, is represented his having angels for ministers, and all creatures ready for every dispen- sation ; 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 valleys, and bottoms, and by water-sides. Now, when his people are in a very low condition, then Christ appears on horseback, for his people's pro- tection, 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 always ready upon his red horse, watching all opportunities and advantages, to shew his zeal and cour- age for his people, and his severity and fury against their enemies. The man that stood amongst the myrtle-trees, ver. 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. xliii. 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 through the Ked Sea, and were not drowned ; and the three children walked up and down in the fiery furnace, and were not so much as singed, Dan. iii. 27. By ' fire and water' we may well understand the various troubles, distresses, and dangers that may attend the people of God. Now in all these various troubles, &c. , the Lord will be sig- nally 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. iv. 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 con- quered ; cast down, but not cast off. Luther, speaking of his enemies, 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 favour- able 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 inquire how the Lord does manifest his favourable, his signal, his eminent presence to his people in their greatest troubles, deepest dis-
^ 1 Tim. ii. 5; Josh. iv. 14; Heb. ii. 10. Among the Eomans the crown or garland of those that did shout for victory, or ride in triumph, was made of myrtle, Plin., lib. XV. c. 29.