the Chaldee paraplirast hath it, Victor helloriim, an overcomer of battles. Now eminent warriors, mighty warriors, famous warriors, they always stick closest to their soldiers in their greatest dangers, as all know that have read either Scripture or history. Now the Lord is such a man of wars, such a famous warrior, as that he will be sure to stick closest to his people in the greatest dangers. God is both in the van and in the rear, Isa, lii. 12. And as there is nothing that more raises the honour, fame, and renown of great warriors in the world than their presence with their soldiers when the bullets fly thickest ; so there is nothing by which God gets himself a greater name, fame, and honour in the world, than by his signal presence with his people in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers. But,
[4.] Fourthly, The Lord will be signally present with his people in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers, because then his people stands in most need of his presence. A be- liever needs the presence of God at all times, but never so much as in great troubles, deep distresses, and most deadly dangers ; for now Satan will be stirring. He loves to fish in troubled waters. Now earthly friends and earthly comforts and earthly succours will com- monly fail us ; now cares and fears will be multiplied upon us ; now unbelief, which is virtually all evil, will be raising doubts and cavils and objections in the soul,i so that if God does not stand by us now, what can we say ? what can we do ? how can we bear up ? how can. we stand fast? What was Samson, that man of strength, when his hair was gone, but as weak as water ? Judges xvi. 19, 20 ; and what is the strongest Christian when his God is gone, but as weak as weakness itself ? All our doing strength, and all our suffering strength, and all our bearing strength, and all our witnessing strength, lies in the special presence of God with our souls. All our comforts, and all our supports, and all our ease, and all our refreshments, flow from the presence of God with our souls in our greatest troubles and deepest distresses ; and therefore, if God should leave us in a day of trouble, what would become of us ? and whither should we go ? and where should we find rest ? When doth a man need a brother or friend, but in a day of adversity ? ' A brother is born for adversity,' Prov. xvii. 17. Though at other times brethren may jar and jangle and quarrel, yet in a day of adversity, in a strait, in a stress, birth and good blood and good nature will be working. Adversity breeds love and unity. Kidley and Hooper differed very much about ceremonies in the day of their liberty ; but when they were both prisoners in the Tower, then they could agree well enough, and then they could be mutual comforts one to another. And when does a Christian most need the strength of God, the consolations of God, the supports of God, the teachings and quickenings of God, and the signal singular presence of God, but when they are in the greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers ? When the people of God are in a low and afflicted condition, then the Lord knows that that is the season of seasons for him to grace them with his gracious presence, Isa. xxxiii. 9, 10. When calamities and dangers break in upon us,
^ Job ii. 9, andxix. 13-17; Ps. Ixxxviii. 18; Isa. xli. 17, 18.
WITH HIS PEOPLE IN THEIR GREATEST TROUBLES. 531
and when all heads and hands and hearts and counsels are set against us, now is the time for God to help us, for God to succour us, for God to stand by us. But,
[5.] Fifthly, The Lord will be signally present with his people in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers, because he dearly loves them. God entirely loves his people, and therefore he will not leave his people. Persons whom we entirely love we cannot leave, especially when they are in a distressed con- dition. ' A friend loves at all times,' saith Solomon, and God is such a friend, Prov. xvii. 17. God loves not by fits and starts, as many do, but his love is like himself, sincere and steadfast. Because he loves them, he won't forsake them when they are in the greatest troubles and most terrible dangers, 1 Sam. xii. 22, ' For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake : because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.' He chose you for his love, and he still loveth you for his choice, and therefore he won't forsake you.i Chide you he may, but forsake you he won't ; for it will not stand with the glory of God to leave a people, to forsake a people of his love. Should I cast you off whom I love, the heathen nations would say that I was mutable in my purposes, or unfaithful in my promises. Though David's parents forsook him, yet God did not for- sake him, but took him up into his care and keeping, Ps. xxvii. 10. It is the deriding question w^hich the enemies of the saints put to them in the time of their greatest troubles, deep distresses, and most deadly dangers, Uhi Deus ? Where is now your God ? Ps. Ixxix. 10. But they may safely and groundedly return this answer when they are at lowest. Hie Deus, Our God is here ; he is nigh unto us, he is round about us, and he is in the midst of us, Isa. lii. 12. Witness that golden promise, that is more worth than a world, ' I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,' Heb. xiii. 5, 11. God is a God of bowels, a God of great pity, a God of tender compassion, and there- fore he will not leave his people in a time of distress, Hosea viii. 9 ; Mic. vii. 19 ; Jer. xxxi. 18-20. Parents' bowels do most yearn towards their children when they are sick, and weak, and most in danger. It goes to the very heart of a man to leave a friend in misery. But what are the bowels of men to the bowels of God ! or the compassions of men to the compassions of God ! There is an ocean of love in the hearts of parents towards their children when they are in distress, 2 Sam. xix. 6 ; and this love makes them sit by their children, and sit up with their children, and not stir from their children. God's love does so link his heart to his people in their deep distresses, that he cannot leave them, he cannot stir from them, Ps. xci. 15 : Isa. xliii. 4, ' Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honour- able, and I have loved thee.' Well, and what then ? This love so endears and unites God to his people, that he cannot leave them, he cannot stir one foot from them : ver. 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 Lord dearly loves his people, and he highly prizes his people, and he greatly 1 Dcut. vii. 6-8. Amat quia amat. — Bernard.
532 THE SIGNAL PRESENCE OF GOD