in the water ; that is, in those various trials and troubles that they are incident to in this world, Isa. liv. 5 ; Ps. ciii. 13, 14 ; Exod. xv. 3 ; Mai. iv. 2 ; Mat. ix. 12 ; Ps. xxiii. 1. When should a husband be with his wife, but when she is in greatest troubles ? and a father with his child, but when he is in deep distresses ? and a general with his army, but when they are in greatest dangers ? When should the physician be most with his patient, but when he is most desperately sick ? and when should the shepherd be nearest his sheep, but when they are diseased, and the wolf is at hand ? Now God, you know, stands in all these relations to his people, and therefore he will not fail to be near them when troubles, distresses, and dangers are growing upon them. But,
[7.] Seventhly, The Lord will be signally present with his people in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers, because such times are commonly times of great and 'sore temptations. When God's hand is heaviest, then Satan will be busiest. Job ii. 7, 8 ; Mat. ix. 4 ; Heb. ii. 18. The devil is never more violent in his temptations than when the saints are under afflictions: James i. 2, ' My brethren, count it all joy, when ye fall into divers temptations,' that is, ' afflictions ; ' ver. 12, ' Blessed is the man that endureth temptation,' that is, affliction ; 2 Pet. ii. 9, ' The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation,' that is, out of affliction. Now affliction is called temptation, not in the vulgar sense, as temptation is put for an occasion or inducement to sin, but in its proper and native signification, as it is taken for probation and trial. Thus God is said to tempt Abraham, Gen. xxii. 1, that is, he did try and prove the faith, the fear, the love, the obedience of Abraham. Afflictions are called temptations, partly because as afflictions will try what mettle we are made off, so will temptations ; and partly because as afflictions are burdensome and grievous to us, so are temptations. But mainly afflictions are called temptations, because in time of affliction Satan will be sifting and winnowing of the saints. Now he will make use of all his devices, methods, depths, darts, yea, fiery darts, that he may vex, afflict, trouble, grieve, wound, torture, and torment those dear hearts that God would not have grieved and wounded ; and therefore now the Lord steps in and stands by his people, and by his favourable, signal, and refreshing presence, he bears up their heads above water, and keeps their hearts from fainting and sinking under Satan's most dangerous and desperate temptations, Luke xxii. 31; 2 Cor. xii. 7; 2 Cor._ ii. 11 ; Eph. vi. 11 ; Eev. ii. 24 ; Eph. vi. 16. When a city is besieged, and the enemies have raised their batteries, and have made breaches upon their walls, and their provisions grow low, oh, then, if ever, there is need of succour and relief ! So here. But,
[8.] Eighthly, The Lord will be signally present with his people in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers, because he highly prizes them, and sets an honourable value and esteem upon them : Isa. xliii. 4, ' Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee, therefore will I give men for thee,' \_Heb., ' In thy room, or in thy stead,] ' and people for thy life,' that is, for thy preservation and protection. God s^s such a mighty price upon his people, that to preserve them from ruin and
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destruction, he makes nothing of giving up to the sword and destruc- tion, the most rich, strong, populous, and warlike nations in the world. Now the high price and value that he sets upon them, engages him to be present with them : ver. 2, ' When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee ; and through the rivers, they shall not over- flow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt ; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.' Them we highly prize, we won t leave in a day of distress ; no more won't God. God prizes his people as his peculiar treasure : Exod. xix. 5, as his 'portion ;' Deut. xxxii. 9, as his 'pleasant portion;' Jer. xii. 10, as his 'jewels;' Mai. iii. 17, as his 'glory;' Isa. iv. 5, as bis ' crown and royal diadem.' Yea, he prizes the poorest, the meanest, and the weakest saint in the world above a multitude, yea, above a world of sinners. Heb. xi. 37, 38, 'Of whom the world was not worthy.' Though they did not rustle in silks and velvets, but were clad ' in sheep-skins and goat-skins ;' yet they had that inward excellency, as that the world was not worthy of their company : and though they did not dwell in ceiled houses, nor in stately palaces, but ' in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth ; ' yet the vile sinful persecuting world was not worthy of their presence, or prayers, or of their prudent counsels, or pious examples, &c. God sets a higher value upon a Job, though on a dunghill, than upon an Ahab, though on his royal throne, Job i. 1, and ii. 3. God values men by their in- ward excellencies, and not by their outward dignities and worldly glories. He sets a higher price upon a Lazarus in his tattered rags, than upon a rich Dives in his purple robes. Sucb persons have most of our company whom we prize most, Job ii. 11-13. Job's three friends did highly value him, and therefore in his deepest distresses, they own him, they pity him, they weep over him, they accompany him, and they keep close unto him. Because God highly prizes his people, he will be signally present with them in their greatest troubles and deepest distresses. But,