was ready to faint, Christ circleth her with amiable embracements ; ' His left hand is under her head, and his right hand doth embrace her.' It is an allusion to their conjugal and mensal beds, on which the guests are so bestowed, that the first laid his left hand under the head of him that was next, and put him so in his bosom, that with his other hand he might also, if he pleased, embrace him, which was a posture and sign of the greatest love, which the sick fainting spouse here glories in. Christ's two hands are testimonies and witnesses of his great power and might, who is able to preserve his people, though lame cripples, from falling, and also to lift them up again when they are fallen never so low, and likewise to support and uphold them, that they shall never finally and utterly be cast down. When the hearts of the saints are ready to faint and sink, then the Lord will employ all his power for their support, bearing them up as it were with both hands. He hath put his left hand under my head, as a pillow to rest upon, and with his right hand he hath embraced me, as a loving husband cherish- eth his sick wife, and doth her all the help he can, Eph. v. 29. The best of saints would fail and faint in a day of trouble, if Christ did not put to both his hands to keep them up. In days of sorrow God's people stands in need of a whole Christ to support them and uphold them. My head sinks, 0 my beloved, put thy left hand, softer than pillows of roses, firmer than pillars of marble, under it ; my heart faileth and dieth — oh let thy right hand embrace me. But,
4. The fourth proposition is this, That all saints have not a like measure of tlie presence of Uie Lord in their troubles and trials, in their sorrows and sufferings. Some have more, and others have less of this presence of God in an evil day. (1.) All saints have not alike work to do in an evil day. (2.) All saints have not alike temptations to withstand in an evil day. (3.) All saints have not alike testimony to give on an evil day. (4.) All saints have not alike burdens to bear in an evil day. (5.) All saints have not alike things to suffer in an evil day. There are greater and there are lesser troubles, distresses, and dangers ; and there are ordinary troubles, distresses, and dangers ; and there are extraordinary troubles, distresses, and dangers.! Now, where the trouble, the distress, the danger, is ordinary, there an ordi- nary presence of God may suffice ; but where the trouble, the distress, the danger, is extraordinary, there the people of God shall have an extraordinary presence of God with them, as you may see in the three children, Daniel, the apostles, the primitive Christians, and the Book of Martyrs. Some troubles, distresses, and dangers, are but of a short continuance, as Athanasius said of his banishment. Nubecula est, citd transibit. It is but a little cloud, and will quickly be gone. Others are of a longer continuance, and accordingly God suits his presence. All saints have not alike outward succours, supplies, reliefs, comforts, &c., in their troubles, distresses, and dangers. Some have a shelter, a friend at hand, others have not ; some have many friends, and others may cry out with him, O my friends, I have never a friend ! some are surrounded with outward comforts, and others have not one, not
1 Lam. L 12, and iv. 6 ; Dan, ix, 12, 13 ; 2 Cor, xL 21 to the end ; Heb. x;. 25 to the end.
544 THE SIGNAL PRESENCE OF GOD
one penny, not one friend, not one day's work, &c. ; in a storm some have good harbours at hand, others are near the rocks, and in danger of being swallowed up in the sands. So here, and accordingly God lets out more or less of his presence among his people ; some need more of his presence than others do, and accordingly God dispenseth it among his saints. But,
5. The fifth proposition is this. That none of the saints have at all times, in all afflictions, distresses, and dangers, the same measure and degree of the presence of the Lord ; hut in one affliction they have more, in another less, of the divine presence.^ In one affliction a Christian may have more of the enlightening presence of God than in another ; and in another affliction a Chi'istian may have more of the comforting presence of God than in another. In tliis trouble a Christian may have more of the awakening presence of God than in another, and in that trouble a Christian may have more of the sanctifying presence of God than in another ; and in this distress a Christian may have more of the supporting presence of God than in that. No one saint doth at all times, nor in all troubles, need a like measure of the divine presence. The primitive Christians and the martyrs had sometimes more and sometimes less of the divine presence with them, as their condition did require. God, who is infinitely wise, does always suit the measures and degrees of his gracious, favourable, signal presence to the necessities of his saints. This is so clear and great a truth, that there are many thout- sands that can seal to it from their own experience ; and therefore I need not enlarge upon it. But,
6. The sixth and the last proposition is this. That many precious Christians, in their gy^eat troubles, deep distresses, and most deadly dangers, may have this favourable, signal, and eminent presence of God luith them, and yet fear and doubt, yea, peremptorily conclude that they have not this presence of God luith them,'^ Ps. Ixxvii. 7-10. These sad interrogatories argues much fear and diffidence; but let me evidence the truth of this proposition by an induction of par- ticulars. Thus, first : If Christ be not signally with you, why are you in your troubles so fearful of offending of him, and so careful and studious in pleasing of him ? Gen. xxxix. 9, 10 ; Ps. xvii. 3-5 ; Dan. iii. 16, 17, and vi. 10-13. Secondly, If Christ be not signally with you, how comes it to pass that under all your troubles, deep distresses, and most deadly dangers, you are still a-justifying of God, a-clearing of God, a-speaking well of God, a-giving a good report of God? Ps. cxix. 75 ; Ezra ix. 13 ; Neh. ix. 32, 33 ; Dan. ix. 12, 14. Thirdly, If God be not signally with you, how come you to bear up so believingly, sweetly, stoutly, cheerfully, and patiently under your troubles, deep distresses, and greatest dangers ? Gen. xlix. 23, 24 ; 1 Sam. XXX. 6 ; Hab. iii. 17, 18 ; Acts v. 40^2, xvi. 25, 26, and xxvii. 22-26; Heb. x. 34. Fourthly, If Christ be not signally present with you, how comes it to pass that your thoughts, desires, hearts, thirstings and longings of soul, are so earnestly, so seriously, so fre- quently, and so constantly carried out after more and more of Christ,
^ Some scores of Psalms do evidence the truth of this proposition. ^ Jouah ii. 4 ; Cant. v. 6-10 ; Ps. Ixxxviii.
WITH HIS PEOPLE IN THEIR GREATEST TROUBLES. 545