^ This is evident throughout the whole book of the prophet Ezekiel. See ii. 4, 7-12.
580 THE SIGNAL PRESENCE OF GOD
man hath thus ever seen the Lord at any time, and that 'no man can thus see the Lord, and live,' John i. 18 ; 1 Tim. vi. 16; 1 John iv. 12 ; Exod. xxxiii. 20-23. And as great a favourite of Heaven as Moses was, yet he could only see the back parts of God, he could only behold some lower representations of God. Some say that he heard the heavenly singing of angels and blessed spirits, which was so sweet, so excellent and glorious, that no mortal man was able to utter it ; and this of the two is most probable. But no man is bound to make this opinion an article of his faith. This, I think, we may safely con- clude, that in this rapture, besides the contemplation of celestial mysteries, he felt such unspeakable delight and pleasure, that was either like to that, or exceeded that, which Adam took in the terrestrial paradise. Doubtless the apostle did see and hear such excellent things as was impossible for the tongue of any mortal man to express or utter. John was ' a burning and a shining light,' ^ John v. 35, both in life and doctrine. He was a man that kept up in his heart and life the power of holiness and godliness ; and Christ reveals to him the general estate of his church and all that should befall his people, and that from John's time unto his second coming. Christ gives John a true representation of all the troubles, trials, changes, mercies, and glories that in all times and in all ages and places should attend his church until he came in all his glory. About sixty years after Christ's ascension,^ Christ comes to John, and opens his heart, and unbosoms his soul, and makes known to him all that care, that love, that tenderness, that kindness, and that sweetness that he would exercise towards his church from that very time to the end of the world. Christ tells John, tliat though he had been absent, and seem- ingly silent for about threescore years, that yet he was not so taken up with the delights, contents, and glory of heaven, as that he did not care what became of his church on earth. Oh no ! and therefore he opens his choicest secrets, and makes known the most hidden and glorious mysteries to John that ever was made known to any man. As there was none that had so much of the heart of Christ as John, so there was none had so much of the ear of Christ as John. Christ singles out his servant John from all the men in the world, and makes known to him all the happy providences and all the sad occurrences that were to come upon the followers of the Lamb, that so they might know what to fit for, and what to pray for, and what to wait for. Also he declares to John all that wrath and vengeance, all that deso- lation and destruction that should come upon the false prophet and the beast, and upon all that wandered after them, and that were wor- shippers of them, and that had received their marks either in their foreheads or in their hands. Thus you see that they which keep up the power of holiness in their hearts and lives, they shall be sure to enjoy the choicest presence of God, and the clearest, fullest, and sweetest discoveries of Grod, and of these great things that concern the internal and eternal good of their souls. Nothing wins upon God like
' This is the second time wherein Brooks confounds John the Baptist with John the Apostle. — G.
^ It is the general opinion of the learned that this Book of the Revelation was penned about the latter end of the reign of Domitian the emperor, which was about sixt^' years after Christ's ascension.
WITH HIS PEOPLE IN THEIR GREATEST TROUBLES. 581
holiness, nothing delights God like holiness, nothing engages the pre- sence of Grod like holiness, Ps. 1. 23.1 He shews his salvation to him that ordereth his conversation aright. He that puts every piece of his conversation in the right order, he shall see and know that he shall be saved. He that walks accurately and exactly, that walks as in a frame, treading gingerly, stepping warily, he shall have a prospect of heaven here, and a full fruition of heaven hereafter, ' Thou meetest him that rejoiceth, and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways,' Isa. Ixiv. 5. He that works righteousness and walks in righteousness shall be sure to meet with God, and to enjoy the precious presence of God in his greatest troubles and deepest dis- tresses. But,
[3.] Thirdly, If you would enjoy the gracious presence of God with you in your greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers, then keep close to instituted worship, keep close to gospel ordinances, keep close to your church state : Exod. xx. 24, ' In all places where I record my name, I will come unto thee and bless thee, Isa. Ixiv. 5 ; Rev. ii. i ; Cant. vii. 5 ; Ezek. xlviii. 35. Where God fixeth his solemn worship for the memorial and honour of his name, there he will vouchsafe his gracious presence : Mat. xviii, 20, ' For vhere two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.' The promise of God's gracious assistance, pre- sence, and acceptance is annexed to his church, whether it be great or small, numerous or few : Mat. xxviii. 20, ' Lo, I am with you alway,' according to my godhead, majesty, grace, and Spirit. Lo, I am with you, to own you ! Lo, I am with you, to counsel and direct you ! Lo, I am with you, to cheer and comfort you ! Lo, I am with you, to assist and strengthen you 1 Lo, I am with you, to shelter you and protect you ! Lo, I am with you, to do all your works in you and for you ! Lo, I am with you, to strengthen your graces and to weaken your sins ! Lo, I am with you, to scatter your fears and answer your doubts ! Lo, I am with you, to better your hearts and to mend your lives ! Lo, I am with you, to bless you and crown you with immor- tality and glory ! ^ And what can the soul desire more ? Such as have low thoughts of gospel ordinances, such as slight gospel ordi- nances, such as neglect gospel ordinances, such as vilify gospel ordi- nances, such as decry gospel ordinances, such as oppose gospel ordinances, — such may talk of the presence of Christ, and such may boast of the presence of Christ, but all such are out of the way of enjoying the presence of Christ. Christ is only to be met with in his own worship, and in his own ways. Ah, how many m these days are there that are like to old Barzillai, that had lost his taste and hear- ing, and so cared not for David's feasts and music ! 2 Sam. xix. 35. How many are there that formerly were very zealous for ordinances, but now are as zealous against them ! How many formerly have made many great, hard, and dangerous ventures to enjoy gospel ordinances, who now won't venture a broken shin for an ordinance,
" Christ in his ordinances doth, as Mary, open a box of ointments, which diffusetU a spiritual savour among the saints, and this makes the ordinances precious in their eyes.