(.5.) Because the saints are wont to train up themselves for these difficulties, by proposing hard cases to themselves ; as Ps. iii. 6, ' I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set them- selves against me round about ; ' Ps. xxvii. 3, ' Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear ; though war should rise against me, in this I will be confident ;' Ps. xlvi. 1, 2, 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.' Therefore will we not fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountains
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be carried into the midst of the sea.' Presumption is a coward, and a runaway from all thoughts of danger ; but faith meeteth its enemy in open field ; it supposeth the worst, that the heart may be fortified aforehand against whatever may fall out. They much inure their thoughts to God, and dwell in and with the Almighty, and reckon upon the changes of a reeling world, and so are prepared to be martyrs, and suffer the worst for God.
Use. You have heard this faith opened to you ; labour to get such a wrestling faith in expecting the benefits of the Messiah. You may have your difficulties —
1. About your spiritual estate and acceptance with God in Christ. You would have the devil cast out of your souls : you beg it of God, but he seemeth not to hear you ; you are to wait, not to give over the matter as hopeless, and in despondency to throw up all at first : ' The Lord is righteous, for I have rebelled against his commandment,' Lam. i. 18. He hath called, and you would not hear, and therefore now God may delay. It may be you have doubts whether ever God will hear you, and you question your election ; then consider God's mercy and your necessity. Christ hath taught us how to pray for the spirit : Luke xi. 8, ' Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him.' You continue praying, and it is with you as before ; it may be worse : Eom. vii. 9, ' But when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.' A bullock is most unruly at first yoking ; fire at first kindling casteth forth much smoke. What then ? Should you give over seeking to Christ ? That is to shut the door upon yourselves. God seemeth to shut you out, and you are discouraged with a deep sense of your own unworthiness. Will he look upon such a dead dog as I am ? In such cases you should creep in at the back door of the promise, as Paul doth : 1 Tim. i. 15, ' This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all accep- tation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.' If Christ came to save sinners, I am sinner enough for Christ to save , or, as the woman here, ' dogs lick up the crumbs.'
2. In some prevailing carnal distempers, that you have long wrestled with to get rid of, and you desire the physician of souls should cure you. Follow the means, lay open before him the plague and sore of your own heart. You do not presently find success ; will you therefore give over the business as hopeless, and go still with a wound or thorn in your conscience ? No ; consider — (1.) It must be cured ; (2.) If ever it be cured, it must be by Christ ; (3.) Use all his healing methods ; (4.) And beg a blessing upon all by prayer, ' Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean,' Mat. viii. 2 ; (5.) Believe his grace to be suffi- cient for thee. Be earnest and importunate ; we scratch the face of sin, but we do not seek to root it out. If you are resolved, you will take no nay. In a little time, and after some serious wrestling with God, you will be eminent in the contrary grace.
3. In great straits and pressures you seek to God ; plead his cove- nant, and yet no answer cometh. Will you turn atheist, and say, It is in vain to pray to God ? No ; ' He that believeth will not make haste,' Isa. xxviii. 16. Or will you faint and give over the suit ? Where then is the exercise of your faith and patience ? It may be
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God sliOTveth himself strange to you in your troubles ; as Jonah ii. 4, ' I said, I am cast out of thy sight, yet I will look again toward thy holy temple,' Let faith look to heaven and the covenant made with Christ. Will you give way to the temptation till you are bribed by sense ? No ; look again and again. Let faith triumph over diffi- culties, and the issue will be comfortable.
4. For the church, as God's children prefer Zion above their chief joy. You pray for the welfare of it, and God giveth no comfortable answer ; what then ? Will you neglect your duty or abate of your love ? It may be the clouds are thickened, dangers greater. What ! will you swell against providence ? Hab. ii. 4, ' Behold his soul, which is lifted up, is not upright in him ; but the just shall live by his faith.' No ; it is importunity, humility, resolved confidence will do you good at the last ; follow the suit still, and say, ' For Zion's sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth,' Isa. Ixii. 1. There should be an unwearied solicitation of God for the church's restitution. Christ is the church's advocate, we are her solicitors. This is an example, not to gaze upon, but to imitate.