394 SAINT Paul's challenge.
the waters; and the greater the waters, the more safe he, and the nearer to heaven. Let God be with us, and we may be content with any condi- tion whatsoever.
Again, let i;s not be over-much discouraged with our infirmities and corruptions : ' If God be with us, who can be against us ? ' Our corrup- tions are against us, and they are worse to me than the devil and all enemies, saith a poor Christian. Indeed they are, for the devil hath no advantage against us but by our corruptions; but if thou account thy corruptions thine enemies, they are God's enemies and Christ's enemies as well as thine. He will be with thee, and thy corruptions shall more and more be Avasted; for the flesh shall fall before the Spirit. This Dagon shall fall before this blessed ark, 1 Sam. v. 3. Stronger is he that is in us than he that is in the world, 1 John iv. 4. The Spirit of God is stronger in us than corruption in us, or the world without us ; it ministers stronger grounds of comfort than all other can do of discomfort. If you be under the Spirit and under grace, ' sin shall not have dominion over you,' Rom. vi, 14. It may be in you, but it shall not have dominion, because ye are under the covenant of grace. Therefore though corruption be in us, for our exercise and humiliation, yet it shall not be against us, to abridge us of comfort. They serve to drive us nearer to God. Let none be discouraged, ' Christ came to destroy the works of the devil,' 1 John iii. 8; therefore he came to destroy sin in us, which is the work of the devil. He came to take away not only the guilt, but the very being of sin, as he will at last ; for if God and Christ be with us, who shall be against us ?
Ohj. But it may be objected by some, But I find not God with me.
Ans. It is true, sometimes God hides himself: 'Thou art a God that hidest thyself,' Is. xlv. 15. He seems as a stranger in his own church; to be * as a wayfaring man,' as the prophet saith, Jer. xiv. 8. He takes no notice of his church and their afflictions ; he seems not to take them to heart, nor to pity his church. Oh, but this is but for a time, and for trial: 'Can a mother forget her child?' Isa. xlix. 15. Put case she should, yet will not I forget thee. God hides himself but a while, to try the graces of his children, and to give way to the enemies; to let his children to see their corruptions, and his wise dispensation. And these desertions we must be acquainted with. God seems to be away from his children, yet he is with them, and supports them with invisible strength. He seems to be with wicked men in prospering them in the world, that they have all at their will in outward things, yet he is far from them. He withdraws himself in spiritual things ; they have no grace, no sound inward comfort. And he seems opposite to his children; he leaves them outwardly in regard of assistance and friends, but they have an invisible inward presence of the Spirit to support and strengthen them ; therefore measure not desertions, God's being or not being with us, by outward respects; for so he is with the enemies of the church ofttimes, and not with his children. But he is with his in the sweetest manner, supporting of them when they are in darkness, and see no light of God's counte- nance ; yet they have so much light, though they think they see it not, as makes them trust in God : ' Let him that is in darkness, and sees no light, trust in the name of God,' Isa. 1. 10. Therefore, as I said, it is a prin- ciple pregnant for comfort and use. If God be with us, he is with us in life and death ; for whom he loves he loves everlastingly, from everlasting to everlasting.
SAINT Paul's challenge. 395
Quest. If this be so, what shall we do to God again? What is the best evidence to know that God is with us ?
Ans. There is a relation between God and his. He is so with them, as that they are with him likewise in all passages. Doth he choose them ? They in time choose him : ' Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none in earth that I desire in comparison of thee,' Ps. Ixxiii. 25. Doth he call them ? they answer. Doth he justify and free them from their sins ? they make that answer of faith that Peter speaks of, ' I do believe ; Lord, help my unbelief,' Mark ix. 24. They have faith to lay hold upon the forgiveness. And likewise, if God be with them, they can delight in God's presence. Can God delight to be present with them that have not grace to delight in him ? God's children maintain their communion with him in all the sanctified means they can ; they are afraid to break with God. Therefore those that, to please and give content to others, and for base ends will displease their God, it is a heavy sign that God as yet hath not shewed himself in his gracious mercy in Christ Jesus to them.