376 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART I.
they were alone and helpless, but courage and resolution to defy the . tyrant to his face. And when the apostle was brought before Nero, that monster of cruelty and villany, and “all men forsook him,” he affirms that “the Lord stood by him and strengthened him,” 2 Tim. iv. 17. He refreshed himself with thoughts of his presence, and had the blessed fruit of it.
Wherefore, on such occasions, when the hearts of men are ready to quake, when they see all things about them-filled with dread and terror, and all help far away, it is, I say, their duty and wisdom to abstract and take off their thoughts from all outward and present appearances, and to fix them on the presence of God. This will greatly change the scene of things in their minds, and they will find that strength, and power, and wisdom, are on their side alone, all that appears against them being but vanity, folly, and weakness.
So when the servant of Elisha saw the place where they were compassed with a host, both horses and chariots, that came to take them, he cried out for fear, “Alas, my master! how shall we do?” But upon the prayer of the prophet, the Lord opening the eyes of the young man to see the heavenly guard that he had sent unto him, the mountain being full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha, his fear and trouble departed, 2 Kings vi. 15-17. And when, in the like extremity, God opens the eye of faith to be- hold his glorious presence, we shall no more be afraid of the dread of men. Herein did the holy martyrs triumph of old, and even despised. their bloody persecutors. Our Saviour himself made it the ground of his supportment on the like occasion: John xvi. 32, “ Behold,” saith he to his disciples, his only friends, “ the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every one to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” Can we but possess our souls with the apprehension that when we are left alone, in our trials and dangers, from any counte- nance of friends or help of men, yet that indeed we are not alone, because the Father is with us, it will support us under our despon- dencies, and enable us unto our duties.
4. Especial providential warnings call for thoughts of God’s om- nipresence and omniscience. So Jacob in his night vision instantly made this conclusion, “God is in this place, and I knew it not.” We have frequently such warnings given unto us. Sometimes we have so in the things which are esteemed accidental, whence, it may be, we are strangely delivered; sometimes we have so in the things which we see to befall others, by thunder, lightning, storms at sea or land: for all the works of God, especially those that are rare and strange, have a voice whereby he speaks unto us. The first thing suggested unto a spiritual mind in such seasons will
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CHAP. IX.] NATURE OF MEDITATION ON GOD. 377
be, “God is in this place,’—“ He is present that liveth and seeth,” as Higa confessed on the like occasion, Gen. xvi. 13, 14.
Thirdly, Have frequent thoughts of God’s omnipotency, or his almighty power. This most men, it may be, suppose they need not much exhortation unto; for none ever doubted of it. Who doth not grant it on all occasions? Men grant it, indeed, in general; for eter- nal power is inseparable from the first notion of the Divine Being. So are they conjoined by the apostle: “ His eternal power and God- head,” Rom. i. 20. Yet few believe it for themselves and as they ought. Indeed, to believe the almighty power of God with refer- ence unto ourselves and all our concernments, temporal and eternal, is one of the highest and most noble acts of faith, which includes all others in it: for this is that which God at first proposed alone as the proper object of our faith in our entrance into covenant with him, Gen. xvii. 1, “Iam the Almighty God;” that which Job arrived unto after his long exercise and trial. “I know,” saith he, “that thou canst do every thing, and no thought of thine can be adele chap. xu 2a God hath spoken once,” saith the psalmist; “twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God,” Ps. lx. 11. It was that which God saw it necessary frequently to instruct him in; for we are ready to be affected with the appearances of present power in creatures, and to suppose that all things will go according unto their wills because of their power. But it is quite otherwise; all creatures are poor feeble ciphers, that can do nothing. Power belongs unto God; it is a flower of his crown imperial, which he will suffer none to usurp. If the proudest of them go beyond the bounds and limits of his present permission, he will send worms to eat them up, as he did to Herod.
It is utterly impossible we should walk before God, unto his glory, or with any real peace, comfort, or satisfaction in our own souls, unless our minds are continually exercised with thoughts of his almighty power. Every thing that befalls us, every thing that we hear of which hath the least of danger in it, will discompose our minds, and either make us tremble like the leaves of the forest that are shaken with the wind, or betake ourselves to foolish or sinful relief, unless we are firmly established in the faith hereof. Consider the promises of God unto the church which are upon record, and as yet unaccomplished ; consider the present state of the church in the world, with all that belongs unto it, im all the fears and dangers they are exposed unto, in all the evils they are exercised withal,—and we shall quickly find that unless this sheet-anchor be well fixed, we shall be tossed up and down at all uncertainties, and exposed to most violent temptations, Rev. xix. 6. Unto this end are we called hereunto by God himself in his answer unto the despondent com-