And remember this for your comfort: At that time, when you are in affliction, and in so great a strait, that you are hedged about, and no hope, no possibility to evade, that is the time that the Lord will show forth his power; for a man is never discouraged but in this case; I have seen it by many particular experiments: when the case hath been desperate, when there hath been no hope, yet when God hath been sought to by fasting and prayer, there hath been alteration above all thought, according to that expression used, Ephes. 3.20: He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us: that is, when they could not enlarge their thoughts far, nor were able to see there could be any way devised, yet enlarging their prayers, the LORD hath devised a way oftentimes; I will give you some instances that the Scripture gives in this case. When Esau came against Jacob, was he not in a fearful strait; there was no hope, and no possibility, Esau was too strong for him; what should he do now? he exposeth himself to the enemy, there was no other remedy; and it was an enmity of twenty years continuance, and the Text saith, that Jacob feared, and yet the LORD delivered him, ⟨p. 200⟩when he had prayed to him. So when Laban came against him, GOD bid him that he should do him no hurt. So Daniel, when he was cast into the Lions den, when all the Lions were present with their mouths opened ready to devour, yet the Lord stopped their mouths, they could do him no hurt. So is it in many cases amongst us; when our enemies are ready to devour us, then GOD comes in in the nick, between the cup, and the lip, and works a way for our delivery. Therefore never be discouraged whatsoever thy case be: it is a very great matter to say, that the Lord can do such a thing, though you think it but a small thing. As when the Leper could go to Christ, and say, Lord, thou canst make me clean if thou wilt, then the Lord did so. It was a great matter for those three children in Dan. 3. to be able to say, when the fire was ready prepared, and the King was wroth, and there was no resistance, yet they said, The Lord is able to save us out of thy hand O King! The LORD did take this so well at their hands, that the LORD did help them, and save them.
And remember this for your comfort: At that time, when you are in affliction, and in so great a strait, that you are hedged about, and no hope, no possibility to evade, that is the time that the Lord will shew forth his power; for a man is never discouraged but in this case; I have seene it by many particular experiments: when the case hath beene desperate, when there hath beene no hope, yet when God hath beene sought to by fasting and prayer, there hath beene alteration above all thought, according to that expression used, Ephes. 3.20: Hee is able to doe exceeding abundantly above all that we aske or thinke, according to the power that worketh in us: that is, when they could not enlarge their thoughts farre, nor were able to see there could be any way devised, yet enlarging their prayers, the LORD hath devised a way oftentimes; I will give you some instances that the Scripture gives in this case. When Esau came against Iacob, was hee not in a fearefull strait; there was no hope, and no possibility, Esau was too strong for him; what should he doe now? he exposeth himselfe to the enemy, there was no other remedy; and it was an enmity of twenty yeares continuance, and the Text saith, that Iacob feared, and yet the LORD delivered him, ⟨p. 200⟩when he had prayed to him. So when Laban came against him, GOD bid him that he should doe him no hurt. So Daniel, when he was cast into the Lions den, when all the Lions were present with their mouthes opened ready to devoure, yet the Lord stopped their mouthes, they could doe him no hurt. So is it in many cases amongst us; when our enemies are ready to devoure us, then GOD comes in in the nicke, betweene the cup, and the lip, and workes a way for our delivery. Therefore never be discouraged whatsoever thy case be: it is a very great matter to say, that the Lord can doe such a thing, though you thinke it but a small thing. As when the Leper could goe to Christ, and say, Lord, thou canst make me cleane if thou wilt, then the Lord did so. It was a great matter for those three children in Dan. 3. to be able to say, when the fire was ready prepared, and the King was wroth, and there was no resistance, yet they said, The Lord is able to save us out of thy hand O King! The LORD did take this so well at their hands, that the LORD did helpe them, and save them.
