The Soul's Conflict with Itself

This is a comfort to us in these times of Jacobs trouble and Zions sorrow: The ⟨p. 472⟩captivity of the Church shall return, as rivers in the South. Therefore the Church may say, Rejoice not over me O ¹my enemy, though I am fallen, I shall rise ²again. Though Christs Spouse be now as black as the Pots, yet she shall be white as the Dove. If there were not great dangers, where were the glory of Gods great deliverance? The Church at length will be as a Cup of trembling, and as a burdensome stone. The blood of ³the Saints cry, their enemies violence cries, the prayers of the Church cry for deliverance, and vengeance upon the enemies of the Church: and (as that importunate widow) will at length prevail. Shall the importunity of one ⁴poor woman prevail with an unrighteous Judge? and shall not the prayers of many that cry unto the righteous God take effect? If there were Armies of Prayers, as there are Armies of men, we should see the stream of things turned another way. A few Moses• the Mount, would do more good then many soldiers in the valley. If we would lift up our hearts and hands to ⟨p. 473⟩God, he would lift up our countenance. But alas, we either pray not, or cross our own prayers for want of love to the truth of God and his people.

This is a comfort to us in these times of Iacobs trouble and Zions sorrow: The ⟨p. 472⟩captivity of the Church shall returne, as rivers in the South. Therefore the Church may say, Reioyce not over me O ¹my enemy, though I am fallen, I shall rise ²