What was it less then a Miracle in Baynam the Martyr, who told the Papists, Lo here is a Miracle! I feel no more pain in this fire then in a bed of Down: It is as sweet to me as a bed of Roses. So Bishop Farrar, who could say before he went to the fire, If I stir in the fire, believe not my Doctrine: And accordingly remained unmoved.1 Theodorus the Martyr in the midst of his torment had one in the shape of a young man, as he thought, came and wiped off his sweat and eased him of his pain. But what need I fetch examples so far off? or to recite the multitudes of them which Church history doth afford us? Is there ever a praying Christian here who knoweth what it is importunately to strive with God, and to plead his promises with him believingly, that cannot give in his experiences of most remarkable answers? I know mens atheism and infidelity will never want somewhat to say against the most eminent providences, though they were Miracles themselves. The nature which is so ignorant of God, and at enmity with him, will not acknowledge him in his clear discoveries to the World, but will ascribe all to fortune or nature, or some such Idol, which indeed is nothing: But when mercies are granted in the very time of prayer, and that when to reason there is no hope, and that without the use or help of any other means or creatures, yea and perhaps many times over and over, Is not this as plain as if God from heaven should say to us, I am fulfilling to thee the true word of my promise in Christ my Son? How many times have I known the prayer of faith to save the sick, when all Physicians have given them up as dead! It hath been my own case more then once or twice or ten times:2 when means have all failed, and the highest Art or Reason have sentenced me hopeless, yet have I been relieved by the prevalency of fervent prayer, and that (as the Physician said) tutò, citò, et jucundè. ⟨p. 234⟩My flesh and my heart failed, 3but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever:
What was it less then a Miracle in Baynam the Martyr, who told the Papistes, Lo here is a Miracle! I feel no more paine in this fire then in a bed of Down: It is as sweet to me as a bed of Roses. So Bishop Farrar, who could say before he went to the fire, If I stir in the fire, believe not my Doctrine: And accordingly remained unmoved.1 Theodorus the Martyr in the midst of his torment had one in the shape of a young man, as he thought, came and wiped off his sweat and eased him of his paine. But what need I fetch examples so far off? or to recite the multitudes of them which Church history doth afford us? Is there ever a praying Christian here who knoweth what it is importunately to strive with God, and to plead his promises with him believingly, that cannot give in his experiences of most remarkable answers? I know mens atheisme and infidelity will never want somewhat to say against the most eminent providences, though they were Miracles themselves. The nature which is so ignorant of God, and at enmity with him, will not acknowledg him in his clear discoveries to the World, but will ascribe all to fortune or nature, or some such Idoll, which indeed is nothing: But when mercies are granted in the very time of prayer, and that when to reason there is no hope, and that without the use or help of any other means or creatures, yea and prehaps many times over and over, Is not this as plaine as if God from heaven should say to us, I am fulfilling to thee the true word of my promise in Christ my Son? How many times have I known the prayer of faith to save the sick, when all Physitians have given them up as dead! It hath been my own case more then once or twice or ten times:2 when means have all failed, and the highest Art or Reason have sentenced me hopeless, yet have I been relieved by the prevalency of fervent prayer, and that (as the Physitian said) tutò, citò, et jucundè. ⟨p. 234⟩My flesh and my heart failed, 3but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever:
- 1Recorded by Sozom. and others.
- 2Jam. 5.13, 14, 15, 16.
- 3Psal. 73.26.
