A29709:101
A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse…
A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse about the favourable, signal and eminent presence of the Lord with his people in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers : with the resolution of several questions, concerning the divine presence, as also the reasons and improvements of this great and glorious truth ... / by Thomas Brooks ...A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse about the favorable, signal and eminent presence of the Lord with his people in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers : with the resolution of several questions, concerning the divine presence, as also the reasons and improvements of this great and glorious truth ... / by Thomas Brooks ...
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1675
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
First, None can be so against us, as to hurt us or harm us; therefore Aquinas well expounds that, Quis contra 1nos? (i. e.) Quis efficaciter? and others, Quis laesivè & prevalenter? who can be against us, so as to hurt us? Acts 18. 9. Then spoke the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, be not afraid but speak, and hold not thy peace. Verse 10. For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee, to burt thee, for I have much people in this City. God had many Souls in this (ity to convert, and 2to bring in to Christ, and therefore he animates and encourages. Paul to preach boldly and to go on in his work undauntedly. I but Lord there be many in the City, that will set themselves against me. I but I am with thee. I but Lord there be many in the City, that will hate me. I but there is no Man that shall set on thee, to hurt thee. They may kill me, said Socrates of his Enemies, but they cannot hurt me. It was the speech of Anaxarchus a Heathen, when as he by the Tyrant ⟨p. 62⟩he was commanded to be put in a Mortar, and be beaten to pieces with an Iron pestle, he cries out to the Persecutors, you do but be at the vessel of Anaxarchus, you do not beat me, nor hurt me; you do but beat the case, the husk, the vessel that contains another thing: his body was to him but as a case, a husk, he counted his soul himself, which his persecutors could not reach nor hurt. Though there were many in the City of Corinth that would be ready furiously to set on Paul, yet there should not be a man that should be able to hurt Paul; God would be his life guard to protect him, and he would make void all the mischievous designs, and endeavours of his adversaries against him. When in a City the Lord hath those that are ordained to Salvation, he will bless the labours of his faithful Servants with happy success: so that faithful Ministers may not, yea must not, for fear of the invincible malice of some, neglect the Salvation of others. All the Arrows that Men of might and malice should shoot at Paul in the City of Corinth, should never reach him, they should never hurt him, nor harm him, 1 Pet. 3. 13. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? They may oppose you, but they cannot harm you; they may hate you, but they cannot harm you; they may plot and devise mischief against you, but they cannot harm you; they may persecute you, but they cannot harm you.