A29709:161
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.
Commonly the Saints spiritual growth in grace is carried on by such Divine methods, and in such ways ⟨p. 110⟩as might seem to deaden grace, and weaken it rather than any ways to augment and increase it. We know that winter is as necessary to bring on Harvest as the Spring; and so fiery Trials are as necessary to bring on the Harvest of grace as the Spring of mercy is. Though fiery Trials are grievous, yet they shall make the Saints more gracious: God usually by smart sufferings turns his Peoples sparks of grace into a mighty flame, their mites into millions, their drops into Seas. All the Devils in hell and all the sinners on earth, cannot hinder the Lord from carrying on the growth of grace in his Peoples Souls. When Men and Devils have done their worst, God will by all sorts of Ordinances, and by all sorts of providences, and all sorts of changes make his People more and more holy, and more and more humble, and more and more meek and lowly, and more and more heavenly, wise, faithful, fruitful, sincere, courageous, &c. Though the Church of Smyrna was outwardly 1poor, yet she was inwardly rich, rich in grace, and rich towards God. I think he hit the mark who said, it is far better to be a poor man and a rich Christian, than to be a rich man and a poor Christian. Though the Corinthians were under great trials and 2sufferings, yet they did abound in every thing, in faith, & utterance & knowledge, & diligence, & in their love to Gospel Ministers. The storm beat hard upon the Romans, and yet you see what a singular testimony the Apostle gives of them. I my self also am persuaded of 3you my Brethren, that ye also are full of goodness filled with all knowledge able to admonish one another. The Thessalonians were under great persecutions and troubles, and yet were strong in the grace that was in Christ Jesus; they were very growing and flourishing Christians▪ singular 4Prophecies speak out the Saints growth and flourishing in grace. The Lord is exalted, for he dwelleth