A29709:171
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.
Fourthly, The Lord will be signally present with his 1People in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers, because then his people stands in most need of his presence. A Believer needs the presence of God at all times, but never so much as in great troubles; deep distresses and most deadly dangers: For now 2Satan will be stirring, he loves to fish in troubled waters; now earthly Friends, and earthly comforts, and earthly succours will commonly fail us; now cares, and fears, will be multiplied upon us; now unbelief which is virtually all evil, will be raising doubts, and cavils, and objections in the soul; so that if God does not stand by us now, what can we say? what can we do? how can we bear up? how can we stand fast? What was Sampson that 3man of strength when his hair was gone, but as weak as water? and what is the strongest Christian when his God is gone, but as weak as weakness it self? all our doing strength, and all our suffering strength, and all our bearing strength, and all our witnessing strength lies in the special presence of God with our souls; all our comforts, and all our supports, and all our ease▪ and all our refreshments flow from the presence of God with our souls, in our greatest troubles and deepest distresses, and therefore if God should leave us in a day of trouble, what would become of us, and whither should we go, and ⟨p. 119⟩where should we find rest? When doth a man need a Brother or Friend, but in a day of adversity? A Brother 4is born for adversity, though at other times Brethren may jar, and jangle, and quarrel, yet in a day of adversity, in a strait, in a stress, birth, and good blood, and good nature will be working. Adversity breeds love and unity. Ridley and Hooper differed very much about Ceremonies in the day of their liberty, but when they were both Prisoners in the Tower th•• they could agree well enough, and then they could be mutual comforts one to another; and when does a Christian most need the strength of God, the consolations of God, the supports of God, the teachings and quicknings of God, and the signal singular presence of God, but when they are in the greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers? When the People of God are in a low and afflicted condition, then the Lord knows that that