A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse…

Sixthly and lastly, there is a gracious, a favourable, a ¹signal, or eminent presence of the Lord with his faithful People, in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers, as the Scriptures do every where evidence; Take a taste of some, Gen. 39. 20. And ⟨p. 9⟩Joseph 's •aster took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the Kings prisoners were bound, and he was there in the prison, Verse 21. But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favour in the ²sight of the keeper of the prison. A prison keeps not God from his, witness the Apostles and Martyrs, whose prisons by Gods presence became Palaces, and their stocks a Music-school. Bradford, after he was put in prison, ³had better health than before, and found great favour with his keeper, who suffered him to go whither he would, upon his promise to return, by such an hour to his prison again. If men knew by experience the sweet that is in suffering for Christ, they would desire with Chrysostom, if it were put to their choice, rather to be Paul a prisoner of Jesus Christ, than Paul rapt up in the third Heaven. Basil in his Oration for Barlaam, that famous Martyr, faith, He delighted in the close prison, as in a pleasant green meadow, and he took pleasure in the several inventions of tortures, as in several sweet flowers. Luther reports of that Martyr S. Agatha, that as she went to prisons and tortures, she said, she went to Banquets and Nuptials. The Sun enlightens the World, saith Cyprian, but he that made the Sun is a greater light to you in prison, &c. Fire, sword, prisons, famines are pleasure, they are all delightful to me, saith Basil. Paul rattles his chain, which he bears for the Gospel, and was ⁴as proud of it, as a woman of her ornaments, saith Chrysostom. Paul and Silas in a prison found more pleasure than pain, more joy than sorrow, and when they were whipped, it was with Rosemary branches, as I may say, Paul greatly rejoiced in his sufferings for Christ, and therefore often sings out, I Paul a prisoner of Jesus Christ, not I Paul wrapped up in the third Heaven; Christ showed his great love to him, in wrapping him up in the third Heaven, and he showed his great love to Christ in a cheerful suffering for him. Eusebius tells of one that writ to his Friend from a stinking Dungeon, and dated his Letter from my delicate Orchard. Mr.