A29709:275
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.
Sixthly, If you would enjoy the gracious presence of God with you, in all your troubles, deep distresses and most deadly dangers, then you must be very earnest and importunate with God not to leave you, but to stay with you, to abide with you, and to dwell in the midst of you, Psalm 148. 18. The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him; (but to prevent mistakes, I mean) to all that call upon him in truth. There are many that call upon 1God, but not in truth, from these God stands at a distance; There are others that call upon God in truth, in plainness and singleness of heart, and these God are near, not only in regard of his essence, which is every where, but also in regard of the effects of his power, and ⟨p. 202⟩the readiness of his will in granting their requests. Abijah prays, and finds an admirable presence of God with him, giving him a mighty victory over his most powerful enemy, 2 Chron. 13. 3, 10, 11, 17, 18. Asa prays, & finds such a singular presence of God with him, as made him victorious over an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred Chariots, a huger host than that of Xerxes; Josephus saith, it consisted of nine hundred thousand foot, and one hundred thousand horse, 2 Chron. 14. 9. to the end. Jehoshaphat prays, and had such a signal presence of God with him, that those numerous forces that were combined against him fall by their own swords, 2 Chron. 20. 1. to the 11. Verse, with Ver. 22. 223, 24, 25. The wrath of God wrought their ruin as by an ambuscado unexpectedly and irresistibly; Some understand this ambushment of the holy Angels sent suddenly in upon them to slay them; whereupon they mistaking the matter, and supposing it had been their own Companions, flew upon them, and so sheathed their swords in one another's bowels. Others say, that the Lord did suddenly and unexpectedly cut them off, as when men are cut off by enemies that lye in ambush against them, and that by sending some unexpected strife among those Nations, whereupon they fell out among themselves and slew one another, and so accomplished that which the Levite had foretold Verse 17. Ye shall not need to fight in this Battle, set your selves, stand ye still and see the salvation of the Lord with you. O Judah and Jerusalem, fear not, nor be dismayed, to morrow go out against them, for the Lord will be with you.