A29709:97
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.
Eleventhly, the Lord doth manifest his favourable, signal, and eminent presence with his People, in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers, by drawing the hearts of his People nearer and closer to himself, by all the afflictions, troubles, distresses, and dangers, that do attend them in this World. Psalm 119. 67. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept thy Word. God brought David nearer to 1himself, by weeping cross. Affliction is fire to purge out our dross, and to make virtue shine. It is a potion to carry away ill humours, better than all the benedicta Medicamenta, as Physicians call them. Master Ascham was a good Schoolmaster to Queen Elizabeth: but affliction was a better, &c. By afflictions God humbles the hearts ⟨p. 58⟩of his People, and betters the hearts of his People, and draws the hearts of his People nearer and closer to himself, V. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted. The Laced emonians of old grew rich by war, and were bettered by it, when all other Kingdoms were undone by it. The Saints gain by their crosses, troubles, and distresses. Their graces are more raised, their experiences are more 2multiplied, and their comforts are more augmented, and their communion with God is more heightened. The waves did but lift Noah's Ark nearer to Heaven, and the higher the waters grew, the more the Ark was lifted up to Heaven. The troubles and distresses that the Saints 3meet with, do but raise them in their fellowship with the Father, Son, and Spirit. When Tyribazus a noble Persian, was arrested, at first he drew out his sword and defend himself; but when they charged him in the Kings name, and informed him, that they came from the King to carry him to the King, he yielded willingly: So when afflictions arrest a noble Christian, he may murmur and struggle at the first; but when he considers, it is sent from God to bring him to the sight of God, the King of glory, he willingly and readily submits. to the rod, and kisses the rod. All the stones that came thick about Stephens ears, did but knock him the closer to Christ the