2. As he may expect assistance, so also Protection and Defence in all the 1dangers they are assaulted with. For it cannot be, but he that is called of God, if he do the work of God zealously and impartially, but he will raise up many enemies, and find great opposition in his work. Now as our Saviour told his Disciples of their danger, That they should be haled before Rulers, thrown into prisons, and cast out of Synagogues; yet he bids them, Take no thought what they should say (viz. not in a sinful distrustful manner) because at that very time it should be given them, what to speak, Mark 13. 11. He doth not forbid a lawful premeditating, but that which is accompanied with slavish, worldly fears, and humane distrust, as if the Spirit of God would not be ready to assist. Doth not Paul reckon up the several dangers that he was every day in, insomuch that his safety was every day miraculous? Yet God delivered him out of all. He prayed to be delivered from absurd and unreasonable men, and God heard him. Thus Jeremiah likewise, he did undertake a very difficult Province, he was to deal with Scorpions and tigers, yet Jer. 1. 17, 18, 19. God bids him, Not be dismayed ⟨p. 22⟩at their faces, for he had made him a defenced City, an iron pillar, and a brazen wall, &c. They might fight against him, but never prevail. This then is a blessed reviving, when in the midst of all thy assaults, all the troubles thou dost conflict with; this man reproacheth thee, that man revileth thee, thou canst appeal to God, O Lord, Is not all this, because I do the work commanded? Is not all this, because thou hast sent me, and because I am an Ambassador in thy Name? Certainly, if David did so severely avenge himself upon the Ammonites for the injury done to his Ambassadors; No less will God reward those, who despise those he sends. And therefore it's one of the great wonders in the world, That Christ hath maintained a Ministry in his Church for so many hundred years; when all the malice and policy that could be devised, hath been employed to overthrow it. Yea God hath in most ages, still stirred up some with admirable zeal and courage to withstand the deluge of corruptions that were in those days: and though many have been violently put to death, yet some have been wonderfully protected, as John the Evangelist, Athanasius and Luther.
2. As he may expect assistance, so also Protection and Defence in all the 1dangers they are assaulted with. For it cannot be, but he that is called of God, if he do the work of God zealously and impartially, but he will raise up many enemies, and find great opposition in his work. Now as our Saviour told his Disciples of their danger, That they should be haled before Rulers, thrown into prisons, and cast out of Synagogues; yet he bids them, Take no thought what they should say (viz. not in a sinfull distrustfull manner) because at that very time it should be given them, what to speak, Mark 13. 11. He doth not forbid a lawfull premeditating, but that which is accompanied with slavish, worldly fears, and humane distrust, as if the Spirit of God would not be ready to assist. Doth not Paul reckon up the several dangers that he was every day in, insomuch that his safety was every day miraculous? Yet God delivered him out of all. He prayed to be delivered from absurd and unreasonable men, and God heard him. Thus Jeremiah likewise, he did undertake a very difficult Province, he was to deal with Scorpions and tygers, yet Jer. 1. 17, 18, 19. God bids him, Not be dismayed ⟨p. 22⟩at their faces, for he had made him a defenced City, an iron pillar, and a brazen wall, &c. They might fight against him, but never prevail. This then is a blessed reviving, when in the midst of all thy assaults, all the troubles thou dost conflict with; this man reproacheth thee, that man revileth thee, thou canst appeal to God, O Lord, Is not all this, because I do the work commanded? Is not all this, because thou hast sent me, and because I am an Embassadour in thy Name? Certainly, if David did so severely avenge himself upon the Ammonites for the injury done to his Embassadours; No lesse wi•l God reward those, who despise those he sends. And therefore it's one of the great wonders in the world, That Christ hath maintained a Ministry in his Church for so many hundred years; when all the malice and policy that could be devised, hath been imployed to overthrow it. Yea God hath in most ages, still stirred up some with admirable zeal and courage to withstand the deluge of corruptions that were in those daies: and though many have been violently put to death, yet some have been wonderfully protected, as John the Evangelist, Athanasius and Luther.
- 12. Gods protection.
