The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs

CHAP 15. Containing the First Use, Which teacheth us to entreat God not to take the advantage of us when our hearts are low.

USE, 1.

This should teach us all to entreat God, not to take the advantage of us when our hearts are low, when we are in a disposition to that which is naught, or an indisposition to that which good, but that God would pity us, and favour us, and that God would never call us to do any great service, or suffer for him, but when ⟨p. 111⟩he sees we are in a disposition for it: it is a wonderful mercy of God, not to call out his people, but at such a time when they are fit. And so for temptation to sin: God sees what dispositions there are in the best of us all, he knows how corruption is working many times, and if a temptation to sin should come at that time, what should become of us, we could not but forsake God, and his cause, and wound our consciences, acknowledge the mercy of God towards you, in keeping the temptation from you at such a time, sometime we are wandering from God, if the roaring Lyon should meet us then how like were it that we should be devoured; sometimes we are ready to stumble upon every straw, and if God should lay stumbling blocks before us then, what should become of us, this is a mercy that God doth not grant unto others, for thus God very frequently deals with wicked men, when there is an opportunity for them to enjoy the greatest good, at that very time there shall be something fall out that shall put them in an opposition to that Good: as perhaps sometimes God in his providence orders it; that a minister should be partly upon such a subject as should be marvellous useful, and God is more then ordinary assisting of him, then something shall fall out to keep them from the exercise, or the corruption shall be up to harden their hearts, or there shall be some occasion to take up their minds, more than at another time, that they shall not get that good they might: but this is the mercy of God, to those he intends good to, that he will give them an opportunity to receive Good, when they are fit for it: there was such a time if such a point had been handled, their hearts would have been unfit, but at such a time such a point shall be handled and pressed on, and says God I will order it so, they shall break through difficulties to come to the exercise; and though corruption will be stirring, I will order it so that corruption shall not be stirring at that time: