A32724:263
A supplement to the several discourses upon various divine subjects
A supplement to the several discourses upon various divine subjects by Stephen Charnock.
London: printed for Thomas Cockerill, 1683
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.
1. This makes for God's glory. The creature cannot in this condition challenge any share in the honour of the deliverance, or pare off so much as a splinter of his glory. Had the Israelites been armed, and drawn into a strong Battalion, and so defeated the Egyptian Army, the Victory would rather have been challenged by them, than ascribed to God; but neither the strength of their multitude, nor the wisdom of their Guides, were able to protect them; counsel failed, and heads were feeble; then did God get himself a name, when they were upon the point of a remediless ruin. It was manifest the name of the Lord got David the Victory, since he encountered unarmed with Goliath, who could have crushed him like a Fly had he been in his fingers.
1. This makes for God's glory. The creature cannot in this condition challenge any share in the honour of the deliverance, or pare off so much as a splinter of his glory. Had the Israelites been armed, and drawn into a strong Battalion, and so defeated the Aegyptian Army, the Victory would rather have been challeng'd by them, than ascrib'd to God; but neither the strength of their multitude, nor the wisdom of their Guides, were able to protect them; counsel failed, and heads were feeble; then did God get himself a name, when they were upon the point of a remediless ruine. It was manifest the name of the Lord got David the Victory, since he encountred unarmed with Goliah, who could have crusht him like a Fly had he been in his fingers.
The time of the Churches depression, is the time of God's Exaltation; he waits for the extremity to lift up himself. When paleness is upon the face of his People; when the Cedars of Lebanon hang their heads; when the Churches beauty seems a lamentable deformity, and Sharon is like a wilderness, then will God arise, Isa. 33.9, 10. God never builds up Zion, but he ordains all things in a method for his appearance in the greatest glory, Psal. 102.16. When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory, that is, when the Church is destitute, v. 17.