Page images
PDF
EPUB

For the flesh lusteth against the And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man.-Gen. vi. 3.

Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other, &c. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.-Gal. v. 17. 22, 23.

The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth.-John iv.

Ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemp- 23, 24. tion of the purchased possession.— Eph. i. 13, 14.

Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.-Eph. iv. 30.

For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth.--Eph. v. 9.

God hath not given us the Spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind.-2 Tim. i. 7.

Having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. -1 Thess. i. 6. Acts ix. 31.

Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself, &c.-Heb. ix. 14. The anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie.— 1 John ii. 27.

Try the spirits, whether they are of God, &c. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God, &c. Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.-1 John iv. 1-4. It is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth, &c. The Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; these three are one.-1 John v. 6-8.

The Spirit and the bride say, Come. -Rev. xxii. 17.

[blocks in formation]

No condemnation to them, &c. who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.-Rom. viii. 1, 2. 4.

Fervent in the Spirit, serving the Lord. Rom. xii. 11.

The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. -1 Cor. xii. 7.

I will pray with the Spirit, &c. will sing with the Spirit, &c.1 Cor. xiv. 15.

I

Walked we not in the same Spirit? -2 Cor. xii. 18.

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect in the flesh?-Ġal. iii. 3. Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh, &c. If ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.-Gal. v. 16. 18. 25. 1 John ii. 27.

He that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.Gal. vi. 8.

Be not drunk with wine, &c. but be ye filled with the Spirit.Eph. v. 18.

The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.-Eph. vi. 17, 18.

We are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit.-Phil.

iii. 3.

Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, To-day if ye will hear his voice, &c.-Heb. iii. 7.

Building up yourselves, &c. praying in the Holy Ghost.-Jude 20.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what theSpirit saith unto the churches. Rev. i. 7. 11. 29. 17.

II. Not to Sin against, grieve, or

quench the Spirit.

But they rebelled and vexed his Holy Spirit, therefore he was turned to be their enemy.-Isa. lxiii. 10.

CHAP. XX.

OF AFFLICTIONS, TROUBLES, AND

PERSECUTIONS.

SECT. 1. To whom they belong, or who may expect them.

I. Common to all.

MAN is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward.-Job v. 7.

But the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither few days, and full of trouble.-Job in this world, neither in the world xiv. 1. to come. Matt. xii. 31, 32. Mark iii. 29, 30.

Man that is born of a woman, is of

II. More especially, Christian Believers, such as are born of the Spirit.

First. The Holy Ghost affirms this.

Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost? &c. Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God, &c. How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the I WILL be his Father, and he shall be Spirit of the Lord? &c. She fell my son: if he commit iniquity, I will down and died, &c.-Acts v. 3-5. chasten him with the rod of men, and 8-10. with the stripes of the children of men: but my mercy shall not depart away from him, &c.—2 Sam. vii. 14, 15. Ps. xcix. 8.

Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears: ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? &c.-Acts vii. 51, 52.

Simon offered money, for power to confer the Holy Ghost.-Acts viii. 18, 19.

The Sadducees say, that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit.-Acts xxiii. 8.

Keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed, &c.-Eph. iv. 3. 30. Quench not the Spirit.-1 Thess.

v. 19.

[blocks in formation]

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth

him out of them all.-Ps. xxxiv. 19.

For whom the Lord loveth, he correcteth: even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.-Prov. iii. 12.

Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me, are for signs and wonders in Israel.-Isa. viii. 18.

He that departeth from evil, maketh himself a prey.-Isa. lix. 15.

They watch for iniquity, they make a man an offender for a word, &c.Isa. xxix. 20, 21.

You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.— Amos iii. 2.

Beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the councils: and they will scourge you in their synagogues: and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, &c. and the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child, &c. and ye shall be hated of all

men for my name's sake, &c. The disciple is not above his master, &c. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? &c. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth, &c. A man's foes shall be they of his own household.-Matt. x. 17, 18. 21, 22. 24, 25. 34-36. xxiv. 9, 10. Luke xxi. 12, &c. Mark x. 30.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.-Matt. xvi. 24. Mark viii. 34, 35.

Woe unto you that laugh now, for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you: for so did their fathers to the false prophets.-Luke vi. 25, 26.

Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.—Luke ix. 58.

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord: if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you, &c. All these things they will do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.-John xv. 18-21. 1 John iii. 13. John xvii. 14.

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended: they shall put you out of the synagogues; yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doeth God service; and these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and ye shall be sorrowful, &c. In the world ye

shall have tribulation.-John xvi. 1 3. 20. 22. 33.

Of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, &c. both Herod, &c. were gathered together, to do whatsoever thy haud, and thy counsel determined before to be done.-Acts iv. 27, 28.

The Lord said of Paul, I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name.-Acts ix. 15, 16.

Exhorting them to continue in the faith: and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.-Acts xiv. 22. Mark x. 30.

The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying, That bonds and afflictions abide me.-Acts xx. 23.

Always we which live are delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus, &c.-2 Cor. iv. 11. vii. 5.

But as then, he that was born after the flesh, persecuteth him that was born after the Spirit, so it is now. Gal. iv. 29.

We wrestle not against flesh, &c. but against principalities, &c.-Eph. vi. 12, 13.

Unto you it is given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.-Phil. i. 29.

That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.— 1 Thess. iii. 3.

All that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution.2 Tim. iii. 12.

Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, &c. for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? but if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.-Heb. xii. 6—8.

Think it not strange, concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are made partakers of Christ's sufferings: judgment must begin at the house of God.-1 Pet. iv. 12, 13. 17.

The devil, &c. whom resist, &c.

T

knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren.1 Pet. v. 8, 9.

Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Rev. ii. 10.

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about.-Ps. xviii. 4, 5. cxvi. 3.

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? &c. I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not.--Ps.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, &c. xxii. 1, 2. Rev. iii. 19.

These are they that came out of great tribulation, and have washed, &c.-Rev. vii. 14.

SECONDLY. That the Saints have been
so exercised with Afflictions, in
Soul and Body, from God: and in
their Bodies, and outward concerns,
from Men, by Persecutions.
I. From God more Immediately.-
Prov. xviii. 14.

Jacob sorely afflicted for Joseph and other of his sons.-Gen. xxxvi. xxxiv.

The Almighty hath dealt very bit terly with me: I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty, &c.-Ruth i. 20, 21.

Job greatly afflicted in his substance, and his body.-Job i. 13. 22. ii. 5-8. vii. 3, &c. ix. 27, &c.

I am desolate and afflicted: the troubles of mine heart are enlarged, &c.-Ps. xxv. 16, 17. xl. 12. cii. 3-6. 9. cxliii. 4.

My tears have been my meat, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?-Ps. xlii. 3. 10.

Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice; hide thy face from my sins.-Ps. li. 8, 9.

Save me, O God, for the waters are come in unto my soul: I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; am come into deep waters (or depth of waters) where the floods overflow me: I am weary of my crying, my throat is dry: mine eyes fail, while I wait for my God.-Ps. Ixix. 1—3. xlii. 6, 7.

All the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.-Ps. lxxiii. 14.

O that my grief were thoroughly In the day of my trouble I sought weighed, &c. for now it would be the Lord; my sore ran in the night, heavier than the sand of the sea; and ceased not; my soul refused to therefore my words are swallowed be comforted; I remembered God, up (or I want words to express my and was troubled; I complained, and grief): for the arrows of the Almighty my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. are within me, the poison whereof Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of am so troubled that I cannot speak, God do set themselves in array against &c. Will the Lord cast me off for me. Job vi. 2-4. xiii. 24. 26. xix. ever? will he be favourable no xxx. Ps. xxxviii. 2. lv. 4, 5.

I am full of confusion, therefore see thou my affliction.--Job x. 15, &c.

My soul is also vexed, O Lord, how long? &c. I am weary with my groaning all the night (or every night) make I my bed to swim: I water my couch with my tears: mine eye is consumed because of grief, &c. Ps. vi. 3. 6, 7. xxxii. 4. cii. 3, &c.

more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail?—Ps. lxxvii. 2-4. 7, 8. cxlii. 3, 4. 6. cxliii. 4. 7. Luke xviii. 8.

My soul is full of troubles, &c. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the depths: thy wrath lieth hard upon me, thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves, &c. I am afflicted, and ready to die: I suffer thy terrors: I am distracted: thy fierce

wrath goeth over me: thy terrors have cut me off.-Ps. lxxxviii. 3. 6, 7. 9. 14-17. xxxviii. 4. 6. 8. 10. xxxi. 9, 10. Prov. xviii. 14. Ps. xl. 12. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.-Ps. cxxx. 1,

Jonah cast into the sea, and in the belly of the fish.-Jonah i. 15. 17. ii. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, &c. We are chastened of the Lord, &c.-1 Cor. xi. 30-32.

We were troubled on every side: without were fightings, within were fears.-2 Cor. vii. 5.

Pharaoh pursued after Israel with a great army unto the Red Sea.-Exod. xiv. 7—10.

The adversaries of Judah and Benjamin troubled them in building, and hired counsellors against them to frustrate their purpose, &c. Afterwards Rehum the chancellor wrote to the king, &c. The Jews are building the rebellious and bad city, &c. If this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will not they pay toll, tribute, &c. and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings: now, because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, &c. This city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings, &c. and Hezekiah, &c. was left of God, in that they have moved sedition within the business of the ambassadors of the same of old, &c. If this city be the princes of Babylon, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. 2 Chron. xxxiii. 31.

Ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold tempta

tions.-1 Pet. i. 6.

II. From men by Persecutions of various kinds.-Gal. iv. 29. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed, &c. persecuted, but not forsaken, &c.-2 Cor. iv. 8-11.

FIRST. From Men openly wicked:

Heathens, Infidels.

Joseph, because he refused lewd commerce with Potiphar's wife, was by her means imprisoned in Egypt. Gen xxxix. 7-21.

When Israel began to increase in Egypt, the king said, Come on, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, when there falleth out any war, &c. Therefore they did set over them task-masters, to afflict them with their burdens, &c. They made them serve with rigour: and they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, &c. ordered the midwives to kill the male children.Exod. i. 7-17.

Afterwards they laid the burden heavier, allowing them no straw, and yet required the tale of brick.-Exod. v. 6-9. 11.

built, &c. by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river, &c. So they hasted to Jerusalem, and by force stayed the work.-Ezra iv. 1. 4, 5. 12-16. 23, 24.

Sanballat laughed us to scorn, &c. said, &c. Will ye rebel against the king?-Neh. ii. 19. vi. 6-8.

When Sanballat and others heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, &c. they were very wroth, and conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it, &c.- Neh. iv. 7, 8.

They hired men to draw Nehemiah to sin, that they might have occasion to reproach him.-Neh. vi. 12, 13.

When Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence; then was Haman full of wrath, &c. wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, &c. said unto the king, There is a certain people, &c. and their laws are diverse from all people, neither keep they the king's laws; therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. Let it please the king that it may be written, that they may be destroyed, and I will pay, &c. The king grants his desire, &c.-Esth. iii. 5, 6. 8-11.

« PreviousContinue »