Chapter 18: A gracious heart will appear for the people of God, whatever sufferings may follow upon it

A Gracious heart will appear outwardly withGods people, and be on their side, whatever sufferings may follow upon it. Many things useful for the opening and enlarging this point, fall into the former, and therefore I shall be the briefer in it. The Point is of great use in these times, in which God calls for so much appearing in his cause, for his people; but generally men seek a safe way to themselves as they think, to keep their Religion within, and not to venture themselves, by appearing what they are; and if any shall be so forward, to appear outwardly what they are inwardly, these are deserted. St. Pauls complaint, 2 Tim. 1:15 and chap. 4:16 may justly be the complaint of many of Gods Servants in our times; You knowest that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me, of whom are Phygellus, and Hermogenes: At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men for sook me. This is no new thing in the world, every age affords many examples in this kinde, and ours excels; but certainly, it is the duty of all who would approve themselves to God, to be willing to appear with, and for the Saints in their troubles.

First, the Saints are dear to God, therefore God will certainly take it well at the hands of such as shall join with them in their affliction, and appear for them: if any should see your childe in affliction, and danger, and hazard himself in joining with your childe, in his affliction, and danger, you would take it well at his hands.

Secondly, they hold out the honor of God in the world, in their sufferings, they are Gods witnesses; Isaiah 44:8 They stand for God; in appearing therefore for them, and their cause, ye appear for God himself: the cause is yours as well as theirs, if God be yours.

Thirdly, they need encouragement, especially in the time of their affliction; the best have flesh and blood, and if they be deserted in their cause, much advantage is given to temptation; Wo to him that is alone: If any should fail, if any should miscarry through your deserting, or not coming in and joining with them, it will prove a sore and a fearful evil against you. If any of Gods servants in affliction shall go to God, and make their means to him, and in the grief of their souls tell him, how you have left them, how they are alone in so great a cause, whereas such and such might have afforded much help and encouragement; surely this will witness fearfully against you, and it will go ill with you; Certainly you bring much guilt upon your souls, in deserting the Saints in the time of their affliction: Hence Paul prayed, that God would not lay to the charge of those in Asia thatleft him in his first answer.

Fourthly, not appearing, is a betraying the truth: It is a speech of Zuinglius, in his third Epistle; We may as well with Dioclesian, worship at the Altar of Jupiter or Venus, as hide our faith under Antichrist: He that is not with me, is against me, says Christ.

Fifthly, Christ appears most for his people in their afflictions, when they are at the lowest; Isaiah 63:9 In their affliction he was afflicted, the Angel of his presence was then with them, his love and his pity was towards them, he bare them, and carried them: Psalm 69:9 The Zeal of your house has eaten me up, the reproaches of them that reproached you, are faln upon me. You know the place is spoken of Christ, and these words were spoken when the Church was in a very ill case, as appears in the Psalm.

Sixthly, times of affliction are the especial times to manifest our true love to the Saints, which are near to us in many bonds. It is an ill part of a wife or friend, to forsake husband or friend when in affliction. Josephus reports of Herodias, wife to Herod the Tetrarch, who when the Emperor had deprived her husband of his Tetrarchy, and banished him, annexing his Tetrarchy to Agrippa his kingdom, understanding that Herodias was Agrippa's sister, the Emperor gave her her husbands substance, supposing that she would not accompany her husband; but she answered the Emperor, There is a cause that hinders me from partaking the benefit of your bounty, the affection I bear to my husband, whom if I should forsake in this his misery, it would very ill beseem me, in that I have been a partner with him in his felicity: the Emperor displeased with her answer, banished her likewise with her husband: a brother, a friend, a wife, is for the time of adversity.

Especially hence it is recorded of Davids brethren, and fathers house, 1 Sam. 22:1 When David was persecuted, and came to the Cave of Adullam, when they heard it, they went down thither to him; they ventured the displeasure, the rage of Saul, the forfeiting all their estates, to go down to David their brother, both his father and mother was there, though very old now, as appears ver. 3. Basils forwardness in appearing for his friend in danger, mightily affected Chrysostom: he tells of him, that he hazarded himself much, to deliver his friend in danger, and being blamed by some for venturing so much, he gave this answer, I have not learned to love otherwise, I knownot how to manifest my love but thus.

Seventhly, when Gods people suffer most in Gods cause, it is then most honorable to be called forth to appear for it, to assist in it. Amongst the Persians, the left hand is accounted the most honorable. Xenophon reports of Cyrus, that those whom he honored most, he placed at his left hand, upon this ground, because that hand was weakest, and most subject to danger; the most honorable of the kingdom were set to defend, where there was most weakness and most danger: If the people of God be brought low, if they be brought under by affliction, if the cause of God in them seem to be in danger, then to come in and appear, to stand by them, and for them, this is honorable.

Eighthly, this appearing for the Saints, and joining with them in their affliction, shall be highly rewarded of God. When David was in his affliction, persecuted by Saul, Abiathar fled to him with the Ephod, and abode with him; Although self-respects might move him, Saul having slain his father, and fourscore and four priests of the Lord, and if he had not escaped, he had gone to it too; yet because he was with David in his affliction, mark how Solomon respects him for it, 1 Kings 2:26 You art worthyof death, but I will not put you to death, but go to Anathoth, to your own fields, because you barest the Ark of the Lord God before my father David, and because you hast been afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted.

Josephus reports of Agrippa, that being bound with chains, and sent to prison by Tiberius, for wishing Caius in the Empire; one Thaumastus one of Caius his Servants carrying a pitcher of water, met him, and Agrippa being very thirsty, desired him to give him drink, which he willingly did; upon which Agrippa said, This service you hast done in giving me drink, shall do you good another day: afterwards when Caius was Emperor, and Agrippa was made King; he first begged Thaumastus his liberty of the Emperor, and made him a free man, then he made him his chief Officer over all his affairs, and after his decease, he took order he should continue in the same office with his son. This Agrippa was a wicked man, who thus rewarded him that relieved him in his affliction: it was the same Agrippa whom the Angel smote, and was eaten up of worms, because he gave not glory unto God: How much more then will Christ reward those, who shall give him in his members, cups of water in their affliction, yea, who shall so join with them, as to hazard themselves for them? surely they shall not go without their reward, when Christ comes in his glory, he will own them.

But how must we appear? what does this point require of us?

First, when Gods servants, and their cause, are accused, and condemned, you must not be silent, you must not let it pass, as being afraid to be accounted one belonging to them. Luther in an Epistle to Staupitius, a German Divine, says, That when Jesus Christ is condemned and blasphemed, it is no time to fear, but to cry out; yea he professes, that he had rather be accounted any thing, then to be accused of wicked silence in Gods cause; Let me be reputedproud, covetous, an adulterer, a murtherer, an enemy to the Pope, guilty of all kinde of vices, so I be not found guilty of wicked silence, when the Lord Christ suffers. In Eusebius his History, l. 5. c. 3. we finde a Letter that the Christians of Vienna, and Lyons in France, sent to their brethren in Asia and Phrygia, in which they tell of a notable example of a brave Noble man, Vetius Epagathus, appearing in the cause of the Christians, not being able to bear their unjust dealings against them, when he heard those vile accusations against them, and condemnations of them, he desired that he might be heard to plead for the brethren, but those at the Tribunal being utterly against it, because he was a Noble man, the President would not admit of his petition, but only asked him if he were a Christian, he professed aloud, that he was, and so was taken amongst the number of Martyrs, and called the Advocate of Christians.

Secondly, appear for them, by visiting them in their troubles; that is a special duty that Christ looks for , and will examine at the great Day, whether it has been performed, be not shy of this, lest you should be suspected to be one of them. Chrysostom in an Oration upon the praise of two Martyrs, says of Christians, that they would not be kept from visiting the Confessors in Prison, although it was forbidden with many threatnings, terrors, and it was great danger to them.

Thirdly, we must be ready and willing to entertain such as suffer.

Fourthly, we must use all the interest we have in any friends, improve all opportunities for the relief of such as suffer.

Theodoret tells a famous story of one Terentius, a Captain in the Emperor Valens his Army, who returning from Armenia with a great Victory, the Emperor bade him ask what reward he would; he only asked as a recompence of all his Service, that there might be granted a Church to the Orthodox in Antioch, that they might freely meet in publique: this he knew could not but be exceeding displeasing to Valens the Emperor, because he was an Arrian, and so it proved, for the Emperor tore his Petition, and bade him ask something else; but Terentius gathered up the torn pieces of the Paper, and said, This I ask as a reward of my Service, and I will ask nothing else. How few wil now improve such interest in great ones, such opportunities for the relieving the persecuted Servants of God?

Fifthly, we must improve all our gifts, parts, abilities for them, in pleading for them: Thus in the Primitive times, God stirred up many of great learning, of excellent parts, to plead for the persecuted Christians, who did much service this way: as Justin Martyr, in his Apologies; and Tertullian, and one Aristides an Athenian Phylosopher, a man admirably learned and eloquent, because the Emperor then was much delighted in learning, he made use of his eloquence and learning, for Christ and his Saints, making eloquent Orations before the Emperor for them: and another Quadratus Atheniensis, when Adrian came to Athens, he presented a Book to him, pleading for Christian Religion; God blessed the endeavors of these much, for the mollifying the Emperors heart towards the Christians.

Sixthly, we must be willing to suffer with them; we must be willing to lay down our lives for the brethren, much more suffer with the brethren: we must be willing to have fellowship with them, not only in their priviledges, but in their sufferings, Rev. 1:9 I John who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ: many are willing to be brethren, and companions in the kingdom, but not in tribulation, and in the patience of Jesus Christ; Heb. 10:33 it was the commendations of those Christians mentioned there, that they were companions of those that were ill used for the cause of Christ.

Therefore for application, let us know our duty, and show ourselves more ready and forward to join with, and show ourselves to the servants of God in their persecuted estate; in the times of their prosperity there is not so much need we should manifest ourselves to be for them; this is the time in which we are called, especially to manifest our love to them, our siding with them; The greater their affliction is, the more we must appear for them: When the people of God were in a comfortable estate in Egypt, as they were in Josephs time, Joseph did not leave the Court to join with them, but when they were in an afflicted estate, as in Moses his time, Moses left all to join with them; here you have a tryal upon what side you will be, now you have an opportunity to witness for God.

Those words, Hosea 11:12 Judah rules with God, the old Latine has it, Testis descendit cum Deo, He descends a witness with God, and so the words will bear, if the pricks be altered, which may be, being according to the opinion of many put in, in latter times; Ribera maintains this reading, and has two good notes upon it:

First, Others leave the true worship of God, but Iudah continues, and so witnesses to his truth.

Secondly, He descends, he is content to be in a lower condition; though he be fewer, and not so flourishing as Israel, yet if he may be Gods witness, he is content. Thus should we be willing to descend to witness for the truth, to leave the flourishing people of the world, and to join with the lowest and meanest.

Ordinarily men deal with the suffering servants of God, as Demas dealt with St. Paul, they forsake him, embracing this present world; but if you finde any inclination of heart that way, conceive as if Christ were now speaking to you, Will you also forsake me? Take heed of flattering yourselves, of putting off this duty with any vain pleas, or pretences, or excuses; God sees what lies at the bottom. We read Iudg. 5. divers of the Tribes are blamed, for not coming in to help to join with Barak and Deborah; and in their rebuke, their excuses are mentioned, as some were to follow their business at sea, they could not come: and especially Asher, he was to stand in his own breaches to defend himself, ver. 17. Reuben must follow his business, and look to his sheep, he could not come, ver. 16. yet these are rebuked, but Zebulon and Nepthali are commended for a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death, they are honored for this. The people of God were now in a low condition, in great affliction, and no excuse could serve turn, for their not joining with their brethren; whatever necessities, inabilities we may pretend, that keep us from appearing in the behalf of, and joining with Gods people in their afflicted estate, it will not bear us out before the Lord; In times of storm, all should come in and help. The two Tribes and the half on the other side Iordan, must not think to abide peaceably in their possessions, while their brethren were warring for theirs, but they must join with them in their battels, until they were in their possessions likewise.

It is a sore and great evil, not to join with Gods servants in their troubles; but how great an evil then is it, to adde affliction to their affliction, to join with their enemies against them, especially when they are weak in their suffering condition? Gods wrath against Amalek was, because he came out against Israel in the wilderness, and not only so, but smote the hindmost of them, even all that were feeble behinde them, when they were faint and weary, Deut. 25:18 Now you shall finde that the wrath of God was never so dreadful against any, as against the Amalekites: for,

First, observe what expressions of indignation the Lord has against them.

First, This wickedness of Amalek, and his destruction, must be wrote for a memorial in a book, and rehearsed in the ears of Ioshua.

Secondly, God will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under Heaven.

Thirdly, The Lord swears that he will have war with Amalek, from generation to generation; all these Exod. 17. 14, 16.

Fourthly, Gods anger for many years after continued against Amalek. Numb. 24:20 His latter end shall be, that he perish for ever: and Deut. 25:19 Moses gives a charge, that after Israel was possessed of his inheritance, that he must blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under Heaven, You shall not forget it. And further, although at the first, when Amalek came against Israel, there was a great slaughter of them, yet more then four hundred years after, 1 Sam. 15:2 God says, He remembred what Amalek did to Israel, and gave a charge to Saul to go and smite them, and utterly to destroy all they had, not to spare, but to slay Man and Woman, Infant, Suckling, Ox, Sheep, Camel, and Ass; and it is observable, whereas in all other places that were not of Canaan, though they did smite the male, yet they were to spare the women, the little ones, and the cattel, and all that was in the City, as Deut. 20:14 but not so in Amalek, yet Amalek was not of Canaan; God had a more special quarrel against Amalek, then against any of the other Countries: Yea, whereas in Canaan, although men and women were destroyed, as in Ai, Iosh. 8. Yet the cattel, and the spoyl of the City they took to themselves, ver. 27. but they might not do so in Amalek, the destroying the Cattel, and all there was in it, was for the greater horror, to show what an abominable, and an accursed thing Amalek was.

Yet further, although in Jericho they destroyed men, women, and cattel, and so it was more accursed then Ai, for there the cattel were saved; yet in Jericho the gold, silver, brass, iron, were consecrated unto God, Iosh. 7:19 but so it must not be in Amalek, for that must be more accursed then Iericho. And God was so strongly set upon revenge of this people, that because Saul spared Agag, and the fat of the cattel, though in pity, though under pretense of Sacrifice, the Lord therefore rejected him, and accounted his sin as rebellion and witchcraft, so as he would not have Samuel so much as mourn for him, 1 Sam. 16:1 And when Agag was brought before Samuel, because he was the King of the Amalekites, Samuel, though he were a loving sweet natured man, yet he took a sword, and himself hewed him in pieces before the Lord, being filled with Gods indignation against Amalek, 1 Sam. 15:33 And Psalm 83:7 Ammon and Amalek is joined together; God pronounces of the Ammonite, that to the tenth generation none of them should enter into the Congregation of the Lord for ever; Why? Because they met not Gods people in the way, with bread and water, when they came up out of Egypt, Deut. 23:4 but hired Balaam to curse them.

God expects that his people in their afflicted estate should be relieved, and not cursed; the curse of the Lord will pursue those, who deny help to them in this condition, especially such as seek to adde to their affliction. What was the reason that Shimei must not go to his grave in peace? It was because of his rayling against David, when he was in his affliction; The Jews gave Christ gall and vinegar when he was upon the Cross, this was a great aggravation of their sin: take heed that you give not the servants of God gall and vinegar when they are upon, or under the cross; God expects you should bring oyl to their wounds, not pour brine in; many think they may safely trample upon such as are down; when the hedge is broken, when a gap begins to be made, every one treads it down lower and lower: but know, when the day of the recompences of Sion shall come, all the wrong done to Gods Servants, who were not able to resist the malice of men, shall be recompenced to the full, especially such wrong as was done them in their affliction; God takes it ill that any should once look upon his people in the day of their affliction, except it be to pity them, and to relieve them.

I am very sore displeased with the Heathen, says the Lord, Zach. 1:15 Therefore? They helped forward the affliction; and mark it, it was that affliction that was upon Gods people, out of Gods displeasure for their sin: and does God take that so ill, that that affliction should be helped forward? how ill then will he take it, how sorely will he be displeased, when the affliction that his people suffer for his name, is helped forward? Let us take heed of any hand in such an evil as this; but let us know that it is our honor, and will be great advantage to us, to appear for to be helpful, and comfortable unto the Servants of God in their sufferings; to be Obadiahs, Ebedmelechs, to the Prophets of the Lord. Obadiah pleads this with the Prophet, 1 Kings 18:13 Was it not told my Lord what I did? when he was afraid of danger, that thereby he might be delivered: And God bade Jeremiah, chap. 39. 16, 17. Go to Ebedmelech, and tell him, Behold, I will bring evil upon this City, but I will deliver you in that day, you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you art afraid.

We read likewise, 1 Sam. 15:6 of a merciful work of Gods providence towards the posterity of such, who had been kinde to his servants in the times of their trouble, namely the Kenites; when Amalek was to be destroyed, Saul sent to the Kenites to depart from among the Amalekites, lest they be destroyed with them: Why? For ye showed kindeness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt: Who were these Kenites? How long since was his kindeness showed? What was this kindeness? For the first, The Kenites were the posterity of Jethro, Moses his Father in Law; this you may see, Judges 1:16 For the second, This kindeness was four hundred and twenty years before this time at the least, for so long it was from the Children of Israels being then in the wilderness, and this time of Sauls reign. For the third, It is thought of some to be the kinde visit of Iethro, visiting his son in law, and Israel in the wilderness; and besides, directing him in a way of government of the people, that he might not wear away himself, which was a great blessing to Israel at that time. And further, whereas Moses desired him to go with him to direct him in the way of the wilderness, where they should go; it is like he did it in part, but though he did not stay with him, but returned to his Country, yet it is probable that some of his children staid, and went along with Israel, and were helpful to them in their way: for Iudges 1:16 The children of theKenite, are said to go up out of the city of palmtrees with the children of Iudah, now this is by Jericho, the first City the Israelites took in Cannan, as appears Deut. 34:3 therefore its like that they accompanied Israel along in the wilderness, and so showed kindeness unto them, which the Lord here remembers. Ye who are willing to show kindeness to Gods people in their affliction, know there is mercy laid up in store for you, and your posterity: that childe not yet born may many years hence have the blessing of this your love.

Let no vain objections therefore, no carnal reasonings hinder you in this great and honorable service of Christ, for appearing for, for defending of, rejoicing in the persecuted, despised, afflicted Saints of God, be not ashamed of them, look not shy upon them, deal not ruggedly with them, let your hearts and houses be open to them, let their spirits be comforted, their bowels be refreshed, their names vindicated, their cause maintained, their persons honored, their sorrows eased, their burthens lightened, by what you have, or can do, by yourselves or others: If there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, if any hope, any desire that Jesus Chirst should know your souls in the day of your adversity, fulfil this truth now opened before you, applyed unto you, this duty urged upon you. It may be some of you have been Moses's, such as have been drawn out of the water, out of great afflictions, be you now Moses's to others, seek to draw them out if it may be, howsoever to relieve and help them, while they are in the waters; and the blessing not of Moses, but of Jesus Christ, the mighty Savior, the great stander up for, and comforter of his people, in times of straights, be upon you.