PRayer in this Verse is still continued , and still suited to present and imminent distresse . The state of these Christians , was a suffering state , and like to be more ( as our state now is ) and therfore Prayer is made for answerable reliefe ; for divine strengthening ; forbearing and suffering grace ; for shoulders suitable to every burden . Strenthened with all might according to his glorious power , unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse .

The termes of this Text are very weighty , I shall therefore deale with them one after another : their difficulty lies Et in materia & in voce , both in matter and word ; yet one hand , on which we leane , will carry us thorough both , to Gods glory and mans edification . I begin with the first word , — Strengthened , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Kóbur animi innuit . &c. It points principally at the spirit of man , which is the bearer up of all : a man is what he is , from the fortitude of his inward man ; according to this scope and sense the Apostle explains himselfe , using the same word to the Ephesians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. And applying it to the inner man . That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory , to be [ strengthened with might by ] his spirit in the inner man .

Doct. God exerciseth a relieving power in a Christian ; As he doth exercise a creating power , whereby he doth make a Christian ; so he doth a strengthening and relieving power , whereby he doth maintaine a Christian ; — who are kept by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the power of God , 1 Pet. 1.5 . 'T is the same word , with this in my Text , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strengthned with all might , &c. Divine power makes , and then it upholds ; it makes Esse , and then it makes porrò esse ; it brings forth , and breed's up ; it travells in birth , once , and againe ; My little children of whom I travell in birth [ againe . This travaling in birth againe , Gal. 4.19 . is strengthening and relieving power , to maintaine and finish the first birth ; the same that is here spoken of in my Text. Strengthened , &c.

Divine power as it works towards a Christian , hath its peculiar properties ; Proprietates potentiae Divinae . as it workes towards a Christian , it works tenderly ; such a power working about the soule , works , and works againe ; it makes lambes , and then it makes armes to carry lambes , to preserve them to be sheepe for the fold of Christ , — He shall gather the Lambes with his Armes , and carry them in his Bosome , and gently leading those that are with young . Isa. 40.11 . As there is a carring and a leading power exercised about a Christian ; all these sweet expressions , aptly point out this in my Text , to wit , that strengthning and relieving power which carries along and finishes the first worke strengthened with all might , &c.

Divine power as it workes towards a Christian , works effectually . — The word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe . 1 Thess. 2.13 . An effectuall power subjected to worke for man , works and works again , and never leaves working till it hath effected its worke , which is , preservation unto salvation ; grace unto life . This power works , & creando & corroborando creating and strengthening ; it maks the soule passe from strength to strength , till it be above all opposing strength , and expired safe and compleat into that breast from whence it was first breathed . This expression — effectuall power , is an expression of dreadfull importance ; it notes that divine power works sometimes by halves ; not effectually ; Something towards birth , and towards a man-child , some pangs and throwes , but makes but an abortive at last ; some things towards reliefe , but sinkes and dies , and le ts that which seemed to be come to nothing ; but when it works effectually , it makes grace and carries on that grace to glory : it makes a Christian , and then it strengthens him to abide so to death , against deadly opposition Strengthened ] with all might according to his glorious power , unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse .

Finally Divine power as it works about a Christian works perpetually ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the utmost , as you have it expressed , which is very lively : Heb. 7.25 . it layes out it selfe to the furthest ; all vires Divinoe potentiae are stretcht , and made to beare and carry to eternity , to carry unto death , thorough death , beyond death , above death , as that mighty expression is , Ps. 48.14 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Supra mortem . To resolve it selfe into everlasting Armes ; that is , a power subjected to use ; a Divine power subjected to humane use everlastingly ; so as to leave no place , no possibility of miscarrying to a Christian , let what will be or can be , on this side death , in death , or beyond death , so long as the soule is . Divine power is so subjected to worke about a Christian as not to lose its worke ; no whit of its worke ; what ever losse he made otherwise upon the man , as a man : troubles may make losse upon a man as a farmer , as a Gentleman , as a Noble-man , but not upon man , as a Christian ; power is subjected so to worke , as to carry up , carry on , carry out all its own works about the soule , in perpetuum . To all eternity .

Argumentum . Power subjected to worke about a Christian , works from speciall love ; power which workes from such a love can never leave working , till it has its end , because love workes to the end , and it works by power and all other attributes for the good of the beloved Upon this ground the Apostle Paul was confident of the Phillippians perseverance in the truth , being confident of this very thing , that he which hath begun a good worke in you , will performe or finish it , unto the day of Iesus Christ . Phil. 1.6 .

Divine power as it workes strentheningly and relievingly , Media explicandi . is peculiar to Christians ; it s the same power which began a good worke , continued working to finish it . Where Divine power works not creatingly , it works not relievingly ; hence 't is that one which is not a Christian indeed , holds not out alwayes to be a Christian in shew : hence 't is likewise that Christ saith I have lost none , but a lost Creature ; one that was never found ; a child of perdition , lost from the beginning , a child of wrath , unto wrath , had he ever had grace in truth , I would have strengthened it , and kept it — those which thou gavest me I have [ kept , &c. Ioh. 17.12 . Keeping power waites about those that the Father hath given to the Son , and none else ; all others are lost , and to goe for lost .

Strengthening power works towards all Christians successively ; that is , from Generation to Generation by act of solemne intercession . Christ made it a solemne businesse , to make free way in Heaven , for a relieving and securing power to worke here on Earth , as long as any Saints should be in it . And now am I no more in the World , but those are in the World , and I come to thee . Holy Father keepe through thine owne Name those whom thou hast given unto me , that they may be one as we are , &c. Neither pray I for these alone , but for them also which shall believe on me through their word . Ioh 11. & 20. The state of a Christian is botom'd in bloud ; founded in Christs death , made out by life , by Prayer and intercession ; all is merited by Christs bloud ; particulars are drawne out and conferred , upon solemne intercession . Christs intercession ceased not , when he was on Earth ; the requests above mentioned ( I conceive ) to be a continuation of solemne intercession , which must last , till all the Saints be above all wants . Heb. 7.25 He ever lives to make intercession for them ; he that lived on Earth was an intercessor ; he that dyed , lives againe and goes on with that worke , which he began , from the wombe of the morning , from the beginning of love breathing upon fallen Adam : he that lives , prayes ; he has done so from the first Saints , and will doe so to the last on Earth ; hee makes all Prayers of Christians , Gods rest , and mans relief ; pleasing to God , and strengthening to man : Strenegthned with all might , &c.

Finally all powers which worke in man , worke to an eternall end : powers of darkenesse ; all powers judiciarie , which worke in sinners , are to finish sin , and bring sinners to their place . To a condition miserable as neere the Devill as may be . So all the powers which work in Christians subduing power , strengthening power , leading , keeping , carrying , bosoming power , are to perfect grace , and bring them to glory . Holy Father keepe through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are : the end of keeping power , Ioh. 17.11 . ( you see ) is a compleate state ; that they may be one as we are . Divine powers worke shapingly , to the highest and happiest similitude , as their end , and never leave working and shaping this way , till they have made the felicity of the elect together , the nearest and the liveliest emblem of the felicity of the Trinity which each person hath in and with each other .

Vse . 1 Christians walke humbly ; ( this is the first thing that I would commend to you from this point ) your state needs reliefe ; your best state , your graces need supporting and strengthening . You had your being by grace ; so you have your standing by grace ; as strengthening and relieving mercy and compassion work towards you , so will yee doe well ; as this declines so will yee faint and doe ill . 2 Cor. 4.1 . As we have received mercy we faint not , saith our Apostle . Our strength and supply of spirits , is from relieving mercy ; if this be suspended , we faint . As we are humble , so are our relieving receptions , as those are , so we faint not : as we have received , so we faint not : our strenth is by daily bread , by daily divine concurrence , this suspended , your life and lively-hood are gon ,

Eying too much what you have will soone make this sad suspension : Forget all , trust not in parts , no , trust not in graces ; your best state is vanishing ; your gold rustes ; your grace , needs grace ; your state as a Christian , needs strengthening power to carry it along : this House upon the Rock will else fall too , when stormes and winds beate . Esse et porrò esse sunt ex gratia . Mercy and compassion began your blessed state , this must finish it ; walke as those that have all your fortune , at the feet of mercy . A Christian is strongest indeed , when he is weakest in his own sense : When I am weak then am I strong . Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in mine infirmity , that the power of Christ may rest upon me . 2 Cor. 12. 'T is great matter of gladnesse and lightsomenesse * * To a good heart . to be devested of proud cumbersome selfe : as a Christian can looke over all , that is in him , and be nothing so is he in capacity of the strenthening power of God , to rest upon him .

Walke cheerefully . Troubles bee many , like to be more . Christians hearts begin to shake , and faint , I like it not , I wish I could speake from this point , to the comfort of such ; what shall I say ? what can I say more then this point bids me ? infinite power is your servant ; 't is subjected to work strengthningly in you ; 't is not for a man to plead his own weaknesse that hath such an attendant ; every one is to hardship , as the divine power that relieves him . — out of weakenesse were made strong , &c. Relieving power how ever it find a Christian below his work , Heb. 11.34 yet it leaves him above it ; — out of weaknesse were made strong . What can you say weake soules , more then this , that you are weake , very weake ? why 't is meete that you should say of your selves as you are , and 't is as meete that you should say of divine power as it is . You are far below your worke , your worke is farther below that divine power which waits upon you . Come what can , can come worse then what did to these worthies , or finde men worse ? They were weake , yea , weaknesse , and yet out of weaknesse made strong , Debiles in abstracto . and carried through all bravely , scorning base deliverance .

Our Seas rage , likely to rage more ; let them rage never so much , so much that yee be cast into them , out of your vessels , as Ionas was ; yet a relieving power shall bosome & belly you , and cast ye up Ionas'es , Christians , yea , better Christians then yee were . There be two things in relieving power , which if considered , methinks , should comfort any discouraged Christian ; it works to relieve when you need it , and as you need it , When ] thou passest thorough fire ; and when ] thou passest thorough water , then divine power wil be with thee ; when ] thou art weake then thou shall be strong ; when thou art in the Furnace , then will Christ be there ; relieving power shall worke opportunely , that 's double reliefe : thou shalt have an arme stretch't out to rescue , assoone as set upon ; a breast worke raised , assoone as shot at . Likewise , divine power shall worke as you need it ; it shall yield as much strength as your burden requires to beare it ; as many spirits as your heat and sweating shall wast ; it shall be shaped every way to serve your turne ; it shall be made to endure fire and water , to go whither soever you goe , and to save it selfe & you too : when you passe thoroguh the water , yee shall have a power that can swim , and carry it selfe and you too thorough all : strengthening power shall worke still suitable and proportionable to your distresse , that what is wanting in you , shall alwaies be made up by one that stands by ; let Lions gape never so wide , you shall stop their mouthes ; let fire be made never so violent ; you shall quench the violence of it . The seasonable and al-sufficient working of Divine power , me thinks , should take off all feare and objections in Christians .

Christians chide your feares , kill them with Faith in this point , they will kill you else , and doe you more hurt then the things you feare can possibly doe . There is a relieving power subjected to waite upon you , and you are subjected to waite upon it , and your enouragement is certaine reliefe . — they that wait on the Lord , shall renew their strength , &c. You have a spring of power running towards you , nothing can dam it up but unbeliefe , this will cut the throat of a Samson , and make him as weake as other men : Sampsons haire off , and he is deadly weak ; faith in Gods power out , and Gods people are as fainting and fearing as other men which have no such advantage attending them .

God exerciseth strengthening power , and hee doth it but upon condition of faith , which is as reasonable and as cheap a condition as can be ; but the more reasonable , the worse , if not observed ; a mans soule shall sinke with a witnesse , that leans not upon his allowed reliefe . 'T is Davids expression often , my soule had fainted , had I not put forth Faith . The soule never sinkes , let troubles be never so weighty , but when it le ts goe God Manage faith in that power which is subjected to serve you , and you can never be made miserable .

You which finde this strengthening power of Christ working in you , acknowledge your mercy , You are to be file-leaders , to help guid them that are behind you . Christ beares lambes in his bosome , so must you . Those that cannot relieve themselves , you should . The strong should support the weake . Wee should comfort others , with our comforts ; Christians should share in one anothers sweetest mercies : sweete meates should be given about . What you have from Heaven , some may have from you . Divine power workes strengtheningly , sometimes more immediatly , sometimes more mediatly , the wind blowes where it lists , and as it lists , t is alwayes welcome to a distressed soule . Sometimes a lame Christian hath a staffe of support and comfort more immediatly out of Gods owne Hand — thy ] rod , and thy ] staffe comfort ; at another time more mediatly ; he hath a staffe , legs and eyes , lent him by a friend as Iob speakes . Soule-strength the better used , the longer kept , take heede you lose not the great blessing of assisting and strengthening power .

1. Want of compassion will endanger the losse of it . 2. Sinning against it , will certainly lose it . I am affraid of this above all , I see Christians fall into consumptions apace , by fellowship with sin ; as weake as water , as if there were no power of God at all in them , which is a most dolefull condition . How weake is thine heart ( saith the Lord to the Iewes ) seeing thou doest all these things , Ezek. 16.30 . the worke of an imperious whorish Woman ? So may I say of many Christians ; how weake are your hearts , seeing you doe all these things , play the worldlings as doe others , play the time-servers as doe others ? you can turne and winde your lives and consciences as you list , ah Lord , what strength of God is in such soules . You have lost assisting power , by your loosenesse , and basenesse , you had beene better have lost your lives , yea , ten thousand lives ; you had beene better have died any death , and never have seen that day nor houre in which you began to decline , to sinne , to greive and lose that power and strength of God which wrought in you .

Unwarranted courses strip the heart of Divine strength . Light will have no fellowship with darkenesse : God doth not strengthen to sinne . Man stript of God , is deadly weake ; he runnes to any course . When God leaves a man , man becomes a beast . Why you are so easily drawne to sinne you may see by this point ; the power of God is gon from your soules ; your Delilah hath cut off your strength ; your exorbitancy to this and that , hath checkt , grieved , and killed the working of a lively power .

This heavy stroke , is not a first but a last stroke for thine unrulinesse ; Sampson had many brunts , about his Delilah before that deadly brunt , that gave him up . Thou hast had other punishments for thy Delilah without , ere it came to this heavy stroke within ; hadst thou made a right use of them , this last and deadliest stroke might have beene saved . Ah! forsaken soules , 't is a thousand pities that things had not beene timely lookt to , ere they came to such an inward extremity , to such a soule-blow , to such a spirit-woūd . Things thus far run , a man recovers not in hast ; it may be not all a mans life , to be as he was , and to enjoy divine power working so lively and sweetly as it did . Repenting and doing a mans first workes is a likely way to doe well , but whether it shall rise to be as well with the soule as 't was , that rests wholly upon divine pleasure ; what divine engagement the soule can plead for this , would be worth his best search . We finde David praying hard for wonted favour , but whether granted , that s doubtfull .

Strengthening power lost , the soule hath lost its soule : the spirit of man , hath lost the spirit of God ; God doth not breath in the heart , the man cannot live , not live a jot better then hee does , though reproved by his dearest friends every houre . That which did this great mischiefe ] that which made this soule-death , was no small sin ; it must be sought out and cryed out of above all evills . — bloud guilt , that one sin that killed two , Vriahs body and Davids soule , O how he cryes out of this sin , at the throne of grace ! This bloudy sin that hath killed thy soule , separated betweene God and thy soule , this must thou with all fervency cry out upon , and with all care renew faith in an ever-bleeding Saviour , all will be little enough to keepe thee from bleeding to death by despaire . One thing is all , if thou canst receive it O forsaken soule , thou art made . Thou must obey divine injunction ; believe , and expect good even in thy bad state . Let Israel hope in the Lord , for with the Lord there is mercy , and with him is plenteous redemption : and he shall redeeme Israel from all his iniquities . A more deserted state then Israels was and is , cannot be ; yet faith and hope are both by Divine command to be exercised in this forlorne condition , with promise of full mercy — and he shall redeeme Israel from all his iniquity . Psal. 130.7.8 . Whatsoever thy sin hath been , whatsoever the punishment of thy sin is , hope in the Lord , as the expression here is , that is , trust in Christ , and expect good in this way , and he shall redeeme thee from all thine iniquity , even from that iniquity which hath killed the working of Gods strengthening and relieving power in thy soule ? I judge the expressions of the Psalmist , to have such wide scope given them of purpose , that any deserted Christians whatsoever , might suck relief and support from them .

Power relieving and strengthening is sometimes lost not really but seemingly , Cautio est . that is , according to a tempted soules apprehension , this must bee lookt to , that so none judge worse of their condition then 't is , and lay load needlessly upon themselves . Power relieving is consistent with power invading and tempting , and yet when this is violent , a poore soule overlookes him that stands by him , and mournes and prayes as if nothing were his that is Gods . God was faine in a temptation to tell the Apostle Paul , what hee enjoyed , which was all the answer he could have — And he said unto me my grace [ is ] sufficient for thee , and my strength [ is ] made perfect in weakenesse , 2 Cor. 12.9 Soule-anguish with strength of temptation , and strength of desire to have it removed , made him over-looke that mighty aid of God , by which he was enabled to stand under all ; which is many a tempted soul's case , he cannot see the reliefe and strength he hath , because he hath not totall freedome from the evill he groans under . This temptation must be observed , God will otherwise bee a loser and man too : God will lose the glory of his grace , and man the comfort . Is it not reliefe and strength , that thou art upheld to encounter in any measure , with strong temptation ? That thou art taken from them into the armies of Christ , though they not from thee ? from the evill of temptation , though not simply from temptation it selfe ? This was that power which Christ did principally pray for , not to take out of a wretched World and wretched condition but to uphold in it . I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the World , but that thou shouldst keep them from [ the evill , &c.

Object . If I were so relieved and strengthened in my temptations , as kept and borne out against sin , I should acknowledge a strengthening power of God working in me , but alas ! when I am tempted I am overcome .

Sol. 1 It is one thing to sin , it is another thing to be overcome by sin . Christians which thus complaine should well observe how Christ keepes their will and affections ; a man is lost when these are won and not before . The Apostle Paul did eye this in the like conflict ; what he was in will when nothing in deed . He found God in affection , though sin in action ; the heart may be sound , when more externall and inferiour parts are not . What J doe I allow not ; what I would that doe I not , but what I hate that doe I , and upon this ground comforts himselfe in a sad condition , and disclaimes sin as none of his , though acted by him . Tempted soules must remember this , The heart kept , all is kept ; what is done against this by meere strength of corrupt nature , 't is sins , 't is not the soules act : the holy Ghost makes this distinction , a weake soule must not call it too nice to comfort him : It is one thing to be taken by an enemy , and another thing to yield and lay downe weapons to an enemy : this was the Apostles case , which though sad , yet he made it to yield its own reliefe , so must we in like cases . I am saith he a forc't man , a prisoner , a captive ; I doe what I did never intend , what I can never allow , this may make me a wretched man , but it cannot make me a damnable man ; it may put me into a straite , but my poore soule may finde a way out through Christ — I thanke God through Iesus Christ , &c.