Matthew 14:22-24. A Sermon Preached at Stirling, by Mr. James Guthrie. 1660.

And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
~ Matthew 14:22-24

O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
~ Isaiah 54:11, Isaiah 49:14, John 6:18

How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies. For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.
~ Lamentations 1:1-2, Lamentations 1:16

And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
~ Acts 27:18-20

And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
~ Matthew 8:24-26

Use 4. We would consider what grounds of Consolation we shall have for strengthening of our Hearts, if we bide fast by the Cause of Jesus Christ, for the biding out of a Storm, if so be God be pleased to bring it on us.

We might name many, only at this time take these few. The first Ground of Encouragement, is, that you have a good Cause, I mean the Cause of God, and the Interest of Jesus Christ, speak against it who will, forsake it who will, Reproach and Persecute it who will, Doubtless, Good is the Cause, the Cause is worth the contending for, worth the Suffering any Thing that can come for it.

2ly. Another Thing to be a Ground of Comfort to us, is, as we have a good Cause, so we have a good Captain too, Jesus Christ the Lord, who is the Captain and Prince of Salvation, who was never put to the Worse, and who sits at the Right-hand of the Father, and will Reign there till he make all his Enemies his Footstool.

3ly. Another Thing to be a Ground of Consolation to us, is, as we have a good Cause, and a good Captain, so we have good Company too, all in whose Hearts the Fear of the Lord is in these three Nations, yea more, we have all the Saints that have lived since the Beginning of the World; for all the Cause they have owned and suffered for, is one and the same, though there be sundry Branches of it; we have also the blessed Promises of God, and we have the Experience of all the Saints; we have also our own Experiences; and many things more of that kind. O that we know our Privileges, for strengthening of our Hearts to be sincere and steadfast in his work.

https://takeupcross.com
takeupcross