His end The King of Assyria had it in his heart to destroy and cut off Nations not a few But God had another end in raising him up to be a scourge and therefore suffered him not to do all he would Esai 10 6 7 12. Upon this ground it is that he debateth with his people in measure when he sendeth forth his rod and stayeth his rough winde in the day of his east winde Esai 27. 8. 5. The Season and time of the affliction and trial is likewise determined of the Lord which is another Circumstance sometime very considerable and weighty He hath determined the minute of time when it shall beginne and with what occasion it shall be trysted He determined the precise time when the Messiah should be cut off after threescore and two weeks Dan. 9 vers 26. 6. The Duration of the Trial is also determined by the unchangable decree of God to a day yea to an houre and a minute He decreed the length and duration of the affliction that was to come upon the posterity of Abraham four hundereth and thirtie Years Gen. 15 13. Exod. 12. vers 13. And at the end of these Years even the self same day it came to passe that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the Land of Egypt where these Years of servitude were to end So he determined seventy Years for the captivity of Iudah in Babylon Ier. 25 12. and 29 10. Dan. 9. vers 2. 7. He hath also determined who shall be the Instruments of the trouble He said he would hisse for the flie that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt and for the bee that is in the Land of Assyria Esai 7 18. He appointed the ruine of Iudah to be by the Babylonians or Caldeans He determined to raise evil against David out of his own house 2 Sam. 12 11. These particulars might have been further enlairged and confirmed but because I suppose the truth herein will not be denied or questioned by the Lords people it will be much more useful to speak a few things concerning the right use making of this Truth That there is a Decree past in heaven from all Eternity touching our Sufferings and all the Ingredients and Circumstances thereof concerning the manner and way of our troubles the time when and how long the Instruments by whom and all the other particulars considerable in the same all are fixed by a peremptour and unalterable Determination Now the faith and beleeving Consideration of this would still and calme the risings of our proud spirits and the insolent stirrings of our corruptions when the Affliction that is bitter and unpleasant to the flesh is lying on and make us patiently endure all and sweetly submit to all saying the will of the Lord be done Let him do what seemeth him good as good old Eli said when he heard the determination of the Lord concerning him and his family wherein were many sad and bitter ingredients as may beseen 1 Sam. 2. and 3. Chapters and goâ—…d is the â—…rd of the Lord as good Hezekiah said when he heard by Esaias that the Lord had determined that all that was in his house and all which his fathers had laid up in store untill that day should be carried to Babilon nothing should be left and of his sones that should issue from him which he should beget should they take away and should be Eunuchs in the palace of the King of Babylon Esai 39. vers 6 7 8. Whether 1. Our thoughts be troubled at the kind of the Cross or Affliction which is upon us so as we are ready to say had the Lord sent any other rod or affliction upon us than this wherewith we are exercised we could better have born it Had he visited me will one say with Poverty and not with Disgrace I could have born it and another had my affliction been any other than just what it is I could have comported with it but the consideration of this that God hath decreed that that even that same crosse should be thy cross and no other will make the Soul sit down and say seing the Lord hath from all eternity appointed and shapen-out this even this and none else for me I must bear it and submit to his will who is wiser than I am and seeth further than I do and knoweth what is good and best for me better than I my self do His holy will be done This is a grief and I must bear it saith Ieremiah Ch. 10 19. 2. If our heart be troubled and vexed at the Consideration and thoughts of the particular Ingredients in and Parts of our mixed and compounded cup of affliction whereof every one seemeth more bitter than another and we be saying we are compassed with evils on all hands trouble of Body is upon us and trouble of Mind also we are wrestling with paines inward and outward with poverty with disgrace with perils and hardships and all at once This will compose our spirits if we call to mind that God hath willed and decreed all this He thought good to have it so He hath ordered as a wise Physician all the Ingredients of our bitter cup and what have we to say against him Iob we know had many a bitter ingredient in his cup and this compesceth the tumultuatings of his spirit Iob 23 13 14. But he is in one mind who can turn him And what his soul desireth even that he doth For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me and many such things are with him As if he had said what He will do He will do none can turne him or make him change his mind He performeth what He hath appointed and decreed for me and He can do much more yet and what know I but he shall do much more against me than he hath done This did so far put him from quarrelling at what was done that he was troubled and afraid at the thoughts of the Majesty and Soveraignity of this great King who doth what he will and so might adde yet moe ingredients in his cup as long as he was left breathing and thereby make his case worse 3. If the thoughts of the exceeding great weight and measure of the Trouble vex us this may counter-work that and calme us if we should suppose that God doth not measure-out our calamitie by drachmes and unces but by pounds and ston weights and thereupon cry out that our Trouble is greater than we can bear and give way to sinful murmurings and complainings we should do well in that case to call this to mind That all the doses are weighed and appointed for us from eternity He hath measured every scruple or graine weight thereof and what he hath appointed for us we must have He knoweth best what dose or measure of such or such a simple and what weight or quantity of all together will worke best on our humors and this will helpe to calme our spirits knowing
is fallen in the streat and equity cannot enter yea truth faileth and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey Esai 59 v. 14 15. But here is comfort against this that Zions King reigneth who is just and a King that reigneth in righteousness He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes neither reprove after the hearing of his eares but with righteousness shall He judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth and righteousness shall be the girdle of His loines and faithfulness the girdle of His reines Esai 11 3 4 5. His people then need not fear seing there is Justice to be had at His bar 10. The Children of God are much fainted and discouraged when second meanes are out of sight they see not horses nor horsmen to appear in the fields for them but a right sight of this Truth would prove helpful and encouraging in this case Did they but by faith see that Zions King were reigning on His Throne and actually sweying His Scepter they would easily conclude that all would be well for this King would either work without meanes as sometime He doth or creat meanes for His own use A wight man we say never wanted weapons and shall our King be straitned for want of meanes Could Sampson without either Sword or Spear only with what came next to his hand the Jaw-bone of an asse slay so many And need we fear that our King shall want Instruments when He mindeth to work by Instruments Omnipotency cannot want hands Any of all the Creatures is sufficient in His hand with vermine He made an end of proud Herod If He but speak the word He will therewith command deliverance So that we need not fear though the fig tree should not blossome and though we should see nothing but dry bones and dry bones scattered about the graves mouth so long as this King liveth and reigneth unto whom belong the shields of the Earth Ps. 47 v. last 11. The Lords reigning in Zion may assure us that there are great and rich off-fallings to be had Courtiers fear not want so long as the King possesseth His Throne yea they dar adventure to take on Luck's head as we say and why may not the Lords people also rejoice on Lucks head seing their King shall never be dethroned It is said Esai 32 vers 1. that a King shall reigne in righteousness And what is to follow thereupon See vers 2 3. And a man shall be as an hiding place from the winde and a covert from the Tempest as Rivers of water in a dry place as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land and the eyes of them that see shall not be dim and the eares of them that hear shall hearken 12. This Consideration may fill the souls of his People with Joy and Consolation however matters go with them were they never so low were Enemies never so high were the case of the people of God never so desperat like That Zions King liveth and reigneth is the most encouraging newes that can be The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoice and let the multitude of the Isles be glade thereat Psal. 97 1. There is Joy and gladness here sowen for all the upright in heart Is not the Lord in Zion Is not her King in her Said Ieremie Chap. 8 19. It is a shame that Beleevers should any way carry themselves so as On-lookers might have ground to think that Zions King were not in her or that they themselves did not beleeve that Zions King indeed were reigning CONSIDERATION XVIII The time of Affliction is but short IT is an ordinary thing for people under Affliction to be putting moe hours in their day than twentie foure to be multiplying their yeers and accounting their moneths Yeers their weeks Moneths and their houres Dayes and to be crying out Oh will this life never have an end How long how long will this Cup be holden to my head When shall the day dawn when God shall loose this Yoke from off my neck The Harvest is past and the Summer is ended and we are not saved Ier. 8 vers 20. Will not this year put an end to our trouble How long shall the rod of the wicked rest upon the lot of the righteous How long will God lengthen-out this sad trial These speaches and the like are but too frequent in their mouth and their thoughts are too oft upon this Subject and thus eternizing their sad lot in their mindes or foolishly imagining it will not have an end in hast they multiply their own Sorrow whereas did they calculat by the Scripture-account they would see the time shorter than they now imagine it to be Now to help them as to his We shall 1. Shew what is the Scripture account of the time of Affliction 2. Answere what can be objected to the contrary 3. Show how this Consideration may and should be improven to advantage As to the First The Scriptures give us this account of the matter 1. That it will not be for ever 1 King 11. v. 39. And I will for this afflict the Seed of David but not for ever Though for their iniquities He resolved to punish and afflict the Seed of David yet it will not be for ever And what is here spoken of David's Seed will in some respect agree to the Church and People of God in all ages Ay and there may be here a Meiosis a Figure whereby much more is imported than the words signifie and this not for ever is as much as for a short time It must then be the language of unbeleef to say that God will cast off for ever and that He will be favourable no more for His strokes upon the Godly are not of that nature He may afflict for a time but not for ever 2. The Scripture telleth us that these dayes will be shortened Matth. 20 22. And except those dayes should be shortened no flesh should be saved but for the Elects sake those dayes shall be shortened Christ is speaking there of sore and sharp Tribulation that was to come upon the Land and for the comfort of the Elect He saith that those dayes of Affliction and Tribulation should not long continue but should be shortened for their sake And this will hold good in all Ages the Lord being as careful of His Elect now as then and His Elect being as ready to fainte through long Affliction now as formerly Therefore the ground of this promise continueing we must not say that the promise it self is out of date To say then that Affliction shall never have an end is upon the matter to annul this Promise 3. We finde the Scripture saying That Affliction or the rod of the wicked should not rest upon the Lot of the righteous lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity Psal. 125 v. 3. This promise containeth likewise in the bosome of it a ground of assurance that it is not
expired for as long as the righteous are in hazard of putting forth their hands unto iniquity because of the continuance of the trouble we may eye this promise that the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon their lot this ground will alwayes endure and so the promise bearing this Ground and Reason in its bosome will continue likewise in force We must not then say that Afflictions on the Godly shall never have an end unless we would withall destroy this promise Therefore we may conclude that the People of the Lord shall not be the rest of the burden of the Word of the Lord as it is said of Damascus Zech. 9 1. 4. We are also told in Scripture That the Heaviness of Affliction is but for a Season 1 Pet. 1 6. wherein ye greatly rejoice though now for a Season if need be ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations The word rendered for a Season in the original signifieth a little present now to show that this Season is but short a present now without any considerable duration If this were beleeved we could not be crying-out as we are too ready to do Oh will those dayes never be at an end we would see that the little inconsiderable present now or point of time would quickly be over See Revel 6 11. 5. The Scripture tels us of a little while Heb. 10 37. for yet a little while and He that shall come will come c. The expression is mostemphatick in the Original cannot well be rendered to the full as if he had said yet a little how little how little As if it could not be expressed how little the time was to be This little while or appointed time as it is called Habb 2 .3 will soon be over 6. The Scripture pointeth it out to be a very little while Esai 10 25. for yet a very little while and the Indignation shall cease c. In the Original there are two words both of them signifying a little time or a very little time and so it is as much as if he had said a very little little time Sure that time cannot be long which is so short that the shortness of it cannot be expressed Is it not then strange that when the Spirit of the Lord cannot to speak so get words to express the shortness of the duration of their trouble they on the contrary cannot get words sufficiently to express their sense of the length of the time 7. We finde it called by a definite number Ten dayes Revel 2 10. And ye shall have tribulation ten dayes Whereby the shortness of the duration of that tribulation is expressed not that the trouble was to continue just ten dayes but to signifie that it was not to continue long but a short inconsiderable time which the Lord had determined and limited punctually to a day Tribulation will not last alwayes Ten dayes will put a period to it 8. If this be too long we have it expressed as yet much shorter even a night which is no long time Psal. 30 5. Weeping may endure for a night c. The dark disconsolat weeping time will not endure long the few houres of a night will put an end to it It is but a night and a night that hath the dawning of a day following it We should be ashamed then to think or say that our Trouble and Affliction will alwayes last we never saw a night yet but it had a morning of a new day following it 9. If this should yet seem too long we have it denominated from a shorter time as an hour Revel 3 10. there is mention made of an hour of temptation that was to come on all the earth Our Lord sure would hereby confute our errour of construeing the time to be too long when He doth of purpose mention such short measures of time An hour will soon be at an end the few minuts thereof will swiftly post away 10. Nay if this should seem too long we have it expressed by a shorter duration viz. of a moment Ps. 30 5. for his anger endureth but a moment And what can be shorter than a moment Is there any measure of time shorter than a moment And yet by this is the duration of the Anger of God against His Children in afflicting of them expressed Why then should we account that an age which the Lord calleth but a moment So Esai 54 8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment The word rendered moment signifieth cutting or dividing and so importeth the shortest cutting or division of time The Apostle speaketh thus of it also 2 Cor. 4 17. Our light Affliction which is bâ—…t for a moment The Apostles expression is singular there is a lightness of Affliction and that lightness is but a momentany lightness Now weightiness or lightness is not measured by time yet the Apostle in a most emphatick manner doth so here to shew us that all the weight of the Affliction in comparison of the glory that is coming is meer lightness or is so light that it cannot be measured with the least of weights and therefore he saith it is but a momentany thing like a feather falling on a mans hand and immediatly blown away againe It can be nothing then but shameless unbeleef that saith the time is long 11. Nay which is yet more as if this duration were yet too long it is expressed by a little moment Esai 26 vers 20. As if it were a little part of the least division of time if there be any moment less then another that is the right name of the duration of the Troubles and Afflictions of His People So Esai 54 vers 7. It is called a small moment And can we imagine how it can be less If the People of God had the measuring of the time of their trouble in their own hand could they give it any shorter duration than this Could they imagine a shorter When the Spirit of the Lord expresseth it thus We should be ashamed to think it too long But it will be objected and this is the Second thing I am to speak to That the Lords ordinary dispensation with His people in all ages seemeth to contradict this for ordinarily if not alwayes we see that the Afflictions of His People are of long continuance did not Israel wander Fourty Yeers in the Wilderness After they came into Canaan did they not serve the King of Mesopotamia Eight yeers Iudg. 3 8. and the King of Moab Eighteen vers 14. and the King of Canaan Twenty Yeers Iudg. 4 3. the King of Midian Seven Yeers Iudg. 6 vers 1 Were they not captives in Babylon Seventy Yeers not to mention their being now Non-churched above sixteen hundreth Yeers How then can this time be called and accounted so short For clearing of this we shall propose these few things following to Consideration 1. The time of the Affliction of His people may be accounted
power over him It is good and necessary for Beleevers to be alwayes and then in particular fixed in the faith of this That nothing cometh to passe by chance or fortune as we sâ—…y but that all events that fall out or come to passe are from Eternity freely and unchangably Ordained and Appointed by the unalterable Determination and Decree of the holy and wise Counsel of God for He worketh all things after the Counsel of his own will Ephes 1 11. There is an unalterable Decree past in the grand Court of Parliament in heaven concerning all Events that fall out in the world even such as we would think to be most uncertaine and contingent as events determined by lot Prov. 16 33. The lot is cast into the lap but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. What more uncertain than that the souldiers should not handle Christ after the same manner that they handled the other two who were crucified with him and yet they broke not his bones as they did the bones of the rest and they pierced him which they did not to the rest and that because it was determined of God that not a bone of Christ should be broken and also that he should be pierced and that the Scriptures might be fulfilled where mention was made of these determinations as we see in the Evangelists besides many other meer to us accidental things that befell him I know what difficulties some move about this matter in sinful events as all the Trouble Affliction and Persecution are which the people of God meet with at the hands of wicked Instruments upon the account of their adhereing unto Truth and following duty But I shall purposely wave all disputs at this occasion and onely hold forth the Truth and thereafter shew how it ought to be improved unto advantage in such exercising times 1. Whatever Affliction Cross Trouble Suffering Triaâ—… or Tribulation any of his are put to endure in following of duty it is not to be looked on as an accidental fortuitous event or chance but as determined of the Lord who hath in his Soveraigne wisdom and Counsel thought fit to have it so and ordered it that it should be so that his people in all ages should meet with Opposition Contradiction Affliction Crosses or Persecution at the hands of one or other so that the Substance of the Trial and Exercise is to be looked upon as ordained and determined of Jehovah Such a determination as this must be the ground of that Act. 14 22. And that we must through much tribulaâ—…ion enter into the Kingdom of God And of that wich Paul saith Act 20 23. though he knew not in particular what evils should befall him at Ierusalem whither he was now going yet he knew that bonds and affliction did abide him saying Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bonds and affliction abide me It was determined then that these as pages of honour should attend him and should wait for his landing in every place he came unto And yet more clearly he tels the Thessalonians 1 Epist. 3 3. That they knew that he and the rest were appointed hereunto that is to afflictions adding Vers. 4. For verily when we were with you we told you before that we should suffer tribulation even as iâ—… came to passe and ye know Peter also in his first Epistle mindeth those he writteth unto of this several times and pointeth them unto this will of God that they might eye it that is His determining decreeing and appointing will 1 Pet. 3 17. For it is better if the will of God be so that yâ—… suffer for welldoing c. And againe Chap. 4 19. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God c. From all which Testimonies we see that there is a Will Determination Resolution and Decree of the Ancient of dayes past anent the Afflictions Trials Tribulations and Sufferings of his people 2. Not only is there a Decree and Determination past in the Court of heaven about the Sufferings of the people of God in the grosse as it were and in general but also the special Kind of the Crosse or Affliction that they meet with or the special manner or quality thereof God hath not only decreed that this or that man this or that follower of Christ shall meet with some Crosse and some Affliction or other but he hath determined the species and kind thereof to wit whether it shall be a cross as to his Body or as to his Estate or as to his Spirit or as to several or all of these together whether he shall be put to suffer Fineings or Confinments or Imprisonments or Exile or Death whether Scourgings Paines and Torments or Harassings Feares Perils or what ever it be Paul knew that bonds did abide him The Lord determined that Abraham's Posteritie should be strangers in a Land that was not theirs be made to serve Gen. 15. vers 13. He determined that Satan should cast some of the Church of Smirna in prison and that they should have tribulation Revel 2 10. We know also what was particularly threatned against David 2 Sam. 12 11. 3. As the Lord decreeth the Kind and Species of the Trial so likewise he passeth a Determination concerning all the Ingredients and Parts of the same The trial possiblie is not one single Exercise but one complicated and compounded of many a cup not of one pure liquor but mixed of many ingredients but of how many Ingredients so ever it be compounded and of how many parts so ever it consist yet all of them are particularly and determinatly decreed and appointed of the Lord. Many bitter ingredients were in the cup which Christ gote to drink but all and every one of them fell under a plaine and peremptour determination of heaven They were gathered together saith Peter in the fore cited place to do whatsoever thy hand and thy Counsel determined to be done there was a whatsoever here Nothing was or could be done but what this Counsel of God had Determined to be done and all that was done was Determined by this Counsel 4. The Degree and Measure of the affliction that His people are to meet with is as particularly determined as any circumstance thereof else we know what Ioseph's Brethren had intended against him when thy said come let us slay him and cast him into some pit Gen. 37 20. But God had not intended so much and therefore they were made to change their minde and to sell him to the Midianites Vers. 28. And though thereby they thought they were quite of him for ever and that he should remaine a slave to his dying day yet we know it came otherwise to passe they thought evil but God meant it unto good Gen. 50. vers 20. As the Lord had another end before his eyes than they had so he had determined that they should not reach their end nor do any more than should contribute unto
that He hath determined all things according to infinite wisdom according to the Counsel of his own will and more than he hath appointed shall no man be able to inflict He leaveth not the measuring and weighing out of the ingredients of our calamitie unto men or enemies but himself doth it by an unalterable Decree that all the rage of Enemies can not change as to one ase or in the hundereth part of one drachme We hear what Christ said Ioh. 18 11. The cup which my father hath given me shall I not drink it It is true when the dregs of this cup wherein was the Curse was presented to him his holy humane Nature in a sinless manner scunnered at it Mat. 26 39. If it be possible let this cup passe from me Yet as sweetly acquiescing in the Lord's Determination he addeth Nevertheless not my will but thy will be done And againe Vers. 42. O father if this cup may not passe away from me except I drink it thy will be done Bitter and sharpe was this cup even to the highest degree yet he viewed the will of God appointing that he should drink it and calmly submitted and said not as I will but as thou wilt 4. It is true the Consideration of the season in which we are exercised and trysted with such a trouble may adde griefe to our sorrow and we may say in our vexation had this Trouble come upon us at any other time we could have better comâ—…orted therewith had it either come sooner or later we had been more able to have born it but as it is come precisely at such a nick of time it becometh a double burden unto us Yet it will help to calme us and compesce our turbulent spirits to remember that He who knoweth all seasons and all times hath chosen this and no other for the particular season wherein we shall meet with such trials and it could be no otherwise than he hath willed the trials behoved to come at that very nick and minute and no other an ancient Determination passed thereupon and no power under heaven could alter it no not for one houre or minute 5. When our thoughts are busied about the Duration of the Trouble this Consideration of a Divine determination past also thereupon will contribute to our setling We are ready to cry out when afflictions lye heavy upon our loines oh will they ever come to an end shall we never be redeemed herefrom Shall we never see a good day again And we are ready to conclude that our hopes are perished and we are cut off for our parts as Hezekiah said when trouble lay upon him Esai 38 10 11 12 13. I said in the cutting off of my daies I shall go to the gates of the grave I am deprived of the residue of mine years I said I shall not see the Lord the Lord in the Land of the living I shall behold man no more with the Inhabitants of the world mine age is departed and is removed from me as a shepherds Tent. He will cut me off with pining sickness from day even to night will thou make an end of me I reckoned till morning that as a lion so will he break all mâ—… bones from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me The affliction through the distemper of our spirits raiseth such a mist before our eyes that we can not see thorow the dark face of the dispensation How oft do we limite the holy one of Israel and say if he come not before such a moneth or such an year we may conclude that he will not come at all and so need waite for him no longer and the oftener that our foolishly set prefixed Periods go over the storme continueth or groweth our fainting despondence groweth especially when we consider the evil disposition rage and cruelty of Enemies and see how their strength groweth and providence seemeth to smile upon them But now the faith of this that He who hath set bounds to the raging of the sea saying hithertil shalt thou come and no further hath also bounded and limited the time how long such a Calamity or Triâ—…l shall endure will sedate our mindes and keep us calme and free of that discomposure of Spirit that the thoughts of the restless Malice incessant Rage and cruel Hatred of the Enemies will and do usually cause for do they what they can God will observe the Periods prefixed by himself his thoughts take place in all generations And when our hearts are disquieted at the thoughts of the long continuance of the Affliction the calling of this to remembrance That the only wise God hath determined all the houres and minutes of its continuance for his own holy ends will prompt us to say we cannot strive against the Almighty Let us therefore waite His time in patience all our strugling will but perplex our selves the more and all our endeavours to get free will but contribute to our further entanglement we shall not be able do what we can to Anticipate his day and therefore it is best for us to minde the duty of the day and lay aside all thoughts of using any unlawful meanes for our outgate and waite in patience untill his good time come 6. As also the thoughts of the Instruments of our trouble and calamity may sadly affect us as we see it did David Psal. 55 vers 12 13 14. It was not an Enemie that reproached me then I could have born it â—…either was it he that hated me that did magnifie himself against me then I could have hid my self from him But thou a man mine equal or a man according to my rank my guide and mine acquaintance We took sweet Counsel together and walked unto the house of God in company See Ps. 41 9. So many upon this account may say If my trouble were brought unto me by any other hands and instruments I could comport the better with it but when it is caused by such an one my neer Relation mine obliged friend of whom I least expected any such thing and unto whom I could have yeelded up my self and all I had how heavy must it needs be unto me But the Consideration of this That so it hath seemed good unto the only wise God and Supreame Soveraigne may and should and when rightly beleeved and improven will cause us lay our hand upon our mouth and say The good will of the Lord be done Hath he determined that such an one and not another shall occasione all my griefe and sorrow shall be instrumentall in all my Calamities good is the will of the Lord though I would think that if I were persecuted and troubled by others it would be better and I could bear it better yet seing Infinite wisdome hath determined this circumstance of my calamity why should not I acquiesce Thus we see how this Consideration rightly improven and duely beleeved will help such as are under Affliction Trouble or
or how he might procure their favour and so would be keeped from Temptations to any sinful compliance or accommodation So would he be preserved from temptations to the using of unlawful meanes for an outgate Thus we see how advantagious this eyeing of the Lord in the day of Trouble is unto the afflicted and the faith and improvement of this Consideration cannot but airth the souls eye unto this object 7. The right improving of this Truth would free the beleever from many carnal disquâ—…eting distracting and perplexing feares He is ready to say oh I cannot ride out this storme I shall one day fall by the hand of Saul the next blast of temptation shall blow me over I cannot but at length faint and succumb and the Enemie shall have matter of joy and all God's people shall be made to mourn for were it beleeved that God Ordered Disposed and Over-ruled all the beleever would see no ground for these feares for he would see that no blast could blow but as He would no storme could come sooner than He thought good nor continue longer than He saw convenient nor be more violent and strong let Enemies threaten and rage as they pleased than He saw good He would see the hand of God measuring out all so as he needed not fear to be over-charged or if the trouble were indeed greater than he could well stand under he might see the Lord fitting him by secret strength for it 8. Finally the faith of this and the right improvement of it would preserve the soul from a dead and senseless stupidity under the rod or stoical frame as unconcerned with what befalleth them which hath no affinity with but is utterly repugnant to a Christian frame and to Christian valour and undaunted courage This looketh liker to the frame of an Atheist than of a Child of God who trembleth and feareth when he seeth the rod in his Fathers hand and dar not despise the chastening of the Lord. Now a sight of God's hand in all Ordering Timeing and Seasoning Mixing and Compounding Limiting and Bounding Qualifying and Restricking Terminating and Ending Directing and Over-ruling would perserve the soul from a dead Temper and cause him mark and observe the footsteps of Royal Soveraignity Majesty Wisdom Power Goodness Care and Tenderness CONSIDERATION XI Christ himself had a suffering life WHen the Leaders and Commanders of an Army are to bring the Infantrie thorow some deep water they use to alight off their horses and walk on foot that they may take a share of the same lot with the souldiers that thereby they may the more encourage them to wade with cheerfulness thorow the water and it proveth indeed some matter of Encouragment to souldiers to follow their Leaders be the way never so uneasie Our Lord Jesus in like manner who is called the Captaine of our Salvation Hebr. 2. vers 10. knowing that his followers had both fire and water to go thorow Esai 43. vers 2. the more to encourage them to endure that hard lot would come down off his Throne of Majestie and State and take a share of the lot himself yea and go before them to break the ice Therefore it cannot but be most advantagious for the souldiers of Christ. who have a mind to run the race that is set before them to be looking in the time of their affliction upon this Captain according to the advice which the Apostle giveth unto the afflicted and persecuted Hebrews Chap. 12. vers 2. Looking unto Iesus the Author and finisher of faith who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross and despised the shame 3. Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest ye be wearied and fainte in your mindes For this same end and purpose do we finde the Apostle Peter proposing this example for the encouragment of a number of poor scattered and afflicted saints 1 Petr. 2. vers 21. For even hereunto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps And againe Chap. 3. vers 17 18. For it is better if the will of God be so that ye suffer for wel doing than for evil doing for Christ also hath once suffered the just fâ—…r the unjust that He might bring us to God It will then be of no small advantage to afflicted persons to have this Copie and Example laid before them if He would help us to speak unto it in any measure to edification It will not be necessary to speak of this subject of Christ's Sufferings in the full latitude but it will be sufficient to speak of them only in reference to the end proposed as an Encouraging Example and in order to this we shall only do these Two things 1. We shall mention and propose some particulars considerable in the sufferings of Christ which may be sutable matter for the thoughts of a Child of God in affliction to dwell upon 2. Speak some things to the advantagious improvement of the same in a day of Trouble As to the first we shall onely mention these particulars considerable 1. The Person who was put to all these Sufferings was no ordinary person we think more of the sufferings of a Noble-man Prince King or great Potentate than of the Sufferings of a mean poor man What shall we then think of the Sufferings of Christ who was higher than the Princes of the earth who was King of Kings and Lord of Lords He was in the form of God having the same Essential Divine form with the Father He thought it not robbery to be equal with God having the same Divine Nature and Properties Phil. 2. vers 6. And yet for all this He made himself of no reputation and took upon him the forme of a servant And being found in the fashion of a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross vers 7 8. Even He who was the Ancient of dayes who was set up from everlasting from the beginning ere ever the earth was Prov. 8. vers 23. Even He was put to end his dayes in paine and sorrow He whose goings forth have been from of old from everlasting Mica 5 2. Who wasthe Creator of the ends of the earth who was with God by whom all things were made and without whom was not any thing made that was madâ—… Ioh. 1. vers 1 2 3. Even He it was who was put to all this suffering What a wonder is this That the everlasting Father the Prince of peace the mighty God as He is called Esai 9. vers 6. should become a man of sorrowes and acquanted with griefe Esai 53 3. That the High and holy one who inhabiteth eternity and whose perfections and vertues are past finding out should be found in the fashion of a suffering Man That God should be thus manifest in the flesh 1 Tim 3. vers 16 This is a subject worthy of our thoughts That He who was
Weapon that is formed against Israel shall prosper Esai 54 17. If these particulars were rightly thought upon and improven we might be helped thereby to a life of Faith and Hope both in reference to the sad condition of the Church in general and also in reference to our own particular suffering condition And first In reference to the Church we may from these particulars see ground of giving a check to our Inferences from the Lords's present Dispensations with His Church savouring of Unbeleef Despondency Discouragment and Hoplesness We see it is true the Church over-whelmed with sorrow fitting as a widow and her teares upon her face We see her looking pale as if death were in her face all beauty and liveliness gone her Enemies multipliying and prospering daily and the Church still sincking more and more in the sea of sorrow and distress Many it is true are ready to say can this be the true Church and these the real people of God whose life is thus constantly made bitter with renewed stormes and tempests of adversity Can this indeed be the work of God which is thus cast down to the ground and trampled under-foot Would the Lord stand by and look on when His spouse if she were so indeed is thus abused by the vilest of men Would He suffer His Name and Work to be thus blasphemed True all this and much more may be said and be done against His Church and she remaine the true Church of Christ and His work be His work It hath been so before now and there is no new thing under the Sun And the right thoughts of what is said would prevent the trouble that such Atheistical and perplexing thoughts necessarily cause if they be admitted and fomented Hath not the Church of Christ been a militant Church from the beginning hath there not been a constant enmity betwixt the seed of the Serpent and the seed of the woman Is it any new thing to see the Church driven to the wilderness and tossed in the sea of afflictions Is it any un-heard-of thing that the Church must be tossed betwixt winde and wave and have stormes and tides and all against her Is it any new thing to see the Church even while within the sight of the haven of an happy and glorious Reformation driven back to sea againe What hath she not oftentimes seemed to on-lookers to be sunck have not false friends many a time sought to drive her upon rocks or cut her cables that she might be left to the mercy of the seas or to make lecks that she might sinck to the ground Is outward prosperity the mark of the true Church No let Antichrist make it a mark ofhis seing so the Papists will The Church of Christ must be the speckled bird She must have many horns in her side Her rest and triumphant state is above though it is true she may have some breathing times some lucide intervals and a more glorious day when the Vial is poured forth on the Seat of the Beast Euphrates dried up and the Kings of the East brought in and when Babylon the great is fallen Gog and Magog destroyed and the Beast and the false Prophet cast into the lake of brimstone but then the end of her warfare will be nigh Againe would we call to mind how often the Church hath been very low and her Enemies singing a triumph as if they had gotten an everlasting victory and as if they were assured that the Name of Israel should be no more mentioned and yet the Lord hath hithertill saved and hath brought that broken Vessel saife to land Notwithstanding of all that the red Dragon the Hethenish Emperours did in persecuting with their bloudy massacres the Christian Church the first three hundered Years yet the Church of Christ grew and multiplied and spread over all the Empire And though the Antichristian abomination did prevail in the Church and the woman was made to flee to the wilderness 42 moneths or 1260 dayes or Years from the Year 660 or 666 as some compute untill the Reformation 1550. or 1560. Yet notwithstanding of this long desolation and darkness dureing which time the Gentiles possessed the outter court the Lord in his own good time in the dayes of Luther and afterward made light break up and made the world see that His Church was not yet destroyed And though now Antichrist be thinking to possesse the outter Court againe and to destroy the Reformation to make even the lands that were by solemne Covenant devouted unto Christ as His peculiar Inheritance become lands of graven images and brought under his tyrannie yet the Lord liveth we are to waite in faith hop and to possess our souls in patience for now is the faith patience of the Saints to beleeve that in due time He who hath begun to poure forth the vials of His wrath upon that Antichristian cursed conspiracy will also make an end in His own good time shall poure forth the Vial on the Beast Revel 16. vers 10. And the judgment of the great whore shall come that fitteth upon many waters with whom the Kings of the earth have committed fornication even the woman that sitteth upon a scarlet-coloured beast full of Names of Blasphemy having seven heads and ten horns arayed in purple and scarlet coloure and decked with gold and precious stones and pearles having a golden Cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication upon whose fore-head is a Name written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH And which is drunken with the bloud of the Saints and with the bloud of the Martyres of Jesus Which is manifestly interpreted by the Spirit of God Revel 17. vers 8. to the end to be the Papal Church and State sitting at Rome and commanding all Wherefore it becometh all who love their lives to take notice of that word Revel 18. vers 4 5. Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues c. for the day is coming when it shall be said as it is vers 6 7 8 c. Rewarde her even as she rewarded you and double unto her double according to her worksin the cup which she hath filled fill to her double How much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciousâ—… so much torment and sorrow give her for she saith in her heart I sit a queen and am no widow and shall see no Sorrow Therefore shall her plagues come in one day and mourning and famine and she shall be utterly burnt with fire for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her Let us live in hope that the day shall come when what followeth there shall be fulfilled and it shall be said as vers 20. Rejoice over her thou Heaven and ye Holy Apostles and Prophets for God hath avenged you on her And it shall be found true that is
way alike May not the Lord hereby declare and preach forth his Infinite Wisdom in guiding so many Sones and Daughters to glory through so many several Kindes of Trials Exercises Afflictions and Temptations Will it not be much to His Glory when every one of the Redeemed shall beside their wondering at the gracious Work of Redemption common to them all have each something peculiar to himself raising his Admiration As it commends the wonderful Workmanshipe of God that among so many millions of faces of Men two shall hardly be found betwixt which no difference shall be discovered so may not this commend the Work of Gods Providence 4. And what if as to those Particulars wherein they think their owne case singular it be otherwayes indeed Have they had through acquaintance with all the Saints of God in all ages Why then do they speak so confidently 5. But be it so as they say yet they should know that they are in the hands of a well skilled Physician and of a tender Father who knoweth their Constitution their Distemper and their Strength and will make the Physick no stronger than He knoweth they can bear and will work and do them good And this should cause them forget their complaints 6. All that people say while under a distemper must not be taken for certaine Iob had many expressions while under the Affliction that he would not owne or approve of afterward As to the Second Head that we may come neerer their case what if it be found that even as to these same Particulars upon the account of which they account their case singular others of whom we read in Scripture have been in the like case before We shall therefore mentione some Particulars which people in Affliction use to aggravat their case from and because of look upon their case as singular 1. Some may think their case singular upon this account That they never knew much in experience what prosperity meant their Life hath been nothing but a Life of Exercises Temptations and Trouble Such would know that some therefore would possibly think they might bear Afflictions the better being so accustomed therewith and inured thereunto and trained up at that School But however they erre if they think that this case is singular or that none but they have been so exercised not to mention our Lord Jesus whose Life was a Life of bitterness as we saw above see one Instance of Heman Psalm 88 vers 15. I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up His Trouble and Affliction was not of Yesterday He was under it from his youth 2. Others it may be will complaine and think their Affliction so much the sadder that they have not been much enured with nor trained up at the School of Affliction that if they had been used with Trouble they would have thought this that now lyeth upon them the more light and easy to be born but now having been so long in prosperity and at ease the Affliction coming is more terrible and seemeth more insupportable Oh what is man that will thus abuse and pervert all things and can be satisfied with almost nothing Others would look upon this Dispensation as gentle and easie and as a great favour and yet what some would account a mitigating ingredient others will look upon as a great aggravation Some would say that such were not much to be pitied who have had such a long summer-Summer-day of prosperity who would think much if a Shipe that hath for many dayes had a faire winde should towards the end of her Voyage meet with a contrary blast But the truth is so rebellious are our hearts that none of Gods Dispensations with us can satisfie us and every Body is better pleased with anothers Lot than with his owne and therefore we are so ready to choose any condition but what God is pleased to carve out unto us and we think every bodies Affliction is more easie than our owne and we could bear any Lot better than what we are called to bear May it not be thought that such as compleane upon this account would complaine much more if it were with them as it was with Asaph Psal. 73 v. 14. All the day long have I been plagued and chastenedevery morning However such as cry-out because after a long time of prosperity they meet with adversity would know that their case in this is not singular as Iobs instance can evince who was not much acquainted with adversity and affliction till Satan began to pursue him but dwelt at ease and in prosperity Iob. 16 12. I was at ease but He hath broken me asunder 3. Some possibly will look upon their case as sad and singular because the Crosse under which they stand seemeth so heavy that they see not how they shall be able to stand under it As if forsooth every one almost were not ready to say the same How few are there who look upon their own Affliction as the lightest and easiest David told us Psal. 6 vers 3 that his Soul was sore vexed and Psal. 55 vers 4. that his heart was sore pained within him Was not the Israelites case in Egypt hard when their lives were made bitter with hard bondage Exod 1 14. and they were made to sigh by reason of the bondage Exod. 2 21 Was it not sad with Paul and his Companions when he saith they were pressed out of measure and above strength in so much that they despaired even of life 2 Cor. 1 v. 8. We hear of some who have come out of great Tribulation Revelation 7 v. 14. 4. Some possiblie will account their condition singular in that it is not with one or two rodes that they are chastened but with many and with several sorts their Affliction is complicated and many are twisted together whence they are ready to say That none was ever so visited and afflicted as they are But the case of Iob is enough to confute this mistake Hath God taken away thy goods and made thee of a rich man a poor man So did He to Iob whose riches were great for he had Seven Thousand Sheep Thrâ—… Thousand Camels Five Hundred Yoke of Oxen Five Hundred She Asses Iob. 1 vers 3. Hath God taken away thy pleasant Children in whom thou tookest delight So did He take away Iob's Seven Sons and Three Daughters and that in one houre and that by an unusual manner he neither seeing them die nor getting one word of them before they died Read his book and see what a multitude of evils came upon him at once See a short summe Chap. 19 vers 8 21. He hath fenced up my way that I cannot passe and He hath set darkness in my Paths He hath stript me of my glory and taken the Crown from my Head He hath destroyed me on every side and I am gone and mine hope hath He removed like a tree He hath also kindled His wrath against me and He counteth me
with their mouth smooth words smoother than butter and softer than oile when war is in their heart drawn swords Psal. 55 21. would not appear But when the Lord hideth himself and goeth out of sight then they say as it is Psal. 71 11. God hath forsaken him persecute and take him for there is none to deliver Because they say in their heart God hath forgotten he hideth his face he will never see therefore their mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud under their tongue is mischiefe and vanity they sit in the lurking places of the villages in the secret places do they murder the innocent their eyes are privily set against the poor c. Psalm 10 vers 8 9 10 11. 2. The Lord maketh choise of this manner of way of appearing and working for His people that Enemies may be judicially hardened in their wicked course of opposition to His Interest and People so fitted for the fatal blow of God's Justice As it was with Pharaoh when the plagues were taken off and God's terrour removed out of sight he became alwayes thereupon more hardened in his wickedness against God and His people and thereafter when he saw that the people of Israel were ensnared betwixt mountains and the sea and so judged that God had left them or could not helpe them then his heart was hardened unto a peremptory resolution to pursue and take them even through the red sea and there the wrath of God fell upon him and all his army 3. The Lord carrieth on His work thus that the ruine of the enemies may be the more signal and remarkable and the hand of God manifestly seen therein when they are puft up with pride and think no hand can reach them they are beyond all hazard no appearance is there of any thing that can put the least demurre unto their wicked proceedings The blow becometh the more remarkable them ore surprizing and unexpected that it is Such was that fatal blow that came on Pharaoh and his hoste and on Belshazzar when ravelling with his Nobles Wives and Concubines and profaning the holy vessels of the house of the Lord Dan. 5. 4. The Lord thinketh good to follow this way That He may the more observably fill the faces of his Enemies with shame and confusion therefore he he will suffer them to carry on their designes to lay their mines close to prepare all so that nothing may seem to remaine but putting fire to the traine that they may blow up the Interest and People of God in a moment and when they think all is ready give them a fearful disappointment and withal let them see that He who is the watchman of Israel hath seen what they have been doing all that time in secret and hath been counter-working their devices and undermineing their mines when he shall cause their mine spring back upon themselves and thus cover their faces with shame and confusion when they shall see that it is the hand of God that hath done it defeating their plots and devices which were laid and carried-on with such secrecy and with such providential foresight and rational security that nothing but the immediat hand of God could frustrat and defeate them Was it not so with Hamans device and bloody plot to cut off all the Iewes And how shamfully came he off Thus the Lord destroyeth the wisdom of the wise Esai 29 14. 5. The Lord taketh this way to the end He may shame if it can be those enemies from their wicked atheistical thoughts concerning Him that they may know that there is a God that ruleth in the earth a God that careth for His people watcheth over his Inheritance or else they may be rendered the more inexcusable in the day of their appearance before God Thus the Lord will consume such as belch out with their mouth have swords in their lips and say who doth hear That they may know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of Earth Psal. 59 7 13. An eminent place for this we have Esai 49. The Lord hid Himself so that his people became a prey and were captives yet saith the Lord vers 24 25 26. Shall the prey be taken from the mighty or the lawful captive delivered But thus saith the Lord even the Captives of the mighty shall be taken away and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered c. And what then And all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer the mighty one of Iacoh 6. The Lord thinketh fit to follow this way that hypocrites and such as are not heart friends to Him His cause may be discovered may fall off and so appear to be what indeed they are If the Lord were alwayes appearing for His people when ever they began to be in a straite and visibly making bare His arme in their behalfe many hollow hearted false friends would take part with them and stay among them and seem to love and favoure them Therefore that they may be made manifest the Lord hideth himself and appeareth not so openly for his friends but suffereth them to fall under the feet of enemies who oppress them and all that take their part which occasioneth their stepping aside turning away from the Truth as not being reconciled with the crosse nor loving Christ and his People so as to take a share with them in the Affliction and Bondage How many who appeared zealous in a faire day will turn about and side with wicked and evil doers to be free of the crosse and when they see no foot-steps more of the Lords appearing for his Work and Interest On the other hand in the third place the Lord thinks good to follow this way for some good ends in reference to His own people As 1. The Lord doth thus that he may discover the hid Corruption that lurketh in His own people which in a fair day when He is upon their head marching through the host of the Enemie and tradeing them under foot who oppressed His people and keept them at under will lye at the bottome and not appear As 1. Vnbeleefe when the arme of the Lord is revealed they cannot then but beleeve That He is the Lord and the God of his people they cannot then have the least doubt about this But many Doubts Questions Scruples and Hesitations will arise in their soul when the Lord's face is hid and He appeareth not in behalfe of His Afflicted People and Interest The Disciples did openly enough professe their faith in Christ as the Messiah the Son of the living God while was with them He working miracles before their eyes but when once he was crucified dead and buried Thomas would not beleeve no not though the other Disciples had told him that they had seen the Lord nor would he beleeve as he said expresly himself unless he should see in his hand the print of the nails and put his finger in the
so multiplied motives to seek salvation an outgate by sinful and unlawful wayes and meanes doubled yet the soul is fixed on Him and on Him alone and will say Asshur shall not save us we will not ride upon horses but in God alone the fatherless findeth merey Hos. 14 3. All which may discover our sinful and unsutable frame in such a dark day when the Lord is in Glory and Majesty sutable to Himself carrying on His work out of our sight and is hiding Himself that we cannot see him nor know what he is doing so may it point forth our duty and teach us what to think and what to do in such a day And to this end we may hence learn in particular to minde those duties following 1. In such a day wherein the Lord hideth Himself we should beware of entertaining any jealous thoughts of Him Satan will then be busie to muster up all the Arguments and Grounds he can to cause Beleevers at least turn jealous of God and to doubt if He will appear any more for Zion to the end they may faint and give over Faith and Hope and then he hath gained his point and Beleevers in such a day may expect this and feare their own hearts that will be too ready to comply with all Satans Motions and Suggestions This therefore would be carefully guarded against 2. In such a day the unchangable Purposes of God His faithful Word and Promises should be the subject of our Meditation on these should we dwell and ruminate to the end our heads may be keeped-up in hope and we may not despond 3. We should beware to make the day darker by sinful departing from God and by giving way to Satans Temptations When folks in a dark night are walking among snares and pits they will set down their feet with great warriness and circumspection so should we do in such a day lest we make our Condition worse 4. We should observe narrowly what we can mark in the Dispensations of the Lord that will say and evince to us according to the grounds of spiritual reasoning that God is about His work and that though we see Him not yet He in working under ground and carrying on His projects to the end we may be confirmed in our hope and strengthened to waite with patience and faith 5. We should minde our duty whatever He do for that is it we are called to and so much the rather that the Lord hideth Himself should we be diligent in unquestionable duties for He meeteth him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness Esai 64 v. 5. 6. We should beware to limite the holy One of Israel let us rather stoup and adore and acknowledge Him to be Jehovah who doth what He will The Third thing considerable in these words of truth is what is imported by that word Verily And it wouldseem to pointe out to us these particulars following which I shall but mention First That it is no light or easie mater to win to the faith and to the sight of this by saith That God is the Lord and the God of Israel and the Saviour when He hideth Himself For this ejaculation seemeth to have been or is so here expressed as if it had been the issue and result of some great inward wrestling out of which when the Prophet getteth up his head he cryeth out Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself c. And considering the frame of our heart by Nature and the subtilty of Satan and his skill and diligence to muster up all Considerations in such a day to our disadvantage this difficulty cannot but be great Secondly That this truth is of great moment being here confirmed by such an asseveration It is a truth useful and necessary to be beleeved and fixed in the heart For it is attended with great advantages and the want of the faith of it is not only sinful but most hurtful and dangerous being accompanied with many sad evils and being the cause of dreadful effects and consequences Thirdly That this Truth should be fixed in our hearts as a great and fundamental point and put beyond all doubt or disput with us that He is a God that hideth Himself the God of Israel and the Saviour The Last Particular here considerable is the Prophets uttering this Mater to God and speaking thus to Him Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself c. Which pointeth forth to us these things First The sincerity and uprightness of heart in the Prophet who could thus speak unto God and lay the matter before Him as it was Which should teach us to be honest sincere and upright in all our carriage free of deceit and hypocrisie Secondly The reality of this his Exercise and outgate for it was no made and supposed thing but real To teach us so to carry Thirdly That the Prophets heart was more warmed unto God and that this was the result of his excercise in his meditations that his heart was drawn nigher unto God for now he uttereth the matter in the very bosome of the Father It is well when our exercises have this issue and outgate Fourthly His open Profession of this matter was to exalt and glorify God for herein is a piece of solemne worship performed unto God which pointeth forth our duty in the like case CONSIDERATION XXI No man can make straight what God hath made crooked ECCLES VII V. 13. Consider the Work of God for who can make that straight which He hath made crooked IN a day wherein the People of God are persecuted and afflicted for His sake and cause it were a great help and advantage unto a christian and sutable carriage under that dispensation to have right and sutable thoughts of God and of His divine works In such a day we fancie and imagine many things amiss in the Providential Workings of God many things we think we see that might be helped and if we had the disposal of matters in our hand should be quickly redressed and thus being led away with our own proud hearts and insensibly carried down the strame we fall a censureing of the holy Way of the Lord and a quarrelling with Him because He doth not rectifie matters according to our mind and doth not governe the world or at least the Church according to our wishings and wouldings Now because this frame of spirit is so repugnant unto the Holy Will of God so unsutable unto the Children of God so hurtful unto the Soul and such an Enemie unto the right deportment of Souls in the day of Crosses and Affliction it will be of use to to speak some thing if the Lord will help to rectifie our mistakes and to cure us of these Distempers We think we see many crooked Passages in God's Way and Dispensations with the Church and with ourselves in particular and we imagine also we know wayes how to set all these crooks even But this is really a clear demonstration of our follie
the body of this death 7. We think it also strange that they should have so little rest from Satan and from his inward hellish Injections tending to Atheisme Infidelity Blasphemy and all Profanity Seemeth not that dispensation somewhat crooked that Paul met with after he was taken up to the third heaven 2 Cor. 12 7 8. It seemeth many times uncouth to us that His people have so many sad and bitter houres that they are so far from enjoying Comfort Joy and Delight from that life of rejoyceing in the Lord continually which is allowed to them and they are called to that their life is nothing almost but a continual complaint sometimes compleaining of the Hardness of their heart Blindness Weakness Impotency Treachery c. sometimes of the weight of Duties and of their Failings and Shortcomings sometimes of the prevailing of Corruption and of the power of Temptation c. These and the like dispensations of the Lord in and about his Saints seem to themselves to others sometimes crooked and very unstraight and as they wish it were otherwayes so they suppose it would be more glorious and honourable to the Lord if it were otherwise Thus it appeareth how many things God hath made crooked to our apprehensions But now who shall who can make these crooked things straight This is the Second Particular in the words That what God hath made crooked no man can make straight with all his Wisdome or Power or by all the meanes he can use or devise for that which is crooked cannot be made straight Eccles. 1 15. I know said the wise man Eccles. 3 14. that whatsoever God doth it shall be for ever nothing can be put to it nor any thing taken from it When He giveth quietness said Elihu Iob 34 29. who then can make trouble when He hideth his face who then can behold him Whether against a Nation or a Man only And the reason is manifest because 1. He is Unchangeable and hath fixed all upon Eternal and Immutable Purposes He is the Lord he changeth not Mal. 3â—… v. 6. With him is no variablness nor shadow of turning Iam. 1 17. He doth all things after the Counsel of His owne will Ephes. 1. 11. taking Counsel of none Rom. 11 v. 34. Esai 40 13 14. His Counsel hath an immutability Heb. 6 17. 2. He is Almighty and who can justle with Him and put Him to take new Resolutions He is in one minde said Iob Ch. 23. 13. and who can turn Him And what His Soul desireth that doth He. So Psal 115 v. 6. He hath done whatsoever he pleased I know said the Psalmist Psal. 135 5 6. that Iehovah is great and that our Iehovah is above all Gods whatsoever the Lord pleaseth that did He in heaven and in earth in the seas and all deep places So Iob tels us Chap 9. 4. He is wise in heart and mighty in strength who hath hardened himself against him hath prospered So vers 12. Behold he taketh away who can hinder him Who will say unto him what dost thou 3. He is Absolute and Soveraigne to do what he will as the Potter is absolute over the clay Ier. 18 6. Rom. 9 10. Esai 45 9. And he is uncontrollable Who can call him to an account Who can say unto him what dost thou Iob. 9 12. He giveth not account of any of his matters Iob. 33 vers 13. For he is greater then man vers 12. 4. All his wayes are done in Wisdom and all his works Psal. 104 24. 136 5. And there is no wisdome against the Lord Prov. 21 30. He hath established the world by His wisdom Ier. 10 12. 51 v. 15. He is mighty in strength and wisdom Iob 36 5. And what then can foolish man that is like a wilde asses colt do With the Ancient is wisdom said Iob Chap. 12 12 13 14. c. and in length of dayes understanding With him is wisdom and strength he hath Counsel understanding and thence inferreth Behold he breaketh down and it cannot be built againe he shuteth up a man there can be no opening c. See further to the end of that Chap. 5. All his works are perfect Psal. 18 vers 30. And then what can be added to them or taken from them to amende them What is perfect cannot be made better or amended one way or other What we then think and account to be crooked is Perfect Straight and Even and contributeth to make up this compleat perfection of the whole 6. There are Depths and unseen Mysteries in the work and wayes of the Lord that we cannot search and ignorance of which causeth the sinstruous Apprehensions that we have of them And how shall we think to amende that which we do not understand His works are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein His works are honourable glorious wonderful Psal. 111 2 3 4. Then I beheld said the wise man Eccles. 8 ver 17. all the work of God that a man cannot finde out the work that is done under the sun Because though a man labour to seek it out yea further though a wise man seek to know it yet shall he not be able to finde it And againe Chap. 11 v. 5. As thou knowest not what is the way of the Spirit nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with childe even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all The consideration of which should first cause us sorrow and mourne before the Lord for our seeking to amend God's work as if we could make straight what God hath made crooked and set all things in a righter posture than God hath done Concerning which we would 1. Take notice of some of these wayes whereby we are attempting this vaine work And 2. Take notice of the evil of this sin As to the First We are seeking to make straight what God hath made crooked when 1. We are in a quarrelling humore Disputing with God and Condemning him in our minds for what he is doing and Justifying ourselves in our Anger and Displeasure against the Dispensations and Wayes of the Lord as did Ionah who was displeased exceedingly very angry that the Lord spared Ninive Chap. 3 v. 10. with 4 v. 1. And when the Lord said unto him Chap. 4 vers 4. Doest thou well to be angry was not for all that satisfied and againe vers 9. when the gourd was withered and the East winde blew and the sun beat upon his head he fell againe in this distemper and when the Lord said unto him the second time doest thou well to be angry he answered I do well to be angry even unto death 2. When our vaine Ratiocinations are engaged against the wayes of the Lord in one particular or other and we have this or that to object against that course which the Lord taketh as if we would impute iniquity unto our Maker and
of the ends and designes of God that causeth us to complean and quarrel and wish that His works were otherwise ordered and marshalled for saw we these and conâ—…idered how pertinent and sâ—…teable all the passages of His way and all the circumstances of His work were unto the end designed we would be forced to say Behold He doth all things well When Elihu had been considering Iob 37. the Lords thunder and the great small raine the whirle wind the frost and observed how the Lord did weary the thick cloud and turne it about hither and thither he did not satisfie himself with that till he also gote a look of the special ends wherefore the Lord did so that so he might see the beauty and splendour that was therein therefore he addeth ver 12 13. And it is turned round about by his Counsels that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth He causeth it to come whether for correction orforhis land or for mercy And thereupon vers 14. exhorteth Iob to hearken unto this to stand still and consider the wondrous works of God And of Him who vers 16. is perfect in knowledg And such a sight as this of the works of the Lord would put us far from intertaining such thoughts of God and of his wayes as we too ordinarily have If we saw Him in these His works acting as a wise Governour carrying on His noble and excellent Designes and Purposes we would see a necessity for all that He doth and that no Circumstance might be wanting otherwise His work should not be perfect as it must be And the faith of His being a God of wisdom doing all for wise and holy ends should quiet us even though we should not see the Particular end which the Lord Intendeth in this or that Particular work 8. We would consider also the work of the Lord and see how thereby He executeth many a time His judgments on the wicked and how He is pouring out His red wine that is full of mixture and causing the wicked of the earth drinkout the very dregs as it is Psal. 75 8. And thereby making it appear that verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth Ps. 85. 11. Yea even when He seemeth most to be favouring the wicked and His dispensations smile most upon them He is but heaping wrath the more upon them and fitting them for the day of slaughter Asaph that could not see this when he was under the Water saw it clearly when he went into the Sanctuary then he understood their end and saw that the Lord had set them in slippery places and they were brought into desolation as in a moment Psal. 73 17 18 19. It was an heart-establishing sight which the Psalmist had of the great works of the Lord Psal. 92 4 5. when he saw vers 6 7. that a brutish man knoweth not neither doth a fool understand this when the wicked spring as the grasse and when all the workers of iniquity flourish it is that they shall be destroyed for ever CONSIDERATION XXII Judgement upon a Land because of sin sometime will not be held off by the prayer of God's people JEREM. 15 1. Then said the Lord unto me though Moses and Samuel stood before me yet my minde could not be toward this people Cast them out of my sight and let them go forth IN a time when because of publick and abounding sins the Lord bringeth on Publick and General Calamities especially such as sweep away the Righteous with the Wicked and that could not be prevented or held off by all the Prayers and Supplications of His people how earnest so ever they have been therein it may seem no small piece of difficulty how a beleever shall win to any life or to know what a life may be had in a such a dismal day It may therefore be of use to speak a little hereunto especially seing this is very like to be the case of this Generation These words and the like Passages show us that indeed there is a time when God is so provoked by the sinnes of a people that after much abused patience and long-suffering He will not be intreated to hold off the stroke that He is about to send or hath threatned because of Provocations Nor shall the eminentest of His favourites wrestlers who sometime have prevailed as Princes with Him be in case to stand in His way and avert the blow by all their Intreaties earnest Supplications God was about to bring on this people of Judah the long threatned desolation and did denounce the same by His Servant Ieremiah saying Chap. 7 14 15. That He would do unto His house at Ierusalem which was called by His name and wherein they did trust as He had done unto Shilo and that He would cast them out of His sight as He had cast out their Brethren the whole seed of Ephraim And that Ieremiah might understand the perempâ—…oriness of this denounciation He addeth vers 16. Therefore pray not thou for this people neither lift up cry nor prayer for them neither make intercession to me for I will not hear thee The Lord hereby signifying not so much His will that Ieremiah should surcease and pray no more in their behalf as the peremptoriness of His purpose and resolution to bring on the judgment so that all his Interceeding and Interposeing should not avail And this is againe renewed Chap 11 14. Therefore pray not thou for this people neither lift up a cry or prayer for them for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for thâ—…ir trouble As if He had said The decree is now gone forth neither shall they prevail for themselves nor thou for them Yet Compassionat Ieremiah could not get them forgotten in his prayers but interceedeth earnestly with the Lord in their behalf Ier. 14 1. From the beginning to the 10. ver Whereupon the Lord said unto him the third time vers 11. pray not for this people â—…or their good Ieremie againe vers 19. to the end notwithstanding of this fell to the work of prayer and did earnestly supplicat and interceed for them But now the Lord tels him Chap. 15 1. That Moses and Samuel should not prevail in their behalf and therefore he may be the better satisfied to hear that God would not grant his Petitions put up for them The like we have said foure times over Ezek. 14 14 16 18 20. Though these three men Noah Daniel and Iob were in it they should deliver but their own souls and againe Though those three men were in it as I live saith the Lord God they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters they only shall be delivered but the land shall be desolate The matter then which we are to notice is manifest to wit That there is a time when the sins of a people come to that height that God will not spare upon
He will carry on His work and make His Kingdom come and make all this contribute unto that end We see what desolation Zephaniah is threatning against Ierusalem and the rest of the Cities of Iudah for their great sins Cbap. 3. 1 to 7. And thereafter Vers 8. he inferreth and presseth on them that would minde the duty of the day a waiting in Faith and Hop upon the Lord saying Therefore waite ye upon me saith the Lord until the day that I rise up to the prey c. And then followeth Vers. 9 10. For then will I turn to the people a pure language that they may call upon the Name of the Lord to serve Him with one consent from beyond the Rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants the Daughter of my dispersed shall bring mine offering They should wait in faith for the accomplishment of all the great and precious promises made to the Church notwithstanding of all these sad interveening Dispensations This was the resolution of the Prophet Esai Chap. 8. 17. in an evil day when many should stumble and fall and be broken and be snared and taken Vers 15. And I will said he wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the House of Iacob and I will look for him But it will be said what shall the righteous do in the day when God is so angrie at the whole Land that He will cut off the righteous with the wicked and to this end shall draw His Sword forth out of His Sheath against all Flesh from the South to the North as it is Ezek. 21 3 4 5 For Answer I grant such a dispensation may be expected when all Flesh have corrupted their wayes and even the righteous who have not gone the length of others in Defection and Apostasie yet have not been valiant for the Lord and for His oppressed truth nor so faithful and zealous for the Lord of Hosts in their Generation as became them It is then to be feared that even many of them shall be sweeped away with the common calamity as they have been in part tainted with the common sin procuring it And in that case it is their part to minde these duties following 1. To be preparing to meet the Lord with ropes about their necks acknowledging their sin giving glory unto the Lord as just and righteous in proceeding thus against them with the rest They should prepare to meet their God thus coming in His holy displeasure to glorifie His justice as the Prophet adviseth Israel to do Amos 4 12. 2. They should be busie to get their peace made with God in time through Jesus Christ that when God shall get glory on their carcases in the sight of others they may get their souls for a prey They should be mourning as doves in the valleyes every one for his iniquity that their sin may be blotted out and their souls washen in the bloud of Iesus 3. They should be amending through the help of the Lord what hath been amisse and seeking to Him and seeking righteousness meekness upon a may be of being hid in the day of the Lords anger this is the exhortation of Zephaniah Chap. 2 3. Even to the Godly Seek ye the Lord all ye meek of the earth which have wrought his judgment seek righteousness seek meekness it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger 4. If they should not be hid but the judgment should overtake them as well as others then let them sweetly submit and lye under the rod and humble themselves under the mighty Hand of God Iam. 4 10. 1 Pet. 5 6. and say with good old Eli when sad things were denounced against his house and it was told him that God would judge his house forever and that the Lord had sworn unto the house of Eli that the iniquity thereof should not be purged with Sacrifice nor offering for ever It is the Lord let Him do what seemeth Him good 1 Sam. 3. 12 13 14 18. He saw it was Jehovah who could do no wrong and therefore he was quiet and acquiesced to all that He would do how sad so ever it was He saw Him the righteous Governour and Iudge and said His holy Will be done 5. They should accept of this punishment of their iniquity Levit. 26 ver 41. giving Glory to Gods Iustice and have a complacency for so the word will import in that stroke as being a stroke of Iustice and a stroke whereby God will be glorified in His Iustice Righteousness and holy Severity Thus should they kisse the rod and contentedly welcome the Sword of Justice and kisse its point when pierceing their heart because of their sins 6. Thus should they say with good Hezekiah when sad things were denounced against his Family Esai 39 vers 6 7. Good is the Word of the Lord. Vers 8. It is Iehovah's Word I have nothing to say against it holy and righteous is He and his Judgments are righteous His Threatnings are good And thus should they with the Church Micah 7 vers 9. Bear the Indignation of the Lord because they have finned against Him AMEN A TABLE Of the CONTENTS THE Introduction Pag. 1. Seven Considerations handled at more length in the first Part briefly resumed Pag. 2 3 4. Consid. VIII It is the decreed will of God Pag. 5. How trouble is decreed of God in Seven Particulars 8 to 13. How the Consideration of this calmeth the heart in Six cases 15. to 23. How it helpeth under affliction in Eight particulars 23 to 27. How this Consideration is set home in Three particulars 28 to 32. Consid. IX It is the commanding Will of God 32. That suffering sometimes is the Will of God cleared in 8. particulars 34 to 37. The season wherein People are called to suffer cleared 37 to 39. How we shall know if we be called to suffer 39 to 52. How this Consideration is to be improved in 10. particulars 52 to 61. Consid. X. God overruleth afflictions 62. God hath an hand in Afflictions cleared from 6. Grounds 64 to 71. The way hereof cleared in 14. particulars 71 to 82. How this Consideration should be improven in 8. particulars 83 to 101. Consid. XI Christ himself had a suffering life 102 Twelve particulars concerning Christ ' sufferings considerable 104 to 113. How this is to be improved in 7. particulars 114 to 125. Consid. XII Our sufferings not comparable to Christs 127. The disproportion cleared in 6. particulars 127 to 133. How this is to be improved in 7. particulars 134 to 138. Consid. XIII Sufferings the lot of the Church 140 Ten particulars concerning the sufferings of the Church considerable 141 to 146. How this ought to be improved in reference to the Church 147 to 152. How in reference to our selves in 6. particulars 152 to 154 Consid. XIV Other beleevers have been afflicted 145 Six particulars to be considered by such as are afflicted 156 to 159. Ten particulars wherein possibly others have