irreligiously to tempt him in both we abuse his providence In the one we disobey him in not using the means he hath appointed in the other presumptuously impose upon him for the encouragement of our laziness Diligence on our part and the blessing on God's Solomon joyns together Pro. 10.4 The hand of the diligent makes rich but v. 22. The blessing of the Lord maketh rich So Eccles 9.1 Our works are in the hand of God our works but God's blessing God's blessing but not without our works It was the practice of good men Jacob wrestles with God to divert his Brother's fury yet sends a Present to his Brother to appease him * Gen. 32.9 13. David trusts in the name of the Lord his God in his duel with Goliah but not without his sling Our labour should rather be more vigorus then more faint when we are assured of the blessing of providence by the infallibility of the promise 3. Trust providence in the way of the precept Let not any relyance upon an ordinary providence induce you into any way contrary to the command Dan. 1.8 9 10 c. but Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the Kings meat Daniel had many inducements from an appearance of providence to eat the Kings meat his necessity of compliance in his captivity probability of preferment by learning the wisdom of the Countrey whereby he might both have advanced himself and assisted his Countrey-men the greatness of the consideration for a Captive to be fed from the Kings Table the ingratitude he might be accused of for despising so kind a treatment but none of these things moved him against a command because the Law of God forbad it he would not eat of the King's meat Daniel might have argued I may wind my self into the King's favour do the Church of God a great service by my interest in him which may be dasht in pieces by my refusal of this kindness but none of these things wrought upon him No providences wherein we have seeming circumstances of glorifying God must lead us out of the way of duty this is to rob God one way to pay him another God brought Daniel's ends about he finds favour with the Governour his request is granted the success is answerable and all those ends attained which he might in a sinful way by an ill construction of providence have proposed to himself all which he might have missed of had he run on in a carnal manner This this is the way to success Psal 37.5 Commit thy way unto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass Commit thy way to the guidance of his providence with an obedience to his precept and relyance on his promise and refer all success in it to God If we set up our golden Calfs made of our own ear-rings our wit and strength and carnal prudence because God seems to neglect us our fate may be the same with theirs and the very dust of our demolisht Calf may be a bitter Spice in our drink as it was in theirs 3. Trust him solely without prescribing any methods to him Leave him to his wise choice wait upon him because he is a God of judgment * Isa 30.18 who goes judiciously to work and can best time the executions of his will The wise God observes particular periods of time for doing his great works John 2.4 my hour is not yet come woman what have I to do with thee Which man is no competent Judge of I will do this miracle but the season is not yet come wherein I will be most beautiful God hath as much wisdom to pitch the time of performance of his promise as he had mercy at first to make it How presumptuous would it be for the shallow world a thing worse then nothing and vanity to prescribe rules to the Creator Much more for a single person a little Atome of dust infinitely worse then nothing and vanity to do it Since we had no hand in Creating the world or our selves let us not presume to direct God in the government of it Job 38.4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the Earth declare if thou hast understanding Would it not be a disparagement to God to stoop to thy foolish desires yea would you not your selves have a lower conceit of him if he should degrade his wisdom to the wrong biass of your blind reason Thirdly Submit to providence 'T is God's right to govern the World and dispose of his Creature 't is his Glory in heaven to doe what he will * Psal 115.3 But our God is in the Heaven he hath done whatsoever he pleased let us not by our unsubmissive carriage deprive him of the same Glory on earth he brings to pass his will by wayes the Creature cannot understand 'T is the wisest speech in that medley of fooleries the Turkish Alcoran †Deus triumphat in sâ—a causa c. We must walk by the rule of reason which God hath placed in us for our guide yet if Providence brings to pass any other event contrary to our rational expectations because it is a clear evidence of his will we must acquiesce As when a Traveller hath two wayes to come to his journeys end the one safe the other dangerous reason perswades him to chuse the safest way wherein he falls among thieves now having used his reason which in that case was to be his director he must acquiesce God's Providence bringeth forth an event which he could not without violence to his reason avoid And therefore it is a great vanity when a man hath resolved the most probable way in a business and fails in it to torment himself because though our consultations depend upon our selves yet the issues of them are solely in the hand of God It concerns us therefore to submit to Gods disposal of us and our affairs since nothing can come to pass but by the will of God effecting it or permitting it If the fall of a Sparrow is not without his Will * Math. 10.29 much less can the greater events which befall men the nobler Creatures be without the same concurrence of Gods pleasure therefore submit For 1. Whatsoever God doth he doth wisely His acts are not sudden and rash but acts of Counsel not taken up upon the present posture of things but the resolves of Eternity As he is the highest wisdom so all his acts relish of it and he guides his will by Counsel Eph. 1.11 Who worketh all things after the Counsel of his own will If God took Counsel in Creating the World much more in laying a platform of government much more in the act of government for men can frame models of government that can never reduce them into practice Now God being infinitely wise and his will infinitely good it must needs be that goodness and wisdom are the rules whereby he directs himself
sprung from an ill cause a disdain to be checked by Ishbosheth though his King for an unjustisiable act for having too much familiarity with one of Sauls Concubines * 2 Sam. 3.6 7 8 9 10. And from this animosity he contrives the deposing of Ishbosheth and the exaltation of David yet dissembles the ground and pretends the promise of God to David v. 18. For the Lord hath spoken of David by the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines He is the first Engine that moves in this business and by him and his correspondents after his death v. 17. the business is brought about by Gods over-ruling hand wherein Gods promise is accomplished and David a type of Christ and the great Champion for the Church against its enemies round about is advanced Very remarkable is the advancement of Mordecai in order to the advancing the Jews as well as preserving them when the necks of all the visible Church God had in the World were upon the block Haman ignorantly is the cause of this preferment of Mordecai and at that time too when he came to petition for his death Esther 6.4 He was come to speak to the King to hang Mordecai upon the Gallowes which he had prepared for him The King asks him what should be done to the man whom the King delights to honour v. 16. He imagineth that the Kings question did respect himself lays out a Scheme of what honour he was ambitious of v. 8 9. which was by the King designed for Mordecai and Haman made the Herald to proclaim him Here Haman not only a wicked man in himself but the greatest Enemy Mordecai and the whole Church of God had is made unwittingly an instrument to exalt Mordecai and in him the whole Church of God 3. In enriching the Church or some persons in it whereby it may become more serviceable to God How wonderful was it that when the Israelites were abominated by the Egyptians God should so order their hearts that the Egyptians should lend them Gold and Jewels * Exod. 12.35 36. and dismiss them with wealth as well as safety and not so much as one person molest them till they arrived at the Red Sea The very gain and honour of the Enemies is sometimes consecrated to the Lord of the whole Earth Micah 4.13 Arise and thresh oh Daughter of Sion I will make thy horn Iron and thou shall beat in pieces many people and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord and their substance to the Lord of the whole Earth This was when many Nations were gathered against Sion v. 11. the wealth of the Sinner is laid up for the just Pro. 13.22 And God sometimes makes the wicked unwittingly to themselves in their carking be the factors for good men into whose lap providence poures the fruit of their labour God gave Cyrus the spoils of Babylon and the treasures of Croesus to enable him to furnish the Jews with materials for building the Temple Isa 45.3 Isa 45.3 4. 4. and I will give thee the treasure of darkness and hidden riches of secret places speaking of Cyrus that thou mayest know that I the Lord which call thee by thy Name am the God of Israel for Jacob my Servants sake c. That he might acknowledge him the God of Israel and lay his wealth out in the service of God and the service of Jacob his servant 2. As bad persons so bad things are ordered to the good of the Church whether they be sinful evils or afflictive 1. Sin 1. A mans own sin Onesimus runs from his Master and finds a spiritual Father his being a runnagate is the occasion of his being a convert By slying from his Master he becomes a Brother in the Lord. * Phil. 10 12 16. What Joseph's brethren sinfully intended for revenge against their brother and security from their Fathers checks who acquainted Jacob with their miscarriages God ordered for the preservation of them who were the only visible Church in the World Their sin against their Brother contrary both to their intentions and expectations became the means of their safety God makes the remainders of sin in a good man an occasion to exercise his grace discover his strength and shew his loyalty to God 2. Other mens sins That might be in Sarah but a heady passion for hearing her Son mocked by Ishmael that made her so desirous to have the bondwoman and her first son thrust out * Gen. 21.10 but God makes use of it to make a separation between Isaac the heir of the Covenant and Ishmal that he might not be corrupted by any evil example from him God orders Abraham to harken to her voice because in Isaac his seed should be called * ver 12 And the revengeful threatning of Esau was the occasion of Jacob's slight whereby he was hindred from marrying with any of the people of the Land by whom he might have been induced to Idolatry * Gen. 2 7.3 46. Why should we misturst that God that can make use of the Lusts of men to bring about his own gracious purposes 2. Commotions in the World There is the eye of God that eye which runs to and fro throughout the whole Earth in the Wheels of worldly motions even in the most dreadful providences in the World that stare upon men with a grim countenance * Ezek. 1.18 their wings were dreadful and their wings were full of eyes All the overturnings in the World are subservient to the Churches interest though they are not visibly so unless diligently attended * Broughton on Revel 13. §. 177. God orders the confusions of the world and is in the midst of the tumults of the people Psal 29.10 11. The Lord sits upon the floud yea the Lord sits King for ever the Lord will give strength to his people the Lord will bless his people with peace He sits upon the floud as a Charioteer in his Chariot guiding it with holy and merciful intentions to his people to give them both strength and peace in the midst of them and as the issue of them By Water and Flouds is frequently meant tumults and confusions in the World If it were not so why should our Saviour encourage his Disciples and all their Successors in the same profession to lift up their heads when they hear of wars if their redemption * Luk. 21.25 26 27 28. were not designed by God in them they are all testimonies of the nearer approaches of Christ in power and glory to judge the Earth and glorifie his people Gods great end in the shaking of Nations is the performing those gracious promises to his Church which yet remain unaccomplisht These earthquakes in the world will bring Heaven to the Church The great revolutions in the Eastern part of the world the ruine of the Babylonian Empire the erecting the Persian and all the means whereby
and the Lord said to Moses I have seen this people and blhold it is a stiff-necked people now therefore let me alone that my wrath may wax hot against them and in such terms that one would wonder at Now therefore let me alone As if God did fear Moses's interposition would prevent him and disswade him from it Do not you stand in the way my wrath will cool if you interpose your self as much as to say God could not do it unless Moses gave his consent Moses would not be quiet but pleads the providences of God which had been all for him the promise of God made to Abraham concerning them And he would not leave till God repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people v. 14. If Angels as Calvin saith are Gods counsellours in Heaven Believers are as it were his Counsellors on Earth 5. God has given the choicest things he hath to his people He hath given his Law The Church is the Sphere wherein the light of the Gospel is fixed and wherein it shines from whence its beams do dart out to others Isa 2.3 out of Sion shall go forth the Law The oracles of God the great things of the Law as it is phrased Hosea 8.12 his Covenant and the counsel of his will are intrusted with the Church Now this being a mercy which exceeds all other things in the World is therefore comprehensive of all other as the greater comprehends the lesser And the Psalmist considers it as the top-stone of all blessings for after summing up the Providences of God he shews how God had distinguished Jacob by more eminent marks of his favour Psal 147.19 20. He shews his word to Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any Nation he hath not left so rich a Legacy to any or given any so much of his heart Others are ordered by the word of his power for that is meant by word in the foregoing verse but Jacob hath the word of his grace too And this being the choicest piece of affection which God hath shewn to the Church implies the making all lesser providences subservient to it The Church wherein God hath laid up his Gospel and those Souls which are as the Ark wherein God hath deposited his Law shall be shadowed with the wings of his merciful providence in a perpetual succession of all true blessings All the providences of God are to preserve his Law in the World his severest judgments are to quicken up the Law of nature in men that know no other and the Law of his Gospel in men that sit under it And he hath given Christ to his Church and thereby hath given an earnest that still their good shall be promoted 'T is not to be thought that God will spare any thing else when he hath given them his Son Secondly The Second thing It must needs be that all providences is for the good of the Church First 1. All the providence of God is for the glorifying his grace in Christ The whole Oeconomy or dispensation of the fulness of time to the latter ages of the World is for the gathering all things together in him Eph. 1.10 that in the dispensation of the fulness of time he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in Heaven and which are on Earth even in him In him as their head This was the design in all his dispensations both before his coming and since ever since the promise made to Adam though it be more manifest in the latter Age. This the Apostle represents as the main purpose of God v. 9. This was the mystery of his will which according to his good pleasure he had purposed in himself that is purposed in himself as a thing he was mightily pleased with and ver 11. saith he he works all things after or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the Counsel of his own will or of that purpose which he had purposed in himself to gather all things in one in Christ All the things that God acts are referred to this as their end and ordered by this Counsel as their rule As it was the design of Gods providence to make way for Christs entrance into the World and all the prophecies in the old Testament tended to the discovery of it so since the coming of Christ the end of all is to advance him in respect of his headship Eph. 1.22 23. and hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulness of him that fills all in all God would advance Christ to the highest pitch v. 21. far above all principality and power both in this world and in the world to come and there is still a fulness wanting to Christ to compleat him not any personal fulness but a fulness belonging to him as Head which is the advancement God designs him He is already advanced above all principality and power He is already given as a Head to the Church but the compleatness of it is not till all his members be perfected to which all his providence in the world doth ultimately tend Therefore if the design of God be to honour Christ and if the spiritual happiness of the Church be part of that Glory and fulness of Christ it must needs be carried on by God else he will want part of his compleatness as a Head But this shall not be wanting since as all things are squared according to that Counsel of glorifying Christ as Head so all things are acted for believers by that power whereby he raised Christ from the grave to be their Head which power is the Copy according to which all acts which respect the Church are framed v. 19. and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him up from the dead God intended the good of the Church in this very act of glorifying Christ for he is made the head over all things to the Church As if God then had prescribed him that order that the glory he gave him should be also managed for the Churches interest Christ is Lord of the rest of the World but Head of the Church All things are under his feet but are not his members He is Head over all things to the Church and therefore to every member of the Church the least as well as the greatest and to the whole Church even that part of it which is on Earth as well as that part which is in Heaven who are compleated This Church is the fulness of Christ he would be bodyless without it therefore since Christ will be a head without a body if the Church be not preserved in order to the preservation of it all things must necessarily concur by the wise disposal of affairs Therefore since they are
Sion his Throne is in the Church when the great things in the World shall be acted for the Ruine of Antichrist * Revel 14.1 Gods Presence in his Church is the Glory and Defence of it As the presence of the King is the Glory of the Court Zach. 2.5 For I saith the Lord will be unto her a wall of fire round about and will be the glory in the midst of her His presence is a Covenant-presence Isa 41.10 Fear not I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God whence follows Strength Help and Support I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my Righteousness that is with my Righteous Power with my power engaged to thee in a Righteous Covenant His Presence and Providence in the World is in a way of Absolute Dominion but in his Church in a way of Federal Relation He is the God of Israel and God to Israel or for Israel * 1 Chro. 17.24 yea and a God in the midst of Israel Every one of them suffficient engagements to protect Israel and provide for Israel and govern every thing for Israels good God is under an Oath to do good to Israel will he violate his Oath tear his Seal break his Covenant who never broke his League with any of his people yet Eightly 8. The Prayers of the Church have a mighty force with God to this end God is entitled a God hearing Prayer and what prayers should God hear if not the prayers of his Church which aim at Gods Glory in their own good Though the prayers of the Church may in some particular fail yet in general they do not because they submit their desires to the Will of God which always works what is best for them When God would do any mighty work in the World he stirs up his people to pray for it and their prayers by his own appointment have a mighty influence upon the Government of the World For when they come before him in behalf of the Church in general he doth indulge them a greater liberty and boldness and as it were a kind of Authority over him then upon other occasions of their own Isa 45.11 Thus saith the Lord the holy one of Israel and his maker ask of me things to come concerning my Sons and concerning the work of my hands command you me God would be more positively confidently and familiarly dealt with about the concerns of his sons though they were things to come to pass in after Ages And indeed the prayers of the Church have a powerful and invisible Efficacy on the great actions and overturnings which are in the World The Being of the World is maintained by them from sinking according to the Jews saying sine stationibus non subsisteret mundus standing in prayer was their usual prayer-gesture And that they have actually such a force is evident Rev. 8.3 4. An Angel hath a golden Censer with Incense to offer it with the prayers of the Saints upon the Altar which was before the Throne And ver 5. the Censer wherein their prayers were offered was filled with the fire of the Altar and cast into the Earth and there were Voices Thundrings Lightnings and Earthquakes When the prayers of the Saints were offered to God and ascended up before him that is were very pleasing to him The issue is the Angel fills the Censer with fire of the Altar and thereby causes great commotions and alterations in the world signifying that the great changes of the World are an answer unto those prayers which are offered unto God for fire is taken from that altar upon which they were offered and flung into the World And it must needs be that the prayers of the Church should have an influence on the government of the World 1. Because God hath a mighty delight in the prayers of his people The prayer of the upright is his delight and he loves to hear the Churches voice Cant. 2.14 O my dove let me hear thy voice for sweet is thy voice Chaldee thy voice is sweet in prayer In the times of the Gospel God promises that the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem should be pleasant to him Mal. 3.4 When Christ shall sit as a refiner v. 3. what is the issue of those prayers v. 5. I will come near to you to judgment and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers c. Prayer awakes providence to judge the Enemies of the Church A Parent delights not in the bare crying or the voice of his Child simply considered in it self but in the significations and effects of it He delights in the matter of their prayers it being so agreable to his own heart and will and in the sence they have of the sufferings of the whole body 2. Because Prayer is nothing else but a pleading of Gods promises Unto this they are directed by that Spirit which knows the mind of God and marshals their petitions according to his will Now as God turns his own decrees and purposes concerning his Church into promises to them so the Church turns those promises into prayers for them So that promises being for the good of the Church and there being an exact harmony between those promises and the Churches prayers all those providences which are the issue of those promises and the answer of the Churches prayers must needs be for the Churches good 3. Because there are united supplications and pleadings both in Heaven and Earth all the hands of the whole Family in Heaven and Earth are concerned in their petitions 1. Christ intercedes for the Church who alwaies desires mercy and deliverance for them in the appointed time Zach. 1.12 How long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and the issue is alwaies gracious For v. 13. God answers him with good and comfortable words and thereupon Carpenters are raised to cut off the horns which had scattered Judah v. 20. 2. Angels in all probability plead for the Church as we have already heard 'T is likely they offer and present that to God which makes for his glory and that is the good of the Church Angels surely desire that which their Head doth which is * Zach. 1.12 described as one of their own order and called an Angel Do they rejoyce at the repentance of a sinner and do they not likewise triumph at the happiness of the Church which is part of that Family they are of And we know that the greatness of our joy is suted to the mercies of our desires where our joy is most triumphant it implies that our desires before were most vehement 3. Glorifyed Saints are not surely behind The rich man in the Parable desired his Friend on Earth might not come into that place of torment * Luk. 16.28 If there be so much charity in Hell can there be less in Heaven If he desired it that by the presence of his Companions in sin his
forth a multitude of Spirits swiftly into the nerves for the supply of the lowest member which runs thither upon the least motion So do the Angels which are Gods Ministers run at the appointment of God and are employed in all the wheels of providence The Spirit of the living Creatures was in the wheels of providence * Ezek. 1.20 1. The highest orders among them are not exempted from being officers for the Church Though they are called Gods Angels in respect of their immediate attendance on God yet they are called mans Angels in respect of the service they do for them Matth. 18.10 Their Angels do alwaies behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven They are not the ordinary sort of Angels only which attend upon those little ones upon young converts humble Souls those little ones in the Kingdom of Heaven but they are the highest Courtiers there such as see the face of God and stand before him A King hath many Servants but not every Servant only the chief of the Nobility stand before him so they are not Angels of the meanest order and rank in Heaven that are ordered to attend the lowest Christian The Apostle makes no doubt of this Heb. 1.14 are they not all ministring Spirits there is no question but they are sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation He asserts confidently that not one of them is blotted out of the List for this employment Are they not all none are exempted from the service of God so none are exempted from the end of that service which is the good of Believers They are Gods servants but for the Churches good for them which shall be hairs are they not all it is irrational to deny it And they are sent forth every one of them hath his commission sign'd by God for this purpose and not only for the Church in general but for every member in particular for the heirs of Salvation And not only for them which are already called and enrolled but for them who shall be called whose names are written in the Book of Gods election who shall be heirs And they are not only faintly sent as if they might go if they will but they have a strict charge to look after them well not in one or two of their works or ways but in all Psal 91.11 He shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes to bear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone they are to use all their strength to this purpose to bear them up in their hands As the elder Children are appointed by Parents to have a care of the younger in their works and motions and to use both their wisdom and strength for them The Angels are a guard to secure them here and at last to convey them to their fathers house Luk. 16.22 when a man is in favour with a Prince all the Courtiers will be observant of him 2. Armies of them are employed upon this occasion There are great multitudes of them as Bildad speaks Job 25.3 Is there any number of his armies that is of his Angels when Joel speaks of the heathens gathering together thither saith he Lord cause thy mighty ones to come down * Joel 3.11 A whole squadron of them shall attend upon a gracious man according to the circumstances he is involved in Gen. 32.1 2. And Jacob went on his way and the Angels of God met him and when Jacob saw them he said this is Gods host Regiments of Angels enough to make up an Army for so Jacob terms them met him upon the way to secure his Brother Esau and to encourage him in his journey So some interpret 2 Sam. 5.24 the found of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees The sign of the marching of a Brigade of Angels with the Lord in the head of them for the discomfiture of David's Enemies then shall the Lord go out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines And this they do not of their own heads but by the pleasure of God not only by a bare will but a delight Psal 103.21 Bless the Lord all ye his hosts ye Ministers of his that do his pleasure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his choicest pleasure he delights to see this his militia upon action 3. Christ hath the government of them to this end for his Church Angels are all put in subjection to him Heb. 2.7 8. In that he put all in subjection under him he left nothing that is not put under him He is exalted above all principality and power God hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church Eph. 1.21 22 all things even principalities and powers are put under his feet to be commissioned and influenced by him for the good of his Church * Ezek. 1.12 Whither the Spirit was to go they went they are ordered by the Spirit of Christ to this purpose Zach. 1.10 Those are they whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the Earth They are his faithful messengers dispatcht into the World by him as scouts and spies to take notice of the state of the World and to give him intelligence and an exact account of affairs and v. 11. they give an account to Christ Christ is the Head and General of them Col. 2.10 They are his Host alwaies in a warlike posture with Christ in the Head of them Zach. 1.8 upon their Horses which notes readiness to move and speed in motion And as an Host they are said to pitch their tents round about them that fear him and are in a continual conflict with the evil Angels to prevent their designs in the behalf of Christ whom they acknowledge as their head by their worship of him * Heb. 1.6 Christ orders them to take care to seal his Servants in the foreheads that they may be preserved in the storms which shall happen in the World at the time of the ruine of the Romish Papacy Revel 7.2 3. An Angel comes that had the seal of the living God commission of God saying hurt not the Earth nor the Sea nor the trees till we have sealed the Servants of our God in the foreheads 4. The great actions which have been done in the World or shall be done for the Church are performed by them Angels were sent as expresses by God with his great decrees concerning the revolutions of times * Dan. 7.16 Dan. 8.16 And I heard a mans voice which called and said Gabriel make this man to understand the vision An Angel was sent to Daniel with the message of a Redeemer and the clearest prophecy of Christ which the Jews are not able to answer to this day which they most startle at Part of the discovery of the Revelation to John which is as a standing Almanack to the Church was made us by an Angel *
it was brought about God ordered God foretold God directed for Jacobs service Cyrus led by ambition levies an army against Babylon yet though he was a ravenous Bird he was to execute the Counsel of God Isa 46.11 calling a ravenous bird from the east the man that executeth my Counsel to be an instrument for the delivery of the captiv'd Jews and the restorer of the ruin'd Temple He had called him out by name to make a great revolution of the World He foretold by his Prophet Isaiah many years before the means he should use in the siege of Babylon to attain the victory the very dividing Euphrates which was the great confidence of the Babylonian Isa 44.27 that say to the deep be dry and I will dry up the rivers whereby it was as it were dried up for them to pass over the very opening of the gates Isa 45.1 and the gates shall not be shut the Babylonians in a presumptuous security had left them open thinking it impossible the City could be taken because of the River Euphrates I will go before thee and make the crooked places strait and what was the end of that great revolution and motion in that part of the World See Isa 45.4 For Jacob my Servants sake and Israel mine elect I have even called thee by thy name This prophecy was when Jerusalem and the Temple were standing God casts about long before his people needs for their welfare in the great revolutions and changes of the World In Isa 44.28 that saith of Cyrus he is my Shepherd and shall perform all my pleasure even saying to Jerusalem thou shalt be built and to the Temple thy foundation shall be laid Cyrus had no knowledge of this end of God though thou hast not known me Isa 45.4 5. twice repeated Cyrus did not know God neither did he know Gods end he acts his own purposes and is acted by God to higher purposes then he understood In all the siftings of Nations and sifting the Church among the Nations as Corn is sifted in a Sieve God designs not the destruction of his people but the cleansing them the separating the slower from the bran 3. Destroying judgments yea and the very curses sometimes are turned into blessings Destroying judgments The desolation of the Jews was not only in order to the fulfilling Gods truth in his threatnings but useful for the great Gospel design the fall of the Jews was the calling of the Gentiles Rom. 11.11 12. Through their fall Salvation is come unto the Gentiles And also their fall and dispersion among the Gentiles was prophesied of as the occasion of their return to God Ezek. 20.36 37. Like as I pleaded with your Fathers in the Wilderness so will I plead with you and cause you to pass under the rod and bring you into the bond of the Covenant when they are in the Wilderness of Captivity then God shall plead with them and make them to pass under the rod of propriety and bring them into Covenant The like also is prophesied of that Captivity of the ten Tribes to this day not known where they are Hos 2.14 The time of Gods speaking kindly to her should be in the Wilderness and then I will give her the valley of Achor for a door of hope No question but God hath performed his promise and brought many of the posterity of the ten Tribes into the Church among the Mass of the Gentiles among whom they were dispersed Curses sometimes as God orders them prove blessings The curse of inspir'd Jacob upon Levi * Gen. 49.7 Cursed be their anger for it was fierce and their wrath for it was cruel I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel was the advantage both of Levi and the Israelites that they were dispersed among the several Tribes without any universal cohabitation as the rest was a curse But that they should be the instructors of the people in the matters of the Law was an honour God put upon the head of that Tribe and a publick blessing to the people 4. Divisions in the Church One would think this of all other things should shake the foundation of it yet God orders even these to the good of the Church Paul and Barnabas two great Apostles fell out * Acts 15.36 37 38 39 c. the contention comes to be very sharp a thing naturally of very ill consequence in two of the prime guides of Christianity and at the laying the first foundation of it but the Gospel gains ground One sails to Cyprus and the other travels into Syria Perhaps had not this quarrel been between them and they thus disjoynted from one another some of those poor Souls had never or at least not so soon have heard of the Gospel-mercy 5. Persecutions These naturally tend to the dissolution and utter extirpation of it but God orders them otherwise God doth often lay the Scene of his amazing providences in very dismal afflictions As the Limner first puts on the dusky colours on which he intends to draw the portraiture of some illustrious beauty The Oppression of Israel immediately before their Deliverance was the dusky colour whereupon God drew those gracious lines of their Salvation from Egypt the pattern of all the after Deliverances of the Church in all Ages and a Type of our Spiritual Redemption by Christ The Humiliation Persecution and Death of the Son of God was the dusky colour upon which God drew that amazing piece of Divine Love and Wisdom in mans salvation which the eyes of Saints and Angels will be fix'd on with ravishing admirations to all Eternity All Afflictions in the World which God doth exercise the Church with are parts of his Providence and like mournful Notes in Musick which make the melody of the Tune more pleasant and set off those sweeter Aires which follow upon them Afflictions here cause the joys of Heaven to appear more glorious in the eyes of glorified Saints The Persecutions of the Martyrs did but heighten their Graces send them to the place of Rest and enlarge their Robes of Glory God many times saves his People by sufferings and brings them to the shore upon the planks of a broken ship and makes that which was the occasion of their loss to be a means of their safety they sometimes evidence that which they would destroy Herods Murdering the Children to destroy him that was born King of the Jews made his Birth more Conspicuous in the World Snuffing the Candle makes it burn the clearer They sometimes make 1. To the improvement of the Church One of the sorest Judgments God brought upon the Jewish Church is expresly asserted by God to be for their good Jer. 24.5 speaking of the Captiv'd Jews Whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good The Chaldeans had over-run their Land carried them Captives made them Slaves destroyed the Temple yet God tells them this was for their good when there
King and Priest and that the counsel of Peace be between them it will extend to all the Blessings of the Church to the good and Glory of the Church which is the fruit of his Kingly as well as the first Reconciliation was the fruit of his Priestly Office By Peace in Scripture is meant the confluence of all Blessings so that the intent of God in bestowing those Offices upon Christ and so great a Rule was for the good and advantage of that Church or Temple which he appointed him only to build And in Isaiah 11.9 where the Prophecy of the Government of Christ is the End is exprest to be that none should hurt or destroy in all his holy mountain And certainly since God set him at his right hand and confirm'd this power unto him after he had purged our sins it was certainly out of the high value God had for him and therefore must be the intent of God that he should govern all things in reference to the design of that death and for the good of those whose sins he had by himself purged For the possessing this Government was the very end why Christ died and rose again Rom. 14.9 For to this end Christ both died and rose and revived that he might be Lord both of dead and living If this were Christs End in dying and rising it was his Fathers End too who appointed him to Death and raised him by his mighty power And since he was delivered for our offences and rose again for our justification Rom. 4.25 The Government he is invested with being Lord of the dead and of the living must be for the sakes of those for whom he was delivered and for whom he rose His Regal power which was one end of his Death cannot cross the other main end the constituting a church and carrying on the good of them that believe The Government being in the hands not of God as Creator but in and through the hands of a Mediator and that Mediator which both died and rose again peculiarly for them therefore it cannot in the least be for their hurt but advantage The whole management of Christs Kingly Office in relation to the Church is prescrib'd unto Christ by God God reveals to him what shall be done in the World what acts he shall performe for the Church and gives him a History of all that was to be done upon the stage together with an order to communicate it unto his Servants Revel 1.1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him to shew unto his Servants to be communicated to the whole Church things that must shortly come to pass Whether this Revelation was made to the humane nature of Christ at his incarnation as Tirinus thinks or rather upon his ascension is not material The whole Scheme of what was to be done in the World is revealed here by God to Christ And you find all the motions in the World relating to the Church and the end of all is the good of the Heavenly Jerusalem 3. All power thus given and intended for this end is actually administred by Christ for this end Christ as the head of the Church doth like a natural head It never sees nor hears nor exerciseth any act of sence only for it self but for the good of the whole Body The eye watches for the body the Tongue speaks for it the understanding contrives for it every part of the head is active for the whole body Now Christ as head is more bound to act for the Church militant then for the Church triumphant because the greatest part of his work for the Church triumphant viz. the bringing them to Heaven is already performed And they are above the reach of all things in the World and all the actions and motions in the world cannot touch or disorder them But the command of God concerning the other part behind is not yet performed and even they are the members of Christ as well as those in Heaven The Apostle * Col. 1.16 17 18. seems to refer both Christs creation and the preservation of things to this title of headship All things were created by him and for him and by him all things consist and he is the head of the body the Church and therefore the conservation and government of all things shall be subservient to the Church which is the body of this governing Head The chief seat of Christs Soveraignty is the Church Psal 2.6 yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion And he stands upon Mount Sion Rev. 14.1 The Church is the proper Seat and Metropolis of his Empire the Royal Chamber of this Great King All the conquests of Princes redound to the advantage of that place where they six their Residence He is King of the World but for the sake of Sion Christ did manage this charge anciently for his People when Joshuah had passed over Jordan and first entered upon the conquest of Canaan he sees a man over-against him with a sword drawn in his hand Joshua 5.13 14. And Joshua said unto him Art thou for us or for our adversaries And he said Nay but as Captain of the hosts of the Lord am I now come This was Christ that came armed for his People according to his charge as their Captain and General It was not an Angel because Joshua worshipped him ver 14. An Angel did not use to receive any Worship from Men and he accepts the Worship and commands him to loose his shoe from his foot for the place whereon he stood was holy ver 15. And the same Person Josh 6.2 is called Jehovah and there he gives him orders how he should manage his War Christ came here to direct his People in their concerns He employs his Wisdom for his Church as well as his other excellencies He is called a Counsellor * Isa 9.6 't is one of the great Letters in his Name and this as the rest there mentioned hath a relation to the Church For unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given And the first use he makes of his Power after the confirmation of it to us upon his Resurrection is for the Church Matth. 28.18 All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth all Authoritative Power over Angels and the affairs of the World Go you therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them c. and lo I am with you alwayes even unto the end of the world He commands the Apostles to gather a Church among all Nations and doth by Vertue of this Authority committed to him promise his Presence with them in all such services they should do to this End even to the end of the World He promises his Spirit and his Providential Presence as his Power should endure to the end of the World so the exercise of it for this End should run Parallel with the continuance of it There should be no alteration or change in this great end of
his as long as the World lasts How can Christ be with them and that to the end of the world if all the parts of his providential government were not ordered to serve this end the good of the Church For the Church is the fulness of him that fills all in all Eph. 1.23 that fills all in all places all in all actions and motions for the good of his Church which is his body Thirdly 3. God in the Church discovers the glory of all his attributes 'T is in a mans house where his riches and state is seen 'T is in the Church God makes himself known in his excellency more then in all the world besides Psal 76.1 In Judah is God known his name is great in Israel in Salem also is his Tabernacle and his dwelling place in Sion 'T is in his Church he doth manifest his power 'T is called therefore a glorious high Throne Jer. 17.12 a glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our Sanctuary Kings use to display all their Glory and Majesty upon their Thrones in this sense Heaven is called Gods Throne Isa 60.1 because the prospect of the Heavens affords us discoveries of the wisdom and power of God more then in any other visible thing both in their essence magnitude and motion So is there a greater discovery of Gods attributes in the Church which is also styled Heaven in Scripture then in the whole World besides There it is that the Angels look to learn more of the Wisdom of God then they understood before * Eph. 3.10 'T is there the day of his power dawns Psal 110.3 'T is there his Saints see his power and his glory Psal 63.2 the Sanctuary is called the firmament of his power Psal 150.1 The glory of Gods attributes is centered in Christ in a higher manner then in the creation and in that work did excel themselves in what they had done in the framing of the world and the Church being the glory of Christ all those attributes which are glorifyed in Christ do in and through him shine forth more clearly upon the Church then upon any other part of the world He styles himself their Creator as much as the Creator of the whole frame of Heaven and Earth Isa 43.15 I am the Lord your holy one the Creator of Israel your King As though all the attributes of God his power in Creation his holiness in redemption were designed for none else but them And indeed by virtue of the Covenant they are to be so for if God be their God then all of God is theirs What wisdom power sufficiency grace and kindness he hath is principally for them If God be their God it is in their concerns he will glorify himself as a God in the manifestation of all his perfections This cannot be without the ordering all providences for their advantage Fourthly 4. There is a peculiar relation of God and Christ to the Church upon which account this Doctrine must needs be true God is set out in all relations to manifest his great care of his people He is a Father to provide for them * Isa 68.5 A Mother to suckle them * Isa 49.15 Christ is a Husband to love and protect them * Eph. 5.29 A Brother to counsel them * John 20.17 And when all these Relations meet in one and the same person the result of it must be very strong Any one relation where there is affection is a great security but here all the relations are twisted together with the highest affections of them in God to the Church A Father will order all for the good of his child a Mother for her Infant a Husband for his Wife and one kind Brother for another So doth God for his People and whatsoever those Relations bind Men to on Earth in respect of Care Love and Faithfulness that is God to his Church The Church hath that Relation to God which none in the World have besides They are his Jewels therefore he will keep them they are his Children therefore he will spare them * Mal. 3.17 They shall have protection from him as they are his Jewels and Compassion from him as they are his Sons The Church is Christs Flesh as dear to him as our flesh is to us as much his as our flesh is ours Eph. 5 29. No man hates his own flesh but nourisheth it as Christ doth his Church No man can have a higher value for his own flesh then Christ hath for his Church The Church as Tertullian speaks is nothing else but Christus explicatus * Câ—â—ist unfolded and as considered in Union with Christ is called Christ 1 Cor. 12.12 'T is the Apple of his eye Zach. 2.8 A tender and beloved part The Church is Christs Spouse the contract is made the Espousals shall be at the last Day The Members are pick'd out one by one to be presented to the Lamb at last as a Glorious Bride for him Rev. 21.2 And all Gods dealings with them in the World are but preparations of them for that State Upon the making of the Match God promises a communion of Goods Hos 2.20 I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness which is a fruit of Marriage the Wife being invested in her Husbands Estate When God hath given the blood of his Son for the Church he will not deny her the service of the Creatures but Joynture her in that as one part of her Dowry In that day will I hear the heavens c. ver 21. In what day in the day of betrothing in the day of the Evangelical Administration when the contract shall be made between me and my Church Heavens Earth Corn Wine and Oil the voice and motions of all Creatures are for Jezreel which signifies the seed of God This great Prince he hath a care of all his subjects so more peculiarly of his Spouse and Princess which is his seed too and all Creatures shall be her Servants This Fatherly Relation and Affection is strong and pure not as the love which acts an ambitious man to Ambition or a covetous man to Wealth which respects nothing but the grasping and possessing the Objects they dote upon and have nothing of love for the Objects themselves therefore deserves not the name of Love But it is the love of a Father whose love is pure towards his children He seeks their good as his own Consider these two things 1. God hath a peculiar love to this very Relation and often mentions it with delight as if he loved to hear the sound of it in his own Lips Cant. 8.12 My vineyard which is mine is before me Me My Mine The Church is alwayes under his Eye seated in his Affection and God is pleased with his propriety in them God never calls the World My World though he created it sometimes he saith the Earth is mine but it is either to check the presumptions of Men who ascribe
it hath moved him to prepare Heaven to entertain his people at the end of their Journey it will not be wanting to provide accommodation for them upon the way since all things both good and bad are at his beek and under the government of his gracious Wisdom His eyes run to and fro through the whole Earth not only to defend them in dangers but supply them in wants for his strength is shewed both ways Doth he providentially regard them that have no respect for him and will he not employ his power for and extend his care to them that adore and love him and keep up his honour in the World He will not surely be regardless of the afflictions of his Creatures His people are not only his Creatures but his new Creatures their bodies are not only created by him but redeemed by his Son The purchase of the Redeemer is joyned to the Providence of the Creator If he took care of you when he might have damned you for your sins will he not much more since you are Believers in Christ And he cannot damn you Believing unless he renounce his Sons Mediation and his own Promise A natural man provides for his own much more a Righteous man Prov. 19.22 A good man leaves an Inheritance to his Children much more the God of Righteousness a God who hath his eye always upon them His eye will affect his heart and his heart spirit the hand of his Power to relieve He hath prepared of his goodness for the poor Psalm 68.10 6. 'T is comfort in the low estate of the Church at any time Gods eye is upon his Church even whilst he seems to have forsaken them If he seem to be departed it is but in some other part of the Earth to shew himself strong for them where ever his eye is fixed in any part of the World his Church hath his heart and his Churches relief is his end Though the Church may sometimes lye among the Pots in a dirty condition yet there is a time of Resurrection when God will restore it to its true glory and make it as white as a Dove with its Silver wings * Psal 68.13 The Sun is not alway obscured by a thick Cloud but will be freed from the darkness of it God will Judge his People and repent himsef concerning his Servants * Psal 135 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Comfort himself 'T is a comfort to God to deliver his people and he will do it in such a Season when it shall be most comfortable to his Glory their Hearts The very name Hierusalem some derive from Jireh Salem God will provide in Salem The new Jerusalem is the title given to Gods Church Rev. 1. and is still the object of his Providence and he will provide for it at a pinch Gen. 22.14 Jehovah Jireh God will raise up the honour and beauty of his Church Great men shall be servants to it and employ their strength for it when God shall have mercy on it * Isa 60 10 11 12. Yea the Learning and Knowledg of the world shall contribute to the building of it v. 13. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee the Firr Tree the Pine-Tree and the Box together to Beautifie the place of my Sanctuary It shall be called the City of the Lord the Sion of the holy one of Israel that she may know that the Lord is her Saviour and her Redeemer the mighty one of Jacob. As Christ rose in his Natural so he will in his Spiritual Body If Christ when dead could not be kept from Rising Christ now living shall not be hindred from raising and helping his Church His own Glory is linked with his Peoples security and though he may not be moved for any thing in them because of their sinfulness he will for his own name because of its Excellency * Ezek. 36. Ezek. 36.22 I do not this for your sakes O house of Israel but for my holy names sake As Sorrows encreased upon the Israelites the nearer their Deliverance approached Because this Method of God is the greatest startling even to good men let us consider this a little that God doth and why God doth leave his Church to extremities before he doth deliver it Take the resolution of this in some propositions 1. 'T is indeed Gods usual method to leave the Church to extremity before he doth command help You never heard of any eminent Deliverance of the Church but was ushered in by some amazing distress The Israelites were not saved till they were put in between Sea Hills and Forts that their Destruction was inevitable unless Heaven relieved them Pharaoh resolves to have his will and God resolves to have his but he lets him come with his whole Force and open mouth at the Israelites backs and then makes the Waters his Sepulchre Constantine the man child in the Revelation was preceded by Dâ—oclesian the sharpest Persecutor When his People are at a loss 't is his usual time to do his greatest works for them God had promised Christ many ages and yet no appearance of him still Promise after Promise and no Performance Psal 40.8 It was then lo I come yet many hundred years rowl'd away and no sight of him yet Captivity and Affliction and no Redeemer but when the World was over-run with Idolatry the Jews oppressed by the Romans the Scepter departed from Judah Herod an Edomite and stranger King and scarce any Faith left then then he comes The World will be in much the like case at his next coming Luke 18.8 When the Son of Man comes shall he find Faith in the Earth there shall be faintings dispondency unbelief of his Promise as though he had cast off all care of his Churches concerns 'T is not meant of a Justifying Faith but a Faith in that particular Promise of his coming The Faith of the Israelites must needs begin to flag when they saw their Males murdered by the Egyptians could they believe the Propagation of the Seed of Abraham when murder took off the Infants and Labour and Age would in time the old ones Whilst their Children were preserved the Promise might easily be believed But consider this was but just before their deliverance like a violent Crisis before Recovery He doth then Judge his People and repent himself for his Servants when he sees their power is gone and there is none shâ—t up or left * Deut. 32.36 He doth so for the wicked many times when the affliction of Idolatrous Israel was bitter when there was not any shut up nor any left nor any helper for Israel then he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the Son of Joash * 2 Kings 14.26 27. He doth so with private persons Peter might have been delivered by God's Power out of Prison when he was first sent thither but God thought it fittest for him to lie in Chaines and free him but the night before his intended Execution
great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the World no nor ever shall be In Discoursing his Disciples of the troubles at the destruction of Jerusalem which was a type of the trouble preceding the end of the World he adds a discourse of what shall be at the end of the World in the last attempt of the enemies of the Church for ver 29. he saith immediately after the tribulation of those days he speaks of his coming in the Clouds of Heaven with great power and glory And also in the Revelation Rev. 16.18 And there was a great Earthquake such as was not since men were upon the Earth so mighty an Earthquake and so great This perhaps at the pouring out of the seventh Vial may concern the Christian Church as well as the Anti-Christian Party But the reason why it may be sharper just before that last deliverance than it was in former ages may be because it is the last effort the enemy shall make the last demonstration of Gods power and wisdom for and care of his Church and of Justice upon his enemies in such cases The last season for their multiplying their cries and acting their Faith for such a concern 3. Use of Exhortation If it be so that the Providence of God is chiefly designed for the good of the Church First Fear not the Enemies of the Church 'T is a wrong to God Fear of Man is always attended with a forgetfulness of God Isa 51.12 13. I even I am he that comforteth you who art thou that art affraid of a man that shall dye and of the Son of Man that shall be made as Grass and forgettest the Lord thy maker who hath stretched forth the Heavens c. 'T is to value the power of Grass above the power of the Creator as though that had more ability to hurt than God to help As if men were as strong as Mountains and God as weak as a Bul-rush 'T is a wrong to his truth hath he not comforted you in his Promise What Creature should then deject you 'T is a wrong to his Mercy Is he not the Lord thy maker Calvin refers this to Regeneration and not Creation Hath he not renewed you by his Spirit and will he not protect you by his strength and that you may not question his power look up to the Heavens which he hath stretched out and the foundations of the Earth which he hath laid And is that Arm which hath done such mighty works too weak to defend that work which is choicer in his eye than either the extended Heaven or the established Earth We vilifie God and defile his Glory when our fear of mans power stifles our Faith in God Isa 8.12 13. Neither fear you their fear nor be affraid Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himself and let him be your Fear Let the wicked fear the Assyrians and engage in confederacies against them but let your eyes be lifted up to me and my Providence God will either turn away the mouth of the Canon from the Church or arm it against the shot Either preserve it from a danger protect it in it or sanctifie it to the Church and who need fear a Sword in a Fathers hand 1. Will you fear man who have a God to secure you The Church belongs to God not to man as a just propriety Isa 43.1 Fear not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by my name thou art mine when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee c. Thou art mine not mans Thou art mine I am thine I will be with thee as thine I will secure thee as mine Is my Creating is my forming is my redeeming thee to no purpose I will not secure you from trouble but surely my redemption of you the propriety I have in you should secure you from fears in those troubles None shall hurt you whilst I have power to defend you God with us if well considered and believed is sufficient to still those fears which have the greatest outward objects for their encouragement Psal 27.1 The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be affraid If God be our strength to support us why should the weakness of dust and ashes scare us Alliance to great men and Protection of Princes prop up mens hearts against the fears of others and shall allyance to God be of a weaker efficacy A * Aâ—ram in Epist lib. 1. c. 9. Heathen could so argue that knew nothing of Redemption Let the Counsels of Enemies be crafty Psal 83.3 yet they consult against Gods hidden ones hidden by God whilst Plotted against by men who would fear the stratagems of men whilst protected in an impregnable Tower God hides when men are ready to seize the Prey â—â—w did the Angel protect a sincere trembling Lot against the invasion of a whole City and secured his person whilst he blinded his enemies eyes that they could not find the door Instruments cannot design more malitiously than Christ watches over them affectionately Christ hath his Eye to see your works and danger where Satan hath his Throne Rev. 2.13 2. Will you fear man who have a God to watch over their motions What Counsels can prevail where God intends to over-rule their resolves There is no place so close as to keep private resolutions from his knowledge This was the thought of those States-men against whom the Prophet Isaiah thunders Isa 29.15 16. Wo unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord and their works are in the dark surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the Potters Clay Their Counsels were as well known to him as the Potters Clay is to the Potter which he can either frame into a vessel or fling away into the Mass from whence he took it God hath not dispoyled himself of his Government nor will devolve his right upon any men to dispose of his concerns When men think to act so secretly as though they framed themselves as though Gods eye were not upon them He will watch and trace all their Motions and make them insignificant to their purposes Satan himself the slyest and subtilest agent is too open to God to hide his Councils from him Never fear man till the whole combined Pollicies of Hell can controul the resolves of Heaven Till God wants omniscience to dive into their secrets skill to defeat their Councils and an arm to abate their power 3. Will you fear Men or Devils who have a God to restrain them The great Dragon and General of the serpents Seed is under a binding power who can bind him not only a thousand years but a thousand Ages * Rev. 20.2 Have his Seed more force to resist Almightiness than their Captain The Prophet speaking of the Assyrians threatning Jerusalem and the confusion in some Cities for fear of them yet saith he he shall remain at Nob a City of the Levites not far
lately shewed to them How apt are we to forget old Mercies when we are so naturally apt to blot out of our memories mercies newly received If this were well considered by men it would prevent their enterprizes against the Church and consequently their shame and Ruine Are there Records of any who have hardned themselves against God and prospered * Job 9.4 How might in that reflection be seen the frustrations of Counsels disgracing of attempts showers of Fury and Vengeance from Heaven upon the heads of such The reason why the wonderful works of God were to be made known to posterity was that they might not be as their Fathers a Stubborn and Rebellious Generation * Psal 78.6 8. of men if they did consider those transactions of God in and for his Church they could no more think to stop the breath of perpetual powerful Providence than to bridle in a Storm or stop the motion of the Sun To conclude this Gods Providential Judgements are to be remembred though they are for the punishment of the age that feel them they are also for the instruction of the age which succeeds them tell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 number be as exact as in your accounts wherein you take notice of every number minute and cipher The works of Providence as well as the Doctrine of God are parts of a Childs Catechism they are to keep up the consideration of them in themselves and hand them in instruction to their Children Fifthly The fifth Duty Act faith on Gods Providence Times of trouble should be times of confidence fixedness of heart on God would prevent fears of heart Psal 112.7 He shall not be affraid of evil tydings his hear is fixed how trusting in the Lord his heart is established they shall not be moved Otherwise without it we shall be as light as a Cock moved with every blast of evil tydings our hopes will swim or sink according to the news we hear Providence would seem to sleep unless Faith and Prayer awakened it The Disciples had but little Faith in their Masters account yet that little Faith awakened him in a Storm and he relieved them Unbelief doth only discourage God from shewing his power in taking our parts Every one will walk in the name of his God and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever Micah 4.5 Heathens will trust in their Idols and shall not we in that God that lives for ever Have we any reason to have a less esteem of our confidence in God than Heathens had of and in their Idols we should do our duty which is Faith and Hope and leave God to do his work which is mercy and kindness By unbelief we deny his Providence disparage his Wisdom and strip him of his Power we have none else to trust no creature can order any thing for the Churches good without Gods Commission and Direction what should we trust him for for that wherein his glory is concerned which is more worth to him than all the World besides Trust him most when instruments fail God takes them off sometimes to shew that he needs not any and to have our confidence rightly placed on him which staggered before between him and the Creature 1. All the Godly formerly did act Faith on a less foundation The Godly Patriarchs who lived eight or nine hundred years depended upon Providence that long time and shall not we for seventy years the usual term of mans life They had Promises to support them we have not only the same Promise but the Performances of them too They had Providences we have the same and more all upon Record in Scripture all since the Canon of Scripture was closed whatsoever God hath remarkably done for his people in all ages Adam had but one Promise and but little experience of Gods Providence yet no doubt trusted in him We have a multitude of Promises not only pronounced but sealed confirmed by many repetitions which are fresh obligations laid by God upon himself The experience of all the Providences of God towards his Church for above five thousand years and shall our Faith stagger when upon us are come the ends of the World doth it become us to have our Obligations to Faith so strong and our Exercise of it so weak The promise of Christ * Isa 7.14 that a Virgin should bring forth a Son was thought by God a sufficient security to support their confidence in him against the fury of their enemies It being a greater wonder that a Virgin without loss of her Virginity should bring forth a Son than the routing of an Host of Enemies Is not then the performance of this Gods actual sending his Son to us through the Womb of a Virgin a higher ground of confidence for the Churches success in every thing else than barely the Promise could be All creatures in danger have a natural confidence in God He is the confidence of all the ends of the Earth but the Churches confidence may be more firmly placed in him because he is particularly the God of their Salvation Psal 65.5 By terrible things in Righteousness wilt thou answer us O God of our Salvation who art the confidence of all the ends of the Earth 2. 'T is your only way to have mercy for the Church and for our selves If he take pleasure in them that hope in his mercy as it is in Psal 147.11 He will take pleasure to relieve them He will strengthen the Bars of thir gates verse 13. If he take pleasure in them that hope in his mercy then the stronger and more lively their hope is the more intense is Gods pleasure in them If they do not hope in his Mercy he hath no pleasure in them and no delight to them He hath a goodness laid up for them that fear him and he will lay it out too for them that trust in him Psa 31.15 O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the Sons of men 'T is laid up for all that fear him but it is wrought for them that trust in him It is manifested upon special acts of trust and relyance and wrought before the sons of men Those that own God publickly in a way of relyance God will own them publickly in a way of kindness Faith is the key that unlocks the Cabinet of special Providence Those eyes which move about all the World are fixed upon those that trust in him Psal 33.18 The eye of the Lord is upon them that hope in his Mercy The sixth Duty Wait upon God in the way of his Providence Wait upon him as he is a faithful Creator * 1 Pet. ◠19 much more since the title of being our Redeemer is added to that of our Creator which strengthens his Relation to us Not to wait disparageth his care bounds his power or reflects upon his