is the plague of the heart and to know it is to see it and to have a due sense of it to be affected with it and afflicted for it and to complain and cry out of it Rom. 7. 24 as Paul O wretched man that I am c And such are ever humble and such the Lord hears Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble Psal 10. 17. And if their uncircumcised hearts be humble Levit. 26. 41. 3. Of such as abandon sin and regard not iniquity in their hearts For if says the Psalmist I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me 66. 18. God will never be a prayer-regarding God to a sin-regarding sinner The blind man knew this that God heareth not sinners i. e. that live and lye in sin make a trade of sin c. But if any man be a worshipper of God and do his well him he heareth Joh. 9. 31. Lifting up holy hands c. 1 Tim. 2. 8. 4. They must be in Faith with comfortable affiance in Gods bounty goodness and mercy of being heard Jam. 1. 6 so as that after we have prayed we rest thereon for Audience Thus he that cometh to God and meets him must believe that he is i. e. what his word reveals him to be and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Thus we must pray with good and high thoughts of God though with low and mean thoughts of our selves 5. Fervent we must not only pray but cry yea cry mightily Exod. 14. 15. Lift up a prayer Jonah 3. 8. Strive and wrestle in prayer Set our selves to pray weep and make supplication Isa â—7 4. Hosea 12. 4. Press and urge our prayers with arguments upon arguments as Moses How many arguments does he make use of in that short prayer Exod. 32. 11 12 13 Why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people and which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt c And wherefore should the Egyptians speak and say c and remember Abraham Isaac c. And the word which signifies to intercede or meet notes properly such a kind of meeting as is with force and violence intimating thereby with what holy violence fervency and earnestness we should meet God both in prayer for our selves and wherein we become intercessors and stand before him for others and these are the prayers that prevail The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much or the working prayer that sets the whole man a work heart a work affection a work and all the graces a work and is not so much the labour of the lip as the travel of the heart as it is said of Hannah She spake in her heart c. 1 Sam. 1. 18. And Daniel set his face to the Lord God to seek by prayer and supplication c. Dan. 9. 3. Want of this the Prophet bewails Isa 64. 7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee None surely there were some they were not come to that height of Prophaness as to cast off prayer quite Many no doubt prayed but not to purpose it was as if they prayed not they did not put forth themselves in prayer pray with all their might as it follows That stirreth up himself it was in a cold formal way there was no life vigor nor activity in their prayer though God manifested his displeasure against them and seem'd to be going from them yet such was their deadness sluggishness and stupidity that they were not awakened thereby 6. Chiefly for spiritual mercies so as to have our desires mainly carried forth after God his favour grace pardon peace reconciliation with him that we may be turned away from our iniquities that he would turn us again to himself and cause his face to shine and that so we may be saved as the Church prays thrice Psal 80. 3 7 19. and Isa 26. 8 In the way of thy judgments O Lord have we waited for thee the desire of our soul is to thy name c. And this the Lord much invites unto Seek the Lord and seek his face c. Psal 105. 4. Seek righteousness seek meekness c. Zeph. 2. 3. Say unto him take away all iniquity and receive us graciously Hosea 14. 1 2. And to this the promise is made of Audience If they shall seek my face c. 2 Chron. 7. 14. And the Lord complains of those that assembled for corn and wine Hosea 7. 14 but minded not him nor his favours and how should we bless the Lord that gives us this counsel and advice and puts us upon seeking that which is not only soveraign and excellent in it self but of so great importance and absolute and indispensable necessity as to us In his favour is life yea it is better than life and without it we are but dead while we live Spiritual mercies must be had or we dye we are undone we are lost and perish for ever though we should spend our days in gathering up Pearls and Jewels 7. Prefer'd in Christs Name which is of such infinite worth and of fo great force interest and efficacy in Heaven that Jesus Christ himself has assur'd us that whatsoever we shall ask the Father in that name he will give it us Joh. 16. 23 24. And then we ask in his name when we ask for his sake and draw our encouragement therefrom when in prayer we lay the whole stress of our hopes of Audience and acceptance upon him and him alone and his merits and mediation and that interest which he has in and with the Father in Heaven and this was long ago fore-tipified in praying towards the Temple 1 Kings 8. 30 38 c. and with hands spread forth to it which was a Type of Christ our mediator and spread forth his hands towards this house c. and in thy fear will I worship towards thy holy Temple c. Psal 5. 7. 8. With perseverance so as to hold on and hold out therein Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance c. Eph. 6. 18. We must continue in prayer Col. 4. 2. Pray without ceasing 1 Thes 5. 17. As Acts 12. 5 Prayer was made without ceasing of the Church to God and Christ spake a parable to this end That men ought always to pray and not to faint c. Luk. 18. 12 c. As the Church in Psal 80 they pray and pray again and again that God would turn them again and cause his face to shine Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord c. Hos 6. 3. This is a token for good indeed that we shall have what we crave when we hold on and will not be beaten out nor take denial as that woman of Canaan Mat. 15. 22 23 c. Christ could not shake her off neither by silence nor by what he said but
so God may be aton'd and reconciliation made The Lord sends his Judgments as his troops against us and there 's no fighting or frighting them away but our way is to Pray them away to Repent them away to Fast them away there 's no raising the Siege by opposition but by humble submission no raising it by force but by an humble falling down at his feet to which let us all address our selves CHAP. VI. And now in the farther prosecution of this Vse I shall only do these Two things 1. Propound some Directions for the better managing of what we do and then 2. Some Motives the more to prevail with us to do it Direct 1. LET us do what we do Joyntly Unite our forces together and besiege as it were the Throne of Grace Gather your selves together yea gather together O Nation not desir'd Zeph. 2. 1 as it is said of those of Tyre and Sidon that Herod being highly displeased with them they came with one accord to him Acts 12. 20 so let us to God it being every ones concern and that which tends to the weal of all and the more here the better and likelier to prevail And thus we find the people of God have done formerly It is said of Judah that they gathered themselves together and out of all the Cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. And all Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones their wives and their children c. 2 Chron. 20. 4 13 and Ezra 10. 9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together c. We have all one way or other help'd to kindle Gods wrath and we should all therefore joyn together in labouring to quench it We have all help'd to break down the hedg and we should all help to make ir up we have all help'd to open the gap and we should all stand in it And this the Lord calls for Joel 2. 14 Call a solemn assembly gather the Elders and all the Inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord c. So Chap. 2. 15 Blow the trumpet in Sion sanctifie a Fast and call a solemn assembly ver 16 Gather the people assemble the Elders gather the children and those that suck the breast This was the more to affect the parents and stir them up to Repentance those poor infants being like to suffer no small share in that common Calamity caused by the sins of their Parents c. Shall a trumpet be blown in the City and the people not be afraid or as it is in the Margent run together Come and let us return unto the Lord else all are like to share in the Judgment See Isa 24. 1 2 9. 14 c. Direct 2. Speedily without farther delaies For the matter is of too great moment and importance to admit thereof there 's no demurring in such cases Gather your selves together c. before the decree bring forth before the day pass as the chaff before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you c. Zeph. 2. 1 2. Thus when Abigail went to meet David it is said She made haste and except says he thou hadst hasted c. 1 Sam. 25. 18 34. And thus he that with ten thousand went to meet him that came against him with twenty thousand while the other was yet a great way off he sends an Ambassage and desireth conditions of peace Luke 14. 31 32. And when wrath was gone out from the Lord against Israel it was Moses his counsel to Aaron to go quickly to the congregation and make attonement for them and it is said he ran necessary things fall not under deliberation but require present expedition and this the Lord still puts us upon as to this great work That we do what we do now quickly Therefore also now says the Lord Turn ye even to me c. Joel 2. 12. And return ye now every one from his evil way c. Jer. 18. 11. Today if ye will hear his voice Agree with thine adversary quickly whiles thou art in the way with him Mat. 5. 25. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found call ye upon him while he is neer Isa 55. 6. And give glory to the Lord your God before he cause darkness c. Jer. 13. 16 And if ye will enquire enquire ye i. e. speedily there is danger in delaies Boast not thy self of to morrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth Prov. 27. 1. And therefore when the Lord gives us signs and alarms of war we are to hasten to meet him and make our peace with him lest putting it off it prove too late Our Repentance must not only be true and thorough but speedy and timely say we then as those Zeph. 8. 21 Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord and to seek the Lord of Hosts I will go also It is too late to think of a treaty or to call for a parley when the battel is joyn'd and Drums are beating and Trumpets sounding So when Judgments are actually come upon us and have taken hold of us Or if we yet should have peace we may smart soundly and pay dearly before we have it and therefore do we speedily what we do Direct 3. Very humbly and self-abasingly For God loves to see the creature stoop and lye low before him He putteth his mouth in the dust if so be there may be hope Lam. 3. 29. And therefore in our addresses to God being incens'd by our sins we should go clothed with humility that should be the wear and garb we meet him in our frame should be such as Abraham's of old when he made intercession for Sodom Behold now I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord who am but dust and ashes Gen. 18. 27. As Jacobs I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed to thy servant c. Gen. 32. 10. As Jobs Behold I am vile and I abhor my self in dust and ashes Job 40. 4. and 42. 6. As Daniels And I set my face unto the Lord God to seek by prayer and supplication with fasting and sackcloth and ashes Dan. 9. 3. Thus we should meet the Lord as I hinted before as Jacob met his incensed Brother Esau He bowed himself seven times to the ground As Abigail David She fell before him on her face and bowed her self to the ground and fell at his feet As Benhadads Servants the King of Israel with sackcloth on their loyns and roaps on their heads As the Prodigal his Father and am no more worthy to be called thy Son make me as one of thy hired servants And God being angry and in the way of his Judgments this is a postuâ—e very sutable and acceptable to God that when he is humbling us we should be humble and that when he is laying us low we should be lowly If my people which are called by my name shall
ENGLAND'S Present Great and most Incumbent DUTY VIZ. To meet God in the Way OF HIS Iudgments By Robert Perrot Minister of the Gospel Who would set the briars and thorns against me in battel I would go through them I would burn them together Or let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me and he shall make peace with me Isa 27. 4 5. Quem nullae munitiones nostrae a perficiendo judicio aversurae sunt nos ipsi unica resipiscentia amolituri sumus Junius LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside and at the Bible upon London-Bridg 1676. READER THOV hast here though plainly yet faithfully and impartially held forth unto thee thine and every ones that tenders the Nations weal Present Great and most Incumbent Duty viz. To meet God in the way of his Judgments In which he hath often and is still coming forth and in which unless we speedily meet him who knows how far he may proceed His anger not being turn'd away but his hand several ways stretched out still The Lord hath made us not only Ministers but Watch-men Ezek. 3. 17 Son of man I have made thee a Watch-man to the house of Israel And as such we are to warn and make people aware what the great God is doing in the World and to excite and stir them up to their duty accordingly we are to dictâ—te not only what is seasonable at all times but what more especially at such a juncture of time which judging that which follows so to be at this time viz. To meet God in the way of his Judgments yea so as nothing can be more hath occasion'd this discourse and therefore as for Apologies for what is here made Publick especially by one so unfit for so great a work let the too great seasonableness as well as usefulness and concern thereof serve at once for all The publick weal not only warrants but exacts the doing our utmost as to what especially has more than an ordinary tendency thereunto Here 's no despising of Dominions no speaking evil of Dignities nor pleading for Parties but only for what is every ones great duty and concern viz. Our speedy betaking our selves to that which may help to secure the whole and yet save a sinking Nation It is said of Croesus his Son that though he was dumb yet seeing his Father about to be slain the dumb child spake And surely the serious consideration of the deplorable estate that this Nation is at present in both in regard of the many heinous and grievous sins daily perpetrated in it as also the heavy Judgments impendent over it is enough to make even a dumb man speak if possibly he might dictate ought that might prevent its final ruin And what can be dictated as more seasonable or soveraign than what the Lord himself in such a case dictates viz. To prepare to meet him And surely the many gray hairs that are here and there at this day upon England as sometimes upon Ephraim Hosea 7. 9. at home and that Vniversal Deluge of Affliction which hath well nigh overwhelm the Church of God abroad speak it high time to awake out of sleep and now if ever to stir up our selves to take hold of God and humble our selves and reform at a more than ordinary rate And in that day did the Lord God of Hosts call to weeping and mourning c. And what day was that Ver. 5 A day of trouble and treading down and perplexity by the Lord God of Hosts in the Valley of Vision c. And where almost is it not so And should not this be something to us at home And therefore we may now say of laughter it is mad and of sensual mirth what doth it And if ever That of the Apostle James is now seasonable Chap. 4. 9 10 Be afflicted and mourn c. Wo says one to our jolly hardned professors who have no brokenness for sin that threatens the destruction of the Land of their Nativity and if such be Penitents says the same they are gaudy ones fitter for the Stage and Tyring-room of Vanity than the House of Mourning I have read that one of the wisest Statesmen of this Kingdom that ever was had this Verse written upon his Study door Anglica gens est optima flens pessima ridens The English Nation is best weeping and worst laughing I am sure we are never in more danger than when most secure And what Ocean of tears is sufficient to bewail our sins It is notably and no less truly observ'd by a worthy Writer Englands Imminent Danger p. 55. a-late That We in this Nation ingross and set up a Monopoly of Vice and have made this Land the Stews of the whole World and the very drain and sink of the sins of former times as if all Miscreants were here met as at a general Rendezvouz And how says the same Author have the filthy streams and channels of all Nations disgorg'd themselves in this Common-shoar of Iniquity We may here behold the old Worlds oppression the fulness of Bread idleness and filthiness of Sodom the pride of Jerusalem the drunkenness of Holland the vanity of France the uncleanness of Spain the Iron-yoak of Egypt the furnace of Babylon c. And we are building up the confused Babel of our sins and guilt to such a prodigious height that we seem to threaten Heaven it self and as if we meant to pull God himself off his Throne How many know no other breeding but to sin with impudence nor bravery but to brave it out against the great God and charge upon their own ruine So that former times brought forth but Punies to our Anakins in wickedness And how do sinners strive for mastery in sin as if there was an excellency therein Never was there a Nation more signaliz'd with Gods goodness nor more prodigious in wickedness fuller of stupendious sins and yet fuller of stupid impenitency being deaf to the loudest cry of Gods sorest judgments and making no other use of them but to defeat their design And shall not the great God visit for these things and his soul be avenged on such a Nation as this Can such sins and a Nations safety such impiety and a Nations impunity stand long together surely was it not that Gods Mercy is great above the Heavens and his Patience Infinite as himself we had long ago been as Sodom and like unto Gomorrah but bowels of mercy have hitherto prevail'd against the pleas of Justice as to an utter overthrow How shall I give thee up England how shall I make thee as Admah c. And let therefore these riches of the goodness forbearance and long-suffering of God at length lead us to repentance and amendment Gather your selves together O Nation not desired before the Decree bring forth our Repentance had need run lest Gods sentence out-run it Currat poenitentia ne prae
currat sententia I have studied plainness and given but an hint of what I might much more have inlarg'd That this being so much the duty and concern of all it might not exceed the capacity of any and that neither the Price nor prolixity thereof might discourage any from the procuring and reading thereof We have many hot disputes and controversies at this day among our selves But it were well we all now joyntly and unanimously set our selves to comprimise and take up that controversy which the great God hath with us and to appease that wrath which by reason of our many great and crying sins is so justly incens'd against us and has a-fresh a-late broken out several ways among us to put us upon which is the main purport and design of the ensuing discourse to which that it may prove subservent shall be the prayer of him who is and remains Studious and desirous of thine and the Nations weal. R. Perrot An Advertisement THere is extant by the same Author a Larger Treatise Intituled Englands sole and Sovereign way of being saved grounded upon Psal 80. 19 Turn us again O Lord God of Hosts cause thy face to shine and we shall be saved England's present great and most incumbent Duty viz. To meet God in the way of his Judgments Amos IV. 12 13. Therefore thus will I do unto thee O Israel and because I will do this unto thee prepare to meet thy God O Israel For lo he that formeth the mountains and createth the wind and declareth unto man what is his thought that maketh the morning darkness and treadeth upon the high places of the earth the Lord the God of Hosts is his Name CHAP. I. The general Scope Coherence Parts and Explication of the Words THE Lord had inflicted several Judgments upon this People already 1. He had given them cleanness of teeth and want of bread ver 6. 2. Withholden the rain from them ver 7 8. 3. Smitten them with blasting and mildew ver 9. 4. Sent among them the Pestilence as he hath among us 5. Slain their young men with ehe sword and taken away their horses as he hath done ours ver 10. Yea 6. He had overthrown some of them as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and they were as a fire-brand pluck't out of the burning ver 11. And yet they notwithstanding all these Judgments remaining still incorrigible and not returning to the Lord The Lord thereupon resolves 〈…〉 Therefore thus will I do unto thee O Israel◠and because I will do this unto thee prepare to meet thy God O Israel c. In the words we have 1st The Lords Minatory Resolution Therefore thus will I do unto thee O Israel 2. His seasonable Admonition and that is that Israel because he will do this prepare to meet him 3. We have this Admonition back'd and enforc'd by an Argument drawn from the Consideration of Gods infinite Power Might Majesty and Greatness of which we have here a most ample Description ver 13 He formeth the mountains and createth the wind c. and he that doth all this the Lord the God of Hosts is his Name Explication Therefore thus will I do unto thee c. this therefore refers to their incorrigibleness under former Judgments as the ground of the Lords present Resolution Thus will I do unto thee How This Interpreters several ways make out 1st thus i. e. say some as I have before threatned Verse 2 3 Or thus i. e. as thy incorirgibleness deserves and calls for Or 3dly thus i. e. worse then ever I have done yet I will come with a severer strook so Calvin and others Or 4thly the Lord by expressing himself thus would the more point out the dreadfulness of the stroak as being above what could be exprest and therefore wraps it up in silence and leaves it to them to imagine what it would be Prepare to meet thy God I find Expositors Interpreting this in a double sense 1st As spoken Ironically i. e. in a way of holy derision at this Peoples obstinacy and fool hardiness as if the Lord had said Seeing then you will not be reclaim'd but still stand it out against Me and I also am resolved to go on to do as I have said and do Proclaim open war against you as Enemies and Rebels Prepare then to meet me muster up your forces and gather together your strength and make the best preparations you can and see if you be able to withstand Me or keep off that final Destruction which I have determined to bring upon you And so this is like to the message which Jehu sent to the rulers of Jezreel and those that brought up Ahabs children 2 Kings 10. 1 2 3 c. And this agrees well enough with the sequel for lo he that formeth the mountains c. as if the Lord had said And you had need to make all and the best preparation that you can for you have a God to contest with and he a God of infinite Power Might Majesty and Greatness he formeth the mountains c. and the Lord the God of Hosts is his Name But others understand it rather as spoken in a plain genuine sense viz. that Israel should meet him in an humble penitential way so as to endeavour to appease him and so prevent that final overthrow which else was like to come upon them and so we are to look upon the words not so much as a challenge but as seasonable counsel and advice to Israel to prevent yet if possible their ruin and so I shall understand it at present and thus it seems the rather to be taken because the Lord does in the very next Chapter several times invite them to seek him that they might live as ver 4 Seek ye me and ye shall live and ver 6 c. Indeed their case seem'd even desperate and God seem'd to have shut up against them the gate of mercy but the Lord hints yet to them that if they did but timely prepare to meet him there might be hopes yet of pacifying of him CHAP. II. The several collateral Observations Obs 1. WHatever is done to a people in a way of Judgment It is the Lord that does it Therefore thus will I do unto thee and ver 6 I also have given you cleanness of teeth c. and Amos 3. 6 Shall there be evil in a City and the Lord hath not done it Our sins indeed they occasion and procure what is done put him upon such work as he tells Jerusalem Jer. 4. 18 Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee this is thy wickedness c. and the Lord makes use of what Instruments he pleases in executing what is done but still he does it whoever are the Instruments he is still the great Agent and Efficient Affliction cometh not forth of the dust neither doth trouble spring out of the ground Job 5. 6. Judgments are not casual but providential Isa 42. 24 Who
gave Jacob for a spoil and Israel to the Robbers did not the Lord he against whom we have sinned c and the Lord still observes what he does in such a way and sets down and keeps as it were a Catalogue of his Judgments as well as of his Mercies and of peoples deportment under them how they carry it as here in this Chapter The Lord declares all he had done and all their incorrigibleness notwithstanding Yet have ye not returned unto me saith the Lord and Jer. 8. 6 I hearkned and heard but they spake not aright no man repented him of his wickedness saying what have I done Every one turned to his course as the horse rushes into the battel Vse 1. Let us then in all that is done see own and acknowledg the Lords hand and humble our selves under the same thus it is said The man of wisdom shall do Mic. 6. 9 The Lords voice crieth unto the City And the man of wisdom shall see thy Name i. e. he shall see thee and own thy hand in what is done the not doing of which the Lord complains of and threatens Isa 26. 11 Lord when thy hand is lifted up they will not see but they shall see c. 2. Let us turn to him that smites and seek the Lord of Hosts as he often invites Hosea 14. 1 O Israel return unto the Lord thy God Take with you words and turn to the Lord say unto him Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously c. So Joel 2. 12 Therefore also now saith the Lord Turn ye even to me with all your heart c. and seek ye me and ye shall live Amos 5. 4 6. And this the Lord expects Hosea 15 In their affliction they will seek me early Lord in trouble have they visitod thee Isa 26. 16. And peoples not doing of this is the great matter and ground of his complaint and it rolls so in his thoughts that he knows not how as it were to digest it As here in this Chapter it is five times together the matter of the Lords complaint Yet have ye not return'd to me saith the Lord ver 6. So ver 8 9 10 11. So elsewhere Hosea 11. 7 Though they called them to the most High none at all would exalt him They looked after and minded other ways and means of help Isa 22. 8 Thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the Forest c. ver 9 10 11. And they thought in this they were very wise and politick but they neglected the main To look to the Lord and to seek and turn to him ver 11 12 23. And for this the Lord threatned to bring upon them final ruin For all this his anger is not turned away but his hand is stretched out still For the people turneth not to him that smites them neither do they seek the Lord of Hosts Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail branch and rush in one day Isa 9. 12 13 14. And therefore as ever we would prevent our own and the Nations ruin let us speedly set upon this yea and encourage one another to this as the best course we can take as the best way we can go as those Hosea 6. 1 2 3 Come say they let us return unto the Lord for he hath torn and he will heal us he hath smitten and he will bind us up c. And why gaddest thou about saith the Lord so much to change thy way i. e. the way which I have prescribed thee and that which should be thy way but thou triest other ways and conclusions but in vain and to no purpose they shall avail thee nothing Jer. 2. 36 37 Thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt as thou wast ashamed of Assyria Yea thou shalt go forth from him and thine hands upon thine head a sign of shame and sorrow for the Lord hath rejected thy confidences those ways and refuges thou confidest in and thou shalt not prosper in them Observ 2. Whatever the Lord does or threatens to do to a people in a way of Judgment it is not without cause there is a therefore for it Therefore thus will I do unto thee O Israel and therefore hath he poured upon him the fury of his anger Isa 42. 25. Therefore the Kingdom of God shall be taken from you Mat. 21. 43. And so I might give you hundreds more of such therefores and wherefores but they are every where obvious and therefore I shall not stand to mention them and all declare that whatever the Lord does in à way of Judgment it is not without cause But does not the Lord tell Satan that he moved him against Job to destroy him without cause Job 2. 3 It was indeed without cause as to what Satan did alledg and pretend as to Job which was gross Hypocrisie so without cause but not absolutely for if God narrowly search the best there 's ever cause so as to justifie God as to what he does God indeed sometimes afflicts without respect to sin but still there is cause enough from sin in the best to merit it though not always the moving cause c. Vse 1. This then lets us see the vast difference between Gods acting in a way of Judgment and the sinners in a way of sin For the one is not without cause there is a therefore for it but none for the other There 's no therefore for that we do not indeed suffer without cause but we sin without cause Gods Judgments are not without cause but mans transgressions are and hence is it that the Lord does so Expostulate with his people as concerning their sinful carriages towards him as being without cause nay as having given them great cause to the contrary as Jer. 2. 5 Thus saith the Lord What iniquity have your Fathers found in me that they are gone from me and Verse 31 Have I been a wilderness unto Israel a land of darkness say my people We are lords we will come no more to thee So Mic. 6. 3 4 5 O my people What have I done unto thee and wherein have I wearred thee Testifie against me For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt c. As if the Lord had said I have done indeed much good for thee shewn a great deal of kindness towards thee But what evil or hurt did I ever do to thee So that if it be ask't here Who hath wounds who hath grief who has offence without cause It must be answered God haes O the disingenuity Ingratitude and unreasonableness of sin and sinners Gods Service is indeed most reasonable as that we should love him and live and devote our selves to him Which is yur reasonable service Rom. 12. 1. But sin is unreasonable and sinners That we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men 2 Thes 3. 2. Solomon advises Prov. 3. 30 Strive not with a man without cause if he have done the no harm
on still farther to do As the Lord said to Joshua when Israel fled before the Men of Ai and were smitten and Joshua fell to the earth upon his face and was much troubled Get thee up saith the Lord wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face Israel hath sinned c. As if the Lord had said Is there not cause for what is done And let us therefore bespeak one another as they did Lam. 3. 39 40 41 42 Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sins Let us search and try our ways and turn again unto the Lord let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the Heavens We have transgressed and we have rebelled c. Observ 3. Although the Lord hath inflicted several judgments already upon a people for their sins yet unless they return unto him he hath more and heavier still to inflict yea and will inflict them unless they return unto him How many judgments doth the Lord here reckon up that he had inflicted upon this people already Want of bread of rain blasting mildew pestilence sword c And yet he had more and heavier still to inflict Therefore thus will I do unto thee O Israel And how often does the Lord tell his people in Levit. 26 that if they yet walked contrary to him and would not hearken to him he would bring seven times more plagues upon them vers 21 24 28 c. The Lords quiver is full of Arrows We have Four mentioned together Ezek. 14. 21 The sword the famine the noisom beast and the pestilence And hath not England experienc'd this That the Lord hath variety of judgments to inflict For how many hath the Lord inflicted upon us one after another and sometimes several together The Lord he sent the Sword which did eat the flesh and drink the blood of many and when that would not do he sent the Pestilence That walked in darkness and wasted at noon-day Did execution continually laying waste whole Families and making desolate all their company sweeping away in and about this City in less than a years space near if not above A Hundred Thousand making burying-work till there was scarce room to bury in Thus the Lord first sent fire into our bones as the Church complains Lam. 1. 13 From above hath he sent fire into my bones and it prevaileth against them And when this would not do he sends a dreadful Fire into our Habitations which swallows up both them and our Estates so that before we were scarce got out of one Fire another devours us one our Houses another our selves one our Persons the other our Portions and Estates as the Lord threatned the Inhabitants of Jerusalem Ezek. 15. 7 And I will set my face against them they shall go out from one fire and another shall devour them c. And when these would not do how many more judgments has the Lord inflicted upon us since So many that it is hard to reckon them up strange Gripes and other grievous sicknesses strange Seasons grievous Storms Tempests breaking us at Sea and causing strange Innundations at Land such as have not been in our days no not in our Fathers days before us Thus that the Lord hath many and various judgments to inflict upon a people for their sins Gods dealing with us here in this Nation abundantly evidences Vse 1. Let us all then learn to fear this God who hath so many and so various judgments to inflict on a people for their sins who though he hath inflicted several already hath yet more to inflict and heavier whose quiver is so full of Arrows I will says the Lord heap mischiefs upon them I will spend my arrows upon them The sword without and terrour within c. Deut. 32. 23 25. There are many Plagues that are written in this Book and many that are not written Deut. 28. 61. And shall not all then fear him O let all the earth fear the Lord let all the inhabitants of the world stand in aw of him Psal 33. 8. Who would not fear thee O king of nations for to thee doth it appertain c. Jer. 10. 7. And you know what Christ says to his friends Be not afraid of them that can kill the body and after that have no more that they can do But fear him that hath more yet that he can do that after he hath killed can cast into Hell Luke 12. 4 5. And therefore Christs says again fear him Vse 2. Let us no longer then stand it out against him but speedily and forthwith come in and submit unto him for if we do not he hath still more judgments to inflict more mischiess to heap more arrows to spend his quiver is not emptied nor are his arrows all drawn out or exhausted but will therefore overcome when he judges subdue or destroy If devouring us as a Lyon will not do he can be as a Moth as he threatens Hos 5. 12 Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a Moth c. secretly and insensibly consuming us If whips will not do he has scorpions if not footmen he has horses Jer. 12. 5. If not winds to fan and to cleanse he has winds utterly to lay waste He can bring over us the same judgments again as Sword Pestilence Fire Flames the last of which he hath eminently done a-late as not to mention other at Northampon which our mother City being before consum'd was next as being one of her principal daughters dreadfully consum'd also and where very lately the Fire hath broken out again and burnt a great part of the remainder thereof So lately in Southwark in a few hours how many hundreds of Houses were there suddenly consum'd And a dreadful and lamentable Fire was there alate in Warwick-lane So I call it because though there was but one House burnt yet Seven Persons were consum'd in ☞ that One House Dreadful indeed for we do not read of so many consum'd no not in that great desolating Fire in 66 when 87 Parishes were burn'd down to the ground within the Walls and several without and according to the computation of some above Thirteen thousand Houses and yet not so many Persons consum'd as in this one House O! it is lamentable and dreadful indeed when God by Fire shall consume not only our Houses and Estates but our selves not only our Portions but Persons not only dead Walls but living Wights Or God can inflict yet other and heavier as Famine a sore and heavy Arrow indeed one of the dreadfullest Arrows in the Lords Quiver which blessed be God we have not as yet experienc'd at least in late years though formerly in the year 700 History tells of a Famine here in England of three years continuance so violent that not only many daily died for hunger but great numbers joyning hand in hand 40 or 50 in a company threw themselves headlong into the Sea And this judgment star'd them a-late in
in the very face of those late dreadful Ruines in Southwark O the daring impudency of sin and sinners in this Age The devils believe and tremble but men do not And this deadness and deep security when all things speak an approaching storm as it evidences says one a great Judgment and spiritual plague from God upon our Spirits so it presages no less than remediless Ruine for Sinners having no fear nor dread of God nor his Judgments they never mind to meet him in the way of them They cast off fear and hence restrain prayer Job 15. 4. A sad frame when Ephraim spake trembling he exalted himself in Israel but when he offended in Baal he died Hos 13. 1. Fearless persons are ever careless and regardless to meet God in the way of his Judgments 3. By considering and advising what to do and what course is best to be taken As the young man Counsel'd Abigail when evil was determined against her Houshold Now therefore says he know and consider what thou wilt do c. 1 Sam. 25. 17. And the Lord is not wanting herein he hath shewn us in his word what is good and what it is he requires of us and we should hearken to him 4. By setting our selves with all seriousness to do it we must up and be doing The Lord complains of those Hos 5. 4 They would not so much as frame their doings to turn unto their God 5. By laying aside our weapons I mean our sins by which we oppose and as it were fight against God and to speak of meeting God and not to do this is as if one who had incensed another and made him his enemy should go to appease him with his offensive weapons in his hand which instead of appeasing him would certainly the more incense him and therefore in our addresses to God so as to appease him this we are still put upon Isa 1. 16 Wash you says the Lord make you clean put away the evil of your doing from before mine eyes cease to do evil c. and come now saith the Lord and let us reason together Now I will enter a parley with you and now you are fit to be treated with So Jam. 4 8 Draw nigh to God c. But how Cleanse your hands ye sinners purifie your hearts ye double-minded c. and thus Samuel calls upon Israel to prepare their hearts unto the Lord by putting away their strange gods c. 1 Sam. 7. 3. And Zophar counsels Job If thou prepare thine heart c. If iniquity be in thine hand put it far away c. Job 11. 13 14. 6. By seeking the Lord to prepare us to fit us for and help us in that great work for the way of man is not in himself it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps Jer. 10. 33. The preparations or disposings of the heart in man are from the Lord Prov. 16. 1 and as the King 's so all our hearts are in the hand of the Lord as the rivers of water he turneth them whither soever he will Prov. 21. 1. And he can turn them to and tune them for the work in hand prepare them to meet him Thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear Psal 10. 17. And quicken us and we will call upon thy name Psal 80. 18. II. By Prayers and Supplications These both prepare to meet God and are themselves one special and singular way of meeting him and hence the same Hebrew word that signifies to pray or intercede signifies also to meet it being by prayer that we do indeed meet God and the word is especially applied to our meeting God when he appears angry as Jer. 7. 16 Neither make intercession to me or do not meet me do not interpose between me and them to mediate for them for I will not hear thee What a sad condition was this people in and our meeting God consists so much in this that the Seventy render it here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to call upon thy God and this at such a time the Lord in a special manner calls for Seek ye me and ye shall live Seek the Lord and ye shall live Amos 5. 4 6. And take with you words Say unto him Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously Hosea 14. 4. And thus have his people met him formerly How often did Moses thus meet him He thus stood before him in the breach to turn away his wrath and that he might not destroy Israel So Jehoshaphat set himself to seek the Lord 2 Chron. 20. 3. Lord in trouble have they visited thee they poured out a prayer when thy chastning was upon them Isa 26. 16. And this the Lord expects that when he 's in the way of his Judgments and visiting us that we should thus visit him meet him by praying and interceeding Hosea 5. 15 In their affliction they will seek me early And for people at such a time to restrain prayer is exceeding fad and argues great impiety For what is it but to despise God and his Judgments For the great God to come out against a people in the way of his Judgments and they will not so much as stir a foot to go out to meet him so as to divert and turn him back but he may come on and destroy all for all them They fear not at all his anger nor regard his displeasure Thus it is said of Jerusalem as an heavy crime She drew not near to her God Zeph. 3. 2. And this Daniel bewails All this evil is come upon us yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God c. Dan. 9. 3. And upon this account the Hypocrites in heart are said to heap up wrath They cry not when he bindeth them Job 36. 13. i. e. they do not call upon him or at least not fervently when he punishes them Q. How must our prayers be qualified so as to prevail 1. They must be sincere and in truth Let us draw near with a true heart c. Heb. 10. 22 and the Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him in truth Psal 145. 18. As 1. When we pray and call upon him indeed and not only seem to do it when we not only say but pray a prayer pour out our hearts in prayer 2. When our inward disposition answers our outward expression 3. When we prosecute what we pray for and pray on our feet as well as on our knees and let not our practises confute our prayers 2. They must be the Prayers of such as know every one the plague of his own heart and so are humble as such ever are And this Solomon puts in as one qualification of those prayers which he beg'd of God to hear 1 Kings 8. 38 What prayer and suplications soever be made by any man or by all thy people Israel which shall know every man the plague of his own heart c. i. e. the sin for that
into his bodily Arms and then Lord says he now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace Luk. 2. 28 29. And so we shall then meet God in peace and this is a mystery we should ☞ more study and get better acquainted with how in our addresses to God to make use of Christ I am says Christ the way c. and no man cometh to the father but by me John 14. 6. Not with acceptance neither so as to appease please and pacifie him but with me and by me In our addresses to God he says as it were to us as Joseph sometimes said to his Brethren as in reference to their Brother Benjamin He did solemnly protest unto them that except he was with them they should not see his face And therefore say they to their Father If thou wilt send our brother with us we will go down but if not we will not go For the man said unto us ye shall not see my face except your brother be with you Gen. 43. 3 4 5. And therefore they took Benjamin with them And vers 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them he said to the ruler of his house bring those men home and slay and make ready for these men shall dine with me c. I see they have brought Benjamin with them So unless Jesus Christ be with us in our addresses to God our elder Brother there 's no seeing Gods face no finding grace in his sight favour in his eyes but if he be with us then we shall have welcome We are bid What ever we do in word or deed to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus And how much more then so great a thing as this to meet God in the way of his Judgments And if we are to give thanks to God by him much more by him are we to apply our selves to appease and pacifie him being incens'd by our sins And therefore let us be sure so to meet God 1. As being in Christ and then 2. with Christ i. e. so as for acceptation to present him tender him and plead and press and urge him and his merits mediation and satisfaction and that is the way to meet God to purpose and to prevail as to what we meet him for He being the true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mercy-seat or propitiatory through whom alone the Father is propitious and merciful to such who so meet him See Exod. 25. 17 21 22. V. With Presents as Jacob met his incensed Brother Esau and Abigail David Gen. 32. 13 20. 1 Sam. 25. 18. And here the main and principal Present is indeed what I have mentioned already Jesus Christ but yet there are other also which in and thorow him are very pleasing and delightful to God As 1. A broken and contrite heart an heart kindly toucht and affected with sin and afflicted for it and which in a deep sense of it and sorrow for it heartily sighs and longs for the pardon thereof This is said to be The sacrifices of God Psal 51. 17 to denote its singular acceptableness above all other None so pleasing as this nor without this But to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word Isa 66. 2. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself c. Jer. 31. 18. i. e. bewailing his sins And Josiah's heart being tender and he humbling himself before God how pleasing was it to God Because thy heart was tender and thou didst humble thy self 2 Chron. 34. 27. And this is mentioned again to shew how grateful it was See Psal 34. 18. Isa 57. 15. Matt. 5. 3 4 c. Such seal to what the Scripture says of sin that it is no light or slight matter but an evil and bitter thing c. But how few such Presents have we We have many broken estates and broken credits but few broken hearts Oh! that there were more 2. A willing and obedient heart ready in all things to comply with the mind and will of God yielding up it self to him Lord what wilt thou have me do Act. 9. 6. And speak Lord for thy servant heareth and I am thy servant and will do all that thou bidst me This is very pleasing Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord Behold to obey is better than sacrifice c. 1 Sam. 15. 22. In Micah 6 We have a People there asking the question vers 6 Wherewith shall I come before the Lord and how my self before the high God Wherewith shall I meet him so as to appease him Shall I come before him with burnt offerings with Calves of a year old vers 7 Will the Lord be pleas'd with thousands of Rams or with ten thousands of rivers of oyl c No Vers 8 He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God i. e. to obey and readily comply with him in the duties of both Tables coucht in those expressions To be a willing people Who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me Jer. 30. 21 That hath such an hearty desire and ready and willing resolution to comply with me This is that which pleases God indeed But those mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them bring hither and slay them before me Luk. 19. 27. 3. A sincere and upright heart For the Lord hath pleasure in uprightness and the upright in heart are his delight 1 Chron. 29. 17. Prov. 11. 20. Thou desirest truth in the inward parts c. Psal 51. 6. 4. A merciful compassionate heart towards others in their miseries and necessities so as to pity them and to be ready to succour and relieve them Heb. 13. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifices God is well pleased They are acceptable presents bowels of mercy kindness When we go to meet God What do we go to meet him for but that we may obtain mercy And if we would obtain mercy we must shew mercy For with the merciful God will shew himself merciful Psal 18. 25. And they shall obtain mercy Matt. 5. 7. But he shall have judgment without mercy that hath shewed no mercy Jam. 2. 13. When Gods judgments were denounc'd against Nebuchadnezzar that yet there might be a lengthening of his tranquility Daniel counsels him to break of his sins by righteousness and his iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor Dan. 4. 27. And this is said to be the fast God hath chosen Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house when thou seest the naked that thou cover him and that thou hide not thy self from thy own flesh And then shall thy light break forth as the morning c. Then shalt thou call and the
Lord shall answer thou shalt cry and he shall say here I am c. Isa 58. 6 7 c. Our shewing mercy to others and therein imitating God in his own goodness and kindness though it be not the cause yet is it a comfortable pledg and evidence of our finding mercy with God our selves The Lord give mercy to the house of Onesephorus for he oft refreshed me c. 2 Tim. 1. 16. And the gratefulness of this to God appears from the many exceeding great and precious promises that are made unto it see Psal 41. 1 2 c. 112. 5 6 7 8. Prov. 11. 25. 19 17 c. And that of all other evidences of Faith this is that especially which Jesus Christ will take cognizance of at the last day Come ye blessed c. for I was an hungred and ye gave me meat c. Matt. 25. 34 35 c. And therefore the loss of such is very sad That merciful men men of kindness are taken away Isa 57. 1. And the good man is perished out of the earth Micah 7. 2. Such as for whom some would even dare to dye Rom. 5. 7. VI. By extraordinary fasting afflicting and humbling our selves before the Lord. And this the Lord doth in a special manner in such a day call for and invite unto As in Joel God was there in the way of his judgments And sanctifie ye says he a fast call a solemn assembly gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land unto the house of the Lord your God and cry unto the Lord Alas for the day the day of the Lord is at hand c. And so Joel 2. 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion sanctifie a fast call a solemn assembly c. And thus we find his people still have done when God hath been in the way of his judgments See 1 Sam. 7. 5 6. 2 Chron. 20. 3 c. And thus the very Ninevites did They believed God and proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest of them even to the least of them For word came unto the king of Niniveh and he arose from his throne and he laid his robe from him c. and caused it to be proclaimed and published thorow Nineveh by the Decree of the King and his Nobles Let neither man nor beast herd nor flock tast any thing let them not feed nor drink water c. Jonah 3. 5 6 7 8 And O that the Lord would put it into the heart of our king and into the hearts of our Nobles to decree and cause it to be proclaim'd that in such a way we might all meet the Lord by fasting afflicting and humbling our selves before him And certainly in such a day for people to be still feasting and making merry what is it but to walk quite contrary to God and in a direct opposition to what he is doing and calling for which much provokes him and which therefore he severely threatens And in that day did the Lord of hosts call to weeping c. Isa 22. 13 14. What day was this You may see Isa 22. 5 A day of trouble and of treading down and of perplexity by the Lord God of Hosts in the valley of Vision c. And then did the Lord God of Hosts call to weeping c. But behold joy and gladnefs slaying oxen and killing sheep eating flesh and drinking wine Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we shall dye And Vers 14 It was revealed in mine ears by the Lord of Hosts surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye dye saith the Lord God of hosts And wo to them that are at ease in Sion c. that put far away the evil day that drink wine in bowls c. Amos 1. 3 6 c. CHAP. IV. The Reasons why we are thus to meet God 1. BEcause the great God commands it as here and so after elsewhere yea and dictates withal the way and manner thereof as Hos 14. 1 2. O Israel return unto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity Take with you words and turn to the Lord say unto him Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously And 2 Chron. 7. 14 The Lord there prescribes the very platform thereof If says he they shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways c. and Isa 27. 4 5 Fury is not in me who would set the briars and thorns against me in battel I would go through them I would burn them together But he gives them better advice i. e. to make peace with him and directs them the way Or let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me and he shall make peace with me And now God commanding us to do this and directing us withall how to do it surely this sufficiently declares it to be our duty and concern both And not to do it What is it but disobedience to God and a kind of slighting and despising of his Soveraignty and Authority 2. He expects it In their affliction they will seek me early Hos 5. 15. And when thy judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness Isa 26. 9. However they neglected to do it before he expects and looks they should do it then And therefore is it then in a special manner their duty to do it 3. Others formerly have done it How often did Moses thus meet the Lord when incens'd against Israel He stood before him in the breach to turn away his wrath lest he should destroy them Psal 106. 23. Thus Samuel and all Israel met him 1 Sam. 7. 5 6. Jehoshaphat and all Judah 2 Chron. 20. 3. Ye the Ninevites Jonah 3. 5 6 7. And it was not without success And surely what others have in such a case done formerly it is no less our duty and concern to do now 4. Because when God is in that way our great work and business is and lies with him he being the great Agent and Efficient in all judgments felt or feared threatned or inflicted I says the Lord form the light and create darkness I make peace and create evil I the Lord do all these things Isa 45. 7. And Whatsoever the Lord pleased that did he in heaven and in earth in the seas and all deep places Psal 35. 6. And so he does still at home and abroad by Sea and by Land There is a wheel in the middle of the wheels as Ezekiel saw Chap. 1. 16 which as the Spring in a Watch orders and sets a going all the other and according to the motion of that which is Gods secret Divine Providence so are all motions regulated and ordered and all things are and shall be as he will who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will Ephes 1. 11. Who is he that saith and it cometh to pass when the Lord commandeth it not Lam. 3. 37. And therefore
what he will they care not they mind the World and their interests and concerns there on the Earth but never regard what heaven doth As the Duke of Alva once told the King of France when he had asked him whether he had observ'd the late great Eclipse in the Heavens No said he I have too much to do on Earth to mind the Heavens And how many such are there who Gallia like care for none of those things They are so far from meeting God so as to stay his hand that they will not so much as see or once take notice of his hand As the Lord complains of those Isa 26. 11 Lord when thy hand is lifted up they will not see c. And of Ephraim Strangers have devoured his strength and he knoweth it not yea gray hairs are here and there upon him yet he knoweth not Hos 7. 9. That is he hath no sense of it neither does he mind or regard it or lay it to heart And how many such sottish senseless stupid souls are there among us who regard not the works of the Lord nor consider the operation of his hands but are setled on their lees and secure and put far away the evil day But wo says the Lord to them that are at ease in Sion that put far away the evil day Amos 6. 1 3. And because they regard not the works of the Lord nor the operation of his hands he shall destroy them and not build them up Psal 28. 5. See Isa 5. 11 12. 2. To those who instead of meeting God in the way of his judgments so as to appease him do rather by going on still in their sins more and more provoke him and instead of endeavouring to quench the fire themselves have kindled do rather add more suel to it Who say in effect as those Jer. 18. 12 There is no hope but we will walk after our own devices and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart And come ye say they I will fetch wine and we will fill our selves with strong drink and to morrow shall be as this day and much more abundant Isa 56. 12. And let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall dye Isa 22. 13. Thus they spake in a scoffing way The Prophet tells us we have not long to live we shall soon be slain and therefore let us be jovial while we may O! the daring-impudence of sinners Solomon says The wrath of a king is as messengers of death but a wise man will pacifie it What Fools and Bedlams are those then who still more and more provoke the wrath of the great God who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords who cuts off the spirit of Princes and is terrible to the kings of the earth Psal 76. 12. And yet how many such are there who having troden down the hedg and opened the gap are so far from making it up again that they more and more widen it And instead of endeavouring to put a stop to Gods judgments do rather more hasten them And how justly are such to be reprov'd as enemies not only to themselves and to their own souls but to the Nation to Church and State to King and Kingdom For these take the ready way to undo all As Samuel told Israel But if ye shall still do wickedly ye shall be consumed both ye and your King 1 Sam. 12. 15. II. By way of Exhortation When God is in the way of his Judgments is it his peoples great duty and concern to meet him as hath abundantly been made good Then God being and still continuing and going on in that way let us all in the name aad fear of God set our selves to that which is so much our duty and concern as indeed there is nothing more I mean to meet him in the way of his Judgments and let us meet him aright and as we have had it made out unto us and set before us with preparation by prayers and supplications and those aright qualifi'd by true repentance and conversion in and with a Mediator even that One and only Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus whom God hath made for us in things pertaining to him or to be done with him With Presents such as in and through Christ the chief Present of all are pleasing to God as of a broken and contrite heart a willing and ob dient heart a sincere and upright heart a merciful and compassionate heart towards others in their miseries and necessities For we go to God for merey for our selves and the Nation and we should then shew mercy to others And lastly by extraordinary Fasting Afflicting and Humbling our selves before the Lord And thus let us answer the Lords call here in the Text And because I will do this prepare to meet thy God O Israel And surely after all the Judgments which the great God hath inflicted on us he hath as great cause to complain of Englands incorrigibleness as here of Israel's Yet have ye not returned unto me saith the Lord and therefore may justly resolve as here concerning Israel Therefore thus will I do unto thee O England Truly what the Lord will do I know not neither am I able to say what he hath done a-late we see he hath broken out against us again by several Fires and dreadful Flames not only in the City but in several places in the Country He hath called Home several of his Ambassadors a-late taken away several of his Ministers two in one day and others of his choice Servants and that very suddenly such as should make up the hedg and stand in the gap before the Lord for the Land that he may not destroy it which though little considered and laid to heart bodes very ill and is one of those gray-hairs which are here and there upon us we may fear it is even night when the Lord gets his Children so fast to bed and that the storm is very near when he gathers and houses so fast his corn our Fathers the Chariots of our Israel and the Horse-men thereof go off a-pace and we shall see them no more here 2 Kings 2. 9. This now and a great deal more the Lord hath done a-late but what he 's yet about farther to do who can tell But we have great cause to fear he may do worse and deal severelier with us than ever yet he hath done For we turn not as least very few of us to him that hath so often smitten us neither as we ought do we seek the Lord of Hosts And therefore how justly might he bring final ruin upon us and cut off head and tayl branch and rush in one day as he threatens Isa 9. 12 13 14. And therefore that if possible we may yet prevent this let us do as we are here admonished meet God so as to appease and pacify him and make up the breach and take up the controversy between him and us that
humble themselves c. 2 Chron. 7. 14 And if their uncircumcised hearts be humbled and they accept of the punishment of their iniquity c. Lam. 26. 4. He resisteth the proud but gives grace to the humble 1 Pet. 5. 5. And Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble Psal 10. 17. And he shall save the humble person Job 22. 29. So that it is both our duty and security to humble our selves especially when God is humbling us Ahab doing this though but Hopocritically yet the Lord refpited the evil in his days 1 Kings 21. 29. Seest thou says the Lord to Elijah how Ahab humbleth himself before me this was but in outward appearance because he humbles himself before me I will not bring the evil in his days c. But how acceptable then is the hearty humiliatinn of a true penitent And according to what appears of this it bodes good or ill to a Nation When the Lord had manifested his displeasure against that people Exod. 33. 5 It is very observable what the Lord there fays to them Put off says he thy ornaments from thee that I may know what to do unto thee But does not God know what to do to a people and what he will do with them Yes but his displeasure appearing against this people he speaks as one unrefolv'd either for sparing or destroying and as willing to be determin'd as he found their posture and demeanour to be As if he had said If thou do indeed humble thy self and repent I will shew thee mercy but if thou still persist in thy pride and impenitency I will execute my Judgments upon thee So that by what a people are as to this they may guess and conclude how it is like to be with them and what God will do to them and if so how sad may we judg it is like to be with England with London For do we put off our ornaments lay down our pride nothing less for was there ever more does it not testifie to our faces is it not visible and apparent And that even now when God goes on still to testifie his displeasure against us as he hath severely a-late verily we so carry it as if we would not be humbled though God humble us nor lye low though he lay us low and the Lord forgive it to us Ministers that we do no more reprove it in our Assemblies which some sadly resent trading indeed is low and mens estates low but we carry it as high or higher than ever God says to us as to Pharoah How long wilt thou refuse to humble thy self before me Exod. 10. 3. I have laid your health low your strength low many of your lives low your City low your houses low your estates low your trading low O! when shall your hearts be humbled and laid low certainly if we do not humble our selves and lye low God will yet lay us lower Direct 4. Doing what we do very humbly Let it be yet Hopefully Self-abasingly but not disparingly As Shechaniah said to Ezra We have trespassed against our God c. yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing Ezra 10. 2. And who can tell if God will turn and repent and turn away from his fierce anger that we perish not c. Jonah 3. 9. And the Lord does here in the very words themselves so express himself as yet to incourage his people For 1st he names Israel twice here O Israel and again O Israel as a name that had been and still was very dear to him as David because Absalom was dear to him he names his name thrice O my son Absalom my son my son Absalom c. 2 Sam. 18 33. 2dly He says Thy God to shew the Covenant still continued firm if they did but repent and all to keep up hope and that his people might catch thereat as it is said the servants of Benhadad did diligently observe whether any thing would come from the King of Israel and did hastily catch it 1 Kings 20. 33. Oh our iniquities are indeed great exceeding great and are increased over our heads and our trespasses are grown up unto the heavens Ezra 9. 6. But Gods mercy is great not only to the heavens but above the heavens and many and great both are his tender mercies And as the heavens are higher than the earth so are his ways and thoughts higher than ours Psal 108. 4. And he delighteth in mercy It was part of the Lords Name which he proclaimed before Moses The Lord God gracious and merciful abundant in goodness forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin c. Exod. 34. 6 7. And Let Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities Psal 130. 7 8. And the Lord likes well of this that his people humbling and abasing themselves should yet hope in his merey and not despair the Lords eye is said to be upon them that fear him and withal hope in his mercy yea he is said to take pleasure in such Psal 33. 18. and 147. 11. Expecting all from it and encouraging themselves in it which is so great and withal so free Direct 5. Perseveringly unweariedly resolving to persist in our suits till we prevail as the Saints of old I will not says Jacob let thee go except thou bless me Gen. 32. 26. The Lord bids Moses Let him alone and offers him fair that he would make of him a great nation Exod. 32. 10 11 12 13 14. But that would not take him off but he still besought the Lord his God and prevailed we should resolve as the Prophet Isaiah 62. 1 For Sions sake I will not hold my peace and for Jerusalems sake I will not rest until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth And ver 6 7 I have set watchmen upon thy walls O Jerusalem which shall never hold their peace day nor night And ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence And give him no rest till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth As it is said of the Macedonians that Alexander being displeas'd with them they not only laid by their Arms and put on mourning apparel and came running in troops to his Tent but there continued for near three days together beseeching his pardon till they obtain'd it And God forbid that we should sin against the Lord in ceasing still to pray for England for London c. but strive together in our prayers still for them with all perseverance and this the Lord is well pleased with we never give him more rest than when in this sense we give him least when we still pray and do not faint but follow on with our prayers till we prevail Direct 6. and last That we may Effectually do what we do and make peace Let us take hold of the Lords
strength as himself advises us Isa 27. 5 which I hinted before but now shall open and explain or let him take hold of my strength i. e. as some of my self who is called the strength of Israel 1 Sam. 15. 29 and in this sense it suits with that of Isa 64. 7 And there is none that calls upon thy name that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee i. e. either to keep thee back from going on still in thy Judiciary proceedings or to keep thee that thou dost not depart from us And thus we should in an humble submissive way take hold as it were of the Lord or his arm that he does not still go on to smite or that he do not depart for wo to us if he depart from us it is the very sum and completion of mans misery for God to depart as to his special and gracious presence Or 2dly Of my strength i. e. of my grace and the help and assistance of my Spirit as his strength and sufficiency to this great work without which he cannot as in reference thereunto do any thing and taking strength in this sense then we may be said to take hold of it when we humbly and earnestly beg and intreat it and as our sufficiency hold to it and rely on it to fit and qualifie us to make peace with God by working in us Faith and Repentance To oppose the strength of God is indeed dangerous but thus in an humble way by Prayer and Faith to lay hold on the Lords strength as our strength so as to make peace with him it is both our duty and advantage and it may be read or let him take hold in or with my strength i. e. my help and assistance Some read it let him be strong in my strength and we cannot indeed be strong but in the Lord and in the power of his might Eph. 6. 10. Or 3dly By the Lords strength We may understand the Lords Christ and the riches of his Grace and Mercy in and through him who is called as the Wisdom so also the Power or Strength of God 2 Cor. 21. 24. The Lords strength to pardon and save sinners lies in his mercy and grace and that grace and mercy is in and through his Son and in and through his Merits Mediation Satisfaction and Intercession by which he is impowered and strengthned thereto without any 〈◊〉 of his Justice And therefore that we may make peace with God we must in this sense take hold of his strength i. e. of his Christ and of his grace and mercy in and through him and this we take hold of by believing and when upon any breach made between God and us we apply our selves to God in and through him and plead and urge him as I hinted before and his Merits Mediation Satisfaction and Intercession and wholly and only groâ—nd our hopes thereon And O! what goodness and condescention is this in the great God that whereas he might trample upon sinners he should thus treat them and bespeak them and advise them or let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me c. Let heaven and earth Angels and men admire and adore this goodness and wonderful condescention of the great God! and how shall we escape if we refuse to hearken to him thus graciously and condescendingly advising us what to do as to that wherein we are so infinitely concern'd CHAP. VII The Motives THE relation we stand in to God Motive 1. And this God himself here urges Prepare to meet thy God O Israel He is thy God and it is as if God had said I have not as yet utterly rejected thee â—or cast thee off neither is my Covenant with thee quite disannul'd and made void though thou hast sadly Apostatiz'd from me and therefore being yet thy God let this prevail with thee to meet me for should not Israel meet his God and being angry make his peace with him and be ashamed to continue any longer incorrigible under his hand The Prodigal Son as soon as ever he came to himself resolves I will arise and go to my Father Luk. 15. 17 18. It is my Father and should not children go to their Father a people to their God and this Argument the Lord often makes use of elsewhere O Israel return unto the Lord thy God c. Hosea 14. 1 And return ye back sliding children Jer. 3. 22 23. And shall not our hearts eccho back again as theirs did Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills and from the multitude of mountains truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel And what indeed more beseems a people than to meet their God and being angry to seek to appease him especially others going on still by their sins more and more to provoke him and that they at least should labour to quench his wrath and save the Nation whiles others go on more and more to incense it and destroy the Nation Mot. 2. The consideration of Gods infinite Power Might Majesty and Greatness Which are here in several clear and perspicuous demonstrations most notably and magnificently described and set forth and with a great deal of State and Solemnity displai'd and all the more to affect and move our dull and stupid spirits and indeed it is one of the Stateliest and most Magnificent Descriptions of God that we find in all Holy Writ For lo he that formeth the mountains and createth the wind and declareth unto man what is his thought that maketh the morning darkness and treadeth upon the high places of the earth the Lord the God of Hosts is his Name And it is as if the Lord had said And if my Mercy cannot move thee let at least my Majesty if not my Goodness my infinite Power and Greatness who am he that formeth the mountains c. And now these glorious Titles and Attributes which the Lord here Assumes to himself being here on purpose brought in the more to put us upon this great work that they may the more awaken us and influence us to so good a work I shall a little open and explain each of them in order as they lye and this is all I shall do at present in reference to this 13 ver 1. He formeth the mountains Those huge high and massy bodies indeed he forms all things the meanest Jer. 10. 16 and the mountains also yea he is said To weigh the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance Isa 40. 12 i. e. he can turn them which way he will or overturn them as easily as we do the smallest matters which we weigh in scales and put in or take out of the balance as we please O quam magna tremenda vertus Dei O how great and tremendous is the power of God! 2. He createth the wind That strong and boistrous creature and which though
among them that should make up the hedg and stand in the gap before me for the land c. Peoples sins do as it were break down the hedg make breaches open gaps for judgments to come in at They unfortifie Cities unarm States unhedg Churches and render them as it were naked as Exod. 32. 25 It is there said that when that people had sinned Moses saw that they were naked i. e. they lay open to Gods judgments and the greater a peoples sins are the more they break down the hedg and the greater and wider gaps and breaches do they make And now says the Lord I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedg and stand in the gap before me for the land that I should not destroy it God had bid others search and see Jer. 5. 1 Run ye to and fro thorow the streets of Jerusalem and see now and know and seek in the broad places thereof if ye can find a man Why were men so scarce in Jerusalem at that time And was there such a dearth of them that a man could not be found Surely no Jerusalem had men enough such as they were It had throngs of men in every Street but the meaning is a Man so and so qualified if there be any that executeth judgment that seeketh the truth and so should stand in the gap but they could find none But this did not satisfie God they might be careless in this work or overlook such a one and therefore he here seeks himself And I sought for a man c. And how desirous is God then of such And shall he not find such shall he seek in vain God forbid how sad would that be Mot. 4. If we do not thus meet God but still go on by our sins more and more to provoke him God will meet us but how dreadfully and in a terrible manner in anger wrath and displeasure Meet us but not as a man as he threathens Isa 47. 3 I will take vengeance and I will not meet thee as a man i. e. after the manner of men what is wrapt up in this expression I shall open in these Two or Three particulars not as a man i. e. 1st In the weakness of a man man being weak in power but as a Powerful Almighty God non viribus humanis sed Divinis c. thou shalt find thou hast to deal not with a man but a God and so with one who is every way able utterly to consume and destroy thee Thou mayest bear up against men but canst thou bear up against me Or can thine heart indure or can thine hands be strong in the days that I shall deal with thee c. Ezek. 22. 14. Or 2dly Not as a man i. e. not with that clemency and compassion that men many times use and show but as a revengeful God so that mine eye shall not spare neither will I have pity and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice yet will I not hear them Ezek. 8. 18 -9. 10. Thus not only shalt thou not find the mercy and kindness of a God but not so much as that of a man neither will I meet thee in the weakness of a man nor in or with the compassion of a man Or 3dly Not as a man i. e. but rather as some Salvage devouring Beast as a Bear Lyon Leopard or such like Beast of Prey As the Lord threatens elsewhere Therefore will I be unto them a as Lyon as a Leopard by the way will I observe them I will meet them as a Bear that is bereaved of her whelps I will rent the Caul of their hearts and there will I devour them like a Lyon the wild beasts shall tear them Hosea 13. 7 8. Thus will the Lord meet and thus will he deal with all proud refractory stout-hearted sinners that turn not to him but go on still by their sins more and more to provoke him He will wound the head of his enemies and the hairy scalp of such a one as goes on still in his trespasses The Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath and the fire shall devour them Psal 68. 21-21 9. And when the Lord doth this 1. There will be no escaping of his hand no securing of themselves from his wrath neither by power nor policy by force nor flight by strength nor stratagems He that fleeth of them shall not flee away and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered though they dig into hell thence shall my hand take them c. Amos 9. 1 c. The meaning is that by no means they shall be able to secure themselves from the wrath of God So Chap. 2. 14 15 Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift and the strong shall not strengthen his force neither shall the mighty deliver himself c. And in vain are Mountains and Rocks called upon to secure here Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord do not I fill heaven and earth saith the Lord Jer. 23. 24. 2. As there will be no escaping his hand so there will be no being delivered out of his hand and There is none saith the Lord that can deliver out of my hand Isa 43. 13. If we fall indeed into mens hands God can yet rescue and deliver us as often as he did David Paul and others But who shall deliver out of Gods hand who is greater than all None ever did or can And hence is it said That it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God Heb. 10. 31. i. e. as an enemy as an avenger into his wrathful hands It is a blessed thing indeed and that which is best for us to fall into the hands of God with respect to his mercy as a correcting chastising Father and as looking for mercy from him in and through a Mediatour And thus David chose to fall into the hands of God rather than of men but to fall into the hands of God with respect to his wrath and vengeance as contenders with his power and as contemners of his offers of mercy and tenders of peace so it is a fearful thing For he is the living God and for ever lives to execute what he threatens and there is no being de ivered out of his hand Fain they would indeed flee out of his hand Job 27. 22 extricate themselves from those miseries which have taken hold of them but in vain do they attempt it They would give no dilligence at all to meet God so as to appease his wrath and now they shall give all dilligence in vain either to escape or flee out of his hand Now consider this ye that forget God lesthe tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver Psal 50. 22. Mot. 5. If we do indeed thus meet God he will meet us comfortably graciously his meeting of us will be very sweet and reviving for he will meet us
so as to be appeas'd towards us and we shall make peace with him as he hath said Isa 27. 5 Or let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me And what then Shall it be in vain No it follows And he shall make peace with me He shall find me exorable and easie to be intreated If I be treated with in such a way and in and through such a one as I offer sinners to be treated with and never indeed was there a treaty with God in Christ for peace in a right way in vain And therefore the Lord inviting us here to prepare to meet him shews us what is good even that which he requires of us to prepare to meet him so that whilâ—s many are saying Who will shew us any good Here 's what is good indeed and not only our duty but our great interest and concern David prays Psal 86. 17 Shew me a token for good and if we were once brought to this this would prove a token for good indeed for good to our selves and to the Nation for God who is now in the way of his Judgments would then return to his ways of Grace and Mercy and then we thus meeting God he will so meet us as to own us bless us accept us and graciously receive us he will meet us with loving-kindness and tender-mercies with the shinings of his Face with the light of his Countenance with his Favour and Love in which is life yea which is better than life Psal 30. 5-63 3. With hïs blessing and choicest blessings with Grace Pardon Peace Reconciliation c. and then as his going forth is prepared so shall it by us be experienc'd as the morning or Sun-rising to the world and he shall come unto us as the rain as the former and latter rain unto the earth And what a compleat blessing are Sun and Rain to the earth and the same in his accesses will he be to us and then he will meet us as Esau met Jacob Who ran to meet him and imbrac'd him and fell on his neck and kissed him Gen. 33. 4. As Aaron met Moses Who when he saw him was glad in his heart Exod. 4. 14. As Joseph met his Brethren when he made himself known to them Gen. 45. As the Father met his returning Prodigal who when he was yet a great way off saw him and had compassion on him and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him Lnke 15. 20. As David met Abigail Who accepted her person and presents and said to her Go up to thy house in peace See I have hearkned to thy voice c. 1 Sam. 25. 35. And ver 33 Blessed says he be thy advice and blessed be thou which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood and from avenging my self with my own hand for in very deed as the Lord God of Israel liveth except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me surely there had not been left c. So will God say to you Who shall indeed thus meet him You are the blessed of the Lord who made heaven and earth And blessed be you and blessed be your work and blessed be the way and course you took to meet me in the way of my Judgments for in very deed unless you had hasted to come to meet me unless you had made up the hedg and stood in the gap before me for the Land I had destroy'd it I had poured out my indignation upon them I had consumed them by the fire of my wrath and their own way had I recompensed upon their heads But blessed be you who prevented me And what an honour and what a blessed thing is this What ground of singular comfort may it afford to be instrumentally the faviours of a Nation and to keep it from ruin and to have the salvation thereof as instrumental to lie at our door and to prevail with God for mâ—rcy not only for our selves but others the Nation Mot. 6. Sixthly and lastly The Lord will not only so meet us but remain and still abide with us and build up mercy among us for ever Then the hope of Israel the saviour thereof in the time of trouble will not be as a stranger in the land nor as a wayfaring man that turns aside to tarry for a night but as an home-dweller and will perform that everlasting Covenant That he will not turn away from after us to do us good but continue to do us good with his whole heart and his whole soul and we shall be his rest and his rest shall be glorious and therein will he say will I dwell for I have desired it And then Glory shall dwell in our land and mercy and truth shall meet together righteousness and peace shall kiss each other and then this City the City of our solemnities shall recover its pristine glory and grandeur and become famous and renown'd a City sought out and not forsaken Isa 62. 12 and as iniquity brought it low and was its reproach so righteousness shall again exalt it and be its praise and we shall then see our Jerusalem a quiet habitation a tabernacle that shall not be taken down nor one of the stakes removed or cords broken but there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams c. Isa 33. 20 21. And in that day shall that song be sung We have a strong city salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks and upon all the glory shall be a defence yea the Lord himself will be its defence and keep it he will water it every moment lest any hurt it he will keep it night and day And then the name of this City yea and Kingdom too shall be what God once said should be the name of that City which we read of Ezek. 48. 35 As that wherein its happiness and chief good should consist Jehovah Shammah the Lord is there Amen and Amen FINIS Books Printed for and are to be sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside Books 4to THE Door of Salvation opened by the Key of Regeneration by George Swinnock M. A. Horologiographia optica Dyaling universal and particular speculative and practical togetheu with a description of the Court of Arts by a new Method by Sylvanus Morgan A seasonable Apology for Religion by Matthew Pool Separation no Schism in answer to a Sermon preached before the Lord Mayor by J. Clarkson The Morning-Lecture against Popery preached by several ministers of the Gospel in or near London Four useful discourses being an Appendix to the art of Contentment in three Sermons by Jeremiah Burroughs Dr. Wilds Letter of thanks and Poems A new Copy-book of all sorts of useful hands The Saints priviledg by dying by Mr. Scot. The new World or new-reformed Church by Doctor Homes The Vertuous Daughter a Funeral-Sermon by Mr. Brian The Miracle of Miracles or Christ in our Nature by Dr. Rich. Sibbâ—s The unity and essence of the Catholich Church visible by Mr. Hudson The intercourse of Divine Love between Chriâ—â— and the Church or the particular Believing soul in several Lectures on the whole second Chapteâ— of Cant. by John Collins D. D. Large 8vo The sure mercies of David or a second part of Heart-treasure Heaven or Hell here in a Good or Bad Conscience by Nath. Vincent Heaven taken by Storm by Tho. Watsen The Childs Delight together with an English Grammar Aâ—sop's Fables with morals thereunto in English Verse The Young-mans Instructor and the Old-mans Remembrancer being an Explanation of the Assemblies Catechism Captives bound in Chains made free by Christ their Surety both by Tho. Doolittle Eighteen Sermons preached upon several Texts of Scripture by William Whitaker The Saints care for Church-Communion declared in sundry Sermons preached at St. James Dukes-place by Zech. Crofton The Life and Death of Fdmund Stanton D D. To which is added a Treatise of Christian conference and a Dialogue between a Minister and a Stranger FINIS
our great work and business is as I say with him more than with Men with creatures instruments And therefore it is our great duty and concern to have recourse to him to say as the people of God of old Come and let us return unto the Lord for he hath torn and he will heal us he hath smitten and he will bind us up Hos 6. 1. And let us lift up our hearts with our hands unto God in the Heavens Lam. 3. 41. Lord in trouble have they visited thee c. Isa 26. 16. Thus when Absoloms servants had set Joabs Barley on fire he goes not to the servants but to Absolom so Abigail hastens to David Benhadad's servants to the King of Israel they of Tire and Sidon to Herod and so should we to God Prepare to meet thy God O Israel as Eliphaz counsel'd Job 5. 8 I would seek unto God and unto God would I commit my cause And indeed we cannot do better Whither should we go else Thus Moses when Israel by their sin had incens'd the Lord Now says he I will go up unto the Lord Exod. 32. 30. And it is best for us all to do so And hither we call and invite you as the Prophets of old They called them to the most high Hos 11. 7. So do we And when we have but once overcome him appeas'd him and gotten him our friend our work is done When he is at peace all 's at peace When he giveth quietness who then can make trouble c. Job 34. 29. Then says Eliphaz shalt thou be in league with the stones of the field and the beast of the field shall be at peace with thee Job 5. 23. Tranquillus Deus tranquillat omnia If God be for us who can be against us Rom. 8. 31. 5. Because when God is in such a way he is wroth and surely when he is so it is our great duty and concern to labour all we can to appease him as Moses still did And Moses besought the Lord his God and said Lord why does thy wrath wax hot against thy people c. Exod. 32. 11 12 13. And how earnest is he and how many arguments doth he make use of for the appeasing of it Shall a Trumpet be blown in the City and the people not be afraid c The Lion hath roared who will not fear Amos 3. 6 8. i. e. God hath made known his anger and his anger is formidable and dreadful as the Scripture every where sets it forth For we are consumed by thine anger and by thy wrath are we troubled And who knoweth the power of thine anger even according to thy fear so is thy wrath Psal 90. 7 11. How dreadfully does the Prophet Nahum set it forth Nahum 1. 6 Who can stand before his indignation and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger his fury is poured out like fire and the rocks are thrown down by him And when he hideth his face who then can behold him whether it be done against a nation or a man only Job 34. 29. And ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little Psal 2. 12. The kings wrath says Solomon is as the roaring of a Lyon and as messengers of death but a wise man will pacifie it Prov. 19. 12 16 14. What is the wrath then of the great God And will it not be our wisdom to pacifie it Scornful men bring a City into a snare but wise men turn away wrath Prov. 29. 8. We find Act. 12. 20 that Herod was highly displeas'd with them of Tire and Sidon or bore an Hostil mind towards them and intended War against them and what did they It is said but they came with one accord to him and having made Blastus the kings chamber lain their friend desired peace because their country was nourished by the kings country They could not abide his displeasure neither could they subsist without peace had with him And the great God being highly displeas'd with us shall not we much more with one accord having made Jesus our friend desire Peace For is not his displeasure far more dreadful and formidable than Herods And is not our Country nourished by his our Country here below by that better and heavenly Country above And can a man receive any thing unless it be given him from Heaven Joh. 3. 27. Are we not continually sustain'd by him And can we possibly subsist a moment without him And we by our sins having incens'd his wrath surely there 's all the reason we should seek to appease it Shall we not labour to quench the fire which our selves have kindled And to allay the storms which we our selves have rais'd c 6. Because unless we meet him he will certainly go on to do as he hath threatned As David told Abigail That unless she had hasted to come to meet him he had done as he had said 1 Sam. 25. 39. And so will God as he did to Jerusalem And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedg and stand in the gap before me for the land but I found none And what then It follows Therefore have I poured out my indignation upon them I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath c. I have executed what I threatned Ezek. 22. 30 31. And that is very observable to this purpose Zach. 1. 5 6 Your fathers says the Lord where are they and the Prophets do they live for ever No they were dead and gone but my words did they not take hold of them did they dye with them No not turning to the Lord they took hold of them And they returned and said like as the Lord of hosts thought to do unto us according to our ways and doings so hath he dealth with us So Lam. 2. 17. And it being thus the Lord wonders that there should be no intercessor As if some formidable enemy was coming against a Place whom there was no opposing by force but good probability of appeasing by an humble address would it not be matter of wonder if none should do this one would think all should do it when else inevitable ruine must ensue And did people but believe this and seriously weigh and consider this it would be a special means to put them upon this great duty As the people of Nineveh believed God and proclaimed a fast c. Jonah 3. 5. But the not believing nor considering of this makes sinners careless and heedless and so to expose themselves and the Nation to inevitable ruine CHAP. V. The Application of the point and 1. By may of Reprehension WHen God is in the way of his judgments is it his peoples great duty and concern to meet him Then here 's matter of just reproof to Two sorts of People 1. To such who are so far from meeting God in the way of his Judgments that they scarce ever so much as mind or regard him but let him do