that is poured out from on high Judgement shall dwell in the wilderness and righteousness remain in the fruitful field Isai 32.15 16. Therefore in the sense of our own nothingness and believing Gods power and grace it becometh us suitably to apply our selves unto him So much for the scope of the words More particularly for their meaning For it is time The season calleth hard If the Husband-man loseth his season he loseth all now is your opportunity you are chastened but not destroyed you have a breathing time yet left two things seem to be implyed in it 1. Matter of encouragement there was yet hope in Israel concerning this thing in as much as God was willing to be intreated for their help therefore let them be encouraged it was not altogether too late 2. Matter of awakening It was high time to look about them no allowance left for sloth or security now is the acceptable time now is the day of salvation to day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts To seek Jehovah Seeking is the use of meet endeavours to finde Mat. 7.7 Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find Prov 8 34 35. Blessed is the man that heareth me waiting at the posts of my doors for whoso findeth me findeth life So that when the Text saith it is time to seek the Lord the meaning is that it is time to wait on God in the use of all suitable means until he come He is the most glorious agent none can do like God He Performeth all things for me Psal 57.2 you may speak fair resolve and promise much when under the dint of some signal providence Ier 2.20 Thou saidst I will not transgress when upon every high hill and under every green Tree thou wanderest playing the Harlot Others may wish you well strive and labour for your betterment and yet righteousness not be wrought Hos 11.7 They called them to the most high but none at all would exalt him but if Jehovah come he will make work with you he will do the thing Raine This implieth that in Jehovah our righteousness there dwelleth all fulness He hath abundance of righteousness with him and he can shed it forth upon us abundantly Tit. 3.5 6. according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Lord. Righteousness This in Scripture Phrase signifieth variously sometimes it is put for commutative justice or strict honest dealing as opposed to goodness Rom. 5.7 scarcely for a righteous man will one die peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die Sometimes it importeth conformity to the second Table especially when joyned with and yet distinguished from holiness Luk. 1.75 That we might serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of our life Sometimes it is put more largely and signifieth the same with Godliness implying a heart and life evangellically conformable to Gods holy Law Luk. 1.6 and they were both righteous before Gods walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless Thus it familiarly passeth when put in opposition to wickedness and iniquity Psal 45.7 Thou lovest righteousness and hatest wickedness Psal 11 5. The Lord trieth the righteous but the wicked his soul hateth This sence seemeth to suit here as opposed to wickedness and iniquity in the words immediately following ye have ploughed wickedness ye have reaped iniquity ver 13. On you The posterity of righteous Abraham Isaac and Iacoh the Lords portion the lot of his inheritance least you degenerate into the plant of a strange vine and be laid wast at last The series therefore of the words runneth thus you have sinned and God hath afflicted you He hath passed over your neck moreover you are still threatned it is in his desire to chastise you But you are not destroyed he hath not stirred up all his anger you have yet a space to consider your selves and recover your strength now therefore it is time to seek Jehovah O that the Heavens would now drop down from above and that the skies would pourdown righteousness that which you need and without which the land is desolate is the rain of Gods power The effusion of his holy spirit to accompany and influence word and ordinances providences mercies and afflictions unto righteousness That you may be a repenting reformed religious holy people That is 1. That you may cast out the love of all known sin renounce confidence in your own righteousness and strength and be righteous by faith having the merits of Christs active and passive obedience imputed to you by the efficacy of the infinite grace of God in the new covenant Rom. 4.6 Phil. 3.9 2. That you may be inherently righteous putting off the old man which is corrupt and put on the new which is created after God in righteousness and true holiness Eph. 4.24 that the very God of peace may sanctifie you wholly 1 Thess 5 23. 3. That you may be practically righteous denying all ungoliness and worldly lusts living soberly godly and righteously in this present world purging your selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God These three go together and in them consisteth the righteousness commended to us in the Text. The words thus opened afford us this Doctrinal Conclusion Doct. When a sinful People have been chastened and are still threatned but not destroyed it is time for them to seek Iehovah till he come and rain righteousness upon them that is Till he by the efficacy of his almighty spirit make them a believing sanctified obedient People Zeph. 2.2 3. Before the decree bring forth before the day pass as the chaffe before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you before the day of the Lords anger came upon you Seek ye the Lord seek righteousness seek meekness it may be you shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger Ephraim at length found this to be good counsel Ier. 31.18 Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised turn thou me and I shall be turned Lord thou hast made me to know sorrow to see and taste the bitterness of affliction thou hast taken away my health my peace my pleasant things O take away my sin too make me to see and know that it is an evil and bitter thing that I have forsaken thee Thus the Psalmist in behalf of the Church when her shadow was departed her hedges broken down and the Boar out of the Forrest laid her waste Psal 80. for this he beseeched the Lord thrice with growing importunity and earnestness like one in an agony Turn us again O God ver 4. Turn us again O God of Hosts ver 7. Turn us again O Lord God of Hosts ver 19. Daniel mentioneth it as matter of bitterness in the days of his solemn mourning that they had failed in this Dan.
to him for such as are infinitely better even his Kingdome and Righteousnesâ— Mat. 6.33 6. Seek him unanimously The stress lieth here therefore lift together We in New-England are a poor and an afflicted people It is not for us to rejoice with other Nations in our number or our strength but that mattereth not if God be with us we shall do well enough notwithstanding our poverty our littleness and mean outward estate Past experience proclaimeth it that our hazard lieth not in these things If the munâ—tion of Rocks be our defence we are safe Can we desire greater serenity peace and safety then we have injoyed in years past Jekoâ—abâ— arm is not shortened there is no shadow of turning with him If we be righteous he will love us and we shall dwell safely by his side If any thing undoe us it will be sin our unrighteousness our want of the fear of God our want of love to Jesus Christ our forsaking the fountain of living waters our undutiful and provoking carringe to the Angel that leadeth us by the way but if righteousness be rained on us all will be well It is enough O therefore let every one put in for that with all the strength he can make 1. Fathers Ancient Christians yee have been at the beginning of the work of God in this Country and you are greatly concerned in the progress of it lose not the things ye have wrought for which ye have prayed and wept and travel'ed and ventured so much you have in some measure experienced the worth of Righteousness labour as for life that it may live when you are dead your Glass is even out you are almost at home strengthen the feeble knees brighten your example shine in the fear of God let not your sun go down in a cloud your prayers avail very much O spâ—ak yet again unto God for this poor land in which you so journe least he bring evil upon it by slaying your Sons 2. Young men ye are strong let not sin overcome you consider the price that is in your hands Religion priviledged as sometimes it hath been and thorough grace still is in this Land is a costly Legacy take heed you do not forfeit it let not the fear of God dye as long as you live shall it be said in time to come that godliness dwelt in the land until you arose but then failed shall this ruine be under your hand O seek the Lord till be come and rain righteousness on you 3. Ye Masters of Families will not you and your houses serve the Lord surely it is time for you to seek him also The fcundation of all societies is laid in families you therefore who are Leaders in them and have the first seasoning of young ones had need look to your selves If the Foundations be destroyed what can the righteous do If the Springs be corrupt what will the Streams be consider the greaâ— tâ—ust which God hath committed to you and command your children and Houshold after you to keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgement that the Lord may bring upon them that which he hath spoken of the righteous see that your example be good that those who come after you and tread in your steps may walk safely Let not your vain conversation be a stumbling-block in the way to Heaven least your children rise up and call you cursed at the last for the irreligion and prophaness which you have taught them 4. Ye house of Aaron this matter belongeth in a special manner unto you Ye are the Lords Ministers O weep betwixt the Porch and the Altar and say Rain down Righteousness on thy People Lord and give not thine Heritage to reproach wherefore should the Heathen say where is their God It is your Office to teach Jacob Gods Judgements and Israel his Law Take beed therefore to the Ministry which ye have received in the Lord that ye fulfil it Preach Righteousness â—o your Congregations plainly declare and powerfully pâ—ess that Grace of God which bringeth Salvation Make it your work to watch for Souls as those that must give an account Be instant in season and out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine Soke your Sermons in prayer print them in your practise and conversation Follow the example of the Baptist who was the voice of one crying in the wilderness Joh. 1.23 all voice his word and his works his language and his life spake this make strait the way of the Lord go ye and do likewise 5. Ye also who are Judges in the Land the Lord make you higher then the rest of the people from the shoulders and upward in wisdome and holiness the Lord give you an open mouth for righteousness Prov. 31.8 9. Let your eyes be upon the righteous in the Land to encourage them promote Religion bear up against sin suppress iniquity put life into your wholsome Laws by vigorour execution thus do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart Be it that the Battel is against you before and behind yet be of good courage and play the men for your people and for the Cities of our God and the Lord do what seemeth him good 7. Seek him perseveringly minde the language of the Text Seek the Lord until be come then shall we know if ye follow on to know the Lord Hos 6.2 pray alwayes with this prayer and do not faint Luk. 18.1 ye therefore which make mention of the name of the Lord give him no rest till he â—aâ—â— down righteousness on the land To Conclude Seek God by all means in all his own wayes 1. Maintain a high esteem of the Word and â—rdinances of God wo be to you if your souls loathe the Manna or call it a light food 2 Take heed you be not overcharged with the love of the world and the cares of this life these â—hoâ—k the Word Be cloathed with the Sun and let the Moon be under your feet 3. Study the method of conversion held forth in the Word and fall in with the good spirit of God breathing in the same to the wonderment of men and Angels life and immortality are come to light thorough the Gospel There is a sure way to save sinners opened thorough Jesus Christ admire it study it labour to know it set your hearts to it and follow it let wisdome enter and understanding be pleasant love the light but on a humble teachable frame of spirit entertain conviction kindly Be content to know the worst of sin look upon it in that peculiar direct opposition in which it standeth to the wisdome and goodness authority and holiness of God in the command see it in its sad effects the end of these things is death Behold it thorough the bloody glass of Christs sufferings look on it from a death-bed and as it will look on you at the last Give that honour to God to believe that he hath good reason for all that he hath said against sin in his word concluding that at length sin will prove to be as he hath spoken and if God and you can be of one mind about sin the great difficulty is over Fall in love with Jesus Christ let him have a name in your hearts above every name that is named in this world or that which is to come Cant. 5.10 16. Hate all the pleasures of sin let all external priviledges personal performances and worldly imployments be dung and dross in comparison of winning him and being found of God in him Do duty with conscienâ—ious care and diligence but say not to the works of your own hands Ye are our Gods Go not about to establish a righteousness of your own but submit your selves to the righteousness of God Abraham found by experience that the Hand-maid taken into Sarahs place brought with her great vâ—xation insomuch that at length he was put upon it to cast her and her Son quite out of doors But least I be tedious let me shut up all with this word Be not discouraged To the Lord belongeth righteousness and salvation although to us confusion of face The residue of the spirit is with him who knoweth but he may return and make his work appear to his servants and his glory to their children Jerusalem was greatly fallen Isai 1.21 when of a faithful City she was become a Harlot and from being full of righteousness and judgement to be full of Murtherers But God lifted her up again Jer. 31.23 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts the God of Israel as yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the Cities thereof The Lord bless thee O habitation of justice and mountain of holiness He can strengthen the things that remain which are ready to dye There was a time mentioned Mark 9.14 15. in which Christ being withdrawn to the mount his Disciples were hard put to it below The poor man brought to them his Son which had a dumb Spirit but they could not cast him out at length Jesus came down took to himself his mighty power rebuked the fool Spirit healed the Childâ— comforted the Father and sent the multitude away amâ—zâ—â— and wondâ—ing at all the things which he did Truly we have 〈◊〉 time wherein to experience the naughtiness of our own heaâ—â—â— how bent we are to backslide and go off from God as also 〈◊〉 â—akeness and utter insufficiency of all means in themselves â—â—â—dered to keep vs with God or reduce us to him when turâ—â—â—â—â—â—yâ—â— But it may be Christ will shortly come down and then 〈◊〉 â—â—ll â—â—mended Jer. 17 14. Save as O Lord and we shall be 〈◊〉 heal us and we shall be healed for thou art our praise â—â—â—er us seek him therefore till he come for he loveth Righteousness and hath not forsaken them that seek him FINIS
Righteousness Rained from Heaven OR A Serious and Seasonable DISCOURSE Exciting all to an earnest enquiry after and continued waiting for the effusions of the Spirit unto a communication and increase of Righteousness That Faith Holiness and Obedience may yet abound among us and the Wilderness become a fruitful field As it was Delivered in a SERMON Preached at Harford on Connecticut in New-England May 10. 1677. Being the Day of ELECTION there By Mr. Samuel Hooker Pastor of the Church of Christ in Farmington Isai 44. 3 4. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground I will pour my spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine off-spring And they shall spring up as among the grass as willows by the water-courses Psal 80.19 Turn us again O Lord God of Hosts and cause thy face to shine 〈◊〉 shall be saved Lam. 5.21 Turn 〈◊〉 unto thee O Lord and we shall be turned 〈◊〉 our days aâ— of old Cambridge Printed by Samuel Green 1677. Christian Reader IT is an Observation certain and solemn that Israels Holy one is none in a peculiar manner to bare witness against the wantonness and sins of his Covenant people that have been singularly favoured and priviledged by him Amos 3.2 You only have I known of all the Families of the Earth therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities The disobedient regardless behaviour of his Sons and Daughters carrieth an excess of provocation Deut. 32.19 When the Lord saw it he abhorred them because of the provokâ—ng of his Sons and of his Daughters In what awful and tremendâ—us manner the Loâ—ds anger hath been of late in special made to appear against his wilderness people is not soon or easily to be forgotten such an Adnersary the worst of the Heathen Ezek. 7.24 bruitish men and skilful to destroy Ezek. 21.31 stirred up against uâ—â— the sword gone through the land and thereby wasting and terror deâ—â—ation and death carried up and down how have the mighty fallen blood and flames abounded unto a fearful consumption in the midst of the earth The Inhabitants of so many Villages made to cease even in Israel and some Candlesticks also removed out of their places Alas for the vineyard that his own right hand hath planted how hath he taken away the hedges thereof tâ—at the Boar out of the wood shâ—uld waste and the wilde Beasts of the Fâ—rrest devour it wâ— hâ—vâ— been delivered to the Sword Capâ—ivity and Spoil That the Lord is righteous in all his wayes and holy in all his works is a truth alwayes to be acknowledged however terribld he is in dispensations towards the sons of men Sins more then enough have been found with us to deserve all our sufferings that we sin no more least a worse thing come to us is the duty incumbent and earnestly now called for however ready the Lord our God whose compassions fail not hath shewn himself in wrath to remember mercy and repent him of the evil yet will our impeniâ—ency if still continuâ—d without fail make him weary of repenting Sin not forsaken we may expect will be followed with a renewal and increase of judgement for all this his anger is not turned away but his hand stretched out still for the people tuâ—neth not to him that smiteth them c. Isai 9.12 13. He hath further sorer punishments to inflict on a people that by a progress in sin carry on the provocation Lev 26.16 c. for certain our sâ—ffâ—rings will be greatned if our sins be not lessened the former will rise unless the latter fall nor will any thing herein suffice short of a through work shew will not nor is it meet they should be accepted without the inside Spirit and life of conversion It is laid to Judahs charge as no little evil that shâ— turned not with her whole heart but feignedly Jer. 3.10 when heart circumcision becomes generally wanting among a professing people they may look for woe Jer. 9.25 26. And yet nothing less then an almighty power can perform the thing that is needful for us herein means have not been wanting what could have been done more word and work Law and Gospel Mercies and Judgements abundantly improved to how little purpose and prevalencâ— with many very many the observing eye may lawfully discover our help and hope is in heavâ—n heart-suâ—ng thither for his salvation is eminently the work before us and therein Solomons great request in behalf of the congregation of Israel is exceedingly suited to our condition 1 King 8.57 58 The Lord our God be with us as he was with our Fathers let him not leave us nor forsake uâ— thaâ—â—e may incline our hearts unto him to walk in all his wayes and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgements which he commanded our Fathers protection all would have but conversion we must want may this be New-Englands mercy we shall live the heart-inclining presence of the God of our Fathers gâ—anted and continued to us his Spirit poured out on the seed of his people and his blessing upon their off-spring that as we are through grace the seed of the blessed of the Lord we may also be a seed which the Lord hath blessed This is of all the mercies we want the most needful weighty and desirable and accordingly with utmost care fear and faithfulness to be groaned after and waited for To awaken excite and encourage to this so necessary a work is the designe of the Treatise following the solemnity of the truth it self therein insisted on our concernment in it with its peculiar seasonableness give it abundant commendation The judicious Author was by a compassionate hand towards us pointed to this Subject and with an eminent assistance some circumstances attending him in special considered carried out in the handling of it to the great satisfaction of them that heard him That it may be not acceptable only but sanctified and made effectually successful to the attainment of the end therein aimed at by a blessing from heaven powerfully accompanying it to the minds and hearts of them that reade it as it is here after some considerable throws of difficulty delivered to a more publick view is the hearts desire and prayer of him who is Thine sincerely in our blessed Saviour John Whiting HOSEA 10.12 For it is time to seek Jehovah until he come and rain righteousness upon you IN the Words foregoing the Prophet giveth Israel a discovery of the uncomfortable tearms on which they stood at this time with God they had been disobedient and undutiful in their behaviour as appeareth in the 1 2 3 4 and 5th verses he was grieved and angry with them as in the tenth It is in my heart to chastise them The way by which he was minded to do this was the Inrode of the Heathen And the People shall be gathered against them The God of Israel is the Lord of Hosts He doth according to his will in the
Army of Heaven and among the Inhabitants of the Earth He hisseth for the flies that is in the utmost parts of the Rivers of Egypt and for the Bee that is in the land of Assyria and maketh them to rest in the place where he appointeth Isai 7.18 19. it became Israel therefore when they saw the Nations gathering against them to eye God who in his anger had mustered and given them a charge so to do The Assyrian is the rod of his anger and the staffe in their hand is his indignation they move not till he sendeth they make no spoile until he giveth the word of command 2 King 24.2 3. And the Lord sent against him bands of the Caldeer and bands of the Syrians and bands of the Moabites and bands of the children of Ammon and sâ—nt them against Judah to destroy it Surely at the commandment of the Lord came this upon Judah The Prophet addeth When they shall hinde them in their two furrows here Interpreters are variously minded some take the words to signifie the ground and some the event of the ensuing War those that incline to the former conceive the Prophet to compare the people to untamed Bullocks impatient of the yoke and disused to plow that will not keep the furrow but turn now on the right hand and then on the left so this people instead of going right forward in the way of truth which is but one halted betwixt two balked in their obedience and perverted their way their heart was divided as in the second verse of this chapter they were crooked in their doings and fixâ—d in their frowardness therefore God was purposed to chastise them vide Zanch. in locum Others carry the words to dâ—note the issue of the War which was like to be sad on Israels part for though they did unite and binde themselves with utmost resoluâ—ion to abide in their trenches or furrows for their own defence yet aâ—l in vain Gods counsel should stand and the Heathen â—aving a charge from him would certainly tread them down So Calvin Their Enemies pâ—evailing against them would enfoâ—ce them to miserable bondage and slavery makâ—ng them drudge like Oxen at plough So Mercer But why will God do thus by his people It is answered Ephraim is a Heifer that is taught and loveth to tread out the Corn In those times they were wont to tread out the Corn with the trampling of beasts and God had commanded concerning the oxe while improved in that service that he should not be muzzled this was pleasanter work then plowing and this Ephraim was for a cheap Religion pleased him They were grown sensual sluggish remiss and wanton in their Profession 1 Kin. 12 26 27 28. Jeroboam said in his heart now shall the kingdome return to the house of David if this people go no to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem whereupon he took coursel and said unto them It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem Behold thy Gods O Israel If they might pick and chuse among Gods Precepts toke and leave as they lifted well and good but to be at so much pains as a conversation commensurate to all Gods commands required they could not bear Thus Pharaoh The Lord be so with you as I will let you go Exod. 10.10 I will order the matter and let Jehovah comply and take up with what I shall see cause to appoint But God resisteth the proud It followeth therefore But I passed over upon her fair neck God had dealt bountifully with Israel made him ride on the high places of the Earth that he might eat the increase of the field and he was grown fat Deut. 32.13 14. but they abused his kindness waxed proud and unruly and would serve no further then would serve their own turn making their own pleasure not Gods the rule of their obedience wherefore God had already passed over their neck laid afflictions upon them and had made their glory then and the fatness of their flesh lean if thereby they might have been tamed and reduced unto a thorough subjection to his will but this did not do wherefore he addeth I will make Ephraim to ride inasmuch as lesser chastisements did not avail God threatnâ—th to deal more roughly with them with a stronger hand violently to break in upon them and fend them into Captivity So the word Ride sometimes importeth Job 30.21 22. With thy strong hand thou opposest thy self against me thou lâ—ftest me up to the wind thou causest me to ride and dissolvest my substance Judah shall plough and Jacob shall break his clods the rest who went not into captivity should see a great deal of hardship and abasement though not so much as those that rode and were scattered among tâ—e nations Upon this in the 12th verse He exhorteth them unto reformation and amendment of their wayes Sowe to your selves in righteousness that their reformation might be sound and such as would hold he counselleth to bottome it on repentance Break up your fallow ground whatever men may pretend at present or promise for the future unless they repent and sorrow after a godly sort for sin past their reformation proveth like seed scattered on Land that never was broken up which cometh to nothing in the issue Reap in mercy Though their Repentance and Reformation could merit nothing yet if they would sowe in righteousness and break up their fallow ground Mourn aright for sins past thorough the forbearance of God and amend their doings then they should reap a blessing and inherit prosperity through the benignity and kindness of God denoting that they must be beholding to mercy when they had done all they could Ephes 2.8 By Grace ye are saved thorough Faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God So we are come to the Text. For it is time to seek the Lord till he come and rain righteousness upon you In which words the Prophet amplifieth on his former Exhortation partly directing in it and partly exhorting to it 1. He directeth in it Seek ye Jehovah set not about this great work of Reformation in your own strength Take God along with you ingage him in it your plowing and sowing will signifie nothing unless he rain down a blessing on your endeavours 2. He exciteth to it and encourageth in it It is true that the way of man is not in himself neither is it in him that walketh to direct his own steps You can do nothing without him but he can do all for you Although judgement riseth not out of the dust nor doth righteousness spring out of the ground yet he that rideth in his excellency on the sky can rain it down Isai 45.8 Drop down ye heavens from above and let the skies pour down righteousness let the Earth open and let them bring forth salvation and let righteousness spring up together I the Lord create it He can by the power of his spirit mightily change when
9.13 All this evil is come upon us yet made we not our Prayer before the Lord our God that we might turn from our iniquities and understand thy truth It is a lamentable thing for a person or a people to be in great affliction and yet make little of righteousness This is that King Ahaz 2 Chron. 28.22 Reas 1. May be taken from the great necessity and precious excellency of righteousness 1. It s necessity Righteousness is the one thing necessary There is no living for us without it Prov. 10.2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing but righteousness delivereth from death As Iob said we may all say If I be wicked wo be to me Job 10.15 for so saith God also Isai 3.10.11 Say to the righteous that it shall be well but wo unto the wicked The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open unto their cry but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil of cut off their remembrance from the earth Psal 34.15 The wicked are men of sorrows and death many sorrows shall be to the wicked If therefore we be wicked no wonder though Blasting and Mildew sickness and Sword come upon us The worst of miseries belong to such Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned to Hell with all the Nations that forget God And it is not parts or parentage or riches or worldly bravery It is not a form of godliness a name to live or external Ecclesiastical priviledges that can deliver Nothing but righteousness will do it If we be godly in Christ Jesus if we do rightoousness and be righteous as he is righteous this this will stand us in stead in a dark day Isai 38.3 4 Remember now O Lord I beseech thee that I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight on the other hand what is the hope of the wicked yet a little while and the wicked shall not be thou shalt diligently consider his place and it shall not be Psal 37 1â— What a necessity doth this Text put upon Righteousness 1. Be Righteous or you will be nothing yet a little while and the wicked shall not be Such as take pleasure in unrighteousness drink in iniquity like water are in their element when sinning live walk and love to live in the commission of known sin they are wicked 2 Thess 2.12 and such shall perish and consume away into smoke Psal 37.20 2. Thou shalt consider his place and it shall not be O the distaste with which the holy God is carried against the wicked They are an abomination to him his curse is in their house Prov. 3.33 the very place in which they live is cursed for their sake and in danger to be desolate Psal 107.33 When righteous Lot with his little company left Sodom and few or none but wicked were left there you know what followed Gen. 19.24 28. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrab Brimstone and Fire from the Lord out of Heaven and lo the smoke of the Country went up as the smoke of a furnace And if Jerusalem will not be instructed unto Righteousness she may expect to be desolate a land not inhabited Jer. 6.8 3. A little time bringeth it to this yet a little while and the wicked shall not be The triumphing of the wicked is short and the joy of the Hypocrite for a moment Job 20.5 6. He shall flee away as a Dream yet a little while and the graceless unbelieving sinner is damned Mark 16.16 Yet a little while and a pâ—oplâ— having a form of Godliness but denying the power of it will in likelyhood come to nothing Moreover Righteousness is an excellent thing Prov. 12.26 the righteous is more excellent then his neighbour If God do perswade you to imbrace and receive Jesus Christ offered in the Gospel to be your Lord and Saviour Joh. 1.12 If your hearts be clean and mingled not with any known sin Mat. 5 8. If you chose the way of Gods precepts and walk in his fear you shall be a Treasure Exod. 19.5 The excellent in the Earth Psal 16.3 But if wicked you are little worth Psal 10.20 Chaff and dross in Gods account and he will deal with you accordingly Psal 1.4 The ungodly are not so but are like the chaffe which the wind driveth away Psal 119.119 Thou puâ—test away all the wicked of the Earth like dross therefore I love thy testimonies Yea the wicked are foolish and simple vile and loathsome Pâ—ov 1.22 How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and fools hate knowledge The foolish shall not stand in thy sight thou hatest all workers of iniquity Psal 4.5 a wicked man is loathâ—ome and cometh to shame Prov. 13.5 It is well for the land when such are kept down When the Righteous are in Authority the people rejoice but when the wicked beareth rule the people mourn Prov. 29.2 In a word our persons our prayers and all our works are by God much or little set by as we have or want righteousness Gen. 4.4 5. God had respect unto Abel and unto his offering but unto Cain and to his offering God had no respect The Author to the Hebrews rendreth the reason of this Heb. 11.4 Abel was righteous but Cain wicked The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord but the prayer of the righteous is his delight In further demonstration of the excellency of Righteousness look upon it in that one effect mentioned Isai 32 17 And the work of Righteousness shall be peace and the effect of Righteousness quietness and assurance for ever Great peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend Psal 119 165 Great peace multiplied peace 1 Peace with God 2 Peace at home in their own bosoms 3 Peace with men 1. Peace with God Rom 5 1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God The righteous God loveth Righteousness his countenance doth behold the upright Psal 11 7 He and they are good friends his secret is with the righteous Prov 3 32 But there is no peace to the wicked saith wy God Isai 57 21 He is far from them Prov 15 29 and they may thank their own naughtiness for it He is the very God of peace but the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men kindleth his wrath Rom 1 18 They will not meet him in the thing that is right And truly if Israel will none of him Psal 8â— 11 None of his wisdome to guid thâ—m buâ— lean to their own understandings None of his Authority to rule them but walk in the way of their own hearts None of his goodness to satisfie them but go to broken cisterns change him for husks carnal contentments Slight his favour despise his loving-kindness forget him put away the remembrance of him say to him depart from us we desire not the knowledge of thy name like not to retain him in their knowledge hate
ask this rain of God 1 Is not the old generation almost gone when the old stock is spâ—â—â— unless God vâ—sit the Earth and water it sending a fresh supply there is no living what a critical day was it with Israel of old when Joshua and the Elders that out-lived Ioshua and all that Generation which had seen all the great works of the Lord were gathered unto their Fathers Iudges 2.7 10 and This rain failing there arose another generation that knew not Jehovah and then how soon did their prosperity and welfare sail also They did evil in the sight of the Lord and they forsook the Lord God of their Fathers and the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel Mich. 7.1 Wo is me for I am aâ— when they have gathered the Summer fruits as the grape gleanings of the vintage there is no cluster the good man is perished Time was that good men grew in this land by clusters but now how thin Lord visit the Earth and water it 2. Doth not our â—â—â—d mourn for the want of this how long shall the land mourn and the herbs of every field wither for the wickedness of them that dwell therein Jâ—r 12.2 How long shall we be smitten with Sickness Drought Caterpillars Blasting and Sword How many Villages are already forsaken of their Inhabitants their High wayes unoccupied how many chosen young men are fallen upon the high places of the field how many Widows left solitary among us with their tears on their cheeks how many mothers in Israel weeping for their children and refuse to be comforted because they are not shall the sword devour for ever shall it not suffice Is it not time therefore to seek righteousness that desolation and spoil may come to an end 3. Hath not a great deal of cost and precious pains been laid cut upon us that we might if pâ—ssible be righteous When the principal Wheat is cast into the Earth and Seed-time over Rain will soon be needed and if it come not the Husband-man looketh out earnestly for alas all is gone if God send not rain We have been instantly preached to for a long time eminent favour also bath been shewed us what a long day of bounty and patience have we enjoyed At sundry times also and in divers manners we have been afflicted especially in later years now shall all this be in vain truly if there come no rain if God send not his spirit to water word and Providences all will be lost And if we be preached to but without profit favoured but not taught righteousness chastened but not amended what shall we do in the end thereof If a man setteth at a high Rent and hath no increase but his crop faileth him year after year be breaketh at the last truly unless the rain cometh and righteousness springeth up in the wilderness considering at what a Rent we seâ— we cannot expect to hold it long to be barren under so much bounty undutiful notwithstanding so many corrections and fatherly chastisemâ—nts To have so many Sabbaths Counsels Instructions Warnings the labour and lives of so many of Gods pâ—ecious servants to answer for will surely sink us at last Isai 5 4 5. therefore whâ—n I looked that in should bring forth grapes brought it forth wild grapes and now go to I will tell you what I will â—o â—o my Vineyard I will take away the Hedges thereof and it shall be eaten up 2. Consider your selves who you are and of what consequence it is that righteousness be rained down on you Have you not Abraham to you Father are you not the off-spring of the righteous and will you degenerate into a strange plant dare you continue wicked will you not be like your Fathers It is noted of Nabal 1 Sam 25.3 that he was churlish and evil in his doings and he was of the house of Calth Alas alas of the house of Caleb he was a man of an other of an excellent spirit what a fool and of the house of Caleb a son of Belial and of the house of Caleb Oh that such a branch should spring out of such a Stock Shall the faithful City become an Harlot it was full of judgement righteousness lodged in it now Murtherers Isai 21. It was an aggravation of their sin Iudg. 2.17 that they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in obeying the commandments of the Lord but they did not SO your Fathers were a humble holy obedient people and will not you be SO your Fathers did Justice and Judgement and will not you do SO Your Fathers walked with God kept their seasons of retiâ—ement to their close's to pray and seek God do you do SO your Father 's called the Sabbath honourable the Holy of the Lord and were conscientiously careful not to do their own wayes nor finde their own pleasure not speak their own words are you for any manner of talk when the Sabbath is come do you say what a weariness is it and account it the burthen of the Lord of Host did your Fathers do SO were the Sabbaths wonted to be spent in the houses where you dwell as you spend them shall the holy example of those that have beaten the way to Sion before you be of no account in your eyes in a Land of uprightness will you deal unjustly and not behold the Majesty of the Lord Isâ—i 26 10 Verily we had need to seek the Lord till he come and rain righteousness on us That when he shall look into our houses he may not say what have I here Isai 52.5 Is this the house of such a precious godly man are these his children is this the Nation that I gathered out of the midst of a Nation with a mighty hand and a stretched out arm Is this the people for whose sake I rebuked the Heathen saying when they were few in number and strangers in the land Touch not mine Anointed do my Prophets no harm Were they a proud idle intemperate unmerciful Generation of men were not their faces set for Heaven their language the language of Canaan was not holiness to the Lord written on their wayes and will you be worldly and prophane drink and swear riot and be wanton deride Religion scoffe at the wayes or servants of God O take heed take heed lest the names you bear the houses you dwell in the estates you inherit the places you sustain rise up in judgement against you and increase your condemnation at the last Believe it sirs t is a dangerous a very dangerous thing to forsake the wayes of truth and holiness when sweetned and in a manner naturallized by the practise and example of godly Patents 2 Chron. 21.12 and there Came a writing to â—ehoram from Elijah the Prophet saying Thus saith the Lord God of David thy Father because thou hast not walked in the wayes of Jebosaphat thy Father nor in the wayes of Asa King of Judah c. Behold with a great Plague will