protection yea fall upon unlawfull shifts and use unlawfull meanes to help themselves If they can but get under the protection of some Noble man or great man they think themselves secure from danger But if thou have not the Lord for thy Protector vaine is the help of man Men may see and heare and pitty our miseries but they are not able many times to help and succour us But this honour have all the Saints That they have a powersull and omnipotent God that is able and ready to help us Seeing all protection is from God Vse 2 it is his worke to save this may serve to stay us at this day now that the Church and house of God hath many ruines and breaches on it rent and torne in peeces by many unnaturall brethren that have of late endevoured to divide the seamlesse coat of Christ by Sects Schismes factions and fractions the like whereof was never seene in the daies of our forefathers Since the times of reformation sad presages of fearfull times if the Lord speedily put not to his hand and worke sure reformation Yet here is our hope and here is our stay that we have a God to fly unto and it is he that must purge his house and protect his Church O this is a singular work of God We must pray to him to work all our works for us and to be humbled for our sins that have looked so much to an arme of flesh our Councells and Parliaments which hitherto have not stead us whilest in the meane time we have overlooked God the rock of our Salvation O let us at last returne unto him and seeke for protection safety and deliverance reformation and Salvation at his hands and intreat the Lord and say Let thy work appeare to thy servants And that he would take the cause of his poore Church Religion and Gospell into his owne hand and become our Mightie Protector Seeing all Safety and protection come from God Vse 3 this shewes to whom we are bound for safety and protection from all our troubles and dangers both of Soul and body viz. to this Lord Protector of his people who ought to have the praise and glory of his owne Worke. Thus when the Lord hath been pleased to come in with some speedy mercy or deliverance to his Church they have had their solemn dayes of praise and thanksgiving unto God as Israels Deliverance from Pharaoh the Jewes deliverance from that damnable plot of Haman Exod. 15. And Jehosophat and the men of Judah their deliverance from their iniquities Hest 9.2 Chr. 26 And David never partakes of any great mercy or deliverance but still he returnes ptaise and thanksgiving unto God Let thy workes appeare unto thy Servants Hitherto of their request that God would be their protector and deliverer Now for this they use a Double Reason 1. Taken from their condition they were his servants 2. Taken from the end of their protection and deliverance and that is his owne glory Unto thy â—â—ervants that is to those that be in Covenant with thee love and fear thee and serve and obey thee as their Lord and master whence note Who they are that may looke for protection at the hands of God Doct. 2 Gods servants only may looke for protection from God viz. those and onely those that are in covenant with God that honour him as a Father feare him as a master and are ready to do his commands These being the Lords servants and under his roofe they may assure themselves of protection at his hands Whereas such as are not his servants neither in Covenant with him these can looke for no protection from God the framing of the Mercy-seate was a type of the Church In the Arke was the Commandements of God to shew 1 That those that are in the Arke and so members of the Church these keepe his commandements and 2. That they that keepe the commandements of God may looke for protection from God For the mercy-seate was made just as big as the Arke and no bigger to shew that none be shadowed and protected by Gods mercifull providence and protection but onely the servants of God and no more So that of those and none else it may be said Deut. 33.29 Happy art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O people saved of the Lord the shield of thy helpe and the sword of thy excellency Now wherein stood the happinesse of this people but in that they were in Govenant with God that God was their God and they his people And hence is it that it is usual with the faithfull when they have come unto God in prayer to plead Gods covenant with them as Jacob did when he prayed to be delivered from his Brother Esau Lord sayth he thou hast sayd I will do thee good And thus David oftentimes minds the Lord of his promise Psal 119 ver 74. Quicken me O Lord according to thy word and Let thy mercifull kindenesse be my comfort according to thy word Whereas the estate and condition of all wicked and ungodly ones is most miâ—erable for such can have no hope at all to be heard in prayer for they are out of Covenant with God Nay let such pray in time of misery and distresse and God will say unto them Psal 50. What hast thou to do since thou hast cast my Covenant behind thee Now that such as are in Covenant with God may looke for protection at Gods hands these Reasons shew First Reas 1 in regard of the high esteeme the Lord hath of such they are precious in his sight Esa 43.4 Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast beene Honourable and I have loved thee They are Gods Jewels Mal. 3.17 And they shall be mine sayth the Lord in that day that I make up my Jewels And will not a man looke to his Jewels They are his Friends his Sons and Daughters yea as the Apple of his eye God makes more account of them then of all the world besides and therefore his speciall providence must be over them to protect and defend them Secondly Reas 2 in regard of his promise made to such I will dwell in them and walke in them 2 Cor. 6 16. and will be their God and they shall be my people And how can such want protection from God for as it is a just thing with God to depart from them that depart from him so to stand by them that stand by him and keepe covenant with him This may yield matter of Singular comfort and consolation for every poor child of God Vse 1 If thou be one of the Servants of God a true beleever one that art in covenant with God thou maist both claim protection at Gods hand in time of distresse and assure thy self of it for can a father be unmindfull of his child or will not a loving Master take care of his Servants Will not a King protect his Subjects or
Hee that must shortly part with his house and home must away into another Country will be so wise as to turne his lumber into Silver and Gold that he may have somthing to live upon when he is gone Mat. 6.19 Lay not up for your selves treasures on earth saith Christ where moth and rust doth corrupt and where theeves breake thorough and steal But lay up for your selves treasures in heaven c. Christ commends Maries choice that she had chosen the better part Luk. 10. she sat at Christs feete she heard his heavenly doctrine Whilest Martha was busie for the body Mary provided for hâ—r soule what if Martha had let the pott seeth over for that time it had been a very tollerable neglect but now Mary carries the praise the lord knowes we have many Marthas few Maries for almost all be for the world looke after their bodies few for heaven that take care for their pretious Soule Vers 13. Returne O Lord How long let it repent thee concerning thy Servants MOses this man of God having in the former v. prayed unto God that he would teach them by his spirit to make the right use of the shortness and uncertaintie of their life Now he proceeds to make prayer unto God for himselfe and the rest of Gods people for favor and mercy And all the petitions of his prayer are either for Reconciliation to God or else For the fruits of their reconciliation to God In this 13. v. they pray for reconciliation that he would in mercy Returne againe unto them and be pacified againe toward them In the verses following they pray for the fruiâ—s of this reconciliation as 1. For the comfortable feeling of Gods love and favour againe towards them which they had broken off by their sinnes v. 14. 2. They pray for comfort against their miseries and long afflictions vers 15. 3. For defence and protection and the blessing of God upon their labours and endeavours especially in their journey towards the land of Canaan that God would defend them from their enemies and bring them at last into that promised land Returne O Lord. In this first petition and request wee are to note two things 1. What they pray for viz. Reconciliation with God Returne O Lord let it repent thee 2. And for this purpose they use 2. Arguments or Reasons to move the Lord to take pitty on them and to be favorable unto them 1. Taken from the continnance of their afflictions which were both long and tedious and very sharp and grievous How long shall we lie boyling in the furnace of affliction and how long wilt thou be angry with us 2. From their estate and condition we are thy Servants O then bee gratious unto thy Servants be not for ever angry with thy owne Servants but receive us into thy favour be reconciled againe unto us And turne away thy wrath and displeasure from us Returne O Lord q d. Although for our sins thou hast justly turned thy face from us and been angry with us yet be thou in mercy reconciled to us againe shew us thy favour and remove thy heavie hand For as the Lord is said to turne his back and to hide his face when he takes away the tokens of his gracious love and presence from a people even so when he doth manifest the signes of his love and gratious presence unto a people then is he said to returne againe Whence we may observe first of all when Moses and the people of God doe seeke unto God for mercy and reconcilation viz. when they have been well whipped in the school of affliction and humbled and tamed by the Lords corrections upon them for their fins We observe Doct. 1 Men never seek to God forreconciliation till they feel his displeasure That men wil never seek unto God for reconciliation untill such time as the Lord hath truly and thoroughly humbled them and caused them to feel his anger displeasure for sin staborn rebellious and hard hearted sinners will never truly seek unto God till such time as the Lord hath broken their hearts with the apprehension of their miserable estate by reason of sin and that they come to feele Gods terrible anger and displeasure against them for the same The Lord knowes that these hearts of ours are many times so hard that our greatest sins have little effect upon our souls to work that godly sorrow and humiliation as our sins have deserved But when the Lord shal be pleased to bring a sinner to the rack and there lay weight upon weight upon him and to the weight of his sins add the weight of his anger and sore afflictions this dealing of the lord with a poore sinner many times causes such a stream of teares which bathe the soul in the water of true repentance and bring the sinner to a heartie confession of his sins how were Iacobs sons wrought upon by their troubles in Egypt that their sin against their innocent brother selling him for a bondslave should lye hid for many yeares together should now come to conscience Gen. 42.21 We have sinned against our brother in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besoughâ— us and we would not heare him therefore is this trouble come vpon us And thus David when the hand of God lay heavy upon him day and night then and not till then he flyes to God and by humble confession of his sins begs pardon at Gods hand Ps 32.4 5. I acknowledged my sin unto thee neither hid I mine iniquitie for I thought I will confesse against my self my wickednesse Es 26.16 and then thou forgavest the punishment of my sin The scriptures are cleare in this Lord in trouble have they visited thee they poured forth their prayers wheâ— thy chastisments were upon them and againe they being bound in affliction Ps 107.10 13 14. and Iron cried unto the Lord in their affliction and distresse Yea this is that which the Lord himselfe speaketh of stubborn and hard hearted siners Hof 5.14 15. I will be unto Ephraim as a lyon and as a young lion to the house of Iudah c. till they acknowledg their offence for in their affliction they will seeke me early So that miserable rebellious and hard hearted sinners will never seeke unto God till such time as he hath exercised them with the sense and apprehension of his terrible anger against sin besides the examples the scriptures afford us are many as Manasses 2 Chron. 33.10 11. the prodigall the jaylor and those cruell Jews Reas 1 Such only are capable of mercy from God when in the sense of their owne misery and apprehension of Gods displeasure they become fit objects of mercy full vessells can hold no liquor and proud and haughtie hearts are not fit for mercy Es 57.15 He will revive the spirit of the humble and revive the heart of the contriâ—e ones When our hearts are subdued
and to make them hereafter to walk more humbly and more holily with God God makes his people to hear first the terrible thunder upon Mount Sinai and then the joyfull voice and shouting upon Mount Sion Seeing that so long as God is displeased with us we can have no peace Use 1 joy or comfort till he return again and be reconciled towards us How should this move us to seek reconciliation at his hand that we never give our soul any rest till we be at peace with him And because we can never be reconciled to God as long as we live in sin and delight in sin with a purpose to continue therein Let us take heed we deceive not our own souls to think that we can ever be reconciled to God and take pleasure in sin It had been to no purpose for Moses to intreat the Lord to return to them if they had still lived in their sins and rebellions against God And therefore if we desire the Lord to return again unto us and to be a reconciled God unto us then we are to return again to the Lord by true repentance else there is no hope that ever the Lord wil return unto us Zach. 1.3 Turn unto me and I will turn unto you saith the Lord. And this favour and loving countenance of God David accompts more dear unto him then the life it self Ps 63.3 Thy loving countenance is better then life it self It was a great favour to Absalom considering his offence that heemight have his life for a prey and be permitted to live in Jerusalem 2 Sam. 14.32 But all this was nothing unlesse hee might see the Kings face Alas what are all the comforts the world can afford us unlesse we can enjoy Gods countenance and favour and that he look cheerfully upon us in the face of Christ this gives more joy of heart Psal 4.6 then worldlings have in their corn and wine and oile Cant. Let him kisse me saith the Church with the kisses of his mouth for his love is better thē wine Seeing there can be no joy nor comfort without Reconciliation to God Use 2 here we see what to esteem of the joy of wicked men it is but a carnall joy meer madnesse as if a poor condemned wretch should go laughing to the gallowes such are in continuall danger of Hell and damnation yet are not sensible of their danger I said saith Solemon of laughter thou art mad There is no madnesse like unto this to live under Gods high displeasure and yet to be secure Belshazzar drinks and quaffes when the hand-writing was upon the wall Dan. 5. the end of such mirth will be bitternesse at last O then let us never give any rest unto our souls till we are reconciled to God till we have truly repented of our sins and be in with God again Hitherto of the petition and request they put up unto God and pray for viz. Reconciliation again with God Now followes the reasons that they use to move the Lord to take pitty on them Part. 2 and to be favourable unto them 1. Taken from the continuance of their misery and length of their sufferings How long 2. Taken from their estate and condition we are thy servants The first reason or motive they use is taken from the long continuance of their miseries and afflictions How long q. d. O Lord thou hast justly bin displeased with us this many years for our sins and rebellions against thee so as we have lived foure hundred years in great bondage in Egypt and now again we are grievously afflicted in the Wildernesse where we have been almost utterly wasted and consumed O Lord how long wilt thou be angry with us O Lord make an end of this our great tedious and long affliction and shew us thy favour and loving countenance again and be thou a gracious God unto us as unto our forefathers of old The words are an abrupt interrogation how long When through the great perturbation of their spirits their speech is short cut off as it were in the midst as if they were not clearly able to utter their minde through the greatnesse of their griefe From this example of Moses and the people of God here we learn Doct. 4 To minde the Lord of the continuance of our affliction a good motive to move him to pitty That it is an excellent argument to move the Lord to pitty and compassion to put him in minde of the long continuance of his hand upon us in affliction For here we have Moses and the people of God as it were fainting and longing after Gods mercy and crying out How long Lord how long wilt thou be angry with thy people and defer to helpus Thus David in long and tedious afflictions even with tears cries out to God How long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever how long wilt thou hide thy face from me how long shall I take counfell in my soul and have sorrow in my heart He maketh the continuance of his misery an argument to move the Lord to pitty And again Ps 79.5 How long wilt thou be angry for ever shall thy jealousie burn like fire Ps 89.46 And How long wilt thou hide thy face for ever shall thy wrath burn like fire How long Lord wilt thou not have mercy upon Jerusalem Zach. 1.12 and on the Cities of Judah against whom thou hast had indignation these three score yeers and ten Thus Job complaines to God Iob 7.19 Thou wilt not let me alone till I swallow my spittle Luk. 13.8 Luke 8.43 It was a Daughter of Abraham that was bowed by Sathan eighteen years and another that was troubled with a bloody issue twelve years and for eight and thirty years together did that lame man lye at the pool of Bethesda Ioh. 5.5 expecting help Thus God hath exercised his children with long and lasting sorrowes all which his people have pleaded to God to move him to hear and to take pitty upon them Which serves to inform us Use 1 what use we are to make of our sufferings that if the Lord do at any time humble us by long and tedious afflictions either inward in minde or outward in body as by sicknesse griefe misery c. we may even cry unto God as Moses here and say Lord how long wilt thou defer to hear and help us But let us take heed of this evill whereunto our hearts are most prone in times of affliction that we do not murmur repine and grudge against the Lords dealing for this Moses nor this people do not they do not complain of any hard dealing of God towards them But being pressed with the sense of Gods anger and displeasure against them for their sins do move the Lord to take pitty upon them in regard of their long and tedious afflictions they had so long a time groaned under And thus in the like case we may in our
and then may do a Char for a meals meat These can claim nothing as due in regard they are not in Covenant but are hang bies They cannot claim protection from the Master of the Family as a covenant-Covenant-servant may as David did Save me â—s 119.94 for I am thy servant and I keep thy Commandements It is a certain mark of a Servant of God to keep the Commandments of God if thou keep not the Commandments of God thou art no servant of God God takes no more pleasure in rebellious sinners then a Prince doth in rebellious Traitors Let us then use this reason and argument to move the Lord to pitty and compassion and to be pacified towards us even because we are his Servants and are in covenant with him Ver. 14. O fill us with thy Mercy in the Morning that we may rejoice and be glad all our daies IN the former Verse wee have heard how earnestly Moses and the people of God beg for Reconciliation againe with God and the arguments they use to move him to take pitty and compassion upon them Now in this fourteenth verse and so to the end of the Psalm they come to beg the blessed Fruits and Estates of this Reconciliation And first they pray for Mercy O fill us with thy mercy That is that God would grant them the lively sence and feeling of his love again towards them And in this request of theirs we have two parts 1. The Petition it self O fill us with c. 2. The end of their desire That we may rejoice c. 1. The Petition is of mercy and this is amplified 1. By the quantity of it Satisfie us or fill us It is a great measure that they require according to their great misery and need 2. By the time viz. In the Morning That is as I take it with speed or presently after their Night of their long and tedious afflictions or else in time convenient as some expound it 2d Part of the Verse is the Reason or the end why they so earnestly desire this lively sense and feeling of his love again towards them viz. Not to grow secure thereby as carnall men doâ— Nor yet to abuse it to carnall and worldly rejoicing as libertines use to do But to this end that feeling the love of God shed abroad in their souls they might have matter of joy and rejoycing to praise God that so they might be joyful and chearful in his service And that not for a day or a year but all our daies Where first of all we are to observe â— Coher their order proceeding in this prayer of theirs In the former verse they pray for Reconciliation again with God that he would pardon their rebellions and sins and receive them again into favour Return O Lord c. And now in this verse they pray for the blessed fruit of that Reconciliation viz. the comfortable feeling thereof in their souls O fill us with thy mercy c. The Doctrine is Doct. 1 That untill a man repent of his sins No comfort but in reconciliation with God Esay 57.20 21. and be reconciled to God he can have no true peace joy or rejoycing in his own Soul There is no peace to the wicked but they are like the troubled Sea that casts forth mire and dirt Thus will the conscience of wicked men rage and accuse them and cast up many thoughts of fears and desperation but can find no comfort till they be reconciled to God It is true wicked men have a kind of Drunken peace or rather indeed a Damnable security which Iob compares to a Dream Iob 20.7 And to the crackling of thornes under a pot soon in and soon out which is wonderfull in three respects 1. It is uncertain their Sun many times goes down at noon day As Nebuchadnezzar in the midst of his banquet had his mirth mar'd 2. It is unsound it is somtimes in the face but not in the heart For in the midst of laughter the heart is sad 3. The joy and rejoycing of the wicked doth end in misery Mal. 2.2 The Lord curseth their blessings though they may seem right to themselves yet the issue thereof is death Prov 16.25 Whereas it is the godly that enjoy sound and lasting peace joy and comfort It being grounded and founded upon this sure foundation Repentance for sin and Reconciliation to God What way sought David for comfort when Nathan had convinced him of his sin but by flying unto God by true repentance Wash me clense me purge me Ps 51.8 and then make me to hear the voice of joy and gladnesse This is Gods way of dealing ordinarily with his people as the ground of all true comfort Comfort ye Es 40.1 2. comfort ye my people saith our God speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem But how shall they be comforted The Lord tells them there Cry unto her that her iniquity is paâ—doned Sin pardoned brings true comfort and indeed there can be no true comfort nor peace till then How doth Christ comfort the man sick of the Palsey Mar. 2.3 but by telling him that his sins were forgiven him And thus Christ raised up Mary that sat weeping and blubbering at Christs feet by telling her that her sins were forgiven her So that the point is clear that till a man have repented of his sins and be reconciled to God and have embraced Christ he can have no true peace and comfort in his own soule And it must needs be so Because it is the nature of sin unpardoned Reas 1 to rob the soul of peace That man that truly knowes sin and the wofull fruites and effects of sin cannot but account the pardon of sin the greatest mercy When had this people peace but when they had left Aegypt the Wildernesse the Red-Sea and the Mountains behinde them And when shall a Christian look for peace but when his spirituall enemies sin and sathan are overcome Secondly Reas 2 such as truly repent of their sins and imbrace Christ God hath promised to look upon and shew mercy unto Es 66.2 To this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit And Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted And again Es 57.15 Thus saith the high and loftie one that inhabiteth eternity whose Name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones These are they God hath promised to look upon and to have respect unto to give them beautie for ashes Es 61.3 and the oyle of gladnesse for the spirit of heavinesse This then lets us see the happie priviledge of the faithfull Use 1 above all wicked and ungodly men in their greatest sorrowes there is still ground of joy Joh. 16.20 Ye shall weep saith Christ but your
when he injoyed his Rachel they seemed unto him but a few dayes Which should serve for our instruction Vse that if the Lord lay many and great afflictions upon us and that a long time together to consider that the Lord might have laid a thousand times more for our sins and the joyes of their life to come will quickly swallow up the remembrance of them all so as we are with one eye to looke unto Gods mercy that our afflictions are no sorer and that our comforts at last will surmount them all as with the other eye to looke upon our present sufferings how bitter soever And the yeares wherein we have seene evill No doubt herein Moses had respect to the time of their affliction in Egypt Exod. 1. wherein passed many yeares even foure hundred and thirtie and now againe for the space of fourty yeares in the wildernesse q.d. O Lord we have been a long time in misery and sore affliction we beseech thee now at last let us receive comfort proportionable and answerable thereto Doct. 5 Whence we may further observe We may pray for mercy answerable to our misery that we may and ought to pray that God would bestow mercy answerable to our misery As we see a man that hath a great wound in his body the plaster must be made as large as the wound or rather broader so must we crave at Gods hand that our comforts may be not onely as great as our miseries but if the will of God be more plentifull A man that hath beene many yeares in misery and affliction had need of a great measure of comfort as a man that hath beene made weake by long sicknesse so as his strength is much decayed he must have a time answerable to recover his strength againe So here a child of God that hath beene long humbled and afflicted by Gods hand such stand in need of a great measure of comfort to recover the health of their Souls againe ver 16. Let thy worke appeare unto thy servants and thy glory unto their children IN this verse we have the fourth petition which Moses and the people of God do make unto God And the thing they here beg and crave at Gods hand is protection which they acknowledge to be the proper work of God And this protection of his they crave not onely for themselves but also for their posterity after them Let thy work HEre by the work of God we are to understand some speciall and singular work of God towards them in their protection safety and deliverance And for this they use a double Reason 1. Drawne from the end of their protection viz. the glory of God because this glory of God would appeare in protecting them from their enemies the cursed Canaanites whose country they were now going to inhabite 2. That so it might fare well with the Church of God after them And that the promise of God made unto their forefathers Abraham Izaac and Jacob might not be frustrate but the Lord would give them and their posterity after them the land of Canaan to inherit Let thy work appeare SEing Moses and the people of God crave protection at Gods hand and this they acknowledge to be a work of God We learne Doct. 1 from whom to seeke for protection in times of danger God the protector of his people and in times of distresse viz of the Lord. Because all our help comfort and protection comes from him He is the Lord high Protector of his Church and people Thou art the God of my salvation saith David Ps 15.5 on thee do I wait all the day He lookes not to men or Angels but unto God alone to be his Saviour and Protector Salvation saith he belongeth unto the Lord. Psal 3.8 Whatsoever the Instrument be that God useth in the deliverance of his Church and people it is not in their Horses and Chariots but God onely that saves Thus Jehosaphat and the men of Judah 2 Chron. 20. when they were at that great straight that they knew not what to do Our eyes say they are toward thee And hence is it that David was so confident and held himselfe so safe in danger that he rested upon Gods protection Psa 23.4 Though I walke throughout the valley of the shadow of Death I wil feaâ—e no evill for thou art with me And againe The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I feare The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid what became of Pharaohs plots from time to time against the Church did not God disappoint them and still delivered his people what became of Hamans plot Achitophels counsell And those that vowed they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul Acts 23.10 Was not the Lord their Protector And hence is it that he is calld the God of patience the God of Consolation and the God of comfort By whose power assisting us and Spirit inabling us we who can neither do nor suffer any thing as of our selves 2 Cor. 1.4 Rom. 15.5 are able to do al things thorough Christ Now the Reasons why we must only seek for protection comfort and deliverance in times of distresse only from God are Reas 1 It is his commandment that in the time of misery and distresse we should still have recourse unto him Ps 50.15 Jam. 5.13 Call upon me in the time of trouble c. Is any be aflicted let him pray And thus when the Lord hath foretold the great afflictions that should betide the Church the Lord directs them to this way of their deliverance take unto you words Hos 14.23 and turne unto the Lord. Yea hee prescribes unto them the very forme of words how they are to seeke him Take away our iniquities and receive vs gratiously Secondly this is our maine end Reas 2 wherefore the Lord many times doth humble his people and bring them low that we might fly unto him for help and succour this honour God gaineth by our afflictions to drive us home to him as it is said in their afflictions they will seeke me diligently Esa 26.16 Thirdly God only is to be sought unto for protection in times of danger because the power of all creatures is but finite and they are but servants to his hand of providence but it is he that is the great Lord Protector of heaven and earth And without him neither Satan nor his instruments have power so much as over one haire of our heads and therefore the Apostle exhorts us To goe boldly to the throne of grace Heb. 4.16 that we may receive mercy and finde grace to help in time of need Seeing all protection and safegard is from God Vse 1 it is his worke How may this condemne the preposterous course of many in these dayes that in times of misery and distresse seeke any where even every where rather then unto God for help and
Eagle they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint They shall be like the tree planted by the Rivers of waters whose leaves shall not fall And this may yield matter of singular Comfort and consolation unto all the faithfull Hath the Lord begun in any of us the good worke of grace and put it into our hearts to walke in the right way of his commandements and to travaile towards the celestiall Canaan let us blesse God for this mercy And withall all intreat the Lord that he would still direct and guide us and never leâ—ve us but even bring us to the end of our Journey And never forsake us till he hath put us into the possession of that glorious inheritance prepared for us in that heavenly Canaan for if he direct us not by his grace and by his spirit it cannot be that we shall hold out but must needs turne aside in the broad way to destruction A Table of the principall Doctrines contained in this Book In the Title Doct. 1. TO doubt of Gods providence and to question his power a great sin page 5 Doct. 2. The greatest Honour is truly to be called a Servant of God page 14 Doct. 3. Teachers of the people should pray for the people Doct. 4. Times of affliction are times of prayer page 31 VERSE I. Doct. 1. The very complaints of the godly are effectuall prayers page 42 Doct. 2. When a Nation or people decay in beauty and glory it is high time to be humbled page 51 Doct. 3. To plead Gods former mercies a speciall motive to move him to pitty page 56 Doct. 4. Gods Church and people have ever had a Dwelling place page 62 Doct. 5. The Church of God is ever one and the same page 72 VERSE II. Doct. 1. In times of distresse we are ready to question Gods power page 77 Doct. 2. The knowledge of Gods covenant gives boldnesse in prayer page 84 Doct. 3. There was a time when there was no earth or world page 89 Doct. 4. God was from all eternitie page 95 VERSE III. Doct. 1. The greatest comfort to the godly in suffering times is to consider that their afflictions come from God page 101 Doct. 2. Our life and being here uncertaine page 107 Doct. 3. All men at last shall rise againe page 118 Doct. 4. Man a peece of living Clay page 131 VERSE IV. Doct. 1. Our life short being compared to eternitie page 138 Doct. 2. Man hardly convinc'd that his life is short page 142 VERSES V VI. Doct. 1. Death is unresistable page 147 Doct. 2. Death many times comes suddenly as a flood page 153 Doct. 3. Death is as a sleepe page 165 Doct. 4. Life of a man so fraile as no example can expresse page 173 VERSE VII Doct. 1. Gods people should be humbled when it fares worse with them then with the wicked page 185 Doct. 2. Though mans life be short yet sin makes it shorter page 190 Doct. 3. Extraordinary Iudgments signes of extraordinary sins page 196 Doct. 4. Mans ignorance of God great page 207 Doct. 5. Gods Anger once kindled Consumes to destruction page 110 Doct. 6. Sin most of all affects the heart of the godly page 120 VERSE VIII Doct. 1. Sight of sin Ground of Humiliation for sin page 227 Doct. 2. Sin the cause of all judgment upon a people 136 Doct. 3. Times of affliction discover Corruption page 247 Doct. 4. A true penitent will be Humbled for his most secret sins page 257 Doct. 5. Our most secret sins are done God looking on page 265 VERSE IX Doct. 1. The sufferings of the godly sometimes exceed the wicked page 274 Doct. 2. Gods hand somtimes long upon his own people Ibid. Doct. 3. The effect of Gods anger terrible page 285 Doct. 4. It is the sight of sin and the sence of Gods displeasure for sin that is the ground of true Repentance page 293 VERSE X. Doct. 1. Mans life but short page 305 Doct. 2. Misery of man since the fall wondrous great page 313 Doct. 3. There is no age of mans life but is full of labour and sorrow page 316 Doct. 4. Sin many times causeth suddain death page 323 Doct. 5. Godly confesse their own sins as the sins of others page 325 VERSE XI Doct. 1. Few take notice of Gods Anger as they ought to doe page 331 Doct. 2. Gods anger most terrible page 337 Doct. 3. Men feare God no more because they know not the power of his wrath page 340 Doct. 4. The best faile in the measure of the feare of God page 346 VERSE XII Doct. 1. No man can number his dayes aright unlesse God teach him page 355 Doct. 2. We ought to esteeme of every day as our last day page 361 Doct. 3. Men are never truly wise till then page 371 Doct. 4. True wisedome consists in true obedience page 377 VERSE XIII Doct. 1. Men never seeke to God for Reconciliation till they feele his displeasure page 385 Doct. 2. In times of misery and distresse God only is to be sought unto page 393 Doct. 3. Whilest God seems to be angry there is no peace page 405 Doct. 4. To mind the Lord of the Continuance of our affection a good motive to move him to pitty page 411 Doct. 5. In regard of Gods gratious presence God may turne aside from his people for a time page 415 Doct. 6. To plead Gods covenant an excellent motive to move him to pitty page 424 VERSE XIV Doct. 1. There can be no comfort to a distressed Soul ' till it be reconciled to God page 436 Doct. 2. Before we can be filled with mercy we must seeke our misery page 442 Doct. 3. We must labour for a plentifull sence of mercy page 446 Doct. 4. Onely Gods favour refresheth a distressed Soul page 452 Doct. 5. Gods mercyes should provoke to cheerfulnesse in his service page 457 Doct. 1. Reconciliation to God the fountaine of all true comfort page 463 Doct. 2. Our condition here wonderous Changable page 470 Doct. 3. God will never cast down his people so low bur he will raise them up at last page 480 Doct. 4. Afflictions past though long seeme short page 485 Doct. 5. We may pray for mercy answerable to our misery page 486 VERSE XVI Doct. 1. God is the protector of his people page 489 Doct. 2. Gods servants may looke for protection from him page 495 Doct. 3. No worke more excellent then Gods protecting his Church page 501 Doct. 4. To plead Gods glory a good motive to move the Lord to helpe page 509 Doct. 5. We ought to take care of the Church after our dayes page 518 Doct. 6. Wicked cannot pray for themselves or others but repenting of their sins can both page 527 VERSE XVII Doct. 1. We are deformed till the beauty of Christs Rigteousnesse be put upon us page 427 Doct. 2. Nothing we doe can prosper without Gods blessing page 532 Doct. 3. Before War is to be taken in hand God is to be Sought unto page 539 Doct. 4 Perseverance in any good Gods gift page 543 FINIS
God unto us and to our fore-fathers to put the Lord in minde how he hath heretofore been our God that he hath been seen upon the Mount when our fears were great and our dangers many and that therefore he would now in mercy be good unto us Thus O Lord thou hast been our God our refuge and our Dwelling place thou hast kept us a long time by thy power thou hast many and many a time commanded salvation to thy Church and people in times of their greatest dangers Therefore Lord defend us still leave us not nor forsake us O God of our salvation We should thus wrestle and strive with God Psal 85. as David did and as Moses and the people of God here did and say In time of famine thou hast fed us in times of persecution and dangers thou hast kept us when the bloudy sword was shaken against us thou didst preserve us in these times of ficknesse our habitations have been safe Ah Lord do not forsake us now leave us not at this time of trouble and danger but turn our hearts unto thee by unfained repentance and turn away thy heavy displeasure from us Secondly Vse 2 this serves to inform us how to get affiance and sure confidence in God in prayer viz. by recounting the antient mercies of God and experiments we have had of his love from time to time we ought to keep a catalogue of them and to repeat them oft to our own souls to that end we may grow up in experience of his power and providence and goodnesse towards us A Christians memory should be a Chronicle of antiquity And besides our own experience we have had of Gods mercifull dealing towards us we should remember what our fathers have told us and we should shew the same to our children Ps 102.18 that the children yet unborn may praise the Lord. This observation of Gods goodnesse to us will be a speciall prop to hold up our hearts and hands in prayer Ps 27.10 Put not thy servant away in anger thou hast been my help There is nothing can strengthen us more under our present sufferings then a fresh memory of Gods former mercies Lord thou hast been our dwelling place Text. THat is Lord thou hast been to our fore-fathers what a dwelling house is to men viz. a covert and a safe defence and a Castle to defend them and protect them from all hurts and dangers that though they had no dwelling place but travelled from Country to Country yet they had a sure defence for thou didst protect them and wast unto them their Dwelling place Doct. 4 The note is That Gods Church people have ever had a Dwelling place Gods people have ever had a dwelling place Deut. 33 27-29 Lord thou hast bin our dwelling place from generation to generation The Lord himself under his wings protects and defends his people and they are safe whom he keepeth The eternall God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting armes Happie art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O people saved of the Lord. Ps 127.1 2. Ps 91.1 If the Lord keep the City it is in safety The godly are said to dwell in the secret of the most High and to say unto God thou art my rock my refuge and my strong tower He shall hide me saith David in the secret of his Tabernacle Ps 27.5 The godly must not look to be freed from dangers it is enough that they are preserved in dangers How was the woman pursued in the Wildernesse by the red Dragon Rev. 12.14 yet God provided for her a habitation there for her selfe and her child which she brought forth So when the Church shall be persecuted by Tyrants she must not think that any earthly hold can keep her safe only here is her priviledge she hath the shadow of the Almighty Ps 91.1 Ps 18.2 1 Sam. 22.1 5. and the secret of the most High to fly unto How oft was David pursued by Saul sometimes by Absalom his own son yet still God provided for him a hiding place Object But hath not the Church Object and the particular members of it suffered Martyrdome slaughters c. Ans It is true Answ God suffers many times his children to fall by the cruelty of the enemies of the Church yet even therein they are more then Conquerors The primitive Martyrs in all their sufferings the Text saith They would not be delivered Heb. 11. because they looked for a better resurrection And God is pleased thus many times to suffer the wicked to prevail against their bodies for these Reasons 1. That herein and hereby the wicked might fill up the measure of their sins and so hasten their own destruction 2. Hereby God will have his truth witnessed yea sometimes with the very blood of the Saints 3. God will have it so for the utility and profit of his Church for the blood of Martyrs is the seed of the Church Yet still the promise is most sure God will be a hiding place unto his and the worst that Tyrants can do is but to kill the body and so hasten their happinesse and glory they can never prevail against the inward man nor overthrow their faith nor disappoint them of salvation But hereby our faith is exercised our patience tried and the bitternesse that we have tasted in our sufferings makes our deliverance but so much the more sweet and comfortable unto us And the Reason is Reason that neer relation that is between God and his people shewes that God must be their habitation they are his Sons they are his Spouse members of his body his friends his servants and shall not God be a house and habitation unto them Nay more they are so neer and dear unto God that he that toucheth them toucheth the apple of his eye Zach. 2.8 Such cannot want protection Seeing there is no protection and safeguard unlesse our God become our habitation and dwelling place Vse 1 This discovers unto us the folly of such who foolishly run from protection some one way and some another and never seek for Gods protection Some put their trust in strong holds in great and fortified Castles some in their wit some in their riches c. But unlesse the Lord be thy dwelling place and unlesse the Lord be thy protection thou canst have no safety though thou dwellest in an house of Ivory and in the strongest Castle made of stone yet unlesse the Lord keep thee every Sergeant of Gods judgment and every messenger of Gods vengeance will seize upon thee Seeing they only be in safety whom Use 2 the Lord covers and whom he protects with his armes and with his power we see then it is our wisdome to seek unto God for safetie and to creep under his wings for if he keep us all shall be well with us A prudent man foreseeth the evill Prov. 22.3 and hideth himselfe that is he flies to
God for protection For let men seek what shifts they can and use all the means they can to winde themselves out of misery yet unlesse the Lord keep them unlesse they seek unto him by repentance and prayer they shall be but as the bird in the net strive and struggle but shall never be able to get out but the more she strives the more she is intangled So the wicked the more they seek to avoid Gods judgments by their shifts and devices the more they are ensuared in them Unlesse the Lord be our habitation and dwelling place to protect and defend us by his owne power and providence Thirdly Use 3 the consideration hereof that God is our habitation and dwelling place to hide and shelter us when stormes and tempests are up and ready to annoy us The consideration hereof should serve to arme Christians with a holy resolution to keep in with God to obey him and to go on in a godly course and not to fear the threats and terrours of men or what man can do unto us Hath God undertaken to protect us and to be a habitation unto us to be our shield and buckler our defence and hiding place Whom then should we fear 'T is true Gods servants whilst they are here are subject to a world of dangers inward and outward But why should we fear when the Lord hath undertaken to be a buckler a shield a shadow and a hiding place unto us How oft doth David the to this Psal 18. in times of danger I love the Lord my buckler my shiâ—â—d and defence q. d. What though my troubles are many and my enemies are mighty yet I have at hand a buckler and a shield that will keep off all dangers He is my buckler my shield and my defence What a comfort was it to Jonas when scorched with heat God so seasonably provided the Gourd to spring up that refreshed him from the scorching beams of the Sun this God provided for him and thus will the Lord provide a shadow and shelter for us in times of danger What comforts have we here that may not fitly be resembled to Jonas Gourd riches honour power c. These may yield a shadow for a time but then comes the Sun shine the East-wind or the worm that nips them and they are gone Who would then trust to such shadows as these are the daies and times that we have lived to see hath declared this unto us that all earthly things are meer shadowes How is the Crown it selfe withered how many noble families and houses are now laid in the dust and what is it that we do enjoy that we can promise to our selves any certainty in at the best they are but weak helps But saith David The Lord liveth and blessed be my strong help If God be a dwelling place to his people Use 4 and that they are so safe under his wings whose faithfulnesse and truth shall be their shield and Bucker Then how fearfull is the condition of those that walk not in his waies and live not under his protection that have not God for their Habitation these lie open to all stormes and Tempests of Sathans temptations and all such miseries that a poor Creature can be subject unto Howsoever God may feed them and fill their bellies with the good things of this lise yet what comfort can they have in the evil day when conscience is let loose to speak terrible things to the soule and Sathan shall cast his fiery darts against them such must needs be at their wits end that have not a God to fly unto Doth not carnal policy teach us thus much to get into some Noble mans or some great mans Family and then we think our selves highly priviledged and wee looke for protection under them O where are our hearts Christians and where is that spiritual wisdom that ought to be in us that look no more after Gods service whose service is perfect freedom and which brings with it so much safety and security And the last is Use 5 that seeing wee may say as Moses here Lord thou hast been our dwelling place our Covert and defence in dangers thou hast protected and covered us by thy hand thou hast kept us in these contagious times wherein many have been sick many weak and many taken away by death Lord thou hast given us health after sicknesse deliverance from dangers consolation after all our sorrows and afflictions thou hast been our defence and protection Thou hast been a cover unto us or else wee had long a go perished O what shall we render to the Lord for all these benefits what rent do wee owe unto God for our Habitation and safe protection If we should finde this favour at any mans hand that he would let us have a dwelling place fit and needfull for us to defend us from storms and tempests and that for seaven years or twenty years together will he not look for some rent or service at our hands but the Lord hath been our dwelling place twenty thirty forty years from time to time unto this day Now wil not the Lord look for some Rent and service at our hands even the Rent and service of obedience and thankfulnesse that wee should not displease our Landlord that we should not grieve him or provoke him to anger but keep his favour and good will and please him in all things this Rent of obedience and thankfulnesse doth the Lord require at our hands But alas how few do pay the Lord this Rent and perform this service who albeit they receive daily from him many benefits and mercies few with that Leper in the Gospell remember to return thanks From generation to generation Text. MOses doth not here speak in the present tense that God was their Habitation But that he was the same to their Forefathers Abraham Isaack and Jacob long before even from Generation to Generation Hence wee learn that the Church in all ages is one and the same Doct. 5 The Church is ever one and the same since the first Creation God hath ever had his Church and so from Generation to Generation God hath continued his Church in the world and ever will to the end 'T is true it was sometimes limited to one Nation as to the Jews He shewed his word to Jacob his statutes and judgements to Israel He hath not done so with any Nation Io. 4.22 and Salvation is of the Jews But now in the times of the Gospell since the comming of Christ that Wall of separation is plucked up and Japhet is perswaded to dwell in the Tencs of Sem. Cant. 6.8 My Dove my undefiled is but one she is the onely one of her Mother And this is testified by that of Paul 1 Cor. 12.12 As there are many members but yet but one body so we being many are one in Christ And this doth our Saviour make clear and plain unto us Io. 10.16 when he saith
reason assigned was this Every man did that which was right in his own eyes Iudg. 17.6 What confusion is there at this day in Church and State and all under pretence of Liberty of Conscience Who doth not see that Sects and Heresies Blasphemies Contempt of Magistracy and Ministery in all places of the land is grown to such a head that if the Lord put not a stay to these spirits and licencious times what can be expected but Confusion The Apostle saith The Magistrate doth not bear the sword for nought Ro. 13.4 But as the Ministers of God are to take vengeance on them that do evil It is a sad condition that that Land and State is in when Magistrates that have the sword in their hands shall stand like a George on Horseback with his sword drawn yet never strikes How can such Magistrates approve their calling from God and look for protection from him that shew no more zeale for God Phinehas zeal in executing judgement upon Zimri and Cosbi Num. 25.11 12. brought a blessing upon the whole Congregation of Israel And the Lord shewed mercy to good Nehemiah Neh. 13.20 because he had shewed such zeal for God in punishing the profaners of the Lords Sabbaths The Lord knows this zeal for God is wanting in many Magistrates amongst us And indeed the want of the execution of Justice against the sins of these times is not the least cause wherefore things are at this passe in the Church and State as they are at this day and wherefore things prosper no better under our present Government O that all that are in Authority from the highest to the lowest would make it their care with David Ps 101.8 early to destroy the wicked of the land and to cut off wicked doers from the City of the Lord Can. 2.15 And take those foxes those little foxes that spoil the vines That Justice might run down like a stream and be duly administred without partiality that Sects and Heresies might be discountenanced and punished piety and godlinesse more incouraged that God at last may remove his anger from us and delight to dwell amongst us Thou hast set our iniquities before thee Text. c. THis Moses speaks for our capacities as if the Lord did keep a Register of our sins and set them before his sight The meaning of the words will appear by the contrary As when the Lord is said to cast our sins behinde his back as things he never means to call to minde but to put them out of his remembrance and to drown them in the sea as he did Pharaoh Now as the Lord is said to cast our sins behinde his back when he means not to punish them So he is said to set them before his eyes when he calls them to minde to punish them Whence we may note the happy fruit of affliction Doct. 3 Times of affliction discovers corruption when the Lord is pleased to send and sanctifie the same unto his people This makes them look home and to discover the evils of their own hearts and wayes which before this time they could not see In times of peace and prosperity many sins lie hid and undiscovered in Gods people but Gods judgements bring them to light Now that Gods hand is upon this people being miserably wasted and consumed with the Plague and Pestilence Now they can say Thou hast set our iniquities before thee c. In the times of Gods forbearance whilest they had their Manna and their Quails at full they were fat and wanton Jesurun waxed fat Deut. 32.15 and lightly esteemed the Rock of their salvation But now in their affliction and distresse they are taught to know themselves to look home and acknowledge that God called their sins to accompt and justly punished them for them This the Lord himself doth witness unto Hos 5.14 15. when he saith I will be unto Ephraim as a Lion and as a young Lion to the house of Judah I even I will tear and go away I will take away and none shall rescue I will go and return to my place till they acknowledge their offence and seek my face for in their affliction they will seek me early And so they did for in the next Chapter they say one to another Hos 6.1 Come let us return to the Lord for he hath wounded us and he will heal us c. Thus Esay Es 26.16 Lord in trouble have they visited thee they poured forth thei prayers when thy chastisements were upon them The Scriptures are ful of examples in this kinde how that in times of peace and prosperity many sins in Gods people have lyen hid and undiscovered which Gods judgements have discovered and brought to light Gen. 37.24.42.21 An excellent example wherewhereof we have in the Brethren of Joseph whose sin against their brother never came to Conscience for many years together untill they came into Egypt and were there stayed as spies Then their hearts smote them for their sin We have justly suffered these things for we sinned against our brother The like we may see in Manasses who did much evil in the fight of the Lord till he was carried captive into Babylon and there laid in cold irons Then Manasses knew that God was the Lord. 2 Chron. 33.13 And this we may see in the Prodigall whilest his purse was full he cared not for his father Luke 15. nor for his fathers house onely a famine makes him think of returning home Thus did Hagar grow proud and insolent in Abrahams house she then knew not her self but despised Sara her Mistris but being in the wildernesse in want was taught to know her self It is true the Philistines could not understand Sampsons Riddle Iudg. 14.14 how sweet should come out of sowre and meat out of the eater So worldlings cannot understand that tribvlation bringeth forth patience Ro. 5.3 2 Cor. 4.13 Heb. 12.11 and patience experience and experience hope and our light and momentany afslictions should cause us a far more excellent and eternal weight of glory But Gods children finde it true by comfortable experience that howsoever no visitation be sweet for the present yet afterwards it bringeth forth the quiet fruits of Righteousnesse unto them that are thereby exercised And it must be so in regard Because miseries and afflictions are excellent means to humble the heart of man Reas 1 and to abate its pride for such is our corrupt nature that in times of health peace and prosperity men are lifted up swell with pride and forget themselves Now there is no sin makes a man more odious to God then pride doth Iam. 4.6 God resisteth the proud Now the Lord many times layes sore afflictions upon his own children for this end and purpose to cure the evil And this is one end that God aimeth at in correcting man Iob 33.17 That he might hide the pride of man Miseries
put the Lord in minde to plague him for his sins Albeit there are many excellent and precious promises made unto the Godly in the word there not one of them belongs to a wicked man that is not in covenant with God And the Reasons are First Reas 1 It is the Covenant of promise made unto us in Christ that is the ground of our faith and it is faith by the which we are reconciled to God and without faith and reconciliation God lookes upon us as enemies to him and so is God an enemy to us and so long are excluded and shut out from all mercy and pitty from God God will not be moved towards those that are not in Covenant with him these are Loammi not his people Hos 1. nor God their God none of his house and family but may be called Loruami Hos 2.4 such as on whom the Lord will have no mercy Secondly Reas 2 such as are not in Covenant with God are notregarded of God The Gentiles were not in Covenant with God Eph. 2.12 and were therefore called Strangers from the Covenant of promise And all this while Christ esteemed of them but as Dogs as Christ said to the Canaanitish woman It is not meet to take the Childrens bread and to cast it to Dogs Mat. 15. Mal. 3. The Lord will be a swift witnesse against such Now what a grievous thing is it to have the Creator blessed for ever against his poor creature When Saul was an enemy to David yet David could fly to Gath and there secure himselfe from the rage of Saul But if God become our enemy whither shall we fly from him This shewes in the first place the miserable estate and condition of all unregenerate men Use 1 that be not in Covenant with God are none of his houshold servants All unbelievers all impenitent sinners they are none of Gods servants What account did the Lord make of Cain when he was cast off of God but as a vagabond and one that travelled without a passe lived from under Gods roofe and from under his protection Let such a one come unto God in prayer he can use no argument or reason to move the Lord to shew him any pitty or compassion Why God is not thy God What though thou be baptized and so a member of the visible Church so was Simon Magus thy Baptisme will no more prove thee his servant and one in Covenant with God then his Baptisme did him thy name may be called Loammi thou art none of his people neither is God thy God Let a wicked man that is none of Gods servants and in Covenant with God come and cry as Israel did My God I know thee Hos 8.2 God will say upon what acquaintance comest thou to me Dost thou call God Father so did Ephraim But God said Hos 11. ult that Ephraim did compasse God about with a lie If God should own a drunkard a swearer an unclean person or one that is prophane to be one of his servants and one in Covenant with him God might go to Hell and have such servants there Many great and pretious promises are made to Gods servants and such as are in Covenant with God as Saint Peter hath it 2 Pet. 1.4 promises concerning Justification pretious promises concerning Sanctification pretious promises concerning redemption remission of sins Adoption c. pretious promises concerning this life and concerning the life to come Now not one of them all belongs to thee if thou be not of Gods Family a Servant and one in Covenant with God 1. For pardon of sin the promise is God passeth by the iniquity of his people But what is that to thee that art none of his people God will not passe by thy sins 2. I will give you a new heart Eze. 21. saith God a promise made to such as he enters into Covenant withall but what is that to thee that hast thy old heart still So for the outward things of this life they are all promised in Christ All things are yours and ye are Christs But what are these promises to thee that art out of Christ Hath a wicked man riches honour prosperity c He holds themnot by Vertuâ— of any promise and hence it is that that which they think a blessing is a curse unto them Nay that which is most lamentable if thou be not in Covenant with God thou art most cruel to thy very posterity after thee for thus runs the promise will be thy God and the God of thy seed and I will Circumcise thy hear and the heart of thy seed after thee So that if thou that art a Parent art not in Covenant with God and on of his servants how injurious art thou to thy posterity I deny noâ—â— but God to shew the freenesse of hiâ— grace many times doth call home such unto himself that were the seed of wicked Parents yet if the Lord be not the more mercifull unto them thou inthralst them under the curse and many times it falls out that gracelesse Parents leave behind them a gracelesse posterity And let every one of us think what shall become of us when datch comes if we are not servants but out of Covenant with God nothing is ours but Hell This may serve in the second place to stir us up to labour toget into Gods service to become his servants to enter into Covenant with him so may we be bold to come to our Master to request any thing at his hand Use 2 and plead his Covenant made unto us in Christ And to take heed that wee think it not enough to professe our selves to be his Servants as many do in word and shew that get the Livery of Gods Servants upon them to hear the Word to receive the Sacrament c. as if to wear the Coat of Christ were enough to prove us to be Servants of Christ like those foolish Virns that had the Lamps of an outward profession and the names of Virgins when they wanted the oyl of grace in their hearts Mal. 1.6 This will not serve the turn If I be a Father where is my honour If I be a Master where is my fear saith the Lord If we fear to offend God fear to sin against him fear to break his Commandments fear to offend him If we enter into a straight Covenant with him to take him for our onely God to love him above all to trust in him and to make our portion and accept of the righteousnesse and obedience of Iesus Christ for Justification to life Then his promise is to give us all good things for this life and the life to come Then may we come with boldnesse unto him and claim the priviledge of Servants and the performance of his promise But if we rest upon the bare name of Servants it will not serve our turn We see in great mens houses all are not covenant-servants that retain thereto that now
a loving Husband his Wife So if thou be a true servant of God thou maist assure thy selfe that God will let his worke appear to protect and defend thee And this lets us see the happy priviledge of the faithfull above all wicked and ungodly men Vse 2 whereas the wicked lye open to all miseries and dangers have no rock of defence to fly unto for shelter the faithfull have a sure rock of defence to flye unto in time of need Hath God made this known to thy Soul that thou art one that God hath taken into covenant with himselfe O happy and blessed for ever is thy condition Psal 144 15. Happy be the people that be in such a case Blessed be those folke that have the Lord for their God others may bee more rich in regard of these outward things but none more happy The prophet concludes the happiness of such when he sayth Ps 84.11 The Lord is a Sun and a shield the Lord will give grace and glory and no good thing will he with-hold from them that are upright 1. He will be a Sun to them that is as the Sun gives light and comfort so will God be all in all unto them 2. He will be a shield unto them nothing shall hurt them that are in covenant with him 3. He will give grace more to them then to all the world besides which is more worth then kingdomes 4. Glory I am thine sayth David O save me When Christ which is our life shall appeare then shall we appeare with him in glory 5. And lastly No good thing will he with-hold if he give the greater he will not deny the lesser If riches be good they shall have it If credit be good they shall have it if health peace prosperity c. if the Lord see them good for them they shall not want them But if afflictions povertie sicknesse c. be best they shall have them too See there what a portion they shall have that have the Lord for their God that are his servants and are in covenant with him All those gratious promises that God hath made in his word belong to thee And I tell thee that one promise is more worth then all thou hast in the world besides and will last longer and do thee more good yea more thou hast now to leave to thy posterity a promise that God will be thy God and the God of thy seed after thee which is more worth then all the portion thou canst leave them Let thy works be seene q. d. O Lord let all the world see and know that thou art a mercifull deliverer of thy people that thou art their mighty Protector so that it seemes they speake of some singular work and protection of God of his Church and people Hence we learne That of all the workes of God Doct. 3 there is none more excellent then this No work more excellent then Gods protecting his Church viz. the protection of his church people for this in a way of excellency is called the peculiar worke of God It is true indeed when the Lord doth punish the stubbornnesse and rebellion of his people their infidelity murmurings and unthank fullnesse c. then appears the power of God the truth Justice of God But in nothing more doth the Lord shew his power then in protecting of his Church and people against the face of their cruell and bloody enemies And this Moses here shews when he calls this in a way of excellency The worke of God Let thy worke in protecting and delivering us thy Church and people Appeare wherein Moses doth prefer this worke of God in taking care of his Church in protecting defending and delivering of it to all other the works of God whereby he makes his power knowne then by any other token of his besides As we may see in Pharaoh when did the Lord ever get himselfe a greater name then in delivering his people out of Egypt and over his armies at the red Sea Exod. 1. Come let us work wisely saith Pharaoh but the Lord let him see that there is neither wisdome nor counsell against him but the more he sought to suppresse the Church the more it multiplyed and increased Hamans plot against the Church was very dangerous and damnable Hest 3.7.9 but the plot that he contrived the Lord disappointed and himselfe fell into that pit that he had digged for others Zac. 12.3 The Church of God is such a heavy stone that never any lifted at it but was crushed in peeces So that of the Church the Lord speaketh thus Esa 59.16 I wondred that there was no intercessor therefore his arme brought Salvation unto him and his righteousnesse it sustained him What though the Church of God be but as a garden in comparison of the rest of the world yet it is a well fenced garden and though the godly in themselves are but few weake simple and so more shiftlesse then others yet they are strangely kept 2 Reg. 6.10 and strongly preserved and have more with them then those that are against them Not that the Church and people of God are free from perils and dangers It is enough that they are preserved in them and at last shal be delivered from them as the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 4.8 We are afflicted on every side yet are we not in distresse in poverty but not overcome persecuted but not forsaken c. Now that of all the workes of God there is none more excellent then the protection of his Church these Reasons further shew First Reas 1 because this shewes that God is still present with his Church and is ready to succour them in time of danger Gather together on heapes ye people and ye shall be broken in peeces Zeph. 3.14 The reason is there given for God is with us and againe rejoyce O Daughter of Sion be joyfull O Israel for the Lord thy God is in the middest of thee The Lord indeed is present every where but in a speciall manner he is present in his Church He walketh in the middest of the seaven golden Candlesticks that is the Churches Secondly Reas 2 in regard his Church and people are most deare unto him He loveth the gates of Sion more then all the dwellings of Jacob. Ps 87.2 Es 43.4 And Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honorable aod I have loved thee And hence is it that the Church is called Esay 49 22. The beautie of the whole earth The fairest amongst women c. Cant. 14.13 All shewing the high esteeme that God hath of his Church and people Thirdly Rea. 3 the Lord is pleased thus to work for his Churches safety protection and deliverance for his owne glory that his power might and stretched out arme might appeare As the Lord said to Gideon Iudg. 7.2 the people that are with thee are too many for me to give the
Midianits into thy hand lest Israel say my hand hath saved me Thus David when he was to encounter with Goliah The Lord saith he Saveth not with sword nor speare 1 Sam. 17.4.7 but the battle is the Lords That no flesh should rejoice in his presence 1 Cor. 1.19.31 But that he that rejoyceth should rejoyce in the Lord. And lastly Reas 4 because all power and might is with him to save and deliver the Churches cause is ever the Lords cause and the people are the Lords And to bring downe the wicked God can arme frogs and lice catterpillers and the smalest of his creatures and these being sent of him shall prevaile As Moses incourageth the people Exo. 14.14 the Lord shall fight for you therefore hold your peace Seeing that herein viz Vse 1 in the proction of Gods Church and people the work of God his power wisdome justice and providence doth appeare How may this stir up all Gods people to beg and intreat the Lord that his work may appeare to us at this time wherein so many are dayly plotting to undermine Religion the Gospell and ministery and all That God would now take care of his Church and people that we may at last see Sion in her beautie and that at last we may see the Church thoroughly purged all things which make for the beautie of the Church established Let all the Lords remembrancers give him no rest till he thus shew his work upon us and make Jerusalem the praise of the whole earth O that England might now see this worke of God when so many are wrastling against this worke Esa 62.6 7. Now Lord let thy worke appear and let thy power thy providence and mercy be seene in the defence and protection of thy Gospell and Church that all the world may see that thou art mind full of thy Church And let shame fall on them that be enmies to the work of the Lord amongst us That the Lord would regard the prayers of the destitute that it may be written for the generations to come Psal 102.18 that the people that shall be created may praise the Lord. Secondly Vse 2 this lets us see the happie priviledges of Gods Church and people above all the wicked in the world that have such a watchman and keeper that never slumbreth nor sleepeth Deut. 32.11 12. It is he that keeps them as the Apple of his eye that spreadeth abroad his wings and beareth them up as the Eagle her young ones And the ground of all is his people are his portion and Jacob is the lot of his inheritance O who would not bea member of his Church to whom these excellent priviledges belong and appertaine why should we not thus trust in him in the worst of times and in the sorest danger Nothing can stave off his mercy but sin let us be humbled for sin and meete him by unfeigned repentance let us awake him by our prayers as the Disciples did Christ and say Master save us lest we perish And last of all Vse 3 when the Lord shall declare his work and shall be pleased to send deliverance to his Church and people Zac. 3.2 that they are as a brand taken out of the fire It becometh the just to be thankfull and to looke up to the hils from whence our deliverance comes and to say with Mary He that is mighty hath done great things for me Lu. 1.49 and holy is his Name Many of us partake of many mercies and deliverances from God with those Nine Lepers but few returne thankes to God but hereby we may know whether any mercy or deliverance we receive from God bebest owed upon us in mercy or judgment by considering how our hearts stand affected in thankfulnesse to God after the same And thy glory unto their children HItherto we have heard their petition and that was for protection Now for their reasons to inforce their petition and they are two 1. If the Lord would be thus pleased graciously to heare them and protect them in their journey towards Canaan it would redound much to his glory For then should those Canaanites see and all the wicked of the world that there is a God that takes care of his Church and people and might be afraid to offend him 2. If the Lord would be thus pleased to prosper them and protect them then it should fare well with the Church and people of God for Ages to come His mercifull dealing towards them would be made knowne to their Children And thy glory to their Children The Lord had promised to give the land of Canaan to this people the seed and posteritie of Abraham The Lord had now begun to bring them onward of their journey thither and if the Lord should now have cast them off in the wildernesse then the glory of the Lord should have beene obscured and the ungodly Heathen would have blasphemed God and said that it was because he was not able to do it And therefore that the glory of God might not be thus obscured or dimmed or evill spoken of by their enemies they intreat the Lord to go before them to direct and protect them so as their enemies might have no cause to insult or they once to doubt of Gods promise From hence we learne Doct. 4 To plead Gods glory a good argument to move the Lord to pitty his Church That there is no greater argument to move the Lord to protect his Church and people in times of misery and distresse then this that it shall turne much to his owne glory Our Saviour teacheth us in this prayer left unto his Church as a pattern and platforme of all our prayers First to pray that his name may be hallowed and to conclude our pravers with for thine is the Kingdome power and glory To shew that we can use no better argument to move the Lord to grant us any thing we stand in need of Then when it shall tend to his owne honour and glory for of all things the glory of God is most dear to him so as he is most tender of it and will part with it to no other Esa 42.8 I am the Lord that is my name and my glory will I not give another It was our Saviours prayer and practise to seek his Fathers glory Jo. 12.28 Father glorifie thy name Joh. 8.49 50. and againe I seek not my owne glory but his that sent me Thus Moses was so set upon Gods glory Exod. 32.32 as that he preferr'd it before his own part in the book of life And thus those Seraphims cry one to another Holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts Esa 6.3 the whole earth is full of his glory And those foure and twenty Elders say Rev. 4.11 thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and Honour and power c. And when this glory of God is set before our eyes and pleaded in our
hould on Christ and wanting repentance whereby we come to be reconciled to God How dare we approach his presence who is a consuming fire Let us then labour above all things for reconciliation and for the comfortable feeling of Gods love in Christ without which we cannot pray with faith or comfort for our selves much lesse for others And this may serve for matter of singular comfort and consolation to the Godly that are reconciled to God in Christ Vse 2 and are at peace with him these are the great favoriâ—s in the court of Heaven and may come boldly to the Throne of grace both for themselves and others and obtaine help in time of need Their Sacrifices God is well pleased withall their worship service they do unto him howsoever accompanied with manyfailings imperfections Yet because they proceed from a person accepted in Christ they please God and are accepted of him A little thing done of a child in love is more acceptable to a loving and indulgent father then much done by a slave in feare ver 17. And let the beautie of the Lord our God be upon us and stablish thou the work of our hands upon us Yea the work of our hands establish thou it THis verse containes the conclusion of the whole Psalme and the end at which Moses and the people of God aymed in all their former petitions viz. The glory of God that he would make himselfe glorious and take honour to himselfe in protecting and defending them and in causing his favour love and kindnesse towards them appeare unto all nations under Heaven In the verse they pray for two things 1. That the Beautie of the Lord might be upon theÌ„ by beautie they understand the speciall favour grace and protection of God towards them for when the Lord withdrawes his favour love and protection from his people they seeme to be forlorne as a woman forsaken of her Husband Nehe. 1.3 Even so when the Lord is pleased to manisest his love favour protection towards his people he seemes then to beautifie and adorne them 2. They pray for the Lords gratious blessing to the work of their hands that he would direct them blesse and prosper them but specially as I take it they meane their journey towards the land of Canaan that the Lord would goe along with them and guide them in their journey that they might in the end enjoy that good land promised unto Abraham Isaac and Jacob that he would give it Let the beautie of the Lord. q. d. O Lord we have laine a long time in cruel bondage in Egypt and now againe in the wildernesse soaking in much miserie and affliction without any beautie or Honour So as all Nations have contemned and despised us But now let thy Beautie shine upon us let thy favour and loving kindnesse be so plentifully shewed towards us that we may not only have comfort in our selves but may also recover againe that antient Honour and glory and reputation that formerly we had amongst the Nations Whence note first of all How Moses and the people of God crave that the Lords Beautie might be upon them herein then they confesse that they had none of their owne but were indeed deformed and full of shame in regard of their Sins That no man by nature is decked with this Beauty Doct. 1 We are deformed till the beauty of Christ be put upon us Eze. 16. till the Lord put it upon us but we are rather deformed with our sins and have no joy of spirituall Beauty till the Lord put it upon us and untill his Beauty even the pure Beauty of Christs Righteousnesse the Lamb without spot be put upon us Our naturall misery is most lively set forth by the Prophet by the misery of a poore distressed Orphan destitute and forsaken and lying in its blood c. And that which Christ spake of the Church of Laodicea Rev. 3.17 thou art miserable poore and blind and naked is true of every one of us by nature Miserable deformed creatures are we till the Lord beauty be put upon us What Beauty is in a poore naked Infant polluted in its blood We are all by nature under this misery of spirituall Nakednesse naked of originall righteousnesse and we have nothing to cover our nakednesse untill the Lord put upon us the righteousnesse of Christ to cover our deformitie Now it is only Christ that must take away this deformitie from us it is he that must cover it with his owne white rayment I counsell thee to buy of mee white rayment That thy shamefull deformitie may not appeare If a man have but this garment upon him Cant. 6.1 though he be black of himselfe as the Church confesseth yet he will be comly Yea if a man have this garment upon him if he were in Hell Hell fire could not touch him It gets the blessing as Jacob did that was covered with Esaus garment This serves for matter of Humiliation Vse 1 that seeing that by nature we have no beauty at all in us but are deformed miserable poore blind and Naked have no beauty at all in our Souls but are full of blemishes and deformities and more filthy uncleanness though thou art never so faire or beautifull in body clothed in silke and purple yet unlesse thou have Christs righteousnesse put upon thee thou hast no beauty at all but art a most vile loathsom and wretched creature O how may this humble us in our owne eyes seeing we have no beauty of our owne to be proud of nor spark of true beauty And the more we see our owne naturall deformity and spirituall nakednesse the foule spots and blemishes of our Soules the better it is for us to humble us and to make us loath our selves and to repent in dust and ashes O then let us take the glasse of Gods law and behold these foul and deformed faces of our souls and be ashamed to behold them be humbled for it God lookes not after the beautie of the body whilest thy Soul is thus deformed if thou liest in thy sins in an impenitent and unregenerate estate know that thou art a most vile and loathsom creature in his sight Secondly Vse 2 seeing we are thus voide of all Heavenly and spirituall beauty by nature let us labour to have the beauty of the Lord our God upon us to make us truly beautifull Now wherein stands this beauty of the Lord Not in a painted face which is not bâ—autie of the Lords making but rather of the devils like a rotten signe post gilded over to make a shew no nor in the beauty of nature it selfe which is but as a flower which will quickly wither and decay there is no such excellency in that which is not only unprofitable but often times pernitious but in God who is beauty it selfe and infinite in all perfections And all the beautie that is in the heavens in the earth or in any other creature is not
worke never so lawful honest good or necessary if the Lord do not direct us and blesse our indevors we cannot prosper What is the reason why many men though they have honest callings lawfull and good yet they doe not prosper nor see any fruit of their labours Surely one main cause may be this they seeke not unto God for a blessing Thou maist ride and run dig and delve plow and Sowe rise up early and go late to bed and eat the bread of Carâ—fulnesse and yet if God give not a blessing all is in vaine Seeing nothing we take in hand can prosper Vse 3 without Gods blessing This lets us see the cause why the VVord doth no more prosper in many places Congregations and families at this day we preach and you heare and little fruit and effect followes Men were ignorant before the word came amongst them and ignâ—rant still prophane before prophane still men are not will not be wrought upon Surely setting aside Gods secret purpose and will who will have mercy on whom he will have mercy whom he will he hardens And the word must be to some the Savour of death to death as to others the sweet savour to life One principall cause is men doe not begin with prayer and beg not a blessing from God we that are Ministers may look that God will blast that Sermon for the which we beg not a blessing from God And you that are our hearers may looke that God will blast your hearing when you neglect this duty But do we not see that many times the wicked do prosper Object have riches wealth and prosperitie in a greater measure then the very godly themselves As David observed in his time Psal 73.12 Loe these are the wicked these prosper in the world these increase in Riches this was such a dangerous temptation that David was assaulted withal to behold that it made him to think I have clensed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocency David himselfe shall make answer to this Resol When I went into the Sanctuary of God then understand I their end Surely thou didst set them in Slippâ—ry places thou castest them down to destruction What though God bestowes upon wicked men riches honour prosperity and all things that their hearts can wish these are but few giftes of Gods left-hand and are often bestowed in wrath not with his blessing but there goes many times a secret curse with them either they want most that they seeme to enjoy having no heart to use the riches or else God gives them to fat them up to the day of slaughter Yea the work of our hands establish thou it THis Duplication and doubling of this petition that God would prosper the work of their hands upon them denotes the earnestnesse of Moses and the people of God in craving his blessing upon their worke especially now in their journey towards the land of Canaan and now that they were to encounter with the Canaanites Teaching us thus much Doct. 3 that war is not to be undertaken Prayer before warre but God must first be consulted and sought unto Now that they were to go out against those cursed Canaanites which God had threatned to root out and to destroy they intreat the Lord first to prosper their indeavours Exo. 17.13 When Josuah the Lords Captaine fought with the Amalekits that would have kept this people from entring in to Canaan how fervent was Moses in prayer and at the time that Moses held up his hands Israel prevailed and when his hands were let downe the Amalekits prevailed thus did Jehosaphat and Hezechiah those godly Kings of Judah and Israel When they and their people were threatned with those mighty Hosts of their enemies they sought God and were heard of him and delivered And great Reason Why God is first to be consulted with Reason and invocated before war be attempted is because he is thâ— God of victory to him belongs the issue of the battle A small handfull as in the Host of Gideon commanded by him shall prosper and overcome And at his pleasure the Horse and the Rider are overthrowne at the Red Sea This may serve for our Instruction Vse 1 that when we are to go into the field and there to buckle with our enemies that we goe first to God how can wee expect that God should prosper us and go forth with our armies when we seeke not him and call not upon him in the day of trouble It is he that must cover our heads in the day of battle for without his help A Horse is a vaine thing to save a man 1 Sam. 7.8 9. 1 Cor. 5.20 Neither is the mighty saved by much strength Herein Jehosaphat strengthned the hearts of the people Feare not ye men of Judah and ye Inhabitants of Jerusalem Put your trust in him and ye shall prosper Secondly Vse 2 this may serve to exhort Princes and Magistrats Generals and Captaines and all in generall that are imployed in time of war As they desire successe and to prosper 2 Sam. 5.23 to aske first counsell of the Lord as David did when he was to go up against the Phistines Shall I go up against them And to take heed that there be no Achan in the camp for whose sake the Lord many times is provoked to hinder the success of his people and suffer their enemies to prosper The Lord knowes we have many Achans in our armies that are so far from seeking God and begging a blessing upon their undertakings that rather Achan-like trouble the Army by provoking Gods wrath against them And last of all by this doubling of their petition establish thou the work of our hands upon us Yea the work of our hands establish thou it Moses herein shewes that he did not onely crave Gods mercy and protection for the present time that God would blesse their labour and enterprises But that he would keep a continuall course in directing and protecting them for unlesse the Lord did begin continue and finish their work for them it could never come to perfection For if the Lord should have left them in the middest of their journey what had it beene the better unlesse he would bring them into Canaan that good land So that they confesse that they were never able to persevere and hold on in their course they had begun unlesse the Lord would still direct them and prosper them in their journey Hence we learne That perseverance in any good duty is the grace and gift of God Doct. 4 Perseverance in any good is Gods and as the Lord must begin any good work so he must continue it and perfect it or else it will faile And hence is it that they double their petition Direct thou Even direct thou the work of our hands upon us And this is no other thing then what the Lord hath promised They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength as the