is fallen in the streat and equity cannot enter yea truth faileth and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey Esai 59 v. 14 15. But here is comfort against this that Zions King reigneth who is just and a King that reigneth in righteousness He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes neither reprove after the hearing of his eares but with righteousness shall He judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth and righteousness shall be the girdle of His loines and faithfulness the girdle of His reines Esai 11 3 4 5. His people then need not fear seing there is Justice to be had at His bar 10. The Children of God are much fainted and discouraged when second meanes are out of sight they see not horses nor horsmen to appear in the fields for them but a right sight of this Truth would prove helpful and encouraging in this case Did they but by faith see that Zions King were reigning on His Throne and actually sweying His Scepter they would easily conclude that all would be well for this King would either work without meanes as sometime He doth or creat meanes for His own use A wight man we say never wanted weapons and shall our King be straitned for want of meanes Could Sampson without either Sword or Spear only with what came next to his hand the Jaw-bone of an asse slay so many And need we fear that our King shall want Instruments when He mindeth to work by Instruments Omnipotency cannot want hands Any of all the Creatures is sufficient in His hand with vermine He made an end of proud Herod If He but speak the word He will therewith command deliverance So that we need not fear though the fig tree should not blossome and though we should see nothing but dry bones and dry bones scattered about the graves mouth so long as this King liveth and reigneth unto whom belong the shields of the Earth Ps. 47 v. last 11. The Lords reigning in Zion may assure us that there are great and rich off-fallings to be had Courtiers fear not want so long as the King possesseth His Throne yea they dar adventure to take on Luck's head as we say and why may not the Lords people also rejoice on Lucks head seing their King shall never be dethroned It is said Esai 32 vers 1. that a King shall reigne in righteousness And what is to follow thereupon See vers 2 3. And a man shall be as an hiding place from the winde and a covert from the Tempest as Rivers of water in a dry place as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land and the eyes of them that see shall not be dim and the eares of them that hear shall hearken 12. This Consideration may fill the souls of his People with Joy and Consolation however matters go with them were they never so low were Enemies never so high were the case of the people of God never so desperat like That Zions King liveth and reigneth is the most encouraging newes that can be The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoice and let the multitude of the Isles be glade thereat Psal. 97 1. There is Joy and gladness here sowen for all the upright in heart Is not the Lord in Zion Is not her King in her Said Ieremie Chap. 8 19. It is a shame that Beleevers should any way carry themselves so as On-lookers might have ground to think that Zions King were not in her or that they themselves did not beleeve that Zions King indeed were reigning CONSIDERATION XVIII The time of Affliction is but short IT is an ordinary thing for people under Affliction to be putting moe hours in their day than twentie foure to be multiplying their yeers and accounting their moneths Yeers their weeks Moneths and their houres Dayes and to be crying out Oh will this life never have an end How long how long will this Cup be holden to my head When shall the day dawn when God shall loose this Yoke from off my neck The Harvest is past and the Summer is ended and we are not saved Ier. 8 vers 20. Will not this year put an end to our trouble How long shall the rod of the wicked rest upon the lot of the righteous How long will God lengthen-out this sad trial These speaches and the like are but too frequent in their mouth and their thoughts are too oft upon this Subject and thus eternizing their sad lot in their mindes or foolishly imagining it will not have an end in hast they multiply their own Sorrow whereas did they calculat by the Scripture-account they would see the time shorter than they now imagine it to be Now to help them as to his We shall 1. Shew what is the Scripture account of the time of Affliction 2. Answere what can be objected to the contrary 3. Show how this Consideration may and should be improven to advantage As to the First The Scriptures give us this account of the matter 1. That it will not be for ever 1 King 11. v. 39. And I will for this afflict the Seed of David but not for ever Though for their iniquities He resolved to punish and afflict the Seed of David yet it will not be for ever And what is here spoken of David's Seed will in some respect agree to the Church and People of God in all ages Ay and there may be here a Meiosis a Figure whereby much more is imported than the words signifie and this not for ever is as much as for a short time It must then be the language of unbeleef to say that God will cast off for ever and that He will be favourable no more for His strokes upon the Godly are not of that nature He may afflict for a time but not for ever 2. The Scripture telleth us that these dayes will be shortened Matth. 20 22. And except those dayes should be shortened no flesh should be saved but for the Elects sake those dayes shall be shortened Christ is speaking there of sore and sharp Tribulation that was to come upon the Land and for the comfort of the Elect He saith that those dayes of Affliction and Tribulation should not long continue but should be shortened for their sake And this will hold good in all Ages the Lord being as careful of His Elect now as then and His Elect being as ready to fainte through long Affliction now as formerly Therefore the ground of this promise continueing we must not say that the promise it self is out of date To say then that Affliction shall never have an end is upon the matter to annul this Promise 3. We finde the Scripture saying That Affliction or the rod of the wicked should not rest upon the Lot of the righteous lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity Psal. 125 v. 3. This promise containeth likewise in the bosome of it a ground of assurance that it is not
doth the Lord make a sweet promise of this for the Comfort of His people Hos. 13 v. 10. I will be thy King Whereby we see that there is such a relation betwixt God and His People that will yeeld Comfort in an evil day 2. He is not a King that is far off but is neer at hand in the midst of His Kingdome and People And this is also comfortable Kingdomes may have a King and yet be little the better of Him he may be far away and unable to help them in the day of their greatest necessity But it is not so with Zions King He is alwayes at hand in the middest of His People He is established King in Zion Psal. 2 v. 6. Yet I have set my King saith the Father of His Son the Mediator upon my holy hill Zion His whole Kingdome is as it were his Throne and there He sitteth as King on his Throne and He is placed and fixed there by a sure and unchangable Decree That question of Ieremiah Chap. 8 v. 19. putteth the matter out of question Is not the Lord in Zion Is not her King in her So Ps. 99 2. The Lord is great in Zion Zions King then is a great King in the midst of her 3. Zions King is a King actually reigning upon His Throne and exercising His Kingly Office not like a King imprisoned or put out of a capacity of helping or releiving his distressed Subjects for He reigneth Psal. 93 v. 1. and 97 1. and 99 v. 1. It is the bringing of good tidings the publishing of Peace the bringing of good tidings of good the publishing of Salvation to say unto Zion Thy God reigneth Esai 52 v. 7. Zions King is not a King outted and dethroned but actually reigning and sweying His Scepter exerceing His Kingly Office and Government 4. Zions King is an everlasting King He shall reigne for ever and ever He cannot be dethroned He must reigne until all His Enemies be made His footstool 1 Cor. 15 v. 25. for He is settled on His throne by an everlasting and unchangable decree Ps. 2 v. 6 7. And therefore He is called the King eternal 1 Tim. 1 17. That is a sweet and comfortable Word of Promise Ps. 146 v. 10. The Lord shall reigne for ever even thy God O Zion unto all generations Micah 4 7. And the Lord shall reigne over them in mount Zion from hence forth even for ever Psal. 10 v. 6. The Lord is King for ever and ever And Psal. 45 6. Thy Throne ô God is for ever ever Ier. 10 10. The Lord is an everlasting King and so His Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdom for it is said Luk. 1 33. He shall reigne over the House of Iacob for ever and of His Kingdome there shall be no end So Revel 11 15. And the Seventh Angel sounded and there were great voices in Heaven saying the Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of the Lord and of his Christ and He shall reigne for ever and ever 5. Not onely doth this King reigne in the midst of Zion His Kingdome and Throne but He ruleth in the midst of His Enemies Psal. 110 2. This is advantagious and comfortable For He can reach them a blow when He will And all their Consultations and Cabinet Counsels are well known to Him He ruleth in the midst of them and over-ruleth all their Plots and Actions as He seeth good is working out His own holy ends and designes by what they are doing Hence it followeth ver 5 6. That He shall strike thorow Kings in the day of His wrath He shall judge among the Heathen He shall fill the places with the dead bodies He shall wound the heads over many Countries Other Kings must make use of Spies and Intelligencers to know the purposes and motions of their Enemies and after all their paines remaine ignorant or if they come to some knowledge thereof be unable to prevent the mischiefe designed But this King ruleth as Commander in chiefe among the very Enemies though they know it not 6. This King of Zion is a mighty and great King He is excellent in Power Majesty and therefore is stiled King of Kings Revel 17 14. He is the blessed and only Potentat the King of Kings and Lord of Lords 1 Tim. 6 15. He hath on His thigh and on his Vesture a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revel 19 16. And therefore by Him Princes rule and all the Iudges of the earth vers 16. He is a King therefore endued with Supream Power and Authority higher than the Kings of the earth whose petty Soveraignity is as nothing compared with His. 7. As He is a Mighty and Powerful King so is He a Righteous and just King He shall reigne in righteousness Esai 32 1. The scepter of His Kingdome is a right scepter Psal. 45 6. He loveth righteousness and hateth wickedness vers 7. just and true are all His wayes who is King of Saints Revel 15 3. Righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His throne Psal. 97 2. Yea the King's strength loveth judgment He establisheth equity He executeth judgment and equity in Iacob Psal. 99 4. His strength and Power needeth not be terrible unto his Subjects for His throne is a throne of judgement and His scepter is a scepter of Righteousness All His Regalia have this engraven on them to the great comfort of His Subjects 8. He is a King that is clothed with Majestie and Terrour and so is able to affright and strike terrour in the heart of the greatest proudest Adversaries The Lord reigneth and He is clothed with Majesty Psal 93 1. This mighty one girdeth His sword on His thigh marcheth with Glory and Majesty and in Majesty he rideth prosperously Psal 45 3 4 5. The Lord is great in Zion and He is high above all people and His name is great and terrible Psal. 99 2 3. Clouds and darkness are round about Him a fire goeth before Him His lightnings enlightned the world the earth saw and trembled the hils melted like wax at the presence of the Lord at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth Psal. 97 vers 2 3 4 5. What Enemie then is able to withstand or resist this Potentat 9. He is a King thorowly fournished with all Enduements and necessarie Qualifications for the Exercise of this His Government Grace is poured into his lips and He is anoynted with the oile of gladness above His fellowes Psal. 45 2 7. In Him are hid all the treasurers of wisdom and knowledge yea in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2 3 9. He is then a Compleet King fully able to administrate this Kingly Office and to performe all Acts belonging thereunto in truth and faithfulness and in due season 10. As he is a King terrible unto the Kings of the earth Psal. 76 12. and is clothed with Majestie and Power so is He a King
short in regaird of the great and manifold effects which God is to bring about by the same a through Consideration of which would make us say if we judged according to our usual manner that the Afflictions must of necessity continue a long time to the end those great and noble effects may be produced thereby Would we consider how much Dross and Corruption in His own people remaineth to be purged away as Pride Carnality Inordinat Self-love and Love of Pleasures Riches Honours Ease c. Carnal-Security Passion Self-conceite Formality Hypocrisie c. we would see a necessity for the Crosses lying-on for a long time in order to the purging of these away As also would we consider how much Hypocrisie Hollow-heartedness there is to discover how many false Friends to Christ and His Interest there are to be made known we could not but think that of necessity in order to the effectuating of this discovery a long time of trouble and trials were requisite As likewise if we called to minde how many things His people are to learne thereby Considering I say those and such like noble Effects which the great Master of Work is to effectuate and produce by the Affliction And how they would seem to call for the continuance of the same for a considerable time And withall how notwithstanding the Lord prevents the thoughts of many and maketh a short work and doth that in a few Moneths or Dayes which we could have thought should have called for many Yeers When then the Lord maketh such a quick dispatch of such a great Business we may well say that the time is short and that many Years are but a very short time 2 The time of Afflictions may be accounted short considering what our Sins and Provocations call for at His hand When in righteousness the Lord might keep us under the rod all our dayes and multiply Afflictions upon us to our very dying day Ten or Twenty Years Captivity should seem a very short time a few Years Imprisonment would seem nothing to a man who had been condemned to perpetual Imprisonment To another possibly who got no such Sentence a few Moneths Imprisonment would seem longer than many Years to him because he expected no less than perpetual Imprisonment So were we considering that in regaird of our deservings the time of Afflictions might justly be continued to the end of our dayes a few Years or Moneths would appear to be no considerable time Wherefore in respect of our deservings a long time of Affliction is but a short time because the longest is nothing to what we have deserved 3. They may be accounted short in respect of the dayes of Prosperity which they have had sometimes in the world The Lord doth not alwayes chide He will not cast off for ever but though he cause griefe yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His tender Mercies Lam. 3 vers 32. and so He sendeth Prosperity which lasteth longer than their Adversitie did as we see Iudg. 3 vers 11. after Eight Years bondage they had rest Fourtie Years And vers 30. after Eighteen Years trouble they had rest Fourscore Years So Chap. 5 vers last after twenty Years bondage they had rest Fourty Years Thus the Lord sometimes sendeth such a length of Prosperity that the dayes of Adversity are forgotten as if they had been few and inconsiderable 4. The time of Affliction may be accounted short considering how that oftentimes for as long as the delivery seemeth to be a coming yet when it cometh His People are surprized therewith their expectation is prevented they imagined in their own apprehensions a longer duration of the trouble so that mercy preventeth them when it cometh and this maketh the by-past time of their Affliction seem short Though the People of God had been a conderable time in bondage and under the feet of Adversaries yet it appeared unto them but as it were as the time betwixt seed time and harvest Psal. 126 vers 5 6. after God had wonderfully delivered them out of Captivity and Bondage they draw this Conclusion from this rare Act of Gods Providence about them They that sow in tears shall reap in Ioy and he that goeth forth and weepeth having precious seed shall doubtless come againe with rejoiceing bringing His sheaves with him Whereby is imported that Gods People abiding by the Lord though they should meet with Affliction in their Duty and be made to weep sore be reason thereof yet the time of delivery should come like an Harvest with fruit recompensing all their toile and tears and so they summed up all their Seventy Years into less than Seven Moneths And how came it to passe that the time seemed so short That Psalm pointeth this forth as one Reason hereof Vers. 1 When the Lord turned againe the Captivity of Zion we were like men that dream They were surprized with the mercy for they did not look for it but thought their exiled Condition should have continued longer because they saw no appearance or probability of a returne So that in regaird of what the People of God themselves may imagine the time of the Affliction may be short 5. It may likewise be accounted short and inconsiderable in regaird of the wonderful and extraordinary goodness of God that appeareth in the delivery when it cometh it may be attended with such signal and notable Mercies which so fill their souls with amazement and satisfaction that the length of the time of their Affliction disappeareth and evanisheth and as if it had been nothing it is presently forgotten So in that forecited Psal. 126 vers 2. The delivery is accounted signal and wonderfully remarkable such as filled their mouth with laughter and their tongue with singing It was such a notable delivery accompanied with so many rare Passages and carrying in the bosome of it so many rare demonstrations of Gods Power Tenderness Faithfulness Constancy and loving Kindness that they could not but be filled with admiration thereat and have their tongues loosed to sing his praises Yea they took notice of this circumstance which increased the admirablness of the delivery that even Strangers and Heathens were made to say that God had done great things or the poor Jewes and they themselves being no less convinced hereof could not but subscribe to the truth thereof and as it were take the word out of their mouth and say v. 3. The Lord had done great things for us whereof we are glade Now this being so remarkable a delivery the first sight and apprehension of it did so fill their soul with Joy and Admiration that the long Seventy Years Bondage seemed to them but as the paines and labour of a few Moneths in expectation of a good harvest after the seed was sowen as the long paines of a women travelling in Child-birth are forgotten when she hath brought forth a Man-Child In respect therefore of the delivery so signal as to its Ingredients Attendants and
sometimes wise and great Politicians Statsmen and Leaders of Armies carry on their designes in such a way as ordinary onlookers shall not understand what the matter meaneth nor what is intended by what they see done with their eyes And the more they carry on their work with success in the dark and hid from the observation of ordinary spectators the more do they discover their great wit and give proof of their dexterity in the managment of affairs of greatest consequence and such under-ground workings and stratagems carry on them a special piece of Beauty and Glory Thus our Lord thinketh good sometimes to work and while working not let every one see what he is doing but carry on his business much out of sight and under ground and by Holy and Majestick Stratagems so as not only enemies shall be ignorant of what He is doing or about to do but many even of his owne followers and friends shall be in the dark So that the observation of Iob. Chap. 23 8 9. is oft times found to be true Behold I go forward but he is not there and backward but I cannot perceive him on the left hand where he doth work but I cannot behold him he hideth himself on the right hand that I cannot perceive him As also of the Psalmist Psal. 77 vers 19. Thy way is in the Sea and thy path in the great waters and thy footsteps are not known As all the wayes and footsteps of the Lord are full of Majesty and of hid and unseen Glory and therefore must be sought out of all that take pleasure therein Psal. III vers 2. so that in all of them the Lord is like Himself acteth like Himself and every piece of them discover to a spiritual observer the Finger of God So there are some special pieces of work which are more signal and remarkable and wherein the Lords gloriously-working hand is less obvious and even these works upon that very account are in a special manner Glorious and Majestick and of such is the truth in hand to be understood wherein the Lords footsteps are not seen nor known nor observable by every one for further clearing of which point of truth concerning the Lord's thinking good to work and yet to hide Himself so as it shall not be observed by every one that He is indeed working we shall mentione some few of these special Works of God that are thus covered with a cloud of Majesty that every one cannot understand the Reasons of State why such and such things are done or suffered to be done nor see the connexion betwixt these Actings and the intended Designe As 1. When there is not only a seen and palpable disproportion betwixt the meanes taken and followed and the end projected or intended and an obvious unsutableness of the meanes used unto the designe to be carried on by them But the Work of the Lord seemeth to Onlookers to Crosse and Counter-work the intended end How oft is it seen that the Works of Gods Providence seem not to run in a subserviency to the bringing effectually about of the Promises but rather to turn head upon them and to threaten the utter annulling of them and rendering of them void and of no credite When the present Dispensations of providence are considered and compared with the great things concerning the Kingdom of Christ promised who can see what rational correspondence they keep can observe them smiling one upon another as fit meanes and the end would do Nay who would not say that these Dispensations do rather drive on a direct designe to defeate the Promises who would consult with humane Reason Is not this then a special piece of the Lord's Work wherein He hideth himself and thinketh good to cloath himself with State and Majesty that every one may not be able to prye into the Depths of his Insinite Wisdom nor see how all things are laid and joynted together with firme bands and ligaments that cannot be broken or dissolved and so have a certaine connexion with the intended and promised good When Moses was sent to deliver the People of Israel out of Aegypt and to tell them good newes that the Lord had visited them and looked upon their Affliction and would now rescue and deliver them from their bondage and slavery Exod. 4 v. 30 31. the Dispensation that immediatly followed upon the neck of that seemed to keep no good correspondence therewith when their yoke was made heavier and their bondage more grievous and their slavery and hard work doubled by the People of Israel their being constrained to seek straw for themselves without diminishing the tale of their bricks and they hereupon who formerly believed the Word of God by Moses and bowed down and worshiped when they heard the same now made to say unto Moses and Aaron Exod. 5 v. 21. The Lord look upon you and judge because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his Servants to put a Sword in their hand to slay us Yet herein was a piece of that Stately Working of God which is full of Majesty which the People could not see and which Moses himself could not well take up as his words to God Vers. 22 23. evidence where he saith Lord Wherefore hast thou so evil intreated this People Why is it that thou hast sent me For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy Name he hath done evil to this People neither hast thou delivered thy people at all 2. When the Dispensations of God are such as even those whom they most concerne who have greatest interest in them and are most called therefore to understand them do not know what to say of them nor what construction to put upon them nor what to gather out of them not only in particular but even as to a more general matter that is they shall not know whether they speak-out Mercy or Anger in God towards them This must be a singular piece of God's hiding himself and covering himself with a cloud that no distinct judgment can be made of what He is doing Such was that Dispensation which Sampsons Father met with He and his Wife could not agree in their judgment as to what they saw Iudg. 13. Manaoh said Vers. 22. We shall surly die because we have seen God But his Wife on the contrary said Vers. 23. If the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have received a Burnt offering and a Meat-offering at our hands neither would he have shewed us all these things nor would he at this time have told ut such things as these So as to that strange and unusual Dispensation which holy Iob did meet with he did not know what the mind of the Lord was nor what he was intending and driving-at thereby therefore he resolveth Chap. 10 Vers. 2. to say unto God Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me which sheweth that he was utterly ignorant
hereof 3. When the Lord surprizeth His People with a Mercy and a Deliverance and cometh upon them with an unexpected Out-gate whether 1. As to their present Frame and Fitness for the mercy and delivery Or 2. As to their Present Hopes and Expectation When First I say the Lord cometh with a sweet and merciful delivery unto a People that seem to be in no present capacity for it as being out of all good Frame or Fitness for receiving such a mercy with advantage because lying in their sin and impenitency When the Lord cometh with Salvation unto such a people sure his way must be covered with darkness and hid from the eyes of Beholders with a clothing of Soveraignity for who could think that deliverance were upon its march towards such a people who are not seeking it nor turning from their sinful wayes that the Lord may have mercy upon them according to his usual Method and Order Such steps of Soveraignity are hid steps of Majesty and full of Glory and therein the Lord is hiding Himself and His way coming with Salvation in an unusual path As when he saith Esai 57 17 18. For the iniquity of his Covetousness I was wroth and smote him I hid me and was wroth and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart I have seen his wayes and will heal him I will lead him also and restore Comforts unto him and to his mourners Next When the Lord surprizeth a people with a mercy that they are not in Expectation of nor Waiting for then he acteth like a stately King and His Way is Glorious and hid as it was when the Captivity was brought back from Babylon concerning which they say Psal. 126 vers 2. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion we were like them that dream It is true they had good ground to be now looking for their delivery because of the Prophecy of Ieremiah foretelling that after Seventy Years they should return back to their owne land and Daniel understood so much and thereupon when the time was approaching set himself to pray Dan. 9. But as to the generality they were in all appearance little looking for this outgate but rather fearing more trouble and vexation by Babylons warrs with the Medes and the Persians who were coming against them though the name of Cyrus because of what was foretold by Esai Ch. 44. and 45. might have caused them lift up their heads in hope But notwithstanding of all this we see they were at least as to the generality and bulk of the people little looking for an outgate at this time therefore at the first report of freedom granted to them to returne they were like men that dream scarce beleeving their owne eyes and eares At which time while they were in this dreaming posture how were they surprized with this mercy And how was the way of the Lord in His stately Marchings hid from their eyes In reference to this same Dispensation of deliverance to his People by Crus is the Prophet here crying out thus Verily thou art a God that hidest thy self as the former part of the Chapter from the beginning cleareth 4. When Dispensations upon the one hand and the other say that in humane probability there is no appearance or ground of hope of an outgate or deliverance yet delivery cometh in an unexpected way how hid must the way of the Lord then be Thus He loveth to hide Himself in His advancing with Salvation when there is no appearance to humane Consideration whether mens eye be upon the Enemies or upon the People of God themselves As to Enemies they may 1. Be Strong Mighty and Invincible the Consideration of which might alone be sufficient to dash all hopes as who could have thought that the People of Israel being so under the feet of that mighty Monarch Pharaoh could get out of his Territories and be freed of his mighty Yoke 2. They may not only be strong but prevalent and prospering in their evil way all things succeding according to their mind the Lord as it were shining upon their Counsels and granting to them their hearts desire crossing them in none of their wicked interprizes and designes but even suffering them to devise mischiefe upon their bed and to put it the next day in execution Was it not so with Saul in his wicked persecution of David oftentimes Had he him not sometimes in a net and compassed him about on all hands that there was no apparent escaping and yet deliverance came 3. They may be also Crafty and Politick and lay their traines so sure that they may think they cannot misgive and have all things prepared to their minde that in a moment they may blow up His People that there should not so much as a memorial of them be left and yet be disappointed The Lord in an unseen way may bring about His Peoples deliverance so was it with the people of the Iewes in the dayes of Mordecay when Haman had gote a Commission sealed by the Kings ring and a Decree passed that might not be ranversed or recalled the day appointed and designed and that by a lot as having something like a divine approbation Orders dispatched to put all in execution and thus the mine was ready for the springing what hop could the poor Iewes then have of a delivery And yet behold the Lord was then a God that hid himself He was counter-working this myne and laying a back traine that might cause it spring back upon the Authors and so it did as the Storie cleareth When the Enemies thought themselves sure of their designes and thought it impossible that their purposes could fail behold the God of Israel the Saviour was hiding himself and laying an unseen ambush that cutt them off who thought to have destroyed the Iewes So upon the other hand this God will bring about deliverance to his People When upon their part there is not one toaken for good not one thing apparent that can be a probable ground of hope As 1. When their strength is gone and there are none shut up or left not a man that might be an hopful Instrument to the fore all their valiant Men and Men of Courage and such of whom any thing could be expected destroyed and taken away Yet He who is a God that hideth Himself can come in an unseen way and loveth to come so according to that gracious Word Deut. 32 vers 36. For the Lord shall judge his People and repent Himself for His Servants when he seeth that their power is gone and there is none shut up or left Was it not thus also in the dayes of Deborah when there was not a spear or sheild seen among Fourty Thousand in Israel Iudg. 5 vers 8. 2. When their heart and courage is gone they are desponding and desparing and looking on their own case as hopless and helpless as it is said of the People of Iudah while in Babylon who said Ezek.
so multiplied motives to seek salvation an outgate by sinful and unlawful wayes and meanes doubled yet the soul is fixed on Him and on Him alone and will say Asshur shall not save us we will not ride upon horses but in God alone the fatherless findeth merey Hos. 14 3. All which may discover our sinful and unsutable frame in such a dark day when the Lord is in Glory and Majesty sutable to Himself carrying on His work out of our sight and is hiding Himself that we cannot see him nor know what he is doing so may it point forth our duty and teach us what to think and what to do in such a day And to this end we may hence learn in particular to minde those duties following 1. In such a day wherein the Lord hideth Himself we should beware of entertaining any jealous thoughts of Him Satan will then be busie to muster up all the Arguments and Grounds he can to cause Beleevers at least turn jealous of God and to doubt if He will appear any more for Zion to the end they may faint and give over Faith and Hope and then he hath gained his point and Beleevers in such a day may expect this and feare their own hearts that will be too ready to comply with all Satans Motions and Suggestions This therefore would be carefully guarded against 2. In such a day the unchangable Purposes of God His faithful Word and Promises should be the subject of our Meditation on these should we dwell and ruminate to the end our heads may be keeped-up in hope and we may not despond 3. We should beware to make the day darker by sinful departing from God and by giving way to Satans Temptations When folks in a dark night are walking among snares and pits they will set down their feet with great warriness and circumspection so should we do in such a day lest we make our Condition worse 4. We should observe narrowly what we can mark in the Dispensations of the Lord that will say and evince to us according to the grounds of spiritual reasoning that God is about His work and that though we see Him not yet He in working under ground and carrying on His projects to the end we may be confirmed in our hope and strengthened to waite with patience and faith 5. We should minde our duty whatever He do for that is it we are called to and so much the rather that the Lord hideth Himself should we be diligent in unquestionable duties for He meeteth him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness Esai 64 v. 5. 6. We should beware to limite the holy One of Israel let us rather stoup and adore and acknowledge Him to be Jehovah who doth what He will The Third thing considerable in these words of truth is what is imported by that word Verily And it wouldseem to pointe out to us these particulars following which I shall but mention First That it is no light or easie mater to win to the faith and to the sight of this by saith That God is the Lord and the God of Israel and the Saviour when He hideth Himself For this ejaculation seemeth to have been or is so here expressed as if it had been the issue and result of some great inward wrestling out of which when the Prophet getteth up his head he cryeth out Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself c. And considering the frame of our heart by Nature and the subtilty of Satan and his skill and diligence to muster up all Considerations in such a day to our disadvantage this difficulty cannot but be great Secondly That this truth is of great moment being here confirmed by such an asseveration It is a truth useful and necessary to be beleeved and fixed in the heart For it is attended with great advantages and the want of the faith of it is not only sinful but most hurtful and dangerous being accompanied with many sad evils and being the cause of dreadful effects and consequences Thirdly That this Truth should be fixed in our hearts as a great and fundamental point and put beyond all doubt or disput with us that He is a God that hideth Himself the God of Israel and the Saviour The Last Particular here considerable is the Prophets uttering this Mater to God and speaking thus to Him Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself c. Which pointeth forth to us these things First The sincerity and uprightness of heart in the Prophet who could thus speak unto God and lay the matter before Him as it was Which should teach us to be honest sincere and upright in all our carriage free of deceit and hypocrisie Secondly The reality of this his Exercise and outgate for it was no made and supposed thing but real To teach us so to carry Thirdly That the Prophets heart was more warmed unto God and that this was the result of his excercise in his meditations that his heart was drawn nigher unto God for now he uttereth the matter in the very bosome of the Father It is well when our exercises have this issue and outgate Fourthly His open Profession of this matter was to exalt and glorify God for herein is a piece of solemne worship performed unto God which pointeth forth our duty in the like case CONSIDERATION XXI No man can make straight what God hath made crooked ECCLES VII V. 13. Consider the Work of God for who can make that straight which He hath made crooked IN a day wherein the People of God are persecuted and afflicted for His sake and cause it were a great help and advantage unto a christian and sutable carriage under that dispensation to have right and sutable thoughts of God and of His divine works In such a day we fancie and imagine many things amiss in the Providential Workings of God many things we think we see that might be helped and if we had the disposal of matters in our hand should be quickly redressed and thus being led away with our own proud hearts and insensibly carried down the strame we fall a censureing of the holy Way of the Lord and a quarrelling with Him because He doth not rectifie matters according to our mind and doth not governe the world or at least the Church according to our wishings and wouldings Now because this frame of spirit is so repugnant unto the Holy Will of God so unsutable unto the Children of God so hurtful unto the Soul and such an Enemie unto the right deportment of Souls in the day of Crosses and Affliction it will be of use to to speak some thing if the Lord will help to rectifie our mistakes and to cure us of these Distempers We think we see many crooked Passages in God's Way and Dispensations with the Church and with ourselves in particular and we imagine also we know wayes how to set all these crooks even But this is really a clear demonstration of our follie
they fast I will not hear their cry but I will consume them by the Sword by the Famine and by the Pestilence So the Prophet Ezekiel Ch. 24. seeth Ierusalem in the likeness of a pot full of pieces and she is called Vers 6. the pot whose scum is therein and is not gone out of it she would cast away none of her abominations and therefore the Lord said Vers 9. Wo to the bloudy City I will even make the pile for fire great Vers 10. Heap on wood kindle the fire consume the flesh and spice it well and let the bones be burnt Vers 11. Then set it empty upon the coals thereof that the brasse of it may be hot and may burn and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it and that the soumme of it may be consumed She would not put away her scum in time and therefore the Lord will put an end to it in her destruction and He will not be hindered for it is added Vers 13 14. In thy filthiness is leudness because I have purged thee and thou mast not purged thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee I the Lord have spoken it it shall come to passe and I will do it I will not go back neither will I spare neither will I repent c. The same was the sin of Israel for saith Hosea Ch. 7 10. And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face and they do not return to the Lord their God nor seek Him for all this So Chap. 11 7. And my People are bent to back sliding from me though they called them to the most High none at all would exalt Him They hardened their necks that they might not hear God's Words Therefore the Lord said Ier. 19 15. that He would bring upon Ierusalem and upon the rest of the Towns all the evil that He had pronounced against it It was this same People of which Zephaniah spaketh Chap. 1 12. That were setled on their lees and said in their heart the Lord will not do good neither will He do evil Upon which dreadful and desolating strokes are denounced to the end of that Chapter 10. When a People under their sins turne brutish sensual and senseless regarding nothing that the Lord is either doing or saying by His Servants or Dispensations but following their pleasures then an alarming and destroying stroke that shall not be turned away may be feared according to that Esai 22 v. 12 13 14. And in that day did the Lord God of Hosts call to weeping and to mourning and to baldness and to girding with sackcloth and behold joy and gladness slaying Oxen and killing Sheep eating Flesh and drinking Wine Let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall die And it was revealed in mine eares by the Lord of Hosts surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die saith the Lord God of Hosts The like we have pronounced by Amos Chap. 6 v. 1 c against such as are at ease in Zion put far away the evil day lye upon beds of yvory stretch themselves upon their couches and eat the Lambs out of the Flock and the Calves out of the midst of the Stall that chant to the sound of the viol invent to themselves Instruments of musick like David that drink wine in bowls anoynt themselves with the chiefe oyntments but they are not grieved for the Affliction of Ioseph Now see what the Lord threatneth upon this account Ver. 7. and forward confirming the same with an Oath Vers 8. to shew the immutability of this Counsel 11. When People are so far from taking conviction and making challenges welcome and from humbling themselves before the Lord in the sense of their iniquities that they will justifie their owne wayes and plead themselves innocent before God Then there being no more hop of their recovery their case seemeth desperat and they may expect a final blow For this was also the sin of this People of Iudah as we see Ier. 2 v. 23 How canst thou say I am not polluted I have not gone after Baalim Therefore Vers 24. their moneth must come wherein they shall be found and taken So Vers 35. Yet thou sayest because I am innocent surely his anger shall turn from me What followeth Behold I will plead with thee because thou sayest I have not sinned So that the Lord is engaged so much the more to plead His controversie against them and make them and the world both see by sad effects how guilty they have been Also we see how the Lord justifieth His procedour with this same People by Ezekiel Chap. 11. throughout they would say that all these calamities which they did meet with and were yet to meet with came not on them for their own sins but for their Fathers sins their Fathers said they had eaten sowre grapes and their teeth was set on edge and therefore they concluded that the way of the Lord was not equal but the Lord in that Chapter is vindicating Himself and evinceing that they were as guilty as their Fathers did tread in their Fathers footsteps approving all that their Fathers did and therefore could not plead innocent See likewise Ezek. 33 11 to 20. 12. When People will go on in their wickedness and shelter themselves under an outward Profession of Religion and Piety then it is to be feared that God shall vindicat His Name and His Glory in the sight of the Nations and make it appear that His outward worship and service shall be a scug to no profane Person For this was also the sin of this People Jer. 7 3 4. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts the God of Israel amend your wayes and your doings and I Will cause you to dwell in this place Trust ye not in lying words saying the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are these Because they had the Temple among them they thought all should be well and they should never be ruined do what they pleased But the Lord in the following Verses manifesteth that all that should no more save them than it saved Shiloh and then addeth Vers 15 16. And I will cast you out of my sight as I have cast out all your Brethren the whole Seed os Ephraim Therefore pray not thou for this People c. So saith the Lord by Esaias Ch. 1 11 c. To what purpose is the multitude of your Sacrifices c. The Lord cared for none of these things when their outward walk was not answerable to their profession He would not hear their Prayers Vers 15. So Esai 66 3 4. He thereupon threatened to choose their delusions as they had chosen their own wayes and that in which He delighted not See also Amos 5 21 to 23. Micah laith his to the charge of this same People Chap. 3 11. The heads thereof judge for reward
THE SWAN-SONG Or the Second Part of the LIFE of FAITH in times of TRIAL AFFLICTION Opened and applid by That Late Learned eminently Gracious singularly Faithful exemplarly Zealous Minister of Iesus Christ MR JOHN BROWN And published by his afflicted Friend a poor Well wisher to the Interest of Christ his suffering Remnant 1 Cor. 16 13. Watch ye stand fast in the faith quit you like men be strong Eph. 6 13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day c. Ver. 16. Above all taking the shield of faith c. 1 John 5 4. And this is the victory that over-cometh the world even our faith Philip. 4 13. I can all things through Christ which strengtheneth me Printed ANNO DOM. M. D C. LXXX To the CHRISTIAN READER More particularly to the poor suffering Remnant of the CHURCH OF SCOTLAND DEAR BRETHREN and Companions in tribulation in the Kingdom patience of JESUS CHRIST I make no other Apologie for this my present addresse than that it was amongst the last commands laid upon me by the great now glorified Author of this following treatise revised by himself almost wholly printed before his death to prefixe a few lines unto it so send it out into the Church that by it he being dead might yet speake particularly to his Brethren in tribulation to whom living he was so comfortable by holding forth light sanctuary light in their darknesses and difficulties and now continues still to be after he hath no more a being amongst us by pointing forth the way of life and strength whereby the suffering saint without succumbing or sinking because of sorrow misery and affliction may be made able to do all things and endure all things while he walks in that light But Christian Reader while I obey the last command of my dear Brother I shall so far consult thy advantage as not to keep thee back by my tedious and tastlesse scrible from the perusal of a peece which not onely as to thee needs not my Epistle of Commendation For the First Part long aâ—…oe in thy hands is a sufficient Epistle to this Second with all who are in love with know the necessitie of the way of living by faith which is the Christians life in this life for till the day of immediat vision and full fruition come we must walk by faith not by sight O blessed walke which brings with it joy unspeakeable and full of glory And so it must since it is a walking with God For as faith's first work is the association of the soul with him so its next and after vvork is the assimilation of the soul to him whereupon followes that neer that sweet and dear fruition of him which hath unspeakable joy as its inseparable Companion or native effect But the due and deserved praise of the Author is so much in the Church of Christ as it needs not the Epistle of any else to command it For First If thou be not a stranger in our Israel whoever thou be then if either eminency in grace or learning if vastnesse and pregnancy of parts if fervor of zeal according to knowledge if unvvearied diligence in the work of the Lord wherein he laboured more aboundantly than any of us all for no man in the Church of Scotland hath filled up his measure even as to that nor know nor see I a man who is like to doe it nay who is in capacitie for it If a holy heroick misreguard of men and their estimation in approving himself to God by a ready and resolute withstanding the corruptions of his time and opposing all these courses and contrivances and these unworthy connivings whereby the cause hath been prejudged yea basely abandoned and the free course and progresse of the Gospel obstructed If single sollicitousnesse and strenuous endeavours how to have pure ordinances preserved in this generation and propagat to the posteritie in a word if faithfulnesse as a servant in all the house and matters of his God even that God who counted him faithful and put him in the Ministery and loyaltie to his princely Lord and Master the prerogatives of whose Crown the Privileges of whose Kingdom and the establishment of whose Throne were more prized by him more precious and dear unto him than all other interests whatsoever nay he was so far from reguarding any other interest in respect of that alone valuable one that as he was never daunted from a plain peremptorinesse in owning thereof by the dread of poor mortals or the fear of what the stated enemy could doe unto him so he was never demurred into a forbearance or brow-beaten into a base and un Ambassadour becoming silence by the displeasure and disconntenancings even of such of his Brethren whom otherwise he loved and highly honoured as to a plain contending with them wherein he perceived them not to walk uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel and to the former principles of that Church while she retained first love and did first works Yea he judged it duetie and in this he had the mind of Christ to contend earnestly with them for their not earnest contendings for the Faith though for this he should have been contemned and accounted as he was a man of contention I say if thou be such an one to whom such a blessed Conjunction of rare Gifts with such a rich and plentiful measure of Grace can endear any man I then nothing doubt but MR BROWN Great and Gracious MR BROWN hath such a place in thy soul and such a preference to others as thou wilt judge it superfluous in me to say any thing to commend what the truely great Elijah of his time I mean of this present time when having served his generation according to the will of God he fell asleep the man jealous for the Lord God of Hosts above all his Brethren whom he hath left behind him I except not one Soul nor am I ashamed or affraid to give it under my hand doth here present thee with as his farewell to the Saints and the excellent Ones in whom he so much delighted and for whose advantage he so much laid out himself night and day and for the work and cause of Christ his Lord In so much as this his kindnesse to the Saints and care of all the Churches particularly that poor Church of Scotland keept him alwayes neer unto death through his not reguarding his own life to supply the lack of other mens service to Christ and to his Church But if thou be not such an one then as thou declares thy self unworthy of what is here presented so thou canst not quarrel if I be so far of the same opinion with thee though I dare not but wish thee to be quickly of another mind I know very well this which is here hinted of the excellent and savourie Author will be unsavourie to some yea will
2 10. Holding fast Christ's name and not denying his faith Vers. 13. Keeping Christs works unto the end Vers. 26. Keeping of Christs word and not denying his name Revel 3. v. 8. Keeping the word of Christs patience V. 10. Keeping fast and not casting away our Confidence Heb. 10 35. and the like All which say there is a time for suffering and witnessing to the truth by suffering 3. â—…he many motives and encouragments given to bear up the hearts of sufferers say that the people of God have such a lot to look for and must lay their account to meet with Trials and Tribulations for adhering to truth 4 The many Instances and examples of valiant and stedfast Sufferers before us recorded for our Instruction and Information say there is such a season wherein such as would stand fast in the faith can look for nothing but sharp trials for the Name of Jesus 5. The forewarnings given to such as will follow Christ to take up withall their cross Mat. 16 24. And that through much tribulation we must enter into the Kingdom of God Act. 14 22. And that all who will live godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution 2 Tim. 3. vers 12. That we should not think strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try us as though some strange thing hapned unto us 1 Pet. 4. vers 12 These and the like confirme this matter 6 Christ the Captaine of our Salvation was made perfect through sufferings Heb. 2 10. He himself hath told us Mat. 10 24 25 That the Disciple is not above his Master nor the Servant above his Lord that it is enough for the Disciple that he be as his Master the Servant as his Lord that if they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub how much more shall they call them of his houshold And we are bidden look unto Iesus the Author and finisher of faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the crosse despising the shame And to consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest we be wearied and fainte in our mindes Hebr. 12 2 3. And we are told 1 Petr. 2 21. That even hereunto we are called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps And againe Chap. 4 1. For asmuch as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh we should arme our selves likewise with the same mind All which and the like say that a Suffering lot is abiding the followers of Jesus and that it is the will of God they should prepare for it 7. Some special works there are which God hath upon the wheels to perfect and these call for a suffering season such as the trial and discovery of the sincerity of His grace in His own as also the exercise and promoving thereof for tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hop Rom. 5 3 4. So the trying of saith worketh patience Iam. 1 3. See also 1 Pet. 1. vers 7. and 4 12. As also the discovery of the rottenness and hypocrisie of a Professing generation who want root and so must wither when the scorching sun of persecution ariseth Mat. 13 5 21. For this is as a small sieve So also the discovery of the Maliciousness and wickedness of Enemies which lay hid and latent before it gote a seasonable vent when their hour and power of darkness cometh Luk. 22 53. 8. This may be confirmed by express Testimonies of Scripture such as 1 Pet. 2. vers 19 20 21. For this is thank worthy or grace if a man for conscience toward God endure griefe suffering wrongfully But if when ye do well suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable or grace or favour with God For even hereunto were ye called It must then be a commanded duty and obedience to a command that rendereth a man gracious and acceptable with God So 1 Pet. 4 19. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God c. this is according to his will of command So Heb. 10 39. The will of God there mentioned is as we explained it his will of command which was done by enduring patiently for the Profession of the truth a whole fight of afflictions their patient suffering being noble service to their Lord and Master By all which we see that there are some times and seasons wherein the people of God are called to suffer If it be enquired When is that Time and Season wherein the people of the Lord are called to suffer The answere is easie to wit when the red horse spoken of Revel 6 4. is sent forth and power is given to him that sitteth thereon to take peace from the earth and for that end hath given unto him a great sword that is when Truth and the Profession thereof is persecuted when Tribulation or Persecution ariseth because of the Word as it is Mat. 13 26. When men must be slain for the Word of God and for the Testimonie which they hold Revel 6 9. When the Truth and the open Profession thereof is questioned and opposed then are the followers of Christ called to suffer rather than to sin and upon all hazards to hold fast the Profession of their faith without wavering not forsaking even the assembling of themselves together Heb. 10 23 25. Then are they to make Moses's choise that is chuse rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season Heb. 11 25. When any of the revealed Truthes of God are opposed and such as owne the same are maligned hated and persecuted that is the Season wherein the Lord calleth all His to embrace any suffering rather than deny His Truth and the word of His Patience It is spoken to the commendation of the Church of Pergamos Revel 2. vers 13. That though dwelling where Satans seat was yet she held fast Christ's â—…ame and did not deny His faith even in these daies wherein Antipas Christ's faithful Martyr was slaine So that it is Christ's will and command that all his followers should abide stedfast faithful and unmovable in owning of his Truth and Cause his Word and Interest on all hazards But some will possibly enquire How shall I know whether or not I in particular be called to suffer Answer We are not to expect any extraordinary Revelation or Declaration of God's mind in this particular though I grant the Lord may condescend in love and pity to some weak persons to give some more than ordinary intimation of his will whether by some secret and forcible impulse upon their Spirits or by some influence of comfort and encouragment whereby they are enabled to despise the shame and to endure the cross as seeing the joy set before them and are strengthened against the feares of men even of the greatest and most terrible as seeing Him who is Invisible But these outflowings of his Love
if the point of Truth upon which I am questioned and staged be but small and of no great consequence and many moe than I do so judge it must I hazard on suffering upon the account thereof and think that God will accept of me therein Answere Let the point of truth be never so small and inconsiderable whether in thine own eyes or in the eyes of others yet it being a part of the Truth of God and of the Revelation of Jesus Christ it is a part of that Name of Christ's which should not be denied and of that Word which should be kept Satan may move Persecuters to urge but small things at the beginning that thereby he may make way to greater knowing that if once Professors cede in smaller matters they are the fairer to be prevailed with in greater things for hâ—…ving forsaken the Lord in lesser they are out of the ordinary rode of meeting with promised help and assistance when they are questioned upon greater things Who love Truth for Truth 's sake and upon the account that it is the Truth of Jesus will love the lâ—…ast of divine truthes and therefore will not deny it because it is a part of the Name of Christ every part whereof is sweet and desirable unto the gracious soul. On the other hand who forsake and deny Truth because it is small and inconsiderable will hold no Truth as the Name and Word of Christ and so will be faire to deny the greatest who suffer not for the Truth as it is the Truth and because it is the Truth of Christ cannot be said to suffer for conscience toward God and as holding fast the Name of Jesus and the word of his patience And such as are willing to suffer for the Truth upon this account will suffer upon all Truth how small so ever it may seem to be if it be a part of the word of His Testimony The Testimonie to the Truth is not to be estimat according to the greatness or weightiness of the Truth upon which the Testimony is called for but rather on the contrary that may be accounted a great Testimony which is for a small Truth to speak comparatively for indeed no part of Christ's truth should be accounted small because it argueth great love to the Truth and Zeal for it it argueth much singleness and honesty and so is much to the glory of God such as are thus faithful in a very little may be much esteemed of by the Lord and have rule over many cities The denying of or not witnessing unto the meanest Truth in a stated case of Confession is a being ashamed of Christ and of his Truth and who are ashamed of or deny Him before Men He will deny them before His Father which is in heaven The least sin must not be committed to shun suffering but the denying of or not bearing witness unto any of the Truthes of Christ in a day of trial is no small iniquity and therefore as we said we are to look upon our selves as called of God to suffer when we can not avoid it but by finning Yet some may say when the thing required is manifestly sinful and unrighteous the call to suffering rather in that case seemeth very clear and unquestionable and when it is so the person may have much peace and calmness within but when the question seemeth more disputable the call must needs be less clear that one hath to suffer upon that account and an unclear call cannot but creat much perturbation of mind and perplexity Ans. A call may be Gods call wherein or whereabout there may be much unclearness It is said of Abraham Heb. 11 8. That by faith when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an Inheritance he obeyed and went out though as it is added not knowing whither he went It seemeth good in the Lord's eyes not to make every ones call alike clear and unquestionable that their faith and obedience may be the more tried Some have their call to suffering written as it were with sun-beames so clearly and distinctly that he who runneth may read it others have their duty and call written with smaller letters which every one cannot read and yet this be no less the call of God than the other The call which the three Children had to suffer was clear and unquestionable 〈◊〉 being such an act of manifest Idolatry which was enjoyned them that none acquanted with the law of God could have the least scruple touching its horrid iniquity The call againe which Moses had rather to suffer than to be called the Son of Pharaohs Daughter would seem not to have been so legible and clear to all and yet it was the true call of God for by faith he obeyed this call So Daniel's call to hazard rather on the lions than forbear prayer to the God of heaven seemeth more â—…lear and legible than Mordecaiâ—…s call to hazard his own life and the life of all the Jewes before he would bow and do reverâ—…ce unto Haman â—…e Amalakite and yet this was found to be the true call of God In the primitive times the case seemed clear and unquestionable when Christians were commanded to renounce Christianity to give up their Bibles as renunceing the same or to burne incense to Idols or to build a Temple to Idols or suffer death but when their life was offered unto them on condition they would but give any old paper or clout in stead of the poors coats or would give a small summe of money wherewith to helo to build the temple to the Idol God one would think their call to suffer was more dark and yet these worthy witnesses would not redeem their life at such a rate Yea if the souldiers weary in executing of them should have violently plucked any such thing from them against their wills as desireous of the smallest seeming Victory they would not consent but run after them declaring their adherence to the truth and Marcus Arethusius would not give one penny to the building of the Idol Temple If it be said But what if by some Imprudent or Unnecessary act or other I have occasioned the trial and trouble to my self Can I in this case suppose that I am called of God to suffer I Ans. It is true that some unnecessary or not every way commendable act or other may give the first rise or occasion to our trouble and yet when sufferings are not purely upon that account nor for that cause but stated upon another ground we may notwithstanding of this imprudent or unnecessary occasioning of the trial to ourselves look upon ourselves as called of God to suffer rather than to deny Him or any part of His Truth It is observed by some of Paul that the occasion of his last trouble mentioned Act. 21. to wit his hearkening to the advice of Iames and the Elders of Ierusalem was a thing which he might well have forborne yea and
I wil raise up evil against thee out of thine own house and I will take thy wives before thine eyes and give them unto thy Neighbour and he shall lye with thy wives in the sight of this sun for thou didst this secretly but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun And this accordingly was done by that wicked wretch Absalom 2. Sam. 16. vers 22. And because of the high holy and soveraigne hand which God had in this sore aâ—…iction He saith by Nathan the Prophet that He would do it 3. We finde in the Scriptures that the wicked Enemies in following prosecuting their malicious designes against the People of God are held forth and spoken of as God's Instruments in that work As Esai 10. vers 5. Where the Assyrian is called the rod of God's anger and the staff in their hand is said to be His indignation So Vers. 15. They are compared to an aâ—… in the hand of him that heweth therewith and to a saw to a rod and to a staff all which we know can do nothing but as moved and ordered by the principal Actor To the same sense are they compared to a rasour wherewith God will shave the head and the haire of the feet and the beard Esa. 7. vers 20. Thus is Babylon called a golden cup in the hand of the Lord Ier. 51. vers 7. Likewise the Enemies are compared to a net which God will spread over his people Hos. 7. v. 12. and to a snare Ezek. 12. vers 13. They are likewise called God's sword Psal. 17. vers 13. and His hand vers 14. All which and the like expressions show That God hath a principal hand in the afflictions which his people meet with at the hands of wicked Instruments and that the wicked are but as so many Instruments and Lixes imployed by him for that effect howbeit they minde no such thing but drive on their own designes to satisfie their own wicked lusts 4. The Scripture speaketh of the Lord as raising up these wicked Instruments as leavying them and sending them to execute his will So Esai 5. vers 26. And He will lift up an Ensigne to the Nations from far and will hisse unto them from the end of the earth and behold they shall come with speed swiftlâ—… So Esai 7. vers 18. And it shall come to passe in that day that the Lord shall hisse for the flie that is in the uttermost parts of the rivers of Aegypt and for the bee that is in the Land of Assyria By which we understand that as these Enemies cannot stir notwithstanding of all their malice rage and anger against the Lord's people till God send for them and hisse for them and as it were subscribe and seal their commission so they are wholly at his disposal as the armie is at the disposal of the General or of him who leavyeth them and employeth them In like manner we read 1 Chron. 5. vers 26. that the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul King of Assyria against the Reubenits the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh So it is said Psal. 105. vers 25. That God turned the heart of the Egyptians to hate his people and to deal subtilly with his servants And 2 Cbron. 21. vers 16. that he stirred up against Iehoram the spirit of the Philistines and of the Arabians that were neer the Ethiophians 5. We finde the Lord said frequently to deliver up his people into the hands of these Enemies and to sell them unto them as it were to give them wholly up to their devotion and disposal see Iudg. 3 8. and 4. vers 2. and 6. vers 1. and 10 7. Dan. 1 2. 2 King 17. vers 20. Thereby showing that these Enemies could do nothing against the people of God untill the Lord had permitted the same and given way thereto and had as it were withdrawn his protection and taken away his hedge of defence and so left them naked and exposed unto the rage and cruelty of their brutish Enemies 6. This is also manifest from the grand and noble Purposes and Designes which the Lord bringeth about by those meanes far diffâ—…rent from what these wicked Instruments intend as we see Gen 45. and 50 Ioseph's Brethren meaned evil against him but God meaned it for good So Esai 10. vers 7. The Assyrian meaneth not so as God doth neither doth his heart think so but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few but the Lord hath another work upon mount Zion and on Ierusalem Vers. 12. to wit to punish them only by his smiting with a rod and lifting up his staff after the manner of Egypt V. 24. or as it is Esai 27 9. to purge away the iniquity of Jacob and to take away sin Wherefore seing the Lord hath such soveraigne ends as the chastisement and trial of his people the exercise of their graces c. to bring about He cannot but have a special hand in and about the meanes which serve to bring about these ends This being sufficient to cleare up what was first to be spoken to we come Secondly to speak a little of the manner and way how the hand of the Lord is to be observed in and about the sharpe afflictions of his people by the hand of wicked persons who are active therein And in speaking to this we shall wave all subtile debates concerning God's Decreeing the event of sin His Predetermination and His Concourse with second causes in those Actions which are sinful and shall onely pitch upon some particulars which are more plaine and undeniable and also more useful to the point in hand As 1 There is the Lord 's holy permission giving way to and not restraining the furie and rage of Enemies when He hath a mind to make use of them for a scourge He must loose as it were the chaine with which they are bound and restrained and take away the hedge of protection wherewith he guardeth and protecteth his people and all that belongs to them Satan could do nothing against Iob nor stirre so much as one lambs tail that belonged to him untill the Lord for holy and wise ends gave way thereunto therefore he said unto the Lord Iob 1. vers 10. Hast not thou made an hedge about him and about his house and about all that he hath on every side This is also imported in the Lords giving up his people into the hands of Enemies and selling them and delivering them as a judge doth a Malefactor into the hand of the Executioner Yet we must not conceive of this Permission as if it were in all things like unto the bare naked permissions of men but as sutable to him who is a most pure and simple Act 2. There is herein considerable the Lord's Commission to speak so not that He will warrand and approve of them in their wickedness or give them any moral Authoritie or
Power thereunto but that in his active providence He hath such a soveraigne and supream hand and all these wicked agents do so depend upon Him as they cannot stirr or move till he give as it were the signe and a Providential call and commission as souldiers can not set upon a Citie or the Enemie or give an assault or charge untill the General give the word of command Thus the Lord behoved to say to Satan ere he could trouble Iob Behold all that he hath is in thy power and againe Behold he is in thy hand Iob 1. vers 12. and 2. vers 6. This is it which David's words concerning Shimei import when he said The Lord hath said unto him curse David The lying Spirit in the mouth of Ahab's false Prophets could not go forth to deceive Ahab that he might fall at Ramoth Gilead till the Lord had said Thou shalt perswade him and prevail also go forth and do so 1 King 22 22. 3. There is the Lord 's fitting as it were and qualifying them for the work by so ordering things in his Holy and Soveraigne Providence that they are enabled to carry on their purposes and to do what they are imployed in and to performe the work they are set about Absalom could not have been such a crosse and plague to his father David as to chase him from his Throne and Kingdom unless he had gote the power of the Countrey upon his side and such a numerous army to back him and whence was this but from the Lord in his holy Justice and Soveraignity Nebuchadnezar could not have been the hammer of the earth if the Lord in his holy Providence had not given him great power and might for that end Hence Christ said to Pilat Ioh. 19. vers 11. Thou couldest have no power at all against me except it were given thee from above Pilat was boasting of his power and place and supposed that he could do what he pleased and that he had full power over Christ to crucifie him or to set him at liberty as he pleased but he boasted of that which he was not Master of for Christ â—…els him whence his power came and that he had no more than the Supream Lord and Governour the absolute Disposer of all things was pleased to grant 4. There is the Lord 's ordering and fixing the Beginning of the Trouble which neceâ—…sarily followeth upon the foregoing Acts so as the Enemies for all their heat and rage cannot touch one hair of God's Children nor work them the least trouble before the time come that the Lord hath appointed and that He as it were appoint them to beginne and give the signe The wicked are as so many rampant and devouring lions longing earnestly for their prey but God hath them so chained and muzzled that they can neither bark nor bite till He give way Early did Herod beginne to seek the life of our Lord Jesus while He was but a childe in the swedling clothes and oft did his Enemies attempt his hurt and seek advantage against Him but all in vaine for his houre was not yet come Hence it was that when the Pharisees told him that Herod was seeking his life He answered Luk. 13. vers 32 33. Go tell that fox behold I cast out Devils and do cures to day and to morrow and the third day I shall â—…e perfected Nevertheless I must walk to day and to morrow and the day following for it cannot be that a Prophet perish out of Ierusalem Jesus Christ the angel that ascended in vision to Iohn Revel 7. vers 2 3. from the East having the sâ—…al of the livâ—…ng God cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the Earth and the Sea sâ—…ying hurt not the earth neither the sea nor the trees till wâ—… have sealed the servants of our God So that there is a restraining power keeping up from hurting untill the set time come 5. There is the Lord 's determining and specifying the nature and kinde of the Trouble with which His people must be exercised and herein His determining and ordering Providence appeareth The Enemie would be at death and no less will satisfie them but He will order it so that they shall not get their will therefore will suffer them to do no more than to cast the man in prison or confine him or fine him and spoile him of his goods The Devil would have been at no less than Iob's life when he said Iob 2. vers 4. Skin for skin yea all that a man hath will â—…e give for his life But the Lord would not grant this but said save his life Vers. 6. And suffered him only to smite him with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown 6. There is the Lord 's careful Providential measuring-out the quantity of the Trouble like a faithful and painful Physician who will himself measure the quantity of the physick he is to prescribe unto his dear Son or Daughter and will not commit it unto the Apothecary who possibly may more consult his own advantage than the good of the patient Our Lord weigheth the affliction in his own just ballances Enemies may think to ruine and undo all but our God who setteth bounds to the sea limiteth their rage and will suffer them to do no more than He thinketh good The plowers plow and make long their furrowes upon the back of God's People and many a time they afflict them yet they prevail not against them why the Lord cuts asunder the cords of the wicked Psal. 129 1 2 3 4. 7. The Lord's hand of Providence appeareth in mixing together the several ingredients that make up their cup of affliction Mâ—…ny a time the Lords people have a complicated crosse as we see in Ioâ—… David Heman and others and it is the Lord who weaveth and warpeth these crosses together Satan and his Instruments are but His drudges blowing at the furnace and therefore tâ—…e Godly fixe their eye mainly upon God as knowing that He ordereth all to his own mind and no one ingredient more can be put into their cup than He will 8. The hand of the Lord appeareth in his suiting the Trouble or Calamity unto their case and necessity As a wise Physician considereth the Temper and Constitution of the patient and taketh special notice of the nature of the disease and accordingly frameth the Medicine So the Lord considereth the caâ—…e of his people and what humores and corruptions are most predominant in their souls and accordingly ordereth and prepareth such medicinal afflictions as are fittest to purge-out these peccant humores and hence there is a necessity for such sharpe Medicines as the Lord maketh use of 1 Pet. 1. vers 6 Wherein â—…egreatly rejoice though now for a season if need be ye are in â—…eaviness through manifold temptations Heaviness or Sadness through temptations and manifold temptations was necessary to their condition The Lord saw
that their case called â—…or it otherwayes he had not exercised them thus 9. So the hand of the Lord is manifest in making the affliction answerable to their strength A potion may be fit for and suitable to the disease yet may be too strong for the weak patient and more readily kill than cure therefore a wise and tender Physician will take good notice of the patients present strength So the Lord who is tender of His peoples welfare will proportion the Physick of affliction unto their strength Hence we hear it said 1 Cor. 10. vers 13. But God is faithfal who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able Accordingly Ieremiah prayeth Chap. 10. v. 24. O Lord correct me but with judgement not in thine anger lest thou bring me to nothing The Lord s way is to correct his people in measure Iâ—…r 30. vers 1â—… and 46. vers 28. And as a father pitieth them that fear him for he knoweth our frame he remembereth we are dust Psaâ—… 103. vers 13 14. He knoweth that their strength iâ—… not the strength of stones nor are their bones of brass and so he knoweth they are not able to bear many blowes Thus we see the Lord measures the affliction to their strength It is true Paul saith 2 Cor. 1. vers 8. That he and his companions were pressed out of measure and above strength which would seem to contradict what is said But this seeming contradiction will be taken away by what we shall next adde 10. When the affliction and distress is such as would undo and presse the poor Beleever out of measure if he gote not some new supply of strength to stand under that burden the Lord's hand appeareth in fitting the Beleever for the stroke and in enabling him to bear it so that he is not killed thereby nor overwhelmed therewith by giving cordials he fortifieth the man against the violence of Temptations which otherwise would prevail against him Paul and his Company 2 Cor. 1. vers 8 9. were pressed with trouble in Asia out of measure above strength so much that they despaired even of life yea and had the sentence of death in themselves such a storme was it that they could not ride it out if fresh supplies of strength and courage had not been granted by God who raiseth the dead unto them and if the Lord had not thus delivered them from so great a death they had perished but how was this done See Vers. 4 5. The God of all comfort comforted them in all their tribulations and as the sufferings of Christ abounded in them so their consolation also abounded by Christ And thus the Lord fitted them for the stroke when the stroke was too sore for them So this same Apostle when assaulted with a messenger of Satan that buffeted him 2 Cor. 12. vers 7. Was strengthened by the grace of God Vers. 9. to stand out against that temptation which otherwise had overcome him as his praying thrice that it might depart from him Vers. 8. would import Thus the Lord keepeth the head of his poor people above water by making his power to rest upon them and by making perfect his strength in their weakness Vers. 9. Thus also are they strong when weak Vers. 10. 11. The Lord 's good hand of Providence appeareth in this matter in disappointing the Enemies of their malicious designes They are busie plotting and contriving the ruine and destruction of His people but the more they seek to destroy them the more they grow and thrive the more they multiply and the stronger they become It is almost incredible what multitudes of Christians through the whole Empire the bloody persecuting Emperours destroyed and put to death in the primitive times but the more they were massacred the more they grew the bloud of the saints and martyres was the seed of the Church Daniel's adversaries thought to have gote him destroyed but their enmity and rage against him tended to his further exaltation and establishment So was it with David the more that Saul did persecute him the more his bow abode in strength 12. The Lord's hand mightily appeareth in the afflictions of his people in that He powerfully and Infallibly carrieth on and bringeth to passe His own Purposes and Designes countermining and counter working the designes and wicked projects of the Enemies yea in effectuating His own ends even by what the Enemies are doing purposely to carry on their Ends. When the Enemies are blowing with all their might to make the furnace burn hot that the mettal as they suppose and intend may be wholly consumed the Lord by that same meanes is infallibly bringing about His Ends and accomplishing His designes to wit to purge the mettal and take away the drosse By what the Assyrian was doing in prosecution of his Ends to wit to destroy and cut off nations not a few Esai 10. vers 7. The Lord was performing his whole work upon mount Zion and Ierusalem Vers. 12. and what was this but to purge away iniquity and to take away sin Esai 27. vers 9 to chasten and punish for correction and amendement Ier. 30 11. and 46 28. 13. Herein also appeareth the Lord's over-ruling hand that while possibly the trouble is in its greatest strength and Enemies are swelling in their pride and thinking their contrivances cannot fail their plots and designes are laid so deep and so sure that they cannot misgive even then the Lord will make a door of outgate appear unto his people and give some foreruning tokens of the dawning of a fair day even then He will make a way for an escape that they may be able to bear it 1 Cor. 10. vers 13. 14. Lastly His hand appeareth herein that in due time He putteth a period to the trial and trouble by delivering his people out of them all Psal. 34. vers 7 17 19. He will not suffer the rod of the wicked to rest alwayes on the back of the righteous Psal. 125. vers 3. He will not contend for ever lest the spirits should fail before him and the souls which he hath made Esai 57. vers 16. He will keep His people no longer under Physick than He seeth necessary and therefore it is but for a season that his people are in heaviness 1 Pet. 1. vers 6. Enemies think to keep the people of God at under for ever but the Lord 's supream over-ruling hand appeareth here that He hath limited the duration of the trial and trouble to Ten dayes Revel 2. vers 10. He hath limited the rage of Enemies to an hour a day a moneth and a year Revel 9. vers 15. And the treading of the holy city under foot to 42 moneths Revel 11 2. And when the Lord's time cometh all the power and malice of the Enemies will not be able to hinder the delivery and how little so ever His own people look for it yet He will work it so that though there be scarce faith
is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God and withall He is just and they are conscious to themselves of much guilt But yet notwithstanding of this the thoughts of Gods having a principal hand in all these afflictions may keep from fainting because 1. He is not intending their destruction as Enemies do but their Good their Amendement their Repentance and Returning unto the Lord c. 2. He measureth not out their aâ—…lliction according to his strength and almighty Power else He should soon crush them and bring them to nothing Will He plead against me said Iob Chap. 23. vers 6. with his great power No but He will put strength in me 3. Nor according to strick Justice and pure Wrath. In plenty of justice He will not afflict as the words of Elihu Iob 37. vers 23. may be read He will not stir up all his wrath Psal. 78. vers 38. 4. Nor according to their deservings for that word of Zophar holdeth true Iob 11. vers 6. God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth And Psal. 103. vers 10. He hath not dealt with us according to our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities 5. Nor doth the Lord deal with them as Enemies the difference is great betwixt his dealing with the one and with the other Esai 17 vers 7. Hath He smitten him as He smote those that smote him is he slaine according to the slaughter of them that are slain by him But on the contrary He dealeth with them according to a rule of Mercy and fatherly Compassion for as a Father pitieth his Children and only chasteneth them so doth the Lord deal with them He knoweth what they can bear and layeth no more upon them than they are able to bear The wise Prophet tels us Prov. 12. vers 10. That the righteous man regairdcth the life of his beast and therefore will not overcharge him with a load heavier than he can bear And will not the righteous Lord regaird the life of his own servants Are they not of much more value than many beasts Sure then He will not overcharge them 1. Cor. 10. vers 13 2. The beleeving and right consideration of this Truth That God over-ruleth and disposeth of and ordereth afflictions as He seeth good would much help unto the life of Patience which is so commendable Iam. 5. vers 11. Being a piece of the honour and badge of Saints Revel 13 10. and 14. vers 12. and so much taken notice of by God Revel 2. vers 2 19. Yea and profitable having its perfect work Iam. 1. vers 4. and bringing happiness with it Iam. 5 11. This Consideration I say rightly Improven may help hereunto for it will fortifie the soul of the Beleever against those thoughts which usually occasion impatience as 1. When the man is poreing upon the uncouthness of the Affliction wherewith he is exercised and saying with the Church Lam. 1. vers 12. Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger he is ready to give way unto impatience But when he considereth who hath prepared this potion for him that it was no unskilful Apothecary it was not the malignant Enemie that intended his death and destruction but the only Wise and Supream God who was seeking his good his life and health and who knew that no other potion would suite his distemper and purge out his peccant humores this will help him to lye under the workings of that physick with patience Though the potion of physick be bitter and work something hard yet a wise man will have patience when he considereth that the Physician who did appoint it was both well skilled and his special friend and therefore perswadeth himself that no less would do him good So when the beleever considereth that it is His God and Father who hath prepared that potion for him and that He saw his distemper called for it and when he considereth that God with his own hands did make and prepare it weighed all the doses with great carefulness and mixed in nothing but what was most necessary he will drink it though bitter with the better will and albeit it work hard and make him sick yet he will not be impatient and cry out why am I so and so handled doth every one get such paining sickning physick as this but rather say because every one needeth not such strong physick I must be dealt with in a special manner I have other corruptions than ordinary and therefore must have patience and be content to be otherwise dealt with than others usually are 2. The person in affliction when he seeth himself compassed about with evils and that he is not visited with one or two rodes but with many at once and that innumerable evils compass him about as said David Psal. 40. vers 12. which in part occasioned his adding therefore my heart faileth me or forsaketh me then he is ready to say how can I while thus invironed with evils have patience But if he would call to mind God's hand in the matter as Iob did he would with him bless the name of the Lord for then he would see that God himself had ordered all and that not one of all these multifarious evils came without the Lord 's special and active Permission and Providential Ordination Appointment and Commission and that God alone had ordered that mixture and combination of troubles and trials 3. The impatience of Gods people is oft occasioned by their imagining that the trouble is greater than they can bear as we see in Iob Chap. 6. vers 11 12. What is my strength that I should hope And what is mine end that I should prolong my dayes Is my strength the strength of stones Or is my flesh of brasse And againe Chap. 7. vers 11 12. Therefore I will not refraine my mouth I will speak in the anguish of my spirit I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Am I a sea or a whale that thou settest a watch over me But would they consider and beleeve that God knoweth what they are able to bear and is proportioning the load to their strength which He knoweth better than they do or when He seeth it fit to presse them above measure that they may despaire in themselves and not trust in themselves that then He under proppeth and supporteth the weak back and conveyethin secret strength enabling them to stand under the load and thus never layeth more on than they are able to bear If I say they were calling this to mind they would see no cause of Impatience but rather cause of crying out when we are weak then are we strong and therefore we will glory in our infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon us 2 Cor. 12. â—…ers 9 10. And they would through faith be in case to say with Paul 2 Cor. 4. vers
guaird our hearts or rather to give heart and tongue and all unto Christ to keep that we may be helped to suffer holily to His glory 2. When He was reviled He reviled not againe when He suffered He threatned not When they were doing the worst they could do against Him He did not in the least requite them or wish harme unto them but on the contrary as we heard Luk. 24. 34. He prayed the Father to forgive them So in this should we endeavour to follow our copie and thereby give proof of our Christian Patience to bless when they curse us and pray for them when they dispitfully use us and persecute us and to do them good that hate us thus shall we evidence that we are the Children of our Father who is in heaven Mat. 5 44 45. 3. He committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously He referred Himself and His Cause unto the righteous Judg of quick and dead So should we do we should not fret our selves because of evil doers neither be envious against the workers of iniquity but commit our way unto the Lord and trust also in Him and He shall bring it to passe Psal 37. vers 1 5. waite for His decision who is the righteous Judge Further the right Consideration of this Patience of Christ in all His sufferings would help us unto a more Christian and Patient way of bearing the crosse for we would see ground to say 1. Was Christ who did no sin put to all this suffering and did He bear it all with wonderful patience and should I take it ill to be thus persecuted seing howbeit men have no just quarrel against me yet God hath just cause to pursue me Was sinless and holy Jesus patient and should I be impatient who am punished of God less than mine iniquities deserve 2. Was Christ so patient under such an heavie cross with which mine is not to be compared or named in one day and should I be impatient and thereby offend God more It were better for me to be following my copie and keeping mine hands clean of sin let the crosse be what it will 3. Could not all the wrongs that Christ met with at the hands of cruel and ungrate wretches move Him once to give them one evil word or to wish them the least evil imaginable But did He rather pray for them And is it fit for me to be wishing them evil in my heart Should I not rather desire to imitate Christ and to strive against mine own passion and willingly forgive them all the wrongs they do unto me 4. Did Christ commit His cause to God and waite for His decision And should not I possesse my soul in patience resting on God by faith that He will judge all these wrongs and injuries in due time Is not God the judge And doth not vengeance belong unto Him And should I think to dethrone Him and take his office and work upon me Oh! It is better that I follow Christ roll all over on God and quiet my Soul in hope of a righteous Determination from God the righteous judge of all the world 7. The right consideration of Christ's sufferings upon such an account as to men I mean His suffering because He affirmed Himself to be a King would make the Beleever called to suffer upon that same account to wit for Asserting Maintaining Avowing and by their actions and practice Declaring that Christ is King and only King and Head over His spiritual Kingdom and Church rejoice in that honour that is put upon him to be called to witness unto such a Truth that Christ Himself was a Martyr for in respect of Men. O! how should this fill the hearts of such with joy make them sing in the midst of the flames and rejoice in that they are counted worthy to suffer for so noble a cause or for the least branch thereof 8. From Christ suffering so willingly so cheerfully so resolutly for the unjust for sinners and for rebels the Suffering beleever will draw this Conclusion did Christ suffer such things and that so cheerfully heartily and willingly for my cause and should not I be ready to suffer cheerfully heartily and willingly for his Cause Word Truth and Interest So that this would hearten unto an hearty and couragious witnessing for the Lord and for His Truth and for the Word of His Patience and shame the man from a discouraged faint-hearted dead and drouping manner of following Christ and of bearing His cross for he would see cause to say did Christ suffer so much for unworthy sinful nothing Me and that with so much Patience Cheerfulness Sted fastness and fixed Resolution and should I be ashamed of Him who is the God of glory the Prince of the Kings of the earth King of Kings and Lord of Lords or of His Cause and Interest Should I carry when suffering upon His account and upon the account of His Truth His Word His Testimony His work and Interest as if I were an evil door Should I carry as if I repented of owning Him and His Interest No no I should account it my glory as it is indeed CONSIDERATION XII Our Sufferings are nothing comparable to Christ's WHen we spoke to the last Consideration we mentioned something of this But because more is to be said of it and it may be edifyingly Improven for the ends designed we shall speak alittle more to it here by it self though it be but a branch of the former And for this cause we shall do these two things 1. We shall mention some particulars whereby the disproportion betwixt Christ's Sufferings and Ours will appear manifest 2. We shall shew how thoughts of these my prove advantagious unto a Christians spiritual life in a day of Affliction and Tribulation In order to the understanding of the first we would take notice 1. That the disproportion is infinite in respect of the Persons suffering what are we Yesterday-Nothings base and worthless wormes whose life is in our nostrils vaine empty shadowes But He is the standart-bearer amongst Ten Thousand Cant. 5. vers 10. The wonderful Counsellour the Mighty God the Everlasting Father and the Prince of peace Esai 9. vers 6. This maketh that all our Sufferings are not worthie to be compared with His. We know that the Greatness Nobility Worth and Dignity of the Person who is put to suffer maketh the Sufferings more in the account of men than otherwise they would be That a poor base unworthy beggar is scourged spit upon and buffeted is nothing or not much considerable but to see a King a Prince or great Noble-man so used that is a considerable matter in the eyes of men It is not much to see beggars sitting on dung-hils but it is much to see such as did feed delicatly sit desolat in the streets and to see such as were brought up in scarlet embraceing dunghils that is indeed matter of a lamentation Lam. 4. vers 5. To see base men
of His chosen ones And what should make His people afraied who have little or nothing to meet with in comparison of what Christ did meet with they have nothing of Law-wrath and of pure Vindictive Iustice to meet with as Christ had to rancountre with in full measure Iustice is now satisfied in their behalfe and it is their mistake to think that in and by Afflictions God is pursueing them in wrath It is true there may be fatherly anger and displeasure in the Cup Which they get to drink but Christ drank-out the Curse and satisfied Vindictive Iustice and there is no payment to Iustice no not one farthing required of them in all their Sufferings So that Beleevers have not so great cause to fear as they suppose 2. Were this rightly considered the people of God would carry more like Saints under Afflictions than they do They are oftentimes when sore afflicted saying within themselves why doth the Lord deal so with me Are not many worse than I am more gentlie dealt with Oh! They consider not what Holy and Harmless Iesus was made to suffer Sure if they considered this they durst repine and fret in their mindes no more What though they have been innocent as to men and vvhat though they be sincere and upright as to God Yet they are sinners and Christ vvho never sinned vvas othervvayes handled both at the hands of God and Man than they are though their Afflictions and Sufferings vvere many vvayes multiplied 3. Right thoughts of this would teach them to carry the yoke with very great patience and submission of Soul Holy Jesus had another sort of yoke upon His blessed neck and yet he bore it with wonderful Patience yea with Holy Delight Why then should they be so impatient under their light and easie Yoke It is little they have to bear yea nothing in comparison of what Christ stood under 4. Seing Christ suffered so much and bore the Curse what have beleevers now to endure or lye under The height they can be reckoned to is but small remnants of what fell on Christ in a full floud and what they meet with is wholly free of Vindictive Wrath. They suffer but some little thing of that which is behinde of the Sufferings of Christ Col. 1 vers 24. Christ trode the Wine-press He hath gone thorow the sea and all the mighty waves thereof The shoure of Law-vengeance fell on His face in its full force and might and there is nothing of that left but small drops of the outward Affliction freed of the Curse left behinde for His Followers Have not His Followers then cause of Rejoiceing upon this account in the midst of all their Afflictions 5. Though trouble increase yet they ought to be quiet and possesse their Soul in Patience for it will never increase to that height that it will be equal to Christ's trouble Though their Afflictions come to the heighest that men can bring them to Yet will they be infinitly below the Afflictions that Christ suffered Have any then cause to complaine when they are so gentlie dealt vvith and vvhen all their Afflictions are in a manner no Afflictions in comparison of Christs 6. We are oft ready to look upon our Sufferings thorovv a magnifying glasse and take notice of all Considerations that may serve to heighten them and thus vve take a vvay to create much more trouble and vexation to ourselves and to make our life more sad and bitter But the right improvement of this Consideration vvould prevent all this for vvould vve take a right vievv of the inconceivably great and unparalleled Sufferings of Christ ours in comparison of these would soon evanish out of sight and disappear as nothing And thus would we be brought to bear our Affliction with full Subjection of Soul with silence yea and with thankful acknowledgment of Gods Graciousness and Tenderness who hath dealt so gently with us when He might have made the yoke more yea much more heavy and insupportable 7. Who taking a right View of what Christ suffered will not think themselves called to suffer for His sake with great willingness and cheerfulness May not every Beleever say did Christ undergo the heavy weight of the Wrath of God for me Did He lye under the Law-curse and bear the blowes of Vindictive Justice for me Stood He betwixt me and the pure Wrath of a sin-revenging God Did He drink the bitter Cup the Gall and the Worm-wood of Law-vengeance that I might be freed therefrom Did He bear that under which I should have lyen to all eternity that I might never come into that place of torment And what Affliction Persecution Tribulation Distress Sorrow Paine and Suffering should I think too much for Him and His sake Seing He endured for me the brunt of the battel and stood-out the sharpest of the storm and hail of Divine Wrath and Law-Indignation why should not I be content to bear a drop of mans Wrath or of the storme of mans Indignation which is free of the Curse and of pure Wrath for Him and for His Interest Hath He suffered so much for me and shall I think much to suffer such a small matter for Him Is there no proportion betwixt what He willingly endured to save me from Hell and from the Wrath of a Sin-revenging God and what I can be put to suffer for Him and His Testimonie And shall I notwithstanding be unwilling to undergo such a small inconsiderable bit of suffering for His Glory and for the Word of His Patience Drank he the Cup of pure Wrath for me and shall I think much to drink a drop of cold Water for Him O how willing and cheerful would the right apprehension of this Consideration make the Beleever to undergo all that men could devise for His Lord and Master CONSIDERATION XIII Suffering hath been the Lot of Christ's Church in all Ages ORdinarily when the Church and People of God meet with new trials and troubles they cry out as the Church did of old Lam. 1 v. 12. Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow They presently conclude that their case hath not a parallel and that the Church in no age did meet with such a dispensation as they are under Hence proceedeth much sorrow But if it were considered that the Church in all Ages very few excepted hath met with the like or sorer trouble and hath drunk of that same cup that is now at theit Head they could not but see cause of laying their hand upon their mouth and sitting silent in the dust as being convinced that there were no new thing under the Sun Therefore seing this Consideration may be of use in order to a spiritual Life under Afflictions we shall speak a little to it and in order to the right improvement thereof lay down these following Particulars to be pondered 1. The only Wise God hath thought good for His own Holy ends that His Church should be a Militant
Church here should taste of the Worm-wood the Gall of Affliction and wade thorow Trouble and Persecution He hath seen it fit that she should be in a wilderness Condition here And so it hath been in almost all ages as might be evidenced if necessary 2. Not only hath the Church of God met with Affliction but the cup hath been long at her Head without any intermission The seed of Abraham were to be strangers to serve and be afflicted foure hundereth yeers and more even from Ismaels beginning to mock until they were delivered out of Aegypt Gen. 15 v. 13. Act. 7 6 7. with Exod. 12 41. Was not the Church keeped fourtie yeers wandering in the Wilderness before she came to rest And when settled in the promised Land how many yeers together was she oppressed by Enemies sometimes Eight Iudg. 3 8. then Eighteen vers 14. then Twenty Iudg. 4 v. 3. Then Senventie Years in captivity in Babylon And we know how the Christian Church was in an afflicted and persecuted condition in the primitive times three hundereth Yeers untill Constantine the great came to the Empire and how long she hath groaned under Antichrist's tyrannie 3. The Lord also thinketh good to renew the daies of the Church her sorrow after some warm blainks and some short respite as the primitive Church had in the intervals betwixt the Ten vehement and fiery Persecutions some whereof were of longer some of shorter continuance After a respite He sendeth a new storme so that her calamites are like waves of the sea ere one be well away another cometh Hence the Psalmist saith Ps. 129. vers 1 2. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth 4. Yea moreover the Lord seeth good to afflict her with billowes of waves of His displeasure and to afflict her very sore as Esai 64. vers 9 10 11 12. Be not wroth very sore Thy holy cities are a wilderness Zion is a wilderness Ierusalem a desolation Our holy and our beautiful house where our fathers praised thee is burnt up with fire and all our pleasant things are laid waste wilt thou refraine thy self for these things O Lord wilt thou hold thy peace and afflict us very sore This was a sore stroke which destroyed both Church and State 5. Some times the Church hath to do with moe Enemies than one at once See Psal. 83. ver 5 6 7 8. For they have consulted together with one consent they are consederat against thee The Tabernacles of Edom and the Ishmaelites of Moab and the Hagarens Gebal and Ammon and Amalek the Philistines with the Inhabitants of Tyre Assur also is joined with them they have holpen the children of Lot This was a dreadful conspiracy of all the Enemies round about both far and neer and their designe was to cut off the people of God from being a Nation that the Name of Israel might be no more in remembrance vers 4. As Herod and Pilat will agree when they are to concurre to the cutting off of Christ so these Enemies though sometimes at variance among themselves yet can agree in one to joine their forces together to destroy and cut off if they could the Inheritance of the Lord. 6. Withall the Lord may hide His face in the midst of these outward calamities and refuse to give light comfort counsel or direction She may be afflicted and tossed with tempests and withall not comforted How hath the Lord said the Church Lam. 2. v. 1 3. covered the Daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger He burned against Iacob like a flame of fire See also Chap. 3 8 9 10 11 c. and several other passages 7. Sometime the Lord so ordereth the affliction as that the very timeing of it maketh it much more heavy than otherwise it would be as when His people are secure and crying peace peace The Israelites thought all was well when they were gote out of Egypt but ere they were awar how quickly were they invironed with new Difficulties pursued by Pharaoh all his hosts having the red sea before and no way to escape upon either hand doubtless the very season time of this new difficulty made it very grievous It cannot be but sad when it is with the Church as Ieremie saith of the Church in his time Ier. 8 v. 15. and 14 19. We looked for peace but no good came for a time of healing and behold trouble 8. Not only is the Church put to contend with open Enemies but she is also much molested with false friends who under pretence of friendship seek to ruine her These prove most dangerous Enemies as traitours within a besieged place While she is prospering many offer their service to her and seem to be cordial friends and yet are but a mixed multitude who when the first occasion offers will seek to returne to Egypt for all their profession of kindness and friendship when a fit opportunity offereth there are none more bitter Enemies than they are So that it oft fareth with her as Paul said it would fare after his death with the Church of Ephesus in respect of Hereticks and false Teachers Act. 20. vers 29 30 For I know this that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock also of your own selves shall men arise speaâ—…ing perverse things c. 9. Yea so low may the Church sometimes be brought under the feet of adversaries that little hope may remaine of her recovery yea she may be looked on by one and other as in a desperat and forlorne condition so that even many of the faithful may be shaken in their hops and saying will the Lord be favourable no more Are His mercies clean gone Doth His promise fail for ever more Hath He forgotten to be gracious Hath He in anger shut up His tender mercies Such may be her condition that all humane probability of her recovery may be gone and the faithful have nothing but a bare haire ofhop to hold by or a small plank ofa promise that also under the waters of contrary dispensations to stand upon and so far may the delivery be out of sight that when it beginneth to dawne they may be as those that dream Ps. 126. vers 1. 10. Yet withall it is considerable that notwithstanding of all the opposition made by the Devil and his Instruments against the Church she hath been a burning bush and yet not consumed though she hath been many a time afflicted and that from her youth yet her adversaries have not prevailed against her the plowers have often plowed upon her back and made long their furrowes yet still the righteous Lord hath cut the cordes of the wicked Psa. 129. vers 1 2 3 4. Many an arrow have they shot at her yet mount Zion stands and she hath her Towers Bulwarcks and Palaces Psal. 48. She is founded upon the rock of ages and the ports of hell cannot prevail against her Mat. 16. No
quickly than otherwayes in all probability it would have been When Paul is speaking of his Sufferings Col. 1 24. he saith they were for them and not so only but for the whole body the Church Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up that which is behinde of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his bodies sake which is the Church So 2 Cor. 1 6. And whether we be afflicted it is for your Consolation and Salvation 2 Tim. 2 10. Therefore I endure all things for the Elects sake Another plaine Instance we have Phil. 1 12. But I would ye should understand Brethren that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel 1. For further clearing up of this we shall mentione some particular Advantages which the Church reapeth by the Sufferings of Christ's Eminent Servants and Followers 1. Their sufferings upon the account of Truth serve much to Strengthen and Establish the rest of the people of God in the faith for the truth is thereby much confirmed unto them and made to have some deeper Impression in their hearts when they see that the Truthes which those Servants of Christ delivered unto them were such as the Preachers themselves were perswaded of as truthes and as weighty truthes yea and such as they are ready to seal with their bloud It is for this cause that Paul maketh mention of his sufferings in that Epistle to the Colossians for he is endeavouring to settle them in the faith and to keep them stedfast in the day of Temptation He would have them vers 23. Continue in the faith grounded and setled and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel And because they might have said what can we do when you are put to such sufferings and are shut up in Prison He obviateth this by saying I rejoice in my sufferings for you As if he had said My Imprisonment and Sufferings are not to your disadvantage but for your good and upon that account I rejoice in them So that this is a notable mean to keep others stedfast in the truth As upon the other hand it is a potent and forcible mean to shake poor people out of their hopes and to confirme many in Atheisme and Infidelity when they see such as have been preaching forth truthes unto them refusing to stand to them and avow them in a day of Temptation Hence is it that Satan seeing this so much for his advantage doubleth the force of his Temptations and Assaults against such knowing that the fall of one such may endanger many and occasione the staggering of multitudes 2. By this meanes the Gospel is made to spread more and and that not only by occasion of the banishment of Preachers as we see Act. 8. but also that by reason of their very Imprisonment or Persecution to the death many will be made to enquire after the cause why such are put to so hard sufferings and after enquirie some may be made to see that their Cause is just and righteous howbeit they be condemned thus may be brought to like their cause befriend it to hate the carriage of the Persecuters So that the Gospel-truth is no loser by all the loss that the Preachers suffer upon the account thereof for when strangers observe that such men of Understanding judgment and Conscience are ready and willing to confirme the truth of what they assert with their bloud and to suffer any thing rather than deny the same they beginne to search more seriously after the matter and to consider its consequences and come at length to affect that way more in their heart an Instance whereof we have Phil. 1 12. 13. He told them vers 12. that what hardships had befallen him had fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel and in the next verse he sheweth how this was saying so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the Palace and in all other places The report of his Imprisonment for the Name of Christ went far and neer so that even Caesars Court ringed againe with the noise of it and they are talking of it among themselves and severals are converted to the truth thereby and brought to embrace the Gospel for he tels us Chap. 4 22. That there were Saints in Caesar's houshold all the saints salute you cheefly they that are of Caesar's houshold 3. When the Lords eminent Servants are persecuted upon the account of truth the â—…ord is to speak so more engaged to do for His Church to owne her and to counter work the plots and wicked devices of Satan and this He is pleased for the glory of His name to declare and manifest by making thereby the Gospel to flourish more in power and life and to bless the laboures of a few the more The Church did never thrive better than in the Primitive times during these hote persecutions Iâ—… time of persecution the Church is purer for few adhere to the truth but such who have received the truth as it is in jesus and have the grace of God in them in truth then are there fewest hypocrites to be found in the Church the heat of persecution driveth them away and driveth the uprght hearted neerer to God so that their grace communion with God groweth their mortification to the things of this life increaseth and they become more and more crucified unto the world and the world unto them So that howbeit the outward bulk of Professours diminish yet the true hearted grow more lively strong and vigorous and the inward man is renewed day by day 2 Cor. 4 16. So that really the Church suffereth no loss but is a gainer 4. By this meanes many other faithful zealous and honest-hearted Servants of God are made through the Lord's wonderful defeating of the Counsels of Satan more bold forward in owning declaring the truth The devil thinks by the sufferings of some eminent Servants to discourage and fainte many as supposing that they will be affrighted from their duty but the grace and power of God worketh-out the contrary event As we see Phil. 1 14. where another fruit of Paul's bonds and Imprisonment is added And many of the Brethren in the Lord waâ—…ing confident by my bondes are much more bold to speak the word without fear So that the Church is a gainer through the Lord 's wonderful working by all these Sufferings 5. There is hereby an encouraging exemple laid before others â—…is no small advantage unto particular Beleevers in a time of Persecution to know of some precedent of some that have gone thorow the foord before them Therefore saith the Apostle Iames Chap. 5 10. Take my Brethren the Prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord for an example of suffering affliction and of Patience so that such Examples are refreshing and helpful unto their Constancy and Stedfastness when they see others standing fast in the faith in the
midst of all persecutions that they meet with they are animated unto the like stedfastness and to resolution in adhering fixedly to the truth such examples will make even a timorous man wax bold and the exemplary carriage of sufferers is very encouraging and comfortable wherefore the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 1 6. whether we be afflicted it is for your Consolation Therefore these Sufferings are much for the advantage of the Church 6. Hereby is the Church awakened from security and made to look out for a suffering lot when thus it is done to the green tree they are made to take Warning Such a dispensation is as the sounding of the trumpet for an alarme and this is no small advantage when she is raised to her feet and put in a postour and made ready for the battel then she needeth not fear a surprisal but hath time to prepare and make ready for the storme In order to the Improvement of this Consideration we would 1. Beware to conclude that all is gone when we hear or see Christs eminent Servants put to sad sufferings We are ready to wonder why the Lord should suffer such and such things to be done why He should suffer such sad things to befall His eminent and useful Servants who cannot well be missed one whereof is worth an hundered so that the Death or Imprisonment of one such threatneth more destruction to the Church than the loss of many But we know not the thoughts of the Lord we know not what He is designing and what He mindeth to effectuat thereby And if we beleeved that even such a dispensation as this could do no harme to the Church how little would we be troubled at it If we saw what an effectual way this were in the steady unerring Hand of God to bring about the spiritual advantage of the Church how would we lay our hands upon our mouth and be silent And though we can not see in particular what advantage the Church is like to get by the taking away of such as were as Pillars of the Church Yet we should by faith rest assured that the Head and Husband of the Church would not suffer such a Dispensation to come if He knew not how to bring good and advantage out of it and that thereby good seed was sowen which though accompanied with teares and bloud yet should yeeld full sheaves at length which should be brought home with Joy 2. We would do well to search ourselves at such a time to see if we as particular members of the Church be reaping any advantage by what we hear and see of the Sufferings of Christs eminent Servants as for example see if thereby the truth of the Gospel become more riveted in our souls we becometh more rooted in the faith and assurance thereof and more fixed in our Resolution to adhere thereunto See if Truth becometh lovely desireable to us upon this account See if grace be growing more within and if our hearts and affections be loosed more and more from the things of a world and we be prepared more to quite all for Christ and His Cause See if by the example of others we be more animated and encouraged to avow and abide by the truth cost what it will See if these newes be raising us out of our bed and making us prepare for the battel and make ready for the approaching storme if we finde any such advantage thereby let us blesse Him who is giving us meat out of the eater and doing us good by the dear cost and charges of others 3. This should comfort such as are called forth to suffer for the Name of Jesus they need not trouble themselves with thoughts what shall become of the Church and Interest of Christ but leave that upon the Lord and beleeve that He shall make it contribute to the furtherance of the Gospel and to the enlairgment of His Kingdom Ministers called to suffer may possibly think Oh what shall become of the poor people we cannot get preached unto them as formerly but what if God make their stedfastness in suffering more advantagious than their preachings would have been What if that edifie more than many preachings did or would do Ought not they upon this Consideration rejoice in their Lot and suffer cheerfully that Christs Interest may prosper more thereby What know they what influence their Christian carriage may have on all On-lookers yea and on Enemies and Persecuters themselves beside what confirmation friends may have thereby CONSIDERATION XVII The Lord Reigneth in Zion BEleevers are not like unto the Subjects of Kings here on earth who may be dethroned and their Crowns may fall from their Heads and the Scepters be taken out of their hands and they may lose all the Ensignes of Royalty and when it falleth out so as is done many a time Subjects have but cold Comfort in looking to the Throne when it hath forsaken him that sat thereon But Beleevers have a King who liveth and reigneth for ever and ever and whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom It cannot then but be strange that when Men who have all their temporal happiness hanging upon the standing of Kings of Clay can rejoyce in adversity when they have any hope of their King 's recovering of his lost Throne and Kingdome though the grounds of their Hop be most disputable and uncertaine that the Children of God in the day of their Adversity can draw so little Comfort from the sure and certaine Grounds of Hope which they have to look to If Christs Crown and Throne were not surer than the fading and perishing Regalia of Men what would beleevers do Whither could they go for consolation in the day of their Distress and Anguish But now seing their King is not like the Kings of the Earth why are they so heartless in the day of their extremity Sure the Reason must be because they beleeve not that He is such a King as He is indeed or they know not how to improve to any spiritual Advantage such a noble Ground of Consolation as this is Wherefore it may be useful to speak a little unto this And so we shall first lay down some Propositions clearing up this Truth and next some Conclusions pointing out the improvement that may be made thereof First As for the Propositions take these following 1. The Lord standeth under the Relation of a King to His Church and People He hath taken to himself that Name and Title and accordingly we finde them eyeing this in the day of their Distress So David Psal. 5 vers 2. and 84 v. 2. embraceth Him crying My King and my God and he comforteth himself with this Ps. 10. v. 16. The Lord is King for ever and ever And the Church crieth out Psal. 74 v. 2. God is my King of old and comforteth herself with this Esai 33 v. 22. The Lord is our judge the Lord is our Lawgiver the Lord is our King He will save us So
46 5. It is promised Mic. 4 7. That the Lord shall reigne over them in mount Zion and what followeth And thou ô Toure of the Flock vers 8. the strong hold of the Daughter of Zion unto thee shall it come even the first Dominion the Kingdome shall come to the Daughter of Ierusalem 5. Though it frequently come to passe that God's people are brought low and Enemies get the upper hand yet Zion's King liveth and therefore He will Assemble her that halteth and will gather her that is driven out and her that have been afflicted and make her that halteth a remnant her that was cast off a strong Nation Mica 4 6 7. Because He liveth His members must live also Seing the Churches Head is above the water she cannot drown Wherefore upon this very ground that Zions King liveth and reigneth His Church and People even while low and under the feet of Enemies may lift up their head in hop and be sure that their day of redemption draweth neer and they may conclude with the Church Esai 33 22. The Lord is our judge the Lord is our King He will save us Seing He is King He can command deliverance Psal. 44. 4. and work Salvation Psal. 74 12. Upon this ground David inferreth a Delivery and a Victory Psal. 10 v. 16. The Lord is King for ever and ever the heathen are perished out of his land Enemies will not be able to stand long in Immanuel's Land It is His work as King to deliver and defend His Subjects and they may be sure He will not deny Himself He will answere â—…is Title and Relation 6. When His people see that all their Strength is gone and that there is none shut up or left they are ready to conclude that all is gone But what cannot this King in Zion soon leavy an Army How easie is it for Him to speak to dry bones and make them armed men Ezek. 37. When mention was made of this Ruler in Israel whose goings forth were from of old and who should stand and feed in the strength of the Lord in the Majesty of the Name of the Lord His God Micah 5 4. It is added This man shall be the peace when the Assyrian shall come into our Land and when he shall trade in our Palaces then shall we raise against him Seven shepherds and eight Principal men and they shall waste the Land of Assyria with the sword and the Land of Nimrod in the entrance thereof Thus shall He deliver us from the Assyrian when he cometh into our Land and treadeth within our borders And the remnant of Iacob shall be among the Gentils in the midst of many people as a Lion among the beasts of the forest as the young Lion among the Flocks of sheep Thine hand shall be lift up upon thine Adversaries and all thine enemies shall be cut off vers 5 6 7 8 9. When His people are brought very low so that in all probability they shall not be able to raise up themselves then this King can help the business He can raise up an invincible army out of lame sick souldiers He can make Ierusalem a cup of trembling and a burdensome stone for all people Zech. 12 2 3. He can make the Governours of Iudah like on hearth of fire among the wood and like a toarch of fire in a sheaf and they shall devoure all the people round about on the right hand on the left ver 5. He can make Him that is feeble among them like David and the house of David as God as an Angel of the Lord before them v. 8. Out of Him cometh the corner out of Him cometh the nail out of him the battel bow and He can make them to be as mighty men which tread down as the mire of the street in the battel and He can strengthen the house of Iudah Zech 10 4 5 6. He can bend Iudah for himself and fill the bow with Ephraim raise up Zions sones against their Enemies Zech. 9 13 He can make poor worm Iacob a new sharp threshing Instrument having teeth and say to them thou shalt thresh the mountains and beat them small and shall make the hils as chaff c. Esai 41 14 15. 7. This Consideration speaketh dread and terrour unto Enemies for He is a King that is terrible to the Kings of the earth He maketh the Earth and the heavens to tremble the hils melt and quake before him what then can weak man do What will they be in the hands of the Almighty who shaketh Nations The Lord reigneth Let the earth tremble He sitteth between the Cherubims Let the earth be moved Psal. 99 1. At the wrath of this everlasting King the earth shall tremble and the Nations shall not be able to abide his Indignation Ier. 10 10. Where then shall His Enemies stand in the day of His Indignation We are oft afraid of the terrour of Enemies but saw we Him who is our King we would see that our Enemies had more cause to be afraid of Him who is clothed with Majestie there goeth a smoak out of his nostrils and fire out of His mouth devoureth and coals are kindled by it Psal. 18 vers 8. Read what followeth 8. When we are thinking on the Wit Skil and Activity of the Adversaries let us call to mind that our King is infinitly beyond them He searcheth the heart and tryeth the reines He knoweth the thoughts afar off He is privie to all the motions of Adversaries He knoweth when they march and when and where they halt Esai 10 28 29. See what is said of our King Esai 11 2 3. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the Spirit of Wisdom Understanding the Spirit of Counsel and Might the Spirit of Knowledge and of the Fear of the Lord and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord. Though the Adversaries should soon out-wit us yet they will not be able to out-wit Him who is our King for the treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge are in Him So that it is an easie business for Him to countermine all their Plots and Machinations He hath formed all their hearts and so He knoweth what is in their hearts Nothing can be hid from Him His very eye-lids try the Children of Men Psal. 11 4. Wherefore when we are at a non-plus and know not what to do this may comfort us and compose our Spirits our King knoweth very well how to carry on his own Contrivances glorious Projects So that when we are blinde we are to look to Him who knoweth what to do when we know not what to do and let Him alone with His own work 9. It is sad when the Children of God are wronged and cannot get faire Justice wickedness is to be seen in the place of judgment and iniquity in the place of righteousness Eccles. 3 v. 16. judgment is turned away backward and Justice standeth afar off for truth
expired for as long as the righteous are in hazard of putting forth their hands unto iniquity because of the continuance of the trouble we may eye this promise that the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon their lot this ground will alwayes endure and so the promise bearing this Ground and Reason in its bosome will continue likewise in force We must not then say that Afflictions on the Godly shall never have an end unless we would withall destroy this promise Therefore we may conclude that the People of the Lord shall not be the rest of the burden of the Word of the Lord as it is said of Damascus Zech. 9 1. 4. We are also told in Scripture That the Heaviness of Affliction is but for a Season 1 Pet. 1 6. wherein ye greatly rejoice though now for a Season if need be ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations The word rendered for a Season in the original signifieth a little present now to show that this Season is but short a present now without any considerable duration If this were beleeved we could not be crying-out as we are too ready to do Oh will those dayes never be at an end we would see that the little inconsiderable present now or point of time would quickly be over See Revel 6 11. 5. The Scripture tels us of a little while Heb. 10 37. for yet a little while and He that shall come will come c. The expression is mostemphatick in the Original cannot well be rendered to the full as if he had said yet a little how little how little As if it could not be expressed how little the time was to be This little while or appointed time as it is called Habb 2 .3 will soon be over 6. The Scripture pointeth it out to be a very little while Esai 10 25. for yet a very little while and the Indignation shall cease c. In the Original there are two words both of them signifying a little time or a very little time and so it is as much as if he had said a very little little time Sure that time cannot be long which is so short that the shortness of it cannot be expressed Is it not then strange that when the Spirit of the Lord cannot to speak so get words to express the shortness of the duration of their trouble they on the contrary cannot get words sufficiently to express their sense of the length of the time 7. We finde it called by a definite number Ten dayes Revel 2 10. And ye shall have tribulation ten dayes Whereby the shortness of the duration of that tribulation is expressed not that the trouble was to continue just ten dayes but to signifie that it was not to continue long but a short inconsiderable time which the Lord had determined and limited punctually to a day Tribulation will not last alwayes Ten dayes will put a period to it 8. If this be too long we have it expressed as yet much shorter even a night which is no long time Psal. 30 5. Weeping may endure for a night c. The dark disconsolat weeping time will not endure long the few houres of a night will put an end to it It is but a night and a night that hath the dawning of a day following it We should be ashamed then to think or say that our Trouble and Affliction will alwayes last we never saw a night yet but it had a morning of a new day following it 9. If this should yet seem too long we have it denominated from a shorter time as an hour Revel 3 10. there is mention made of an hour of temptation that was to come on all the earth Our Lord sure would hereby confute our errour of construeing the time to be too long when He doth of purpose mention such short measures of time An hour will soon be at an end the few minuts thereof will swiftly post away 10. Nay if this should seem too long we have it expressed by a shorter duration viz. of a moment Ps. 30 5. for his anger endureth but a moment And what can be shorter than a moment Is there any measure of time shorter than a moment And yet by this is the duration of the Anger of God against His Children in afflicting of them expressed Why then should we account that an age which the Lord calleth but a moment So Esai 54 8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment The word rendered moment signifieth cutting or dividing and so importeth the shortest cutting or division of time The Apostle speaketh thus of it also 2 Cor. 4 17. Our light Affliction which is bâ—…t for a moment The Apostles expression is singular there is a lightness of Affliction and that lightness is but a momentany lightness Now weightiness or lightness is not measured by time yet the Apostle in a most emphatick manner doth so here to shew us that all the weight of the Affliction in comparison of the glory that is coming is meer lightness or is so light that it cannot be measured with the least of weights and therefore he saith it is but a momentany thing like a feather falling on a mans hand and immediatly blown away againe It can be nothing then but shameless unbeleef that saith the time is long 11. Nay which is yet more as if this duration were yet too long it is expressed by a little moment Esai 26 vers 20. As if it were a little part of the least division of time if there be any moment less then another that is the right name of the duration of the Troubles and Afflictions of His People So Esai 54 vers 7. It is called a small moment And can we imagine how it can be less If the People of God had the measuring of the time of their trouble in their own hand could they give it any shorter duration than this Could they imagine a shorter When the Spirit of the Lord expresseth it thus We should be ashamed to think it too long But it will be objected and this is the Second thing I am to speak to That the Lords ordinary dispensation with His people in all ages seemeth to contradict this for ordinarily if not alwayes we see that the Afflictions of His People are of long continuance did not Israel wander Fourty Yeers in the Wilderness After they came into Canaan did they not serve the King of Mesopotamia Eight yeers Iudg. 3 8. and the King of Moab Eighteen vers 14. and the King of Canaan Twenty Yeers Iudg. 4 3. the King of Midian Seven Yeers Iudg. 6 vers 1 Were they not captives in Babylon Seventy Yeers not to mention their being now Non-churched above sixteen hundreth Yeers How then can this time be called and accounted so short For clearing of this we shall propose these few things following to Consideration 1. The time of the Affliction of His people may be accounted
as if this would alwayes continue with us and we needed to feare no change 6. Trusting too much to our Resolutions Purposes and earnest Engagments considering little the treachery and deceitfulness of the heart nor remembering our own Changeableness and Unconstancy and that our good fits may be soon off us 7. Little considering how we must depend on the Lord His Influencing grace for through-bearing in all our duties and how we can do nothing without Him and His supplies of grace and strength This should be a warning to us to guaird against this evil of pride and self conceite and to study more humility of minde knowing better what we are and where our strength lyeth that we may promise less upon our own head and undertake noth ing in our own strength And it should teach us to mourne over this body of death and to guaird against its riseings motions and to strive against it in all its appearances and actings Secondly The foretold defection and fainting of all the rest of the Disciples maketh not him the more afrayed but for all that he keepeth fast his high and presumptuous thoughts of himself Which tels us that there is such an evil among good Persons as not to suspect themselves and fear their fall notwithstanding of the supposed and foreseen fals and failings of others And this floweth from the same evil root of pride and self confidence We remember not that the same evil heart of Unbeliefe Unconstancy Treachery and Backsliding that is in others remaineth in us Whence we should learne to bewar of this evil and to know our hearts better and suspect the evil of them more Let us not think of ourselves more highly than we ought Rom 12 3 but Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall 1 Cor. 10 12. And let the examples of others put us to watchfulness fear lest we fall after the same example of unbeleefe Heb 4 11. Thirdly He would not fear though Christ told him and that with a doubled asseveration verily Verily that himself in particular as well as the rest should deny him Whence we see how â—…ard it is to lie open to Convictions of our own weakness readiness to decline in an evil day And this floweth from the same evils of Pride Self-confidence Ignorance of our hearts and wayes This should teach us to observe and notice the strength and activity of this piece of Corruption which yet remaineth in the best And to hate and strive against this evil and proud humore As also to be jealous of ourselves and to lye open to Convictions from the Word and be ready to take warnings and to tremble before the Lord and at his Word Beside these things that were good and that were bad in Peter We may consider this Prediction of Christ's and the intertainment that Peter gave it whereof we have heard with the event and other circumstances here recorded and thence finde some matter of Instruction 1. Then we may observe That a Person may be convinced of his duty to stand by Christ and his Cause and Interest in a day of trial and yet deny Him when it cometh to the point of tryal Peter's Conviction of his duty to owne Christ come what could come did not keep him from a foule fall in the hour of temptation And the reason is manifest for 1. Convictions may evanish or lose their force edge Light may grow dark truths become questioned or 2. suppose Convictions should remaine in their force yet it is only fresh supplies of Influences of grace strength that will cause the man stand without which he may be carried over the belly of Light Conscience and all Convinctions in a day of temptation Hence we see Light and Convictions are not enough to keep us sted fast in a day of tryal we must look-out for something more and not lean to that which will not carry us thorow more than it did Peter 2. A Person may be throughly convinced that he should stand by Christ and his Cause and Interest though the defection were never so great yea though he should be left in that quarrel alone and yet deny Christ and his Truth in a day of tryal Peter was convinced that he should not deny Christ though all others should do it and yet fell foully And the grounds of this are the same with the grounds of the former truth Deep Convictions are one gift and stability in a day of tryal is a distinct gift Light is one thing but grace to follow that light is another thing Wherefore the deeper our Convictions be we ought the rather to feare the more and depend the more by faith on Christ for actual Assistance Influence and Grace to follow Convictions and abide by Duty in the day of tryal 3. Clear Plaine Peremptour and Particular Warnings will not be enough to keep us sted fast in an evil day Peter had such here and yet he fell in the day of temptation And the reason is because 1. These warnings may weare away and be forgotten And 2. Pride and Corruption may so puff up that all these shall not once pick upon the man And so he may forget himself and take little notice of them The consideration of which should teach us to be Jealous of our heart to keep humble and feare alwayes and to improve warnings to a stirring of ourselves up to Diligence Watchfulness Acting of faith upon Christ and Living nigh to Him 4. A present good frame and disposition or a fit of warmness and affection to Christ will not be enough to secure us from a fall in the day of tryal As we see here in Peter He seemed to be in a very good frame at present and full of affection when he would rather die than deny his Master yet when the temptation came he yeelded The reasons are 1. Such frames and fits do not usually stay nor leave any deep impression on the heart 2. Grace actuated blown upon one way will not be sufficient to make grace lively another way or for other work but the habite must have new Influences for every new work For 3. without Christ we can do nothing All our strength is in Him in Him we must move as well as live and He must work in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure This should learne us not to think much of any present fit of tenderness or flash of affection for that may soon wear off nor think that that will be sufficient to carry us thorow new straits and difficulties It were better to be learning practiseing the way of faith and of dependance upon Christ that we may be strong in Him and in the power of His might Ephes. 6 10. That we may live in Him and bring forth fruit in Him Diffidence of our selves and of any thing we have even when we are at the best would be more suitable and useful for us than
of Death we have within us lest we turn secure and careless 4. To be thankful to God if we be keeped stedfast at any time for that is not of ourselves the Grace and Power of God have done it Therefore let God have the Glory and not we ourselves 12. When once a Beleever in a day of temptation beginneth to fall and loseth a foot he may fall very foulely ere he recover himself Peter lost his foot and spoke an untruth at first simply denying his Master but it came to fearful Oaths Cursings and Execrations ere all was done For 1. The way down-ward is very easie 2. Satan is at hand to drive forward and who can stand when the Devil driveth down ward 3. Conscience being once wounded will be easily made worse If once a little hole be made in the Conscience it is easily made wider for tenderness and watchfulness go away Which should serve as a loud warning to beware of the very beginning of a defection and to guard against the very first breaking-in of waters It is not saife to say such a length I will go and so far I will yeeld to save a staik and to keep my peace but I will go no further It were more wisdom to hold further off the brinke and precipice lest if our foot slip we recover not ourselves so easily againe And we know not what a providential Commission the Lord may give Satan to drive us by his temptations forward to that which we never dreamed of because of our rash and sinful ventureing and bold hazarding upon sin and known dangers It is Wisdom to resist the beginnings of evil then are we strongest and best able to withstand whileas the more we cede and yeeld the weaker we become and the weaker we are we are the more easily driven downward and carried away of the winde of temptation CONSIDERATION XX. Gods Way of delivering his People is hid and mysterious ESAI XLV VERS 15. Verily thou art a God that hidest thy self O God of Israel the Saviour BEcause right thoughts of Gods Mysterious wayes of Working and bringing about Salvation and Deliverance are useful in a dark day we shall speak alittle to this We finde in Scripture frequent mention made of God's hiding himself 1. His Saints are oft complaining of it Iob. 13 v. 24. Wherefore hidest thou thy face So Psal. 10 1. 44 24. 88 14. and they are making it the matter of their lamentation and laying it forth as the ground of their sorrow and griefe 2. We finde this dispensation threatned because of sin Deut. 31 18. And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought 3. We finde it also accordingly executed because of sin Ezek. 39 24. According to their uncleanness according to their transgressions have I done unto them and hid my face from them So Esai 57 17. For the iniquity of his Covetousness was I wroth and smote him I hid me and was wroth See also Esai 59 vers 2. 64 vers 7. 54 7 8. 4. We finde this dispensation accompanied with sad Effects Such as 1. A not hearing of the praiers of his people Esai 1 15. And when ye spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes from you Hence these petitions are put up together to God by the Psalmist Psal. 27 7 9. Hear O Lord when I cry with my voice and hide not thy face far from me As upon the other hand when He heareth the cry of His people it is an evidence that His face is not hid Yea these are looked on as one thing so firmly are they knit together Psal. 22 v. 24. Neither hath He did his face from him but when he cried unto Him He heard 2. Sad and grievous Afflictions as Esai 64. 7. Thou hast hid thy face from us and hast consumed us 3. Sad and grievous Afflictions continued together with a not-regairding or owning of them in their Afflictions For so doth the Church complaine Psal. 44 24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face and forgettest our affliction and oppression 4. Trouble and griefe inward Psal 30 ver 7. Thou didest hide thy face and I was troubled So Psal. 88 v. 14. Lord why castest thou off my soul Why hidest thou thy face from me But this is not the hiding whereof the Prophet in this place Esai 45 15. is speaking For the hiding here mentioned is of a far other nature giving us properly to understand That the Lord hath an Unseen Unusual Hid Mysterious Sublime Excellent transcendently and incomprehensibly Glorious way of carrying on His Work of bringing about His holy Purposes and of making good His faithful Promises The circumstances of the Text do fully make out this to be the true and genuine meaning of the words for the whole contexture of what preceedeth and of what followeth is a masse of gracious Promises of great things which the Lord was about to do in the behalfe of His Church and interest and the very particular Instrument King Cyrus by whom the Lord would begin the recovery of the Estate of his Church is designed and his prosperous success in all his attempts against what stood in his way foretold Objections that might arise in his peoples mindes removed and they shamed from their Unbeleeving Querrelling proud and arrogant Contending humore Together with remarkable adjuncts and concomitants of this great change of the Church to the better in their Neighbours Aegyptians Ethiopians and Saâ—…eans as also ruine and destruction foretold to come upon all the Enemies Now in the midst of these thoughts the holy Prophet breaketh out into a rapture of Admiration having in these words an holy Ejaculation and Apostrophe as ravished with the thoughts of these great incredible-like and wonderful matters and the rare and wonderful manner of bringing about this Change Outgate which humane understanding could not comprehend For as one transported with joy wondering he cryeth out in the midest of these Prophecies Verily thou art a God that hidest thy self O God of Israel the Saviour Wherein we may take notice of these foure things 1. The frame of the Prophet and the holy disposition of his soul held forth by this abrupt Ejaculation 2. The matter or occasion of this Rapture and Transport which is twofold for 1. He seeth God hiding himself and 2. in that dark and unseen way he saw him the God of Israel and the Saviour 3. The Manner of Expressing this his admiration with a Verily 4. His venting himself thus in the bosome of God Verily thou art a God c. As to the first the frame of soul which was in the Prophet at this time we may take notice of these Particulars which may withal point-out our duty in a sad day 1. We see the Prophet fixed in the faith and perswasion of the truth of what the Lord was here promiseing concerning his Church and People He was confident and fully perswaded that
ourselves as Christians with a sutable frame and disposition To the Question then Why the Lord thinketh good to follow this way We answer He doth it for great and weighty reasons partly 1. concerning Himself partly 2. concerning Enemies and partly 3. concerning His own People As to the first the reasons concerning Himself we may take notice of these 1. The Lord thinketh good to bring about His purposes of delivering His people in an hid unseen and unobservable way that He may shew forth the glory of his Soveraignity who chooseth Wayes and Methods as He pleaseth and doth as whatever he will so after what manner he will in heaven and in earth and is not obliged to follow ordinary methods or to walk in beaten and troden paths but to do what beseemeth a great King and a Royal Soveraigne who giveth not an account of any of his matters whose will is a law to us and a rule to speak so to himself Hence in this same Chapter Esai 45. is this so oft repeated I am the Lord and none else vers 5 6 18 21. Hereby laying down the ground of His so acting and quieting his peoples mindes and stilling their thoughts concerning this matter 2. The Lord thinketh good to trade in such an unseen way that spiritual eâ—…es may the more see that it is He even He who is God and there is none else that it is He who formeth the light and creaâ—…eth darkness who maketh peace and createth evil and is the Lord who doth all these things vers 7. Wherein should it appear that He were Jehovah if in all things he should work according to the thoughts and imaginations of men Is not this a manifest proof of His being God when his wayes and Actings transcend our Comprehensions Though in all his wayes and workings He is God and worketh and doth like himself even in such as are most ordinary and obvious and a Spiritual eye can discerne and espve something truely divine the marks of a divine hand there yet when His way is in the deep waters and his foot-steps cannot be seen He acteth in a manner more like Himself like one who is indeed God and whose wayes are beyond and above the reach of Men the wisest and holiest of Men and then may all have ground to say This is the finger of God as the Magicians of Egypt said when the Lord did somethings which they with all their inchantments could not imitate Exod. 8 18 19. 3. The Lord chooseth this way to give some signal proof of His Wisdom if Statsmen should mannage and carry-on their affairs of State alwayes in such an open and plaine manner that every plaine and simple man that knoweth nothing of the intrigues of state should be able to discerne their motions designes and all their contrivances they would not give great proof of their State wisdom and Policy And if a Commander and Leader of an army should so manage all his affairs in that conduct that the meanest souldier should be able to discover and understand all his designes and stratagems he should give but a sory proof of his singular dexterity in conduct But when the Statsman and the Commander in chiefe so carry on their projects that few or none can well understand what their Designe and Intention is then a demonstration is given of their Ability Wisdom and Accomplishment for such places of power and trust So when the Lord hideth His holy Purposes and Projects and acteth so as ordinary on-lookers will suppose imagine that he is going East when He mindeth to march west ward and even many of his own will think that He is about to destroy his work and people when He is upon His way to raise them up and set them on high and to destroy the Adversarieship and thigh then His deep and unsearchable Wisdom appeareth Then it appeareth that He also is wise Esai 31 2. Iob gote a sight of this in the Lords rare works of providence Iob. 12 12 13. to the end and therefore saith with the ancient is wisdom and in length of dayes understanding with Him is wisdom and strength he hath counsel and un derstanding So Paul gote such a sight of this that made him cry out Rom. 11 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgments and his wayes past finding out 4. Hereby also the Lord giveth a clear demonstration of his Faithfulness and Truth If He were carrying-on the accomplishment of his Promises and Purposes of good towards his people in a visible discernable and obvious manner folks would have but an ordinary and cursory observation of His Faithfulness and their hearts accordingly would be but in an ordinary manner affected and they moved but to praise and blesse Him therefore of course for remarking nothing singular their hearts would not be raised-up above what is usual and ordinarie to admire extol Him upon that account But when he followeth another method taketh an unusual course to bring about his grand designes and such a course as whereby Enemies might think He did not see nor regard He would never come to helpe His people the day was theirs they should prosper and never be moved for there is no appearance or probability might they think that ever the case shall alter our affairs be overturned upon the other hand whereby his owne People might sâ—…e no visible or probable ground of hope that the promises should be accomplished the word of the Lord should take effect then His appearance with salvation after he had wrought so long under ground out of sight all hop was gone from them fear from the enemie is much more remarkable his Faithfulness shineth forth with a more then ordinary Glance and Lustre It cometh forth then with a witness Then they see and say that his faithfulness is unto the clouds Psal. 36 5. that his righteousness is like the great mountains and his judgments are a great depth vers 6. and that his faithfulness is unto all generations Psal. 119 90. So that no vicissitudes or changes here below can alter Him no delay of time or procrastination or the like can make any alteration in Him for his faithfulness is unto all generations Then will they praise his Truth Psal. â—…1 22. But next as to such grounds and reasons hereof as concerne Enemies we may take notice of these 1. He cometh with deliverance unto His people in a way not obvious nor observable that enemies may appear in their own colours and give a plaine and open discovery of the latent malice and wickedness of their heart against the People of God If the Lord did alwayes appear openly and manifestly in the behalfe of His owne let all the world see that He owned them for His people and would suffer none to do them harme the malice and wickedness of many latent enemies who can speak
with their mouth smooth words smoother than butter and softer than oile when war is in their heart drawn swords Psal. 55 21. would not appear But when the Lord hideth himself and goeth out of sight then they say as it is Psal. 71 11. God hath forsaken him persecute and take him for there is none to deliver Because they say in their heart God hath forgotten he hideth his face he will never see therefore their mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud under their tongue is mischiefe and vanity they sit in the lurking places of the villages in the secret places do they murder the innocent their eyes are privily set against the poor c. Psalm 10 vers 8 9 10 11. 2. The Lord maketh choise of this manner of way of appearing and working for His people that Enemies may be judicially hardened in their wicked course of opposition to His Interest and People so fitted for the fatal blow of God's Justice As it was with Pharaoh when the plagues were taken off and God's terrour removed out of sight he became alwayes thereupon more hardened in his wickedness against God and His people and thereafter when he saw that the people of Israel were ensnared betwixt mountains and the sea and so judged that God had left them or could not helpe them then his heart was hardened unto a peremptory resolution to pursue and take them even through the red sea and there the wrath of God fell upon him and all his army 3. The Lord carrieth on His work thus that the ruine of the enemies may be the more signal and remarkable and the hand of God manifestly seen therein when they are puft up with pride and think no hand can reach them they are beyond all hazard no appearance is there of any thing that can put the least demurre unto their wicked proceedings The blow becometh the more remarkable them ore surprizing and unexpected that it is Such was that fatal blow that came on Pharaoh and his hoste and on Belshazzar when ravelling with his Nobles Wives and Concubines and profaning the holy vessels of the house of the Lord Dan. 5. 4. The Lord thinketh good to follow this way That He may the more observably fill the faces of his Enemies with shame and confusion therefore he he will suffer them to carry on their designes to lay their mines close to prepare all so that nothing may seem to remaine but putting fire to the traine that they may blow up the Interest and People of God in a moment and when they think all is ready give them a fearful disappointment and withal let them see that He who is the watchman of Israel hath seen what they have been doing all that time in secret and hath been counter-working their devices and undermineing their mines when he shall cause their mine spring back upon themselves and thus cover their faces with shame and confusion when they shall see that it is the hand of God that hath done it defeating their plots and devices which were laid and carried-on with such secrecy and with such providential foresight and rational security that nothing but the immediat hand of God could frustrat and defeate them Was it not so with Hamans device and bloody plot to cut off all the Iewes And how shamfully came he off Thus the Lord destroyeth the wisdom of the wise Esai 29 14. 5. The Lord taketh this way to the end He may shame if it can be those enemies from their wicked atheistical thoughts concerning Him that they may know that there is a God that ruleth in the earth a God that careth for His people watcheth over his Inheritance or else they may be rendered the more inexcusable in the day of their appearance before God Thus the Lord will consume such as belch out with their mouth have swords in their lips and say who doth hear That they may know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of Earth Psal. 59 7 13. An eminent place for this we have Esai 49. The Lord hid Himself so that his people became a prey and were captives yet saith the Lord vers 24 25 26. Shall the prey be taken from the mighty or the lawful captive delivered But thus saith the Lord even the Captives of the mighty shall be taken away and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered c. And what then And all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer the mighty one of Iacoh 6. The Lord thinketh fit to follow this way that hypocrites and such as are not heart friends to Him His cause may be discovered may fall off and so appear to be what indeed they are If the Lord were alwayes appearing for His people when ever they began to be in a straite and visibly making bare His arme in their behalfe many hollow hearted false friends would take part with them and stay among them and seem to love and favoure them Therefore that they may be made manifest the Lord hideth himself and appeareth not so openly for his friends but suffereth them to fall under the feet of enemies who oppress them and all that take their part which occasioneth their stepping aside turning away from the Truth as not being reconciled with the crosse nor loving Christ and his People so as to take a share with them in the Affliction and Bondage How many who appeared zealous in a faire day will turn about and side with wicked and evil doers to be free of the crosse and when they see no foot-steps more of the Lords appearing for his Work and Interest On the other hand in the third place the Lord thinks good to follow this way for some good ends in reference to His own people As 1. The Lord doth thus that he may discover the hid Corruption that lurketh in His own people which in a fair day when He is upon their head marching through the host of the Enemie and tradeing them under foot who oppressed His people and keept them at under will lye at the bottome and not appear As 1. Vnbeleefe when the arme of the Lord is revealed they cannot then but beleeve That He is the Lord and the God of his people they cannot then have the least doubt about this But many Doubts Questions Scruples and Hesitations will arise in their soul when the Lord's face is hid and He appeareth not in behalfe of His Afflicted People and Interest The Disciples did openly enough professe their faith in Christ as the Messiah the Son of the living God while was with them He working miracles before their eyes but when once he was crucified dead and buried Thomas would not beleeve no not though the other Disciples had told him that they had seen the Lord nor would he beleeve as he said expresly himself unless he should see in his hand the print of the nails and put his finger in the
reproved is their construeing of Gods Minde Affection and Covenant-Relation towards them according to these outward dispensations and the hideings of himself like a foolish childe that would think the Mother had forsaken him and cast him off each time that she were out of sight or set him out of her armes So that the thing here reprovable is their drawing wrong Conclusions from these outward changes such as these 1. God hideth Himself therefore His heart is changed and He is no more their Father His love is altered His Grace Favour and Promises fail 2. God hideth Himself and they see Him not therefore all are undone there is no more hope we are cut off for our parts as Ezekiel 37. 3. God hideth Himself therefore we are cast out of the Covenant our state is changed we have no more any place in his favour or room in his love we are in the state of the dead 4 The Lord hideth Himself is out of sight therefore all that He hath done formerly and we looked upon as His work of grace love have been but delusions and not his work in very deed 5. The Lord hideth Himself therefore His cause shall be destroyed His work shall never be perfected His enemies shall never be overthrown 6. The Lord hideth His face and appeareth not Therefore our Salvation is desperat and hopeless These wrong Conclusions the like are justly reprovable argue a wrong perverse consideration of the Dispensations of the Lord quite contradictory to the Truth here asserted therefore should be seriously guarded against such thoughts when they enter the soul occupy the mind should be rejected dismissed with abhorrence as temptations and irrational and antievangelick suggestions of Satan Next We may hence learne how to answer and with grounded reason repel the forementioned sinful Suggestions false Insinuations when the Devil assaulteth us therewith to trouble our Peace marre our Joy brangle our Hope and weaken our Confidence thereby bring us into a Fainting Misbeleeving Desponding and Heartless Disposition of Spirit For whatever the outward dispensations of the Lord be His Covenant stands fast and His Covenant-relation abideth the same and His heart and love abideth fixed and unchangable His purposes alter not His thoughts take place in all generations how great so ever the difference be betwixt the one and the other as to His dispensations in them And the fixed faith of this would prove a notable preservative against fainting and faithless fears and would Strengthen Support and Uphold the heart in the midst of all these contrary waves this would be good fast ground whereon the soul may ride at anchor saifly in the midst of all these stormes and horrible tempests Thirdly Hence we see the great advantage of the people of God who have cut a covenant with the Lord as the Scripture phrase is and are become His and have an interest in Him as theirs Let the Lord's dispensations outwardly be never so dark and sad and such as those who are utter strangers to the Scriptures and to the Lord's way of dealing with His people would interprete to be manifest evidences and demonstrations of God's off casting yet they may fing with the sweet Psalmist of Israel and say Although mine house be not so with God yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant ordered in all things and sure for this is all my salvation and all my desire although he make it not to grow 2 Sam. 23. 5. O how great is this advantage that they may by faith read love in His heart when anger seemeth to flow out of His hands And that his Interest in and relation to His people theirs to Him againe abideth firme and unshaken notwithstanding of all the outward sore and sharpe passages of his providence What Joy Peace and Comfort may the thoughts of this yeeld unto His sad hearted people when troubled at the consideration of His sharpe dispensations Fourthly Here is likewise great encouragment and a strong motive to enduce and perswade unto a closeing of a Covenant with God And Oh that all who are as yet strangers hereunto would at length be moved to lay hold on Him while his armes are stretched out to welcome embrace all who will come Secondly We may hence observe That there is a discovery to be had of the standing relation betwixt God and His people even when the Lord hideth Himself For the Lord was now hiding Himself or appearing as such unto the Prophet and yet the Prophet saw him withall to be the God of Israel and the Saviour In the former point we saw That the relation betwixt God and His people doth stand notwithstanding of the Lords hideing of His face and not appearing openly by acts sutable to such a relation But though this be so yet His people may want the heart-confirming sight thereof And now in this point we hear That His people may be helped unto this sight and discovery even in such a day wherein the Lord hideth Himself And that 1. When the Lord leadeth them in by Faith to see His unchangeable Nature Purposes and Decrees as also his Truth and unchangable Word together with the other Particular grounds of this unchangablness in Gods Relations towards His people formerly mentioned the hand of God must lead them in to this secret chamber where discovering the Lord and His way with His people they see his heart abiding the same however His face may frown rodes may be in His hands Now when faith getteth right apprehensions of God and winneth to a right discovery of Him they see this connexion that otherwise would be dark and questionable and they see a reality and subsistence in the promises 2. The Lord helpeth them to see thorow the dark cloud and the black dispensation and to read what is written on the backside thereof or what standeth behinde the courtine of the present sad dispensation And then they discover Faithfulness and Unchangablness in God Love Truth Mercy in all his dispensations 3. The Lord blunteth the edge of the temptations of Satan and lets His Child see the unreasonablness of what is objected the absurdity of the Inference that Satan and corrupt Reason would make draw from the Lords way of procedoure Yea he helpeth them to draw the contrary Conclusions and that upon certaine approven grounds confirmed by manifold experience 4. The Lord discovereth unto them the firm connexion betwixt these saddest and blakest Dispensations and the faire Promises and the noble Outgate that is coming to His people And then they cannot but see him to be Israel's God even when He hideth Himself 5. The Lord thinketh good sometime to give in the darkest day and in the darkest houre of the night some glimpses of His glory in behalfe of His People to shew that He is not altogether unmindful of them that He is not far away and that He is about His work
and carrying it on to His glory to their good And this confirmeth their faith in His abiding the same whatever His dispensations be This should let us see as upon the one hand the great goodness and condescendency of God who will lout down and help his weak people who are desirous to fear him and to walk honestly before him in a dark day and will set a prospect to their eye whereby they may see as Moses did from the top of Pisgah the promised land and that great ground of Joy and rejoiceing that the Lord hath not forsaken His people so upon the other hand it should point-out our duty to wit to be living nigh God even while He is hiding Himself and pursuing after an hid God to the end He may lead us while we are in the dark and hold us by our right hand that we stagger not through unbeleef and fall but may be helped through his grace to a sight of Him as the God of His people even when He hideth himself whereby we should have many advantages As 1. This sight of God in such a day as it would set us with earnestness to pray so it would encourage us to continue instant in prayer knowing that the return would come in due time seing the Lords mind were not altered His affections remained the same His relation to Interest in His people was not changed therefore He would hear and helpe in due time 2. This sight would strengthen the child of God unto all Patience in waiting when he saw that the Lord would come and that the coming of the Lord drew nigh he would waite and stablish his heart in waiting as the husband man waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth Iam. 5 7 8. And by this patience as he would establish his heart as this place of Iames sheweth so he would possesse his soul Luk. 21 vers 19. 3. It would also strengthen fortifie confirme their hope for faith discovering this sight would make the soul stretch its hands thorow the dark cloud to grip the glorious promises lying hid in the other side and embrace them Those worthies mentioned Heb. 11. though they did not receive the promises yet having seen them a far off being perswaded of them they are said to have embraced them vers 13. 4. This would keep up their head and cause them sing in hope they would rejoice in the midst of their Affliction and notwithstanding of all the present and apparent impossibilities in the way of the Lords return of recovering his work they yet would rejoice with joy unspeakable full of Glory because they would see the Lord would come and subdue Nations and loose the loins of Kings and open the two leaved gates and break in pieces the gates of brasse and cut asunder the bars of yron Esai 45 1 2. But if it be said When the Lord is not pleased to lead poor beleevers into these secrets in a dark night nor grant them the use of such a lanterne whereby they may see their way nor such a discovery of the grounds of the immutability of this Relation what can poor beleevers do in that case The answere lyeth in that which we may Thirdly Observe from these words of the Prophet as pointing forth the duty of the people of God in such a case after the Prophets example seing for this end this is here set down to wit That in a day wherein the Lord is hiding Himself as to the way of bringing about the promised salvation and out-gate of His Church and People it is the duty of all beleevers to be asserting this Relation of the Lord 's to and interest in His Church and People as their God and Redeemer and to be closeing with Him and griping to Him as such let dispensations seem never so manifestly to speak out the contrary be never so discouraging to them in that adventure For we see the Prophet and doubtless this was left on record for our instruction in the like case and while under the same circumstances even while he is beholding and considering God as hiding Himself laying hold upon Him as Israels God and as the Saviour and asserting this as a Truth to which he would stand which he would owne let matters go as they would This doth include these things 1. That in such a day as this which was mentioned the People of the Lord should look upon it as their duty to Professe Declare and Avow that the Lord is Israels God keeping fast His Relation and Close with Him Grip to to Him Accept of Him and Adhere to Him as such 2. Thatin such a day specified they should certainly expect that he will answere that Relation and be indeed a Saviour And Salvation should be looked for from Him alone none else from no other airth Thou art the Saviour The first of these is manifest from these Particulars 1. That no dispensation we meet with will warrand His people to have mistaking thoughts of Him or to stand aback from laying hold on Him For they are not sent for that end but rather to drive them nigher to him and to urge them to a more firme and fixed adhering to Him Windy blasts will not cause us hold a more careless grip of our cloaks but rather cause us hold them faster 2. The darker the dispensation be our need of holding Him fast is the greater and so our call the more loud 3. This is the way to get the sanctified use of such Dispensations and to win to the right improvement of them And without this we cannot carry aright under these and the like dispensations 4. This is the proper season for Faith to bud and appear in and to bring forth Fruit And this is the native and kindly exercise of Faith in such a day 5. This is the only way to get a right frame of Spirit under such a dispensation and to carry as beleevers ought to do 6. This is the only way to be keeped stedfast faithful and unmovable in that day of darkness and without this the soul is exposed to all the tempestuous on sets blasts of the Enemie Hereby noly is the beleever keeped fast anchored on the rock that will not fail The second Note is likewise clear upon these grounds 1. Because in such a dark day Faith should be exercised and that is the proper season wherein faith should appear and should grow that is as it were the soil wherein faith should bring forth fruit When the knife was at the throat of Isaak the Son of the promise and the first and only sprout and appearance of that seed in whom all the Nations of the Earth should be blessed yet Abraham the father of the faithful beleeved that God was Faithful and True and would be his Salvation 2. Thus the Lord is glorified when blow stormes as they will and temptations to a despareing desponding of heart be never
and the Priests thereof teach for hire and the Prophets thereof divine for money Yet will they lean upon the Lord and say is not the Lord among us none evil can come upon us But what followeth upon this Vers 12. Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field and Jerusalem shall become heaps and the mountaine of the House as the high places of the forest 13. When iniquity aboundeth particucularly amongst Church-men who should both by their doctrine example have reclamed the people from their sinful courses then the matter seemeth desperat and God must be avenged on all together Hence we see this same people charged with this Jer. 2 8 9. The Priests said not where is the Lord And they that handle the Law knew me not The Pastors also transgressed against me and the Prophets Prophesied by Baal walked after things that do not profite Wherefore I will yet plead with you saith the Lord and with your Childrens Children will I plead See also Ch. 6 14 15. and 8 11 12 13. There was falshood among the Priests and the Prophets and they healed thehurt of the daughter of Gods People slightly saying Peace Peace when there is no Peace And therefore followeth Vers 13. I will surely consume them c. So Ezek. 22 25 26. There is a conspiracy of her Prophets in the midst thereof they have devoured souls her Priests have violated my Law and have profaned my Holy things c. Therefore as it followeth Vers 31. have I poured out mine indignation upon them I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath their own way have I recompensed upon their heads saith the Lord God See also Hos. 4 v. 6 7 8 9. and 9 vers 8. 14. When a People lay not God's controversie to heart when He is pleading the same against them by lesser judgments nor are taking warning thereby but notwithstanding thereof are going on in their sins then it is to be feared that God shall once for all send a consuming stroke that they shall not evite for this was also the sin of this People as we see Jer. 5 3. Thou hast stricken them but they have not grieved thou hast consumed them but they have refused to receive correction So Chap 2 30. and 12 v. 11. Thus was it also with Israel Amos 4 v. 6. and forward to the end several particular judgments are there mentioned but they wrought them not up unto a returning to the Lord vers 6 8 10 12. And then a nameless Judgment or a Judgment without a parallel a judgment that could not be expressed is threatned and they are bidden prepare for it vers 12. Therefore thus will I do unto thee O Israel because I willd o thus unto thee prepare to meet thy God O Israel See Amos 7. where also several Judgments are mentioned but the Lord made not yet a full end But at length vers 8. He saith I will not againe passe by them any more And so againe Chap. 8 2. See likewise Zeph. 3 7. Esai 1 v 5 6 7 8. 15. When oppression injustice rageth among a people then is there just ground to fear such an overflowing blow Violence was one of the sins that brought on the floud on the old world Gen. 6 11 14. And for this sin was Ierusalem threatned with destruction Esai 1 21 23 24. How is the faithful city become an harlot they judg not the fatherless neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them Therefore thus saith the Lord the Lord of hosts ah I will ease me of mine adversaries and avenge me of mine enemies So Jer. 7 6. they were oppressing the stranger the fatherless and the widow and shedding innocent blood As also Jer. 22 17 18. And therefore are sore judgments threatned against their King Iohojakim vers 18 19. that he should be buried with the burial of an asse drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Ierusalem We see what was threatned against Israel Amos 2 6 7 8. For this sin of selling the righteous for silver and the poor for a pair of â—…hoes for panting after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor turning aside the way of the meek and laying themselves down upon cloths laid in pledge drinking the wine of the condemned in the house of their God See also Amos 8 4 5 6. where this sin of unrighteousnese and oppression is charged upon them and then followeth vers 7. The Lord hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob surely I will never forget any of their works 8. shall not the land â—…remble for this every one mourn that dwelleth therein c. So Mic. 2 1 2. the like sin is charged upon that people and then it followeth V. 3. Therefore thus saith the Lord behold against this family do I devise an evil from which ye shall not remove your necks And utter desolation is threatned v. 4 5. And v. 10. It is said Arise ye depairt for this is not your rest c. See likewise Ch. 3 1 2 3 4. and againe v. 9 10 11 12. Habbakuk also saw this sin in Judah Chap. 1 2 3 4. Violence Iniquity Grievance Spoiling Strife and Contention no Judgment but wrong Judgment Therefore v. 5 6. c. an incredible work of Judgment was to be wrought and the Caldeans were to be sent against them So was the like threatened by Zephaniah Ch. 1 3 7 9. for the same sin and 3 v. 3. See Es. 5 23. to the end 16. When people will not follow Gods way and turne at His reproof but go on in their sin and when evil cometh upon them use carnal shifts to save themselves and run to the arme of flesh then it is to be feared that God's anger shall break-out and burn without remedie For this was also the sin of Iudah they would not turn to God but trust in Egypt and Assyria in their strait Ier. 2 8 9 36 37. So Es. 8 6 7 8. For as much as this people râ—…fuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly and rejoice in Rezin and in Remaliah's Son Now therefore behold the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river â—…rong and many even the King of Assyria and he shall passe thorow Iudah and shall overflow and go over c. So Hos. 5 13 v. 14. When Ephraim saw his sickness Iudah his wound then went Ephraim to the Assâ—…rian I will be unto Ephraim as a lion and as an young Lion to the house of Iudah I I will tear and go away I will take away and none shall rescue And againe Chap. 7 11 12. Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart they call to Egypt they go to Assyria When they shall go I will spread my net upon them I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven I will chastise them as their congregation hath heard And againe Ch. 8 8 9 10 Israel is swallowed-up
now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure for they are gone up to Assyria 17. When people settling on their lees grow secure and carnally confident as afraid of nothing as if they were without the reach of God's hand and all hazard then it is to be feared that God shall make it appear that He is stronger than they For this likewise was the sin of Iudah Ier. 21 13 14. Behold I am against thee O Inhabitant of the valley and rock of the plaine saith the Lord which say who shall come down against us or who shall enter into our habitations But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof and it shall devoure all things round about This was also charged on Israel by Amos Chap. 6 13. Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought which say have we not taken to ourselves horns by our own strength For which cause see what followeth Vers 14. But behold I will raise up against you a nation O ouse of Israel saith the Lord the God of Hosts and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the Riâ—…er of the Wilderness The like we finde Amos 9 10 All the sinners of my People shall die by the Sword which say the evil shall not overtake nor prevent us See Ezek. 9 9 10. 18. When a People have followed these courses of sin notwithstanding of many reiterated warnings and admonitions given by the Lords Servants then it is to be feared that God shall wait upon them with warnings no longer but shall once for all send a devouring stroke that they shall not with all their cries get prevented nor taken off them according to that Prov. 29 1. He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck shall suddainly be destroyed and that without remedie And that Prov. 1 2â—… to 31. Because I have called and ye refuseâ—… c. I also will laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear cometh when your fear cometh as desolation and your destruction cometh as a whirle winde Then shall ye call upon me but I will not answere c. Thus was it with this People of Iudah Jer. 7 13. And now because ye have done all these works saith the Lord and I spoke unto you riseing up early and speaking but ye heard not I called you but ye answered not Then it followeth Vers 14 15. Therefore will I do unto this House as I have done to Shiloh And I will cast you out of my sight as I have cast out of my sight all your Brethren The whole Seed of Ephraim And then He addeth Vers 16. Therefore pray not thou for this People The same sin is againe charged upon them Vers 25 26 27 28. And then it followeth Vers 29. Cut off thine Hair ô Jerusalem and cast it away and take up a lamentation for the Lord hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath So Jer. 25. vers 3. the Prophet tels them in the fourth Yeer of Jeâ—…ojakim that he had spoken unto them 23. Year viz. from the 13. Year of Jâ—…siah but in all vaine and Vers 4. that the Lord had sent unto them all his servants the Prophets but all was in vaine Vers 7. Therefore sad judgments are threatened Vers 8 9 10 11. even utter desolation and slavery under the King of Babylon full 70 Years Vers 12. See also Ch. 29 17 18 19. and 35 17. This was Israels sin also Hos. 5 2 and 6 5 6 7. and 9 17. My God will cast them away because they did not hearken unto Him And they shall be wanderers among the Nations 19. When People not only will not take warning but also tush at warnings then may they fear that God shall be avenged upon them for thus was it with this People of Judah Jer 5 11 12 13. For the House of Israel and the House of Jâ—…dah have dealt very trecherously against me They have belied the Lord and said It is not He neither shall evil come upon us neither shall we see sword nor famine And the Prophets shall become winde and the word is not in them Therefore is destruction by the Caldeans threatned in the following Verses 14 15 16 17. See also Ier. 6 10 11 12. So Jer. 18 v. 12 13. When the Lord threatned sad dayes to come upon them all the use they made of it was They said there is no hop but we will walk after our own devices and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart We know what that wicked King did with the roll of threatenings Ierem. 36. but see what followed thereupon Vers 30 31. andanother roll is written with additions Vers 32. 20. When People turn so impudent in their wayes and so fixed in their sinful courses that there is no moving of them by all the warnings that can be used nay they become enraged at and persecute such as do admonish them or exhort them to amend then the case seemeth to be desperat and their destruction must come for thus was it with Judah 2 Chron. 36 15 16 They mocked the Messengers of God and misused His Prophets until the Lord arose against his People till there was no remedy And what sufferings Jeremiah met with at their hands for his faithfulness his book telleth us Chapters 11 and 26 and 38. So was it with Israel Amos 5 10. They hate him that rebuketh in the gate they abhore him that speaketh uprightly See also Amos 7 10. to the end Upon which followed Chapter 8 v. 2. the end is come upon my People Israel I will not againe passe by them any more How much more may a People or a generation among whom not one or two or a few onely of those sins are to be found but all of them fear that such a stroke be coming that no prayer or humane intercession shall avert The Lord tels us by Ezekiel Ch. 14. that when He breaketh the staff of bread and sendeth famine on a land because of their trespassing grievously though these three Men Noah Daniel and Job were in it they should deliver but their own souls Vers 13 14. And againe if He spoile the land by noisome beasts though these three Men were in it they should deliver neither Sons nor Daughters c. Vers 15 16. So when He bringeth a Sword upon the Land v. 17 18. or a Pestilence v. 19 20. And then addeth v. 21. How much more when I send my foure sore judgments upon Ierusalem the Sword and Famine and the noisome Beasts and the Pestilâ—…ce to cuâ—…t off from it man and beast that is how much more shall I go on and devoure And how much less shall they think to escape upon the Petitions of Noah Daniel and Iob or upon the account of their relations to them So if upon one or two or a few of the forementioned sins we finde that
He will carry on His work and make His Kingdom come and make all this contribute unto that end We see what desolation Zephaniah is threatning against Ierusalem and the rest of the Cities of Iudah for their great sins Cbap. 3. 1 to 7. And thereafter Vers 8. he inferreth and presseth on them that would minde the duty of the day a waiting in Faith and Hop upon the Lord saying Therefore waite ye upon me saith the Lord until the day that I rise up to the prey c. And then followeth Vers. 9 10. For then will I turn to the people a pure language that they may call upon the Name of the Lord to serve Him with one consent from beyond the Rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants the Daughter of my dispersed shall bring mine offering They should wait in faith for the accomplishment of all the great and precious promises made to the Church notwithstanding of all these sad interveening Dispensations This was the resolution of the Prophet Esai Chap. 8. 17. in an evil day when many should stumble and fall and be broken and be snared and taken Vers 15. And I will said he wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the House of Iacob and I will look for him But it will be said what shall the righteous do in the day when God is so angrie at the whole Land that He will cut off the righteous with the wicked and to this end shall draw His Sword forth out of His Sheath against all Flesh from the South to the North as it is Ezek. 21 3 4 5 For Answer I grant such a dispensation may be expected when all Flesh have corrupted their wayes and even the righteous who have not gone the length of others in Defection and Apostasie yet have not been valiant for the Lord and for His oppressed truth nor so faithful and zealous for the Lord of Hosts in their Generation as became them It is then to be feared that even many of them shall be sweeped away with the common calamity as they have been in part tainted with the common sin procuring it And in that case it is their part to minde these duties following 1. To be preparing to meet the Lord with ropes about their necks acknowledging their sin giving glory unto the Lord as just and righteous in proceeding thus against them with the rest They should prepare to meet their God thus coming in His holy displeasure to glorifie His justice as the Prophet adviseth Israel to do Amos 4 12. 2. They should be busie to get their peace made with God in time through Jesus Christ that when God shall get glory on their carcases in the sight of others they may get their souls for a prey They should be mourning as doves in the valleyes every one for his iniquity that their sin may be blotted out and their souls washen in the bloud of Iesus 3. They should be amending through the help of the Lord what hath been amisse and seeking to Him and seeking righteousness meekness upon a may be of being hid in the day of the Lords anger this is the exhortation of Zephaniah Chap. 2 3. Even to the Godly Seek ye the Lord all ye meek of the earth which have wrought his judgment seek righteousness seek meekness it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger 4. If they should not be hid but the judgment should overtake them as well as others then let them sweetly submit and lye under the rod and humble themselves under the mighty Hand of God Iam. 4 10. 1 Pet. 5 6. and say with good old Eli when sad things were denounced against his house and it was told him that God would judge his house forever and that the Lord had sworn unto the house of Eli that the iniquity thereof should not be purged with Sacrifice nor offering for ever It is the Lord let Him do what seemeth Him good 1 Sam. 3. 12 13 14 18. He saw it was Jehovah who could do no wrong and therefore he was quiet and acquiesced to all that He would do how sad so ever it was He saw Him the righteous Governour and Iudge and said His holy Will be done 5. They should accept of this punishment of their iniquity Levit. 26 ver 41. giving Glory to Gods Iustice and have a complacency for so the word will import in that stroke as being a stroke of Iustice and a stroke whereby God will be glorified in His Iustice Righteousness and holy Severity Thus should they kisse the rod and contentedly welcome the Sword of Justice and kisse its point when pierceing their heart because of their sins 6. Thus should they say with good Hezekiah when sad things were denounced against his Family Esai 39 vers 6 7. Good is the Word of the Lord. Vers 8. It is Iehovah's Word I have nothing to say against it holy and righteous is He and his Judgments are righteous His Threatnings are good And thus should they with the Church Micah 7 vers 9. Bear the Indignation of the Lord because they have finned against Him AMEN A TABLE Of the CONTENTS THE Introduction Pag. 1. Seven Considerations handled at more length in the first Part briefly resumed Pag. 2 3 4. Consid. VIII It is the decreed will of God Pag. 5. How trouble is decreed of God in Seven Particulars 8 to 13. How the Consideration of this calmeth the heart in Six cases 15. to 23. How it helpeth under affliction in Eight particulars 23 to 27. How this Consideration is set home in Three particulars 28 to 32. Consid. IX It is the commanding Will of God 32. That suffering sometimes is the Will of God cleared in 8. particulars 34 to 37. The season wherein People are called to suffer cleared 37 to 39. How we shall know if we be called to suffer 39 to 52. How this Consideration is to be improved in 10. particulars 52 to 61. Consid. X. God overruleth afflictions 62. God hath an hand in Afflictions cleared from 6. Grounds 64 to 71. The way hereof cleared in 14. particulars 71 to 82. How this Consideration should be improven in 8. particulars 83 to 101. Consid. XI Christ himself had a suffering life 102 Twelve particulars concerning Christ ' sufferings considerable 104 to 113. How this is to be improved in 7. particulars 114 to 125. Consid. XII Our sufferings not comparable to Christs 127. The disproportion cleared in 6. particulars 127 to 133. How this is to be improved in 7. particulars 134 to 138. Consid. XIII Sufferings the lot of the Church 140 Ten particulars concerning the sufferings of the Church considerable 141 to 146. How this ought to be improved in reference to the Church 147 to 152. How in reference to our selves in 6. particulars 152 to 154 Consid. XIV Other beleevers have been afflicted 145 Six particulars to be considered by such as are afflicted 156 to 159. Ten particulars wherein possibly others have
suffered more than we 159 to 170. How little ground of complaint if all were known cleared in 5. particulars 170 to 173. How the example of others should be improved in 8. particulars 173 to 176. Consid. XV. Suffering is Gods Gift 177. That suffering is Gods Gift 178 179. Right suffering is Gods Gift cleared in 12. particulars 180 to 187. This Gift is purchased by Christ. 187. How this gift is beyond the gift of Faith cleared in 10. particulars 188 to 192. Five evils that this Consideration would help 194 to 198. This Consideration informes us of 3. particulars 199 200. And calleth for 4. Duties in general 200 201. And for 5. other Duties more particularly 202 to 204. How comfortable it is in 7. particulars 204 to 207. Consid. XVI The Sufferings of Christs Servants are for the good of the Church 208. Six advantages which the Church reapeth by such Afflictions 210 to 215. How this is to be improved in 3. particulars 216 to 218. Consid. XVII The Lord reigneth in Zion 219. How Christ reigneth cleared in 14. particulars 220 to 228. Twelve Conclusions drawn therefrom 229 to 240. Consid. XVIII The time of Affliction is but short 241. How the Scriptures express this shortness in 11. particul 242 to 248. An Objection answered by 8. particulars 246 to 256. How this is to be improved in 7. particulars 257 to 261. Consid. XIX Remember Peter's Fall 262. Three things good and imitable in Peter 264 265. Three things wrong and to be shunned by us 265 to 268. Twelue useful Lessons drawn from this Passage 269 to 279. Consid. XX. Gods way of delivering his People is oft hid and Mysterious 280. Various hidings of God 280. Various Effects of this hiding 281. What is the hiding mentioned Esai 45 v. 15. 282 283. Ten things considerable in the Prophet's frame 284 to 294. Singular steps of Majesty sometimes to be seen in Gods Deliveries 296. This cleared in 12. partic 299 to 316. Four Reasons of the Lords taking this way in reference to Himself 319 to 322. Six Reasons of this in reference to Enemies 324 to 328. Two maine ends of this in reference to his own People 329 to 334. Six particulars which this dispensation calleth for at the Hands of Gods People 335 to 339. Three things observable from the Prophets seeing God even then to be the God of Israel 340 c. First That Gods dark dispensations alter not His Relations 340 c. This improved in 4. partic 346 to 350. Secondly God may be seen when hiding Himself and how 350 to 353. How this should be improved in 4. particulars 353 to 355. Thirdly That when God hideth Himself his People should assert His relation to them and expect He will answer His relation both cleared in several particulars 356 to 358. Six duties then to be minded 359 to 361. Two other particulars in the Text cleared 361 to 363. Consid. XXI No man can make straight what God hath made crooked 364. Eight crooked things which are more controverted 368 to 377 Six other things in the Lords Dispensations which seem crooked 377 to 382. Eight particulars about the Church which seem crooked to us 383 to 385. Eight other particulars about privat beleevers that seem crooked 386 387. How these cannot be made streight 389. When we foolishly seek to make streight what God hath made crooked in 10. particulars 392 to 398. Eight aggravations of this evil 398 to 401. Eight wayes of considering the works of the Lord aright 403 to 412. Consid. XXII Iudgment on a Land sometime is not to be held off by Prayer 413. The matter cleared from Ierem. 15 ver 1. 413 to 416. How sad this is cleared from 8. particulars 417 to 421. When such an inevitable stroke is to be feared cleared in 20. partic 423 to 453. How this should be improved in several particulars 456 c. What should satisfie the Godly in this case when their prayers are not heard in 4. particulars 458 What the Godly should do when God is about to cut off the Righteous with the wicked cleared in 6. particulars 462 FINIS ERRATA PAg. 51. lin 14. wong r. wrong p. 54. l. 2. their r. his p. 65. l. 21. maice r. malice p. 87. l. 25. art r. are p. 97. l. antep penult ordereth p. 117. l. 20. fragrant p. 118. l. 128. put to the. p. 141. l. ult Seventy p. 197. l. 4. aer r. are p. 217. l. 17. becometh l. 18. become p. 226. l. 21. treasures p. 255. l. 11. woman p. 264. l. 10. this r. his p. 305. l. 9. Crus r. Cyrus p. 320. l. penult there r. there p. 328. l. 9. them ore r. the more p. 358. l. 10. noly r. only p. 422. l. 25. after People adde were guilty p. 429. l. ult r. served