not any order or degree of men which have not been shaken with these Earth-quakes O how deep is our stupidity if we do not all of us analyze and resolve our sufferings into their proper principles ours sins and Gods Displeasure If we have only howled vnder them and see not Gods Providence in them ordering the sins of men unto our Humiliation If we know them only naturally by their smart to the flesh and not spiritually by their influence on the Conscience If we censure others and absolve our selves If our sufferings harden and enrage us in animosities against men but do not meeken and melt us under the holy tryals of God Let us therefore labour to find out our sins by our Sufferings the cloud of wrath rising out of the sea of lust Let us search and try our wayes and since we are living men not complain of the punishment of our sins be not as Adamants Rocks Oakes which blowes waves winds break not move not bend not Make use of our sufferings to review our sins and to know our Duty what we should haply have done and did not in the day of our prosperity before God laid us aside what the Controversie was which God had against us in our Sufferings what the Duties are which he requireth of us in our restitution The Prophets staffe did no good to the dead child till he came himself Judgements do nothing till God follow them with his Craces Chastisements never mend us till they Teach us Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law Psalm 94. 12. Till we see his name and hear his voice in them Mic. 6. 9. Till we take notice of his Justice preparing the whale that hath s vallowed us Jon 1. 17. Bidding Sâ—imei curse 2 Sam. 16. 10. Giving a charge to the Assyrian Isa. 10. 6. This will make us dumb when we consider that it is God that doth it Psalm 39. 9. And now that the Cup hath gone round and God hath by his Righteous providence prevented our revenge and done that by the strange vicissitudes of his justice in a wise and holy manner which if he had left us to do in our owne cases would possibly have been done with folly and fury Let us conclude that the Lord having judged us all himselfe we should make it our work not so much to look back with revengefull as to look forward with Healing and closing Resolutions We have been like wanton children which fall out in a family now our father hath whipped us round that should make us returne to our fraternal agreements againe 2. The Lord hath variety of Judgements whereby to reduce froward and stubborn sinners can punish them in the Heavens over them in the Earth under them in their bowels within them can beset them upward downward outward inward and make a Net and Chain and Hedge of afflictions to shut them in And to fence up their way that they cannot pass Job 3. 23. Job 19. 8. When he will plead he will take away all Refuge and make every Region towards which we look minister Despair They shall look upward and they shall look unto the earth and behold Trouble and Darkness and Dimness of Anguish Isa. 8. 21 22. If they look without behold a Sword if within behold Famine and Pestilence Levit. 26 25. Jer. 21. 4. 6 Ezek. 7. 15. Evil which they shall not be able to escape or go forth of Jer. 11. 11. When men multiply sins the Lord usually multiplyeth Judgements till he either bend by Repentance or break by Destruction When Cleanness of teeth Blasting and Mildew Pestilence and Sword the Judgements of Sodome and Gomorah did not prevail with Israel to return then he threathneth final wrath Therefore Thus will I do unto thee Amos 4. 6. 12. Which Thus in the Prophet Amos seemeth to me to be the same with Lo Ammi in the Prophet Hosea an utter rejection of them from being the Lords people Hos. 1. 9. Four times after one another doth the Lord threaten to punish his people seven times more for their sins if they walk contrary unto him Levit. 26. 18 21 24 28. Philosophers use to reckon but eight steps to the highest and most intense degree of a quality but the wrath of God is represented by eight and twenty degrees unto us 1. The Methode of God in these various Judgements usually is 1. He begins at the outward man exercising a people many times with change of Rods which is ever a sign of Anger in the Father and of stubbornness in the Son 2. He proceeds to the soule by smiteing that revealing his wrath subducting his peace implanting his terrors causing guilt and fear to gripe and seize on the conscience called Breaking of bones Psal. 51. 8. drinking up of spirits Iob. 6. 4. A wounded spirit Prov. 18. 14. If the Lord should give a secure sinner who now haply thinks himself alive and safe upon the mistaken apprehensions of Mercy a full view of the filthiness and sense of the Heaviness of any one atrocious sin whereof he stands guilty it would make him a terrour to himself willing to exchange his burden for the weight of a Rock or Mountain O my broken bones saith one Psalm 51. 8. O my withered heart saith another Psalm 102. 3 4. O the distracting terrours of God saith a third Psalm 88. 15. O the intoxicating Arrows of the Almighty saith a fourth Job 6. 4. Thus the Lord can make a man a Magor Missabib a very fury and fiend unto himself by arming his own conscience against him And if the Sergeant be so formidable what a fearfull thing is it to fall into the hands of the Living God Against whose wrath all the Honours of the world all the Wealth and greatness which a thousand Kingdomes could heap upon a man could be no more a protection than a robe of beaten gold could be to one that is cast into a furnace of fire Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord let us be perswaded to be beware of provoking his wrath by any presumptuous sin 3. Towards obdurate sinners the Lord many times deals in a more fearfull manner sealing them up under hardness of heart a spirit of slumber a Reprobate sense a seared conscience to be led blind-fold by Satan till destruction unawares overtake them So it is said of the old world that notwithstanding the preaching of Noah who by preparing an Ark condemned the world they yet knew not till the flood came and took them all away Mat. 24. 39. Because I have purged thee saith the Lord and thou wast not purged thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more Ezek. 24. 13. Ephraim is joyned to Idols let him alone Hos. 4. 17. Let him that is filthy be filthy still Rev. 22. 11. Now since the Lord hath such variety of Judgements that we can never out-sin his wrath Let us be deeply humbled for our pride who have
Pharaoh-like put God to so many changes of Rods and variety of Judgements as we in this Nation have felt Let us yield betime unto him for he will overcome when he judgeth Let us take heed of flattering our selves when one rod is worn out or laid a side as if the bitterness of death were past God can make every Creature about us every faculty within us a Rod and a Scourge against us And therefore having received such deliverances as we lately have done let us make holy Ezra's conclusion Should we again break thy Commandments Ezra 9. 13 14 Should we not take heed of sinning any more lest a worse thing come unto us Joh. 5. 14. Should we not consider for what it is that God restored us to our stations namely that we should in our places study how to honour him to be zealous for his Truth and Pure Religion tender of the Liberties Properties and equal Rights of all the people in the Land to restore all oppressed Innocents to loose the bonds of violence and to settle these so long shaking and discomposed Nations upon the firm foundations of Truth Peace and Righteousness againe Thus much for the first General The supposition of Judgements various and such as come immediately from God and admit of no possible prevention by humane wisdome or removal by humane power II. We proceed to the Direction unto Duties wherein comes first to be considered the Quality of the persons who are to perform them My people that are called by my name All men are his Creatures only a select and peculiar inheritance that bear his name enjoy his Peace Promises and Protection and are in Covenant with him are called His People I entred into Covenant with thee and thou becamest mine saith the Lord Ezek. 16. 8. This people have I formed for my self Isa. 43. 21. The Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himselfe Psalm 4. 3. They are the people of his holiness Isa. 63. 18. A people for his name taken out from among others Acts 15. 14. To be called by his Name noteth to be his adopted Children as Josephs children were made the children of Jacob Genesis 48. 5 16. We are Gods people two wayes 1. By visible profession or Sacramental separation from the world as the whole Nation of the Jewes are called his people A peculiar Treasure unto him above all people Exod. 19. 5. A Nation nigh unto him Deut. 4. 7. His people even then when they rebelled against him Isa. 1. 3 4. 2. By Spiritual Sanctification and internal Dispositions Thine they were and thou gavest them me and they have kept thy word John 17. 6. Jews inwardly by the Circumcision of the heart Rom. 2. 29. The Israel of God Gal. 6. 16. The Children of the Promise Rom. 9. 8. The Remnant according to the Election of Grace Rom. 11. 5. The Circumcision which worship God in the spirit Phil. 3. 3. These are His people by a Price of Redemption 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. By a peculiar Designation unto his service Tit. 2. 14. By an Intimate Relation of Love and Dearness Ezek. 16. 8. By an high Valuation of them as Treasures Jewels vessels of Honour Mal. 3. 17. 1 Pet. 2. 9. 2 Tim. 2. 20. By Destination to a more glorious end Eph. 4. 30. The Duty extends to both The whole body of a visible Church are in Judgements to humble themselves and as to temporal deliverances the Lord doth respect the Humiliations of the worser Members of the Church as we see in the cases of Ahab and Rehoboam 1 Reg. 21. 28 29. 2 Chron. 12. 6 7. But to do this so effectually as to attain all the annexed promises is the work of the Israel of God by spiritual Sanctification Now from this Qualification we gather these two useful Observations I. The sins of Gods own people who are in Covenant with him may provoke and procure Judgements their Pride and Security Worldly Love Conformity to the Corruptions of the times Coldness and Formality in Duty Uneven and Unfaithfull walking acting by divided Interests from the rest of the Lords people may provoke God severely to punish a land and we may justly fear hath done so amongst us A good man though a Son may yet be silius sub ira under paternal displeasure If Moses and Aaron do not by believing glorifie God they must both die in the Wilderness Num. 20. 12. If David grow proud of victories and number the people God will send a plague which shall lessen their number and his pride 2 Sam. 24. 15. If Solomon turn from God to Women and to Idols though he be a Son he shall be chastized with the rods of men 2 Sam. 7. 14. If Asa grieve the Prophet and oppress the people he shall be vexed with Warrs and Diseases 2 Chron. 19. 9 12. If Jehoshaphat help the ungodly his life shall be endangered and his ships broken 2 Chron. 19. 20. God will have Judgement begin at his own house 1 Peter 4. 17. Their sins have some Aggravations in them which other mens have not these are committed against special light and more glorious convictions as those of Solomon After God had appeared unto him twice 1 Reg. 11. 9. Against special Love and experiences of divine favour 2 Samuel 12. 7. 9. Against special Relations the Honour of a Father a Lord an Husband Isa. 1. 2. Against special Grace and Assistance of the Holy Spirit Ephes 4. 30. Against special Covenants and Engagements after a vouching God for theirs Psalm 78. 34. Against special Deliverances from greatest dangers Ezra 9. 13 14. Against special Hopes and more special Promises which should have perswaded them unto Holiness 2 Cor. 7. 1. 1 John 3. 3. Against special Peace and glorious Comforts as David sinned against the joy of Gods salvation Psalm 51. 12. Peter denied Christ after he had seen his Transfiguration And this may teach the holiest of men 1. To take heed of playing the Wantons with the Grace of God Though God be a tender yet he may be an Angry Father And who knoweth the Power of his Anger Psalm 90. 11. 2. To be more carefull to stand in the breach against publick Judgements having by their sins contributed to the bringing of them upon the Land 2. It is not our doing of Duty but Gods being in Covenant with us which is the ground of his Mercy to us Property doth stir up Compassion Though they have provoked me yet I will spare them because they are mine Malachy 3. 17. Whence we learn 1. In what manner to go to God and to plead with him not in confidence of our Duty but of our Relation to him as His Thou art our Father we are thine Isa. 63. 16 19. The Church in Affliction seldome useth any other Argument Why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people Exod. 32. 11. Art not thou our God 2 Chron. 20. 7. We are called by thy name leave us not Jer. 14. 9. Spare thy people
O Lord give not thine Heritage to reproach Joel 2. 17. And the Lord when there is no motive else is marvellously wrought on by this Argument Is Ephraim my dear son Is he a pleasant child for since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy upon him saith the Lord Jer. 31. 20. In Confession we must say Thus and Thus have we done Josh. 7. 20. In Petition we must say Thus and Thus hast thou promised We may argue much better from Relations then Performances Lord We are thy Children when we deserved wrath thou didst Adopt us though we deserve it still do not reject us When thou didst Adopt us thou didst adopt enemies If thou shouldst reject us thou shouldst reject Children Our unworthiness could not prevent thy Mercy let it not remove it 2. In what manner to do Duty None can do Duty aright but as one of His and in Covenant with him In Christ by faith both our Persons and our Services are accepted Ephe. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 5. The Altar sanctifieth the Gift and he is our Altar Out of him we can do nothing Duties are not done aright but in the vertue of the Covenant of Grace Jehu did a work materially good but carnal policy turned it into sin Hos. 1. 4. To pray and yet hold fast cruelty To Fast and to take pleasure in Wickedness To bring Offerings and Flocks to Gods house and still delight in violence and oppression If any thing be to mock God and provoke wrath certainly this is to make Religion like Samuels Mantle a Cloak for the Devil 3. In what manner to escape Judgements and secure Mercy Be His people and you are sure to be spared Mal. 3. 17. Ezek. 9. 4. He hath an Ark for Noah a Zoar for Lot a Basket for Paul a Gath for David Chambers and hiding places for his people untill Calamity be over-past Isa. 26. 20. Psalm 57. 2. Zeph. 2. 3. When Jesus was neer his own suffering and in the midst of dangers himself he took care of his poor Disciples Let these go Joh. 18. 8. The less protection they find amongst men the more they shall have from him Since therefore the Lord is tender of the Interests of his people and takes special care of Hearing Forgiving and Healing them Let it be your care Right Honourable likewise to take them into your protection they who hurt them hew at the bough whereon they stand dig under the Foundation which holds them up This for the Qualifications of the persons of whom these duties are required The Duties themselves required for the removal of Judgements follow 1. If they shall humble themselves and be cast down under my holy hand in the sense of my displeasure But that is not enough Ahab did so 1 Reg. 21. 27. who for ought we read did not pray unto God 2. If they shall pray and cry for help as Ninivie did Jonah 3. 8. But that is not enough neither Hypocrites in distress will say Arise and save us Jer. 2. 27. They will spread forth their hands and make many prayers Isa. 1. 15. and cry in the ears of the Lord with a loud voice Ezek. 8. 18. And enquire early after him Psalm 78. 34. 3. If they shall seek my face be grieved more for my Displeasure than my Rod Pray first for Mercy and then for Healing as David Psalm 6. 2. It was Christs Method first to forgive and then to heal Mat. 9. 2 6. And it must be ours in praying for it But neither is this enough Pharoah can be contented to have his sin forgiven though he will not let it goe Exodus 10. 17. 4. If they shall turn from their evil wayes and so lift up holy hands unto God First wash their hands in innocency and then compass the Lords Altar Psalm 26. 6. Put iniquity far away from their hands and then stretch them forth towards God Job 11. 13 14. Lift up pure hands 1 Tim. 2. 8. Put away the evil of their doings and then come and reason together with the Lord Isaiah 1. 16 17 18. 1. Then If they shall Humble themselves A duty called for by Prophets and Apostles Mic. 6. 8. Jam. 4. 10. 1 Pet. 5. 6. specially respected by God as we find in the case of Josiah 2 Reg. 22. 19. And gracious Promises made thereunto Leviticus 26. 41. 42. It emptieth the heart of Self-Confidence is the Root of that fundamental Duty of Self-Denial It fits for approach to God because the more humble the more welcome the more we tremble at his Threatnings the more we shall supplicate for his Grace Isa. 66. 2. Job 9. 15. It disposeth to a Confession of sin as we see in the poor Prodigal and Publican Luke 15. 17 18 19. Luke 18. 13. It prepares the heart for the entertainment of Mercy though the proclamation be made and the Court of Mercy be open to all Rev. 17. 22. yet while men love sin they forsake Mercy Jon. 2. 8. But when the soul is humbled it opens to God and his Grace Weary souls are glad to be satiated Jer. 31. 25. It makes way to the forsaking of sin the more a soul is humbled for it the more it is fearfull of it and watchfull against it Humiliation is two-fold 1. A Passive when God breaks the heart by the Hammer of the Word as it is called Jer. 23. 29. or by some sore Affliction 2. Active when the soul humbleth it self under sin and wrath When a man-afflicts his own soul Levit. 16. 29. Again This is two-fold 1. Legal proceeding from a spirit of Bondage when the heart roars on a rack or melts in a furnace is fill'd with Consternation and Anguish under the weight of sin and wrath which was the case of Pharaoh Ahab Belshazzar Felix the Jaylor the Murtherers of Christ 2. Evangelical When the soul is not only broken and batter'd with the Horror and dread of wrath this it may be and remain hard as every piece of a broken flint is hard still But when it is kindly melted and softned with apprehensions of Gods Goodness and free Grace A compounded Duty made up of Love and Sorrow the Humiliation of Hezekiah Jer. 26. 19. and of Josiah 2 Chron. 34. 27. This is a perpetual Duty As long as sin remains there must be a sense of it and sorrow for it But in some times and cases it is specially to be renewed As in time of extraordinary sins and provocations of publick Dangers and Distresses of great Enterprizes attempted or Successes and Blessings desired which was the case of Exra 8. 21. The great sins the sad Divisions the dis-joynted affections the contrary Interests the dolefull Errors and Distempers in the Church the miserable Fluctuations and Discomposures which have been in the State the horrid violations of Order and Justice the wofull Staines which have been upon the Land by the irregular and
Father that holds it that no other means can do us good except he sanctifie them that his displeasure none can remove as a Diamond is cut only by a Diamond so God is pacified only by himself The sting of the Scorpion cured by the powder of the Scorpion the Anger of God by the favour of God 2. By this we ease our selves Prayer lightneth affliction where it doth not remove it Nature is strengthned to bear the pain Conscience is strengthned to withstand the Temptation and snare of it The heart is meekned to accept the punishment of sin as Wool or Mud deads the force of a Bullet so the heart meekned by prayer doth obtund the edge of an Affliction that it cannot get so deep into the heart to hurt it III. In Prayer we must seek the face of God His Favour to comfort us and his Counsell to direct us 1. In Judgements and Difficulties we should more seek Gods Favour than our own deliverance the Recovery of his Love than the Removal of his Rod Others griefs press Nature his displeasure wounds the spirit In other griefs Gods favour upholds the soul Psa. 23. 4. 94. 17 19. But when Gods favour is withdrawn the soul hath nothing else left to lean to nothing can comfort when God frownes Armour can protect against a sword or a Bullet but not against fire When God is angry no refuge but unto God 2. In Difficulties we must likewise seek Gods face as David did 2 Sam. 21. 1. not lean on our own understanding nor sacrifice to our Net but have our eyes upon him who is the father of lights who when he will maketh wise the simple and when he will infatuateth the Counsel of the wise and maketh it brutish IV. After all these preparatory Duties that which is the substantial duty and the end of all the rest must follow Turning from our wicked wayes not from sin to sin that is mutatio in aliud only not in melius not from sin to secular interest that is not a Conversion from sin to God but to the world Not from sin to the Meer dictates of Nature and right Reason that is not a Conversion from sin to God but from sin to our selves A Philosophical not a spiritual Conversion Not from sin only to the natural Conscience to gratifie and prevent the terrors of that that is a servile not a filial Conversion But from sin to God not fainedly and hypocritically Jer. 3. 10. with a divided heart but sincerely in our thoughts from the love and allowance of all sin in our wayes from the practise willingly of any sin but especially from those sins which have most prevailed against us and wherewith we have most dishonoured God as Isaiah 17. 7 8. 30. 22. Hoseah 14. 3. These are the Duties here prescribed in order to the answering of Solomons Prayer The Answer followes exactly commensurate to these Duties in four gracious Promises 1. A Promise of gracious Condescention intimated in the word From Heaven though he dwell on high he will humble himself to revive the spirit of contrite and humble sinners Psa. 113. 5 6. Isa. 57. 15. He will come down to work deliverance for them Exod. 3. 8. 2. Promise of gracious audience I will hear It is aâ— dolefull Affliction to Gods servantsâ— when he is angry with their Prayers and shuts them out Psalm 80. 4. Lam. 3. 8. And on the other side this is one of the most radiant and glorious Comforts of Gods people that in all difficulties they have a Throne of Grace to betake them to with a promise You shall pray and I will hearken as a man doth to what he delighteth in For the prayer of the Righteous is his delight Jer. 29. 12. 13. Prov. 15. 8. 3. A gracious promise of forgiveness to serene his countenance and lift up the light thereof upon them for even when we do his Will and when we are His People we want pardoning Mercy There is need of pardon not only for the ungodly unto their Justification but also for his own people and Children into a Restitution to paternal favour the sense and fruition whereof they may forfeit by their sins And this is Gods method in hearing prayers to forgive sin before he cures pain Mat. 9. 2. For indeed when sin is pardoned the sickness is cured at the root for sin is the sting of every Affliction as well as of death 4. A Promise of Healing Healing of the Land the Humiliations and Prayers of Gods peculiar people are beneficial to the whole Land The innocent shall deliver the Island Job 22. 30. A Joseph in Egypt an Eliah in Israel is the Chariots and Horsemen thereof An Humbled praying converting people shall certainly be an Healed people And if ever we hope to be healed to purpose this must be our Method to it Now touching these Promises there is this worthy our observation 1. That when God comes down to deliver and looks from heaven he doth it by no other way then by the Incarnation of his Son the efficacy of his Spirit the operation of his Providence or the Ministry of Angels 2. When he hears Prayers It is only by the Intercession and mediation of Christ 3. When he forgives sins It is only by the Merits and Righteousness of Christ 4. But when he heals a land he often useth in that work the Ministry of men Magistrates are Healers and Repairers Isa. 3. 7 Ministerrs are Healers of the sick Ezek. 34. 4. And therefore I shall here in all humility implore of you Right Honourable who are Instruments for Healing in the Lords hand unto these long and wofully sick Nations that you would with all your vigour call together all the graces of God all the abilities of nature in you unto this most necessary work You have the Lords promise to be with you in iâ— if you set about it in his way And his way to heal a land is 1. When the people thereof are His people called by his name 2. When they are an Humbled penitent praying reforming people Your greatest care therefore must be 1. That the people of the Land be Gods people that his Name be owned his Truths Worship Interests preserved pure and inviolate amongst us It is to those that fear Gods name that the promise of Healing is made Mal. 4. 2. 2. In as much as even the sins of such may provoke the Lord your zeal for God and love to the Nation should appear in awakening them and all others to remember from whence they are fallen many of them through Pride Wantonness Interests and carnal designs from wholesome Truths from holy Ordinances from the love of a faithfull Ministry from brotherly love from Christian Communion to many errours and vain Janglings to contempt of Magistracy to affronting Authority to violating publick Order and Peace to such an excess of Licentiousness under the pretense of Freedome that Religion scarce ever was more endangered under the straights of Persecution than under the lasciviousness and wantonness of an abused liberty Though therefore there ought to be all tenderness to preserve for Gods people the Liberty wherewith the Lord hath made them free God forbid any restraint or abridgement should be upon that yet since the same Lord hath commanded that we must not use our Liberty as a cloak of maliciousness It is necessary that great prudence be used to prevent the exorbitances of wanton minds who make use of Liberty to the dishonour and assaulting of publique Authority to the kindling of Flames animating the discontented peopleunto Insurrections enervating the Peace and concord of the people of the Land by dis-joynting them in that which is the main bond of Unity the Truths of Religion wherein when they are once universally broken who sees not how wide a door is opened for Rome or Munster not only to enter in butto be welcomed amongst us The Way therefore unto Healing is to endeavour to bring us all home to be Gods people and as his people to be compacted within our selves to lay aside all dividing distinguishing invidious Titles with fraternal affections to coalesce as far as may be in Judgement however throughly in affection and so to keep our Difforing Opinions to our selves as that the Consciences of our brethren may not be grieved nor the peace of the Church of Christ endangered thereby I conclude all with beseeching you that since the Lord hath taken it as one of his Titles to be called The Lord that healeth us Exod. 15. 26. that without him the Builder worketh the Watchman keepeth the Statesman counselleth the Physician healeth all in vain you would ever by prayer and attendance upon God for Counsel so seek his face and guidance in this weighty work that when it is finished and the Head-stone of our settlement laid we may say It was the Lords doing and marvelous in our eyes and may with shoutings cry Grace Grace unto it FINNIS Mat. 23. 19. Heb. 13. 10. Joh. 15. 4 5. Isa. 1. 15. Isa. 58. 1. Amos. 5. 21. Aug. in Pâ—â— 31 Ber. in Can. Sâ—r 55. Bris. de Foâ—m l. 1. p. 81.