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
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
print of the nails and thrust his hand in his side Ioh. 20 25. And what unbeleefe these Disciples vented who were going to Emmaus unto the Lord himself whom they knew not we may see Luk. 24 21. and may gather from Christ's sharpe rebuke vers 25 26. O fools and slow of heart to beleeve all that the Prophets have spoken Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to have entered into his Glory 2. Fainting of heart So long as the shipe saileth faire before the winde a raw sea-man will have courage enough Men at Christ's back who have not yet had a storme blowing in their face will be as stout as Peter who nothing doubted but he would lay down his life for his Master who yet when the Lord is out of sight and his cause seemeth to be upon the declineing hand will shrink and turn back at a very small temptation As Peter did deny his Master and that with cursing and swearing at the very word of a Damsel 3 Self love is another evil that such a day as this will discover Many will appear very self denied and willing to hazard all for Christ and His Cause in a faire day who when a storme cometh will be unwilling enough to cast their goods over board to save the shipe In a day when the Lord is hiding himself many will seek to save skin and life by such indirect courses as sometime they would have been ashamed of 4. Impatience How doth the heart of many too often say little less than that graceless King said This evil is of the Lord why should I waite any longer for the Lord 2 King 6 vers 33. Such expressions as that good man had in that dark day do evince this sufficiently Psal. 77 v. 7 8 9. Will the Lord cast off for ever And will He be favourable no more Is His mercy clean gone for ever Doth His promise fail for evermore Hath God forgotten to be gracious Hath He in anger shut up His tender mercies 2. The Lord followeth this way and methode that he may put his people to the trial and exercise of the graces of His Spirit such as these 1. Their Faith in Him and in His Word and Promise It is no great art or difficulty to beleeve that God will make good His promise when he is in the sight of all beholders most manifestly accomplishing whatever he said and promised But for Abraham to beleeve that in his seed all the Nations of the Earth should be blessed and that his Seed should be multiplied as the Stars of the Heaven for multitude when he had not one Child and himself was stricken in years his body now as good as dead he being about an hundered Yeers old and when Sarahs Womb was also dead that was faith then his faith appeared while he against hope beleeved in hope when he staggered not at the promise of God through unbeleefe but was strong in the faith giving Glory to God for he was fully perswaded that what God had promised He was able also to perform Rom 4 vers 18 19 20 21. Againe It was no great matter for Abraham to beleeve that it would be as the Lord had said when Sarah was with Childe had brought forth her Son and he was healthy and thriving but to beleeve the accomplishment of the promise when God said unto Him Go offer up thy Son thy only Son Isaac there was faith accounting that God was able to raise him up from the dead Heb. 11 vers 19. Thus faith is both tried and exercised 2. Patience is also tried and exercised when the Lord is out of sight seemeth to say He will not yet come the time is not yet come We oft cry out How long will the Lord hide his face not so much out of an earnest love and desire to see his face againe as out of impatience Psal 6 vers 2. and 13 v. 1. and 35 17. and 90 13. Iob. 7 v. 19. Hab. 1. v. 2. The Lord will thus teach his people to stand upon their watch and upon the watch towr till the Vision that is yet for an appointed time and tarrieth shall speak Hab. 2 vers 1 3. 3. To try and exercise their hope for that is the fit time for the exercise of this grace when humane appearance and probability faileth and when the Lord hideth himself and delayeth his coming Rom. 8 v. 24 25. for usually then people are ready to say there is no hope Esa. 57 10. our hope is lost Ezek. 37 11. What is my strength said holy Iob Ch. 6 11. that I should hope It is good in such a case to say with the Church Lam. 3 24. The Lord is my portion therefore will I hope in Him 4. To try and exercise their Submission to and Dependance upon Him That they may learne to carry as humble Children that they may say with David Psal. 131. Lord my heart is not haughty nor mine eyes lofâ—…y neither do I exercise my self in great matters or in things too high for me Surely I have behaved and quieted myself as a Childe that is weaned of his Mother my soul is as a weaned Childe And so hope in the Lord not arrogantly set limites unto the holy One of Israel nor prescribe a way that he must follow but leave him to follow His own way and method with due Submission and Dependance laying the hand upon the mouth when He is pleased to hide himself and to take another way then we would possibly wish or desire 5. To try exercise their Diligence and Constancy in Prayer and Watchfulness As when the Master delayeth his coming so when he hideth himself as if he were not coming or would not come many are ready to fall from duty and fall a beating their fellow servants and to eating and drinking c. Mat. 24 48 94. Therefore the Lord will have all His People set a watching as not knowing what houre or after what manner He will come and to exercise them in this duty of Watchfulness and Diligence he will come and not let them know of His coming nor tell them when or after what manner He will come The Consideration of this should in general teach all His people as upon the one hand to guard against and bewar of these evils mentioned which Satan and Corruption upon occasion of the Lords hiding of His Way and keeping Himself under clouds after the manner mentioned doth provoke stirre up the soul unto so upon the other hand to minde faithfully set about the Duties mentioned which are especially called for at such a time But more particularly we may mentione some duties and recommend them to the practice of His People in such a day as this As 1. This Dispensation calleth upon all Gods People to be observing the Lord in all His wayes and actions and to mark His footsteps even when they can not be seen to observe His stately goings in Majestie
like a Prince that will not walk in the view of every common Subject nor suffer every mean person to be privie to his Secrets of State These rare and unusual works of the Lord call for more then ordinary observation It is a mark of graceless persons and a sin bringing-on sad and ruineing strokes to consider none of Gods wayes Iob. 34 vers 26 27. That is a divine precept Prov. 23 26. My Son give me thy heart and let thine eyes observe my wayes shewing that this is the Duty of all the Children of God as to observe the Precepts of God so also his Wayes and Workings and that it can be performed a right only by such whose hearts are given away to God and that it argueth an heart fixed upon and united to God as being a native and kindly consequent thereof At the end of a large Historical narration of many remarkeable passages of the Lord's Providence the holy Psalmist thus concludeth Psal. 107. vers last Who so is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. Showing what the spiritually wise will do and what advantage they will have by thus considering the singular wayes of the Lord. This Considering of the wayes and workings of the Lord comprehendeth these things 1. A beleeving that God howbeit unseen yet is working though clouds hide Him out of their sight yet they do not hinder Him from working He is working though we perceive Him not 2. A musing and pondering and dwelling on the thoughts of God and His wayes As when the Lord saith Psal 50. Consider this ye that forget God He presseth them to a serious meditation and pondering of what was said 3 A seeing and observing of a stately Majesty in the Lords carrying on his work after such an hid manner 4. A passing of a sutable and wise judgment on what He is doing construeing all to the best This is to consider wisely of his doing as Psal. 64 vers 9. 5. A serious observing of every discovery or appearance or speaking effect of the Lord 's working to the end they may speak thereof to others and declare the Work of the Lord and be confirmed in their faith and hope and encouraged to waite 2. In such an hiding time when the Lord is pleased to hold Secret Councel and to act and carry on his Stratagems accordingly it becometh all His People to act Faith and Fear Faith to beleeve in hope against hope and Fear to stoup and stand in awe knowing that He is God and will act like himself How happy is it to get a sight of an Absolute Invisible Soveraigne when He is hiding himself as a stately Prince 3. As in a time of darkness when his people sit in darkness and have no light they are called to stay themselves upon God Esai 50. So in a time wherein the Lord is walking out of sight and no man seeth what He is doing His people are called to live by faith Now the just shall live by Faith Heb. 10. When was this When he who should come was not yet come and there was little appearance of his coming When the Vision was not yet speaking Hab. 2 vers 2 3. 4. Waiting Is especially called for at His peoples hand in such a day which includeth the exercise of Faith Hop and Patience Faith to realize the thing promised and give an objective being as it were to that which is not visible in it self nor apparent Hope to embrace and to stretch forth the armes to lay hold on what is promised and Patience to keep the Beleever in the Possession of his soul in the meane time This was the Resolution of the holy Prophet Esaias Chap. 8 vers 17. And I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the House of Iacob And I will look for him 5. It is the Duty of His People in such a day wherein the Lord is hiding Himself and is walking and working under clouds to be stooping and adoreing which comprehendeth these duties following 1. Not to quarrel with nor to grudge fret nor repine at the Lords taking of this course for the glory of his own name 2. To look upon and consider Him as one whose wayes are unsearchable and past finding-out As perceiving Depths that are unsearchable in all His wayes 3. Upon this account to look and consider upon His Wayes with Fear Dread and Reverence 4. To beware to set limites to the holy One of Israel or to conclude that He will not come to save His People and Inheritance because he cometh not in the way which we imagine He must come as if infinite Wisdom could not finde out wayes beyond what ever we can imagine 5. To have high and sublime thoughts of Him and to speak of Him as such an high and exalted Prince whose wayes are out of our reach and beyond all our Apprehensions 6. His Children would in such a day labour to liâ—…e nigh God by faith that hereby 1. They may be keeped from fainting while compassed with darkness assaulted with Satans Temptations who then will be busie tempting Gods People to say there is no hope now God hath forsaken the Earth He will returne no more 2. They may be keeped from siding with the Workers of Iniquity and from turning aside to evil courses because there is no manifest appearance of the Lord 's returning to rid His People out of thraldom and to break the Power of the Adversary 3. They may get some discoveries now and then as the Lord seeth good to grant them of God even while hideing himself which may endear Him unto their soul and warm their heart towards Him Such as live thus by faith nigh to God in such a day are faire to see that which others living at a distance shall not partake of 4 They may be led of God by an unseen hand in such a dark day for the meek will he guide in judgment and the meek will he teach his way Psal. 25 v. 9. And the Secret of the Lord is with them that fear him vers 14. We come next to speak to the Second Particular which the Prophet discovered through this thick cloud He saw this hid God to be the God of Israel the Saviour and he owned him as such and spoke and prayed to him as such from whence we may observe these Three Things First That all the darks and hidden passages of the Dispensations of the Lord about His People do not alter or change his Relation to and Covenant-Interest in His People A forsaking God can and will be a Beleevers God notwithstanding thereof Psal. 22 v. 1. My God my God why hast thou forsaken me This holdeth true of a Church ay and while He give her a bill of divorce and excommunicate her after she hath proven obstinate and incurable in her wickedness Hence we finde the Lord so often owning a wicked and sinful People as His as Psal. 50
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
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
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
power over him It is good and necessary for Beleevers to be alwayes and then in particular fixed in the faith of this That nothing cometh to passe by chance or fortune as we sâ—…y but that all events that fall out or come to passe are from Eternity freely and unchangably Ordained and Appointed by the unalterable Determination and Decree of the holy and wise Counsel of God for He worketh all things after the Counsel of his own will Ephes 1 11. There is an unalterable Decree past in the grand Court of Parliament in heaven concerning all Events that fall out in the world even such as we would think to be most uncertaine and contingent as events determined by lot Prov. 16 33. The lot is cast into the lap but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. What more uncertain than that the souldiers should not handle Christ after the same manner that they handled the other two who were crucified with him and yet they broke not his bones as they did the bones of the rest and they pierced him which they did not to the rest and that because it was determined of God that not a bone of Christ should be broken and also that he should be pierced and that the Scriptures might be fulfilled where mention was made of these determinations as we see in the Evangelists besides many other meer to us accidental things that befell him I know what difficulties some move about this matter in sinful events as all the Trouble Affliction and Persecution are which the people of God meet with at the hands of wicked Instruments upon the account of their adhereing unto Truth and following duty But I shall purposely wave all disputs at this occasion and onely hold forth the Truth and thereafter shew how it ought to be improved unto advantage in such exercising times 1. Whatever Affliction Cross Trouble Suffering Triaâ—… or Tribulation any of his are put to endure in following of duty it is not to be looked on as an accidental fortuitous event or chance but as determined of the Lord who hath in his Soveraigne wisdom and Counsel thought fit to have it so and ordered it that it should be so that his people in all ages should meet with Opposition Contradiction Affliction Crosses or Persecution at the hands of one or other so that the Substance of the Trial and Exercise is to be looked upon as ordained and determined of Jehovah Such a determination as this must be the ground of that Act. 14 22. And that we must through much tribulaâ—…ion enter into the Kingdom of God And of that wich Paul saith Act 20 23. though he knew not in particular what evils should befall him at Ierusalem whither he was now going yet he knew that bonds and affliction did abide him saying Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bonds and affliction abide me It was determined then that these as pages of honour should attend him and should wait for his landing in every place he came unto And yet more clearly he tels the Thessalonians 1 Epist. 3 3. That they knew that he and the rest were appointed hereunto that is to afflictions adding Vers. 4. For verily when we were with you we told you before that we should suffer tribulation even as iâ—… came to passe and ye know Peter also in his first Epistle mindeth those he writteth unto of this several times and pointeth them unto this will of God that they might eye it that is His determining decreeing and appointing will 1 Pet. 3 17. For it is better if the will of God be so that yâ—… suffer for welldoing c. And againe Chap. 4 19. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God c. From all which Testimonies we see that there is a Will Determination Resolution and Decree of the Ancient of dayes past anent the Afflictions Trials Tribulations and Sufferings of his people 2. Not only is there a Decree and Determination past in the Court of heaven about the Sufferings of the people of God in the grosse as it were and in general but also the special Kind of the Crosse or Affliction that they meet with or the special manner or quality thereof God hath not only decreed that this or that man this or that follower of Christ shall meet with some Crosse and some Affliction or other but he hath determined the species and kind thereof to wit whether it shall be a cross as to his Body or as to his Estate or as to his Spirit or as to several or all of these together whether he shall be put to suffer Fineings or Confinments or Imprisonments or Exile or Death whether Scourgings Paines and Torments or Harassings Feares Perils or what ever it be Paul knew that bonds did abide him The Lord determined that Abraham's Posteritie should be strangers in a Land that was not theirs be made to serve Gen. 15. vers 13. He determined that Satan should cast some of the Church of Smirna in prison and that they should have tribulation Revel 2 10. We know also what was particularly threatned against David 2 Sam. 12 11. 3. As the Lord decreeth the Kind and Species of the Trial so likewise he passeth a Determination concerning all the Ingredients and Parts of the same The trial possiblie is not one single Exercise but one complicated and compounded of many a cup not of one pure liquor but mixed of many ingredients but of how many Ingredients so ever it be compounded and of how many parts so ever it consist yet all of them are particularly and determinatly decreed and appointed of the Lord. Many bitter ingredients were in the cup which Christ gote to drink but all and every one of them fell under a plaine and peremptour determination of heaven They were gathered together saith Peter in the fore cited place to do whatsoever thy hand and thy Counsel determined to be done there was a whatsoever here Nothing was or could be done but what this Counsel of God had Determined to be done and all that was done was Determined by this Counsel 4. The Degree and Measure of the affliction that His people are to meet with is as particularly determined as any circumstance thereof else we know what Ioseph's Brethren had intended against him when thy said come let us slay him and cast him into some pit Gen. 37 20. But God had not intended so much and therefore they were made to change their minde and to sell him to the Midianites Vers. 28. And though thereby they thought they were quite of him for ever and that he should remaine a slave to his dying day yet we know it came otherwise to passe they thought evil but God meant it unto good Gen. 50. vers 20. As the Lord had another end before his eyes than they had so he had determined that they should not reach their end nor do any more than should contribute unto
Calamity to a sweet quiet submissive and patient life for 1. By this meanes the soul will be freed from sinful murmurings grudgings frettings and repineings at this or that Particular this or that Instrument or this or that other Circumstance of its present Distress and Calamity in that hereby it will be made to see that its murmuring thus is against the Lord and against his Soveraignity who determineth what he will according to the good pleasure of his will and is to give an account of his wayes and determinations to none 2. This will help unto a Christian Patience under all that God thinketh good to lay on and to endure patiently without wearying untill his good time come for they will easily see that it is not for them to strive against the Almighty or to think to cause Him alter his Purposes and Resolutions seing He is of one mind and none can turn him 3 This will teach Christians sweetly to comply with all the holy determinations of God concerning their sufferings and to say heartily and cheerfully The will oâ—… the Lord be done as those did who were perswading Paul not to go up unto Ierusalem and found that he would not be perswaded Act. 21 14. O what a sweet life is this to be sailing with the stream of God's eternall Determinations and to be embracing and kissing every Dispensation we meet with how sharp and bitter so ever it be because it is Determined by the absolute Soveraigne and Lord of Heaven and Earth How light and easie doth this make every load that is lying upon our shoulders when we bear it as bound upon us by an everlasting Decree 4. This will help unto a life of practical Praising of the Lord as Absolute Soveraigne for when the event is submitted unto and sweetly embraced because determined by a fixed Decree of the Lord Jehovah the soul doth thereby declare and acknowledge His Soveraignity and upon the matter by practice in submission even though silent doth Celebrat the praises of that Absolute Soveraigne who is God over all blessed for ever while as such upon the contrary who fret and rebell against the Lord's Determinations by refusing to give that sweet hearty submission that is requisite do give a practical declaration of their not beleeving and acknowledging of Him to be the Soveraigne Lord of all 5. The thoughts of this will free the soul of many heart-perplexing soul-distracting disquieting and renting thoughts such as these If this had not been or if I had not been in such a place or had not done such or such a thing I had been free of all this so that every thought of every thing that had but a far-off and remote tendency unto the occasioning of the trouble is enough to distract disquiet and perplex the man I do not mean here sins occasioning or bringing on of trouble for these should be thought on and mourned for which will not marre this sutable frame of Spirit but other things about which our thoughts are more readily conversant in such a time and beside these thoughts of what hath been done or not done in times by past there are other thoughts of what may yet further be and how that may be prevented which may not a little unhinge and disquiet the soul Now from all such is the soul freed by the beleeving thoughts of God's eternal Decree concerning their trouble and all the way of its coming to passe and the occasion and all other circumstances how and by whom it was brought on Here the soul will finde such a satisfying subject of Meditation that other disquieting thoughts will be quickly hush'd to the door and the soul will finde no leasure for them 6. Hereby will the soul be keeped from poreing upon and too much eying of the motions of the under-wheels of Creatures and instruments of the trouble and calamitie which will rather cause a reeling and giddiness and hence occasione a staggering and falling than any stayedness or establishment because hereby the soul will be brought to fix its eye upon that one wheel of the Lords that moveth evenly fixedly and invariably in the midst of all the wheels of men the motions whereof are so irregular eccentrick and so opposite and contrarious one to another 7. Hereby is the beleever helped to win to that life of tasting and feeling the sweet of that serenity of soul that a filial disposition possesseth the man of by an holy humble son-like submission and subjection of soul unto the good will of the Lord When this submission is yeelded unto the Supream will of God upon Christian Grounds and Considerations the soul is in a manner brought into the suburbs of heaven and enjoyeth an heavenly serenity and peace of minde whereby it is in case to sing under all its sorrowful pressures and the confused noise of such as are the Agents and Instruments of all the calamity and the beleeving thoughts of the Soveraigne will of God ordering and appointing all is a singular help hereunto 8. The beleever is hereby put without the reach of many a Temptation and is strengthened against them whether to use unwarrantable means to be delivered from the Trouble and Distress incumbent or to prevent what may be further imminent and is to be feared or to vent his displeasure against the Instruments of all the calamity or the like for here will be an antidote at hand The Lord ordereth and disposeth of all things according to His own holy and wise will and nothing can come to passe but what He hath decreed and what He hath decreed shall come to passe and that when and neither sooner nor later and how and by whom He hath decreed and no otherwayes what have I then more to do but to minde my present duty and welcome what the Lord's will determineth for me will he say There are these Three particulars which set home this Consideration and promoveth thereupon this work of Submission and hearty acquiesceing unto the will and determination of God and which should be thought upon to this end 1. The Lord is in all his Determinations and Decrees unalterable as he is unchangable in himself there being no variablness or shadow of turning with Him Iam. 1. vers 17. And if it were otherwise He could not be infinitly Wise in himself or not Almighty and Irresistible by others for any alteration that might be in the determinations of his will must either flow from new and second thoughts in himself and so He were not Infinitly wise or from inability to effectuat or through his former Determinations and therefore must take new measures and so He were not Almighty Now the Soul should think with it self Should I wish or desire that the Lord's will were not done that He should not be able to do what soever he will Psal. 115 3. and 135 6 or that any of his everlasting Purposes and Decrees should fail and not take effect or that He should alter his purposes
refused and therein have walked consonant unto both his former Doctrine Practice and Writtings by all which before this time he had declared that the Ceremonial Law was not obliging Christ the special end and substance of all these shadowes being now come and having established the Gospel way of worship and others though they will not blame Paul nor think he dissembled in what he did yet they think Iames and the rest should have forborne to have pressed him to do what they urged him to do Yet we see that notwithstanding of this which gave the rise and occasion to these his last sufferings this not being the ground or cause for which he was persecuted but his maintainance of the Gospel and opposing of the necessary observation of the Law of Moses which was now abrogate he is in all his sufferings which followed hereupon owned of God and approven of him If it be said Though I dar not deny the Truth upon which I am challenged and staged nor dar I say but I am suffering for Truth and that I could not have shunned this affliction but by sinning yet I am made to doubt of God's call and warrand because He hideth his face from me yea He hideth himself from me more than ever This causeth me suspect that all is wong and that I have run in this matter without his warrand and allowance I Ans. This is no certaine ground whereupon to draw such a conclusion These out-lettings of his free grace and sensible significations of his favour are dispensed according to the Soveraignity of his will and pleasure A person therefore may have an unquestionable call and warrand to hazard on suffering when he cannot otherwayes do unless he would sinne though he misse these soul-comforting and heart-establishing blainks of His face How oft do we finde the Saints of God in Scripture cry out of the hiding of God's face when outward trouble was lying heavy upon them As in Iob and David and why may not the Lord dispense thus with others I grant the Trial and the Exercise is upon this account the greater but what do we know but the Lord be ordering matters so in his holy wisdom for our further trial and for the exercise of faith It is easie to swime we say when the head is born up above the water And if the Lord thinketh good to double our Trials ought we not sweetly to submit His word should satisfie us and He hath promised enough to him that overcometh We ought to remember our duty that is hold fast what we have till he come and He will come quickly Revel 2. vers 25. and 3. vers 11. If He will have us venturing upon faith why should we not glorifie him thereby He knoweth when the fittest season is of intimating his favour and acceptance That holy martyr that complained of this want all the time he was in prison yet while going to the staik was made to cry out He is come He is câ—…me Let us now speak a word unto the improving of this Consideration to the end we may see how it can contribute unto life in an evil time 1. This Consideration may calme and quiet the Sufferer and may make him enjoy peace within what ever trouble he meet with from without because hereby he understandeth that he is about his Master's work he is following dutie and walking in a commanded path whatever trouble he meet with therein So whatever other thing occurre to cause disquietment this may bear him thorow all that he is in the way of duty and obeying the command of the great Lord and Law-giver Christians use to pacifie their own spirits with this when they meet with unexpected crosses and disappointments That they were following their duty So this may quiet them under all their Tossings Troubles Persecutions and Vexations that they have sinfully occasioned none of these things nor by their sin and foolly brought them on themselves 2. When on-lookers are ready to condemne them of Foolly Rashness Inconsideratness Pertinaciousness and the like this Consideration That they are about a commanded duty may counterballance all for then they may know that whoever condemne them their Lord and Master will approve of them and how ever men construe of their doings He will account their Sufferings loyal and faithful service to Him 3. The consideration of this will helpe the Beleever to a life of Patience and Submission without fretting at their lot for sure the honest beleever hath engaged himself unto God and hath promised absolute obedience unto him in all things and to take up his cross and yoke whatever it be that God shall think good to appointe for him and without all doubt he is to have respect to all the commands of God and is obliged to carry as a Son and as a Servant and therefore must willingly and with sweet submission do any piece of service that is laid upon him go about any commanded duty with cheerfulness because it is commanded how unpleasant so ever it be to the flesh The honest beleever will say I have given up my self to His service and count it my glory to be called the Servant of God and why should I not go willingly and cheerfully and with heart and hand without all repineing or murmuring about any piece of service He is pleased to put in my hand I made no reserves nor exceptions when I resigned and gave up my self unto Him and why should I not now submit to all He commandeth Sure it is He who is Lord and Master and so must command and give-out orders I am but a servant a sworn-servant and am highly advanced when I am called and accounted a servant to him and therefore must not carve-out my own work and service but be under Authority and go and abide or do this or that or bear this or that burden as commanded It is not seemly for a childe or for a servant or for a souldier to quarrel with his Father Master or Commander for putting him to any piece of service but rather sweetly to acquiesce and run cheerfully about what is commanded And should the beleever say it is more unseemly for me to quarrel with God who is my Father Master and Commander upon a more noble and substantial an account for any piece of service He putteth in my hands I never covenanted with Him upon condition He should not call me to suffering or put any piece of service in my hand that was not easie and sweet to the flesh So that the Consideration of this would certainly move to submission and shoot-out all contrary thoughts which distract and disquiet the soul and make his spirit bitter and his life less lively and comfortable 4. Hereby would the beleever be helped to a life of Patience and Long suffering under the Trial and Tribulation when continueing long and like yet to continue longer without fainting or wearying for the honest soul would think with it self I
should not weary of prayer nor of hearing the word nor of any other religious duty and why should I weary of the cross seing the bearing of it christianly and handsomely is as much my duty and an act of obedience to Him when He calleth thereunto as is Prayer or the like in their season There is a time when He calleth for valiant acting there is also a time when He calleth for Christian suffering and every thing is beautiful in its season and if the season be longer than we would desire yet the Supreme Lord of Times and Seasons He knoweth better than I how long such a season should endure and so long as He thinketh fit to appointe the season so long is the duty seasonable and pleasant that is called for in that season 5. This would also help forward the inward Satisfaction of the Believer for hereby he might see that how unworthy and inconsiderable soever he thought his own sufferings yet the Lord would get glory thereby seing he might easily understand that the Lord would set him about no imployment or service but such as would be for his own glory the husband man will not command his servants to plow-up some cumbersome piece of ground wherein they must meet with much labour and toyl if he saw not how to reap some fruit thereby nor will God set any of His servants about an irksome piece of work if he saw not advantage to be had thereby to his Name Interest and Glory The faith of this That God will get glory by their sufferings that being a piece of work He hath put them about who doth nothing in vaine and whose glory is advanced by our obedience to His commands will quiet the heart of the honest beleever while he is sweating in tugging and toiling at that troublesome work And when such thoughts as these prove troublesome unto the honest hearted beleever Alas I am out of case now while thus shut up in prison to go about my Christian duties with my Christian Neighbours wherein I was wont to rejoice and God was glorified I cannot get Him now so served and glorified and his praises solemnly sung in the publick Assemblies of his people This may satisfie and comfort him That now he is called unto this piece of service and by his Christian deportment herein God will be as much glorified as He was by his Christian exercises while at liberty That now he hath as good occasion to advance in his Principal work of glorifying God though upon another account as when he was imployed in the most solemne service that Christians are called to 6. This consideration will also promove their life of inward Contentmenâ—… and Satisfaction under their suffering lot in that they will thereby be helped to see that as God will thereby get his due rent of praise and glory as we said so their own spiritual advantage and spiritual life will be promoved thereby if they foolishly hinder it not by their unchristian deportment under the crosse All obedience hath a native tendency to promove the spiritual good of Christians they walk and go from strength to strength in the pathes of obedience The doing of God's will is the exercise of the Christian life and the Christian's life is made more and more lively by this exercise So that all these Tribulations or Afflictions are so far from hindering their spiritual grouth and advancment in grace that on the contrary they promove the same when the Christian is helped through grace to yeeld obedience unto the good will of God in undergoing that lot and dispensation in a Christian manner even because the Christian is then in the way of God and carrying as a submissive obedient Son and Servant ought to do 7. Hereby which will also prove advantagious to their spiritual life they will see How Satan is disappointed of the two great Ends he aimeth at in raising up Persecution against the people of God to wit the dishonour of God and the hurt and undoing of the Child of God neither of which he can at taine by this mean for when Afflictions Distresses Tribulation and Persecution are borne in way of obedience to the holy will of God and the soul is sweetly complying therewith as its present duty both God is glorified and the Christian soul is edified as by all other Christian duties and thus Satan is disappointed Sure this can not but yeeld much peace and comfort unto the suffering beleever under all his hardships and sore pressures 8. This Consideration if rightly improven could not but make the suffering beleever sing and rejoice with Paul and Silas while in prison Act. 16. vers 25. and with the Apostles when shâ—…mfully beaten Act. 5. vers 40 41. Because they cannot but say that their hearts are glade and rejoice within them if they be not under the power of some evil frame when they are about known duty and that what they do they do with a piece of joy and gladness when they reflect upon it as a commanded duty and remember how therein they are doing the will of their Father and running His errands and why should they not be also glade and rejoice in their sufferings when they may know that therein they are also about the will of their Father and actually evidencing their Loyalty Faithfulness Subjection and Obedience to Him 9. This Consideration may also quiet the honest-hearted Beleever when troubled with these or the like thoughts That now he cannot get God so served as he was wont to do He cannot get such a good work begun or perfected which he had intended for the publik good He cannot get the spiritual good of others Neighbours and Relations so promoved as he would desire From this I say the Beleever may draw grounds of peace to his own soul hush these perturbing thoughts to the door because the Lord is not now calling for these works at his hands but is now calling for another duty wherein if he carry himself aright God will be no less glorified than by all that work which he Intended nay this being the present duty and piece of work now put in his hand by God the doing thereof aright wiâ—…l more glorifie God And therefore this should allay all their sorrow and griefe which they finde upon their disappointments and cause them sweetly comply with the present duty and account that best which He accounteth best 10. Seing in choosing affliction rather than sin they are about a commanded duty and doing the will of God they have the same ground of hope that the Lord shall enable them thereunto and by his grace carry them thorow that they have as to other duties the same Covenant-Grounds and Covenant-promises reatch all duties and excepte none so that this very Consideration may raise the soul in hope may encourage the man to goe to Christ by faith and lean to him for seasonable strength and supplies of grace for through-bearing in the duty
8. We are troubled on every side yet not distressed we are perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed 4. Their Impatience is likewise occasioned by considering that their Trouble and Affliction is still growing when they supposed that it should have decreased But the right Improvement of this Truth would frame the Soul for patience notwithstanding hereof because the beleever would see ground to say grow as it will the hand of the Lord is about it it will grow to no greater height than he seeth good let Enemies blow at the fire as fast and with as great earnestness as they will the furnace shall be no hoter than the Supream Master and Over-ruler of all seeth fit for the ends He intendeth He knoweth the nature of the mettall and how hote a fire will serve the turn to purge it 5. This also raiseth impatient thoughts in their heart That they can see no appearance of an outgate all doores are so shut that no hope appeareth thus was it with Iob therefore hath he many such expressions as Chap. 7. vers 6. My daies are swifter than a weavers shuttle and are spent without hope Vers. 7. Mine eye shall no more see good Vers. 8. The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more But this Impatience would evanish if this were beleeved That the Lord's hand were in and about the affliction making a faire way to a saife escape and at length in his own due time putting a period to the Trouble when his work is finished the end He designed attained and if it were firmly beleeved that let Enemies make all as sure as they can and rage as they will they shall not be able to keep them longer under their yron harrowes than He seeth good no not one day nor an houre 3. The right improvement of this Consideration would help unto an holy and sweet Submission and cause us say with David Psal. 39. vers 9. I was dumb not opening my mouth because thou didst it When Aaron met with a sad dispensation two of his prime sones Nadab and Abihu were taken away in the fiour of their age and that in a very terrible manner by fire from heaven for their rashness and when Moses told him Levit. 10. vers 3. That this was it which the Lord spoke saying I will be sanctified of all them that come neer me it is said of him And Aaron held his peace A sight of the hand of God though in a terrible manner in that dispensation made him lay his hand upon his mouth and sit silent in the dust He had not one word to say So that a sight of the hand of God in the dispensation ordering all things in it would help them unto a Christian yea unto a cheerful Submission It would not be patience by force but an hearty willing cheerful choosing bearing and embracing of that lot because bound on their back by the hand of God Shall we not drink would they say this potion with delight that God hath prepared and carefully made up for us He knoweth what is best for us Shall we not willingly lye under the crosse that God hath tyed upon us when He knoweth what He is doing and what we must not want and will not sufler us to be temâ—…ted above what we are able When His good time is come there will be an end and all the power of Enemies shall not obstruct our Delivery The Church Micah 7. vers 9. could sweetly sit down and bear the indignation of the Lord when by faith she could say Rejoice not against me O mine Enemie when I fall I shall arise when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be alight unto me He will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousness V. 8 9. 4. The beleeving improvment of this would keep the beleever from fainting and sincking through discouragment many thoughts come into the minde while affliction is lying on their loines and Satan can suggest many things at that time to cause the poor man succumb while under the load but the faith of God's Soveraigne and Absolute O dering of all things in and about the Trouble according to his own mind would keep up their head and preserve them from a sinful and shamful fainting They look too much to instruments and pore too much upon their Nature Disposition Activity Power Wisdom Wickedness Maliciousness Rage Cruelty and Indefatigableness and forget that they are but under agents and can do nothing but as the Supream God Willeth Ordert he Disposeth and Permitteth and that He alone Over-ruleth all Moderateth and Ordereth all according to His own mind and for His own holy ends So that they cannot do any thing whether as to the Substance or as to the Circumstances of the affliction but as He who is the Supream Master of work is pleased to suffer and give way unto 5. The beleeving thoughts of this Truth would keep the Soul from that dreadful sin of Murmuring against the Lord upon occasion of any Trouble or Distress he meeteth with It is the Lord would the Soul say and who am I that I should quarrel with Him He is ordering disposing and moderating all that under agents and lixes are doing so that all things are done as He will and shall I yet be displeased and quarrelsome Enemies cannot get their will They are over-ruled in all their Consultations Projects Contrivances bloudy Resolutions and cruel Executions matters go not as they will but as He will who is over them and why then should I murmure and repine against Him 6. This would also airth the Eyes of the soul towards the right object in a day of Trouble They would not with Heathens look to chance or fortune as ruling and ordering all nor would they with the carnal multitude fâ—…x their eye upon the instruments and run with the dog to the stone that is cast at him but would see another more noble object of their sight to wit the Principal Agent Mover and Orderer of all in whose hand the wicked are as the ax and saw in the hand of the workman and as the rod in the hand of the father and this sight would help unto a Spiritual Christian frame of Godly fear Subjection of Soul and would put the soul in case to observe the Wisdom Soveraignity and absolute Dominion of God doing what He will frustrating the toakens of the liars and disappointing the craftie devices of wicked men as also this sight would minde the man of Christian duties of searching his wayes repenting of his sinnes and turning againe to the Lord for he would see it was the Lord with whom he had to do He would look for his Outgate and Salvation from God alone so that his Faith his Hope and his Confidence would be in the Lord alone His eye being fixed on this object he would not see cause of troublâ—…ng himself much about-Enemies
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
the body of this death 7. We think it also strange that they should have so little rest from Satan and from his inward hellish Injections tending to Atheisme Infidelity Blasphemy and all Profanity Seemeth not that dispensation somewhat crooked that Paul met with after he was taken up to the third heaven 2 Cor. 12 7 8. It seemeth many times uncouth to us that His people have so many sad and bitter houres that they are so far from enjoying Comfort Joy and Delight from that life of rejoyceing in the Lord continually which is allowed to them and they are called to that their life is nothing almost but a continual complaint sometimes compleaining of the Hardness of their heart Blindness Weakness Impotency Treachery c. sometimes of the weight of Duties and of their Failings and Shortcomings sometimes of the prevailing of Corruption and of the power of Temptation c. These and the like dispensations of the Lord in and about his Saints seem to themselves to others sometimes crooked and very unstraight and as they wish it were otherwayes so they suppose it would be more glorious and honourable to the Lord if it were otherwise Thus it appeareth how many things God hath made crooked to our apprehensions But now who shall who can make these crooked things straight This is the Second Particular in the words That what God hath made crooked no man can make straight with all his Wisdome or Power or by all the meanes he can use or devise for that which is crooked cannot be made straight Eccles. 1 15. I know said the wise man Eccles. 3 14. that whatsoever God doth it shall be for ever nothing can be put to it nor any thing taken from it When He giveth quietness said Elihu Iob 34 29. who then can make trouble when He hideth his face who then can behold him Whether against a Nation or a Man only And the reason is manifest because 1. He is Unchangeable and hath fixed all upon Eternal and Immutable Purposes He is the Lord he changeth not Mal. 3â—… v. 6. With him is no variablness nor shadow of turning Iam. 1 17. He doth all things after the Counsel of His owne will Ephes. 1. 11. taking Counsel of none Rom. 11 v. 34. Esai 40 13 14. His Counsel hath an immutability Heb. 6 17. 2. He is Almighty and who can justle with Him and put Him to take new Resolutions He is in one minde said Iob Ch. 23. 13. and who can turn Him And what His Soul desireth that doth He. So Psal 115 v. 6. He hath done whatsoever he pleased I know said the Psalmist Psal. 135 5 6. that Iehovah is great and that our Iehovah is above all Gods whatsoever the Lord pleaseth that did He in heaven and in earth in the seas and all deep places So Iob tels us Chap 9. 4. He is wise in heart and mighty in strength who hath hardened himself against him hath prospered So vers 12. Behold he taketh away who can hinder him Who will say unto him what dost thou 3. He is Absolute and Soveraigne to do what he will as the Potter is absolute over the clay Ier. 18 6. Rom. 9 10. Esai 45 9. And he is uncontrollable Who can call him to an account Who can say unto him what dost thou Iob. 9 12. He giveth not account of any of his matters Iob. 33 vers 13. For he is greater then man vers 12. 4. All his wayes are done in Wisdom and all his works Psal. 104 24. 136 5. And there is no wisdome against the Lord Prov. 21 30. He hath established the world by His wisdom Ier. 10 12. 51 v. 15. He is mighty in strength and wisdom Iob 36 5. And what then can foolish man that is like a wilde asses colt do With the Ancient is wisdom said Iob Chap. 12 12 13 14. c. and in length of dayes understanding With him is wisdom and strength he hath Counsel understanding and thence inferreth Behold he breaketh down and it cannot be built againe he shuteth up a man there can be no opening c. See further to the end of that Chap. 5. All his works are perfect Psal. 18 vers 30. And then what can be added to them or taken from them to amende them What is perfect cannot be made better or amended one way or other What we then think and account to be crooked is Perfect Straight and Even and contributeth to make up this compleat perfection of the whole 6. There are Depths and unseen Mysteries in the work and wayes of the Lord that we cannot search and ignorance of which causeth the sinstruous Apprehensions that we have of them And how shall we think to amende that which we do not understand His works are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein His works are honourable glorious wonderful Psal. 111 2 3 4. Then I beheld said the wise man Eccles. 8 ver 17. all the work of God that a man cannot finde out the work that is done under the sun Because though a man labour to seek it out yea further though a wise man seek to know it yet shall he not be able to finde it And againe Chap. 11 v. 5. As thou knowest not what is the way of the Spirit nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with childe even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all The consideration of which should first cause us sorrow and mourne before the Lord for our seeking to amend God's work as if we could make straight what God hath made crooked and set all things in a righter posture than God hath done Concerning which we would 1. Take notice of some of these wayes whereby we are attempting this vaine work And 2. Take notice of the evil of this sin As to the First We are seeking to make straight what God hath made crooked when 1. We are in a quarrelling humore Disputing with God and Condemning him in our minds for what he is doing and Justifying ourselves in our Anger and Displeasure against the Dispensations and Wayes of the Lord as did Ionah who was displeased exceedingly very angry that the Lord spared Ninive Chap. 3 v. 10. with 4 v. 1. And when the Lord said unto him Chap. 4 vers 4. Doest thou well to be angry was not for all that satisfied and againe vers 9. when the gourd was withered and the East winde blew and the sun beat upon his head he fell againe in this distemper and when the Lord said unto him the second time doest thou well to be angry he answered I do well to be angry even unto death 2. When our vaine Ratiocinations are engaged against the wayes of the Lord in one particular or other and we have this or that to object against that course which the Lord taketh as if we would impute iniquity unto our Maker and
God will bring upon a land inevitable judgments and will not be stopped in the execution by the intercessions of Moses and Samuel how much more may we suppose certainly and unavoidably shall judgment overtake a generation that is guilty of all those twenty grievous iniquities From this matter all of us may learne these lessons 1. To fear and tremble before this God seing He is so just and seyere a judge and Governour and seing it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God 2. To beware of abusing His Patience for howbeit it may endure for sometime yet it will expire at length as to its effects and abused longanimity will end in unavoidable ruine and in inevitable strokes of Iustice. 3. All whether Lands or particular Persons who know themselves guilty of the evils mentioned as causes procuring such inevitable rodes should hast to break off these courses that will no doubt hasten-on irremediable destruction It were best to get out of the way of the wrath of God in time If it be enquired what the People of God are called to do in such a day when the place they live-in is guilty of and continueing-in these grievous sins and they can look for nothing but wrath to be poured-out so that no Prayer Fasting or Supplication shall hold it off For Answer Let such minde those duties following 1 Let them beware to seek great things for themfelves Ier. 45. The Lord said to Baruch by the Prophet Ieremie vers 4 5. Behold that which I have built will I break down and that which I have planted will I pluck up even this whole land and seekeâ—… thou great things for thy self seek them not for behold I will bring evil upon all flesh saith the Lord. Whence we see that it becometh not the People of God to be too much minding themselves and their own things in such a day but they ought to be very well satisfied if the Lord give them their life for a prey as He promised to Baruch 2. They should stoup and adore this God who is just and righteous in all His wayes they should be silent before Him and put their mouth in the dust no quarrelsome thoughts should have place or room in their hearts Hold thy Peace saith Zephaniah Ch. 1 7. at the pâ—…esence of the Lord God for the day of the Lord is at hand For the Lord hath prepared a Sacrifice He hath bid his guests c. When the Lord is about to make a Sacrifice in a land and to give the carcases of men to the fowls of the Heavens and the beasts of the field all flesh should be silent and His People especially should quiet themselves and hold their peace before Him without murmuring or venting any discontentment at the matter 3. They should observe the glory of the Lord shineing forth in that remarkable Act of Holy Justice see His Majestie Awfulness Terrour and just Severity to the engaging of their hearts more unto Him and to a glorying in Him The black and dreadful day that was to come upon Iudah was mentioned and several things held forth to make it have a deeper impression Ier. 9 and v. 22. it was said that even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field And then it is added v. 23. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom c. and Vers 24. But let him that glorieth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord which exercise loving kindness judgment and righteousness in the earth for in these things I delight saith the Lord. To tell us that in such a day especially the Lords People should be taking a right view of God that they may understand and know Him to be Jehovah one that exerciseth judgment and righteousness in the earth and withall one that even then exerciseth loving kindness to His own and a God that delighteth in these exercises and that they should glory in Him even in such a day and delight in that wherein He delighteth 4. They would do well to refuge themselves in time in their chambers and shut their doors about them and hide themselves for a Little moment until the indignation be over past As it is Esai 26 20. This is the Counsel of the Lord unto His people in a time when the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity v. 21. 5. They should rest satisfied though their prayers in behalfe of the land have not that success and fruite that they could have wished that upon these grounds and considerations 1. Out of that Dispensation howbeit both black and terrible yet God will get glory both of his Truth and Veracity in his threatnings at which the wicked tushed would give no credite to them which carriage could not but Afflict His people it could not but grieve themto see those wicked ones carry so atheistically as contemning all the Denounciations of wrath but now when the day of execution is come the Lord is seen to be a God of truth and His people see then whose word standeth whether God's Word or the word of those wicked sinners Ier. 44 28. And of His justice in pursueing evil doers who said by their doings that He had forsaken the earth or that He was not a God that judgeth in the earth So also of His Holiness and Purity For then it 's made manifest that He is not as they imagined altogether such an one as themselves but that He hateth all the Workers of iniquity 2. God will have a care of them even then and be a little sanctuary unto them Ezek. 11 v. 16. and cause all things work together for good to them Rom. 8 v. 28. He will set a mark upon such as sigh and cry for all the abominations that are done that the men with the slaughter weapon may not come nigh unto them Ezek. 9. 3. He will return their prayers into their own bosome againe so that they shall not fall to the ground Psalm 35. vers 15. 4. He will accept their prayer and intercession as good service off their Hand even though He think not good to grant the Particular that they ask And if they be accepted of Him in that piece of service it may suffice and satisfie 6. They would do well to be sighing and crying for all the abominations that are committed in the land to be keeping themselves free of that guilt mourning over the same protesting against it abhorring the same that they may be preserved and protected in the day of God's contending according to what we read Ezek. 9 4 6. 7. In the midst of all these desolations and the effects of the Lords indignation burning against a sinful generation they are called to act faith on God as the true and faithful God keeping mercy and covenant for ever and to waite upon him in faith hoping and expecting with confidence that
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