The Return of Prayers, Part 2
TIDINGS OF PEACE TO BEE SPOKEN to Conſciences diſtreſſed.
Pſal. 85. ver. 8.
— God will ſpeak peace unto his people, and to his Saints, &c.—
THE maine thing intended to bee inſiſted upon out of theſe words is diſpatcht, yet that I may not leave ſo faire and fruitfull a crop ſtill ſtanding upon the ground unreaped, I will goe on more briefly to have in the reſt of that harveſt the Text affords.
This Pſalm (as was ſaid) was penned as a Prophecy of and prayer for the returne of Gods people out of the Captivity of Babylon, and the ſetling and eſtabliſhment of that Church and State upon its former Baſis, yet ſo as therein there is a further and more eſpeciall aime had to the peace and glory to bee brought in by Chriſt, till when this Prophecy otherwiſe had but a poore and ſlender accompliſhment, in regard of much outward glory or peace that that Church enjoyed.
And therefore the peace here ſpoken of and promiſed for the preſent is to be extended largelier then to outward proſperity, or an happy iſſue out of that calamity, even to ſpeaking peace to drooping and weather-beaten conſciences: and accordingly we finde this kinde of peace to have beene ſpecially promiſed by the Prophet Iſaiah to the people at their returne out of the Captivity, both in Iſaiah 48. from 20. to the end, and Iſaiah the 57. from the 14. to the end, there being many broken hearts that had wanted the light of Gods countenance long, having beene during the Captivity, baniſht from the Ordinances of the Temple, hanging up their harps mourning, whoſe thoughts were as if God had meant to deſtroy them, as appeares Ier. 29. 11. who afterwards were refreſhed with in ward peace, at the reſtauration of thoſe Ordinances, as well as with outward, as by thoſe places doth appeare. Therefore in relation to this kind of peace onelyonly I will at this time handle the words.
In the words you have a diſcovery of Gods proceedings in treating of peace or proclaiming war with his people and ſubjects.
Obſer. 1 1. You ſee that ſometimes God doth not ſeake peace to his owne children. This was their ſtate for the preſent, when this Pſalme was penned: Hee will ſpeake peace, therefore at preſent he did not; yea, it may incline us to think that God at preſent ſpake the contrary, for the Prophet ſpeaks this by faith, as contrary to ſenſe, and preſent experience; hee beleeves God intends to come againe to a treaty of peace, though now hee ſeemes to have nothing but anger, and blood, and war in his looks, ſpeeches, and actions; and to threaten and proclaime warre, and take up Armes againſt them. And thus God often deales with his owne Children, whether a people or a particular man: ſo with a nation, Eſay 63. 10. They rebelled, and hee fought againſt them: ſo with a particular man, God frowned upon and rated his Child Ephraim, and ſpake bitter things againſt him, (it is the phraſe uſed, Ier. 31. 20.) though yet Ephraim is my pleaſant Child ſayes he: David had not a good word from him a long time, Pſal. 51. 8. Make me to heare againe of joy and gladneſſe. And Pſal. 50 7. Heare oh my people, and I will ſpeake, but not againſt them they might hope, becauſe hee ownes them for his people: Heare oh Iſrael, and I will teſtifie againſt thee: and yet it followes, I am the Lord thy God. Iob (ſayes, he did not ſpeake onelyonly againſt him, but alſo wrote bitter things, hee wrote as it were bookes againſt: him, Iob 13. 26. hee writing over in his Conſcience the ſinnes of his youth in letters of blood and wrath and terrors for them.
Obſer. 2 There muſt needs be ſome great reaſon for this they being his people, which is the ſecond thing that is intimated, and may be obſerved out of theſe words, namely, the reaſon, or moving cauſe provoking God thus to interrupt the peace of his people: they had fallen into ſome groſſe folly or other, ſome ſinfull inordinate diſpoſitions had beene indulged unto, and nouriſhed in them, which is uſually, though not alwayes, the cauſe of this his dealing: this is evident by this, that the concluſion of their peace, when it is made up againe hath this clauſe, as the onelyonly article of reconciliation between them, that they returne no more to folly, implying they had formerly runne out into ſome inordinacy, which to reduce them from, God had tooke up armes againſt them, and thereby taught them wiſdome to take heed of loſing, and then buying peace at ſo deare a rate againe. And indeed all the quarrells, that God hath againſt a Nation, a particular place, or perſon, that belongs to him, doe begin there; They rebelled, and Hee fought againſt them, Eſay 63. 8. For the iniquity of his covetouſneſſe I was wroth, Iſa 57.
Reaſon. The reaſon is, for anger is out of love as well as hatred, which therefore he expreſſeth though with griefe, hee ſhould be put to quarrell with thoſe, hee hath ſet himſelfe to louelove. And as wicked men, whom hee alwaies hates, may out of his patience have a truce; ſo on the contrary, with his owne, God may take up a quarrell, yet He loves them, & remembers them with everlaſting kindneſſe.
The Vſes of both are theſe.
Vſe 1 1 As peace with God is deare to you, ſo to take heed of turning unto folly. OnelyOnly take this advertiſement, that they are not meere follies or ignorances that doe interrupt or breake the peace: as it is not ſimply the outrage of ſome Pirats that will cauſe two States at peace to enter into a warre, unleſſe that State conſent to their act, and maintaine them in their rapine. So it is not ſimply the riſing of luſts that warre in our members againſt the Law of the minde, that breake the peace betweene God and us, unleſſe they be approved of, and conſented unto, nouriſhed and maintained with ſome preſumption; whilſt wee maintaine, and take up a conſtant fight againſt Gods enemies in us, and diſavow the outragious riſings of our luſts, the peace may hold and often doth; for whilſt wee are not at peace with ſin, God may be at peace with us and our Spirits; but ſo much peace as wee give them, ſo much warre God takes up.
Vſe 2 The ſecond Vſe is: Doth God take up quarrells againſt His owne? then upon any breach made, goe forth to meet Him: It is Saint Pauls exhortation, not to let the Sunne goe downe upon thy wrath, but to reconcile thy ſelfe ere night, with thy offended brother; but I turne the exhortation, Let not the Sunne goe downe upon Gods wrath towards thee; but every day make and renew thy peace with God, ere thou ſleepeſt, that as David ſayes, thou mayeſt lie downe and ſleepe in peace, Pſal. 4. 8.
Vſe 3 The third Vſe: If the peace of Gods owne people be thus often interrupted, who yet are the Sons of peace: Luk. 10. what wrath is reſerved for the children of diſobedience, Epheſ. 2. 2.and open Rebells? that are children of wrath, becauſe of diſobedience. There is no peace to the wicked, ſayes my God, Eſa. 57. God is a preparing againſt thee, who ever thou art, that goeſt on in ſinne, if thou turne not, Pſal. 7. 13. thou art preſt for hell, and art thither bound, to encounter with the wrath of the great God, thither where no truce is to bee had, there is no diſcharge in that warre, as Solomon ſayes, Eccleſ. 8. 8. Think of this, you that ſinne, and will ſinne; whoſe peace is not ſtruck up betweene God and you, who never yet ſo much as entred into any treaty of peace with God, who never apprehended God and your ſelves at oddes.
Obſer. 3 The third thing to be obſerved out of the Text is this; That when the Child of God wants peace, he can have no peace till God ſpeak it; God muſt ſpeak peace, if ever his people have it: therefore ſayes hee here, I will heare what God will ſpeake: he ſpeaks in oppoſition to the voice of man, and the helpe of ſecond cauſes, and of all meanes whatever, which in time of diſtreſſe, of themſelves can doe no good.
Reaſ. 1 Reaſon firſt: Becauſe God is the King of all the world, the Soveraigne Lord of all. Now treaties of war and peace are the prerogative of Kings, and of them alone: they may conſult with their ſubjects about eſtabliſhing good Lawes, as they uſe to doe, &c. but the proclaiming Warre and Peace with forreigne States, they have ever held in their owne hands; and ſo doth God who is the King of Kings.
Reaſ. 2 Secondly, becauſe God is the Judge of all the world and the party offended, at whoſe ſuite all arreſts and controverſies doe come; now when a condemned man ſtands at the barre, let all the ſtanders by ſay what they will, bid him be of good comfort, and tell him that his cauſe will goe well, yet till hee heare the Judge himſelfe ſpeake as much, he cannot be at reſt in his minde: the Judge onelyonly can acquit him and abſolve him The King alone ſpeakes pardons; and ſo doth God peace; all afflictions are his arreſts; thou muſt therefore make thy peace with him, if thou wilt be at peace.
Reaſ. 3 Thirdly, peace eſpecially of conſcience, is a thing muſt be created, for our hearts of themſelves are full of nothing but turmoile; as the raging ſea, which cannot reſt. I create the fruit of the lips, peace. Iſaiah 57. 19. men may ſpeake it, but I muſt create it; A word of power, ſuch as went forth when light was created, muſt goe forth from God, or elſe there is no peace; for otherwiſe our hearts are as the ſea, that reſts not.
Reaſ. 4 Fourthly, the wounds of conſcience which are in Gods people, are of that quality, that none but God can cure them; for, the chiefe thing that wounds them, is the loſſe of Gods favour, not ſimply his wrath: for it is the glory of God, and his favour, not ſelfe-love onelyonly that makes them ſeeke him; therefore nothing gives peace, but the reſtoring of his favour, and the light of his countenance; the ſame dart that wounded, muſt heale againe; Iſay 57. I ſmote him, and I will heale him: And as one that is ſick with love, whē love is the diſeaſe, no phyſick, no perſwaſion of friends can cure it, nothing but onelyonly the love of the party beloved; ſo when a ſoule is wounded for the loſſe of Gods love, not all the things in the world can cure the heart, but one word from him, one good looke, one promiſe from him that wee are his, ſtills all, and onelyonly can give peace. Like to a poore child, that cryes for its mother, let who will dandle it, and play with it, and uſe it never ſo kindly, yet it will not be ſtilled till the mother comes; ſo it is with a poore ſoule that cryes after God day and night.
Vſe 1 1 Vſe. In caſe thou art in diſtreſſe, eſpecially of ſpirit, and want of peace of Conſcience, waite upon GOD, in the uſe of meanes for peace; friends may come to thee, and ſay, Why ſhouldeſt thou be troubled? thou haſt no ſuch cauſe to bee caſt downe; but all theſe are miſerable comforters, (as Iob ſaid) unleſſe God ſpeak peace: David heard by the Prophet Nathan that his ſinne was pardoned, but yet his ſoule was not at quiet, til God would ſecond it immediately by his Spirit; therefore ſayes he, when Nathan had been with him, Pſal. 51. 8. Make me to heare of joy and gladneſſe. Art thou baited with helliſh blaſphemies caſt into thy ſoule? God muſt ſpeake peace, and rebuke Satan for thee, and take him off thee; all thy friends, all the men in the world cannot doe it; they can only ſay as the Archangell ſaid, The Lord rebuke thee. And hee can as eaſily doe it, as he did rebuke Laban, and forbade him ſpeaking roughly to Iacob, the ſame charge hee can give in an inſtant to Satan: therefore wait upon God, and looke up to him.
Vſe 2 2 Conſider this againſt the time you come to die; all your deſire is to die in peace, and, Oh let thy ſervant depart in peace! is the ſpeech and deſire of all; But who is it, that muſt ſpeake peace to you then? God onelyonly. At death you will ſend for a good Miniſter, or a good friend, to give you ſome comfort, (as you call it) but, if God will not ſpeake it, how can they? if you could call all the Angels out of Heaven, and all the Saints both in earth, and Heaven; and ſo could have all that whole Colledge of Phyſicians about you, and they, ſhould deſire to comfort you with all their cordialls; yet if God will not ſpeake it, who is able to doe it? Iob 34. 29. If he hides his face, who can behold him? None can ſhew his face, as the oppoſition in the next words ſhewes. Falſe daubers may come to you, & ſay, Peace, peace, as they in the Prophet ſaid; but liſten what God will ſpeak, he onelyonly muſt, and can doe it; and be ſure you make ſure of him before you come to die. Would any wiſe Prince deferr the treaty of peace with his enemy, till hee come into the field, and when the battel is begun? how fooliſh then are thoſe, who neglect ſeeking after God, till the aſſault of death comes, and the King of feares with all his terrours, hath encompaſſed them round?
Obſer. 4 4. Obſervation is, that let Gods people be in never ſo great diſtreſſe, yet it is an eaſie thing for God to give peace to them; mark the expreſſion uſed here, It is but ſpeaking peace, that is, it is as eaſie for him to give peace, as it is for you to ſpeake a word; it is no more to him: Then, our comfort is, that as he onelyonly muſt doe it; ſo he eaſily can doe it, even with a word.
Reaſ. 1 Reaſon 1. Becauſe his ſpeaking is creating: if he ſpeaks, he makes things to be, even with a word; as at firſt, he did but ſay, Let there be light, and there was light; ſo ſtill, if he but ſay, Let there bee peace, there is peace: hee made all, and upholds all by the word of his power. As therefore when the ſtorme was at its height, and the waves moſt raging, yet at one word of Chriſts, they were all ſtill: The ſea and the winds obey him: ſo, when tentations are moſt fierce, and the doubts of thine owne heart moſt tumultuous, and raging, a word from him, can ſtill them.
Reaſ. 2 Secondly, becauſe the light, which God gives to a mans ſpirit, when hee ſpeaks peace, is a ſure and infallible light, and therefore a ſatisfying light; ſo as when it comes, it muſt needs give peace; and no objection, no tentation can darken or obſcure it, when it ſhines: If he give quietneſſe, who can trouble? ſayes he in Iob 34. 29. No creature is able to ſeparate from his love, or the aſſurance of it.
1 It is a certaine and infallible light, which God gives, when hee ſpeakes peace; The anointing from above, which enlighteneth a mans eyes, is truth, and is no lie, 1. Ioh. 2. 27. that is, in teaching a man (of which hee there ſpeakes, not onelyonly what hee is in himſelfe, but what hee is in teaching us) he doth it ſo, as a man is not deluded by it, and therefore it is added, None elſe need teach him; for did the ſpirit, (whē he did ſpeak peace) ſpeak ſo, as that that man to whom it is ſpoken, did not infallibly apprehend it, hee ſhould ſpeake in vaine: for ſo the Apoſtle reaſons in caſe of unknown tongues, that if a trumpet give an uncertaine ſound; or a man ſpeakes ſo, as it ſhall not be knowne what hee ſpeakes, hee beats the aire: 1. Cor. 14. 9. Now therefore ſurely God, when hee ſpeakes peace, ſpeakes it ſo infallibly, and diſtinctly, that the ſoule knows the meaning of it; It is not a voice elſe; for, ſayes the Apoſtle there, ver. 10. The end of all voices is to ſignifie, and therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, hee ſhall be as a Barbarian, that ſpeakes to me: ver. 11. eſpecially when the ſpeaker undertakes to bee a witneſſe, as the Holy Ghoſt in ſpeaking peace is, 1. Iohn 5. 6. Now to witneſſe, is ſuch a teſtimony, as is taken for infallible, for the end of it is to put an end to the controverſie, and it ends the ſtrife betweene man and man; now the Holy Ghoſt when hee ſpeakes, ſpeakes as a witneſſe, and therefore puts an end to a mans doubts: he ſpeakes infallibly.
And therefore in the ſecond place, it is a ſatiſfying light alſo; it is ſuch a light, as diſpells darkneſſe, as anſwers all objections; and ſo ſpeakes peace home. As in a queſtion, and Controverſie in Divinity, or Logike, when ſome one bottome truth is underſtood, a man hath a light, which goes through all the Objections, and anſwers them all; ſuch a light doth the Spirit give to a poore diſtreſſed ſoule, about the great controverſie of his owne ſalvation, when hee doth ſpeake peace; hee gives ſuch a light, as ſatiſfies the minde, as lets him ſee that in Gods free grace, and in Chriſt, which doth anſwer to all, hee, or all the devills can ſay againſt him, from what wants, or objections are in himſelfe. Hee openeth, and no man, nor devill, is able to ſhut: And therefore when he doth ſpeake peace, his teſtimony is taken and beleeved: If wee receive the witneſſe of men, and reſt in it: 1. Iohn 5. 9. The witneſſe of God is greater, that is, of more power, and efficacie to perſwade, and ſatisfie the ſoule.
Vſe 1 1. Vſe, is an Uſe of comfort to poore ſoules, that are in diſtreſſe, and in ſuch diſtreſſe ſometimes, as they thinke, and ſay their caſe is deſperate, and paſt recovery, ſo farre are their ſoules ſometimes ſhot into deſpaire. Conſider, how eaſie it is for you to have your condition altered, and changed, even in a moment. I tell thee, though (it may be) thou haſt been caſt down this twenty yeeres, and thy ſoule is battered, broken, hardened, ſetled, fixed in ſerious thoughts of thy ruine, and reprobation, yet one good looke, one good word from God ſhall in an inſtant diſpell all, alter thy conceit and apprehenſion cleane; God can and doth often more with one word, in one moment, then Satan could doe in many yeeres, with all the objections he could muſter up. The truth of this, in experience wee often finde and obſerve in our ſelves and others. Yea, and ſometimes when hee doth ſpeake peace, hee gives ſuch ſatisfaction to a mans ſoule in that particular, that hee would bee content to bee as many yeeres more, in his ſpirituall conflicts, to enjoy but the like light, one halfe houre. Thus eaſie is it, for God to ſpeake peace. Though thou thinkeſt thy ſelfe never ſo far off from peace, yet he can ſpeake peace to them, that are afarre off, as well as thoſe who are neere: as himſelfe ſayes, Eſay 57. 19. for, ſayes hee, it is I that ſpeake it. And when hee doth it, then all thy doubts and diſtreſſes, will bee forgotten, as the paines of a woman in travaile are when a man-childe is borne.
Vſe 2 Secondly, is the Church in any diſtreſſe? (as the Church here at this time was,) hee can redeeme it out of all with a word. A word ſpoken to Cyrus his heart, did ſet them in their owne land againe, ſo you have it expreſſed, Eſay 44. 26, 27, 28. The God that ſaith to Ieruſalem, thou ſhalt bee inhabited, and to the Cities of Iudah, yee ſhall bee built; you ſee his maner of doing it, it is but with a word ſpeaking; he ſayes to Ieruſale, be built; and though there be neuer ſo great impediments in the way, he will ſay to the deep, bee dry, that his people may paſſe over; hee dryed up a whole Nation, a ſea of people, namely the Babylonians, to make way for this deliverance. And when they are conquered, and Cyrus, a new King comes to have the ſway of things, God ſpeakes to his heart alſo; That ſaith of Cyrus, he is my ſhepheard, and cauſeth him to ſay to Jeruſalem, Be thou built. Therefore goe to him, and truſt in him in all the diſtreſſes of the Church, as the Church alſo did, Pſal. 44. 4. Thou art my king, command deliverances; A Mandamus from God doth it, and will doe it at any time.
Obſer. 5 Let God bee never ſo angry, and his peoples diſtreſſe never ſo great, yet he will ſpeak peace in the end to his people: you heard before, that if wee have peace, he onelyonly muſt give it; and then, that hee could, and was able with eaſe to doe it: and now you ſhall heare, that hee will certainly doe it in the end.
The Reaſons the Text ſuggeſts are theſe:
Reaſ. 1 1. If wee conſider but, who this God is, that is to ſpeake peace, I will heare what God the Lord will ſpeake; he is the Lord, and therfore able to ſpeak what pleaſeth him; he is peculiarly the God of peace, and therefore willing to ſpeake peace. Now, 1. when it is ſaid, hee is the God of peace, and the God of comfort, the meaning is, hee is full of it, infinitely full of it, and out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth ſpeakes; thoughts of peace, and love to his, doe boile within him, as hatred, or malice doth in a malicious man towards his enemy; ſo as hee cannot containe and forbeare expreſſing it towards him; that as David ſayes, his thoughts did burne within him, and at laſt, brake forth; ſo in God, I know the thoughts I thinke towards you (ſaies hee to them of the captivity) Ier. 29. 11. They are thoughts of peace, and not of evill. And 2. beſides that theſe his thoughts of peace are taken up of himſelfe, his Son alſo hath beſpoken peace for us; and therefore God will ſpeake it, Even as Ioſeph, though he ſpake roughly a while to his brethren, yet could not in the end containe, Gen. 45. 1. ſo nor God.
Reaſ. 2 Secondly, Let us conſider, who they are to whom hee is to ſpeake it, they are his people, as the text hath it; and to them there is no queſtion, but hee will ſpeake peace; though hee ſeemes angry for a while. They are his people, that is the reaſon given, 1. Sam. 12. 22. Hee will not caſt off his people: as alſo Eaſy 63. 8, 9. When they rebelled, he was wroth, yet hee ſaid, ſurely, they are my people, ſo I was their Saviour. They? why they are the ſonnes of peace, Luke 10. 6. ordained for peace, and therefore ſhall be ſure to have it; and although ſome differences may ariſe betwixt God and them, yet there is a naturall foreign in the Lord, that moves him to ſpeake peace in the end to them: as the dumbe ſonne of Craeſus, when hee ſaw his father like to bee killed, though hee had never ſpake before, yet then out of an impetus of ſpirit, the ſtrings of his tongue were unlooſed, and hee cried out to the murtherer, Kill not King Craeſus; ſo, when the enemies of his Church are ready to devoure his people, and Satan is ready to ſwallow his child up in deſpaire, then Gods bowells worke within him, and hee can hold no longer, but cries, ſave my child, ſave my Church. Is Ephraim my pleaſant child, (ſayes God) Ier. 31. 20? Well ſayes God, though I ſpake againſt him, and took him up, and chid him ſoundly, yet I cannot forget my child ſayes he, nor my Fatherly affection to him, but my bowels are ſtirred, and I will ſurely have mercy on him.
Reaſ. 3 Thirdly, otherwiſe if God did not in the end ſpeake peace, they would indeed returne to follie, which is the third thing in the text. For his end of ſpeaking peace, is that they might not returne to folly, Pſal. 125. 3. The rod of the wicked ſhall not alwayes lie upon the righteous, leaſt they put forth their hand to iniquity, Therefore at the laſt verſe, Peace ſhall be upon Iſrael. As for this cauſe he ſpeakes outward peace, ſo alſo inward, and ſuffers not the rod of Satan, and of his owne heavie diſpleaſure to lie upon their hearts: for elſe they would returne to the pleaſures of ſinne; for every creature muſt have ſome delight; their ſpirits would faile, and be tired out elſe, and wearied in good duties, if GOD ſhould not in the end ſpeake peace, Eſay 57. The ſpirit would faile before me. When the childe ſwounds in the whipping, God lets fall the rod, and falls a kiſſing it, to fetch life into it againe. As tis a rule in Phyſicke, ſtill to maintaine nature: and therefore when that ſhall bee in hazzard to bee deſtroyed, they leave giving purging Phyſicke, and give cordials: ſo doth GOD with his people, though with purging phyſicke, he often brings their ſpirits very weake, and low, yet hee will uphold and maintaine their ſpirits, ſo as they ſhall not faile, and bee extinguiſht, but then he will give cordials to raiſe them up againe.
Vſe 3. What good heart that beares a child-like affection to God, would offend ſuch a God, that bee thy diſtreſſes what they will bee, will certainely ſpeake peace: then doe not put him to it, ſpend not upon that precious ſtock of his free grace and love. Tis true, he is maried to thee, and therefore though thou haſt gone a whoring after many lovers, Ier. 3. 1, 2, 14. ſtill hee ſayes, Returne, for I am maried to thee: as therefore when man and wife are fallen out, they conſider, wee muſt live together, and therefore they reconcile themſelves againe: ſo conſider it muſt bee betweene God and thee, and make it a meanes and motive to recover thee, as Samuel did to the Iſraelites: 1. Sam. 12. 22. You have committed this great ſinne, yet turn not aſide from following the Lord, for God will not caſt you off, you are his people. Goe home to him againe, he will ſpeak peace. Thinke thus, the time will come wherein God will be friends again with me, he and I cannot be ſtrange long; though I would, he will not, Eſay 57. 18, 19. though he went on ſtubbornly, yet God healed him, and would not loſe his childe, therefore I will returne of my ſelfe.