Gods Three Arrows, Section 6 – Section 12
§. 6. Of the ſinnes which cauſe famine.
2. THe ſinnes which cauſe famine are in generall aLev. 26. 26. Deu. 28. 23, 38 Peccata gravia nec nitra nec herba bovis d…lui poſſunt: ſed gravioribus tormen lis indigent. Hier. Com. lib. 1. in Hier. 2.all ſuch notorious, publique, crying ſinnes as ſo farre incenſe the wrath of God, as thereby he is provoked to execute ſome publique and heavy judgement, whereof famine is one, and not one of the leaſt, as hath beene b§ 3. 4.before ſhewed. Theſe ſinnes are cSec A Plaiſter for the Plague, on Num. 16. 46 § 45. Dei beneficia ad i'los referunt, qui cultorum ſuorum animas perdiderunt. Hier. Comment. lib 1. in Os. 2.elſewhere reckoned up.
The particular ſinnes which the Holy Ghoſt noteth in ſpeciall manner to be fore-runners and cauſes of famine, are theſe that follow and ſuch like.
1. Superſtitious attributing of plenty to other authors then to the onelyonly God from whom all plenty commeth. So did the Iewes that ſaid, dIer. 44. 17.When we burnt incenſe, and powred out drinke offerings to the Queene of heaven, we had plenty of victuals. Hereupon e—26, 27.the Lord ſware that they ſhould die of famine. So where Iſrael ſaid, fHoſ. 2. 5.My lovers gave me my bread, and my water, my wooll, and my flaxe, mine oile, and my drinke, the Lord anſwereth, g—9, 12.I will take away my corne in the time thereof, and my wine in the ſeaſon thereof, &c. I will deſtroy her vines and her figtrees. &c.
2. Ingratitude. It is Gods uſuall dealing to take away from ungratefull perſons the bleſſings which he hath beſtowed on them. God gave the Egyptians ſeven yeares of Gen. 41. 53, 54. Omnia auſeret Deus, ut qui ex copia datorem non ſenſerant, ſentiant expenuria Aug. loc. citat. Lege Chryſ. Tom. 2. Hom. 29. Quae hunc habet titulum, Quòd nemo laeditur niſi à ſeipſo. Ibi copioſe diſſer it contra m…nſarum affl… entiam. Leg… item Sermonem ipſius contra luxum & crapulam. Tom. 5.extraordinary plenty. They were not thankfull. God therfore gave them ſeven years of ſuch ſcarcity, as all the former plenty was utterly conſumed. God will take away all from ſuch, that they who by plenty diſcerne him not to be the giver of all, may diſcerne it by want.
3. Perverting of plenty to gluttony, drunkenneſſe, and all exceſſe. Of them that uſed to riſe up early in the morning that they may follow ſtrong drink, that continue untill night, til wine enflame them: and the Harp, and the Viole, the Taebret, and Pipe, and wine are in their feasts, it is ſaid, their honourable men are famiſhed, and their multitude dried up with thirst, Iſa. 5. 11, 12, 13.
4. Prodigality: or a laviſh ſpending of that abundance which God giveth. Chriſt exemplifieth this in him that is commonly called the prodigall child. Thorow his prodigality he brought himſelfe to ſuch penury, as He faine would have filled his belly with the huske that the ſwine did eate, and no man gave unto him, Luk. 15. 13, 16.
5. Inſenſibleneſſe of their miſery who are in want: To them that ſtretch themſelves upon their couches, and eate the lambs out of the flock: that drink wine in bowles, and annoint themſelves with the chiefe ointments: but are not grieved for the affliction of Ioſeph: The Lord ſaid, The banquet of them that ſtretched themſelves ſhalbe removed, Amo. 6. 4, 6. 7.
6. Cruelty to ſtrangers that live among us for ſuccour. Lege Ambr. Offic l. 3. c 7. De non arcend… peregrinis urbe tempore famis.Such were the Gibeonites that lived among the Iſraelites. (Ioſ. 9. 15.) VponUpon theſe Saul executed much cruelty: and for that cauſe God ſent this famine, 2 Sam. 21. 1. If uncharitableneſſe to ſtrangers, much more to our owne poore, muſt needs incenſe Gods wrath, and move him to withdraw plenty even from the rich, and make them to want.
7. Rejecting the Word of God, which is the bread of life. To thoſe that ſaid to the Prophet Ieremiah, Propheſie Quomodo quis poterit, etiam cui ſaxeum cor, lantum contemptum non gravatim ferre. Chryſ. Hom. 6. in Gen 1. de contemp tu verbi. Pſeudoprophetae preſpera promittendo ſupplantāt populum Dei. Hier. Comment l. 3 in Ier. 15.not in the name of the Lord, thus ſaid the Lord of hoſte, Their ſonnes and their daughters ſhall die by famine, Ier. 11. 21, 22. By want of corporall food God doth viſibly demonſtrate their folly in deſpiſing ſpirituall food.
8. Miniſters ſoothing of people with conceipt of plenty, when the Lord threatneth famine. Of the Prophets that ſaid, Ye ſhall not ſee the ſword, neither ſhall ye have famine, the Lord ſaid, The prophets propheſied lies in my name; I ſent them not; By ſword and famine ſhall thoſe prophets be conſumed. And the people to whom they propheſie, ſhalbe cast out in the ſtreets of Ieruſalem, becauſe of the famine and the ſword, Ier. 14. 13, 15, 16.
9. Refuſing to ſubject our ſelves to that yoke and government under which God will have us to be, Ier. 27. 8, &c. For, ſuch a government is a meanes of enjoying that which is needfull for us. But reſiſting the ſame is a meanes of ſpoiling us of all.
10. Wilfull ſtanding out againſt ſuch meanes of proviſion as God affoordeth becauſe it is not pleaſing unto our ſelves. As when an enemy beſiegeth a city, and there is no hope of meanes to raiſe the ſiege, nor ſufficient in the city long to hold out: and by the enemy conditions for preſerving of life are offered: by ſtanding out too ſtifly in this caſe, God is provoked by famine to deſtroy ſuch men in their city. So dealt God with the Iewes, Ier. 21. 9. 2 King. 25. 3.
§. 7. Of moderating a famine.
FOr moderating a famine when it is begun,
1. Proviſion muſt in time be ſent for to ſuch places as have plenty. aGen. 42. 1, 2.So did Iaakob.
2. They who are abroad muſt ſtirre up ſuch as have plenty to be mindfull of thoſe that are preſſed with famine, and ſend ſuccour to them. b2 Cor. 8. 1, &cSaint Paul was very diligent herein.
3. More then ordinary diligence in every ones place and calling muſt be uſed: that all of all ſorts may eate their owne bread. Thus will not ſome few have the burthen of many lying upon them, which much increaſeth a famine.
4. Moderation in diet muſt be uſed, and that by thoſe that have greateſt ſtore. That which is ſpared may be for ſupply to thoſe who have nothing at all. A little ſcarcity by immoderate laviſhing ſoone produceth a great famine.
5. Frequent faſts muſt be made by thoſe that have plenty: and what is ſpared at ſuch faſts, given to thoſe that have not ſufficiency. Thus many may be ſuſtained by that which a few do ordinarily ſpend.
6. Then eſpecially muſt men obſerve the counſell of Chriſt, to invite to their table the poore, the maimed, the lame, and the blind.Luk. 14. 13.
7. Publique proviſions muſt be wiſely diſtributed: according to the diſtribution of Manna, whereof they had Exo. 16. 18.every one according to his eating: that is, according to the number of perſons in a family, and according to their age, ſtature and ſtrength.
8. Magiſtrates muſt be more then ordinarily carefull in preſerving peace and keeping good order: that neither the rich and mighty oppreſſe the poore and weak (as he that having many flocks and heards of his owne, tooke from a poore 2 Sam. 12. 2, 3, &c.man that had but one little ewe lambe, that lambe to entertaine a traveller that came to him:) nor the poore and needy felloniouſly and violently take from the rich. In time of famine Magiſtrates muſt be the more diligent and carefull, becauſe feare of want will make them that for the time have enough, oppreſſe others: and preſent ſenſe of want will move them that have nothing, by hooke or crooke to get what they can. And what is violently or fraudulently gotten, wilbe laviſhly ſpent: and ſo the famine prove to be the greater.
9. Miniſters muſt be the more carefull to feed their people with the bread of life: that by the plenty and ſweetneſſe thereof, they may the more patiently and contentedly beare the want of bodily food. This is the means to inſtruct men, both to be full, and to be hungry: both to abound and to ſuffer Phil. 4 12.need. Such inſtruction wil make famine much more tolerable.
10. All of all ſorts muſt with patience expect the time and means which God ſhall give for ſuccour, and not preſcribe time or means to God. Much leſſe murmure againſt God, or charge him with any evill, or refuſe to wait on him, ſuppoſing that he can not or will not affoord any ſuccour: as he who ſaid, This evill is of the Lord: what ſhould I wait for the 2 King. 6. 33.—7. 2.Lord any longer? And as the other that ſaid (when Eliſha propheſied of much plenty, and that ſuddenly) Behold if the Lord ſhould make windowes in the heavens might this be? Meditation on Gods promiſes for ſuccour in famine, is of ſpeciall uſe to worke patience.
§. 8. Of removing famine.
MEanes of removing famine are ſuch as theſe.
1. Humiliation, and that eſpecially for a§. 6.the ſinnes wherby God hath bin provoked to ſēd famine. b2 Chro. 7 13, 14.This means even in this caſe is expreſly preſcribed by God himſelfe, and a promiſe made of ſucceſſe therto. That it may be the more effectuall, it muſt ariſe inwardly from the ſoule, and be manifeſted and helped by faſting, weeping and mourning, Ioel. 2. 12.
2. Confeſſion, and that both of our owne guiltineſſe, and alſo of Gods juſtice in depriving us of his creatures. Salomon Confeſſio hoſtia eſt Deo. Aug. Enar. in Pſal. 95.compriſeth as much under this phraſe, e1 King. 8. 35.Confeſſe Gods name. We have a worthy patterne of this kind of confeſſion in fDan. 9. 4, &cDaniels prayer. For this end Examination of our own inward corruptions, and of our former courſe of life, yea and due obſervation of the publique and common ſinnes of the times and places wherein we live, is very requiſite: that thus, if it be poſſible, we may find out thoſe particular ſinnes, which have in ſpeciall incenſed Gods wrath, and provoked him to afflict us with famine: and as we find them, ſo in particular to confeſſe them: as they, who ſaid, g1 Sam. 12. 19.We have added unto all our ſins this evill, &c.
3. Converſion. hIoel 2. 12.This is alſo expreſly preſcribed: and i2 Chro. 7. 14.to this promiſe of ſuccour is made. Converſion muſt be anſwerable to confeſſion. It muſt be univerſall, from all manner of ſinne, whereof we ſhall find our ſelves guilty, and Ex fide poeniteat: credat hanc eſſe medicinam, &c. Aug. de ve…a & falſa poenit. cap. 13.whereto we ſhall find our ſelves addicted: and particular from thoſe eſpecially, for which we have cauſe to feare that God hath ſent famine among us. To confeſſe ſuch ſinnes, and not to turne from them, is to mocke God, and the more to incenſe his wrath againſt us.
4. Satisfaction for wrongs done to man: at leaſt if the wrong be ſuch as God is moved to revenge. This I do the rather here note, becauſe it is a meanes of removing the famine mentioned in my text. For when David had made ſatisfaction for the wrong done to the Gibeonites, God was entreated for the land, 2 Sam. 21. 14.
5. Supplication. kIoel 1. 14. 2 Chro. 6. 28, 29—7. 13, 14.This is the moſt principall meanes of all. All the other are but preparations hereunto. This is likewiſe preſcribed, and a promiſe of prevailing thereby annexed thereunto. lIam. 5. 18.It hath beene uſed and proved to be effectuall.
6. Faith in Gods promiſes. This muſt be added to prayer. Both Christ mMar. 11. 24.and nIam. 1. 6.his Apoſtles require as much. Gods promiſes have their true and proper effect only in ſuch as believe: and to them they are effectuall, either for ſufficient ſupportance, or for a good deliverance.
7. Charity to the poore. For God will ſuccour ſuch as are ready with their uttermoſt ability to ſuccour others. This is eſpecially for ſuch as have corne, or other proviſion in ſtore: to bring it forth, and give it freely, or at leaſt to ſell it at a cheape rate to the poore. Bleſſing is promiſed to him that ſelleth it: namely, to the poore, and at a reaſonable rate, Prov. 11. 26.
§. 9. Of promiſes for ſuccour in famine.
Queſt. ARe there any particular promiſes for helpe in famine, and deliverance from it?
Anſw. Yes, very many: as many as in any other like caſe. Some of the particulars are theſe. a2 Chro. 7. 13, 14.If I ſhut up heaven (ſaith the Lord) that there be no raine, or if I command the locuſts to devoure the land, if my people ſhall humble themſelves, and pray, and ſeeke my face, and turne from their wicked wayes: then will I heare from heaven, and will forgive their ſinne, and will heale their land. bHoſ. 2. 21, 22.In that day I will heare, ſaith the Lord, I will heare the heavens, and they ſhall heare the earth, and the earth ſhall heare the corne, and the wine, and the oyle, and they ſhall heare Iezreel. cIoel 2. 18, 19.Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pitie his people, yea the Lord will anſwer and ſay unto his people, Behold, I will ſend you corne, and wine, and oyle, and you ſhalbe ſatisfied therewith. dZac. 8. 11, 12.Now will I not be to the reſidue of this people, as in the former dayes, ſaith the Lord of hoſts. For the ſeed ſhalbe prosperous: the vine ſhall give her fruit, and the ground ſhall give her increaſe, and the heavens ſhall give their dew. eZac. 10. 1.Aske ye of the Lord raine in the time of the latter raine: ſo the Lord ſhall make bright clouds, and give them ſhowers of raine, to every one graſſe in the field. fMal. 3. 10.Prove me now ſaith the Lord of hoſts, if I will not open you the windowes of heaven, and powre you out a bleſſing, that there ſhall not be roome enough to receive it.
gIob 5. 20.In famine he ſhall redeeme thee from death.
hPro. 10. 3.The Lord will not ſuffer the ſoule of the righteous to famiſh.
iPſal. 33. 19.Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that feare him: upon them that hope in his mercy: to keepe them alive in famine. k—37. 19. See A Plaiſter for the Plague. on Numb. 16. 45. §. 12, 13, 14. 15.In the dayes of famine they ſhalbe ſatisfied.
§. 10. Of inſtances of Gods preſerving in famine, and removing famine.
THat the fore-mentioned promiſes may with the ſtronger confidence be reſted upon, take inſtance of How the righteous are exempted from judgement.Gods performing them. aGen. 12, 10, 17When in Abrahams time there was a famine in the land where he ſojourned, he went downe into Egypt, where the Lord kept him and his wife in ſafety. b—26. 1, 2.Whē again there was a famine in Iſaaks time, God directed him whither to go. c—45. 5. —50. 20. Pſa. 105. 16, 17God ſent Ioſeph purpoſely before hand into Egypt to preſerve Iaakob and all that were with him in famine. d2 King. 8. 1.By his Prophet God adviſeth the Shunemite with her houſe to ſojourne where was plenty, when he intended to bring a famine on Iſrael. e1 King. 17. 4. 16.Miraculouſly did the Lord provide for Eliah and the widow of Zarephats in famine. So did he for the Iſraelites in the wilderneſſe. fExo. 16. 13, 14When they wanted bread and meat, extraordinarily he provided Manna and Quailes for them: and g—17. 6.when they wanted water, he brought it out of a rocke for them. So hIudg. 15. 18, 19.for Sampſon, when he was ready to die for thirſt, God extraordinarily provided water. i1 King. 18. 42At Eliahs prayer, after Gods wrath was pacified, on a ſudden, raine, having beene with-held three yeares and an halfe, fell downe abundantly. k2 King. 6. 28. —7. 6, &c.Samaria being ſo long beſieged as they began to eate their children, the Lord on a ſudden with an extraordinary terrour cauſed the enemies to flie, and to leave all their proviſion to the Iſraelites, ſo as they had all manner of food in great plenty.
Theſe viſible and extraordinary evidences give ſenſible demonſtration of Gods power and pity: how able and ready he is to ſuccour people in their extremities. And due notice is the rather to be taken of theſe, that we may know that when by more ordinary meanes ſuccour is affoorded, it is the Lord that ordereth and diſpoſeth thoſe meanes: and his providence is to be acknowledged therein, as much as if extraordinarily he did what is done.
§. 11. Of famine in a pious polity.
II. *§. 2. Ecce in adventu juſti fames, & fames validat & non turbatur juſtus, ne que aliquid humanum patitur: Chryſ. Hom. 32. in Gen. 12.FAmine may be under a pious Governour. Beſides the inſtance of David mentioned in this text, it is expreſly noted of the three great Patriarchs, who in their dayes were the ſupreme Governours of Gods Church, that aGen. 12. 10.—26. 1.—46. 5.there was ſuch famine in each of their times, as they were all of them forced from their owne habitations, and ſo journed in ſtrange countries. bRuth 1. 1.In the dayes of the Iudges there was a famine in the land. Now all the Iudges (except Abimelech, a cruell and tyrannicall uſurper) were pious Governours, extraordinarily ſtirred up by God, and extraordinarily gifted and aſſiſted by him. Yet in their dayes there was a famine: and that as the cRuth 4. 18, &c.generation of Pharez giveth evidence, in Deborahs time, who (though a woman) was one of the beſt Iudges.
§. 12. Of the cauſes of judgements under good Governours.
1. THe beſt Governours have many times moſt impious ſubjects under them: the cry of whoſe ſinnes, they being many and impudent, more incenſeth Gods wrath againſt a nation, then can be pacified by the piety of a righteous Governor, or of a few righteous ſubjects, though they be men of extraordinary endowments. For thus ſaith the Lord by one prophet, aIer. 15. 1.Though Moſes and Samuel ſtood before me, yet my mind could not be towards this people. And by another thus, bEzek. 14. 14, 16.Though theſe three men, Noah, Daniel, and Iob were in the city, they ſhould deliver neither ſonne nor daughter. c2 Sam. 24. 1.In Davids time the anger of the Lord was ſo kindled againſt Iſrael, as he moved David against them. dIer. 3. 6, 10. Ioſias vir ſanctus non ſclum peccatorem populum ſuis virtutibus non ſalvavit, ſed & ipſe in peccatis illius mortuus eſt. Hier. Commēt. l 4. in Ezec. 14.In the dayes of good Ioſiah Iudah waxed rebellious: ſo rebellious, as that pious King was ſo farre from preſerving that ſinfull people, as he himſelfe died for their ſinnes. No marvell then that God ſend famine, and other ſore judgements upon a land in the time of pious Governours to puniſh ſuch ſubjects.
2. The moſt pious Governors do oft alſo themſelves give too juſt cauſe unto God to ſay, eRev. 2. 4.I have ſomewhat againſt you. It is in the regiſter of truth recorded, what he had againſt fNumb. 20. 22.Moſes and Aaron, againſt g1 Sam. 2. 29.Elie, againſt h2 Sam. 12. 9David, i1 King 11. 9.Salomon, k2 Chro. 16. 10Aſa, l—19. 2.Iehoſaphat, m—26. 16.Vzziah, n—32. 25.Hezekiah, and o—35. 22.Ioſiah. And without all contradiction theſe were ſome of the beſt Governours that ever the Church had.
3. God doth ſometimes treaſure up the ſinnes of predeceſſours, and extend his wrath unto ſucceeding generations. Excellent things are ſpoken of Ioſiah and his Government; yet at the end of all this diſmall doome is added, p2 King. 23. 26Notwithſtanding the Lord turned not from the fierceneſſe of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled againſt Iudah, becauſe of all the provocations that Manaſſeh had provoked him withall. In our text we ſee how God treaſured up Sauls bloudy ſinne till Davids time.