The Spiritual Favorite at the Throne of Grace, Part 7 – Part 8
Prosper thy servant this day.
WHat is included in this word prosper?What is included in the word prosper.
It includes not onelyonly successe, (which is the maine upshot of all, but all that tends to good successe: prosper thy servant this day; that is, direct thy servant this day how to doe, and to carry himself. And likewise assist thy servant; when thou shalt direct him, assist him by thy strength, direct him by thy wisedome, prosper him with thy grace, give him good successe in all. It includes direction, and assistance, and good successe; in that he saith, prosper thy servant, it includes these things.
First of all, that in our selves, there is neither direction nor wisedome, nor abilitie enough for successe: we have not power in our selves to bring things to a comfortable issue: so it inforceth selfe deniall; which is a good disposition when we come to God in prayer.
And then againe to attribute to God all, both wisedome, and strength, and goodnesse and all: here is a giving to God the glory of all, when hee saith, prosper thy servant this day.
Then in the third place, here is a dependance upon God; not onelyonly acknowledging these things to be in God; but it implies a dependance upon God for these, Prosper me Lord, I cannot prosper my selfe; & thou who art the Creator, hast wisedome and strength, and goodnesse enough: therefore I depend upon thee; upon thy wisedome for direction, and upon thy strength for assistance, I depend upon thy goodnesse, and all for a blessed issue, here is dependance.
Againe in the fourth place, here is a recommendation of all by prayer: a recommendation of his inward dependance upon God for all.In our Petitions to God for any prosperitie or good successe, wee must bring selfe deniall. Now Lord prosper thy servant.
So that when we come to God for any prosperity and good successe, let us remember that wee bring selfe-deniall, and an acknowledgement of all excellencie to be in God▪ to guide and direct and assist, and blesse us. And remember to depend upon him, to cast our selves on him: to bring our soules to close with the strong and wise, and gracious God, that God and our soules may close together. And then commend all by prayer to cast our selves and our affaires, and to roll our selves (as the Scripture saith) and all upon God: and then wee shall doe as the holy man Nehemiah did here, we shall desire to good purpose that God would prosper us. Indeed it is not in man to guide and direct his owne way. Wee are darke creatures, and we have not wisedome enough: and we are weake creatures, wee have no strength: we are nothing in our owne strength. And for successe, alas a thousand things may hinder us from it; for successe is nothing but the application of all things to a fit issue; and foreseeing all things that may hinder, and a removing of them; now who can do this but God?
One maine circumstance that besiegeth and besets a businesse, may hinder an excellent businesse: who can see all things that beset a businesse? all circumstances that stand about a businesse? who can see all circumstances of time, and place and persons, that are hindrances, or furtherances? it must bee an infinite wisedome that must foresee them, man cannot see them. And when men doe see them, are there not sudden passions that come up in men that robbe them of the use of their knowlege? that though they know them before: yet some sudden passion of feare or anger may hinder the knowledge of a man, that he is in a mist, when hee comes to particulars: whē hee comes to apply the knowledge that he had before, he knowes not what to doe. So that unlesse God in a particular busines give successe, (who is infinitely wise and powerfull to remove al hindrances) there will be no successe.
As it is in the frame of the body,Simile▪ it stands upon many joynts, and if any be out of tune, the whole body is sicke. And as it is in a clocke, all the wheels must be kept cleane and in order: so it is in the frame of a businesse, there must all the wheeles be set a going, if one be hindred there is a stop in all. It is so with us in the affaires of this world, when wee deale with Kings and States, if all the wheeles be not kept as they should there will be no successe or prosperity. Nehemiah knew this well enough, prosper thou therefore.
He meant not to be idle when he said this,With our prayer for successe, wee must use the meanes. prosper thou: for he after joyned his owne diligence, and waited. Therefore joyne that, if we would have our prayers to God, and our dependance upon him effectuall for prosperity and successe, be carefully to use the meanes, as he did, he stands before the King, and observed how he carried himselfe to see what words would come from the King; and then hee meant after to put in execution, whatsoever God should discover.
It should teach us (to make this use of it) when we deale in any matter,Vse. to goe to God to prosper it, and give successe, and direction, and assistance, and a blessed issue. For God, that we may alway depend upon him, he keepes one part in heaven still: when he gives us al likelihood of things upon earth, yet he reserves still the blessing, till the thing be done, till there be a consummation of the businesse, he keepes some part in heaven: because he would have us sue to him, and be beholding to him, he will have us go up to heaven. Therefore when we have daily bread, we must pray for daily bread; because the blessing comes from him. Our bread may choake us else, we may dye with it in our mouthes, as the Israelites did: but when we have things, we must depend on him for a blessing, all is to no purpose else.
Let us learne by this a direction to piety and holy walking with God: in all things to pray to God for a blessing. And to that purpose we must be in such a condition of spirit, as we may desire God to prosper us: that is,In what condition of soule wee may expect prosperity from God we must not be under the guilt of sin when we come to God to prosper us. And we must be humble, God will not prosper a businesse till we be humble. As in the case of the Benjamites, when they came, they were denyed, the first, second, and third time, till they prayed and fasted, and were thorowly humbled, they had their suit denyed: If the cause be never so good, till wee be humbled, God will not prosper it: because we are not in frame for the blessing; if we had it we would be proud. God, in preventing mercy and care will grant nothing till we be humbled. Therefore let us see that we be humble; and see that the matter be good that wee beg God to blesse and prosper us in, or else we make a horrible idoll of God, we make (with reverence be it spoken) a divell of God. Doe wee thinke that God will give strength to an ill businesse? This is to make him a factor for mischiefe, for the Divels worke: Wee must not come with such strange fire before God, to transforme God, to the contrary to that he is: but come with humble affections, with repentant soules for our former sinnes. And let the thing it selfe be good, that we may come without tempting of him▪ let the cause be such that we may desire Gods assistance without tempting of him, as we do when it is good and when we come disposed. Then com with a purpose to referre all to his service. Lord, if thou wilt blesse me in this businesse, the strength and incouragement I have by it, I will referre it to thy further service. Let me have this token of love from thee, that I have a good ayme in all, and then I am sure to speed well.
Prosper now thy Servant.
IT is an excellent poynt, if I had …ime to stand on it. I beseech you let it have some impression upon your hearts.
What is the reason that God blasts, and brings to nothing many excellent endeavours, and projects? men set upon the busines of God, and of their callings in confidence of their wit and pride of their owne parts, they carrie things in the pride, and strength of their parts. Men come as Gods to a businesse, as if they had no dependance upon him for wisedome or direction, or strength; they carry things in a carnall manner, in a humane manner with humane spirits: therefore they never find either successe, or not good successe. Let us therfore commend all to God, prosper thy servant. Before hee went about the businesse, holy Nehemiah, he sowed prayers in Gods bosome, and watered the seede with mourning; as it is in this chapter hee mourned and prayed: when this businesse was sowne with prayers, and watered with teares, how could hee but hope for good successe, he mourned and prayed to God, heare thy servant.
Now when wee deale with things in a holy manner, wee may without tempting God trust him. That which is set upon in carnall confidence and pride, it ends in shame: when men thinke to conceive things in witt, I, and in faction, and humane affections, God will not be glorified this way, God will bee glorified by humble dependant creatures, that when they have done the businesse will ascribe all to him; Not unto us, but to thy name give the prayse. The direction and assistance and blessing was thine. Sayth God in Isay 50. towards the end, Goe too now ye that kindle a fire, walke in the light of your owne fire: but bee sure you shall end in sorrow. You will kindle a fire of your owne devises, and walke in the light of your fire, you will have projects of your owne, and be your owne caruers, but be sure you shall lie downe in darkenes and discomfort; you shall lie downe in sorrow.
A proud unbroken heart accounts these courses poore courses: it is but a course of weak and poore spirits to pray and fast, and humble themselves to God, and to feare God: alasse what are these? these are weake courses: I hope wee have stronger parts, and meanes to carrie things. So they have a Kingdom in their braine. What is the issue of these vaine men, when God discovers all their courses to be vaine at length, to be winde, and come to nothing. Prosper now thy servant, saith he.
Let us learne this lesson likewise. If wee come to God in a particular businesse, that wee are not so confident in, to be pleasing to God: yet in generall to submit our selves, Lord prosper thy servant, goe before thy servant, let me deale in nothing against thy will, direct mee what is for thy glory; and not to prescribe or limit God. Prosper thy servant this day.