Helps to Stir Up to Christian Duties, Chapter 1
CHAP. I. The Coherence and Reſolution of the Text.
THeſe words are part of a Confeſſion, and Confeſſion part of a prayer, which the Prophet poures out unto God, upon occaſion of the ſad, and deſolate eſtate of the Church of God, to be cauſed by the Caldeans, which the Prophet foreſeeing in ſpirit, ſpeaketh of it as preſent. For it may appeare by the ſad expoſtulation which the Prophet maketh with God in the latter end of the former Chapter, that God had given up his people to the errour of their wales, and to the hardneſſe of their hearts: and, which much aggravated their miſery and calamity, God had taken away the meanes of their Reformation (which were the holy Ordinances of his Worſhip) by giving up his Sanctuary to be trodden downe of the Adverſaries; ſo that now they were overwhelmed both with Spirituall, and outward Iudgements together; inward deſertions, and outward deſolations both of Church and Common-wealth, Chap. 63. verſ. 17, 18.
Now looke as when the Ciſternes are dry, and the Conduit-pipes are broken, men are wont to have recourſe to the Fountaine for ſupply of living water: ſo in this dry and dead eſtate of the Church, when the wayes of Gods people were foule, and their hearts worſe, and themſelves left deſtitute of all meanes of redreſſe and ſuccour, the Prophet looketh up to God in heaven: and becauſe the ſuccour they ſtood in need of, was a work of great power and glory, hee burſteth forth into a vehement and earneſt prayer, calling unto God to come out of heaven, to worke their Salvation and Redemption for them with his mighty and glorious power: Oh (ſaith hee) that thou wouldeſt rent the heavens and come downe, that the mountaines might flow downe at thy preſence: meaning, that God would ſuddenly and ſtrongly ſhew forth the might of his glorious power in their behalfe; that ſo thoſe mountaines of difficulties, which hindered their deliverance and reſtitution, might be removed, or at leaſtwiſe melt, and give way to them, v. 1.
Now this prayer of the Prophet (which taketh up this whole Chapter) conſiſteth of three principall parts:
1. Of a Petition, verſ. 1. to the 5.
2. Of a Confeſſion, verſ. 5, 6, 7.
3. Of a Deprecation, verſ. 8. to the 12. which endeth the Chapter.
In the Petition (which is the firſt part of the prayer) the Prophet earneſtly provoketh God to manifeſt his glorious power, and fierce wrath againſt their adverſaries: his glorious power is expreſſed, verſ. 1. That hee renting the heavens, and comming downe, the mountaines might flow at his preſence. His fierce wrath, verſ. 2. That as when melting fire burneth, the fire cauſeth the water to boyle; So the fire of Gods wrath, burning againſt their adverſaries, as droſſe (though mountaines of droſſe) yet they might boyle, and melt, and waſt away.
This petition the Prophet worketh upon God with an holy and ſpirituall wraſtling by a threefold argument:
1. From the glory of Gods great Name; that ſo hee might make his Name knowne to his Adverſaries, and the Nations might tremble at his preſence, Verſ. 2.
2. From the ancient, terrible, and glorious power, which God ſhewed forth in their deliverance out of Egypt, and in the promulgation of the Law, verſ. 3. When thou didd…ſt (ſaith he) terrible things which we looked not for, thou cammeſt down, the Mountaines flowed at thy preſence.
3. From the unſpeakeable & unconceiveable riches of the grace of the Goſpell, which from the beginning God hath prepared for his people that wait for him, verſ 4. and ſo the Apoſtle expoundeth the place, 1 Cor. 2.9.
The ſecond part of this Chapter, and of the Prophets prayer, is the Confeſſion that he maketh, and that of two things:
1. Of Gods readineſſe to ſhew mercy, verſ. 5.
2. Of their unpreparedneſſe to receive mercy, in reſpect of any deſert of their owne, verſ. 5, 6, 7.
Gods readineſſe to ſhew mercy, is expreſſed in the beginning of the fifth verſe, Thou meeteſt him that reioyceth and worketh righteouſneſſe, thoſe that remember thee in thy wayes.
Their unpreparedneſſe to receive mercy, is expreſſed, firſt, generally; and then particularly.
Generally, in regard of their ſinnes, and of Gods juſt diſpleaſure againſt them for their ſinnes, in the next words; which yet he qualifieth with hope of ſalvation, by the continuance and conſtancy of Gods wayes of grace and mercy to his people, verſ. 5. Behold, ſaith he, thou art wroth, for we have ſinned, (and ſo are unworthy and unfit for mercy) yet in thoſe, to wit, in thoſe wayes of thine (wayes of grace and mercy, prepared in the Goſpell from the beginning of the world) in thoſe is continuance, and conſtancy, (notwithſtanding our undeſervingneſſe) and wee ſhall bee ſaved.
More particularly, their unpreparedneſſe for mercy is expreſſed, verſ. 7. in a double reſpect:
1. In reſpect of the uncleanneſſe and filthineſſe, not only of their corrupt nature, but even of their beſt actions and duties, verſ. 6. But we are all (ſaith he) as an uncleane thing, and all our righteouſneſſe, are as filthy ragges, &c.
In reſpect of their ſpiritual dulneſſe and ſloth to exerciſe ſuch graces and duties as might turne away Gods wrath, and remove their ſins and miſery: Verſ. 7. There is none that calleth upon thy Name, that ſtirreth up himſelfe to take hold on thee.
In the third part of this prayer and Chapter (which is the Deprecation) the Prophet earneſtly prayeth againſt the ſoreneſſe or greatneſſe of Gods wrath, and the everlaſting remembrance of their iniquities, verſ. 9. and this requeſt hee preſſeth upon God by two Arguments:
1. By the mutuall intereſt they have in God, and God in them; Thou art our Father, our Potter; wee thy children, and as clay in thy hand, verſ. 8. Wee thy people, verſ. 9. thou therefore our King.
2. By the deſolate and forlorne condition of Gods owne Cities; yea, of his, and their holy, and beautiful houſe, verſ. 10.11. Which injuries and indignities the Prophet demands with a patheticall queſtion, how he can endure to looke at, and refraine and hold his hands from redreſſing, verſ. 11.
To returne to the words of the Text, they be (as you ſee) a Confeſſion or Complaint of the latter of thoſe evils, which made them unworthy, and unprepared to receive mercy; to wit, in reſpect of their Spirituall dulneſſe and untowardneſſe to the exerciſe of ſuch Graces and Duties, as might turne away Gods wrath, and their ſinnes together. Wherein obſerve,
1. The generality of this Spirituall dulneſſe; it is Epidemical, common to them all, none free from it; there is none (ſaith he) that calleth, &c.
2. The Duties neglected, which were two:
1. Calling upon Gods Name (though in a moſt needfull time.)
2. Taking hold of God; by which is meant, either by faith laying hold of his Covenant; or elſe figuratively, as it were, holding God, and ſtaying him that hee depart not from them, keeping him with them, as Saul would have kept Samuel, 1 Sam. 15.27. And this latter hee amplifieth by their neglect of the very endevour after it: None ſtirreth up himſelfe to take hold of thee.