Trials and Triumphs that Accompany the Work of God, Sermon 4

Trials and Triumphs that Accompany the Work of God · Sermon 4

p. 155Psal. 85.6.

Wilt Thou not revive Ʋs again? that thy People may rejoyce in Thee.

WHose Words these are, themselves do declare; That, 1. They are the Words of such that once enjoyed the favourable Face of God, and now are deprived of it; The Lord being now turned away from them: 2. That once were revived and quickned in the enjoyment of him; and now are fallen dead, and discouraged upon his turning away from them. 3. They are the words of such, who are very sensible of both the former two, viz. His turning away, and p. 156their own deadness upon his with-drawing. 4. They are the words of those that now finde, that nothing can revive them, until he return to them, and graciously favour them with his Presence, as he useth to do to his Land. 5. They are the words of such, whom nothing could satisfie, but his returning & reviving, and that now bend all their strength to wrestle with Jacob's God, to perswads Him to return and revive them. 6. They are the words of a People, perswaded of his Power and Ability, to revive the dead, dry, and scattered bones of the House of Israel; and that none else could do it. 7. They are the words of a People, that had their own fears and jealousies, that he would not return and revive them; as this Expostulation seemeth to import: Wilt thou not revive us? 8. They are the words of a People, that do not give way to their unbelief and jealousies, they bring all their doubts and discouragements to God, and propounds the Question to him, saying, Wilt thou not revive us? and it's good when we do not give place to unbelief, nor stand to its verdict, especially when Clouds, and thick Darkness cover the Church of God. 9. They are the VVords of Humble, p. 157and yet confident Pleaders with God about their condition, they wrestle by Arguments, and plead powerfully with God tor his returning to revive them. 10. And lastly, They are the words of such, as resolve to improve his returning, and their own reviving to his praise, whensoever they should enjoy it: In a word, they were Persons of a publick Spirit, and that designed the good of all the People of God; That thy People may rejoyce in thee.

I would premise these Six things, that the serious Christian should have upon his heart, when God's work within, and without them, is very low.

First, They should seriously consider how matters stand between God and them, Whether things be intire or not? Whether there be a breach or not? If there be any difference betwixt Him and them, that causeth distance, and that such a distance, that God will not speak to them, look on them, or have any communion or fellowship with them.

Secondly, The People of the Lord should then seriously enquire, where is the Lord? and what way he is gone, whether he is behind our Wall, or gone to his place, Job p. 15823.3. O that I knew where I might find him. It's a grievous sin, when they that handle the Law, ask not for him.

Thirdly, The People of the Lord, as they should be sensible of his departure, so they should be very serious about, and much long for his return, But thou O Lord, how long? O turn Thee unto me, and have mercy upon me. Psal. 25.14 15. For I am desolate and afflicted.

Fourthly, The People of God should b… very serious to get their hearts satisfied in this; That, while he is from them, he is for them, Ezek. 36.10. For behold, I am for you, and I will return unto you; that is, though I be absent from you, yet I am for advancing your interest, and the interest of the Gospel, and will come home again in due time, and you shall be wrought upon both by Law and Gospel, You shall be plowed and sowen. O what a comfortable word is this: I for you against all, I for you to sweeten all your bitter, and to supply all your wants.

Fiftbly, The People of God should be very serious, and sensible of the deadness and discouragement they fall under, upon his turning from them; and should be much affected with the same.

p. 159Sixthly, and lastly. External impossibilities, and inward indisposition to better their condition, should not only lead them into him, but should animate and encourage them the more to come to him, and to put their case and cause in his hand, Wilt thou not revive us? that thy People may rejoyce in thee.

I come now to the words, Wilt not thou revive us? or rather wilt thou not return, and revive us, as in the original; Thus Ar. Montanus, Nonne tu converteris, vivificabis nos: Wilt not thou return? and wilt nót thou revive us? Molerus translates it thus, An non tu conversus vivificabis nos: Will not thou, being turned to us, revive us? Wilt thou not turn thy self, when we cannot do it, and quicken us: It's an usual k…nd of expostulation, that the Saints have used in their wrestlings under tentations, and how ever they seem sometimes to savour of impatience, yet because they are mixt with faith, God is not offended with such, but rather is well-pleased therewith; as Tertull, saith, Vis haec est Deo grata.

The meaning then seemeth to be this; Thou hast been angry with us good Lord, and in thy just indignation torn us, and turned from us, which we humbly acknowledge. p. 160Many rejoyce in it, and say, that thou not only hast done so, (and we adore and admire, because it's not worse) but they say, and make this news run thorow the Countrey, that thou wilt not return again, that thou wilt not revive again (which is all our hope and confidence in our bondage;) Therefore let it not be presumption in thy poor dead and deserted Children to come, and thus expostulate with thee about this matter, that now we humbly beg a determination about from thy self; Wilt thou not return, and revive us again, that thy People may rejoyce in thee: Wilt not thou bring neer thy righteousness, even thy salvation, for Israel thy glory? Wilt not thou cause thy face to shine, that we may be saved? And, wilt not thou make us glad, according to all the days wherein we have seen evil? That thy People may be glad in Thee.

In the words you have these Four things to be considered.

The First, Is their cross, God is turned away from them, as is implyed in the words. Secondly, You have their case under this cross, They are in a very dead condition, and doth not well know, if ever it shall be better with them, Thirdly, You have their p. 161Cure, that only can heal their Disease, and that is God's returning to them, and reviving of them. Fourthly, You have their Crown, or excellent design wherewith they intend to crown all, viz. That if he will return and revive them; they will rejoyce and praise him, That thy People may rejoyce in Thee.

The First Doctrin, I draw from the words thus explained, is this.

That Heirs of Glory may so provoke their God and Glory, that he may turn away from them for a time.

This is that which the Prophet telleth us of, 2 Chron. 15.2. —The Lord is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, he will be found of you: but if ye forsake Him, he will forsake you. Hos. 5.15. I will go and return to my Place, Jer. 12.7. I have forsaken my House, viz. my Ordinances, my People, and given all over to the will of my Enemies.

I shall a little Enquire unto these two things. The First is this, To shew you what this turning away from his People is. Secondly, Why do…h our Lord thus turn from them.

For the First, What it is: For Answer unto this; I shall first shew you what have p. 162been the notions of the Saints of old about it. Secondly, I shall give you a brief Description of it, which I shall endeavour to explain in all the Branches of it.

To speak unto the first, which is the Saints notions about his turning from them. They are such as have been attended with much weakness and jealousie, yet they are of great use unto us. The First whereof is this, They call it a standing afar of, Psal. 10.1. Why standest thou afar off, this points out these two. The First is, That he is gone from them, like that of the Spouse, Song 5.6. My beloved is gone, is gone, The Second is, That now he is at a great distance, and far away: gone to the Mountains, gone over Mountains: And, now Mountains of separation are got in betwixt him and them, so that, they cannot behold him, or come nigh unto him.

Secondly, They call it a hiding of his face, Isa. 64.7. None stirreth up himself to take hold on thee, when thou hidest thy Face. They knew him as it were by Face, that is, by his Divine gracious Manifestations of himself, which now they are deprived of; and finde he is angry, an effect whereof is the hiding of his Face, and removing of his wonted favours from them; and indeed, p. 163this is one sad branch of his turning away from his People, when he shews them the back, but not the face.

Thirdly, They call it a forgetting of their affliction and oppression, Psal. 44.24. Wherefore hidest thou thy Face, and forgettest our affliction, and our oppression; not that thereby they would attribute any such thing properly to him, who cannot be said, in this sense, either to forget or remember: but, that he carried himself so to them in his dispensations, as one carrieth to another that he hath forgotten; In not sympathizing with him to his sense, and in that he doth not that which may bring them out of their present affliction; so, Psal. 13.1. How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord! for ever: This is most bitter to the People of God.

Fourthly, They call it a casting off, Psal. 60.1. O God thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered, or broken us, thou hast been displeased, Psal. 74.1. O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? Lam. 5.22. But thou hast utterly rejected us, thou art very wroth against us. This is more feared than selt. Their grounds, whereupon they draw this conclusion, cannot bear it. But, what is wanting in the premises, is supplyed by their fears and jealousies.

p. 164Fifthly, and lastly, They call it a forsaking of them, Psal. 22.1. Why hast thou forsaken me, Mat. 27.46. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me: And how-ever we are not troubled when we forsake him; yet there is nothing more terrifying to the People of God, than apprehensions of his forsaking of them. They know the sweetness of his Presence, the sad effects of his departure from them, and their own perplexities, in reference to both, which makes them dread the thoughts of his departure, while in mean time, they stand not in awe, to commit those sins that provoke him to forsake them. Thus much for the first thing propounded, for your better unde…standing of our Lord's turning away from his People.

The Second thing I promised to speak to, is, to give you a brief Description of this, from all their former Notions about it, which is this.

God's turning from his People, is, the hideing of his Face from his People generally, and leaving them to be exercised with great afflictions, and that for a very long time.

This Description is grounded on their Notions about this dispensation, excepting p. 165their weaknesses and infirmities, which we are to watch against.

But, for further clearing of this description, I shall consider it apart, and clear it unto you.

And First, I call it a hiding of God's face, which includes these Six Things in it. First, It includes the w…th-holding of light and counsel, whereby his People are helped to discern them, and judgment, and what Israel should do, in reference to both: It was the commendation of Isachar, that they knew the times and seasons, and what Israel should do. Now when on the contrary me walk like blind men, Zeph. 1.17. When our Prophets also finde no Vision from the Lord, Lam. 2.9. And, when we see not our signes, neither is there any Prophet, or any other among us (pretend to what they will) that knoweth how long, Psal. 74.9. It appeareth that now the Lord is turned away from us, in whom is the Fountain of Light and Life.

Secondly, This hiding includes the withholding of his nourishing and cherishing grace, whereby he cherisheth his People, as a Hen doth her Chickens, whereof you may see, Deut. 32.11. As an Eagle stirreth up her Nest, fluttereth over her young, p. 166spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her Wings: so Vers. 12. The Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange God with him; so, Vers. 13, 14. As you may read at your leisure, when God turneth a-away, this is with-holden, and in place thereof, he sendeth on them desolating stroaks and judgments, Mat. 23.37, 38. Behold, your House is left unto you desolate; Vers. 39. You shall not see me hence-forth till you shall say, Blessed is he that cometh to us in the Name of the Lord: And this the Second sad thing that is in it.

Thirdly, It includeth the hiding of those things from his People, that he hath been often shewing to them, as things belonging to their peace, but then they would not see. And now, they are hid from their eyes, Luk. 19.41, 42. But now they are hid from thine eyes; she would not see when she might, and now she cannot see, though she would. This is a dreadful consideration in this case, and most true.

Fourthly, It includeth the delivering up of a People to strong delusions of their own hearts, 2 Thes. 2.11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions, that they should believe a lie, V. 12. That they all might be damned, Rom. 1.18, 19, 21, 24. Wherefore p. 167also God gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts, &c. Joh. 5.43. I am come in my Father's Name, and ye receive me not, if another shall come in his own Name; him ye will r…ceive. That which causeth many to depart from the profesion of the truth, is this, they never received Jesus the Lord.

Fif…hly, It includeth the delivering of them …p to Satan's tentations and delusions, 2 Chron. 18, 19. I will go and be a living Spirit …n the mouth of his Prophets, Vers. 21. And t…e Lord said thou shalt intice him, and shalt prevail, go out and do even so. How many monstrous witnesses are there of this branch of his hiding this day, though it be no way laid to heart, as the matter requires.

Sixth…, and Lastly, It includeth God's eminent d…spleasure against a People, while declaring against them, as a People turned off, and …ivorced from him, who are no more in Covenant with him, 2 Chro. 15.2. If they fo…sake him, he forsakes them. Deut. 31.16, 17 Thty break the Covenant, v. 16. And his w…ath breaks forth, and he forsakes them, v. 17 Thus much for the clearing to you the fi…t thing in the description.

p. 168The Second Thing in the Description is this, I call it a hiding from his People generally; because as every Cloud on the Sun that shadows our Place, doth not make Night, but when the Sun is down, and when all our Horizon is in every poirt obscured: So afflictions, when they are only on some particular Persons, and that in some particular cases abstract from the common cause, do not make a Chur…h-desertion: But when it's a general damp upon every Family, upon all ranks and conditions, Cities, Countries; then cerainly, it's a turning away from Lan…, like that which is here in my Text, and …n Isai. 9.20, 21. And, He shall snatch on …e right hand, and be hungry, and shall eat o… the left hand, and not be satisfied, they shall at every Man the flesh of his own Arm, and yt not satisfied. Manassah Ephraim, and Ephraim Manassah, and they together again… Judah. Where it's strange to observe wh…t eaters these be, how they eat up one anoher, and yet are not satisfied; and whe two of them have eaten up one another, …hey both resolve they will eat up little J…dah next, that ruled with God, and was fa…hful with the Saints. Another instance yo… have, Isa. 10.22, 23. There is a Consumpton determined for the Land.

p. 169The Third Thing in this Description, is, Leaving them to great afflictions, because as the absence of a Nurse for a time from a Child, or the letting it fall accidentally, as Mephibosheth's Nurse did him, doth not argue her forsaking of the Child; but her casting it out of her Arms, as Hagar did Ishmael, and going away, that she may not see the death of the Childe: So every reproof of our Lord's, or sad dispensation he permits to fall out for thy exercise, doth not presently conclude, that he hath turned away, for he reproveth his People, before he forsake them, as in Saul's case, he first reproves Saul, and then forsakes him, he reproveth Israel first, and then he with-draws, Zech. 1.4.6. So Hos. 5.15. He tears, and then goeth away, or as Ezekiel observeth it. The Lord first departs from between the Cherubims, goeth to the Threshold of the Sanctuary, and from thence to the Mountains, whereupon followeth great afflictions to the People of God, viz. Days of darkness, and trouble, Jer. 12.7. He gives them up: And,

The Fourth and last Branch of the Description, is this, That this is for a long time, like the Seventy Years captivity, the Four Hundred Years in Egypt; Hence you p. 170may see, that, that which was in Joshuah's time, upon the account of Achan's covetousness, was not a turning from the Land, because it was of no continuance; seeing that this turning away, is for a long time together, 1 Sam. 7.2. And it came to pass while the Ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long: for it was twenty years: Hos. 3.4. For the Children of Israel shall abide many days without a King, and without a Prince, and without a Sacrifice, &c. which clearly supposeth length of time, and continuing long in that lowe and forsaken condition.

Thus much for the first thing propounded to you, viz. what is understood by his turning from his Land, that he hath been favourable to in former times.

For the Second Thing, viz. The causes of …is turning away. They are both many and known; Published so, that he that runs may read them, and yet not repented of, though the Land perisheth under the weight thereof: God preserve Judah from being eate… up in the day of indignation. I shall name but three Transgressions or four, for which God severely punisheth his People.

The First, Is Apostacie and Defection from Him, his Cause, Truths, Ordinances, Statutes p. 171and Judgments, 2 King. 17.15. (The words of the Text are these:) vers. 15. And they rejected his Statutes, and his Covenant that he made with their Fathers, and his Testimonies which he testified against them, (either by his Judgments or their own Consciences) and became vain, and vers. 16. And they left all the Commandments of the Lord their God, What, Is he yet their God? Yea; but what next. And they made themselves molten Images, even two Calves; So Psal. 17. But what cometh of this? Vers. 18. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel: Nay sure, he will only be angry with the Calve-makers; yea, and with all them that trust in them really, or interpretatively; and that, to the removing them out of his sight: Now the case being so clear, It's but folly for Men to look for a sight of his face, till they consider this Head of guilt in this forecited place.

A Second Thing, is, When Men justifie themselves in their abominations, and say, either, they are not polluted, though they have gone after Baal, Jer. 2.23. or that they are delivered to commit all these abominations, Jer. 7.10. They will come to his House, and say, we are delivered to do all these abominations, or when they glory in it. p. 172Psal. 4. They glory in their shame, or with Solomon's Fool, make a mock of sin; and what a pity is it to see men befool themselves with sin; and then when it hath befool'd them, it breaketh forth in a fiery flying Serpent upon them: And yet Men are so mad, that nothing can satisfie them, except wickedness go forth from them to all the Land, Jer. 23.15. Profaneness is gone forth from them to all the Land. This provoketh our Lord to turn away, and to give up with a People.

A Third, is, A Land's incorrigibleness under all the means that he useth for their recovery. Jer. 8.4, 5. Shall they fall and not arise, are they gone back with a perpetual backsliding? Shall bellows be burnt, and lead consumed? Cities laid on heaps, and the Land burnt up, and shall not the dross be purged away? Jer. 6.29, 30. Isa. 42.24, 25. Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battel: Can any be ignorant of the cause of this wrath, that readeth this Scripture? So Ezek. 24.13. In thy filthiness is lewdness, because I would have purged thee, and thou wouldst not be purged: This is their incorrigibleness, But, what follows? Thou shalt not be purged any more, till my fury rest upon thee: So; p. 173Isa. 1.5. Why should you be smitten any more, for ye revolt more and more.

The Fourth and last I name, is, A Land's stupidity and senslessness under all this: they are burnt up, but they lay it not to heart; they are smitten, but they do not finde it; or, if they do, it's but as the Drunkard saith, Prov. 23. They have smitten me, saith he, but when he awaketh, he calleth for it again. The Land perisheth for lack of knowledge; yet, who is sensible of it; a stupid unconcerned Spirit, is that which doth highly provoke God to wrath, and incapacitateth thee to do any thing; for the preventing of it; It's beyond all question, that our carelesness and unconcernedness of Spirit as to sin, or Duty as to time or Eternity, is that which hath brought us under much trouble, Isa. 32.9, 10. which will never be removed, until the Spirit be poured out upon us, from on High, ibid. v. 15. I shall not insist any more on this Point, only seriously consider what I have said, and by what I have said on the first question, you may understand our condition, and God's way towards us; And by the other you may know your own Sin, and the cause of God's wrath manifested, in his turning from you.

p. 174The Second Thing that I observe, is this, That upon our Lord's turning away his Land and People, fall very dead and discouraged. Wilt thou not revive us? That imports the deadness of their case. That thy People may rejoyce in thee; This importeth the sorrowfulness of it. I shall not detain you here, by telling you what things fall dead in his Land, when he removeth from it, such as these, viz. The Principles of sound Doctrine and manners die, whereupon error in judgment, and loosness in Men's practise and conversation creep in into his Land, and pollute his Land, thereby turning Emmanuels Land unto a Wilderness. The People become sick and weak, that in the enjoyment of his countenance were healthy and strong, Isai. 1.5. The whole head is sick, the whole heart is faint, and, v. 6. from the sole of the foot, even unto the head, there is no soundness in it but wounds and bruises, and putrifying sores; they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with oyntment: The exercise of all his Peoples graces decay. Work is layed by, Men turn in from their labour, and the wild Beasts go forth to their Prey, Psal. 104.20. compared with 23. And it's sad, when these gray Hairs are here and there, and Ephraim knoweth it not, neither p. 175will he understand. This death falleth on all the glory of his Land; then the glory of Ephraim is as a fading Flower, Their goodness as the morning Cloud, and as the early Dew it goeth away, Hos. 6.4. You may now name your Children Ichabod, saying, (to one another) The glory is departed from Israel. The Peoples joy is gone when he removeth; Thou hast multiplied the Nation, and not increased the joy, Isa. 9.3. Joy and gladness is departed from the House of our God, Joel 1.16. Because those that were fed, are now starved, those that were healed are wounded, and those that came to the Sacrifices of the Lord, as Doves to their windows, are now frighted away, with the terrible sight, and noisome stink of Bethel's Calves, which they cannot kiss. The Ministers and Ordinances, (these blessed Institutions of our King of Kings) they fall under contempt and disgrace, being either overvalued, by being rested upon, and put in the King's place, they die; or undervalued below their worth, they die, and are despised as light Manna; As every thing liveth in its own Orb, and being out of it, dieth; so these being either overvalued, or undervalued, and cons…quently out of their Orb, must die. The praises and vows that his Land p. 176was beautified and strengthned with, they are imprisoned, Psal. 65.1. Praise waiteth for thee in Zion, and unto thee shall the vow be performed. But, why are not the praises sung? They are imprisoned, Upon what occasion? Upon the occasion of his removal, and they must stay in Prison till he return: But may we not pay our vows? Not. Why? Because iniquities prevail, sinful sad courses prevail, that imprison the vow, and it must wait for him, before it can be performed.

But to pass all these, as having touched this Subject in my former Discourse, I shall shut up what I intend to speak of this Doctrine, In laying before you those seven things, that concur to deaden a Land once much favoured by Him.

The First thing which bringeth his Land (or a particular Member of it) under this deadness and discouragement, Is the loss of the wonted sense of the love and favour of the God of the Land: Thou hast been favourable, and we did sensibly perceive it, but we have lost this sense, and are become as dead, because of it. Wilt not thou then revive us again? O! what a sad loss is it, when a Soul looseth the ravishing unspeakable joyes it had, in the apprehension of God's p. 177love, 1 Pet. 1.8. In whom believing, we rejoyce with joy unspeakable, and full of glory: There is now no shedding abroad of the love of God in the heart; the heart falleth dead and cold. And is it not a death sad enough, when thou hast lost that dwelling, abiding, perswasion of his love, and of thy being at peace with him, Rom. 5.1. Being justified by Faith we have Peace with God. which made thee rejoyce under former trials, with Habakkuk, chap. 3.17, 18. Though the Fig-Tree do not blossom, &c. Yet I will rejoyce in the Lord, and glory in the God of my Salvation. This is the first thing that this dead condition of the People of God consisteth in, upon his turning from …hem.

The Second thing, wherein this Death consisteth, as it falleth on his Land, upon his removal, is, The Land's perplexing thoughts, about their wretched unkindness towards God, when he was so favourable to them. This made the Churches heart fail her, Song 5.6. When he spake my heart failed. Why failed? because of her wretched unkindness to Him, that was so kind to her, she lieth in bed, while he standeth at the Door; she is within, while he is without; she shamelesly shifts his call, while he most p. 178lovingly desireth her to open to him: And doubtless, these in my Text had perplexing thoughts of their wretched carriage in turning from him, as their Prayer importeth, Vers. 4. Turn us, O God of our Salvation; Thus much for the second thing, wherein this death doth consist.

The Third thing, wherein this death consisteth, is, A deep sense of the justly deserved wrath of God, Psal. 88.7. Thy wroth lyeth hard upon me. Now the Land plungeth it self in the curse of the Law, and Flames of Hell; not only apprehendeth anger in God against it, but also is in great fears, that it shall be for ever, and drawn out to all Generations, as in the 5. Verse of this Psalm; and all this they apprehend without any cheering supportment from the Blood of Christ.

The Fourth thing, wherein this death on his Land consisteth, is, The oppressing apprehensions they have of some temporal judgments. This is clearly imported in the word, Draw out thine anger. They know God will judge his People: And however, he will not make an utter end of them, yet he will not leave them altogether unpunished. They know, That judgment beginneth at the House of God. This, together with the thoughts of their former undutiful carriage, causeth p. 179trembling to take hold of them, for fear of his judgments, Psal. 119.120. Sometimes they fear to be given up of God, to fall in some gross sin, Psal. 39.8. And so to be made the scorn of the foolish. Sometimes again they fear, that God will suddenly strike at, and take them away in his anger. As there, Take me not away in thine anger. Sometimes they think they shall raise a storm, as Jonah did, either in the Family-Church, or Nation, wherein they are members; now, what can be sader, then for one to be under such apprehensions.

The Fifth thing, wherein this Death on his Land consisteth, is, Prevailing fears of being utterly rejected: Vers. 5. Wilt thou be angry for ever? Wilt thou not revive us again? speaketh out their fear and jealousie, as you shall hear in its proper place; So Jonah 3.4. I said I am cast out of thy sight, Psal. 88.4. I am counted with them that go down unto the Pit: Psal. 74.1. O God thou hast cast us off: And what can be more bitter than death, if this be not.

The Sixth thing, wherein this death on the Land consisteth, is, The dreadful arrows that he shooteth at us, by his surprizing, and stupendious Providences; All which (as we judge) are against us, Job 17.8. By his p. 180sharp reproofs, hewing us to pieces, and causing our beauty to fade like a Moth: Psal. 39.13. And drinking up the Spirits of his People, Job 6.4. So that there is no soundness in their heart or flesh, Psal. 38.3.

The Seventh and last thing, wherein this Death consisteth, is, The Land's unspiritedness and disability, either to do or suffer: There is no Spirit here, they cannot help themselves, revived they must be, but they cannot do it, so Psal. 40.12. I am not able to look up.— Therefore my heart faileth me. And indeed, as the Kingdom becometh base when he removeth; so it's activity is gone, when he is gone, Isa. 64.7. None calleth on the Lord, none stirreth up himself to take hold on thee: Why? For thou hast hid thy Face from us: We may then stumble and stagger like a drunken Man, we may then make long shadows, but we are wearied and cannot work, slothful and cannot watch, unstable and cannot suffer. Thus much for the Death that falleth on the Land upon our Lord's removing from it.

The Third Doctrine, that I draw from the words, is this, That while God is angry and removed from his People, there is no help nor relief for them against the deadness of p. 181their present condition. Wilt not thou return and revive us, telleth us, that when God denieth to revive, or with-draweth his concurrence from means ordained to life, there can be no reviving. This you may see the Church of God lamenting over, Lam. 1.16. For these things I weep, mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, (why what is the cause of her weeping?) because the Comforter that should relieve my Soul is far from me. q. d. Tentations assault me, and there is no relief for me against them. Corruption springeth up in me, but no relief for me. Grace faileth in me, and in my Children, and there is no relief for my soul. I faint in my sighing, and there is no relief for preventing it, or recovering me out of it. The Crown hath fallen from my Head, the glory is departed; the day goeth away; a dark Cloud of his anger covereth me, and my Children are carried unto Captivity, yet there is no relief; Why? because the Comforter, that relieveth my Soul, is far away: He is not gone altogether from me, but is far away from me, and is at a distance, and so long as it is thus, the…e is no relief for my Soul.

What! No relief? Is there none in God? Yea, but none for me. Why so? 1. Because p. 182he is angry, and fights against me, Isa. 63.10. Therefore was He turned to be their Enemy, and He fought against them. O Lamentable! What? not only turned far from thee, but also turned to be thy Enemy, and an enemy fighting against thee, then thou can have no relief from him. 2. Because iniquity hath separated betwixt Him and us, Isa. 59.2. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sin hath hid his face from you, that He will not hear. Then he can revive you; yea, his hand is not shortned, but it can save; nor is his Ear heavy, but it can hear; but my iniquity hath separated between him and me, and He will not hear: There is no relief then here, till Sin be removed, and wrath be appeased. 3. Because, as He hath called an Assembly against me, to crush my young Men, so the Lord hath dilivered me into their Hands, from whom I am not able to rise up, Lam. 1.15. compared with the 14. vers. And thus it must be, because he hath called and commanded them, Jer. 47.7. How can it be quiet, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge, against us, there hath He appointed it. Then you see, when he is angry and turned away, There is no reviving for the dead, on this hand all refuge faileth; From above hath p. 183He sent Fire into my Bones, Lam. 1.13.

But Secondly cannot Angels, thats he hath made ministring Spirits, for the relief of his Saints, help us in this case? A. There is no reviving, or relief to be had here either: For 1. All the Angels that we can expect, while he is angry and turned away; are bad ones, Psal. 78.49. He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil Angels among them. 2. Suppose he would send good Angels, yet these could not revive you, when he hath turned from you, Joh. 1….13. Woman (saith the Angel to Mar … Why weepest thou? They lance her wou…d, but cannot cure it: Angels company o… sympathy, signifieth little to a soul, thirsting after Christ, till Christ himself speak. 3. Suppose they could do any thing in this case, they would not. Might they not say to thee, as the Devil said to Saul? Saul cometh to him, (it's true he sought for Samuel) and saith, The Philistins are upon me, and God hath forsaken me. What is the Answer? Seeing God hath forsaken thee, why comest thou to me?

But, Thirdly, Cannot one in this case finde relief at home, in their own Conscience? A. None at all. For, 1. Conscience p. 184(as God's Deputy) accuseth thee, Rom. 2.15. And their thoughts, the mean while, accusing, or else excusing one another: Now when Conscience doth challenge, what reviving, or refreshing canst thou finde from it. 2. Because it not only challengeth, but setteth all thy-sins (with their several aggravations) in order before thee: Psal. 50.21. I will set them in order before thee; and what relief can thou find, when these troops do inviron thee. 3. Because it is as a thousand witnesses against thee, Rom. 2.15. Their Conscience witnessing, thou cannot deny the fact, neither shall thy pleading not guilty, as Jer. 2.23. relieve thee: For thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord, v. 22. and Conscience, it saith, thy backslidings they reprove thee; so that as yet thou can have no help in this case from Conscience. 4. Because Conscience doth actually judge and condemn thee; and must do so of necessity: What relief then can you promise to your selves from Conscience? It must proceed-according to Law, which judgeth and condemneth thee, because thou hast rebelled against it.

But, Fourthly, Cannot one in this case finde relief from Ordinances? A. Not at all. Why so? A. Because he is gone. p. 185Why, what then? Cannot they help us, when he is turned from us? Not: How so Because, when he is turned from his People, then the Life and Power of Ordinances is gone, the Word is but Wind, all is but an empty, weak, and insignificant report, for the Arm of the Lord is not revealed, Isa. 53.1. And how can that revive and quicken thee, that hath no life in it self. 2. Upon his turning away, there are dark Clouds that fill the Sanctuary; so that there is nothing but darkness instead of divination, and stumbling an noonday, as in the night. Thy Prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee, and they have not discovered thy iniquity, to turn away thy captivity: but have seen for thee false burdens, and causes of banishment, Lam. 2.14. Neither can thou expect any relief here, when he is turned out of his House.

Thirdly, Because when God is wrath with his People, if they do yet enjoy the Ordinances, he giveth commission to them in his righteous judgments, to make Ears heavy, and hearts fat, Isa. 6.10. Make the Heart of this People fat, and make their Ears heavy, and shut their Eyes. O! how dreadful is this, neither here then canst thou finde any reviving.

p. 186Fourthly, Because when God is wroth, and turneth away, he sometimes turneth out his People from the enjoyment of these Ordinances, Psal. 74 6. But now they break down the carved Work. Vers. 9. We see not our signs, there is no more any Prophet that can tell us how long. Now suppose those could revive them, when enjoyed, yet now when they are revived of them, what relief can they expect from them?

But, Fifthly, I have Goods layed up for many Years, necessity nor poverty shall not pinch me, I shall finde reviving here. A. Thou cannot; For, 1. In the day of his anger, he may take thee away in his wrath, Job 36.18. Because there is wrath, beware least he take thee away with his stroke, then a great ransome cannot deliver thee. These then, whose shall they be? 2. Thou may drink thy Wine in Bowles, yet this cannot help thee, for thy Cup is a Cup of trembling, and one blow shall break it, as a Potters Vessels, and make it fall out of thy hand, thy Bread is by weight, and thy Water by measure, and thou eatest with astonishment and trembling, thy Soul refuseth every pleasant food. How canst thou be revived by these?

p. 187Lastly, Thy close Places shall not relieve thee, Psal. 18.45. The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid, out of their close Places. When he shall say this one word, Adam where art thou? All the Bushes shall give thee up to the hands of a living God.

Nor Sixthly, can crosses revive you these are all killing in their own nature; and it is judgment, and burning with the Spirit, that maketh these purging, Isa. 4.4. when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the Daughters of Zion, by the Spirit of judgment, and by the Spirit of burning. It's the Spirit of burning, and that purgeth away the cross.

Nor Lastly, can Magistrates or Ministers relieve you. For, 1. Our hypocrisie provoketh the Lord to do a marvelous thing on them, Isa. 29.13, 14. Their heart is far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the Precepts of Men: What followeth on …his, v. 14. Therefore behold, I will proceed, …o do a marvelous work amongst this People; even a marvelous work and a wonder, (and indeed we may all wonder at it) for the wis…om of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. …. When a People feareth not God, the …est of Magistrates, and Ministers can do p. 188them no good, Hos. 10.3. Because we feared not the Lord, what then should a King do to us. It were good we had serious thoughts about this thing, that thereupon being humbled for our sin, he may exalt us in due time. Thus much for clearing to you my Third Doctrine, propounded to you from the words.

The Fourth Thing I observe, is, their jealousie, and fear; That he will not return and revive them 3. an ordinary infirmity, the People of God fall in, when he hideth his Face from them, they think they shall see Him no more.

The Doctrine is this, That when God turneth away from his People, and stayeth away a long time; they fall usually under a jealousie and fear, that He will no more return to them, or revive them, Psal. 77.7. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will He be favourable no more? v. 8. Is his mercy clean gone for ever? Doth His mercy fail for ever more? So vers. 9. Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath He in anger shut up his tender mercies? This is our infirmity.

There are these Eight things that cause the People of God thus apprehend. The First thing that makes them judge thus, is, The sensible with-drawings of the good Spirit p. 189of Promise from them, Lam. 1.16. compared with Lam. 5.22. The Spirit is far removed, chap. 1.16. They do conclude, chap. 5.22. that he had utterly rejected them. This is not ground sufficient to prove, that he had done so, for he doth pour out, or with-draw his Spirit, as he pleaseth. The Wind bloweth where it listeth, and it is no argument of his rejecting a People, when he doth not take his Holy Spirit away from them, as David feared he would do, Psal. 51. Though he be pleased to restrain the influences thereof.

The Second thing that make the People of God so jealous and doubtful in this case, is, His looking on, when not only his Enemies break the carved work, but destroy the Men, that are more upright than themselves, Psal. 74.1. Then they apprehend casting off for ever: O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever. The Reason of their judging thus, you have v. 6, 7. But now they break-down the carved work. v. 7. They have cast Fire into thy Sanctuary, &c. And therefore v. 11. they say, Why with holdest thou thine hand? Pinck it out of thy bosome: and v. 22. Arise O God, plead thine own cause. Having overcome jealousie, they mind their duty, and plead with God about their cause and his.

p. 190The Third thing that maketh the People of God judge and fear thus, is The many sad dispensations he exerciseth them with; whereby he scattereth them, maketh the Earth to tremble, breaketh it, and maketh his People to drink the Wine of astonishment, Psal. 60.1. O God, thou hast cast us off, Why so? thou hast scattered us, v. 1. and v. 3. thou hast shewed thy People hard things: It's true, he may scatter his People, and shew them hard things, and yet not cast them off; but it is as true, that the Lord's People do judge thus, when they are under such dark and discouraging dispe…sations, though it be their infirmity, Psal. 77.10.

The Fourth thing that make the People of God judg thus, is, God's blasting all their counsels, and the means used by them, for their own relief out of their troubles. Psal. 13.1. They judge that he hath forgotten them for ever: The Reason is subjoyned in the 2d Vers. I take counsel in my Soul, having sorrow in my heart daily. q. d. All my purposes are broke off, they but increase my fear and affliction; and yet this is no ground to conclude thus, because he crosseth your humour, which passeth with you for graw counsel.

p. 191The Fifth thing that nourisheth and streng…hneth this jealousie, is, His continuance in hiding from us. It's for so long a time, that we think, it will never be otherways; Wilt thou draw forth thine anger to all Generations to the Winter is past, and Summer is come, and yet we are not saved. He can keep thee Seventy Years in the Babilonish Furnace, and yet not reject thee: and whether he continue long or short, it is for thy advantage.

The Sixth, is The manifold disappointments, that God in his holy Providence exerciseth them with, Jer. 8.15. We looked for peace, but no good come; and for a time of health, and behold troubles this made their heart to faint in them, vers. 18. When I would comfort my self against sorrow, my heart is faint in me. So Isa. 26.17, 18. We have been with Child, we have been in pain, we have, as it were, brought forth Wind, we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth. Upon this, they fall dead, and discouraged, and v. 19. God giveth them a promise for their encouragement. Thy dead Men shall live, &c.

Seventhly, A growing distance, between God and them, together with the disappearing, or removal of his mercy and salvation p. 192from them, makes them judg thus; Psal. 10.1. Thou standest afar off; therefore thou hidest thy Face from us. He may stand afar off, and yet shew you his Face, though thou cannot discern it, so distinctly at a distance; the hiding of his mercy and salvation from thee, may make thee say, Wilt thou not return and revive us? And yet thy conclusion is false, which is this, therefore he will not revive us again.

Eighthly, and Lastly, Their ignorance of, or not making use, of the Covenant of Grace, made them thus jealous; for it is inconsistent with the ends and promises of the new Covenant, to reject utterly, one that hath been taken into Covenant with God; I will not break my Covenant, nor alter the thing that hath gone out of my mouth, Psal. 89.34. Yet when they forget the Covenant, then they say, Vers. 38. But thou hast cast us off, and abhorred us. I might here speak fully to the weakness of these grounds of jealousie, and the non-concludency of their Arguments; and Caution you against misbelieving fear, and cruel jealousie, but finding my Work would be tedious, and studying brevity, I shall pass these things. Thus much for the Fourth Point of Doctrine, which was this, That when God turneth p. 193away from his People, and stayeth away a long time; they fall usually under great jealousie and fear, that he will no more return to them, or revive them.

The Fifth Thing I observe in this Expostulation, is, Faith's check, that it giveth to this jealousie, Faith will not stand to jealousies verdict. It is so contradicting to the Covenant, and God's promises therein to his People, and so contrary to Faith's verdict in the case, Psal. 89.2. I have said mercy shall be built up for ever; and if so, all is well enough; God is building up mercy by all these acts of judgment, wherewith he chastiseth his People, yet this doth not satisfie, till they bring the cause to him, that they may get his verdict about it. Wilt not thou revive us? q. d. Enemies say, thou hast forsaken us, Psal. 71.11. God hath forsaken him, persecute and take him. But, wilt not thou return to us again, and revive us? Our discouraged, and faint hearts say, thou wilt not revive us, yet Lord, we wait till we hear what thou wilt say, that speakest Peace to thy People. Dispensations indeed seem to say, thou hast cast us off, but be it so, (for which we are heartily sorry) yet this is not the question, for the question is this, Wilt thou not revive us again? Sense p. 194saith, How shall the dead be restored to life again? But, we wave that, and come to thee for reviving, leaving the manner and method of it, the quomodo and quando of it to thee; And, if thou wilt but say thou wilt revive us: Then, 1. We shall not much care, what growing difficulties, discouragements, desertions, disorders, and confusions, or our Enemies say to the contrary. 2. If thou wilt say, that thou wilt revive us, we will make thy testimony a great Article of our Creed, and will hold by it, till thou actually return and revive us; and though the Vision should yet be for an appointed time, yet we will wait for it. 3. If thou wilt say thus to us, that thou wilt revive us, then we will make all our, discouragements and tentations say the same; and so, out of these Eaters we shall get meat: we shall make them speak the language of the promise, that formerly did plead for, and increased our jealousie. 4. If thou revive us, then thou wilt return, for we cannot be revived, till thou return; no difficulty shall be able to stand in thy way, no communication, or communion with thy self, that is necessary to our reviving, shall be with-holden; no driness, scattering, or present deadness, or indisposition in the dry bones, shall p. 195hinder their reviving, if thou wilt revive us: if thou return and revive, the Wilderness shall be turned into a fruitful Field. 5. If thou wilt revive us, we shall be reviving to one another, and instead of being discouraging, and insnaring to others, we shall be up-stirring and quickning unto them, and our selves also. And truly, until our God return, and revive, though we would, yet we cannot do any thing effectually for your reviving; though it's good for us always to be found in our duty. 6. If thou wilt return and revive us, then we will make publick intimation of it to all our Enemies, that say, Where is now your God? We will Answer, He is in the Heavens, and doth what-ever he pleaseth, and is returning to revive us, that we may rejoyce, and be glad in him. 7. If thou wilt return and revive us, we will not fear Persecutions, we will look danger and death in the face with a displayed Banner, Psal. 60.4. Yet thou hast given a Banner to thy People, that it may be displayed, because of the truth: we will step over all that standeth in the way of a returning Ark, or of the reviving his People longeth so much for. 8. If thou say thou wilt return and revive, this will encourage us heartily to invite thee to return; p. 196as now at this present time we do invite thee, for we would not be last in calling home the King to his own Court again. 9. Take Faith's verdict in this viz. It maketh them speak thus, I cannot, nor dare not promise to my self, or to others, any thing about these dry bones, for I cannot revive them, none but God can, and that when there is nothing but death and confusion in the case. 10. and lastly, If thou say thou wilt revive us, I shall hencefo th not only judge it best, to come to thee now, but be the more encouraged for the future, to come with all my complaints and grievances, though death were in the case. Wilt thou not revive us again? Thus much for the first thing propounded, which holdeth out Faith's victory over jealousie, and teacheth us to bring all our cases to Him, that he may shew us his purpose and thoughts about them, and make us heartily acquiess therein, as knowing that his judgment is the rest of his People, be the judgment of others what it will.

Thus having spoken to the words in general, I shall endeavour now to consider them more particularly, as they are in my Text. In doing of which, I shall first speak p. 197unto this, That there is such a thing as reviving in the Covenant, between God and his People.

Secondly, That the People of God do often want it, and do much stand in need of it.

Thirdly, That the restoring of a People to a flourishing and lively condition, is a a very hard and difficult thing, and therefore here it's call'd a reviving.

Fourth…y, That notwithstanding of its difficulty, yet in all our approaches to God upon all occasions, we should pursue it saying, Wilt thou not revive us again?

Fifthly, That upon his return, his People are actually revived.

Sixthly, That this reviving doth beget much joy, and gladness in the hearts of the People of God.

Seventhly, and Lastly, That thiS joy thus begotten in their hearts, by his return…ng to, and reviving of them, is in himself; and that which the People of God should express with a thankful voice, upon his returning to, and reviving of his praise.

In speaking unto these Seven Propositions; I shall (for brevity's sake) First clear them to you, one by one, and then make Application of them all together, and so p. 198shut up this Piece of Service, that I have adventured on, meerly out of love to his dead Work, and out of hope that he will revive it again, that we may live in his sight.

I come therefore unto the First thing propounded, which is this, That there is such a thing as reviving in this new Covenant, which is between God, and his People, in a Mediator. Whereas the old Covenant of wor…s did shut the Door, from ever escaping, in that it was weak through the Flesh, Rom. 8.3. This Covenant of Grace openeth a Door of escaping by Jesus Christ, who was sent in the likeness of sinful Flesh, to condemn sin in the Flesh, ibid. He it is that is anointed to preach glad tidings to the meek, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclame Liberty to the Prisoners, and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound, Isa. 61.1. To comfort all that mourn, to give them beauty for ashes, the oyl of joy for mourning, the Garments of praise for the Spirit of Heaviness, v. 3.

For clearing of this further unto you, viz. that there is quickning and reviving in this Covenant: I shall propound these Nine things, to be considered by you.

The First thing to be consider'd, for clearing of this, is this, That it hath pleased the p. 199Father, that in Him (who is the propounded match for Souls in this Covenant) all fulness should dwell, Col. 1.19. & 2.9. So that whatever is requisit and necessary for reviving of the body, is in the head; yea, whatever he is or what-ever he hath; whatever he hath done, is doing, or will do, all is reviving unto his People.

Secondly, Consider, as he is full of grace and truth, So there is an union between Him, and his People, by vertue of which they partake of that virtue and life, that is in Him, for reviving of them, Joh. 15.1, 2. Every branch in me; there is their Union, Joh. 1.16. And of his fulness we receive, even grace for grace. There is the communication of what he hath on his part, and our participation of it, upon our part, And what can be reviving? if Grace be not, especially in its abundance, Grace for grace; or in its constant supplies, Grace for grace; or as it holdeth forth the giving of one grace to help us to improve another; For of his fulness have we received, and grace for grace.

Thirdly, Consider, that in case we sin in refusing, or abusing this grace that is in Him; then know, that this Covenant admits of repentance: which the other Covenant of Works doth reject. Though thou hast p. 200played the Fool, yet there is place for after wit here; If thou turn, he will repent of the evil, Jer. 18.8. Jer. 3.13. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, Act. 2.38. Repent. — For the promise is to you, and to your Children, and to as many as God shall Call. And, what can be more reviving, than the consideration of this? as you may see in the poor Prodigal, when he apprehended that there was place for repentance, he is presently revived, and resolveth on duty; I will go to my Father, and say, I have sined, &c. This likewise is supposed by David, Psal. 32.5. I said I would confess my sin, and thou forgavest the iniquity thereof, v. 6. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee. This third thing then that is in this Covenant, is very reviving and encouraging.

Fourthly, Consider this, that what-ever is commanded in a way of duty, is promised to his People, He commandeth us to love him; he hath promised to circumcise our hearts to love him; he hath commanded us to sanctifie him in our hearts, and make him our fear, Isa. 8.13. He hath promised to put his fear in our hearts, Jer. 32.40. He hath commanded us to call on him in the day of our trouble, Psal. 50. He p. 201hath promised we shall do it, Hos. 5.15. In their affliction they shall seek me early. He hath call'd me to believe in him, 1 Joh. 3.23. This is his Commandment, that you believe in his Son: He hath promised that I shall believe. The Gentiles shall trust in him. To it shall the Gentiles seek, and his rest shall be glorious, Isa. 11.10. He commandeth us to make us a new heart, Ezek. 18.31. This he promiseth, Ezek. 36.26. A new heart will I give you; so that it is clear, that which is call'd for from us by the Precept, is given to us in the Promise; And, is not this reviving and comforting to the People of God?

Fifthly, Consider this, There is order in the Covenant: and this is very reviving to consider, that the Promise cometh first, then the Command: First grace, and then glory; first weeping, and then joy and gladness; first sowing in tears, and then reaping in joy; first loosers for Christ, and then gainers of an hundred fold; first kill'd, and next quickned; there is not a cross can come on his People, but according to the Covenants Order: It can stay no longer than the Order bears: It can touch no Person, but such as it hath an Order for: Good order is the Life, either of Societies, p. 202or Armies, and if so, then there must be reviving, and encouragement there, where there is so comely an order.

Sixthly, Consider this, there is suitableness in all the things; God hath promised to the case, and condition of his People, be it half dead, or whole dead, be it sick, weak, wearied, faint or feeble, all is alike to our Covenanted God, Think you it strange that God should raise the dead, or relieve those that are ready to perish? If thou be in hazard of perishing in thy uncleanness, he hath water to wash and purge thee; if dead, he hath water of life to quicken and revive thee; if sick, he hath Physick for thee; i… discouraged, he hath Wine of Consolation to comfort and strengthen thee; if blinde, there are eyes for the blind; if pursued, there is a strong hold for thee to turn into▪ Now, what can be more reviving than this to have all, and that so suitable to the present case, and cross of every Soul: Mus… there not be reviving there, wherein al… these things are contained, and that is in thi… Covenant.

Seventhly, Consider this, and you shal… finde, that there is reviving in the Covenant, viz.) the firmness and sureness of it… It's sure, all is sure, it's promises are sure p. 203your interest in Him sure, your union sure, and fixt, howbeit communion be now and then interrupted, yet union is fixed, and as the Mountains about Jerusalem that cannot be moved. You may break the Peace you have in your own Conscience, but the Peace that is betwixt God and you, is on better Foundations; It's sure, there may be Fatherly anger, which may frighten and terrifie from sin, but he will never take his …oving-kindness away from thee. Thy duty is sure and firm, as it must be done, so he …hat performeth all things for thee, shall do it, Psal. 57.3. The promise is sure, and …hat particularly, which promiseth you the Cross: The mercies of David's House are …ure mercies; Reviving is one of them, Psal. 23.3. He restoreth my Soul to Life: And therefore reviving must be in the Covenant.

Eighthly, Consider this, That there is in …t freedom and security, against every thing …hat is destructive to the People of God. As, First, There is security in it against sin, and …hat either against the not committing of …t, that you shall not do it, Rom. 6. Sin …hall not have dominion over you, &c. or, if …ou do commit it, yet you shall not die in it, …hich is the Worlds evil, that Christ hath p. 204delivered his People from: Joh. 17. I pray not that thou should take them out of the World, but that thou keep them from the evil of it. There is freedome and security against the Son of mischief, Psal. 89. The Foe shall not exact upon him, nor shall the Son of mischief wrong him, considering that all works together for good, to them that feares him. There is security from the Spiritual Plagues of the times, so that how-ever they may touch thee, and make the Priest pronounce thee unclean, yet thou shalt not die of that Disease, smitten thou may be, but die thou must not, in thy hardness and impenitency: And, is there no… reviving in this consideration?

Ninthly, and Lastly, Consider, That al… you can desire, or that is necessary, in orde… to his People's Salvation, is in this Covenant; And, must there not be reviving in i… then? This is all my desire, and all my salvation, saith David, Would'st thou hav… reviving? Desire it, and you may have it▪ Would'st thou have Salvation? Desire it and you may have it: If your desire ca… comprehend more than Salvation, all this i… in the Covenant: And, if satisfaction t… your desire and salvation, to deliver you on… of all your distresses, be in it; then reviving p. 205must be in it too. Thus much for clearing of my First Proposition, laid before you, which was this, that there is reviving in the Covenant of Grace.

The Second Thing I would speak particularly to, is, That reviving is such a thing, as the People of God do usually stand in need of: David, he stood in need of it; Psal. 119. Quicken me in thy way: ibid. Quicken me that I may call on thy Name: Hab. 3. Revive thy Work in the midst of the …ears. That the People of God stand much …n need of reviving: l shall clear unto you …y these Eight Things following.

First, then, To convince the Generation of the fearers of God, that they stand in …eed of reviving, I call them to compare …heir present case, with what is past, your present assurance of an interest in Christ, with that once you had; Were you not more fully perswaded of this, some years …go, than you are now? Were not your e…idences more clear then, nor now they …re? Was not your communion with God more clear, freer of Clouds and interruptions, than now it is? Was not your joy in …he Holy Ghost more strengthning, more …piritual and unspeakable, than now it is? Were not your Souls more mortified to p. 206the World, and the Lusts of the Flesh, than now they are? Where is that weaned disposition, that humble and meek frame, that doth not meddle with matters too high for it? Psal. 121. Is not this gone? If you will compare your extraordinary things, with extraordinary things, or your ordinary enjoyments, with your ordinary enjoyments: Will you not find a vast difference, between the one and the other, and may we not say with Job, chap. 29.2, 3, 4, 5, 6. O that it were with me, as in Moneths past, as in the Days when God preserved me: when his Candle shined upon my Tabernacle, and when by his Light I walked thorow darkness; as I was in the Days of my Youth, when the secret of the Lord was upon my Tabernacle. Old and decayed Professors, whose first works were greater, than are your last; Consider this, lay it to heart, and see whether you stand not in need of reviving.

Secondly, To convince the Friends of … dead work, that they stand in need of quickning, Let them consider, and compare themselves with others: Christians that excell i… parts! Are there not some that have no… the half of your gifts, that have more spiritual life, and a conversation more in Heaven than you have? I grant, ye are higher i… p. 207parts than they, by the head and shoulders, yet are not they far before you in practical godliness; Ye are mortified in your light, and know more of the Doctrin of Mortification, and can press it with strong Arguments on others; They are mortified in their life, and live up to that light, the Lord hath given them. Ye are speaking and professing Christians, and want not the Form of sound words; they are doing and diligent Christians, walking worthy of God, and the Gospel. They are lively and spiritual in he midst of a corrupt and perverse Gene…ation, in the midst of manifold tentations, …e are fallen dead in the midst of the Assemblies of the living. If our first work (when we assemble our selves together) were to …arry out, and bury our dead, before we go …p to the Hill of God, our young Men …hould be able to do no other thing, but …arry them forth, and our old Men could …o no other thing, but lament and mourn …fter the Bare. Are not some in the use of …maller means, more spiritual, than thou, …hat hast Line upon Line, and Precept on …recept. And, is it so? and yet cannot ye …e convinced, that ye stand in need of re…iving?

Thirdly, To convince this Generation, p. 208that it wanteth reviving; I call you to compare, What ye do with what ye have vowed and promised to do: In your sick Beds, in your Sacrament Dayes, and in the Day wherein God married our Land to himself. It is true, ye have escaped the Pollutions o… the World, through the knowledge o… Christ; yea, it may be, are Keepers of the Vineyard, and are great Zealots for the inventions and institutions of your Mother, but have ye not made vain your Father's Commandment? It's enough for Papists to say, Ita ait Mater Ecclesia, though they never ask next, Quid dixit Pater; But, wha… hast thou to do with this, that holdeth th… Head, viz. Jesus Christ? Have you no… slighted your own Vineyard? Song 1.6. My own Vineyard I have not kept: Have yo… not promised and resolved upon Persona… and Family Reformation? And, are no… both slighted and neglected? Why doth th… Mouth cause thy Flesh to sin? neither say … was an Error. And are not these two effects, that follow upon this, fulfilled in us 1. Is not God angry at our voice? 2. Dot… he not destroy the work of our hands? Eccl▪ 5.6. O! that we would consider this, before it be too late. Now, if it be thu… with us: Is it not clear then, that we stan… in need of reviving.

p. 209Fourthly, To convince the Generation, that it standeth in need of reviving; I call …t, to compare its actual revivings with what is the desire of the true fearers of God, after this: Is there not more in thy desire, than in thy enjoyment? Is not what thou hast, as nothing, in respect of that which thou desirest? Phil. 3.12. I forget what is behind, I count not that I have obtained, I press toward the Mark. These are three mighty expressions, holding forth this, that his attainments, though great, yet they were not answerable to his desires; Now, …s not our reviving much below what we would be at? And, do we not then stand …n need of quickning?

Fifthly, To convince the Generation, …hat seek Jacob's God, that they stand in …eed of reviving: I call them to consider, Whether they have sufficient for the emergents …f their day, or not; for inabling them to …ntertain every breaking providence, crosses …offes, deaths, and dangers, as it becometh …ively Christians: Can you hold fast your …ighteousness, notwithstanding of reproach…s? Can your Feet hold his steps, notwith…tanding of the Snares that are laid for you? …s your way above to escape the Hells that …re below? Can you adhere to God alone? p. 210And die alone, for truth? when there is none going before you, to be your example, and none following after you to be your second? Can …ou keep up the exercise o… Faith, when Heart, and Flesh faileth, Psal 73.26. But God is the strength of my Heart, and Portion for ever. Have you so much as, inableth you to walk in the dark? Mich. 7. Though I sit in darkness, yet the Lord wil… be a light unto me: You may be in the dar… as to your interest, as to your success i… duty, as to the issue of your trials; as t… many of God's providential actings; and yet thou adhears close to thy known duty come of it what will: Where shall we fin… such a spiritually revived Christian? Why what remains then, but this, That we al… stand in need of reviving?

Sixthly, To convince thee, that there i… need of a reviving; I call thee to consider… what thou might have been: If thou had no… fallen asleep by the way, if thou had not kep… on these weights, that you have been exhorted to lay aside, Heb. 12.1. If you had no… turned back, and tempted God, if you ha… not vexed and grieved his Holy Spirit; … you had not provoked God to remove th… Comforter far from you, Lam. 1.16. T… hide his Face, to smite you very sore, to ca… p. 211you off, to take his House down, and to lay it waste, to forsake his Ordinances, and to blast them; I say, what might you have been, if these things had not been? If thou had added faith to faith, retain'd God in thy knowledge, and had learned to walk with him, as a Man doth with his Friend; Ah! Our work is like Penelope's Web, what she did in the Day, she undid in the Night, and so do we. And, if all this be true, then I appeal to you, if you do not …tand in need of reviving.

Seventhly, To convince this misbelieving Generation, that it hath need of reviving, Compare what you have, with what the command of God calleth for, and with what the Promise holdeth forth. The holy, just, good, …nd spiritual Law of God calleth for much more spiritual Life, than we have, for ina…ling us to obey it: We are call'd to joy, not only in God, but in Tribulations also, Rom. 5. To count it all joy, when we fall …nto divers tentations, Jam. 1. To glory in …ur infirmities, when sadly buffeted by Sa…an: To take joyfully the spoiling of our Goods, but who amongst us have such re…ived hearts, as are capable to do such du…ies? And then for the Promises; therein …re revivings to his work and People, that p. 212we do not understand; Days of loving-kindness, wherein he will restore to his People a pure language, and they shall serve him with one consent; What reviving is in the Promises, relating to the downfall of Babilon? The breaking of the Power of the Turk, and Conversion of the Jews? I will not fancy a Fift Kingdom, but this I am sure of there is reviving in the Promise, that shall make such as dwell in the dust, sing, and such as sit in dark…ess see a great light, when the light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun, and the light of the Sun seven times more: Now, if it be thus, then doubtless we need reviving.

Eighthly, and lastly, To convince you of this, that we stand in need of quickning; Consider what one Day ye shall be when-ever with the Lord, when deaths, dangers, the causes and symptoms, effects and fruits of all, shall evanish as the smoke, and shall be no more a trouble to thee. Thou that art become a stranger to the high praises of Israel's God, in your Family and Closet, know, thou must sing over his sweet Hallelujahs, thou that now seldome approach his Presence, remember thou must be ever with him, thou that contenteth thy self with thy small measures, remember you must be full p. 213of God, full of Life, all Life, all Joy, all Love, &c. And doth not this say, you stand in need of reviving.

I have not been at all this pains, as one ignorant of this, That this Point is conceded unto, by all the People of God, that they need reviving; And, if so, you may say, I might have spared this cost here, and bestowed it else-where; And indeed, I grant it is so confest by most part: But my design is to imprint this deeper on the heart with this Eight fold Impression, I have laid before you. 2. It's to give you a view of it, in these distinct Considerations, that your eye may the more affect your heart. And, 3. For your satisfaction, I tell you, that if this parcel of my commodities, I have sent to you by this Bearer, do not please you, and are found useless, then at my cost return it again; It's probable others will eat the Grass, that you tread under Foot, and drink the Water, as Wine, that you fowl with your Feet, Ezek. 34.18, 19. Thus much for the Second Thing propounded, viz. That the People of God usually stand in great need of reviving.

The Third Thing that falleth next, under our Consideration, is this, That the restoring of a People (brought low for their iniquity) p. 214to a flourishing and lively condition, is a very hard and difficult thing. It's an easie matter, for Israel to destroy himself, Hos. 13.9. But he will find it a harder work to help himself out of this Death and Grave, he hath brought himself unto; You may soon provoke God, but it's not so easie to stay the Plague that breaketh out on thee, for provoking the most High; any can do the one, but it's God only out of his free mercy and grace in Jesus Christ, that can do the other.

For clearing of this to you, that this is a very hard and difficult work, I shall desire you to ponder in an even Ballance these Five Things.

First, Consider, What the Spirit of God in the Scripture compareth it unto, and the expressions he useth in speaking of it. He compareth it to the Work of Creation, and speaketh so of it. I create the Fruit of th… Lips; Peace, peace to him that is afar off, an… to him that is neer, saith the Lord, I will hea… him. Isa. 57.19. Who hath heard such … thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the Earth he made to bring forth in one Day? or shall a Nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travelled, she brought forth her Children, Isa. 66.8. Shall the dead praise thee, p. 215shall those that go down to the Pit declare thy righteousness; And, Ezek. 37. Can these dry Bones live? Lord, thou knowest. And, indeed none can Answer this Question, but He that doth propound it. The Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of Man, and they that hear shall live, Joh. 5.25. Doth not all these expressions prove, that it's a very difficult thing to revive a Church, a Nation, or a particular Soul, when dead and destroyed.

The Second Thing, I call you to consider, for proving of the difficulty of this work, is this, That our Lord speaketh so of it, of purpose to convince us of the difficulty of it: Yea, he insinuates as much, as if he himself were straitned with this case, Jer. 3.19. But I said, (This is an Objection made by God himself against the former promises) how shall I put thee among the Children, and give thee a pleasant Land, a good Heritage of the Hosts of Nations. q. d. How shall I put thee, who hast fallen from thy first love, who hast forsaken me, the Fountain of living Water; who art polluted, and yet you will not acknowledge it; that hast forgotten me, and hast said thou will come no more to me, whose confidences I have rejected, and who will not say my Father, thou p. 216art the God of my Youth: That will not so much as acknowledge your iniquity. How shall I put such among the Children, or give you a pleasant Land, so Hos. 6.4. O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee! O Judah, what shall I do unto thee, all this speaketh out the difficulty of the case, Hos. 11.8. How shall I give thee up Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee, Israel? Thus much for the Second Thing, for proving the difficulty of recovering, or reviving a People, when brought low.

The Third Thing, that proveth the difficulty of it, is taken from the Persons imployed about it, the whole blessed Trinity is at work in this affair. The Father he giveth and draweth to the Son, all that the Father giveth me shall come to me, Joh. 6.37. No Man can come to me except the Father draw him, v. 44. Jesus Christ the second Person in the Trinity, he is imployed about the restoring of a Soul, Zech. 1.12. Then the Angel of the Lord answered and said, O Lord of Hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem, and on the Cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation, these three-score and ten years, And chap. 13.7. Awake O Sword against my Shepherd, and against the Man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of Hosts. p. 217Christ must suffer, rise again, and live for ever to intercede for his People, that they may be restored to life, and made to walk in his Paths. Tne Spirit, the third Person in the glorious Trinity, he is imployed about this work, and is sent forth by the Father, and the Son, to illuminate, convince, convert, build up, and establish poor sinners, in a revived state and condition, Joh. 16. All the Ordinances of the House of God, all the Providences wherewith he executeth his Word, all the Crosses and Comforts that are in the new Co…enan…, they are imployed about the restoring of a lapsed Church, or a backsliden Chr…stian▪ Therefore I say, restoring or reviving of his People, when low, is a very hard thing.

The Fourth thing, I call you to consider, for clearing of this, That his People's Restoration, is a very hard Work: 'Tis this, The improbability of the thing it self: Shall a Nation be brought forth at once? Can these dry Bones live? speaketh out the improbability of the thing, a profane Lord, 2 King. 7.2. On whose hand the King leaned, answered the Man of God, and said, If the Lord would make Windows in Heaven, might this thing be? v. 2. Yea, I tell thee, p. 218this thing may be done, and not a Window opened: but, such a profane Atheist, as thou art, shall not taste thereof, but shall be trod upon, till he die.

The Fifth and last thing, I would have you to consider, for clearing the difficulty of the Work, and to prove that it's a hard Work: is, The opposition that is made to it; we hinder it our selves, Hos. 7.1. When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, Isa. 57. I smote him, yet he walked on the more frowardly, he opposed and hindred his own cure. Then there is much opposition from Satan, the World, and from one another. Now where a work meeteth with great opposition, then, and in that case, you may be sure it shall prove a hard matter to get it restored, to what it was, or revived again. I only observe this for these Four ends.

First, To tell you, that it is God only that can revive and restore his People to life again. He only hath life in himself, and o… himself, he is life, he is the Fountain of it; and, therefore there is abundance of it in Him, Psal. 36.9. With thee is the Fountain of life. He is an overflowing Fountain, Life floweth out of Him more easily, than water p. 219floweth out of a Fountain; Life in him is a communicable thing, that he giveth to his People: Let men communicate what they will, they cannot communicate their life, except they presently die, but it's not so here. This is not only communicable, but our God effectually applyeth this, for the reviving of his Land, so that by one touch the Lord is revived, and as it is said, 2 King. 13.21. of the Man, that they were burying; that, so soon as he touched the Bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his Feet. So may I say of his Land and People, so soon as he but toucheth them, they are revived, and do stand up in his sight, Hos. 6.2. After two days, he will revive us, and we shall live in his sight. Yea more, if there be any means, that prove effectual for recovering a perishing Land: It's he alone that maketh the same effectual, by his blessing on them, and his revealed Arm with them.

Secondly, I observe, and take notice of the difficulty of this Work; to tell you that it's more than time ye were minding it; your Work is great, your time is short, your Day goeth away: The Spirit that is your Co-worker, and strengthens you to work, is far away; Will you not p. 220then, up, and to it: Rise, and be doing, and the Lord shall be with you. It's true, you may meet with difficulties in Praying, watching, and waiting for the Lord, but your greatest difficulty is overcome, when you are risen up out of your security, and made willing to undergo what-ever this difficult work may necessarily call you to.

Thirdly, Hence see, what a great mercy it is to be revived; and how much of God is to be seen in it; How should thou magnifie his reviving, in the midst of the years? though for the present thou cannot; yea, must not be altogether delivered, till the Forty Days come, that is appointed for the setting of a tossed Ark on Mount Ararat.

Fourthly, and lastly, Hence you may see what great Reason you have to watch against every thing, that is killing and deadning to thee, or the Land; Ye may soon provoke the Lord to smite you, and to ruine the Tabernacle of David, but you cannot get it so easily repaired again: And therefore, I would entreat you to watch and pray, least at any time you make way to his wrath, then a great Ransome cannot redeem you. Thus much for the Third p. 221Thing propounded, to be spoken to, which is to shew you how hard a matter it is, to restore a Land, or Person, to wonted favour, that hath lost it by its ingratitude, and other sins.

The Fourth Thing, I propounded to speak to, is this, That the People of God, in all their approaches to God, should much press for, and seek after a reviving, Wilt thou not revive us again? Reviving is that which is most on their heart, and most in their design; Now, when they finde how low they are brought for their iniquity, Hab. 3.2. Revive thy Work in the midst of the years, Psal. 80.18.Quicken us, Psal. 119.25 Quicken me according to thy Word, vers. 88. Quicken me after thy loving-kindness, vers. 149. Quicken me according to thy judgment, Psal. 143.11. Quicken me, O Lord, for thy Names sake.

I shall, for clearing and proving of this, viz. (that the People of God, when low, and under many sad Dispensations, should pursue reviving) Propound unto you these Considerations.

The First thing, I call you to consider, for clearing of this, is, The Saints pantings, breathings, longings, and desires after this, Psal. 103.2. O! when wilt thou come unto p. 222me? Why is he so much in panting for God's coming to him? He knew that reviving would come with him, Psal. 63.1, 2. My Soul thirsts for thee, my Flesh longeth for thee: Why? that he might see his Power and Glory manifested, in reviving of him, Psal. 84.2. My Soul longeth, yea even fainteth, my Heart and my Flesh cryeth out (why?) for the living God, viz. to quicken and revive him again. To which of the Saints can you turn, but you shall finde them panting for God's return to revive them, Psal. 42.1, 2. Job. 23.3. Now, if this be that which all the Saints do so much pursue, Have not we Reason then to go out by the Foot-steps of the Flock, and plead for a reviving.

The Second thing, I call you to consider, is, The unsatisfactoriness of all other things, when reviving is with-holden, Psal. 63. All is but a dry parcht Land, a weary Land, where no Water is, when there is no reviving for his poor People; Place them in the best condition imaginable, without this all is unsatisfying to them. Ministers, Ordinances, Angels, and what not, nothing can satisfie them, without a returning and a reviving. And, it's no wonder, for the Soul panteth for Him to revive it; The Soul p. 223longeth for him to revive it: And, what can satisfie the longing Soul, but the thing longed for? It's no wonder then, that the People of God so much pursue reviving, seeing all other Things are unsatisfying without it. Thus much for the Second Consideration.

Thirdly, Consider, That reviving maketh the Soul sit down satisfied, under all its other crosses, be what they will. Let Waters go over their head, let them be killed all day long, let them be imprisoned, spoild of all they have, reviving, maketh them glory in the Cross of Christ, Gal. 6.14. Reviving maketh them walk upon the waters, without sinking▪ If God hide and keep their Souls in life, they will bear his indignation, Mich. 7.8,9. They are now under all their deaths, more than Conquerours, Rom. 8.37. And take joyfully the spoiling of their Goods, Heb. 10.34. Why? because there is reviving in the case, and this satisfieth them. Now, if it be so, is it not clear, and is there not Reason for it? That of all things the People of God should pursue reviving.

Fourthly, Consider, The account they make of themselves, when they are deprived of this reviving, which is so much pleaded for in p. 224my Text, Psal. 22. I am a worm, and no Man, Psal. 88.5. Free among the dead, like them that go down to the Pit: like a Bottle in the smoke, at best, or as a Pelican in the Wilderness, Psal. 102.6. And yet, they think less of themselves, Psal. 73. So foolish was I and ignorant, I was a Beast before thee: And true it is, when God turneth from his People, and doth with-hold those reviving influences, whereby their Souls have been kept in life, and fitted for duty. Then the Princely wrestler, with the Angel, falleth weary, becometh a worm, and as a homeborn Slave; otherways, Why is he spoil'd and trod upon like a Worm? Ah! wrestling Jacob, is now worm Jacob: then is he in his own account numbred among the dead, that was one of three-score valiant men, that waited on our blessed Solomon, or that was like one of those three, 1 Chron. 11.18. That brake thorow the Host of the Philistins, and drew Water out of the Well of Bethlehem, that hath run thorow a Troop of Difficulties, and leapt over a Wall to draw Water out of these Wells of Salvation with joy. He is now in his own account, like one going down to the Pit, that used to mount up, as with Ea…les Wings: He that was beautiful as p. 225Tirza, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an Army with Banners; now in his own account, is as an Owl in the Desert, and will be so, till God arise, and revive his Work, and People, and build up Jerusalem: Now, I say, if these things be true, Then what wonder, that the People of God press earnestly for reviving?

Fifthly, Consider, The complacency that the People of God have in his company, and in the lively exercise of the graces of the Spirit: And you shall finde, that it's no wonder, that they press so much after his returning to revive them, Psal. 84.10. One Day in his Courts is better than a thousand else where: But why? Finde they so much complacency then? v. 11. For there the Lord is a Sun and Shield, he will give grace and glory; All which is very reviving to their Souls; When is it that the People of God are well pleased to be gone, from Time to Eternity, from Wife and Children to their Head and Husband? It's when revived, and it is this reviving, that maketh them so willing to be gone; Now let me depart in Peace: Yea, that which maketh places and conditions pleasant unto them, it's God's being with them to revive them; yea more, is this that bringeth the Saints unto that p. 226holy strait between two, whereof Phil. 1. I am in a strait between two: Now, if reviving be such a thing, as the People of God hath so much complacency in; Is it any wonder that they so diligently pursue a reviving?

Sixthly, Consider, The comprehensiveness of this mercy, that the Church pleadeth for; It's comprehensive of all other mercies, whether small or great; If you look back to Eternity, reviving hath the mercy of Election in it: It hath the mercy of thy effectual Vocation in it; it hath the mercy of Reconciliation included in it; it includeth thy Justification, it includeth free Remission; if thou be revived, thou art Elected, Called, Reconciled, Justified, pardoned, because none but such are revived, and all such as are revived are justified, &c. It includeth healing of backslidings in it, for what is backsliding, but a fruit of spiritual deadness: That reviving doth remove, for Sublata causa tollitur effectus: All the advantages of Gospel-Ordinances, and of Gospel-afflictions, are included in it: And he that attaineth to more spiritual life, carrieth away the advantage of all the Gospel comforts, and of all the Gospel-crosses: There is joy and gladness p. 227included in it; And, to say no more of it, what-ever maketh for peace, in God, and in our selves; what-ever fitteth the Soul for doing and suffering, and what ever maketh a gracious day of loving-kindness here, and a blessed, sure, and quick passage, to the Kingdom, or maketh you meet for the inheritance of the Saints in Light; This reviving comprehendeth it all: Now is it any wonder that the People of God press so much for this, seeing it is such a comprehensive thing, and their Mount Pisgah, from whence they look and see the King in his glory, and the Land that is afar off.

Seventhly, and lastly, Consider, How capacitating this reviving is: It shakes off all those weights, that keep the People of God down, so that they cannot walk with a lifted up heart in the ways of God. They are as that Avis Paradisi, that Pliny speaketh of that is hindered from mounting upwards, because of the weight that is tyed to it: Now this reviving shakes off these weights and layeth them aside, and so capacitateth the people of God for their work: It overcometh all the impediments and tentations that fall in between the people of God, and their duty, it bringeth the Mountains low, p. 228and exalteth him of low degree; it maketh the Christian a Vessel always fit for the Master's use, and prepared for every good work, And is not this a great capacity? In a word, it putteth always work in the people of God's hands, and never suffereth them to stand idle, whether they be under a night of affliction; or a Sun-shine of prosperity: Now, if it be so, what wonder is it, that the people of God design this, as their one thing, at such a time, when his Land is brought low. Thus much for the Fourth thing propounded, to be spoken to, which was this; That what-ever difficulty be in reviving his Land, yet his people above all things, in all their approaches to Him, should design it, and press earnestly after it.

The Fifth thing propounded, to be spoken to, is this, That our blessed God, upon his return to his Land and People, doth actually revive it: This is all the People of God desire, for reviving of them, that he would return, and cause his Face to shine upon them, Psal. 80. last. Cause thy Face to shine upon us, and so we shall be saved, Zech. 1.12. compared with Vers. 16. Vers. 12. The Angel saith, O Lord of Hosts, How long wilt not thou have mercy on Jerusalem; p. 229there is their low condition, but see vers. 16. Therefore thus saith the Lord, I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies, mine House shall he built up in it. But, when shall this be done? It's when he returneth, that these reviving mercies come, and that Jerusalem is built up.

For clearing of this, I shall propound these three things to be considered.

The First thing to be considered, in order to his returning, to revive his people, is, what is antecedanious unto it.

The Second thing is What are the concomitants of it?

The Third thing is, To consider what he doth, after he hath returned, for reviving of his People.

For the First, which containeth the antecedents of his gracious returning to revive his people: I shall name (and but only name) to you these Eleven things, that are as so many reviving fore-runners of our King, and Lord's returning to Jerusalem with reviving mercies.

The First thing that goeth before, and telleth, the King is coming to revive, is sense of the present dead and hopeless condition that all is in. When he is to revive the dry Bones of the House of Israel: He First maketh p. 230Ezekiel sensible, how dry and dead they were, Ezek. 37.2, 3, &c. Before he come to Jerusalem with mercies, He makes them sensible of the indignation they were under for so many years. And before he return to revive Jacob's House, he maketh it sensible of the present sad condition it was in, as you may see from that Jer. 30. v. 7. Alas, for that day is great, so that none is like it; it is even the day of Jacob's trouble, this is the sense they have of their present condition; but what followeth, He shall be saved out of it. This is the King's returning to revive them. So, then it is clear that sense of the present dead and hopeless condition that all is in, is an undoubted fore-runner of our King's being upon his way to revive all. And, if so, then by the Rule of contraries: This stupidity, senselesness, and unconcernedness of Spirit, that is amongst us, is one of the dreadful shadows, of an approaching Night, and of growing distance between our God and us, which few or none layeth to heart.

The Second fore-runner, that goeth before, and telleth our King is coming to Jerusalem with mercies, is, His Peoples girding up their Loins, for to go forth to meet him: p. 231Let your Loins be girded about, and your Lamps burning, and you waiting, for the coming of the Bridegroom of your Souls, Luk. 12.35, 36. And ye your selves, like unto Men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the Wedding: Where you see clearly, that their girding up their Loins is a clear fore-runner of their Lord's return: O for more spirituality! for more fitness and disposition to run in his ways, to wrestle and fight against all those Enemies, that inslave the Souls of his poor People! Though we cannot command the Wind, yet we may hoist up the Sails, and be ready, waiting for our Lord's return. This is the Second fore-runner of his return to revive.

The Third fore-runner of our King, is, Great longings amongst his People: This word how long is never almost out of their addresses to God, Psal. 90.13. Return O Lord, how long? Psal. 6. But thou O Lord, how long? Psal. 6. and Psal. 101.2. O when wilt thou come unto me, Psal. 63.2. How long shall I dwell in a dry parcht Land, wherein there is no Water, Psal. 42.1. O how doth the poor Soul faint, and long to see his Courts, and his goings therein, as he hath seen him heretofore. Have you not seen his p. 232goings, even the goings of my King, and my God? Are you not deprived of this sight? why do not you long then? and say, O when shall I come and appear befere thee? I am confident, before ever our reviving come, there shall be more longing, thirsting, panting, yea fainting for a living God: O when wilt thou come unto me? Thus much for the Third fore-runner.

The Fourth fore-runner, that goeth before, and proclameth that the King is coming, is, The waiting posture of some principal Courtiers, for this glorious King. When he came in the Flesh, two of his old Courtiers Simeon and Anna did wait Night and Day for him, Luk. 2.25. Simeon was waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and by and by he meets with him, v. 28. Then took he him up in his arms; So Vers. 36, 37, 38. She waited Night and Day, and at length findeth him, and spake to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem: v. 38. Where you see, about the time of the King's coming, His people usually are in a waiting, and looking posture for him; they wait and look, and then he cometh: Courtiers of this King, go to your Post, look and wait, For he that shall come, will come, and will not p. 233tarry. This is the Fourth fore-runner … When his Spirit doth stir up his friends to wait and look for Him.

The Fifth thing that goeth before o… Lord's returning, to revive his Land, …s, Proclamations issued forth in our Soveraign Lord's Name and Authority, in Order to the removing of such things, as hindereth his P… ple to come to Him, and in order to the certifying of all Persons concerned, that the King …s coming: Isa. 62. In the first part of the Chapter, God's Remembrancers gives him no rest, till he bring forth Zion's righteousness: In the latter part of it, viz. vers. 10. & 11. Our Lord, as one prevailed upon by their fervent prayers, commandeth them to go thorow the Gates, to prepare the way of the People, to cast up the high way, to gather out the stones, and to lift up a Standard for the People: And vers. 11. To make p…blick Proclamation to Zion, that her Salvation cometh, his reward is with him, and his work before him. Whensoever then, you see the Peoples way prepared, stumbling blocks taken out of their way, and the High-ways of Jacob's God cast up, you may be assured, Salvation is, on its way, towards the Daughter of Zion. Thus much for the Fifth thing, that goeth before our Lord's coming.

p. 234The Sixth fore-runner of our Lords coming to revive his work and people, is, The low and hopeless condition of the People of God. When is it that the Lord will judge his People, and repent himself concerning his Servants? It's when their strength is small, and there is none shut up, or left: Deut. 32.36. When doth the Lord put an end to his contending? It's when the Spirits are like to fail before him, even the Souls, that he hath made, Isa. 57.16. And, when is it that our Lord cometh down to deliver his people? It's then, when the affliction of Israel is very great, Exod. 2. Now saith he, will I arise, Isa. 33.10. And what is the fore-runner of his reviving Israel? It is this, Israel is like a Valley, full of dead and dry Bones, that say they are cut off for their parts; So that hence you see clearly, that his Peoples low condition, and great affliction, is the fore-runner of his approaching Salvation.

The Seventh fore-runner of our Lord's coming to revive his People, is, His pouring out the Spirit of grace and supplication on his People; Thereby inabling them to pray for it, and to mourn bitterly for the sins that have deprived them of it, Zach. 12.10, 11. There is the Spirit poured forth, and thereupon p. 235followeth our Lord's opening up the Fountain, (Zach. 13.1.) and purging out of his House all the false Prophets, that have called themselves Prophets, and are not; Should not the faith of this make us pray, long, and pant for the living God? This is the Seventh fore-runnner of our Lord's coming to revive his Land.

The Eighth fore-runner of our Lord, when he is on his way to revive his People, is, His putting a stop to his wrath, that hath burnt against them, in former times: Deut. 32.36. This is call'd a repenting, concerning his People, which imports these Three things: 1. Solutio continui, or his putting a stop to that contending with them, or walking contrary to them: And, that either in part, when he stayeth his rough Wind in the Day of his East Wind, Isa. 27.8. or in whole, when he puts a stop to all his anger, and turneth to comfort his people, as Isa. 12.1. Thine anger is turned away, and thou hast comforted us. The 2d. may be called, Detestatio soluti, whereupon he hateth the Rod or Instruments, imployed in pleading his controversie with his People. I was angry with my people, but a little, but you have added to my wrath, this maketh them the object of his indignation, p. 236and turneth his smiting hand against them, in a most severe manner, to destroy the sinful Kingdom. The 3d. thing in it, is, that which may be called Rejectio Detestati, whereby our Lord may be said to cast away the Rod wherewith he did smite his People. Whensoever then you finde our Lord putting a stop to his anger, and as it were repenting himself concerning his Servants saying; What have I here, that my People are carried away Captive? Then be assured, this is a blessed fore-runner of our Lord's returning to revive his Land. This is the Eighth thing that goeth before our returning Lord to revive his People.

The Ninth fore-runner of our returning Lord, to revive his People, is, His removing those sad things that are the fruits of his indignation: and the Woes that follow upon his departure from them. Now he begineth to rise, and their darkness, drowsiness, and deadness passeth away, and Men go forth to their work. Ephraim doth not now eat Manasseh; nor Manasseh, Ephraim; but both doth joyntly set their hearts towards the House of the Lord, and serve him with one consen…. The branch of the Lord is then beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the p. 237Earth excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel, 4.2. They that were called cast-out in the Day of Indignation: Now, sought-out, Isa. 62. last. Holy, and such as are written among the living in Jerusalem, Isa. 4.3. They that were in the Bill of Mortality in the day of Indignation, are then found with a defence and covert in their dwelling place in Mount Zion. So then, whensoever you see our Lord removing the sad effects of his Indignation, then lift up your Head, for the Day of your Redemption draweth neer.

The Tenth fore-runner of our Lord to revive his Land, is, His darkning or blasting all the Counsels of his Enemies: when he maketh their Counsellors mad, and turneth the Counsels of the People to non-effect: That say, let us break his Bonds, and cast his Coards from us; frustrateth the tokens of the Diviners, and causeth them to wander, to their great vexation, or when he taketh them in their own snares, as Psal. 9.15. In the Net they have hid for others, is their own Foot taken, and v. 16. The wicked is insnared with the works of his own hands, Psal. 33.10. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the Heathen to nought, he maketh the devices of the People of non-effect, and p. 238v. 13. The Lord (next) looketh down from Heaven. Where you may see that his blasting, or breaking of the Enemies counsel, is a true fore-runner of our Lord's coming to give the poor his expectation, Psal. 9.18, 19. And to deliver their Soul from death; as, Psal. 33.19. And, therefore to conclude this, I say, whensoever, or wheresoever you can see our Lord's fore-runners going before, to prepare his way, clap hands, and rejoyce, for the coming of our Lord to revive us draweh nigh. Thus much for the 10. Antecedent of his returning to revive his Land.

The Eleventh, and last fore-runner of his Majestie's return, to revive his Land, is, When the National Spirit is returned to his People that was formerly gone: that is, when every Man is found for the Land; not for the Land's sins, but for the Land's preservation; that he may not destroy it: and, that mourneth for the Lands misery? And that is spirited, for that which is the Land's duty, in order to the reviving of it, Ezek. 22.31. I sought for a Man, that is, for the Land, that I may not destroy the Land; but I found none. And that is faithful in maintaining the Land's Priviledges: And, that when others cry raze it, make it their care p. 239to keep all things in their right order, and to hold up the Pillars thereof, Psal. 82.5. The whole Foundations of the Earth are out of course, Psal. 75.3. But I bear up the Pillars thereof. Thus much for the last fore-runner of our Lord, when he is on his way to revive and quicken his People.

The Second thing I propounded to speak to, in reference to his returning to revive his Land, is the Concomitants thereof, all which are actually reviving to the People of God. There are these things that do accompany and attend our Lord's returning to revive his Land and People.

The First thing that accompanieth his return to revive, and that doth actually revive his People, is, The shining of his Face; Psal. 80. last. Cause thy Face to shine, when he turned away, he did shew them the back, but not the Face, they did look for him, but could not perceive him; but now when he is returned, he appeareth in his glory, Psal. 102.16. It's true, he is glory it self, and always glorious in his appearances, yet comparatively, he may be said to appear in his glory, or disappear; when to our sense, and for our help, he doth more or less manifest his Power, or with-holdeth it from us; p. 240when Zion shall be built up again, the… Zion's King shall not only shine, but shine in his glory: whereas thou formerly cryed out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why castest thou off my Soul, and forgettest my distressed case? Now, thou art made glad with his glorious shining in his ordinances, to the inshining, not only of thee but of such also, as are ordained unto life: Now, he is returned, and you may see his reviving looks, smiles, beauty and favour, that is in his countenance towards his bemoaning Ephraim; Desertions then, and distance begin to flee away, and our God makes his appearance in all his Ordinances, and is known to be the glory of his House, and to bear the same. This is the first Concomitant of his returning to revive, he appeareth in his glory.

The Second thing that accompanieth his returning to revive, is, His drawing nigh to his People, Lam. 3.57. Thou drawest nigh in the Day that I called. But, shall such a glorious Lord come nigh to me, that so appeareth in his glory? Yea, upon his turning to revive, he doth draw nigh to his people, and cause…h them to approach to him, Psal. 65.4. Blessed is the Man that tho… choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, p. 241This magnifieth his glory and greatness, that when his People think he will no more take notice of them, that then, when they are lowest, and in the midst of trouble, he will draw nigh to revive them, in the midst of them, Psal. 138. ult. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me. Thus much for the Second thing that accompanieth his return, he draweth neer to his People.

The Third thing that accompanieth our Lord's return, to revive and quicken his People, is, His imbracing his People, Song. 2.6. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth imbrace me. You see it is this which the People of God do expect, and perswade themselves of, upon his returning to revive them, Song 8.3. When I should finde him, I would lead him, and bring him to my Mother's house. But what then? why then, His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should imbrace me. O how reviving is this, when your God appearing in his glory, and drawing nigh to you, doth embrace you in the arms of his everlasting love; Shall not this actually revive? when after the small moment is over, wherein he hath forsaken thee, he, with great mercies (I do not know how great) will gather thee. p. 242And after, in a little wrath, he hath hid his Face from thee, he with everlasting kindness will imbrace thee. This is the Third thing that accompanieth our Lord's return to revive and quicken his Land.

The Fourth thing, that doth attend or accompany our Lord's return, is, His wiping the Faces of his People, after he hath imbraced them. There are two things that much stain the Saints faces, viz. tears and spots, Tears I say, of discouragement and deep perplexity, when God's rebukes wastes their beauty like a Moth. Their spots they have got by lying among the Pots, our Lord upon his return doth remove both these, and maketh them as the Wings of a Dove, covered with silver; and her Feathers as with yellow gold: and should not this prove reviving to thee? If God appearing in his glory, drawing neer to thy Soul, falling about thy Neck, and imbraci…g thee, would wipe all tears away from thine eyes, and wash away all the spots that stain thy beauty. This is the Fourth thing that accompanieth our Lord's return, to revive his Land, That proveth this, that on his returning, he doth actually revive his People.

The Fifth thing that accompanieth his return, to revive his People, is, His cherishing p. 243of them: He findeth, when he cometh, many things dead, and much more ready to die, all which he recovereth and preserveth by his tender cherishing of them, Deut. 32.11. O what sweet entertainment doth he give his friends! O how tender are the mercies that he cherishes them with! How many Cordials? how many Comforts? who can tell? every sight of his Face is a Cordial, every word of his Mouth is a Comfort; and all prove cherishing to that little life that remaineth, and that was ready to die. Thus much for the Fifth thing that accompanieth our Lord, and that maketh his returning to be actually reviving to his Land, He nourisheth it.

The Sixth thing, that doth accompany our Lord's return, to revive and quicken his Land, is, A present sence the Land hath of some blessed virtue, that hath gone out of him, for curing some bloody issues that undoubtedly would have ruined the Land: if this had not been. It's like that passage you have, Mark 5. The Woman found in her self, that she was cured, and Christ found in himself, that virtue had gone out of him; He now giveth proof of this to his People, that to him belong the issues from death, Psal. 68.20. He that is our God, is the God of Salvation, and to p. 244God the Lord belongeth the issues from death: And must not that be actually reviving to the People of God, that bringeth along with it issues from death?

The Seventh thing that accompanieth his return, to revive his Land, and is actually reviving to it, is, Divine intimations; and that in reference to those Four substantial things that the Land was much perplexed about. The 1st. is, That he hath not utterly rejected the Land; That he will not draw out his wrath against it to all Generations; That his mercy doth not fail for ever; And that he will yet revive it again, that it may be glad, and rejoyce in him. The 2d. is this, He giveth them Divine intimation of this, that the Land's guilt is purged away. I am he that blotteth out thine iniquity, for my own Names sake, Isa. 43.25. 3dly. He giveth them intimation of this, that he is their Salvation, according to that desire of his People, Psal. 35.3. Say unto my Soul, thou art my Salvation; and maketh his People say, This is our God, and the God of Salvation, we have waited for him, we will rejoyce, and be glad in him. 4ly. He giveth them intimation of this, that he will not hide his face any more from them, because he hath poured out his Spirit upon them, Ezek. 39. last. Neither p. 245will I hide my Face any more from them; For I have poured out my Spirit upon the House of Israel, saith the Lord God. Now, can these things be so, and his People not be actually revived? Thus much for the Seventh thing that doth accompany his return, and that maketh actually reviving to his People.

The Eighth, and last thing, that accompanieth his return, to the actual reviving of his People, is, His vindicating the righteousness and innocency of his People, from all these reproaches cast upon it. This you see experienced by Job, in the end of his trials, upon God's returning to revive him, chap. last. v 7. For ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my Servant Job hath. You have it promised by God to quiet his People under trials, Psal. 37.6. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the Noon-day. You see likewise, that this is that which his Remembrancers giveth him no rest about, till he do it; Isa. 62.1. For Zi…n's sake, I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a Lamp that burneth. And in fine, the People of God being revived, you will finde this is their triumphant Song, Jer. 51.10. The Lord hath brought forth our righteousness: Come and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God. And what can be more reviving to a Land than our Lord's bringing forth its righteousness, and his appearing to the joy of his castout friends, and to the shame of their brethren that hated them, and did cast them out, saying, Let the Lord be glorified, as you may see he promiseth to do, p. 246when he returneth to revive his Land, Isa. 66.5 Now, can it be so? and yet his Land not actually revived thereby. Thus much for the Eighth, and last Concomitant, of our Lord's returning, that maketh it actually reviving to his Land.

I come in the Third place, to shew you. That upon his returning, he doth actually reviv… his Land; and that in regard of the reviving consequences, that doth follow upon his returning to revive his People. I am necessitated to study brevity, having so much already swelled this discourse above what I intended: And therefore I shall only touch these 14. things that follow in, at our Lord's back, (so to speak) and that a…e reviving to his People, when he returneth to h…s Land.

The First thing that followeth on his returning, and that proveth reviving to his People, is, The removal of clouds of darkness, that either did hide him from them, or did hide their case from themselves. And truly, this is a reviving thing to the watcher, that watcheth for the morning, to see day break, and shadows flee away, what wonder then? the Church pray, Ʋntil day break, and shadows flee away, Turn O beloved! And, it is far less wonder, to see the People of God revived upon the Beloved's return, and the fleeing away of the shadows, Song 2. last. This is the first thing I name, that followeth on his return, viz. Long shadows of empty profession, and threatning Clouds of God's indignation, then, and at that time flee away.

Secondly, Upon his return to his People, then His Spirit returneth to them again; You know, upon his with-drawing, the Spirit with-draweth, as p. 247to its influences and operations, Lam. 1.16. But upon his return, O how chearful are his poor Saints, how inlarged, confirmed, and comforted in himself. This is one of the first things God promiseth, in order to the reviving of his People. Zach. 13.1. In that day will I open up a Fountain to the house of David, &c. Those Wells that were sealed before, are now opened, and Waters are found in the Wilderness, and Rivers in the Desert. Isa 41.…7.…8. This is a Second thing that followeth on his return, and which is reviving to his People.

Thirdly, This followeth on his return. He maketh known his mind to his People, he speaketh no more in Parables or in dark sayings, he keepeth no longer silent, but uttereth his voice, and the poor of the People, that puts their trust in him, knoweth it to be the word of the Lord, as you have it in the like case expressed, Zach. 11.11. And so, the poor of the Flock that waited upon me, knew that it was the Word of the Lord.

The Fourth thing that followeth upon his return to revive his Land, is, His causing of Wars and Contentions to cease: Psal. 46.9. He maketh Wars to cease unto the ends of the Earth. An… h s making his People serve Him with one co…sent; as, Zeph. 3.9. That they may all call on the Name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent Then his People see eye to eye, and such as erred in spirit come to understanding, and what-ever is destructive, is removed out of the Holy Mountain: Peace is within her Gates, and Prosperity within her Palaces; God having blessed his People with Peace, he putteth an end to all that strife, and debate, that hath been very hu…ful to his People.

p. 248The Fifth thing that followeth on his return, to revive his Land, is, His bringing back of his Captives, and banished to their own Land, Jer. 31.17. And there is hope in thy end, that thy Children shall come again to their own borders: He will say to the North, give up; and to the South, hold not back: He will search and seek Zion out, and she shall be called sought-out, a City no more forsaken; You shall not then question, thus, Why doth not the King bring bac… his banished? For then he will call and they shall come to his rising, and returning, to revive his Work and People.

The Sixth thing that followeth upon his return is, His building up of Zion: Then he restoreth the Tabernacle of David that is fallen, Amos 9.11. He buildeth up Jerusalem, when he hath appeared in his glory, Psal. 102. He restoreth the Paths, and repaireth the breaches, Isa 58.12. That so his People may have a peaceable Habitation, and a sure dwelling place.

The Seventh thing that followeth upon his return to revive the Land, is, His taking up his dwelling in the Land, Psal. 85.9. His Salvation is nigh to them that fear him, that Glory may dwell in our Land. Where you may see that his glory taketh up its dwelling in the Land, upon the back of his ret…rn…ng to, and reviving of the Land. And till then not only must Israel dwell in Tents, but Israel's God, and the Ark of his Covenant must and will dwell in a Tabernacle. Thou may'st be satisfied with what maketh for thy own ease, and for the advantage of thy private and particular design: But that which followeth on his returning, and his Land's reviving, is Glory: taking up its Habitation p. 249in the Land, v. 9. of this Psalm. This is the Seventh thing that followeth on our Lord's return to revive his Land.

The Eighth thing that followeth upon our Lord's return to revive the Land, is this, The Flocks then pass under the hands of him that telleth them, Jer. 33.13. In the Cities of the Mountains, in the Cities of the Vale, and in the Cities of the South, and in the Land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the Cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass under the hands of him that telleth them. They had been scattered in the Cloudy and dark Day, and had been plagued with the Instruments of foolish Shepheards, that famished what was fed; Did not bind up what was torn, nor yet did seek that which had gone astray: Now the Lord, upon his returning to revive his Land, delivers his Flocks from such, and causeth them to pass under his hands that telleth them, and that will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away; And, who will bind up that which was broken, and strengthen that which was sick? Ezek. 34.14, 15, 16. This shall be your reviving, who have been hated by your Brethren, that cast you out for his Name sake, (at least pretending so) and said, Let the Lord be glorified: but thus shall he appear for your joy, and they shall be ashamed, Isa. 66.5. This is the Eighth thing that followeth upon our Lord's return to revive his Land.

The Ninth thing that followeth upon our Lord's return to revive his Land, is this, His establishing of the Land in the blessed possession of what maketh for its peace and happiness, Psal. 90.13. They pray for his return; What followeth on this? see v 17. p. 250Establish the works of our hands upon us: Now, this settlement, it may relate, 1. To their Office, that he will then fix them in that Office that they had been cast out off by their Brethren that hated them. 2. It may relate to that Power, that by virtue of that Office they were invested with that that shall be established upon them. 3. It may relate to the exercise of that power, in the prosecution of the end of their office, which before they had no access unto, for they were cast out. 4. It may relate to what they had done already, by virtus of this their office, that now had fallen under … … tempt; their Fasts and Prayers were now fallen under reproach; iniquity was cast upon them: they were grown old, and ready to die, and did much stand in need of establishment. 5. It may relate to the necessary supplies of the Spirit, that were formerly with-held, whereby they were inabled, according to that power that was given to them, to declare unto Jacob his sin, and to Israel his transgression. 6. and lastly, It may relate to his countenancing them at their Work, and acceptance of them, and it, when they had done it; all which were made to sha…e in the day of indignation, wherein the Lord turned away from them. Now, O! how reviving, a follower of our Lord's return to his Land, would this be. Let this then be the Ninth thing that followeth in order upon our Lord's return.

The Tenth thing that followeth upon our Lord's return, is, The shaking of the Tents of Cushan, (so to speak:) Strangers they fade away, and are frighted out of their close places: Good Lord! what is it that frightneth them? Day breaketh, and p. 251they must to their Dens, Psal. 104. He cometh to his Land, as a Refiner, Mal. 3. and they cannot abide the day of his coming▪ for he will sit as a Refiner, and they are all dross, dreadful corrupters, that walketh with slanders He cometh and shooteth, and all Men that see fleeth away, Psal. 64.8. This is one thing that followeth on our Lord's return to revive his Land.

The Eleventh Thing that followeth on our Lord's return to revive his Land, is, His beautifying all his People and Ordinances, that were stain'd either by the weakness of friends, that gloried more in the holy Mountain, than in God, or by the madness of inraged Enemies, that were set on fire of Hell, against the same. Now these our Lord (upon his return) beautifieth, by clothing his Priests with Salvation, and by making his Saints shout for joy. This is that which is prayed for by the Church, Psal. 90, 17. And let the beauty of the Lord be upon us. And it is that which is spoken of by our God, as a fruit of the plentiful Rain that he promiseth, Psal. 68.9. compared with vers. 13. Yet you shall be as the Wings of a Dove covered with Silver.

The Twelfth thing that followeth on his return to revive his Land, is, The Conversion of Sinners unto the Lord, Act. 11.21. And the Hand of the Lord was with them, and many believed on Jesus, and turned to the Lord, Psal. 51. Sinners shall then be converted unto thee; they shall come and say, we will go with you, for we hear God is with you: And, as Conversion-work is now revived, so up-building, and confirming work, now goeth on; the plentiful Rain confirmeth p. 252the Inheritance that hath been long wearied.

The Thirteenth thing that followeth on his return, is this, He having shewed mercy on his Land, causeth the Enemy to the Land, to shew mercy on it als… that before had no favour for it, but cryed raze it, …ze it to the very Foundation. Jer. 42.12. And I will shew mercies to you, that he may have mercy upon you, and ye shall return to your own Land; there is no mercy can be shewed to his People by others, when he removeth his mercy from them; and none are able to deny them it, when he sheweth mercy upon them.

To add no more, In the last place. This usually followeth on our Lord's return to revive his Land, He causeth Men to have better thoughts of his People and place more confidence in them, Zach. 12.5. And the Governours of Judah shall say in their heart, The Inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength, in the Lord of Hosts their God. And truly, they are happy Governors, that are in such a case. I might farther speak to that communion and fellowship, that is now between him and the Land, and of that joy that followeth upon his return to revive, but I must close. Thus much then for this Fifth thing propounded to be spoken to, viz. That upon our Lord's returning, he doth actually revive his People, as I have made to appear, from the Consideration of the reviving Antecedents, Concomitants, and Consequents of his Glorious Majesties returning.

The Sixth thing that is to be spoken to according to my Method propounded unto you, is That there is nothing more refreshing and rejoycing to his Land, than his returning to, and reviving o… it.

p. 253The Seventh, and last thing, is this, That a Land thus quickned and made glad, upon our Lord's return, should rejoyce and be glad in their God and King. I would have shewed you the necessary Connection, between his reviving his People, and their rejoycing. 2. What it is to rejoyce in him. 3. How his Land may be said to rejoyce in him. 4. Why his Land, thus revived, must glory in him, the God of their Salvation? But, fearing, if I should enter on these things, that they would lead me unto deeper Waters, that I could not pass thorow, and so not only make this present stream, that goeth forth from the Sanctuary, a Rezin of contention, but also that, which for its bulk and quantity would go over all the banks and limits set unto it, and render your passage over it more difficult and dangerous. Therefore Reader, as I am willing (for thy sake) to stop, and hold in, (though with pain) so I expect thou wilt excuse this, seeing it is for thy sake. Therefore to conclude all with a few words unto his Land, from all that I have said about it.

The First thing I would do (if I had not already done too much) would be to charge the Land with its own deadness: O Israel, thou hast destroyed thy self! Where are these revivings you have had? May I not say to you, as David his Brother said to him, What hath become of these few Sheep that were in the Wilderness? What hast thou done with them? Consider this, lest he make us more desolate & as a Land not inhabited.

Secondly, I would say this to you, That all the Deaths that are on the Land, doth not destroy that Relation, that is between God and the Land: p. 254It's his Land, though it be in a dead and desperate condition for the present: We would hold this fast, and plead with God, to return to the Land, because it is his.

Thirdly, I would say this unto you, That of all things we should beg of God, a Spirit to pray for his return to the Land, to mourn for the Land's sins, and misery, and to plead for the removal of the Land's deadness, that we may be glad, and rejoyce in him.

Fourthly, I would say this unto you, That such as would have him returning to the Land to revive it, would much wrestle with their own hearts to perswade them to return to him, for he hath promised, if we will return to him, he will return to us, and pour out his Spirit upon us, make use of your present cross, and of your future hopes, to stir you up the more to turn unto him: O that God would turn this Generation to himself again, then should we finde him returned to revive us.

Fifthly, I would call you to consider. That how-ever our Lord sometimes is like a Hind, and like a Roe, making hast, yet ordinarily he carrieth on this Work by degrees; and he hath his Fore-runners, such, or the like of them, I have layed before you, and cometh richly accompanied with great things, that declare Him to be a great King, and followed with a great Train, that filleth the Temple with glory, and his Land with joy.

Sixthly, I wou… have you adverting to this, That there is a great difference between his reviving his People, in the midst of the years of their bondage, and his reviving, when He bringeth them out from the Pit, Pot, or miry Clay; It p. 255is neither Day nor Night under the one dispensation; It's a bright Day of loving kindness under the other.

Seventhly, Consider, that whatever be the Land's present deadness, yet the residue of the Spirit is with him, and thou may'st have it, if thou seek for it, as silver, and diggest for it, as for most preciou… Gold: Jam▪ 1. If any Man lack wisdome, let him ask it of God, who giveth liberally, and upbraideth none.

Eighthly, I pray you pray to God, that what is yet alive may not die: O how much, and how many are dead already! Do what you can to preserve these things alive, that do yet remain with us, and are ready to die.

Ninthly, I would call y…u to look out, and see how neer he is to his Land, to see his Land's affl ction, to hear his Land's groans and sighs, to protect and defend his Land, and to avenge his Land on all its Sinnes, that have brought it very low.

Tenthly, I would call you to consider, that he is the Land's friend, and hath mercy and salvation for it, and is willing to hear thee plead about the Land, to put him in remembrance of the Land, and to stand in the Gap, to turn away wrath, that he may not destroy the Land, He will work for the Land, and who shall let it.

Eleventhly, and Lastly, I would conclude all with this Consideration, that reviving of his Land is a great and difficult Work; It calleth for many hands imployed about it; Mine are not sufficient for it, that am as one born out of time yet is a friend to his Land, I have shewed my willingness p. 256to contribute to the reviving of his Land: Will you come into the Sanctuaries Waters, and study to be more concerned about his Land, and plead till he return and revive it; If you will ingage upon it: That Work (which I have ingaged on, in the cloudy and dark Day, and whereby I have been made more sensible of its death, and more hopeful, as to its resurrection and reviving) may prove more easie to you, more profitable to others, more acceptable to thy unworthy fore runner, and may happily be admitted to see what I only am helped to believe, and so thou may be in a better capacity to express the Land's joy, and sing over the Lord of the Land's praise, upon h…s returning and reviving of his People. Now to conclude all, I shall end my Work with lifting up weeping eyes, and a pressed down heart under the weight of his dead Work, unto our God in the Heavens, and pray …n the words of my Text, Wilt thou not return and revive us, that thy People may rejoyce in Thee: Thus a little altered as being compared with the 9th. vers. Surely thou art nigh to return and revive us, that we may rejoyce in Thee, and that thy Glory may dwell in our Land; Even so come Lord Jesus, come quickly, that thy dead may praise Thee; Even so turn, Beloved, that our shadows may flee away; Let all the People say, Amen, Hallelujah, and let Babilon's smoke flee …p to Heaven, Hallelujah.

FINIS.

End of the text · Nicholas Blakie, Trials and Triumphs that Accompany the Work of God (1671)