Seasonable Truths in Evil Times, Sermon 6
SERM. VI. Mens VVrath againſt God's People, ſhall turn to Gods Praiſe.
Pſal. 76. 10.
Surely the Wrath of man ſhall praiſe thee, the remainder of wrath ſhalt thou reſtrain.
IN this Pſalm we have a Declaration of the Majeſty and glorious appearance of God, in and for his Church and people. In Judah is God known, his Name is great in Iſrael, in Salem alſo is his Tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Sion, ver. 1, 2. Where God appears as a Captain and General unto his people, and as a Judg.
As a Captain and General; therefore in ver. 3. There (In Syon) brake he the Arrows of the Bow, the Shield, and the Sword, and the Battel. Thou art more glorious and excellent then the Mountains of prey. At thy rebuke O God of Jacob, both the Chariot and Horſe are caſt into a dead ſleep.
As a Judg, at ver. 8. Thou didſt cauſe Judgment to be heard from Heaven, the Earth feared and was ſtill: When God aroſe to Judgment, to ſave all the meek of the earth.
But if God do thus appear, to, and for, and with his people, why doth he ſuffer the wrath and anger of men to be ſo much againſt his people?
Why he anſwers it in ver. 10. Surely the wrath of man ſhall praiſe thee, the remainder of wrath thou ſhalt reſtrain. Though God do ſuffer the Enemies of his people to be very angry and wrathful with his people, yet that wrath of theirs ſhall turn unto the praiſe of God, and the remainder of their wrath God will reſtrain. From whence then I take up this Obſervation.
Obſerv. Though there be a great deal of anger or wrath in the hearts of men againſt the people of God: Yet God will either turn their wrath unto his own praiſe, or reſtrain their wrath.
For the clearing and proſecuting whereof, two things will fall under our conſideration.
Firſt, That there is a great deal of wrath and anger in the hearts of men againſt the people of God.
Secondly, That this wrath God will either turn to his praiſe, or reſtrain the ſame.
Firſt of all, There is a great deal of wrath and anger in the hearts of men againſt the people of God. A great deal of anger; ſo much anger as doth amount to wrath, for wrath is the height of anger: Now the men of the world, they are wrath with the people of God, not only angry, but wrathfully diſpleaſed, Pſal. 124. Had not the Lord bin on our ſide when men roſe up againſt us, then they had ſwallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled againſt us.
There is not only Wrath in their hearts againſt the people of God, but ſuch wrath as doth amount to Rage. For as wrath is the height of Anger, ſo Rage is the height of Wrath. Now there is Rage alſo in the hearts of men againſt the people of God. Why do the Heathen Rage? Pſal. 2. They Rage.
And there is not only Rage in the hearts of the wicked againſt the people of God; but ſuch Rage as doth amount to Fury. For as Rage is the height of Wrath, ſo Fury is the height of Rage. Now there is Fury in the hearts of men againſt the people of God. In Dan. 3. 13. Then Nebuchadnezzar in his Rage and Fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meſhach and Abednego, and they brought theſe men before the King, v. 19. Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of Fury.
Yea, there is not only a Fury in the hearts of men againſt the people of God, but there is a Hatred in their hearts againſt the Saints and people of God. For as Fury is the height of Rage, ſo Rage ſetled, is Hatred. Hatred is the worſt of all, 'tis ſetled anger, Wrath, and Rage, and Fury. Now wicked men they do hate the Saints. In Pſal. 24. 21. Evil ſhall ſlay the wicked, and they that hate the righteous ſhall be deſolate. Yea, ſaith David, Pſal. 25. Conſider mine Enemies, for they are many, and they hate me with cruel hatred, v. 19. So that thus then we ſee in the general, that there is a great deal of Anger and wrath in the hearts of men againſt the people of God.
Well, but for the opening of this a little further: 'Twill be ſaid, what kind of Anger and Hatred is there in the hearts of men againſt the people of God?
And how comes it to paſs that they ſhould ſo hate and be ſo wrathfully diſpleaſed with the Saints and people of God, that do them no hurt?
To give you ſome account of this: Firſt of all, If you ask what kind of Anger and Hatred, or Wrath there is in the hearts of men againſt the people of God.
I anſwer, 1. It is a violent wrath and anger: proud and violent men are riſen up againſt me.
2. As it is a proud and violent wrath or anger, ſo it is a fraudulent and deceitful wrath: Bloudy and deceitful men ſhall not live out half their dayes; ſpeaking of the Enemies of the People of God. Their wrath is not only violent, but there is a fraudulency that is joyned therewithal.
3. As it is a deceitful and a fraudulent wrath and anger: So it is a Mortal wrath and Anger that is in their hearts towards the people of God. A devouring, conſuming, and deſtroying wrath. They eat up my people as they eat bread, Pſal. 14. If the Lord had not bin with us, they had ſwallowed us up quick, Pſal. 124. And they ſhall kill you, ſaith our Saviour Chriſt. So that this wrath and anger that is in the hearts of wicked men, It is a mortal, deadly, deſtroying, conſumeing and devouring wrath.
4. As it is a mortal, deadly, deſtroying and conſuming wrath: So it is a Blaſpheming wrath. How long ſhall fooliſh men Blaſpheme thy Name? Rabſhekah was angry, and he did not only Blaſpheme the people of God, but God himſelf. Where is now your God?
5. As their wrath is a Blaſpheming wrath, ſo it is an unreaſonable wrath. Why do the Heathen rage? Why? Why they have no reaſon for it. Why do the Heathen rage, and the People imagine a vain thing? 'Tis a vain thing, they have no reaſon for it. The wrath that wicked men have againſt the people of God, and their Anger, it is moſt unreaſonable.
6. As it is an unreaſonable wrath and anger; ſo it is an inſulting wrath and anger, whereby they do inſult over the poor people of God, Pſal. 137. By the Rivers of Babylon we ſate down, yea, we wept when we remembred Sion. We hanged our Harps upon the Willows, For there they that carryed us away Captive, required of us a Song: And they that waſted us, required of us mirth, ſaying, Sing us one of the Songs of Sion; inſulting over them. And ſo in Rev. 11. They will make merry, and ſend gifts one to another, rejoycing over the dead Witneſſes. 'Tis an inſulting wrath and anger that they are filled withal.
7. And then further, As it is an Inſulting wrath and anger; ſo the wrath and anger that is in the hearts of wicked men towards the Saints, it is an univerſal wrath and anger. For though they be angry with one perſon, their anger doth not ſtay there, but it riſeth unto all the party of the Saints. Hamans wrath began with Mordecai, in Heſt. 3. 5. And when Haman ſaw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. What then: And he thought ſcorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone, For they had ſhewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman ſought to deſtroy all the Jews. So wicked men, they begin (it may be) to be angry with one Saint; but from that one, their wrath and anger doth ariſe to them all. 'Tis an univerſal wrath againſt all the Seed of the Godly: They take occaſion from one, and fall upon all.
8. And then laſtly, As it is an univerſal wrath and anger, ſo it is an implacable, an unappeaſeable, never-dying, and everlaſting wrath, Amos 1. 11. Thus ſaith the Lord, For three tranſgreſſions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the puniſhment thereof; becauſe he did purſue his Brother with the Sword, and did caſt off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and kept his wrath for ever. It is an everlaſting wrath, wicked men will not be appeaſed.
This is a certain Rule, The more there is of Religious end that any evil work hath, the more laſting, holding, and continuing is that evil work. Now in Joh. 16. 2. Our Saviour ſaith, They ſhall put you out of the Synagogue; yea, the time cometh, that whoſoever killeth you, will think that he doth God Service. The Syriack reads it ſo, That whoſoever killeth you, will think that he doth bring a Sacrifice unto God. In Exod. 8. 20. ſaith the Lord by Moſes, unto Pharaoh, Let my people go that they may ſerve me. Now this is the errand that Moſes hath: Pharaoh anſwers it thus, ver. 25. And Pharaoh called for Moſes, and for Aaron, and ſaid, go ye, Sacrifice to your God in the Land. Moſes ſaith in the Name of the Lord, Let my people go that they may ſerve me: Pharaoh underſtands it concerning Sacrifice, and therefore ſaith he, go and offer Sacrifice unto your God. And indeed the thing Sacrifice hath the ſame word. The word that is uſed here in this 16th of John, Whoſoever killeth you, will think that he doth foreign. Now in Epheſ. 5. the Sacrifice that Chriſt offered, hath the ſame word, Walk in love, as Chriſt hath alſo loved us, and hath given himſelf foreign, An Offering and a Sacrifice. So that as good Authors do obſerve, What Chriſt ſaith here, They ſhall think that they do God good Service: 'tis as much as if he ſhould ſay, They ſhall think when they kill you, they ſhall offer a great Sacrifice unto God. But this is the thing I bring it for, The more Religious end any evil action hath, the more holding and continuing is that evil action. Now wicked men for their malice, they ſhall have a Religious end; they ſhall think they do God good ſervice: their malice therefore, and their wrath againſt the people of God, is never dying, and an everlaſting wrath. Thus you ſee what kind of wrath it is.
It is a violent anger: It is a fraudulent anger: It is a Mortal anger: It is a blaſphemous anger: It is an unreaſonable anger: It is an inſulting anger: It is an univerſal anger againſt all the people of God, upon one mans occaſion: And it is an everlaſting and a never dying anger.
But then ſecondly, How comes it to paſs that there ſhould be ſuch a deal of anger and wrath in the hearts of men againſt the people of God; for the people of God are a quiet and a peaceable people.
'Tis true, ſo they are: But who more quiet, and peaceable, and meek, than our Lord and Saviour Chriſt; he lift not up his voice in the ſtreets, and yet who ever bare more anger and wrath from men than He.
Yea, the Saints are not only quiet, meek and peaceable, but beneficial to the men where they live. The innocent delivers the Land: Yet notwithſtanding, ſaith Solomon in Eccleſ. 9. I have ſeen a ſore evil under the Sun, there was a little City, and few men within it: And there came a great King againſt it, and beſieged it and built great Bulwarks againſt it: Now there was found in it a poor wiſe man, and he by his wiſdome delivered the City, yet no man remembred that ſame poor man. Then ſaid I, Wiſdom is better than ſtrength, nevertheleſs the poor mans Wiſdom is deſpiſed, and his words are not heard. So though the Saints and people of God do deliver a Nation, and are exceeding beneficial to the people where they live, and where they are, yet they ſhall be deſpiſed, yet there ſhall be wrath and malice in the hearts of men againſt the Saints of God.
But you will ſay, how doth this come to paſs, that there ſhould be ſuch a deal of wrath and malice in the hearts of men againſt the people of God?
Firſt of all, the Saints and people of God, and the men of the world, they are directly contrary one unto another: they are contrary in their Birth, and in their Original. For the men of the world, they are of their Father the Devil, who was a Murderer: But the Saints and people of God, God is their Father.
They are not only contrary in their original, but they are contrary in their principles. For the one are the Seed of the Woman, and the other the Seed of the Serpent, whoſe Principles are contrary. The Seed of the Bond-woman at the beſt, and the Seed of the Free-Woman.
Yea, they are not only contrary in their Principles, but they are contrary in their Worſhip: For the Worſhip of the World is a pompous and a carnal Worſhip, but the Worſhip of the Saints is Spiritual, Such worſhippers doth the Father ſeek, that Worſhip him in Spirit and truth.
And as their Worſhip is contrary one unto another, ſo their deeds and their practices are contrary. For why (ſaith the Apoſtle) did Cain kill his Brother Abel, but becauſe his deeds were evil, and his Brothers good? Now one contrary ſeeks to deſtroy another. Why theſe are contrary; They are contrary one to another, contrary in their Original; Contrary in their Principles; Contrary in their Worſhip; Contrary in their lives and Practices: And therefore no wonder that there is ſuch a deal of wrath and anger in the hearts of the men of the World againſt the Saints and people of God.
But ſecondly, The Saints and people of God, they do not regard the men of the World, and the men of the World they think ſo. Now for high and lofty men to be ſlighted, and not regarded, this makes them angry. In Dan. 3. when the three children would not bow down unto the Image, There are certain Jews (ſay they to the King) that thou haſt ſet over the Affairs of Babylon, Shadrach, Meſhach, and Abednego; Theſe men O King have not regarded thee. Why they think now, that if the people of God don't bow down to their Commandments, and to their Idols, that they don't regard the Magiſtrate, Theſe men have not regarded thee: And the truth is, Godly men that are the Saints and people of God, they cannot regard them, For bleſsed is the man (ſaith the Holy Ghoſt) that regardeth not the proud, nor ſuch as turn aſide to lyes. God hath given a bleſſing to thoſe that regard not the proud. Now wicked men cannot bear this, that they ſhould not be regarded; high and great men of the world, that they ſhould not be regarded: and therefore no wonder that there is ſuch a deal of wrath and anger in their hearts againſt the people of God.
3. The Saints and people of God, they do withdraw from the men of the world, and do ſeparate from them; Come out from among them, and be ye ſeparate, touch no unclean thing. Now when we withdraw from men, and from their Worſhip: We do condemn their Worſhip; and the men of the world don't love to be condemned. Noah condemned the world; And by the ſeparation of the Saints from them, they do condemn them, and they don't love (I ſay) to be condemned. To ſeparate from them, and from their Worſhip, this they cannot bear. The Saints do ſeparate from them, and therefore there is ſuch a deal of anger and wrath in their hearts againſt them.
4. As the Saints and people of God do ſeparate and withdraw from them, upon which they are much provoked: So the Saints and people of God do hinder them in their proceedings. A man doth not love to be hindered in his proceedings: the Saints and people of God, they do hold wicked mens hands that they cannot proceed, hold their hands by their Prayers. I remember a ſtory of Mr. Tyndal, that bleſſed firſt Tranſlater of the Bible into Engliſh, that dyed a Martyr in Flanders, being then at Antwerp, and much reſpected by the Merchants there. There was a great report of a certain juggler that could bring a diſh of meat from any Princes Table, and ſo ſet the Table that they were at with ſeveral Diſhes, from ſeveral Princes Tables: Pray, ſaith Tyndal to the Merchants, will you let me be at your Supper; Yes, and ſo they carried him: And when he was there, the Juggler tryed his skill, and ſweat, and took a great deal of pains; but ſaith he, I cannot do it, there is ſome man here that doth hold my hands. And Tyndal only ſet himſelf to this, to believe that he ſhould not do it. I ſpeak it only to this, that the people of God, they hold their hands. And in this 76. Pſalm, The men of might, they find …t their hands. There brake he the Arrows of the Bow, the Shield, and the Sword, and the Battel: The ſtout-hearted are ſpoiled, They have ſlept their ſleep, and none of the men of might have found their hands. Why? Why there brake he the Bow and the Arrow. There. Where? In Salem. In the Aſſembly of the Saints, by their Prayers. Now men cannot endure to be hindred in their proceedings. The Saints do it, and therefore there is ſuch a great deal of anger and wrath in the hearts of them againſt the people of God.
5. But then further, As the Saints and people of God do hinder them in their proceedings, which doth anger them; So they do deſtroy their Gods, deſtroy their Idols. Men of all things cannot endure to have their Gods deſtroyed; how angry were they when Paul came and Preacht down the Gods of Diana? then they were in a Rage, Oh great is Diana, Paul Preaches down our Gods, and deſtroyes our Gods. The people of God do deſtroy the Gods of the wicked, no wonder therefore that they are ſo provok't againſt the Saints and people of God.
6. As the people of God do deſtroy their Gods, and their Worſhip, ſo they do deſtroy their ſins and luſts. The Saints are enemies unto all their luſts. Wicked men cannot endure to be kept from their luſts: but if they be hindred from their luſts, kept in and reſtrained from their luſts, what ſay they then? In Pſal. 2. Let us break their bands aſunder, and caſt away their Cords from us. Theſe Puritans, they will not let us play upon the Sabbath day, they will not let us have leave to dance about a May-pole, they put Cords upon us, and bring us into bonds, and take away our liberty. Why do the Heathen rage, &c. The Kings of the Earth ſet themſelves, and the Rulers take counſel together againſt the Lord, and againſt his Anointed. Why, wherein is it expreſt? Why they ſay, Let us break their bands aſunder, and caſt away their cords from us. The people of God are great enemies to their wickedneſs, and therefore they are ſo angry; full and furious againſt the people of God.
7. As the people of God are enemies unto all their luſts, ſo the men of the World they are enemies unto the Saints, unto all their waies, and duties, and graces. The Saints are a praying people: The men of the World are Enemies to Prayer: Forms of Prayer they can endure, but the power of Prayer they cannot bear.
8. The Saints and people of God are righteous in their Generation: The men of the World cannot endure the truth of the Generation, the Grace of the Generation, the righteouſneſs of the Generation, they cannot endure it.
9. The Saints and people of God, they have, and they are ſtampt with the Image of God: the Image of Chriſt is ſtampt upon them; and the more that any man is ſtampt with the Image of God, the more the men of the world hate him. Why there are the footſteps of God in the Creatures; man at the Creation was made after the Image of God, now being raiſed again by Chriſt, the very image of God is ſtampt upon the Saints, and wicked men cannot endure to ſee the Image of God; the more they ſee the Image of God ſhining forth in any man, the more angry they are. But now the Saints, they have the Image of God ſtampt upon them, and therefore no wonder that they are thus angry. And thus you ſee what kind of wrath it is that is in the hearts of the men of the world againſt the people of God: and how it comes to paſs that there is ſuch a deal of wrath in the hearts of wicked men againſt the people of God.
But then ſecondly, Will God let wicked men alone in this their wrath and anger againſt the people of God.
No, but ſaith the ſecond part of the Doctrine, the Lord he will either turn their wrath and anger unto his own praiſe, or he will reſtrain it. You have both he…e in the Text; thou wilt turn their anger unto thy praiſe O Lord, and the remnant of their wrath, thou wilt reſtrain. Either God will turn their wrath unto his own praiſe, or he will reſtrain it. I uſe to expreſs it thus, by the Miller that lets the water run: So much water as will ſerve his turn to grind the Corn, he lets it run, the reſt he doth reſtrain, and don't let it run. So the Lord doth let the wrath of man run ſo much as may grind his corn, ſo much as may ſerve his turn, ſo much as may work to his praiſe: The remnant he doth reſtrain, either he will work the wrath and anger of men to his own praiſe, or he will reſtrain the ſame.
Sometim…s he will reſtrain it: In Iſa. 27. v. 8. ſpeaking of the afflictions of the people of God: In meaſure when it ſhooteth forth wilt thou debate with it; he ſtayeth his rough wind, in the day of the Eaſt-wind: Conſider that expreſſion, He ſtayeth his rough wind, in the day of the Eaſt-wind. The Eaſt-wind is an obnoxious wind, a hurtful wind, a piercing wind, and a waſting wind. Why now this Eaſt-wind may blow but mildly, and it may blow roughly: Why, ſaith the Lord, when wicked men that are rough, and when they are very rough, God will ſtay his rough wind in the day of his Eaſt-wind: Though it be a day of Gods Eaſt-wind, and wicked men are very rough, God will ſtay his rough wind: The wrath and anger of wicked men is his rough wind, but God will ſtay his rough wind in the day of his Eaſt-wind: Some times he will reſtrain it.
Some times again he will turn their wrath and anger unto his own praiſe; and for that, I'le only turn to the third of Dan. you ſee how angry the King was when the three children would not bow down unto his Image, v. 13. Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, &c. at the 19th ver. Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his viſage was changed againſt Shadrach, &c. and he commanded the moſt mighty men that were in his Army, to bind Shadrach, &c. and to caſt them into the burning fiery Furnace: what was the iſſue? God let this wrath go on; but in the end, ſee how it turned to Gods praiſe; when Nebuchadnezzar ſaw what he had done, Therefore, ſaith he, I make a Decree, that every People, Nation and Language, which ſpeak anything amiſs againſt the God of Shadrach, Meſhach, and Abednego, ſhall be cut in pieces, and their houſes ſhall be made a dunghill, but there is no other God that can deliver after this ſort. Thus the rage and wrath of the King turned to the praiſe of God.
But you will ſay then, how will the Lord turn the wrath of men unto his praiſe? 'tis a day of much wrath, and of great anger in the hearts of men: Wicked men are full of wrath and anger at this day againſt the people of God; 'tis good news, that God will either reſtrain it, or turn it to his praiſe: But how will God turn the rage and wrath of wicked men unto the praiſe of God? and what aſſurance may we have of this? and what is our duty that flows from hence?
Firſt of all, If you ask what way God will turn the wrath of men againſt his people to his own praiſe: I anſwer, many ways; I ſhall but name them.
Firſt, Thereby the holineſs of God ſhall be the more exalted by the wrath of men: God ſpake in his holineſs, I will divide Shechem, and meaſure out the valley of Succoth: The holineſs of God, wicked men they are but diſhclouts for to make clean the Veſſels of the Sanctuary; but their wrath, and by their anger and rage, they ſhall make clean the Saints: Theſe diſhclouts ſhall make clean the Saints: Thus Gods holineſs ſhall be thereby exalted, ſo many Enemies, ſo many Schoolmaſters.
2. Thereby alſo the power of the Lord ſhall be declar'd and manifeſted, by the wrath and anger of wicked men againſt the people of God: Is it not a great deal of Gods power to preſerve the poor Saints in the midſt of all their rage; when wicked men have power, yet that the poor Saints ſhould be preſerved, hereby the power of the Lord is the more declared.
3. By the wrath and anger of wicked men, thereby the anger and Juſtice of God is juſtified: Who will not juſtifie the anger of God againſt wicked men? when wicked men are ſo angry with his children; O this juſtifies the anger of God againſt them: why, you are angry with my children, and juſt therefore it is that I ſhould be angry with you.
4. Thereby the patience of the Lord is magnified. If one ſhould ſtand by, and ſee a man ſmite his child; be very angry and wrathful, and ſmite his child, and not meddle, would not you ſay, This man were very patient. So, that God ſhould ſee ſo much anger againſt his own Children: O the patience of God is magnified, that can bear with wicked men in this manner!
5. Hereby alſo the Mercy, Grace, and goodneſs of the Lord is exalted. The free Grace and Mercy of God doth diſcover it ſelf, and is exalted both towards wicked men, and towards the Saints.
The free Grace of God towards wicked men. God doth ſometimes convert wicked men in the midſt of their rage, wrath and malice againſt the Saints, witneſs Paul.
Somtimes men are convinc'd by their very injurious dealings with the people of God. I remember in the Book of Martyrs, there's a ſtory of James Abbes, that was cruelly handled by his enemies: and when he was dead, the enemy was troubled in Conſcience, and cryed out, I am damn'd, I am damn'd; James Abbes is ſav'd, and I am damn'd; James Abbes is ſav'd and I am damn'd. Men ſomtimes ſnore ſo loud in their ſleep, that they wake themſelves; ſometimes men are converted, Jaylors converted, and Jaylors Relations converted by their unreaſonable dealings with the Saints and people of God.
And hereby the grace and mercy of God is magnified towards his children: O that they ſhould be preſerved in the midſt of all the Rage and Malice of wicked and unreaſonable men; here's the grace and mercy of God towards them. Thus the goodneſs, mercy and grace of God is exalted, both towards wicked men, and towards good men.
Again, From the wrath and anger of wicked men againſt the people of God, thereby the providence of God is very much magnified. Haman was very angry with Mordecai, and then Mordecai ſhould have bin cut off; And that night the King could not ſleep. Heres one providence.
Well then, when he could not ſleep, he calls for the Records, (here's another Providence) and there he hits upon the place where there was mention made of the good deeds of Mordecai; and ſo Mordecai was ſpared. But thus the wrath and anger of men doth draw out the providence of God, and it is magnified thereby.
Thereby alſo the Faithfulneſs of God is declared, and magnified, and manifeſted. The Faithfulneſs of God: for God hath threatned to deſtroy the enemies of his people, and hath promiſed to preſerve his people. When the enemies rage and are deſtroyed, God is faithful in fulfilling his threatnings: When the people of God are preſerved, God is faithful in his promiſe. Thus by letting out the rage and anger of wicked men againſt the People of God, the faithfulneſs of God is magnified. And now is the threatning fulfilled, God is faithful. Now is the promiſe fulfilled, God is faithful. And thus you ſee how the Lord doth turn the rage, and anger, and wrath of wicked men, and the men of the World unto his own praiſe.
But then ſecondly, What aſſurance have we of this? 'Tis a very comfortable thing, in the day of mens wrath and anger, that all this anger and wrath ſhould turn to Gods praiſe, or be reſtrained. But what aſſurance have we of this, that it ſhall be ſo?
Aſſurance you have in the Text. Surely the wrath of man ſhall turn to his praiſe. That ſame word Surely. I but what aſſurance have we of it?
'Tis very certain that God will be fearful in praiſes. 'Tis certain, and very certain, that God will be above wicked men in the thing wherein they behave themſelves proudly. But beſides this,
Firſt of all, You have the aſſurance of Chriſts Death and Merit. If you look upon the death of Chriſt, and the iſſues thereof, you may ſee it, and be aſſur'd of it. Was there ever more anger and malice let out upon any man, than upon Chriſt in his death? They were angry to the utmoſt: And did ever anger or malice turn more to the praiſe of God? What one thing was there that ever turned more to the praiſe of God than the death of Chriſt, and the anger and malice of thoſe that brought him to death? Why now Chriſt by his ſufferings hath merited this, That if we be conformable unto him in ſufferings; As his ſufferings, and as the wrath that brought him to ſuffer did turn to the praiſe of God; So that wrath that brings us to ſufferings, ſhall turn to the praiſe of God. This is a great matter, and here is much in it, and we may be aſſur'd on't, when we ſee and feel the wrath and anger of men, if we be conformable in our ſufferings unto Chriſts ſufferings: Then as the wrath of men in bringing Chriſt to ſuffer, did turn to the praiſe of God; ſo the wrath of men, in bringing the Saints now to ſuffering, ſhall turn to the praiſe of God, you have the aſſurance of the death of Chriſt for it.
2. As you have the aſſurance of Chriſts death and merit for it, ſo you have the aſſurance of the Fathers deſign. God would not ſuffer men to be ſo wrathful and malicious againſt his people, if he did not intend to turn it unto his praiſe; God hath a deſign upon all their anger: God hath bid them to be angry (if I may ſo ſpeak) and why? if he had not a deſign to turn it to his praiſe? The Lord bid Shimei curſe David: Who was it that bid Shimei curſe David? God: And who was it that ſent Joſeph into Egypt? God ſent him: The wrath, and anger and envy of his Brethren indeed were inſtruments, but God ſent him. God had a deſign upon their anger, and upon their envy and wrath, in Rev. 16. you find that three unclean Spirits that came out of the mouth of the falſe Prophet, and Dragon, and the Beaſt, they ſtir up the Kings of the Earth to battel; and they are the Spirits of Devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the Kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battel of that great day of God Almighty. They go forth to ſtir up men to battel, but in verſe 16. 'tis God that gathers them: Behold I come as a Thief, bleſſed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, &c. and he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon: God had a hand upon their hand; God gathered them, in Mich. 4. 11. Now alſo many Nations are gathered againſt thee, that ſay: Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion. Let her be defiled, her's anger enough, but ſaith he, verſe 12. They know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither underſtand they his counſel; For he ſhall gather them as the ſheaves into the floor. He ſhall gather them, in the 11th. verſe, 'tis ſaid: Now alſo many Nations are gathered againſt thee, that ſay, let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion; But they know not the thoughts of the Lord: They are gathering together againſt the people of God; and God is gathering to threſh them: They gather together, God hath a deſign upon their gathering; God gathers them: So in Ezek. 38. you have there the ſtory of Gog and Magog, that came up againſt the people of the Lord in a great multitude; and they came up to ſpoil: Therefore verſe 14. Son of man propheſie, and ſay unto Gog, Thus ſaith the Lord God, in that day, when my people Iſrael dwelleth ſafely, ſhalt thou not know it? and thou ſhalt come from thy place, out of the North parts, Thou and many people with thee, all of them riding upon Horſes, a great company, and a mighty Army, and thou ſhalt come againſt my people Iſrael as a cloud, to cover the Land, it ſhall be in the latter daies: And I will bring thee againſt my Land; Why? That the Heathen may know me, when I ſhall be ſanctified in thee O Gog before their eyes, verſe 11. Thou ſhalt ſay, I will go up to the Land of unwalled Villages, I will go to them that are at reſt, that dwell ſafely, &c. to take a ſpoil, and to take a prey; But ſee, the Lord hath another deſign, Thou ſhalt come up againſt my people Iſrael, as a cloud to cover the Land, it ſhall be in the latter daies, and I will bring thee againſt my Land: Why? That the Heathen may know me, when I ſhall be ſanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes: And in verſe 23. Thus will I magnifie my ſelf, and ſanctifie my ſelf, and I will be known in the eyes of many Nations, and they ſhall know that I am the Lord. Here's Gods deſign, God doth let out the wrath and anger of wicked men againſt his people, and he hath this deſign, that his Name may be ſanctified: So that you have this aſſurance alſo, the great deſign of God.
3. You have the aſſurance of Gods Zeal: The zeal of the Lord of Hoſts ſhall do this: The God whom we ſerve is a zealous God. Zeal is angered Love. Now there are three things that God doth love eſpecially. He loves his Truth; he loves his Worſhip; and he loves his People. When wicked men do prevail againſt the People of God, They ſcorn the Truth, they defile his Worſhip, they perſecute his People: I ſay, theſe three things God loves in the World. But now God will not ſuffer theſe things that he loves thus, to be alwaies trampled on: for he is a zealous God, and therefore you may build upon it, you may be aſſured of it: That either he will reſtrain the rage of men, or he will turn their Wrath and Anger unto his own Praiſe.
But then, Thirdly, Suppoſe all this: What is our Duty that doth flow from hence?
Firſt of all, if that there be ſuch a deal of anger and wrath in the hearts of men againſt the Saints and people of God; wonder not at it, be not offended when you ſee it: it was alwaies ſo from the begining: God hath put enmity, and the enmity that God hath put between the ſeeds, ſhall ſtand; Cain began betime, and as Luther ſaith Cain will be killing his Brother Abel to the worlds end: It hath alwaies been ſo, and do you think there ſhall be leſs anger in the hearts of the men of the world againſt the people of God now in the latter daies: No, rather more; in Rev. 12. 'tis ſaid, The D… vil is come down, having great wrath, becauſe he knoweth that he hath but a ſhort time. The ſhorter the Devils time is, the more his wrath will be in his Inſtruments: Why now we are fallen in the latter times, and therefore his anger muſt be greate… now. Anſtin thinks that the anger, and wrath, and perſecution of the wicked, will be greateſt at the laſt: ſaith he, The perſecution of the Primitive times was very ſharp: But afterwards there followed the perſecution of the Arrians, and that was ſharp: But the laſt perſecution, is the Perſecution of Antichriſt, and that ſhall be the ſharpeſt: And we find in the 11th of the Revelations, ſpeaking of the latter daies, That the Nations are angry, verſe 18. And the Nations were angry, and thy wrath is come. That's well, Gods wrath goes with their anger: But the Nations were angry, ſpeaking of the latter daies. There are three or four things that will raiſe the anger and wrath of Antichriſt in the latter daies.
There is the Propheſying of the Witneſſes: The Witneſſes Propheſie, and when they have finiſhed their Propheſie, the Beaſt ſhall kill them; and being ſlain, they ſhall make merry over the Witneſſes that Propheſied, verſe 10. and rejoyce over them, and ſhall ſend gifts one to another: Why, becauſe theſe two Prophets tormented them that dwell on the earth; the Proteſtants and reformed Churches do torment by t…e…r propheſie. So that there is one thing that doth image them.
Another thing that doth raiſe the anger of the Antichriſtian party … the world in the latter daies, is the ſeparation: For there ſhall be the greateſt ſeparation that ever was, Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her ſins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. There ſhall be the grea…eſt ſeparation, and that provokes them.
3. Another thing that ſhall provoke the Antichriſtian party in the latter daies is this: That they ſhall power forth the vials: The Angels that come out of the Temple, they ſhall have an hand in pouring out the vials: And what then? Why then, the men of the world, they ſhall be tormented, and gnaſh their teeth, and bite their tongues for pain. The pouring out of the vials is another thing were-in they ſhall be inſtrumental for the angering of the Beſtial party. But then the
Fourth thing is, The ſetting up the Kingdom of Chriſt: So you have it in Revel. 11. The ſeventh Angel ſounded, and there were great voices in Heaven, ſaying: The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Chriſt, and he ſhall reign for ever and ever, &c. What then? And the Nations were angry. When Chriſts Kingdom comes to be ſet up, then the Nations are angry: 'Tis the ſetting up the Kingdom of Chriſt that angers the Nations: and therefore in the ſecond Pſalm, W…y do the Heathen rage, and the Kings and Princes take counſel together? It follows, I will ſet my King upon his holy Hill, I will ſet up my Kingdom, and the Kingdom of Chriſt ſhall be ſetup, for all they are ſo angry at it; I will do it: But this is another thing that ſhall raiſe the anger of the men of the world in the latter daies. I but is this ſo, that there is ſuch a deal of anger and wrath in the hearts of the wicked againſt the people of God? Be not offended at it, it alwaies was ſo, and it muſt be ſo in the latter daies.
But Secondly, If there be ſo much wrath and anger in the hearts of wicked men againſt the Saints, Why ſhould we not all make ſure of the love of Chriſt? O the Love of God in Chriſt will weigh down mens anger! What need I care though men be angry, if God love me; though men frown, ſo God ſmile: If God be angry, and wicked men angry too, how ſhall we bear that? how ſhall we ſtand under that? Wicked men are angry, and full of anger, and 'tis a perſecuting time, and wicked men are very angry againſt the Saints, if God be angry too, how ſhall we bear it? Therefore labour to make ſure of the Love of God in Jeſus Chriſt.
Thirdly, If that the wrath and anger of wicked men ſhall turn to the praiſe of God, Why ſhould we fear when wicked men are angry? why ſhould we be afraid? When men are angry, we are apt to fear, but in Iſa. 51. Who art thou that art afraid of a man that ſhall dye, and of the Son of man that ſhall be made as graſs: and forgetteſt the Lord thy Maker, that hath ſtretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth? &c. Who art thou that art afraid of a man that ſhall dye? Is that all the Argument? There's another Argument before, verſe 7. Hearken unto me ye that know Righteouſneſs, the people in whoſe heart is my Law, fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings: why? for the Moth ſhall eat them up like a garment: They ſhall eat out themſelves, as the Moth eats out her ſelf: For the Moth ſhall eat them up like a Garment, and the Worm ſhall eat them like Wool; But my Righteouſneſſe, the Goſpel of my Righteouſneſs, and the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, that's my Righteouſneſs, ſhall be for ever, and my ſalvation, from Generation to Generation. Fear not, why God will turn all their wrath and anger unto his praiſe. And therefore why ſhould we fear.
But fourthly, If God will turn the wrath and anger of wicked men unto his own praiſe, why ſhould we not be contented, ſatisfied, and comforted under all the rage and malice of unreaſonable men in ſuch a day as this?
Will you ſay, O but they are not only angry, but they are furious. Why their fury ſhall turn to the Lords praiſe.
You will ſay, O but they are not only furious, but they hate, and they are enraged, and their rage aſcends up to Heaven. All this ſhall turn to Gods praiſe.
Their great deſign is to damp the Spirits of the People of God. But they waxed bold by my bonds, ſaith Paul, ſpeaking of the Saints.
Their great deſign is to ſcatter the people of God: But by the ſcattering of Gods People ſhall his truth be ſcattered. They ſcatter Gods people, and Gods people ſcatter Gods truth; it ſhall turn to his praiſe.
Their great deſign is to deſtroy the Goſpel, to ſuppreſs the Goſpel: But ſaith Paul, my bonds turned to the furtherance of the Goſpel. Thus God will work it to his praiſe. And therefore when you ſee the wrath, anger, and malice of wicked men, breaking out to ſuch Perſecution; be quiet, be contented, be ſatisfied, be comforted; all this ſhall God turn to his praiſe, or he will reſtrain it.
But then fifthly, If theſe things be ſo, why ſhould we not now ſtand ſtill and behold the Salvation of God? See what God will do, expect the fulfilling of all this, 'tis a day of anger, 'tis a day of great wrath, there is abundance of anger and wrath, and hatred and malice in the hearts of men againſt the people of God at this day, who doth not ſee it? Well then Friends, ſtand ſtill; you know how angry Pharaoh was when he followed after the Iſraelites; and ſaith Moſes, ſtand ſtill and ſee the Salvation of God. So ſay I, you ſhall ſee all this turn to Gods praiſe: You ſhall ſee the reſtraining of prayer, turn to the inlarging of Prayer: You ſhall ſee the ſeeking to ſuppreſs the Goſpel, turn to the furtherance of the Goſpel.
Now in ſuch a day as this, be righteous in your places, For ſaith the Lord, ſay to the Righteous, It ſhall go well with him. Say! Who ſhould ſay it? Why, Miniſters ſay it, Chriſtians ſay it one to another. Let every man ſay to himſelf. Say to the Righteous, It ſhall go well with him; therefore be righteous in ſuch a day as this.
And then ſecondly, Fear before the Lord: In ſuch a day of Anger be ſure that you fear, and fear before the Lord. Look what is ſaid in Eccleſ. 8. Though a ſinner do evil an hundred times, and his daies be prolonged, yet ſurely I know that it ſhall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him. That fear before him: Whats that? That is, a man that fears the Lord, walking up and down in the preſence of God.
But what Caſe doth he ſpeak to?
Look into the 9th verſe, There is a time (ſaith he) wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt: and (ſaith he) becauſe they rule thus, and ſentence againſt wicked men is not executed ſpeedily, but they go on and proſper in their rule and Government; therefore the heart of the Sons of men is fully ſet in them to do evil: But ſaith he, Though a ſinner do evil an hundred times, and his dayes be prolonged, yet ſurely I know that it ſhall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him. Be ſure therefore that you fear the Lord, and that you fear before him; and the more you fear God, and fear before him, the leſs will you fear men.
But then thirdly (and ſo I end). Now in ſuch a time, give your ſelf much to prayer. In Pſal. 109. 4. For my Love they are mine Adverſaries, but I give my ſelf unto Prayer. So you read it, But I Prayer. I give my ſelf unto, is not in the Hebrew, but, I Prayer; the ſence is good enough. For my love they are my Adverſaries, but I give my ſelf to Prayer. Now in ſuch a time as this, when they are angry, and their rage aſcends up to Heaven; now do I go to prayer, now do I give my ſelf to prayer. Now then, if it be an angry day with the enemies, now go to Prayer. And in all your Prayers in reference to mens anger and malice, when you go and ſpread their anger and malice before the great God, aim more at your duty, than at your ſafety. Look into that fourth of the Acts, there you find that they were angry; Why do the Heathen Rage, v. 25. (They bring the ſecond Pſalm to their purpoſe) And the people imagine a vain thing, The Kings of the Earth ſtood up; being at Prayer, at v. 29. And now Lord behold their threatnings. They ſpread their threatnings before the Lord: And now Lord behold their threatnings, and grant unto thy ſervants. What, gran… ſafety? No, Grant unto thy ſervants, that with all boldneſs they may ſpeak thy Word: Its matter of Duty that they pray for. What then? And when they had prayed, the place was ſhaken where they were Aſſembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghoſt, and they ſpake the Word of God with boldneſs. Here was Prayer anſwered preſently; they Prayed, and in their prayer, their mind was more upon their duty than upon their ſafety. They go to God, and ſpread the threatnings of the enemies before the Lord. And now Lord behold their threatnings. And what then? Now grant that with all boldneſs: Lets beg Grace to do our Duty. They begged not for ſafety, but their great requeſt was, That they might have grace to do their duty. So I ſay, when men are angry: Now let us go to God in Prayer, and in all our Prayers, ſpreading their anger and threatnings before the Lord. Yet let our mind be more upon our duty, than upon our ſafety.