Seasonable Truths in Evil Times, Sermon 7
SERM. VII. Comfort to Mourners for the loſſe of Solemn Aſſemblies.
Zeph. 3. 18.
I will gather them that are ſorrowful for the Solemn Aſſembly, who are of thee, to whom the Reproach of it was a burthen.
THIS Prophet Zephany who lived, not long before the captivity of Babilon: having Threatned the People of God (the Jews) with that calamity, and exhorted them to repent, to return unto God, that they might prevent that eminent evil; doth at the laſt conclude all, with a comfortable and gracious promiſe unto the people of God.
Firſt, he threatens, and then promiſeth: Gods threatnings uſually do end in promiſes; ſharpeſt threatnings, in the ſweeteſt promiſes.
This Promiſe here is ſweet, and full, and large; wherein you have the mercies promiſed, and the ſeveral branches thereof.
The cauſe, fountain, and original of theſe mecies promiſed.
The perſons upon whom theſe promiſed Merces are intailed.
The Mercies promiſed are very many:
Firſt, the Lord promiſeth to return unto his people, verſe 9. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may call upon the Name of the Lord, to ſerve him with one conſent.
Then he promiſeth to free them from their Judgments: To bring them out of their captivity, v. 10. from beyond the Rivers of Ethiopia, my ſuppliants, even the daughter of my diſperſed ſhall bring mine offering: And at the 15th. verſe, The Lord hath taken away thy judgements, he hath caſt out thine enemy.
He promiſes Pardon, Sanctification, verſe 11, 12, 13.
He promiſeth to gather the poor exiles; I will gather them that are ſorrowful.
He promiſeth to deſtroy all their enemies, verſe 19. Behold! at that time I will undo al that afflict thee: Thus you have the Mercies promiſed.
The Cauſe, and Fountain, and Original of all theſe Mercies: The mighty Preſence of the Lord, and his Love unto his People, verſe 15. The King of Iſrael, even the Lord, is in the midſt of thee, Thou ſhalt not ſee evil any more, verſe 17. The Lord thy God in the midſt of thee, is mighty, he will ſave, he will rejoyce over thee with joy, he will reſt in his Love, he will joy over thee with ſinging.
As for the perſons that theſe promiſed Mercies are intailed upon, they are poor afflicted people that truſt in the Name of the Lord: The people of a pure language, verſe 9. and v. 12. and here in this verſe ſuch as are ſorrowful for the Solemn Aſſembly, unto whom the reproach of it was a burthen. I will gather them that are ſorrowful for the Solemn Aſſembly, who are of thee; To whom the reproach of it was a burthen.
From whence then I take up this Obſervation.
Obſ. Though God doth ſometimes ſuffer the Solemn Aſſembly to lye under reproach, yet if his people are fully ſenſible of that reproach, God will turn their former miſeries into after mercies; And he will cauſe their future comforts to run parallel unto their former troubles. For the clearing whereof three things fall under conſideration.
Firſt, That God doth ſometimes ſuffer the Solemn Aſſembly to lye under reproach.
Secondly, That then thoſe that are true members of the Solemn Aſſembly, thoſe be very ſenſible of it, carry it as their burthen.
3. That being ſo, God will turn their former miſeries into after mercies, &c.
Firſt, God doth ſometimes ſuffer the Solemn Aſſembly to lye under reproach: For the clearing whereof.
Firſt, We muſt enquire, when the Solemn Aſſembly may be ſaid to lie under reproach? And
Secondly, Why God doth ſuffer the Solemn Aſſembly to lye under reproach at any time?
Queſt. Firſt of all, If you ask, when the Solemn Aſſembly may be ſaid to lye under reproach?
Anſw. I anſwer: Look when the Preſence of God is departed from the publick Ordinances, or Solemn Aſſembly, then the Solemn Aſſembly doth lye under reproach. The Preſence of God in the publick Ordinances or Solemn Aſſembly, is the glory of the Aſſembly, and when that glory is departed, the Solemn Aſſembly lies under reproach: though the Word of God be preached in an Aſſembly, if the Converting, Sanctifying Comforting Preſence of God be gone out of the Ordinance, and be not there, it lies under reproach: And though there be Government in a Church, yet if Gods Preſence be not in that Government, it lies under reproach, and the Church lies under reproach: That's the firſt: Look when the Preſence of God is departed from the Solemn Aſſembly, then it lies under Reproach.
2 Look when a Reformation hath been intended, and cannot be accompliſh'd, but is ſtaid and hindred, then the Solemn Aſſembly lies under Reproach. Diſappointment is Reproach, The Children are come to the birth, Iſa. 37. and there is no ſtrength to bring forth. What then? 'tis a day of Rebuke, and Blaſphemy, and Reproach. Look therefore when a Church or People have been travelling with a Reformation, and that Reformation proves abortive, ſtopt and hindred, then that Church and People, or Solemn Aſſembly lye under Reproach. But
3. And eſpecially: Look when the waies of Zion mourn, and are unfrequented, then doth the Solemn Aſſembly lye under Reproach, when the waies of Sion mourn and are not frequented: It was the caſe that this Prophet ſpeaks of: he ſpeaks of the Captivity of Babilon, the time of the Captivity, what then? why ſaith the Church in the Lamentations, the waies of Zion mourn, and are not frequented: When the waies of Zion mourn and are not frequented, the people of God are kept from coming together according unto Gods appointment; Then the Solemn Aſſembly lies under reproach: You read in the 5th. of Joſhua, that when they were come into Canaan, the firſt ſtep Joſhua circumciſed the people, verſe 9. The Lord ſaid unto Joſhua, this day have I rolled away the Reproach of Egypt from off you; wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day: The Reproach of Egypt; What were they not circumciſed in Egypt? Yes, the Children of Iſrael were circumciſed in Egypt, verſe 5. Now all the people that came out were circumciſed, But all the people that were born in the Wilderneſſe by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, Them they had not circumciſed. They were circumciſed in Egypt: Why then is this circumciſion called the reproach of Egypt? Though they were circumciſed in Egypt, it was at the pleaſure of the enemy, they were under bondage, they were not free to the worſhip of God; But now when they came here into Canaan, the firſt ſtep into Canaan, and were circumciſed; now they were a free people, and had liberty not only for circumciſion, but for all the Ordinances, as they had not in the Land of Egypt; they could not ſacrifice there, but now they had liberty for all; and now the reproach of Egypt was rolled away. So that look when the waies of Zion mourn, and …re not frequented, and the People of God are kept from the publick Ordinances according to Gods appointment, then the Solemn Aſſembly lies under Reproach.
4. Again, look when the Saints and people of God, the members of the Solemn Aſſembly; Look when they are ſcattered & driven one from another that they cannot meet together, then the Solemn Aſſembly lyes under reproach: Therefore ſaith the Prophet here; I will gather them that are ſorrowful for the Solemn Aſſembly; I will gather them to whom the Reproach of it was a burthen; as if the Reproach lay in the ſcattering; and at the 20th. verſe I will bring you again even in the time that I gather you, and will make you a Name and a Praiſe, in all the places where ye have been put to ſhame: So that the ſcattering of the members of the Solemn Aſſembly is a Reproach; and then the Solemn Aſſembly lies under Reproach.
5. And laſtly, Look when the ſtate and condition of the Solemn Aſſembly is ſuch, as that no man cares for it, nor ſeeks for it, then it lies under Reproach: Such a ſtate ſometimes the Solemn Aſſembly falls into: This is Zion whom no man ſeeketh after; This is Zion whom no man careth for: The Magiſtrate doth not care for it to countenance it: It hath no friends for to help it: if you ſee a poor man in the ſtreets, neglected, none cares for him, none countenances him, none looks after him to care for him, and to help him: You ſay he lies under Reproach. So when the Solemn Aſſembly is in ſuch a caſe and condition, that none cares for it, nor ſeeks for the welfare of it: Thoſe that are in place, eſpecially, then the Solemn Aſſembly lies under Reproach.
2. But then Secondly, Why doth God ſuffer the Solemn Aſſembly to lye under Reproach at any time?
1. He will ſometimes ſuffer the Solemn Aſſembly to lie under Reproach, that he may roll away the Reproach from off the Aſſembly. There is a twofold Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly. There is a ſinful Reproach, and there is a penal Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly.
Sometimes the Members of the Solemn Aſſembly are acceſſary to the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly: As ſometimes they walk and live ſo, as that they are a ſcandal to the very Ordinances: So it is ſaid of the Sons of Ely, ſining at the door of the Tabernacle, they made the Sacrifice of God to ſtink. Poſſibly Profeſſors may ſo walk as to make the Sacrifice of God to ſtink, and are ſo acceſſary unto the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly.
Sometimes again they are exceeding barren, and unfruitful under the injoyment of the Solemn Aſſembly. The Hebrews call the Winter foreign which ſignifies Reproach, for (ſay they) the Winter is the Reproach of the Earth, becauſe there is no fruit, nothing but barrenneſs, and unfruitfulneſs: and therefore they call the Winter by ſuch a name as ſignifies Reproach. What a Reproach was it to Hanna to be barren: barren women accounted it a Reproach, ſo Reproachful is a barren life among Profeſſors.
Sometimes again, The Members of the Solemn Aſſembly, they do bear themſelves out in their ſins upon their enjoyment of the Solemn Aſſembly; crying out the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, and are we not delivered to do all theſe abominations. There is a two-fold bearing of our ſelves upon the Solemn Aſſembly. There is a bearing of our ſelves upon the Solemn Aſſembly, and upon the publick Ordinances in oppoſition unto falſe worſhipers; So in 2 Chron. 13. Abijah bears himſelf upon the Solemn Aſſembly, in oppoſition unto Jeroboams falſe worſhip: But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forſaken him, and the Prieſts which miniſter unto the Lord, are the Sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their buſineſs: And they burn unto the Lord every morning, and every evening, burnt Sacrifices and ſweet Incenſe; The Shewbread alſo ſet they in order upon the pure Table, and the Candleſtick of Gold with the Lamps thereof, to burn every evening; for we kept the charge of the Lord our God, but ye have forſaken him. Thus they did bear themſelves, and this was not their Reproach, but their Faith, in verſe 18. Thus the Children of Iſrael were brought under at that time, and the Children of Judah prevailed, becauſe they relyed upon the Lord God of their Fathers. They did bear themſelves upon the Solemn Aſſembly, and their pure injoyments therein, in opopſit on to falſe worſhip; this was no Reproach. But then there is a bearing of our ſelves upon the Solemn Aſſembly, ſo as to bear us out in our ſin, to cry, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord; Sin and live wickedly, and bear our ſelves out upon a Solemn Aſſembly, that we are Members of a Church &c. This is a Reproach: This bearing ones ſelf, upon the Solemn Aſſembly is a Reproach: And ſaith Chryſ…ſt…m, who would not be moved to hear the Blaſphemings and Revilings of the Jews againſt Chriſt? But O Chriſtian (ſaith he) take heed thou beeſt not guilty of the ſame fault; for he that defiles the Kings Garment, and he that tears the Kings Garment offends alike. The Jews tear it, ſcandalous Chriſtians they defile the Garment of Chriſt, the Sins are divers, but the Reproach the ſame (ſaith he.) Now then, you ſee that ſometimes the Members of the Solemn Aſſembly do bring a Reproach; They are acceſſary: God knows how to roll away a Reproach by a Reproach: and God will ſometimes roll away ſinful Reproach by a penal Reproach: And therefore he doth ſuffer the Solemn Aſſembly ſometimes to lie under a Reproach.
2. What if God have ſome great deſign and work to bring to paſs, which in an ordinary way he cannot bring to paſs, but through the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly? Suppoſe that the Lord be intended for to ſcatter and diſperſe the Truth, and the Goſpel; how will he do this but by ſcattering his people that are of the Solemn Aſſembly? The Church was ſcattered in the 8th. of the Acts: What then? they went up and down preaching every where, they came to Antioch, and a great number believed, and turned to the Lord, and Paul and Barnabas ſtayed there a whole year preaching, and there thoſe that believed were firſt called Chriſtians: By their ſcattering, Truth and the Goſpel ſcattered.
But then, Thirdly, what if God will try his enemies and his friends, both at once? Sometimes he will try his enemies, whether they will dare to break open his Houſe, to trample his holy City under foot: Whether they will behave themſelves proudly: Sometimes he will try them. Sometimes he will try his own Children, how they will ca…ry it in ſuch a day, whether they will lament after God, how they will be affected for the want of the publick Aſſembly; God will try ſometimes his own Children, and where doth God try his Children but in that thing, wherein they are much delighted? what's that? One thing have I deſired of the Lord, which I will for ever deſire, that I may dwell in the houſe of the Lord: here's their delight, here's their deſire, here God will try them.
But Fourthly, What if the Lord will make the Solemn Aſſembly more glorious than ever it was? he hath promiſed to do it, To make the Place of his feet more glorious; that the light of the Moon ſhall be as the light of the Sun, and the light of one day as of ſeven daies: He will make the Solemn Aſſembly more glorious: How ſo? but by bri…ging one contrary out of another: when did God ever put any great life into any buſineſs, but at firſt he put the ſentence of death upon it? When did God ever give any great repute or honour to Joſeph, to David, to Mordecai, but firſt they were brought under Reproach: ſaith our Saviour Chriſt, unleſs the ſeed dies, it abides alone, but if it die it brings forth much fruit, So with Chriſt, ſo with the Saints; in the 26th. of Iſaiah, as with himſelf it was, ſo it ſhall be with his, Thy dead men ſhall live, together with my dead body ſhall they ariſe. Bodies once dead and raiſed again, are the moſt glorious. Now God doth intend to make the Solemn Aſſembly more glorious than ever: No wonder therefore that he doth ſometimes, (being this is his way and method) ſuffer the Solemn Aſſembly to lye under Reproach. So then, you have the firſt thing cleared in two particulars.
But then Secondly: Suppoſe the Solemn Aſſembly do lye under Reproach: How will the members of the Solemn Aſſembly take it, or be affected with it?
Why the Members of the Solemn Aſſembly are of two ſorts: There are falſe Members, and there are true Members.
Some are true Members of the Church, If ye continue in my Word, then are ye my Diſciples indeed.
Some are falſe Members of the Church: They went out from us, becauſe they were not of us. 1 Joh. 2. 19. theſe latter when the Solemn Aſſembly lies under Reproach, they will not be much grieved, but rather ſay, down with it, down with it even to the ground, (with the Children of Edom.
But the former, that are the true Members of the Solemn Aſſembly, The Saints and people of God, They will be much affected, ſaith the Text, therefore I will gather them that are ſorrowful for the Solemn Aſſembly, who are of thee, To whom the reproach of it is a burthen: Theſe will be much affected, and very ſenſible of the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly, in Numb. 9. We read of ſome certain men that were defiled by a dead body, and they were mightily troubled that they were kept from the Paſsover from one Ordinance, verſe 6, 7. Yet the Solemn Aſſembly ſtood: how would they have been affected if the Solemn Aſſembly it ſelf had lain under Reproach, in Pſalm 42. You ſee David is much affected when he was kept from the houſe of God: yet the Solemn Aſſembly ſtood. How would he have been affected if the Solemn Aſſembly it ſelf had lain under Reproach. When the Solemn Aſſembly doth lie under Reproach, thoſe that are the true Members of the Church and Solemn Aſſembly, the Saints and people of God in truth, they will be much affected and ſenſible thereof, and carry the Reproach up and down with them as their burthen.
You will ſay How, and Why?
Queſt. How will the Saints and People of God be affected when the Solemn Aſſembly lies under Reproach?
Anſw. I Anſwer Negatively Firſt, They will not be ſo affected with the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly as to be uncapable of the Teachings of God. It's ſaid of Iſrael, that they did not hear Moſes for anguiſh: ſo the Saints and People of God will not be affected when the Solemn Aſſembly lies under Reproach, for they will learn thereby.
Neither will they be affected with the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly, as to be unthankful for what they have, 'tis thy Mercy that we are not conſumed: True, The Solemn Aſſembly lyes under Reproach, but it is a Mercy of Mercies we have that liberty we have.
Nor will they be ſo affected with the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly as if it were barely their own concernment: Not barely as their own concernment: 'Tis true, they are much more concerned in the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly than others, but they are not affected upon this account, meerly becauſe it is their own concernment.
Q…eſt. How then? How are the Saints and people of God …ff…cted with the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly?
Anſw. Firſt, They are affected more with this evil, than with any evil in the world: And they look upon this as their great affliction, and are afflicted more at this than at any evil; than any other evil of their own that doth befall them. You know how it was with the Daughter of Ely, Ickabod, Ickabod, The Ark of the Lord is taken; Her Husband was k…lled, and ſhe falls in Travel, 1 Sam. 4. 21. and being delivered, ſhe names the Child Ickabod, ſaying▪ the glory is departed from Iſrael, becauſe the Ark … God was taken, and becauſe of her Father in Law, a… her Husband: and ſhe ſaid, the glory is departed from Iſrael, for the Ark of God is taken, ſhe names her Husbands death but once, and her Fathers death but once; but the Ark was taken, twiſe, for that ſhe was moſt affected. Is there any ſorrow like unto my ſorrow, ſaith the Church? why? the waies to Zion mourn and are unfrequented. Thus then the Saints and people of God will be affected when the Solemn Aſſembly doth lye under Reproach.
2. This affection of theirs will continue with them, and abide upon them: they will not hang down their heads for a day, and frolick it afterwards; hang down their heads for a day in a Faſt, but as it is ſaid of Ahab, he walked heavily, So they will walk▪ Saith David in Pſalm 42. My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually ſay unto me, where is thy God? When I remember theſe things I pour out my ſoul in me, ſo you read it; but it ſhould be, upon me: I pour out my ſoul upon me, as waters poured upon the ground: For I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the houſe of God, with the voice of joy and praiſe, with a multitude that kept holy day: My tears have been my meat day and night, 'tis not for a day, and there's an end, but day and night: This affection doth continue with them, and abide upon them, where ever they go they carry it as their burthen.
3. Then alſo they will lay aſide their Ornaments that they cannot rejoyce in their former comforts as they did before: And the Lord ſaid unto the Children of Iſrael, that he would not go up with them; I will ſend an Angel before you, Exod. 33. and drive out the Cananite, and the Amorite, but (ſaith he) I will not go in the midſt of thee: then the children of Iſrael ſtript themſelves of their Ornaments; When the people heard theſe evil tydings, they mourned, and no man did put on his Ornaments; For the Lord ſaid unto Moſes, ſay unto the Children of Iſrael, ye are a ſtiffe necked pe…ple, I will come up into the midſt of thee in a moment, and conſume thee; Therefore now put off thine Ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee. And the Children of Iſrael ſtript themſelves of their Ornaments, by the Mount Horeb: And Moſes took the Tabernacle, and pitched it without the Camp, afar …ff from the Camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the Congregation; And it came to paſſe that every one which ſought the Lord, went out unto the Tabernacle of the Congregation, which was without the Camp. The preſence of the Lord was removed: They were fain to go out unto the Tabernacle: The preſence of God was departed, and God ſaid, he would not go with them; and though he had promiſed them an Angel, yet they fall a crying and weeping: O the Preſence of the Lord with us, elſe we have no comfort; and then they laid by their Ornaments: So that look when the Solemn Aſſembly lies under Reproach, then the Preſence of the Lord is gon from the Solemn Aſſembly; and therefore the Saints and Servants of God, will and muſt lay by their Ornaments.
4. The Saints and People of God will ſearch into their own waies, and turn from the evil of thoſe waies that have had a hand in bringing in this reproach upon the Solemn Aſſembly: They will ſearch and turn. In vain is the ſenſe, when there is no emendation. Is it ſuch a day as I have choſen, for a man to hang down his head? No, To relieve the oppreſſed, to take off the yokes and burthens: Reformation: But what is it a dull Reformation? No, but it is a Reformation lead on by prayer, and faſting, and it is ſuch a prayer as is back'd with Reformation: And thus the people of God are affected under the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly.
3. But then ſecondly, you will ſay: What is there in this Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly, that the Saints and people of God ſhould be ſo much affected with it?
What, what not?
Only Firſt, The Lord himſelf is well pleaſed with, and the Saints are well pleaſed in this ſenſe, in t… Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly.
God himſelf is well pleaſed with it: The Sacrifices of G…d are a broken and a contrite heart; An hard heart is Gods curſe, Lamentations 3. you read it thus: Give them ſorrow of heart, thy curſe unto them. 'Tis not ſorrow of heart, for that's a bleſſing, but obſtinacy of heart, an hard heart, ſo the Margent; but in the Hebrew, give them a heart with a Shield upon it, that may fenſe off the blow: That when any thing is ſpoken, they may fence it off; give them a fending heart, a hard heart; a hard heart is Gods curſe: A tender and a ſoft heart bleeding over the miſeries of the Church, it is Gods Sacrifice; God is well pleaſed.
And the Saints and people of God, they are well pleaſed in this ſenſe. It is Recorded of Nazianzen, that knowing there would be freedom from ſin in Heaven, he deſired to dye: But then remembring that there would be no mourning for ſin in Heaven, nor for the miſeries of the Church, he deſired to live: Chuſing rather to mourn for ſin, and the miſeries of the Church, than to be freed from ſin: here was a Spirit. 'Tis ſaid of the true Griever, he grieves, and he doth rejoyce in his grief; A man that doth truely grieve, he doth grieve, and he doth rejoyce in his grief: So that in this ſenſe of the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly, God himſelf is well pleaſed therewith, and the Saints are well pleaſed therein.
2. But Secondly, Do you ask what there is in the Reproach of this Solemn Aſſembly, that the Saints and People of God ſhould be ſo much affected with it?
I Anſwer, There is a darkneſs falls upon the greateſt Organ of Light: The greateſt Organ of light is ecclipſed; all ecclipſed, and the greater Veſſel or Organ of light is ecclipſed, the more dreadful is the Ecclipſe: The Sun ecclipſed, that great Organ of light, it is more dreadful. The great Organ of light for the world, it is the Solemn Aſſembly: Now when a Reproach falls upon the Solemn Aſſembly, the greateſt Veſſel, and Organ of light is darkned, and this is dreadful to thoſe that look upwards.
But Thirdly, Then the Name of the Lord is diſhonoured: The Reproaches of them that Reproached thee have fallen upon me: And ſo the other way; The Reproaches of them that Reproach us, and the Solemn Aſſemblies, are fallen upon thee O Lord, and upon thy Name. There are three or four things that God doth much delight in, in the world; his Truth, his Worſhip, his People, Things God delights in.his Name. When the Solemn Aſſembly is under Reproach, his Truth is derided, his Worſhip defiled, his Children perſecuted, and his Name diſhonoured: Who can behold all theſe things and not bleed; and not be affected there withall? That's a third.
4. Look when the Solemn Aſſembly doth lie under Reproach, then all the People of God, the whole Generation of the Righteous are afflicted, diſtreſſed, and as a Lamp deſpiſed before him, that is at eaſe: Who would not grieve to ſee the necks of all the people of God lye upon the block together, ready to be cut off? Pray do but mind that place in Eſther, 'Tis ſaid there, that when the Decree came out upon the Jews, that their necks lay all upon the block, in the third of Eſther, The Decree was given in Shuſhan the Palace, and the King and Haman ſate down to drink, but the City Shuſhan was perplexed: The City Shuſhan, Why the City Shuſhan? 'Tis not ſaid the Jews: What was the City Shuſhan, Jews? No, there were a hundred to one in the City, that were no Jews, I, but the Neighbours of the people of God were perplexed. O then, is the City Suſhan perplext in ſuch a day? and ſhall not the Jews themſelves be perplext? ſhall they not be affected much with it? Then all the Saints, their necks lie upon the block. Look but into the Pſalms, and you ſhall ſee that when the Temple of God is defiled, The reproach of the houſe of God, and the perſecution of the Saints go together, Pſal. 79. 1, 2. O God, the Heathen are come into thine Inheritance, thy Holy Temple have they defiled, they have laid Jeruſalem on heaps; the dead bodies of thy Servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the Heaven, the fl…ſh of thy Saints unto the beaſts of the earth, their bloud have they ſhed like water round about Jeruſalem, and there was none to bury them, we are become a reproach to our Neighbours. I, theſe two go together, the defilement of the houſe of God, the reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly, and the perſecution of the Saints likewiſe. Now who can ſee theſe things and not be affected?
5. The School-men ſay, That power which cannot be reſiſted, is a cauſe of grief. If evil be coming, and I be able to reſiſt it, I am not much affected: but if evil comes like an armed man, and I cannot reſiſt it, this cauſeth grief. Now when the Solemn Aſſemblie lies under Reproach, evil comes upon the People of God like an armed man: They cannot reſiſt it, hear's grief then.
6. The School-men ſay, All grief doth ariſe from the want of the thing loved, and the loſs of good: Now when the Solemn Aſſembly doth lie under Reproach, there good things are loſt; the Saints good things: There's the preſence of God in the Solemn Aſſembly: There's the Chariot whereby Chriſt rides into the ſouls of ſinners: There's the food of Faith: There's all good things gone, and therefore no wonder they are ſo affected: But
7. Look when the Solemn Aſſembly doth lie un-under Reproach, then the world is ſcandalized, and the world's offended. Wo to the world becauſe of …ffences, 'tis an evil thing that the world ſhould be offended. When is the world offended? when the Solemn Aſſembly lies under Reproach? aha, ſo would we have it: Then they laugh, ſaith Paul, who is offended, and I burn not. We ſay, when the ſick man laughs, the Phyſician crys, he is diſtracted ſaith he. Why now the Saints and People of God, they are the worlds Phyſicians to cure them, and heal them, by their lives, and prayers, and inſtructions. What do they laugh? what do they ſay? Aha, ſo would we have it. But when the Solemn Aſſembly lies under Reproach, then is the world offended: Then therefore is the time for the Saints and people of God to be much affected.
8. Look when the Solemn Aſſembly doth lie under Reproach, then the Devil gets up again: The Devil falls by the powerful preaching of the Goſpel, ſaith our Saviour Chriſt. Rejoyce not that the Devils fall down like lightning before you. What fall? what doth our Saviour Chriſt ſpeak of the Devils firſt fall? no ſurely, but of his fall by the preaching of the Goſpel. When the Goſpel is powerfully preached, then the Devil falls: But when the Solemn Aſſembly lies under Reproach, he gets up again: And what good man would not grieve, when he ſees how the Devil gets up again? eſpecially if he have ſeen the falling of the Devil before?
9. Look when the Solemn Aſſembly doth lie under Reproach, then you have a certain preſage of a Famine of the hearing of the word. If one could aſſure you, that for certain there would be a Famine of Bread, you would be much affected. Why the reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly is a certain preſage of a Famine of the word, and the hearing of the word, a certain preſage of it.
10. The more that any good man hath any hand in any great evil that is come, the more he is affected there withall. 'Tis fabled of the Eagle, that when the Eagle was ſhot, looking upon her wound, ſhe was troubled: But when ſhe lookt upon the Arrow, and ſaw the feathers of the Arrow; nay then ſaith ſhe, I am kill'd, and am deſtroyed by ſome of my own kind, in regard of the feathers; and this wounded her again, and troubled her more, that ſhe was deſtroyed by ſome of her own kind. And truly, when a good man looks upon the reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly, may he not ſee his own feathers? Yes, This reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly have I had a hand in. No wonder therefore that it doth grieve him, and that he is much affected.
11. When the Solemn Aſſembly doth lie under reproach, God is departed. Take away God, and I am no body ſaith one. A good heart will alwayes ſay ſo: Take away God, and I am no body. Now when the reproach lies upon the Solemn Aſſembly, then God is gone. God is ſo much departed, and ſo much gone, as the Solemn Aſſembly lies under reproach; ſo much we do bear the badges of Gods departure.
Do you then ask me, what there is in this reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly, that the Saints ſhould be ſo much affected there withall? There are theſe two things, and judge you whether there be not cauſe, that all the Saints and people of God ſhould be much affected, and carry it as a burthen upon their ſouls, when the Solemn Aſſembly lies under reproach? And thus I have done with the ſecond thing, that thoſe that are of them: Thoſe that are the true Members of the Solemn Aſſembly, they will be very ſenſible of it: And you ſee the reaſons of it.
But Thirdly, Suppoſe the Solemn Aſſembly do lie under reproach; and we have been, and are very ſenſible thereof, and carry it as a burthen: What then?
Then will the Lord turn your former ſorrow into future comforts: Then will the Lord return unto you with joy: Then ſhall you certainly be comforted, and God will make your after-comforts, to run Parallel with your former troubles. Bleſſed are thoſe that mourn, for they ſhall be comforted: Thoſe that ſow in tears, they ſhall reap in joy. As ſurely as now you go forth, carrying precious ſeed; the ſenſe of this condition upon your hearts, you ſhall return again with your ſheaves of joy with you.
But wherein lies this Parallel? and how ſhall our after-comforts run Parallel with our former troubles, in caſe we be thus ſenſible?
The Scripture tells you; Firſt of all, in caſe that you have been ſcattered in the day of the reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly: In caſe you have been ſcattered, then the Lord will gather you, your gathering ſhall anſwer to your ſcattering. I will gather them that are ſorrowful, gather, he will gather you under his wings, as a Hen gathers her Chickens. O Jeruſalem, &c. How often would I have gathered thy Children together, as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings: Gather you, as a ſhepherd gathers his ſheep into his fold, and he will gather you into his boſom; and therefore ſaith our Saviour Chriſt, I was a ſtranger, and ye took me in. The word is, you gathered me. I was a ſtranger, and ye gathered me not. Why? becauſe when the Lord gathers, then he takes us in, and receives us into his boſom: So that in caſe you have been ſcattered, then will the Lord gather you.
2. In caſe that you have halted in the day of the Solemn Aſſembly, then will the Lord heal you. Behold, ſaith he, I will ſave her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out. Mark, there's a great matter in it, if that you be ſenſible of the reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly: I will ſave her that halteth, halthing notes weakneſs. I will ſtrengthen you in oppoſition to all your weakneſs. Halting notes an uneven courſe: A man that halts inclines this way, and inclines that way; ſometimes he bends to the right ſide, and ſometimes to the left: So when men halt in matters of Religion, how long will ye halt between two Opinions, ſometimes he bends this way to the truth, and ſometimes that way againſt truth: Now in oppoſition to all this uneven courſe of yours, ſaith the Lord, I will heal her that halteth: Though thou haſt halted in the day of the reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly, yet I will heal thee, and I will ſave thee, ſaith the Lord.
3. In caſe that you have ſuffered reproach in the reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly, ſaith the Lord, in the 19 ver. I will get them praiſe and fame in every land, where they have been put to ſhame. Have you ſuffered reproach in the day of the reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly, have you ſuffered reproach? I will get you fame and praiſe; yea I will get you fame and praiſe in the very place where you have ſuffered reproach, ye in all the places where you have ſuffered reproach.
And ſaith he in the laſt verſe, When I turn back your Captivity before your eyes. Sometimes a mans name is vindicated when he is dead; God vindicates him from reproach when he is dead: But ſaith he, I will get you fame and praiſe, even before your eyes; In the very places where you have been put to ſhame, there will I get you fame and name, and your eyes ſhall ſee this: So that thus then you ſee the Parallel; If that the Saints and people of God be ſenſible of the reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly, God will turn their former Miſeries, into after Mercies, and he will cauſe their after Comforts to run parallel with their former trouble.
By way of Application then:
If theſe things be ſo. Firſt, rejoyce not over us O our enemies; for though we be fallen, yet we ſhall riſe again. Speak no more arrogantly O ye Children of man, though the righteous fall ſeven times, he ſhall riſe again.
2. If this Doctrine be true, what a mighty difference is here between a godly man, and a wicked man, in reference to his dealings with God, and God's dealing with him? In reference to his dealings with God, a wicked man looks upon a Solemn Aſſembly with an evil eye, and it is his burthen, he crys, The burthen of the Lord, the burthen of the Lord: A good man looks upon the reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly as his burthen. The Solemn Aſſembly it ſelf is a burthen to a wicked man, the reproach of it is a burthen to a good man. Well now, as for the wicked, his laughter ſhall be turned into mourning; as for the godly, his mourning ſhall be turned into comfort.
But thirdly, If this Doctrine be true, what abundance of comfort is here, for all you that have been ſenſible of the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly? It cannot be denied, but this day the Solemn Aſſembly lies under Reproach; then you that have carried this Reproach up and down with you as your burthen, and have been ſenſible of this Reproach of the Solem Aſſembly, be of good comfort, the Lord will turn your preſent Miſeries into future Mercies; the Lord will cauſe your after comforts, to run parallel with your preſent troubles.
You will ſay, this comfort doth relate to the future, but I have none for the preſent.
Yes, you know 'tis ſaid, the Lord comforteth in all our tribulations; 'tis not ſaid after our tribulations, but in them: There is comfort in our tribulations; Bleſſed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God: Bleſſed are thoſe that mourn, they ſhall be comforted: and bleſſed are the pure in heart, for they ſhall ſee God: But bleſſed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God: So that here's comfort for the preſent.
But you will ſay, All this comfort hangs upon a condition, This Promiſe doth run conditionally. Here's a great Promiſe of comfort indeed, but it is upon condition, being ſenſible of the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly, and I have not been ſenſible, and I am not ſenſible.
No, pray ſtay a little: Not ſenſible! It may be you are not ſenſible of your ſenſe: As a man may be ſenſible of his unſenſibleneſs, ſo a man may be unſenſible of his ſenſe: As a man may not believe that he doth believe; So a man may not be ſ…nſible of the ſenſe that he hath of the cauſe and miſery of the people of God. When a poor man comes firſt into the Priſon, he is ſenſible of the ſmell of the Priſon, afterwards he is not ſenſible of his ſenſe, but he hath a ſenſe ſtill: So now it may be, you have been ſo uſed to be ſenſible of the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly; that it may be you are not ſenſible of your ſenſe.
But I pray tell me, If that you have born the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly upon your hearts before God in private? Have you not been ſenſible? If you have faſted and prayed in reference to the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly: Have you not been ſenſible? Our Saviour Chriſt expounds the one by the other. There came to Chriſt the Diſciples of John, ſaying: Why do we and the Phariſees faſt oft, but thy Diſciples faſt not? Jeſus ſaid unto them: Can the Children of the Bride-chamber mourn, &c? he expounds faſting by mourning: and if you have been more afflicted with the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly, than of any other thing, and have walked heavily under the burthen of it: Certainly you have been ſenſible.
But whereas you ſay, This Promiſe doth run conditionally, and this Condition you have not attained: Give me leave to ſay to you; Do you rightly underſtand a Condition? A Condition properly is that upon the account whereof a thing is done, and without which thing it cannot be done.
As for example, I ſell my Commodity for Mony, now upon the account you pay ſo much Mony, I give you the commodity, and without that I do not give it: Now I pray, will you ſay, that your own ſenſe at the higheſt, is that upon the account whereof God will ſhew mercy? or will you ſay that God will not ſhew mercy unleſs you have ſenſe? We find that God doth return unto his people firſt, and afterwards he ſaith, then ſhall ye be aſhamed, and then ſhall ye loath your ſelves: 'tis very true, that he will ſhew mercy to thoſe that have ſenſe of the Solemn Aſſembly. But where doth he ſay that he will ſhew no mercy to thoſe that have no ſenſe? No where; For his love and grace is free: But if any man be ſenſible of the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly lo this comfort is laid up for you: Are you ſcattered? the Lord will gather you: have you halted in this day of the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly? God will heal your halting: Have you ſuffered Reproach? In the very place where you have ſuffered Reproach, God will give you a Name, and Fame, and Glory. I muſt ſay it, lift up your heads O ye Saints, you that hang down and are ſenſible of the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly.
You will ſay now: But what ſhould we do that we may be more ſenſible then of the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly? 'Tis clear, the Solemn Aſſembly doth lie under Reproach, and God hath promiſed all this comfort to thoſe that are ſenſible of it: I hope I have ſome ſenſe, What ſhall I do that I may be more ſenſible of the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly, that this comfort, and this promiſe may come upon my ſoul?
Firſt of all, get ſpiritual life, you muſt be living; A dead man is not ſenſible: A living man is ſenſible of the ſcratch of a Pin, a dead man is not ſenſible of the gaſh of a Sword: 'Tis life that makes one ſenſible: Never think to be ſenſible, and to be dead: Therefore go to God for Spiritual life.
2. Then ſtrengthen your love unto God, and his Waies, and Children, and Ordinances; Dol…r amoris filia, grief is the Daughter of love: I grieve for the loſs of what I love, and no further than I love. If I would grieve and be ſenſible of the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly, ſtrengthen your love: Love to the Ordinances, love to the Solemn Aſſembly, love to God. And
3. Then take advantage from all thoſe occaſions that you meet withal, to inlarge your mourning, and your ſenſe. When a man would leap far, he takes his riſe upon a Mole-hill, that he may leap the farther. Friends, you have many riſes this day, for your mourning, and for your ſenſe, improve all thoſe riſes, as you meet with any occaſion, look upon them as ſo many Mole-hills, look upon them as ſo many riſes for to go the farther in your ſenſe of the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly.
4. then obſerve what thoſe evils are, thoſe ſins are, that have had a hand in bringing this Reproach upon the Solemn Aſſembly, and do not meddle therewithal: Take heed you do not add any of them to the heap. If a man have a burdenupon his ſhoulder, that he cannot ſtand under, and you go to lay any more upon him; (ſaith he) I pray take heed, I have as much on me, as my back will bear: And if there be company in a Boat, that the Boat be full, and another offer to come in; O no by no means, the Boat is ready to ſink already: Truely thus it is, the Boat is ready to ſink already it is ſo full. And do you look upon the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly as your burthen; O then, take notice what it was that brought the Reproach, and take heed of that.
5. Take heed of the immoderate uſe of any creature comfort. Friends, let me ſay this to you; the more your hearts do ſoak into the comfort of the creatures, the leſs cauſe you will have of the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſemblies: The more your hearts ſoak into the comforts of your own houſe, the leſs ſenſible you will be of the Reproach of Gods Houſe: So that take heed of the immoderate uſe of any creature comfort that is before you.
To end all,
Above all things ſtrengthen your Faith: for although Senſe be an enemy to Faith, Faith is a friend to Senſe; eſpecially ſenſe of ſin, and ſenſe of the Churches miſeries. The more you look upon the fulneſs, and the freeneſs, and the certainty of the Promiſe of deliverance, the more your Faith will be ſtrengthned. Now this promiſe of deliverance here, is full, is free, 'tis large, it's repeated again, and again; In the fourth of Micah you have the ſame promiſe, and its there repeated again and again.
Why then ſhould you not ſay thus? Well through the grace of God, though I be ſenſible of the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly; yet I will believe for deliverance, and though I do believe for deliverance, yet I will be ſenſible through grace, of the Reproach of the Solemn Aſſembly. Do ſo; only let your Faith be the Mother unto this ſenſe; therefore take this Promiſe, read it over, work it, chafe it upon your hearts much when you are alone. I conclude reading it: Saith the Lord hare, I will gather them that are ſorrowful for the Solemn Aſſembly, who are of thee, to whom the Reproach of it was a burthen: Behold, at that time, I will undo all that afflict thee, and I will ſave her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out: And I will get them Praiſe and Fame in every Land where they have been put to ſhame: At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you, for I will make you a Name, and a Praiſe among all people of the Earth, when I turn back your Captivity before your eyes, ſaith th… Lord.