The Scripture Directory for Church Officers and People, Exposition 2 · Part 2 · Section 7
The Reaſon of the Saints Confidence, is, That God alone is their Preſerver. Shewing alſo the Waies and Meanes by which he doth Preſerve them.
PSAL. 4.8.
For thou alone doeſt make me dwell in ſafety.
IN theſe words, we have a Reaſon why David hath ſuch confidence; it's not from any carnal and outward Motive, but only from divine conſideration. For in this alſo, might be ſhewed the difference between carnal ſecurity, and holy quietneſſe: The one, is a fruit of a godly and diligent obedience to the Law of God, and ſo is a fruit of the Promiſe: as Prov. 3.23, 24. You may ſee there a notable Promiſe for reſt, ſafety, and ſleep, to ſuch as follow Wiſdomes Advice. And D…v… found God faithfull in his Word, Pſal. 127. For ſo thou giveſt thy Bel…v… ſle…p. But all earthly ſecurity, ariſeth from ſome temporal hopes they lo… at in their dangers; and therefore while they look for peace, God makes calamity to ariſe on the ſuddain: as 1 Theſ. 5.3. When they ſay peace and ſafety, then ſuddain deſtruction ſhall ariſe, as of a woman with Child, and they ſhall not eſcape. Suddainly, in the midſt of their mirth and jollity, will their inevitable deſtruction ariſe.
David therefore hath a more firm and immoveable Rock, and that is Gods Power and Preſervation: Which is expreſſed in
The Effect of it. And
The ſolitary Efficiency of it.
The Effect is, To dwell in ſafety. David though now in baniſhment, and had no Houſe of his own to lay his head in, yet is as confident, as if he had been at reſt in his dwelling place. But becauſe all that dwell, are not ſecure; eſpecially in times of violence and warre, therefore he addeth ſafety. Some tranſlate the word in Spe, in Hope; and ſo it may denote both the outward condition, and his inward dispoſition.
Laſtly, Here is the ſolitarineſſe of this Efficiency, It's God alone. It's not David's own care, nor the aſiſtance of others, but God alone: All the glory is to be aſcribed ſolely to him. Indeed, ſome relate the word to David, as if David though alone, God made him dwell in ſafety: He can keep one man ſecurely, in the midſt of all enemies. Thus God promiſeth to Iſrael, Deut. 33.28. Iſrael ſhalt dwell in ſafety alone. But we rather take it as attributed to God: And thence Obſerve,
That it is God alone, who doth preſerve in ſafety.God alone preſerveth in ſafety.
Did he withdraw his protection, every ſtone in the ſtreet, every tile on the Houſe, might be an Executioner. If we conſider how many waies man is ſubject to death and dangers, we muſt acknowledge it even a Miracle, that we riſe ſafe, and go to bed in ſafety. It's good to ſuggeſt this truth to you; for who is there that doth acknowledge God in theſe common mercies? That bleſſeth God for preſerving him daily in his wits, in his ſenſes, in bodily health and dangers? For although theſe be bodily mercies, and we delight in them as ſuch, yet we do not look up to God the Giver of them; whereas that Petition, Give us this day our daily Bread, doth not only extend to nouriſhment, but Protection alſo. It's God giveth every crum of Bread: It's God giveth thee breath, every time thou breatheſt. The Pſalmiſt (Pſal. 127.1, 2.) doth extend this ſafety, not only to particular perſons, but Families, and Nations, and Cities: All care in a Family, all military power in a City is in vain, if God doth not guard it. Thus Solomon ſheweth, that it is not any outward thing in the world that can defend a man, even thoſe things that we are moſt apt to truſt in, Prov. 21.31. compared with Pſal. 33, 17.
To open this Doctrine, conſider theſe Particulars.
I.Firſt, That the Hebrew word that was h…nted before, doth denote two things.
1. An inward diſpoſition of hope and undaunted courage.
2. External ſafety and quietneſſe: For theſe two are …eparable. God may keep a man in a quiet couragious hopefull diſpoſition, even when dangers do inviron round about; as it was with David in the former Pſalm: Though ten thouſand ſhould compaſſe him about, he would not be afraid. Yea, in this, he …aith in another place, he would be confident. And certainly, herein God is much to be praiſed, that he keeps the heart from feares, and the underſtanding and ſenſes, in their regular operations. How eaſily can God make a man a Cain, a Magor-Miſſabib? it's a curſe that God threatens the wicked Iſraelites with, Deut. 28.66. Such a curſed miſerable life every man might live. And ſo for our underſtanding and ſenſes, and imagination, who is it that preſerveth thee? What a wofull, dreadfull thing is it, to have the fantaſie diſturbed? Some think that wonderfull work upon Nebuchadnezar, that God ſtruck him into, was only a melancholy diſturbance of his fantaſie. It's ſaid, The wicked fleeth, when no man purſueth; (Prov. 21.1.) and he feareth, where no fear is. Now thus, God might deliver thee up to a deluded imagination, to a terrible fantaſie; he might deprive thee of ſenſes and underſtanding; or thou mightſt go up and down, with a fearfull ſpirit, which ſhall impetuouſly and tyrannically …quiet thee: ſo that in no outward danger, yet thou ſhalt create danger to thy ſelf. But God giveth this inward confidence.
2. There is external ſafety; a condition of freedom and quietneſſe, which is alſo Gods gift only.
II. God preſerveth principally.Secondly, God preſerveth thus in ſafety Principally, and appointeth his creatures Inſtrumentally.
Principally: Therefore he is called the Lord of Hoſts, as having ſupream dominion over all creatures, to uſe them as Inſtruments, either of vengeance or mercy. Hence he is called in Job, The Preſerver of men, Job. 7.20. No creature, though wiſe and ſtrong; yea, though working as natural Agents, can put forth their ſtrength for our preſervation, unleſſe the true Word of God, which giveth a command to their being, give alſo a command to their operation. So that it's God, who by men or other creatures, doth preſerve, nouriſh, and comfort thee. Jacob's Ladder, reaching up to Heaven, is ſaid to repreſent the Providence of God, whereby he works in the governing of all things, through Inſtruments.
And by creatures inſtrumentally. 1. Irrational.Now the Inſtruments whereby God doth preſerve his in ſafty, are ſometimes the Irrational creatures, ſometimes the Rational.
By a Raven, which is the moſt greedy and devouring Bird, yet God preſerved the life of Elijah. And it's a remarkeable Hiſtory of a godly Martyr, who having hid himſelf in a hole of the houſe for ſafety, immediately a Spider made a large web over the hole; ſo that when the Purſuers came to enquire after him, and one of them moved to ſearch in that hold, No; ſaith the other, none hath gone in their lately, you may ſee by the cob-webs: And thus that holy man eſcaped their fury.
By Rational creatures: Thus God ſtirreth up many to preſerve thoſe that are appointed to die. Eſther was a meanes to ſave her whole Nation,2. Rational men. the people to preſerve Jonathan. For as God in juſt and wiſe Providences doth raiſe up many times one man to be the deſtruction of another: Which made Habbakuk complain, Why Lord, haſt thou made man to be like the fiſhes of the Sea, the greater to devoure the leſſe? So on the other ſide, he doth in great mercy, raiſe up ſome men to be a ſafeguard to others. Thus Obadiah hid many Prophets, by fifty in a Cave, from J…zabels fury.
As men ſo Angels are notably uſed by God for the preſervation of his people. Angels.Inſomuch, that ſome godly men have greatly blamed Chriſtians, that they are no more thankfull to God for thoſe Guardes he hath appointed them. Not that we are to pray unto Angels, or that there is a peculiar Tutelar Angel vouchſafed to every man; though not only the Papiſts, but even ſome of the Antients, and of later Orthodox Divines, have been of that Opinion, though abhorring all Angel-worſhip. Not (I ſay) to determine that; yet in the generall it's plain, that the Scripture makes the Angels to be our helps and defenders. Inſomuch, that by them as Inſtruments, we are preſerved from thoſe falls and dangers which otherwiſe would come upon us. Pſal. 91.11. God is there ſaid to give his Angels charge over us. Yea, They ſhall bear thee up in their hands, as a tender Nurſe beareth a young Child; that the godly do not ſo much as daſh a foot againſt the ſtone. Here you ſee the Inſtrumental ſerviceableneſſe which is vouchſafed to the godly by Angels. And ſo you have a full place to this purpoſe, Pſal. 34.7. The Angel of the Lord encampeth about thoſe that fear him. Oh, how many preſervations, how many Providences do we conſtantly receive, and never take any notice of!
Thirdly, Gods Providential Preſervation is two-fold; either General, IIIwhich extends to all creatures, or ſpecial and Particular, that reacheth in a peculiar manner to the godly.
The general Preſervation, is in reſpect, even of Beaſts themſelves. Therefore Pſal. 36 6. David takes notice of Gods hand, that preſerveth man and beaſt. Hence (Mat 6.) A ſparrow (ſo inconſiderable a Bird, yet) doth not fall to the ground, without Providence. It hath indeed, been the Opinion of ſome, yea ſome Fathers; That the Providence of God doth not extend to minute and particular things: But the Scripture is clear in this. So that the leaſt fly cannot move it ſelf, or the worm creep, without Gods Providence. It's God then, that preſerveth the irrational creatures, and that without any derogation to his Majeſty; for he cannot but do it, becauſe of his ſupream Perfection.
But then for the Preſervation of man, eſpecially of Believers; there his care is more ſingular and peculiar. In this ſenſe ſome expound that place, The Saviour of all men, eſpecially thoſe that believe, 1 Tim. 4.10. Gods care to his people, is notably diſcovered by our Saviours expreſſion, Luk. 21.18. where he ſaith, Not one hair of our head ſhall fall to the ground: Compared with Mat. 10.30. The very hairs are numbered. So then, the leaſt danger cannot befall us, without the Providence of our heavenly Father.
Fourthly, Hence it is that all the dangers, yea and death it ſelf, comes by Gods appointment: No ſooner or later, nor no other waies then he hath decreed.IIII. Thus David comforted himſelf, that though his enemies plotted againſt him, yet his times were in Gods hand; and to God do belong the iſſues of death, Pſal. 68.20, So that it lyeth not in the power of all thy enemies, to kill thee when they will. David did often acknowledge this, That it was God, who did preſerve him in all his trouble. For you muſt know, that this is a truth in Divinity, howſoever Arminians and others, have arraigned it for falſe-hood; That God hath ſet the term of a mans life immoveable, beyond which he cannot live, and to which he ſhall attain: As alſo, All the means bringing it about; Even thoſe things that ſeem to be the moſt caſual and accidental. Job ſpeaks this truth evidently, Chap. 14.5. God had appointed his moneths, and his daies, ſo that he cannot paſſe the boun…s. Yet this is not to be underſtood, as if hereby a fatal neceſſity were introduced, that if he be ſick, he need not uſe Phyſick to prolong life. Not upon that ground which the Stoick ſaid, Si fatale eſt ut convaleſcat, fatale etiam eſt ut medicum adhibeat: If it be the deſtiny to be well, it will be the deſtiny to call for the Phyſician; but becauſe Gods Decree doth include in it the meanes. So that we muſt ſay, God hath appointed in the uſe of meanes, to prolong ſuch a mans life, viz. Hezekiah's nineteen years longer. It's true, the Scripture ſaith, The wicked ſhall not live out half their daies; but that is in reſpect of their hopes and expectations, as alſo in reſpect of the ordinary courſe of nature. Many men by their wickedneſſe do ſhorten their daies, in reſpect of ſecond cauſes. Therefore do not ſinfully fear this or that will kill thee, for thy times are in Gods hand, and he hath appointed the period of any godly mans life in much mercy, becauſe they have done their work; and to preſerve them from great evils to come.
The ſeveral waies by which God preſerveth his people in ſafety.Theſe things premiſed, let us conſider the ſeveral waies by which God preſerveth his people in ſafety.
And one remarkeable way, is, By reſtraining and keeping them from ſuch counſels or actions that may bring death and danger. Do we not ſee raſhneſſe, eſpecially drunkenneſſe and other vices, which make men bold, are the cauſe of many a mans death? God therefore keeps his people in a ſober and wel-adviſed way. Why is it ſaid, That wicked men ſhall not live out half their daies, but that the ungodlineſſe of men doth bring them to untimely deaths? Yea, we read of that good King Joſiah, whoſe death was ſo much lamented, that he brought it upon him by raſhneſſe, and fooliſh temerity; for he would unneceſſarily go and fight with Pharaoh King of Necho; and though he was ſo ſeriouſly adviſed to the contrary, yet he would adventure to his ruine, 2 Chron. 35. David himſelf, by his own unbelief and ſinne, did bring himſelf into danger. And in the matter of Achiſh, when he was forced to feign himſelf mad; but alwaies while he was in Gods way, every thing proſpered with him. Therefore Gods mercy is eſpecially ſeen to the godly, in that he makes them keep within their calling and bounds; and that is a ſafe way. If you obſerve, you ſhall find the greateſt dangers befall men out of their Calling. They go beyond their bounds, and then they ſmart for it. The Bird is ſafeſt, while ſhe is on her Neſt. Therefore when the Devil tempted our Saviour to throw himſelf down the Pinacle of the Temple, he anſwered, Thou ſhalt not tempt God, Mat. 4 7. The Devil left out that paſſage, Thou wilt keep him in all his waies. A man muſt be in his Calling, and doing his duty. It's true ind…ed, God for wiſe and juſt ends, may bring ſuddain exerciſes upon his own people, while doing their duty: And God doth not alwaies keep them in ſafety; violent death, and other dangers have befallen them as well as the wicked; but even then God doth order thoſe paſſages for their good.
Secondly, God preſerveth them from thoſe caſual and accidental evils, which ariſe ſo unexpectedly, that no mans wiſdome can prevent them. God hath the ſupreme ordering and governing of all things; even thoſe things that we judge the greateſt caſualty and chance, they are wiſely determined by God. In that paſſage where a man is ſuppoſed to be cutting of a tree with an Axe, and the …elve fall of, and kill a man, that accident is ſaid to come from God, and he is ſaid to give ſuch a man into his hand, Exod. 21.13. compared with Deut. 19 5. Now conſider how many thouſand caſualties happen in the world, of killing of men, of Houſes and Towns burnt: and herein we muſt acknowledg the goodneſſe of God to us; for that which hath befallen another, might as well befall thee, but that God prevents it.
Thirdly, God preſerveth wonderfully, in changing and altering, or working upon the h…a…ts of man; ſo that though otherwiſe they would, yet God ſo binds up their hearts, that the… ſhall not do thee any miſchief. Did not Saul for many years together, ſtudy to take away David's life, yet he could not do it? Was not Eſau alſo purpoſed to kill Jacob, yet God wholly changed his heart, and that when he had a fair opportunity? And how remarkeable is that paſſage of Jehoſhaphat, who when in the Battell was taken by his enemies, and they ready to kill him, yet he cryed unto the Lord, and God moved their heart to depart from him, 2 Chron. 18.31. So in the thievings and robberies in the world, it's God that diverts men from deſigning and doing miſchief to ſuch Families. While the people of Iſrael wen… up to keep their Feaſt at Jeruſalem, he ordered mens hearts ſo, That none ſhould deſire their Land, Exo 34.24.
Ʋſe of Thankfulneſſe to God in all theſe common Preſervations: Every day, every morning and evening, thou haſt cauſe to wonder at his Power and Goodneſſe under all thy temptations: What befalls another, God tells thee, what might come to thee. Oh, therefore do not take thy life and health God giveth thee, and ſpend it upon the Devils ſervice! Remember, Thou liveſt upon Gods mercy, if he withdraw for a moment, any ſuddain evil may fall upon thee. ⁂
FINIS.