An Exposition of Hosea 1-3, Chapter 2 · Lecture 13
The Thirteenth Lecture.
HOSEA 2. 15.
And the valley of Achor for a doore of hope, &c.
THe words are an excellent expreſſion of mercy to Iſrael; For the opening of which theſe three things are to be enquired into.
1. What this valley of Achor was.
2. The reaſon of the name.
3. Why this is ſaid to be a doore of hope.
For the firſt, Achor was a very pleaſant, delightfull, fruitfull rich valley, and lay neer Jericho; The firſt place that Iſrael came into, in the entrance upon, and taking poſſesſion of the land of Canaan, Eſay, 65. 10. And Sharon ſhall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lye down in, for my people that have ſought me. Firſt it is joyned with Sharon, Can. 2. 1. I am the roſe of Sharon, that was a ſweet pleaſant place.
Secondly, It is ſaid to be a place for the herds to lye downe in; a fat paſture that they ſhall even tumble in. And thirdly, It is promiſed as a bleſ… … the Lord.
The reaſon of the name Achor. Lect. 13That hyſtory we have Ioſh. 7. ſheweth Achan, who 1 Chron. 3. 7. is called Achar, having taken the accurſed thing,Why called the valley of Achro God left the Campe, and Iſrael fell before the men of Ai, which was the firſt battell that ever they fought for the poſſesſion of Canaan, upon that their hearts were exceedingly troubled, as if the whole worke had been at an end; ſo fraile is mans nature, ſo ſoone diſcouraged when it meets with oppoſition, notwithſtanding all the experiences of Gods mighty power going along with them, ſo lately bringing them over Jordan ſo wonderfully, and given them Jericho ſo miraculouſly,Lib. 5. c. 1. yet now at the loſſe of 36. men, their hearts begin even to faile, Ioſhua falls with his face upon the earth; and Joſephus in his hyſtory of the Jewiſh Antiquities, ſets down Ioſhuahs prayer at large, theſe are ſome expresſions, Beyond all expectation, having received an overthrow, being terrified by this accident, and ſuſpitious of thy promiſes to Moſes, we both abſtaine from war, and after ſo many enterpriſes, we cannot hope for any ſucceſsfull proceedings, by thy mercy relieve our preſent ſorrow, foreignand take from us the thought of deſpaire, wherein we are too farre plunged.Turbavit.
Now God comes to him and askes him, Why he lay upon his face, and bad him get him up, for Iſrael had ſinned in the accurſed thing; upon ſearch made, Achan was found out, whereupon Joſhua tells him, that he had troubled the Hoaſt of Iſrael, and God would trouble him; upon which they ſtoned him, and from thence it was called the valley of Achor, verſ. 26. that is, Va…is tribulation is, the valley of trouble.
The third thing is the principall, why this valley is called a doore of hope. Herein two things, Firſt, how it was a doore of hope to Iſrael then, when they firſt came into Canaan. Secondly, how it is promiſed to be a doore of hope to repenting Iſrael in after-times.
For the firſt, It was a doore of hope to them in two reſpects.
Firſt,Ho… the valley of Achor was a doore of hope. becauſe it was the firſt place wherein they tooke the poſſesſion of Canaan, when they began to have outward means of ſubſtance, to eate of the corne of the land, all the while they were in the wilderneſs although God provided wonderfully for them, by ſending them Manna from Heaven, yet becauſe they had no way of ſubſtance by ordinary means, they always feared leſt they ſhould want upon any ſtrait they were brought into, their hearts began to ſinke. Now in this valley God gives them outward means, & this raiſes hope in them, that their danger was over, and that they ſhould do well enough.
This is our nature when ordinary means fayle, our hearts fayle, yea though in regard of Gods extraordinary workings, we have never ſo many gracious encouragements, and when God grants means againe, then we hope. Secondly, God made their great trouble there a means of much good unto them, for by that they were brought to purge their Campe, they learned to feare the Lord, and were prepared more then before, for ſo great a mercy as the further poſſesſion of that good land. The Septuagint inſtead of thoſe words a doore of hope, have theſe, to open their underſtanding for there indeed they learned the dreadfulneſſe of God,foreign. who for one mans ſin was ſo ſorely diſpleaſed; there they underſtood to purpoſe, that the God that was amongſt them, was a holy God, and that he would have them to be a holy people.
But how ſhould this valley of Achor be a doone of hope to Iſrael in after times?Queſt.
Firſt,Anſw. 1 the Jews think that Iſrael ſhall return into their own country againe, yea and the ſame way, they ſhall come again into Canaan by that valley which ſhall be a door of hope to them.
Secondly,2. but rather by way of Analogy, as God turned this valley of trouble to much good unto them, ſo he would turn all the ſore afflictions of Iſrael in after dayes to their great advantage, grievous afflictions ſhould make way for glorious mercies.
Thirdly,3. But eſpecially thus, in this expreſſion, God followes the Allegory of marriage; now it was the cuſtome of the Jewes in their marriages, that the Husband gave his Spouſe according to his quality, as a dowry, ſome peece of ground, rich as he was able, and this he gave as a pledge of his love to her, to aſſure her that whatſoever was his, ſhe ſhould have the benefit of it; ſo ſaith the Lord, although you have gone a whoring from me, and may juſtly expect that I ſhould for ever reject you, yet I will marry you to my ſelfe, and I will fully perform all marriage rights for the expresſion of my love towards you to the uttermoſt, you ſhall know that you are marryed to a Husband who is rich, I will give you a rich and plentifull dovvry, and this but as a token and pledg of further love, mercy, riches, that you ſhall enjoy by me, it ſhall be that valley of Achor, that rich, delightfull, fruitfull valley. By this he means he would beſtow ſome ſpeciall choiſe mercy upon them, at his firſt taking them into his favour again, and that ſhould be a pledg of, and making way to much more mercy, that he intended for them a doore of hope to let in greater things, as the firſt fruits of all thoſe glorious things that he had treaſured up for them.Obſer.
From this valley of Achor, Obſer. 1.as it concerned Iſrael before.
Firſt, Sometimes when God gives men their hearts deſires, when they think themſelves happy, as if all trouble were paſt, then he comes in upon them with great and ſore afflictions.
Secondly,Obſer. 2. although God hath been humbling mens hearts with ſore and long afflictions, yet juſt before he beſtows great mercies, he afflicts againe, to humble and break their hearts yet more.
Thirdly,Obſer. 3. ſin will make the pleaſanteſt place in the world, a place of trouble.
Fourthly,Obſer. 4. the afflictions of the Saints do not only go before mercies, but are doors of hope to let in to mercies, means to further the way for mercies. God commands light to ſhine not only after darkneſſe, but out of darkneſs. Joſephs priſon, Davids perſecution, Daniels den, made way for glorious mercy God had in ſtore for them; that which once The miſtocles ſaid to his children and friends, the Saints may much more ſay to theirs, I had beene undone, Picrem niſi periiſſem.if I had not been undone; had it not been for ſuch a grieyous affliction, I had never come to the enjoyment of ſuch a mercy. Hence we muſt learn not only to be patient in tribulation, but joyfull.
But the eſpeciall thing intended in this expreſſion is this:Obſer. When God is reconciled to his people, then preſent mercies are doors of hope to let in future mercies; the Saints may look upon all mercies received as in-lets to further mercies to be received. Every mercy a door to another mercy, and all mercies here put together, are a door to eternall mercy. When Rachel had a ſonne ſhe called his name Joſeph, Gen. 30. 24. ſaying, The Lord ſhall add to me another ſonn. Every mercy the Saints have may well be called Ioſeph, it brings aſſurance of mercy to be added, this is the high priviledge of the Saints: every mercy that a wicked man hath, he may look upon as his utmoſt, as his all, he may write a ne plus ultra upon it; one miſery, one judgment upon a wicked man makes way toanother, but not one mercy: howſoever God in his bounty may lengthen out mercies to him, yet it is more then he can expect, he rather hath cauſe to wonder he hath ſo much, then expect more, but God ever draws out his loving kindneſſe to his Saints. Pſal. 36. 10. Draw out thy loving kindneſſe unto them that know thee, and thy righteouſneſſe to the upright in heart. Firſt, the good that others have from God is bounty, patience, but that which the Saints have is loving kindneſſe. Secondly, that which others have is no ways tied to them by promiſe, but that which the Saints have they have by promiſe. it is righteouſneſs, Pſ. 23. Thou makeſt me lye down in green paſture, thou anointeſt my head with freſh oyle, my cup runneth over. Here is a great deal, but is here all? no, ver. 6. ſurely mercy & goodneſſe ſhall follow me all the dayes of my life. That we read of David, 2 Sam. 5. 12. is very obſervable, from Gods proſpering him in his preſent way, he draws an argment to confirm him in the aſſurance for the future, that his Kingdome was eſtabliſhed to him, why? did not Saul proſper at the beginning of his raign as well as David? & yet it was no evidence of his eſtabliſhment; but David could ſee Gods mercy coming to him after another manner then Saul could, all mercies the Saints have come from the covenant in which there is a rich treaſure of mercies, a bleſſed connexion of the mercies. The covenant between David & Ionathan was, 1 Sam. 20. 15. That loving kindnes muſt not be cut off from the houſe of Ionathan. The covenant between God and the Saints is, that loving kindneſſe ſhall never be cut off from them, but the links of mercies ſhall be faſtned one to another, ſo as they ſhall reach eternity.
Mercies to the Saints come from love, & amor neſcit nimium, love knows no ſuch thing as exceſſe. The Saints underſtanding this miſtery in the way of Gods grace towards them hence they follow God in ſeeking his face then, eſpecially when he is moſt in the way of mercy; whereas the men of the world who know not this, ſeldome ſeek after mercy, but in times of affliction, when God is in a way of juſtice and wrath, this is their folly.
Infinite reaſon there is; O ye Saints of the Lord, that one duty ſhould for ever make way for another, ſeeing on mercy makes way for another: here lyes a great difference between doing duties from the ſtrength of common grace, and from ſanctifying grace: in the one the ſpirit by doing ſome things is wearied and thinkes now it may reſt, but in the other, the very doing ſtill encreaſeth ſtrength, and puts the heart upon doing more.
But may not ſecurity promiſe continuance of mercy?Queſt.
Yes,Anſ. but if ſo, then when affliction comes, the heart will ſinke for feares of continuance in miſery, as well as before it hoped for continuance of mercy.
When then may we aſſure our ſelves that our mercies are doores of hope to further mercies.Queſt.
Firſt,Anſ. 2, When they are created mercies wrought by a more imediate hand of God, generation may be imperfect, but creation never; omne creatum eſt perfectum, Eſay, 26. 12. Lord thou wilt ordaine peace for us, What is the argument? for thou haſt wrought all our workes in us.
Secondly,2. When they are ſpirituall mercies, Ezek. 39. 29. Neither will I hide my face any more from them, VVhat is the argument? For I have powred forth my ſpirit upon the houſe of Iſrael; but is not this your private opinion that this argument will hold? No, the words following are, Thus ſaith the Lord God.
Thirdly,3. When mercies carry us to the God of mercy, and are turned duties, as if we can turne our duties into mercies, that is, account every duty a mercy, that is a good argument that we ſhall hold out in duty, when wee can turne mercies into duties, that is, make every mercy an engagement to duty, that is a good argument that mercy will hold out.
But are there not interruptions many times in the wayes of Gods mercy to his own people?Object, Anſ. VVe ſometimes think there is an interruption, when if we knew all we ſhould ſee a bleſſed concatenation, but it muſt be granted that there may ſometimes be ſome kinde of enterruption in ſuch a particular. After Iſraels returne from captivity and beginning to build the temple, there were ſuch enterruptions as it was ſeventy years before it was finiſhed: but though there may be enterruptions for a time, yet not a quite breaking off, there is yet a ſtrength in the grace of the covenant that carries the work on and perfects it at laſt; by ceaſing in one way of mercy, God prepares for another; the very ceaſing in ſuch a way may be a mercy; we our ſelves at this day are a ſad ſpectacle of the interruption of the wayes of Gods mercies towards a nation.
Mercy that ere while ſhined in her beauty upon us, hath now ſeemed in a great meaſure to have withdrawn the beames of her glory; our doore of hope that we thought to be ſo wide open, ſeems almoſt ſhut againſt us. I dare not ſay that it is ſhut, leſt I ſhould wrong the preſent grace of God yet continuing to us. But
Firſt, Sinne, yea our many and fearfull ſins, lyes at this our door, Gen. 4. 7.
Secondly, And now a crowd of difficulties ſeeme even to ſtop up the door, they come thronging ſtill to it, as if they would certainly ſtop it up againſt us.3.
Thirdly, As the Prophet Ezek. 11. 1. 2. ſaw at the door of the gate five and twenty men, amongſt whom there were ſome chiefe ones, who deviſed miſchiefe and gave wicked councell in the city, ſo may we at this day, ſee many even of the chiefe ones, deviſing miſchiefe, and giving wicked counſel, by which they labour to ſhut, yea to lock, and bolt up this our doore of hope.
Fourthly,4. VVe hoped that this our door of hope would have been like the doors that entred into the oracle, of which we read 1 Kings 6. 31. made of the olive tree, yea the ſide-poſts and lintels were of olive tree, & carvings of palm trees & cherubims, all overlaid with gold, but now our door ſeems to be of Iron, the way to our help and mercy muſt be through the Iron gate, we muſt get to it by ſuftering hard things.
5.5. Our door that was wide, whereat mercy began to come flowing in apace freely, now it ſeemes to be ſtraitened, it is now the ſtrait gate, we muſt be content to ſtrip our ſelves of a great part of our eſtates, of many of our outward comforts, yea we muſt venture them all, and well if poſſibly at length we may crowd in.
6.6. Yea, our door-poſts are like the Iſraelites in Egypt, beſprinkled with blood, the keeping up of our meanes of mercy hath coſt much blood, and may coſt more.
7.7. Now when we knock, when we would ſtep in the dogs bark at us, and are ready to flye upon us, yea it may be the ſervants, yea ſome of our brethren are diſcontented at us, frowne upon us, ſpeake againſt us.
8.8. Alas we have rejected the right key that ſhould have opened this our door,Queſt. no marvaile then though we ſtand blundring at it, and it opens not unto us.Anſw. VVhat is that right key that would have opened it before this time, had we made uſe of it? That key of David that we reade of, Apoc. 3. 7. That openeth and no man ſhutteth. This key the Church of Philadelphia had, therefore it followes, ver. 8. I have ſet before thee an open doore, that no man can ſhut. Queſt. Anſw.But what is this key of David? It is the ruling power of Jeſus Chriſt in his Church; David in his government was a ſpeciall type of Chriſt, the firſt godly King over his people that ever was: Government is emblematically ſet forth by a key, Eſay, 22. 22, God promiſed Eliakim to commit the government to him by that expreſſion, The key of the houſe of David will I lay upon his ſhoulder, Eſay, 9. 6, 7. The government is ſaid to be upon Chriſts ſhoulder, and he ſits upon the throne of David; that is obſervable that to Eliakim there was promiſed, but the key of the houſe of David; but to Chriſt the key of David himſelfe; the one was to governe but as a ſteward, the government of the other was to be Princely. If we had been the Church of Philadelphia, united in brotherly love, and had had this key of David amongſt us, we might before this time had had a door ſet open amongſt us, that no man could have ſhut againſt us; but woe unto us, how many amongſt us ſay of Chriſt, We will not have this man to rule over us? Mr. Brightman more then thirty years ſince paralelld this Church of Philadelphia with the Church of Scotland, he made it in a typical way to ſet forth the wayes of God towards that Church in after times; and indeed they have been very like one another divers wayes, and God ways towards the one hath been the ſame with his ways towards the other in many things.
1. They are both Philadelphians, united ſo in a brotherly covenant, as no Churches in any kingdome more. 2. It was ſaid of Philadelphia, it had but a little ſtrength, and yet it kept Gods word. VVhat Churches in any Nation have beene more contemptible, then thoſe in Scotland? They have beene accounted a poore beggerly people, deſpiſed of all, and yet God hath enabled them to doe great things. 3. God hath cauſed their enemies to come and bow before them, and to know that he hath loved them, even thoſe who ſaid they were lews and were not, that they were the onelyonly Church, when indeed they were the Synagogue of Satan; & they have rejected falſe government, and have received much of the government of Chriſt, the key of David is more received among them then in any kingdome in the world; no marvaile then though their doore be ſo opened that none could ſhut it, thorow Gods mercy; our Houſes of Parliament have caſt away the falſe key, (The Lord deliver them and us) for ever medling with it any more whatſoever come of us. They have further profeſſed their deſires to enquire after the true key. This door of hope we hope will open to us in due time, ſo as none ſhall ſhut it. 9. We have loſt many opportunities for the opening this door, never had a people fairer opportunities for mercy then we have had, we cannot looke back upon them without trembling hearts, we may ſee cauſe to lament the loſſe of them with teares of blood, even this hath coſt much, and is yet like to coſt more blood.
10. Yea woe unto us, out father comes forth and ſeemes to be angry with us, and bids ſhut the doore againſt us, yea hee ſhuts us out himſelfe; is not that complaint of the Churches, Pſal. 80, 4. truly ours, O Lord of Hoaſts how long wilt thou be angry with the prayer of thy people? If God be angry with out knocking, what ſhall we doe?
11. And well may God bid ſhut the doore againſt us, for we have ſhut it upon our ſelves: This our doore of hope hath a ſpring lock, it is eaſily ſhut too, but it cannot ſo eaſily be opened againe: we have ſtood wrangling and ſtrugling one with another, and have clapt to the doore upon our ſelves before we were aware. That Scripture Hoſ. 7. 1, is as truly ours, as ever it was Iſraels, When I would have healed Iſrael, then the iniquity of Ephraim was diſcovered, and the wickedneſſe of Samariah. VVhen the Lord would have healed England, then the iniquity thereof hath been diſcovered more then ever. There is the vileſt ſpirit of malignity, againſt godlineſſe, againſt the Saints, againſt the way of Chriſt in his Ordinances, that ever was upon the face of the earth. Now men care not though they ruin themſelves, though they bring themſelves and poſterity to be bondſlaves, ſo they may but have their wills upon thoſe that are godly to ſuppreſſe them. The controverſie now is almoſt grown to that height, that the kingdome divides it ſelfe into thoſe who have ſome ſhew of Religion, and the haters of it. Thoſe times complained of in Micah are even ours, Chap. 7. 5. Truſt ye not in a friend, put no confidence in a guide, keepe the doores of thy mouth from her that lyeth in thy boſome; Yea, it is almoſt come to that in the fourth verſe, The beſt of them is a bryar, the moſt upright is ſharper then a thorny hedg. There is much frowardneſſe, much perverſneſſe even in the beſt, many contentions and grievous breaches even amongſt them; they cannot endure you ſhould be jealous of them, and they give cauſe of jealouſie daily. This generation for a great part of it, ſhew themſelves to have ſuch ſullied, ſuch puttid ſpirits, ſo defiled with ſuperſtitious vanities, ſo imbittered with a ſpirit of malignity, that we may feare God hath no pleaſure in the generality of it: yea Moſes and Aaron have ſinned, the beſt have ſo ſullied themſelves with Antichriſtian pollutions, that juſt it were with God that this whole generation ſhould be firſt taken away, and that the young generation that is comming on, who have not ſo defiled themſelves, ſhould have this doore that lets into Canaan opened to them, that they onelyonly ſhould goe into, and poſſeſſe that good land, but our carcaſſes ſhould fall in the wilderneſſe.
You who are godly young ones, whoſe hearts began betimes to yerne after Jeſus Chriſt, know the heart of Jeſus Chriſt yernes after you: and although ſome of you may fall in fighting for your brethren, & ſo be received to heaven, yet you are of that generation God will open this door of mercy unto, you ſhal go in & poſſeſſe Canaan, all this valley of Achor is but a door of hope to you; continue you on in your ſincerity, God will reveale himſelfe more fully to you then he hath done to us, if we be cut off before thoſe treaſures of mercy that God has ready for his people be opened, we muſt accept of the puniſhment of our iniquity, and even beare this indignation of the Lord becauſe wee have ſinned againſt him. 12. Yea the Lord hath ſtrucke us with blindneſſe at the doore, we grope up and down and we cannot finde it, as Gen, 19. 11. Never were a people at a greater loſſe, in a greater confuſion then now we are; every man runs his owne way, wee know not what to doe, nay the truth is, we know not what we doe.
13. Yea many becauſe they have found ſome difficulties at the right door, they have gone away from it, and have ſought back doors to help themſelves by, even baſe, falſe, ſhifting, treacherous ways, ſeeking to comply for their own private ends, as if their skins muſt needs be ſaved, whatſoever becomes of the publique.
14. This is yet a further miſery, that we are groping up and downe at the doore, and night is come upon us, ſtormes, tempeſts are riſing, dangers are approaching, and yet God opens not to us.
15. Above all our miſery this is yet the greateſt, that even our hearts are ſhut up too, there lyes a ſtone rowled at the doore of our hearts, and ſuch a ſtone, as is beyond the power of an Angel to rowle away, were it that after all our hearts were but open, our condition yet had comfort in it.
Oh now what ſhall we do… ▪
1. Let us reſolve to waite at this doore, …aite upon God in thoſe wayes of helpe that yet in mercy he affords unto us; Certainly we are at the right doore, let us ſay with Shecaniah, Ezra. 10. 2. We have ſinned againſt the Lord, yet there is hope in Iſrael concerning this thing.
Let us reſolve whatſoever becomes of us not to goe from our fathers door, if we periſh, we will periſh at his gates.
2. Let us worſhip the Lord at this our doore, though we be not entred in; yet let our hearts bow before the Lord in the acknowledgement of his greatneſſe, power, dominion that he hath over us; to doe with us what he pleaſeth: as Ezek. 46. 2. it is ſaid, The Prince ſhall worſhip at the threſhold of the gate, and the people of the land ſhall wo…ſhip at the doore,
3. Let us look in at the key-hole, or at any creviſe that wee can, to ſee ſomething of the riches of mercy that this door opens into. Within on the other ſide o… the door we may ſee what liberty of conſcience, what enjoyment of Ordinances, the bleſſing of Gods worſhip in his own way, we may ſee the wayes of God and his Saints would be made honorable in this kingdome, yea in a higher degree then any where upon the face of the earth; yea we may ſee many ſweet outward liberties, the free enjoyment of our eſtates, peace, plenty, proſperity in abundance, all theſe, and more then we can think of, if this door were but once opened to us; howſoever it is good … looke in, to quicken our hearts, and ſet on our deſires and endeavours the more ſtrongly in the meane time. Oh how happy were we if we had theſe mercies!
4. Let us yet knock lowder, and cry lowder at our Fathers doore.
But did not you tell us our Father ſeemed to be angry at our knocking?
Mark what we have in that very Scripture, where the Church complains that God is angry with her prayer, Pſal. 80. 4. How long wilt thou be angry againſt the prayer of thy people? Yet ver. 7. Turne us againe, O God of Hoſts, and cauſe thy face to ſhine▪ And ver. 14, Returne we beſeech thee, O God of H…ſts, look down from heaven, behold & viſit this vine: ver. 19. Turne us againe O Lord God of Hoſts, cauſe thy face to ſhine, and we ſhall be ſaved.
5. Let every one take away his ſinnes that lye at this door, let every one ſweep his owne door, Zech. 8. 15. 16. Again have I thought in theſe …yes to doe well unto Jeruſalem, and to the houſe of Iudah, feare not. But yet mark what followes, Theſe are the things that ye ſhall doe, Speake ye every man the truth to his neighbour: execute the judgement of truth and peace in your gates. Let none of you imagine evill in his heart againſt his neighbor. Both private men, and men in publick place muſt reforme, How far are we from this? Never more plottings, more heart-burnings one againſt another, & thoſe in publike place neglect the execution of judgement; they would have their policies beyond Gods wiſdome. God puts theſe two together, and commends one as a meanes to the other, the execution of judgement and peace; but they have a further reach they will not exe cur…dgement for feare of a breach of peace. It is juſt with God that we ſhould never have peace, till we can truſt God for it in his own way.
6. Let us ſeek to God againe, and call to him for the right key. Lord reveale the way of thy worſhip, and thy government to us, and we will yeeld our ſelves unto it.
7. Stir we up our ſelves againſt all difficulties. Things are not yet ſo bad, but we may help our ſelves, if we have hearts. Our Father heares us, he can command many Angels to come to help to rowle away the ſtone; yea he hath opened divers doores to us already. We are indeed come to the …ron gate, the Lord can make that at length flye open of its own accord, as Acts 20. 10. The Church was praying, and after the pr…on doo…es were opened to Peter, and he had paſſed the firſt and ſecond gate, he came unto the iron gate that led into the City, and there he found as eaſie paſſage as any where elſe. In the mount will the Lord be ſcene.
8. Let us exerciſe Faith in the blood of Chriſt, let us as it were beſprinkle this our door with the blood of the Lambe; yea looke we up to Chriſt as the true doore to let into all mercy; let Faith act as well as Prayer.
9. Let us now eſpecially watch all opportunities of mercy, and take heed we neglect no more as we have done many very foulely, leſt hereafter wee knock, and cry, Lord open to us, and it proves too late.
10. Let us open to God who knocks at our doores; it wee would have him open to us,Pſal. 24. 6. 7. God knocks at the doore of every one of our hearts, open we to him fully, ſet all wide open for him, Openye gates, ſtand open ye everlaſting doores, let the King of glory come in. Theſe who doe thus are the true generation of thoſe that ſeek the Lord; let England open, for God yet ſtands at the doore and knockes, and if we will yet open to him, he will yet come in and ſuppe withus, and we ſhall ſuppe with him. It is true God rebukes and chaſtens ſeverely, ſo he did Laodicea at that time when he ſtood at her doore and knocked, Apoc. 3. 19. 20. if any Church be or ever was like to that of Laodicea, we have been; luke-warm as that was; a mixture of Gods worſhip hath beene amongſt us, more then in any reformed Church; we have beene a proud people, we have thought our ſelves rich, & wanting nothing, whereas we knew not that we were indeed wretched, miſerable, poore, blinde, and naked: and thoſe who would be Angels of this Church, how hath God ſpu…d them out of his mouth! they are caſt out as filthy, they have laine upon the ſtomack of God and his Saints a long time; they with all that belonged to their Courts, have made themſelves a moſt …oathſome generation of men; and now God is at our doore & knocks, cals to us to let him in, that he may come and rule us, that he may bring peace & ſalvation unto us; But howſoever whether Chriſt be admitted by the State yea or no, yet let the Saints who are willing that Chriſt ſhould rule over them, hold on to the end, the promiſe is even to thoſe in Laodicea, to him that overcometh will I grant to ſit with me in my Throne even as I alſo overcame, and am ſet down with my Father in his Throne.
11. …et us encourage what we are able; all our faithfull doore-keepers, thoſe who are the publicke inſtruments of God for our good, upon whom ſo much of the great affayres of the kingdom, under God depends.
And for the quickning of our hearts that we may doe all we can, that this our doore of hope be not ſhut againſt us, Conſider further,
Firſt, This doore was opened to us when we began to think, yea almoſt to conclude that all doores of hope had beene ſhut againſt England, when we were ready to give up all for loſt.
Secondly, It was opened to us after much knocking by prayer. If ever there were a Parliament of prayer ſince the world began, this was, and is, How dreadfull then would it be to have this doore ſhut againſt us!
Thirdly, It was opened by a mighty hand of God. Joſephus tells us of a doore of the Temple that uſed to have thirty men to open it, and yet as a prognoſtication of ſome great thing to fallout, it opened of its own accord: This our door was more hard to be opened, thouſands of men could not have opened this, it was the mighty work of God to doe it.
Fourthly, It is a door that opens to the greateſt mercies that ever England had: how happy would England be in the happy ſucceſs of this Parliament!
5. It is a door that our adverſaries have laboured all they can to ſhut by policy, and by force, and thorow Gods mercy, yet they cannot.
6. How ſweet have the manifeſtations of God been to us, in the beginnings of his goodneſſe, and our endeavours! Can…. 5 4. 5. My beloved put his hand at the door, & my bowels were moved, my hands dropped myrrhe, and my fingers ſweet ſmelling myrrhe upon the handles of the locke, the beginning of reformation: but the hand upon the door is ſweet, what would the work compleated be?
7. If this doore ſhould be wholly ſhut againſt us, what a miſerable people ſhould we be? if theſe men have their wills, then never expect Parliaments more, or never good from Parliaments, They will be the moſt contemptible and ſervile things that can be, if any, they will be doores to let in all miſery, to frame miſchiefe by a law; then what are we and our poſterity but ſlaves? the Popiſh party muſt, yea will be gratified, their deſigne will be effected; what contempt of the Saints, of Religion? what hatred? what perſecution will then follow? what horrid blaſphemies? how will they be hardned in all manner of wickedneſſe? our eſtates, our liberties, our Religion are then gone, yea it is like our lives, and if not ſo, ſo miſerable would our lives be, as we had better have the grave open her mouth upon us, and we be ſhut in it, then to live to ſee, hear and feele ſuch things as we and our friends, are like to heare, ſee, and feele.
It would be the moſt horrid judgment that ever was againſt a nation, it may be told to all the nations of the world, God gave England a fair opportunity to help it ſelf, to be a moſt happy nation, but they had no hearts, they were blinded, their hearts were taken from them, thoſe worthies they choſe, who ventured themſelves for them, they baſely deſerted, and betrayed, they have alſo vilely betrayed themſelves, their liberties, their Religion, their poſterity, and now are become the moſt miſerable nation, the moſt fearful ſpectacle of Gods wrath upon the face of the earth. Wherefore beloved in the Lord, let us make ſure of Chriſt, who is our hope, and who ſays of himſelfe that he is the door, as indeed hee is to let in all mercies of God into us, that whatever diſappointment we have of our hopes here, yet we may not be diſappointed of our laſt hopes, though it ſhould prove that here looking for light, behold darknes, yet we looking for the light of Gods face eternally, we may not be driven out to everlaſting darknes. But ſhall I end thus? nay the cloſe of all ſhal rather be the cloſe of the 31 Pſal. Be of good courage and he ſhal ſtrengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord hope yet that God will make the valley of Achor adoor of hope unto us. The next words in this Scripture are words of joy, She ſhall ſing as in the dayes of her youth. Was there ever a time wherein ſhee had cauſe to ſing praiſe to God? there are times coming that ſhall be as joyfull as ever yet times have been, God hath mercy for his people, he hath ſinging times for them.