A Word to Israel in the Wilderness, Section 2
Uſe 2.
The next and principal uſe of this point, is to caution Profeſſours of Godlineſs, that they provoke not God as theſe Iſraelites did. Take the very words of the Apoſtle, and I hope you will give the more heed to this Uſe, as being proper and genuine, ſuch as the Holy Ghoſt makes of it, ver. 12. Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief.
If God ſhould bring you into a Wilderneſs, and you ſhould meet with the ſame ſtreights that Iſrael met withal, if you ſhould ſee no way out of them; yet take heed of their ſins: Remember, that all their ſtreights and troubles did not juſtifie their diſtruſt. God would not paſs by their Unbelief, though they were his own people, and the only people he had in the world; and they were the firſt that were ſo exerciſed, and ſo might plead Ignorance more than we can. And if he will not ſpare them, much leſs us, who have their experiences and the addition of many Ages beſide to confirm us in our depending upon God. If he puniſhed their diſtruſt ſeven-fold, he will puniſh ours ſeventy times ſeven-fold.
Now, It being my great deſign to prevent this ſin, to which Iſrael of old was ſo inclined, and to which (if I may judg by my own heart) we are ſtill too propenſe. I ſhall lay a …ew Conſiderations before you; and Oh that God would ſpeak ſo effectually by them, to every one of our hearts, that this ſin may be prevented.
Firſt, Conſider, It is a provoking ſin: Its call'd in the Text the Provocation. Iſrael was guilty of many and grievous ſins in the Wilderneſs; but none provoked God as this did. He expreſt his diſpleaſure againſt other ſins, as their Idolatry, their whoredoms with the Daughters of Moab, their luſting after ſtrange fleſh, yet he did not ſet any ſuch note of his Indignation, upon any of theſe, as as he did upon their Unbelief: This ſin bears the name of the Provocation.
In other caſes he did ſhew Mercy, and paſt by the Tranſgreſſion of his Heritage, but becauſe of this ſin he retained his anger, till he had conſumed them in the VVilderneſs. Yea, Moſes who had given ſuch notable proof of his Faith and Courage in Egypt, for one Act of unbelief, muſ… be debarr'd from going into Canaan, Deut. 32, 51, 52. And though he could prevail for the whole Nation, when they had tranſgreſſed in making the Golden Calf, Exod. 33.17. Yet he cannot prevail for himſelf, to go up into that good Land, no, though he prayed for it, and reaſons from all the kindneſs that God had ſhewn him already, Deut. 3.24, 25. Yet he can get on other Anſwer, but this; Speak to me no more of this matter.
Surely, God is angry with this ſin, for which he will not be intreated by Moſes, and for himſelf, and for one Act of unbelief. Any thing that ſavours of Infidelity, diſpleaſes God more than many crimes of Morality, God will note more, and viſit your unbelief, and diſtruſt of his Mercy, Goodneſs, and Truth, than all other your miſcarriages under Affliction; and the reaſon is, becauſe it is moſt oppoſite to that frame of Spirit, which ſhould honour God, eſpecial…y in time of trouble. For nothing doth ſo expreſs the Life and Power of Grace in times of Temptation and Affliction, as Believing, Hoping, and Rejoycing in God; this doth moſt eminently pleaſe him, and give him glory, and the contrary muſt needs as much diſpleaſe and provoke him; and if we will not believe this to be a truth, God will make us feel it.
Secondly, Conſider, You will not only provoke, but you will grieve the Lord by this ſin: I hope, you will weigh this well, becauſe it is alſo a Conſideration in the Text, and ſhews how God is affected with the miſcarriages of his people, when they diſtruſt him. The word which we render grieved, is obſervable, foreign wich comes of foreign which ſignifies the Bank of a River, becauſe grie… makes the heart ſwell, as a Rive… does when it overflows it Banks.
This Paſſion is attributed to God to ſhew what offence he takes at thi… ſin; It is compounded of Anger Love, and Pitty. When we meet with that which is offenſive in thoſe we love▪ we are the more troubled, not at the Act ſimply, but becauſe it is the Act of one whom we love.
It is obſerved, that the word here uſed, is not uſed any where in all the New Teſtament, ſave in this Chapter, to expreſs Gods diſtaſt at Iſraels ſin. But it is frequently uſed in the Old Teſtament; by this word the offence which Rebeccah took at Eſau's hating of Jacob is expreſſed, Gen. 27.46. She was angry with him for hating his Brother, but this was not all; to h…r anger was added grief and trouble of ſpirit, becauſe it was her ſon Eſau that hated him. Thus God is highly offended with the ſin of unbelief, but he is grieved when this is the ſin of a people ſo near him; ſo that we ſee ſuch a Paſſion is attributed to God as is given to Parents, or Governours, when they ſee thoſe whom they love, and have under their charge, running into …e and dangerous courſes, notwithſtanding all their care to reclaim them. Now a Child that hath any Remains of good nature in him, though he hath no grace, and will not be ſtopt in his full Career of ſin, by all the Inſtructions and Corrections of his Parents, but grows regardleſs of their anger and diſpleaſure, and hath born many a Check, Reproof, or Blow, without relenting; yet hath melted when he hath ſeen his Father or Mother mourn for him, and lay his Condition to heart. Chriſtian, Canſt thou hear that God is provoked, and not fear? Yea, Can you hear that he is grieved, and not melt? Surely you cannot: Grace is the moſt ingenuous thing of the world. It is the beſt Nature, for it is the Divine Nature: Let it ſuffice to tell you, that unbelief will go very near the heart of your Father; if any thing could be ſaid to break his heart, it would be this. His Enemies, the Prophane ones of the world, do vex and anger him, but you are the people that grieve him; your ſins do trouble him, at a higher rate than theirs, and, of all your ſins; unbelief moſt of all. Oh therefore, if God have any conſiderable Intereſt in your hearts, let unbelief have none. Oh do not grieve the Spirit of God that would comfort you; If you ſadden the Spirit of the Lord by your Diſtruſt, how ſhall he comfort you in your Diſtreſs?
Thirdly, Conſider, You will loſe the moſt glorious opportunity of honouring God and Religion, that ever was put into your hands; nay, perhaps thou mayſt never have the like again: God has brought thee into a Wilderneſs, that thou mayſt give thy Teſtimony, and ſet to thy Seal, that God is true. Men will obſerve, and, if ever, now they will believe it: they take little notice what thou ſayſt of God in proſperity: the Devil excepted againſt Job's Teſtimony in this caſe: But, ſays he, put forth thy hand and touch all that he hath, and he will curſe thee to thy face.
It is no proof of ſincerity, to ſpeak well of God, while he does well to us; or to follow Chriſt while he hath the Loaves: but, to follow him in a wilderneſs, in a Land not ſown; yea, to follow him chearfully too, will make men take notice of, and regard our Teſtimony that we bear to his Goodneſs, All-ſufficiency, and Truth. He that runs may read in thy chearful behaviour under ſtreights that God is good, becauſe thou ſpeakeſt good of him at all times; that he is All ſufficient, becauſe you can be contented, yea, full, and abound in the want of all things, having him; that he is True and Faithful becauſe you can imbrace the Promiſes, and live upon them, when all Providences run contrary to them. Oh Chriſtians, If ever you would have the world believe that God is good, yea, the Chief Good, that he is to be choſen for himſelf, that he i… your Portion, and enough when alone; and that you have choſen him ſo, and do not repent your choice. If ever you would convince men that God is True, and that he never fails thoſe that ſeek him; bear your Teſtimony to theſe things in a Wilderneſs; then men will believe you. Walk but evenly and chearfully in the ſtreights that he brings you, and his people into; and you will perſwade men more, than a thouſand Sermons poſſibly will do; but if you loſe ſuch an opportunity, never look to honour God at that rate while you live.
Fourthly, Conſider, Diſtruſt of God hath no excuſe. Though men have many pleas for it, yet when thy eyes are opened, thou wilt have no cloak for it. It is impoſſible for a Child of God to be brought into any ſtreight, or to experience any trouble or difficulty in any condition, for which God hath no… p…ded ſome ſurable word of … wo ld be too long a work … to und … take, to ſhew you what proviſions God hath made for the Comfort and Support of his people in all eſtates. If I ſhould deſcend to particulars, I ſhould not know where to ſtop: I ſhall only hint what care he hath taken for the general Intereſt of his people, when he brings his Church into a Wilderneſs, as he did Iſrael.
This is a certain truth, that God never calls his people into a Wilderneſs, but he gives them Bread in their Hands, or ſends it thither before them, that they may live and feed upon it in their ſtreights. As God ſent Joſeph before to provide for Jacob, and to keep him and his family alive in the Famine: So does he ſend Proviſion before, for the Faith of his people, Pſal. 74.14. Thou brakeſt the heads of the Dragon in the water; thou brakeſt the head of the Leviathan in pieces, and gaveſt him to be meat to the people, inhabiting the wilderneſs. Iſrael was, but …uſt now, entring into a barren howling Wilderneſs; and that he might not faint for want of Proviſion for his Faith, he gives him a miraculous Deliverance from the Red-Sea, and Pharaoh; the experience of which was enough for their Faith to feed upon, in all the Difficulties they ſhould afterwards meet with: Had they underſtood and improved this Deliverance, they would never have provoked God by Diſtruſt in the Wilderneſs.
Object. But you may ask, What Proviſion hath God made for his people, now in the wilderneſs?
Anſw. Firſt, You have the Propheſies of the Troubles which ſhall befal the Church of God, and the Perſecutions which ſhould ariſe. If we be ſurpriſed at any time, it is our own fault, God hath warned us, and furniſhed us with all his Armour, he hath bid us put it on, and be always ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpel of Peace. Now expectation of evil, is a great preparation to the bearing of it: This Chriſt intimates, when he ſays, John 16.1. Theſe things have I told you, that you might not be offended. What an unreaſonab…e thing is it to diſtruſt God, becauſe his Word is true? He hath told us that through many Tribulations, we muſt enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, and if we will live godlily, we muſt ſuffer Perſecution: now when we find what he hath foretold of this, proves true; why ſhould we not believe all the Promiſes which he hath joyned to theſe Predictions? Are not his Promiſes as true, as any part of his Word? Are hath not he that foreto…d our Troubles, promiſed to bear m… up under them, carry us thorow them, and to do us good by them▪
Secondly, You have all the Promiſes of the good which God hath to br…ng upon his people in the l…e… days and the…e… ſo made, that you m…y exp…ct… …u…fi…ling in the darkeſt times, and this preſent Age is not exemptech from ſeeing the glory of them.
Though many have been too bold to fix upon the time, and have miſ-carried in their Conjectures, aſſerting, the time to be come, for the making good of ſuch and ſuch Promiſes to the Church, and for the utter deſtruction of Antichriſt; yet this we may confidently affirm, this Generation is not excluded from hoping to ſee thoſe things. Now the conſideration that God hath made glorious Promiſes to his Church, and that we are allowed to hope for the Accompliſhment of them in our days, is enough to carry us patiently and chearfully thorow all intervening Difficulties, Nay, had we a promiſe only of many years yet to come, as Abraham had of Canaan, yet it ſhould be a marvellous ſupport to us, to think that it ſhould be well with the Church of God, in the Generations to come.
Thirdly, We have all our own and the Churches Deliverances, in former times. What ever God hath done for any of us, or for his people in time of trouble, or for the preſervation of his Church under Perſecution, or Deliverance of it from Captivity, it is all our meat in the Wilderneſs.
Fourthly, We have many choiſe and precious Promiſes made to ſuch a ſtate. No Condition hath ſo much of Succour or Comfort promiſed to it, as this.
For Support, I'le name but two, which are ſufficient to bear up our hearts, Iſa. 43.1.2. But now thus ſaith the Lord that created thee, oh Jacob, and he that formed thee, oh Iſrael, Fear …ot: For I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy Name, thou art mine. When thou paſſeſt thorow the waters, I will be with thee, and thorow the Rivers, they ſhall not overflow thee; when thou walkeſt thorow the fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the Flame kindle upon thee: For, I am the Lord thy God, &c.
When was this promiſe made? Now, ſaith the Lord: If we look to the cloſe of the precedent Chapter, we ſhall find, it was when Iſrael was given up to Robbers, and Jacob to the Spoil: But wherefore was this perhaps it was only for tryal? No, it was for their Diſobedience, becauſe they would not walk in his ways, Chap. 42.24. But, poſſibly, this was but ſome light tranſitory Affliction: No, it was accompanied with all Expreſſions of Dread and Terrour. Here is Anger, yea the fury of anger, and this poured out upon him; here is the Battel, and that made ſtrong againſt him: Here's fire, yea Iſrael ſet on fire, and that round about, compaſſed in with trouble on all hands; and, which is worſt of all, he not laying this to heart. Iſrael ſins, and God viſits his ſin, yet he ſins under this V ſitation▪ yet, which is wonderful, Iſrael muſt not fear; God will be with him to ſupport him under theſe troubles. What an Argument is here, for the Faith of Gods people, when they ſuffer for Righteouſneſs?
Will God ſuccour thoſe who ſuffer for diſobeying h…s w…l…? how much more thoſe, who ſuffer for obſerving it? If he will be with his people under Afflictions which he brings upon them, for not walking in his ways; how can he forſake them in troubles, which men bring upon them, for obſerving his Commands? Surely, God will go thorow fire and water with theſe: As he was with the three Children in the fire, and wit… Iſrael in the water; ſo will he be wi… his people in all their ſtreights: An… what is fire and water when God is … them, with us?
We have a promiſe in the New Teſtament, which confirms all this to us, Heb. 13.5. He hath ſaid, I wil… never leave thee, nor forſake thee▪ The Apoſtle improves this againſt al… the occaſions of Diſtru…t, which are either outward wants, or ſuffering… and Perſecutions from men. To the firſt, he ſays, Be content with ſuch things as you have; for he hath ſaid, I will never leave thee. What can he be ſaid to want, who is ſure of having God, and knows what it is to injoy him. Againſt the ſecond, He reaſons from the ſame Foundation: So that we may boldly ſay, the the Lord is my Helper. If God be with us, it will not be as a Spectator, but as a Helper; and he may be bold in any trouble, that can be bold to ſay that God is with him. He need not fear what man can do to him, who is aſſured that God will ſtand by him, and ſtrengthen him.
Secondly, As God hath promiſed great Supports, ſo he hath provided as great Comforts for his people, in their Suffering low eſtate. See Mat. 5.10. Bleſſed are they which are perſecuted for Righteouſneſs-ſake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. They are bleſſed in their Afflictions, under all their Perſecutions; ſo that where ever you ſee ſuch a man or woman, how ever miſerable their preſent Condition may ſeem in the eyes of others, let them not ſeem ſo to you; ſay you, There is a bleſſed man, or a bleſſed woman: There is the Kingdom of Heaven. It is not only ſure to them notwithſtanding their Troubles and Sufferings, but they are the more aſſured of it by them. God gives the greateſt and cleareſt Evidences of their Intereſts in Heaven at ſuch a time; God opens the Heavens to them, as he did to Stephen, Acts 7.55, 56. Then, if ever, God pours out of the abundance of his Spirit, upon his people. The Apoſtle therefore doth not lay down as a Promiſe, or ſpeak of it as a Futurity, but aſſerts it as a thing preſent; it is as ſure to be ſo; as if you felt it ſo in this inſtant of time. The like Expreſſion we have, 1 Pet. 4.14. If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye, for the Spirit of glory reſteth on you. Mark it Chriſtians, You ſhall not only have the Spirit of God, but it ſhall be a degree reaching to Glory; it is above the meaſures of Grace and Comfort, commonly attainable in this ſtate of Imperfection: He ſays not, This ſhall come in, or after troubles, but he ſpeaks of it as preſent; if one comes, ſo does the other: If ye be reproached, happy are ye, &c. If reproaches for Chriſt come, then glory comes with them.
Nay it comes not to leave you ſuddenly, it comes to abide with you; if Reproaches and Diſgrace ſtick faſt upon you, the Spirit of Glory will reſt upon you alſo.
Fifthly, God hath promiſed all the outward glory and proſperity of his Church, to ſuch a Condition. It ſhall be given her in a Wilderneſs, and from thence ſhe ſhall aſcend glorious, Hoſ. 2.14, 15. I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderneſs, and ſpeak comfortably unto her. And I will give her her Vinyards from thence, and the valley of Achor, for a door of Hope, and ſhe ſhall ſing there as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up out of the Land of Egypt. It is very plain from hence, that God will take a courſe with his people, in the fulfilling his Promiſes to them, much like the way he took to bring them into Canaan. He will firſt carry them into a Wilderneſs, and from thence will God give them thoſe great mercies which he hath reſerved for them, Cant. 3.6, 7, 8. There we find the Church coming up out of the Wilderneſs, and preſently we find her furniſht with able and expert Guides, and adorned with all that may render it lovely.
Now, conſidering all theſe things, Predictions, Experiences, and Promiſes: Have we not Meat to eat in the Wilderneſs, and will it not be ſhameful and inexcuſable to faint, when God hath made ſuch Proviſion to live upon?
Fifthly, Conſider, Unbelief will be your Affliction, as well as your Sin; it will be a greif to your own ſpirits, as well as to the Lords you will be your own Tormentors, and contribute more to the making your ſelves miſerable, than all your enemies: We have enemies enow to afflict us, let us not afflict our ſelves Goebal and Amon, &c. let us not be againſt our ſelves, and add affliction to affliction. For it will make all poſſible evils, probable; thoſe which are uncertain, certain; thoſe which are far off, to be near; and thoſe that are future, preſent. Avoid therefore Diſtruſt, as the greateſt affliction that can befal thee.
Sixthly, Conſider, Your unbelief will not only be your own affliction, but it may be ſo to thoſe who are not involved in the ſame guilt w…th you; you may be the Inſtruments of hindring the good that may come upon the preſent Generation; your unbelief, may hinder many believing ſouls from the Mercy which they are fitted for; they may wait a great while longer, becauſe you are not prepared for it; as we ſee, the unbelief of Iſrael kept Joſuah and Caleb, out of the Land of Canaan Forty years. They were ready and prepared to enter into Canaan, when they firſt ſpied out the Land: but Iſraels unbelief hindred them from entring, and they alſo muſt wait Forty years, till another Generation is made ready. Take heed therefore of that which will afflict thee, and make thee an affliction to many others.
Seventhly, Conſider, That Diſtruſt doth of all ſins, deny thy Chriſtianity. What is a Chriſtian, but a Believer? One that walks by Faith, and not by Sight? Thou art of a contrary frame: How wilt thou prove thy ſelf a Chriſtian, without following Chriſt? And how wilt thou follow Chriſt without believing? Thou mayſt follow Providence, by Senſe; but thou canſt not be ſaid to follow Chriſt, but by Faith▪ Therefore reſolve, either to lay by thy Chriſtianity, or caſt out thy unbelief.
Eighthly, Make proviſion againſt this ſin, yea, all the Proviſion you can, and you will find all little enough. For Conſider, That you will ſurely meet with Temptations to this, more than to any other. Your way to Heaven lies thorow difficulties and ſtre…ghts; your way lies not among Drunkards, Swearers, or unclean Perſons; you may not meet with Noah's, or Joſeph's Temptations, but your way lies thorow the VVilderneſs, and you will ſurely meet with Iſraels Temptations, to diſtruſt God. Thorow many Tribulations you muſt enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Expect Temptations ſutable to your Condition; and a thouſand to one, if you find not your heart very ready to cloſe with Temptations of this Nature: for there is nothing more natural to us, than to walk by Senſe and to liſten to the Dictates of Carnal Reaſon. Expectation of evil puts us upon making ſutable proviſion for it. And that you may the better ſtand againſt ſuch Temptations when they come. Mind theſe few things,
Firſt, Poſſeſs thy ſelf fully of God's Providence. If he take care for the Ravens, how much more for his people.
Secondly, Believe firmly that there is not a Providence to thee, but comes thorow the Covenant of Grace.
Thirdly, All the Providences of God, do ſerve his Promiſes, and tend to the Accompliſhing of them, though they ſeem otherwiſe.
Fourthly, View often the Experiences that thou haſt had of Gods Mercy and Goodneſs, and labour to fortifie thy confidence in God from thence, As David, Pſal. 23.6. And Paul, 2 Cor. 1.10. It is a good Argument, He that hath delivered, will deliver, if we depend upon him, and plead former Mercies with him.
Fifthly, Reaſon with thy heart, when thou findeſt is beginning to ſink; ſay, Why art thou caſt down, oh my ſoul. Reſolve never to ſuffer thy heart to be unreaſonably diſquieted, and thou ſhalt never find a Reaſon; for a Diſtruſtful Sadneſs, or Dejection.
Sixthly, Be ſure to make God thy Portion, take him for thine Inheritance; account him alone enough for thee. Do not reckon any thing beſides him, needful to make thee happy, but eſteem thy ſelf ſufficiently bleſſed in thy Intereſt in him, and Communion with him. A heart brought to this, will live in a Wilderneſs: and, as leſs than this, will not give us comfort, ſo it will not prove us Chriſtians.
Seventhly, Lay this upon thy heart, as a duty to be thankful in every Condition. Study what thou injoyeſt, aſwel as what thou wanteſt; what matter of Thankſgiving, as well as of Petition; and if Prayer and Praiſe go together, ſee what will follow, Phil. 4.6, 7. If your wants do not ſwallow up your Mercies, but you make your Requeſts known with Thankſgiving as well as Supplication, the Peace of God which paſſes all underſtanding, ſhall keep your hearts and minds through Jeſus Chriſt. You ſhall have a marvellous calmneſs and ſweetneſs of Spirit, which ſhall keep your minds quiet and ſtable, in the midſt of all your troubles.